TTD's launch? What does it feel like

I am going to CP this year for my second year in a row. I was going to ride TTD last year, but it was closed, so this year I am excited about it but also a little afraid. I was just wondering, does the launch hurt at all and with the recent tragedy at SFNE, do you think that could happen on TTD. I don't want to be paranoid, but I'm a little concerned. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

And by the way, this is my first post!!!

It feels like nothing else you've ever experienced. You can definately feel yourself being pulled and you really know when it lets go.

The neat thing about it is, after the first second, you feel like you're going at top speed. When you realize that it's getting faster after the second second, you think again, that it's the top speed. And the same thing for the next 2 seconds.

Another interesting thing, or at least in my opinion, is that TTD "gets me" every time. As in, you'd think that after riding a few times, that you'd get used to it and not be scared anymore. Not true. I've ridden it 12 times, and even on the twelfth time, I freaked out in the staging area, just waiting to launch, and then you feel yourself get pulled back, and then when you see the first yellow light you just let loose and forget everything you ever knew!

Wow, sounds awesome! I can't wait!

The 17 seconds go by so fast. But the lanunch is a one of a kind feeling like you have never felt before. Relax it's a lot of FUN!

Its definately a ride you will staple yourself into the seat ;). Yes, as the others posted, instant speed, with a hell of alot of acceleration to follow. The first ride you dont even think to look around on the top. One hell of a rush. I will wait in a long line for this ride. I always jump in line just before closing. Last year we were a couple of trains before the last train of the night and a ride op let us fill in the empty seats of the last train of the night. Two rides for the price of one. Probably the loudest train of the night, it was awesome

The launch is rather *meh*. Press your back (with a bit of strength) against your chair your sitting in. That is about how hard the launch is at the start. Not very hard.

The rest of the launch? Very LLLLLLOOOOOONNNNNNGGGG. Four seconds is a LOT. However, it's fun. Try to get some wind in your face.

The top hat? Yes, the top hat. THE TOP HAT!!!!! It's best! The way up is amazing, especially the turn. The top is slow but full of anticipation. The turn on the way down is (IMO) the BEST COASTER MOMENT! I love it.

So like I said, the launch is *meh*, but its great!

*meh*..... no way. Unless you're an astronaut, you have never felt anything like it. From the very begining, it is like nothing you have never felt. The worst part is waiting... You know it is going to be intense but you have no idea. When the sled releases, and you stop accelerating, it feels like you slow down 50 mph and you will never make it, but you keep going up...and up. Again, it is like nothing you will ever imagine. No one can really explain to you what it feels like, so you just have experience it for yourslef.
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Umm...You don't need to be an astronaut...try drag racing. Real dragsters go up to 300 mph or so in this same amount of time. So a drag racer will probably say that TTD's launch is, how you say, *meh*.

Any drag racers here?

[cricket cricket]

You're sitting there waiting for the christmas tree lights to start going. The excitement is building every second. Then you hear the christmas tree lights going down. And in four seconds you've hit 120. It's amazing. You can't really explain it in writing, you just have to go ride it yourself.

This ride is a very strange experience. 17 seconds sounds like a waste of a ride. Well, I'll take a 17 sec. ride on TTD anyday before going on another ride. 17 seconds feels like two when you're on it and it's the most amazing feeling ever. There really isn't anyway to explain the ride. It becomes very scary during the staging area. Right when the christmas tree starts counting down time stands still. Yellow...Yellow...Yellow...GREEN. Right when you see green you feel like you're going to be launch to the moon. The train goes so fast so quickly it blows you away everytime you ride it. Right as you feel you're going so fast you feel the train banking straight up all you see is blue sky (unless it's cloudy then you see grey sky) then you twist and you're at the top. On a normal ride you barly have time to realize to look around and then the train starts the desent. all you see is the creek and the MF's two overbank turns on the island. The ride twist and from there you reach 120mph again and quickly slow down. And that would be your 17 second ride on the best ride every built.

top thrill dragster lauch is amazing...standing there in the queve line or one the platform hereing and watchin 'em take off...it just gets u so pumped up to ride the ride...and when u get in ure train you have to wait a couple lauches before you get ure turn...then u hear the operator say head, hands down, and hold on....then you see the tree go from red to yellow to green then u feel the train roll back a bit then u go..and boy do u ever go...u r glued to the back of your seat...and then u start u climb up the hill...and after the twist u cant c when it will go over the top...its just amazing...and then over the hump u get some air time...and i nice view...and then you go down and it doesnt feel like u will go down it feels like u will go forward...then u go down into the 270 degree twist and down onto the brakes...its just so amazing...

Yes, the launch is absolutley insane...but it isn't as insane now as it was on opening day. No staging lights, so unless you were sitting in the front, it was a tad hard to tell when you were going to launch. Fun stuff...

You could easily tell without the lights. The fins all go down then the train rolls back a bit right before the launch.

When you aren't sitting in the front, and you're scared as hell, you aren't really paying attention to the fact that you're rolling back a few inches. Lights, yeah, but I can tell you I didn't even feel the slight rolling back...lol.

I have gone through pilot training and have always wanted to know what the Navy fly-boys experience getting catapulted off the deck of an aircraft carrier. Now I can get some sense of that. If any park was to try and duplicate a lauching coaster of this magnitude, I could definately see the theming lean towards the fighter jets. Dragster is an extreme ride and one not to be missed!

I ride Top Thrill Dragster just for the launch, and the only way I can describe it is if you ever rode Wicked Twister or if you have ever been in a car and tried to hit sixty within a few seconds. It's just a really powerful feeling of acceleration that makes you feel like you are part of the track as you see it all happen, but how fast it happens is unfathomable. There is the sensation of surprise, like right when you almost get in an accident, or when you trip and fall. It's the element of surprise. It's an experience that can only be described by the experience of actually riding it.

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dertsanchez said:
Umm...You don't need to be an astronaut...try drag racing. Real dragsters go up to 300 mph or so in this same amount of time. So a drag racer will probably say that TTD's launch is, how you say, *meh*.

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Okay, I am not suggesting a trip down the 1/4 wouldnt be better in a 300mph top fuel dragster then on TTD, but TTD has effects you cant get in drag racing wich makes TTD an experience hard to compare . In drag racing you are wearing a helmet, full racing equipment, and are strapped into a racing seat with a 5 or 6 point harness surrounded by a roll cage. You control when the car drives off the line. The exposure isnt there in drag racing like on TTD. You are sitting there in your shorts and t-shirt with nothing on the side of you, nothing at all in front of you (if you ride in front). You are held in at your waist and thats it. A 120mph+ wind in your face. THEN you go up 420'. Of course that dont happen in drag racing (god willing). Several NHRA drivers did ride TTD last season and thought it was insane also. *** Edited 5/18/2004 4:47:53 PM UTC by cheese_on_a_stick*** *** Edited 5/18/2004 4:51:47 PM UTC by cheese_on_a_stick***

Hi, My name is dj and a big fan of CP I just want to say the TTD launch should not hurt i have rode it twice 1 last year and 1 this year i recommend that you do ride the TTD because the launch is the most intense feeling and it should be felt by everyone. I dont think you should be afraid at all to get on the TTD waiting in line does feel very nerve wrecking but after you get on it i will be you will want to do it all again.

P.s. The only downside of the TTD is you wait in line for hours and then once you get up there it only last for 17 seconds.

Are you responding or writing a letter? Welcome to the forums DJ.