Tony on CoasterBuzz Podcast

In case you didn't see it elsewhere, we've got Tony Clark on the show this week. Download the show directly, or find us on iTunes.

Kinda makes me feel better about the getting wet thing. Still not sure if I want to get soaked when its 95 degrees. Still amazed about not knowing the height requirement.

Ya, Im still confused why they don't have a height requirement yet either. Wouldn't you think they would want to know before spending 10 million dollars on a ride? I'm also confused how this is a replacement for WWL because you will get soaked. Lets hope that they don't run out of money for all the special effects they plan on putting in.

The height requirement is probably being worked on by Intamin. As mentioned elsewhere, CP probably would like the height to be less than 48". If they told that to Intamin, then they are probably working on possible solutions. Stuff like that takes some testing obviously.

Yeah, massively disappointed in the height issue. Why on Earth they don't start with a certain height requirement as one of the critical specifications doesn't make any damn sense at all, for a "family friendly" attraction.

Like I said before, Maverick was announced as a "family friendly" ride with a 48" requirement, which was raised to 52" right before its opening.

Maybe we'll see something similar to Shoot the Rapids, only the height requirement being around 42". Otherwise I think this was all a major step backwards as far as the offering of family rides go.

~Rob

Enjoyable podcast. I thought that Tony was pretty candid about the ride and the process of deciding upon it. Made me excited for the non-roller coaster offerings of Halloweekends, too.

If I had to guess on the ride height limit not yet specified, I would say that CP did specify a desired limit (after all, if you were the supplier, wouldn't you ask them to set one so you wouldn't have an unhappy customer later), but the final ride design is not complete. CP has probably been given a few different configurations to choose from that have varying height limits. The final choice can probably be made later. They have plenty of ground prep to do that will be common to any final design.

Along that line of thinking, I wouldn't get to married to exact design shown on the animation. I'm sure it will have two drops (the original STR did) and be located where shown, but don't be surprised if you see mods to the shown effects and trough routing.

Tony, I just listened to your interview. Here are 2 suggestions from a family (3 generations of us) who have been passholders for a long time and visit Cedar Point regularly. I am not a regular poster on these boards, nor have I read through the hundreds of other pages. If this has already been beaten to death, please accept my apologies.

1) If your goal is to build a family flume ride, remember that Grandma and Grandpa attend the parks too. Even on a 95 degree day, Grandma doesn't want to get soaked (mom & dad aren't too keen on the idea either.) I'm sure Shoot the Rapids is going be popular (undoubtedly the most popular water ride in the park,) but it won't be a "family" ride to us, nor will it fill the void left by White Water Landing unless it's toned down to the same sort of trickle/splash. Our recommendation would be to take however many dollars you planned to spend on water bombs and drenching waterfalls and just add them to the theming budget. I know theming isn't your "thing," but this seems like a very good attraction to take a shot at (pun intended.) For instance, we'd love to see guns on the boat and some things to shoot at. Can you combine the Scooby Doo blaster with a water flume? How fun!

2) If your goal is to build a family flume ride, then specify a 42" height requirement up front and have the manufacturer design to that specification. I find it amazing that a large company (with as much clout as CP has) just committed $10 million to a "family" ride and still doesn't know if small kids will be able to ride it. If the height requirement turns out to be 48 or 52", you're going to exclude a significant portion of those who wanted a family flume in the first place!

Valid points TTD. I am in agreement that I just don't understand how you commit to an attraction and a pricetag without knowing who exactly is going to be able to ride that thing.

Pilgrim's Plunge is 48", and these boats look about the same, so hopefully Cedar Point can work something out. I think that and the fact that you are going to get soaked might really be a disappointment. I for one am excited about this ride, but hopefully the families are too.

I think you all are being a bit harsh about 'demanding' a lower height requirement. Let me point out a few things to think about:

White Water Landing drop height: 35 feet

Iron Dragon drop height: 76 feet

Ripsaw Falls drop height (IOA): 75 feet

Shoot the Rapids drop height: 85 feet

That's a pretty tall drop for a kid under 48". Ripsaw is arguably one of the best 'flume' rides and it had its drop modified to make it less intense. Even so, the height requirement for that ride is 44". It would certainly be nice for it to be lower, but I don't think it is outrageous. Dorney's flume is 46".

This is the "safety" age of amusement parks and that means individual lap bars are the norm. After what happened on Perilous Plunge, you can bet the height requirement will guarantee safety.

Chief Wahoo said:
Valid points TTD. I am in agreement that I just don't understand how you commit to an attraction and a pricetag without knowing who exactly is going to be able to ride that thing.

Like Maverick? :)

You must be this tall ... no, wait, make that THIS tall. Cedar Point announced today that when its new western-themed roller coaster, Maverick, opens -- not until early June -- the height requirement will be 52 inches instead of 48 inches.

The comment about the "safety age" at amusement parks is very valid. I don't know how many here remember this, but the Cedar Creak Mine Ride used to have no height restriction, just a sign that said "No Hand Held Infants Please". Now, of course, the coaster is at a 48" height limit, with thicker restraint bars then it originally had.

It's also not really the height of the drop that matters, it is the restraint system in the vehicle. Sure, dynamics matter too, and you can arguably hit the water harder after a larger drop, but that can be adjusted by how high the water is on the runout ramp. You would not want to fall out at 20' or at 85' feet, what is a design factor is how the restraint system holds smaller bodies in while still allowing space for large people.

I personally think 48" would be OK, 44" would be ideal. Intamin is probably working to see how low they can go, we just have to wait and see.

If Cedar Point gets a lower requirement than 48". I wonder how fast Holiday World will be on the phone asking what they need to do to lower theirs.

Can someone help me remember where Cedar Point labeled Maverick as "family-friendly"? I'm not doubting it, I just can't remember.

Well I can't say the park doesn't need this ride.

And yeah I honestly hope it is as cool as Ripsaw Falls. Or else in this day and age you mys well go back home. Its not worth spending the cash if you are only going to do it half right.

Walt, I looked and looked. But, I'll have to look some more. Because, I couldn't find the mention of Maverick being a family ride. I thought someone said it though. Even if it was just us enthusiasts assuming something.

^Yes, I also remember them saying Maverick would be a ride for the whole family. Once the height requirement changed though it was a little different. I think the ride is a little more intense then they thought it would be.

Walt said:
Can someone help me remember where Cedar Point labeled Maverick as "family-friendly"? I'm not doubting it, I just can't remember.

I think that the suggestion that Maverick was more family friendly than their other coasters was based off of the less intimidating appearance. I know I read a quoute from ::someone:: saying that many people won't get on Millennium or Magnum because they're intimidated by the height.

I don't think anyone expected the whole family to hop on Maverick and take a spin, just that its less-intimidating appearance would open it up to riders who usually shy away from the "big" rides.