Top Thrill Dragster 2022 Status

I guess my words can be phrased better. The Park will always have their roots and role in the coaster game, i just want to stress that it doesn't have to be the reuse of the existing 420' structure. Without changing or extending the layout of the ride after the top-hat, replacing the Hydraulic Launch with a more tame and reliable LSM Launch is simply an operational improvement, but a significant downgrade in thrill from the previous experience. Is this conversion that simple, and how much more of an investment would be required? I would rather see what the future would held if they were to remove it, personally. I've ridden Red Force. Cedar Point guests looking for anything close to what they remembered from Top Thrill Dragster will be greatly disappointed.

I might be in the minority but I love the potential change of keeping the ride and moving it to a LSM launch vs. tearing it down. Dragster in its old format was not sustainable, something had to happen eventually. Unfortunately, it took a tragic accident to move the needle (assuming plans weren't already in the works).

I am hoping to see this drastically increase reliability more than anything. I always watched the ride like a hawk in line just waiting for it to break down.

My personal bias is nostalgia as I get older. I remember vividly the 2003 season and the amount of hype of just trying to get a ride. My nostalgia is now experiencing Cedar Point's rides with my younger family members and seeing their first reactions. I hope to see that reaction again on the new Dragster.

Enthusiasts wildly overestimate how much the typical guest pays attention to tiny details, and the launch technology and rate of acceleration are tiny details. Coaster go fast, coaster go high, and that won't change.

I very much look forward to the redo. Of course it will never be the same as the original. That doesn’t suggest that the reimagined ride will be anything less than fun and exciting.

Red Force is Red Force. This is likely going to become something completely unique and different.

If magnets can launch aircraft from aircraft carriers perhaps they can also launch a coaster train to 100+mph in short time/distance. this might become the quickest LSM launch on a roller coaster ever. … or a 400’ lawn ornament.

just read that the track may be shipped to Genoa Italy. Where in Europe will it go? Liechtenstein? And if so, for what? Hmmmm

Absolutely, whatever is coming of this will be a sensational welcome no matter what!! It's all very exciting, we haven't had much to chew on these past few years other than sadness. Very relieved to see the Industry rebound after the pandemic.

Genoa, Italy? Interesting

Genoa, Italy is the port you would ship to if you were shipping to Intamin. It's less than a 5 hour drive from the port to Intamin. Perhaps they are sending some track to their engineers so they can create a roadmap for fitting LSM's on the existing track.

Us? Who decided they were the world leader, and even if they were, how did this affect Magic Mountain?

Jeff, that is a softball question.

-Amusement Today. They established the golden ticket awards. Cedar Point won from 1998-2013 (Best Park) and used it in all their marketing. They also won numerous best new attraction and best steel coaster awards.

-Cedar Point themselves. The marketing is clear:

-"Rollercoaster Capital of the World"

-"Americas Roller-coast"

-"Home of the worlds best rollercoasters."

These came straight from the Cedar Point marketing guide.

Families with money spending parents are important, yes, extremely important. It is why Cedar Point needs to be a well rounded park.

That being said, the notion that Cedar Point is the greatest thrill ride location in the world is what put it on the map internationally.

Augustmueller:

If magnets can launch aircraft from aircraft carriers perhaps they can also launch a coaster train to 100+mph in short time/distance.

The EMALS system is far less than reliable. A recent GAO report stated they don't expect it to hit "reliability goals" till the 2030's (First test launch was 2010). It's breaking down around once out of every 180 cycles. The old launch system, once every 4k.

I wouldn't use the system as a talking point. ;)

So, more reliable than TTD. Got it.

NextGen89:

The marketing is clear:

-"Rollercoaster Capital of the World"

-"Americas Roller-coast"

-"Home of the worlds best rollercoasters."

That kind of marketing only targeted a small group.

NextGen89:

the notion that Cedar Point is the greatest thrill ride location in the world is what put it on the map internationally.

What percentage of CP's annual revenue comes from international guests? Hell, what percentage of their annual revenue comes from guests west of the Mississippi?

Look's like the track is being shipped to Italy. While that is not 100 percent evidence that Intamin is involved, it does seem like the track is being sent back to Intamin or maybe even Mack rides. (really any developers out of Europe are an option at this point).

I will say, I am pretty perplexed by CP shipping the track. On one side like Jeff was saying, the track is either incredibly close to or has reached its shelf life and would need to be replaced (A-la The Incredible Hulk)
On the other hand, why would they carefully remove the track if it wasn't going to be reused?

The mystery keeps getting more complicated and I am HERE for it!

All we know is that one container of track is on its way to Italy. And while the care with which they removed other sections of track does indicate those pieces will see the same fate, that's not a sure thing. So it is possible that some track on its way to Italy is headed to Intamin for analysis, which would make some sense since TTD is the first, longest-tenured ride of its kind, and the condition of the track after ~18 seasons could give them insight on how the track fared compared to their design expectations, which could help them optimize future track design.

This isn't to say this outcome is any more likely than any other, but it's one possibility that would make some sense given that, as Jeff said, the track is closer to end of life than beginning.

I think the evidence is pointing more and more to Intamin doing this conversion. Sometimes (usually) the most obvious answer is the right one.

NextGen89:

That being said, the notion that Cedar Point is the greatest thrill ride location in the world is what put it on the map internationally.

Expanding on what Brandon said above....It may be on the map internationally for enthusiasts, but Cedar Point is not an international destination by any means. 8 hours away in Nashville, most of the people I talk to haven't heard of Cedar Point, and even fewer have been, and most of those are transplants from Ohio or Michigan. On the other hand, if I ask about Dollywood in the Nashville area, almost all know of it and very good majority have been. As much as we love to think of Cedar Point as the mecca of amusement parks, it is and will continue to be a local destination. Outside of Disney, most amusement parks are known only in there respective regions, regardless of the number or intensity of attractions.

CPVet:

I think the evidence is pointing more and more to Intamin doing this conversion.

Seems that way, but in that case they're spending an awful lot of money to modify old track, which is strange. I know steel is pricey at the moment, but give that an LSM and controls conversion will give the ride another 20+ years of service life, it seems like (to me, a layman) it would be financially justifiable to invest in new track.

NextGen89:

Jeff, that is a softball question.

Then answer it with something that isn't the park's marketing or the meaningless AT poll. Also, how did this superiority affect other parks? And by extension, why does it mean they have to concentrate on roller coasters?

It’s possible that the track is being shipped to Ingenieurbüro Stengel GmbH in München, Germany.

He's just a designer isn't he? Not an actual manufacturer.

Meaningless to some maybe but not others. And what not concentrate on coasters?