Traditional vs. New Age Coasters

Okay, this is a little bit strange, but when do you think Cedar Point may get a "new age" coaster, one with some wacky innovation? By this I mean something like a floorless, Stealth, Thrustair 2000, that sort of prototype experiment. While Millenium Force is certainly a great ride and well worth everything that was and will be put into it, it isn't that revolutionary in terms of coastering. I mean ride-wise, granted the brakes and lift and all were more modern, but what do you think? I guess it just seems as though CP "plays it safe" with a lot of the new rides, trying them out elsewhere at other parks or seeing other chains build the revolutionary stuff and seeing how it works before they take it out for a spin.

Just curious!

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PO!NT OF VIEW - A Different Look at Roller Coasters
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/
Let's get to 100 votes for a NEW POLL!

I think CP can do something that will top X. That is build a Giovanola "Tilt" coaster. Now that I think will successfully counter X. I'm not that impressed with the S&S Thurstair.

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Hamburgers are only Hamburgers when people choose to call them Hamburgers.

Well, Cedar Point doesn't usually make investments they aren't sure about, so I doubt you'll see a "whole new" coaster that hasn't been built somewhere else.

In my opinion, based entirely on no facts whatsoever, CP should get either a B & M floorless or a S & S thrust air coaster next. With either coaster it should be relatively easy to claim the record for having the largest coaster of that particular type in the world. Also, the Vekoma Flying Dutchman coaster would be a good option for CP.

It seems to me that Cedar Point plays it smart. Let other parks invest in untried technology (can you say Son of Beast?) and then, once the technology is proven, build something spectacular. The promotional value of having a 'first of it's kind' coaster is fleeting but a Bat or a Son of Beast will be with you for years.

slithernoggin, whats wrong with SOB? It's a great ride in the front. Personaly I want CP to get a new CCI woodie, or a GCI, something that we know would be awsome. A TA2K would be cool, then we would'nt have to travel to Kings Domminion to ride one.

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If she weighs as much as a duck, she's made of wood, and therefore a witch.

Cedar Point cannot build a low capacity ride. Stealth has terrible throughput, and it looks like TA2K may not be too much better. The verdict won't be returned on X until sometime this spring, or maybe longer depending how many problems this thing has at start up.

As far as SOB goes, it looks like a pretty bad investment for Paramount, at least in its present state. Once the hype is gone, the GP dosen't like it much. We'll see how it fairs in 2001. I don't hate it, but too many people do at this point.

I say wait. Cedar Point will do the right thing; the world's longest (not tallest!) woodie, built by CCI with PTC trains.

SOB may not be a bad ride, but the bad publicity of it's construction and unreliability of it actually running did a real number on PKI's attendance this year.

I have a very strong feeling that Cedar Point will get a wooden twister very similar to Ghostrider.

Why?

It's liked very well at Knott's Berry farm, it's in a shape of an "L", which would fit perfectly in the front of the park, and as a CP rep once said when asked what was next, "Remember how we followed up Magnum?"--which would be a woodie.

There's nothing wrong with Son of Beast...but PKI has had on-going problems with the ride, and I believe they are currently involved in litigation over the ride. All I'm saying is, Cedar Point plays it smart: they'll let another company deal with the problems of untried technologies, and IF it works and IF it resonates with the public, CP will build a coaster incorporating that technology. Plus, if they wait, they can take advantage of advances and innovations.

SOB is not a bad ride at all.2nd best woodie around. Beast #1 of course. They tried to put all of it in SOB though. Speed, height, length, wooden loop. Paramount finally got something right.(Though it may take a little longer for perfection).But good moves for their parks to get first-of-their-kind coasters. SOB, Stealth, Thrust Air. I wish CP would get a big, bad B&M launched floorless. That would be nice. They won't get a big wooden soon because of PKI and no flying dutchman because of SFO so that's the best I can think of. Remember CP,Quality! Forget SFMM. YOU HAVE TO BE A SPIRIT,CP!(Little Bulworth Joke)

SOB is FAR from being Number 2. Have you ever ridden Raven, Legend, Boulder Dash, Roar, Lightning Racer, Villian, Shivering Timbers, or Ghostrider? These are far better rides than SOB.


*** This post was edited by CP_bound on 12/28/2000. ***

slithernoggin, you have a great point about the tried-and-true technology, and I think you're right. I've not been on Son of Beast, so I won't go into that for either side, but there is great value in having the "one-of-a-kind" item, but when it no longer is unique, then what's left? That's where Cedar Point picks up.

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PO!NT OF VIEW - A Different Look at Roller Coasters
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/
100 Votes for a NEW POLL!

Though not “wacky” innovations by today’s standards, and not “first in any park”, steel track wasn’t common at all in 1969 when C. C. M. R. was built. Ditto for suspended types in the mid ‘80s when Iron Dragon was built. These machines were each a big deal in their era, though anyone under 21 wouldn’t have first hand experience with that fact (no offense meant toward our younger members!). I agree with the general consensus that C. P. is unlikely to get a literal “first of its kind” coaster. However, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see a highly innovative type of machine built at C. P. in the next year or two.

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- Raptor Dave

Hey now. I remember waiting in line almost an hour for Iron Dragon When I was only 6 (1987). The Iron Dragon sounded just as Wacky to me back then as X does now.

No offense Dave. :)

I'm sorry CP_Bound. You're right. One thing that is impossible for SOB to have is airtime. Now I wish we didn't have that darn loop. Different restraints would give that an awesome ride. Right?

But keep in mind that when Cedar Creek Mine Ride and Iron Dragon were built, they were not the first rides of their kinds. The Bat, as I recall, at Kings Island was the first Arrow suspended coaster; the technology was new, and KI's experience with the ride was bumpy. The ride closed after a few seasons. CCMR was not the first runaway mine train. I think it was Steve Wright (sp?) that said, The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. When it comes to coaster innovations, Cedar Point likes to be the second mouse.

Sorry, I am really far behind. What on God's Green Earth is "X?"

X is a new coaster to being built at Six Flags Magic Mountain. It's an Arrow "4th Dimension Coaster," with seats that are positioned along the outside of the track. The seats can spin in a complete 360-degree turn, forwards and back I believe.

X is part of a three-coaster package SFMM is building for the 2001 season. Along with "Deja Vu," a Vekoma Super Invertigo (supersized invertigo featuring vertical towers), and Goliath Jr., a kiddie coaster. When the last coaster opens, Magic Mountain will be able to claim the "Most Coasters in a Park" record with 15. They'll beat out the current holder, which of course is Cedar Point with 14.

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How dare you vanquish the Steel Phantom without his consent? Fear the Phantom's Revenge.

I really really really really want Cedar Point to build a nice traditional out and back woodie (YES LIKE GHOSTRIDER!). I too would be wary of trying new designs, and they have done well enough without it! I like the way CP errs on the conservative side when they build rides, and then just make them the tallest and best out of their respective types. It's...a good approach, as far as I'm concerned.

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Natalie
CP Ride Operations '99-'00