so, that 17second ride (which seemed more like 3seconds) was TOTALLLYY worth the 2hr wait! and i can honestly say, id do it again!!! well, thats all..if anyone else has stories, please tell em! i wanna hear ur experiences too!!
I dashed over to Top Thrill Dragster and that's when I realized it: I'm a slow runner. I was the first person at the end of the tunnel yet was around the 10th into the queue. I would've taken a peak at the area and the entrance, but I was a mission: first public ride on Top Thrill Dragster.
The queue was about half-filled with the VIP Drivers. Upsetting as this was, I still waited, and took pictures. Seeing the ride in motion from "inside" the ride is nothing like seeing a picture or any video. Being able to hear the dragster noises and the safety instructions and then silence for about a nano-second and then wham! Dragster noises start up again and the thing shoots across the queue! You can start to see around where the camera is because there's a big wall right there. Then of course, it ascends, crawls over the top, and returns to your other side. No wall here, you can see their expressions. Boy did they look happy.
After an hour and a half we finally make it into the station, along with some other riders. We chose front row of the blue train because I knew we weren't going to be able to ride it again that day; we could see the overflow queue from inside the station.
So we sit down, buckle up, and I pulled the lapbar to "my liking". Then the ride op comes over and fastens it "not" to my liking. After a couple of seconds, I had forgotten about it because the train in front of us (that's right, we were on the second public ride) had rolled out. We immediately followed. At this point my adrenaline was pumping though I returned the "thumbs up" to the ride op, as I always do, but then I turned to fear.
As the train in front of us launched out, my face turned blank, and stunned. The shear terror going through my body right at that moment was more than there ever was in my entire life. Watching it from the grandstands, or the midway, or heck, even the webcams is one thing, but watching it from behind is another. Watching it go and getting smaller and smaller quicker and quicker and then turn up to the sky is awesome, yet terrifying, especially knowing you're up next.
And indeed we were.
Sitting there, sweating, watching the people on the midway staring at us in awe and disbelief, and them taking pictures of our terror...just unbelievable.
Then we kicked back a little, just two or three feet, then we stopped. My neck was shaking. My arms were shaking. At this point I didn't even realize how cold it was, and not wearing my sweatshirt didn't add anything now.
That, was definately the longest minute of my life.
And then it was out turn. Instantly we were going fast. Not knowing what else to think, I just automatically assumed this was the top speed.
But wait! A second later we were going twice as fast. At this point I was convinced that this was the top speed.
But wait! How could this thing go any faster? We were probably going around 90 at this time but I felt that there was no way we could possibly go any faster.
And wait again! We're still accelerating! Nothing to do, nothing to say, nothing to think (no time to think!), we had reached speeds that at one time were unknown to mankind.
And finally we turn up straight to the sky. I must say, viewing the tower from the tower is in NO WAY alike than seeing in a picture, video, or webcam. This is where all that height you've been hearing about happens. When we twisted we no longer could see the tower, and I looked, and we were level with Millennium Force.
Then comes the top hat. Wow, cresting over, looking DOWN on what used to be the glory of Cedar Point. Viewing the entire layout of the blue infant (and yes, I mean infant). But not for long.
Near-missing the tower is awesome, but not as intense as the launch. But still, coming in close, once again, no picture, video, or webcam is anything like it.
Pulling out. Once again, a smooth transition. Knowing where the cameras were but not acting on it made a very natural look.
Slowing down. Rocketing past the queue, seeing anxious riders preparing to board, then coming into a slow and smooth halt. No awe. No silence. Me screaming. Screams of joy. Using the word "God" a lot, probably because I might have seen him.
What a ride.
I got off and immediately and bought my picture. I'm the one that's circled.
------------------
The Point of Cedars
Pointing you in the right direction!
http://www.thepointofcedars.tk
------------------
Ross: Do you have a minute? I’d like to talk to you about something I’m, I’m really uncomfortable talking about.
Joey: Sure. What? About uh, you showering with your mom?
Ross: I actually had a topic in mind!
-----------------
If you got beef then, eat a pork chop.
We got in line around 6:30 pm, after being walked off Iron Dragon when it broke down, and TTD was broke down. It opened again about 7:00 pm. We finally got off around 9:30 pm. It was great.
Thursday we got in line around 11:00 am, before they opened the line. They finally opened the line around 12:00 pm and we decided to wait for the front seats since we only had about 30 people in line. It was great. I was never afraid, but my sister chickened out.
I would say that the front seat was better than ridin in the middle. I have posted a few pictures of my ride. I am the one in the blue and white jacket. It was a great ride, I just can't remember seeing much.
Do you have a high quality scan of your on-ride photo? I'm in the third seat of it. I bought my first one - http://www.intecinfo.com/Temp/153.jpg But didn't bother with the second. I'd love to see it again.
Came back and got in line at 6 p.m. The sign said the ride was a 3 hour wait, but the line looked nothing like a 3 hour wait. We got in line and what seriously would have been only a 2 hour wait, turned into a 3 hour wait because the ride broke down for almost an hour. (are they starting to include downtime in their signs?? ;) ) At least they were nice enough to come over the intercom and let us know that it would be an hour downtime...that obviously made a lot of people leave. I couldnt believe how many people who were so near the front left...but less wait time for us! hehe. After we finally got on a 2nd time, I rode with arms up the whole time. I didnt think I was going to, but as soon as the lights started to countdown, I put them up. It was nuts. Loved every single minute of it and would wait another 3 hours again. (well if you include both wait times 4 1/2 hours)
I just think my husband was the most hilarious. After both rides he was yelling down to the queue after we had came back.."You will not regret waiting AT ALL!!" over and over. LOL.
*** This post was edited by GoldEyes 5/19/2003 10:15:22 AM ***
------------------
The Point of Cedars - Pointing you in the right direction!
http://www.thepointofcedars.tk
http://www.thepointofcedarsforum.tk (now with photo exchange!)
Glad you enjoyed your ride as much as I did all of mine!
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT said:
I am way too busy to look and see if this was mentioned already. . .but my second time riding TTD, we hit a bird! It was crazy! There were feathers everywhere. A few people had blood and guts on their feet. . .I just had feathers in my hair.a bird!! i think thats streachin the truth a little bit... i dont think you really hit a bird and then it it spread blood and guts all over the train. and if it had blood and guts and feathers everywhere... that would have to be one very large bird... allthough if there are any other ppl who can back this up, i would beleive you, but there arent any at this moment... nice try though
------------------
TTD=3
WT=30
MIlle=58
It's on video, too, since the commercial was being filmed at the time. Maybe it will be in a Cedar Point Bloopers video some day.
But yes, we did indeed hit a bird.
------------------
Ross: Do you have a minute? I’d like to talk to you about something I’m, I’m really uncomfortable talking about.
Joey: Sure. What? About uh, you showering with your mom?
Ross: I actually had a topic in mind!
You must be logged in to post