vegas coaster doesn't stack up to cp thrillers

we just got back from our first trip to vegas. i looked through some coupon books and found one for $8 off the manhattan express. we figured why not get our first coaster ride of the year. it was fairly interesting but kind of on the rough side. i don't think it could even hold a candle to the magnum. it was nice to get a quick ride in but i wouldn't ride it again. the speed coaster at sahara looked ok but once you're used to cedar point hardware most everything else is a bit flat.

You're comparing a Togo to one of the greatest steel roller coasters on earth? You have some really high standards.

I've ridden both the Manhatten Express and Speed! The Ride. Manhatten express is pretty terrible and not worth the money, so be glad you had the coupon. Speed however is very awesome, I'd have to say I liked it better than Mr. Freeze and thats when it had OTSR. (I'm not sure if Speed has lapbars now...anyone know?)

If you were comparing Desperado to Magnum I can see, but not a Togo death machine.

Ive never ridden Desperado. How good is it compared to Magnum ???

After having just ridden Desperado two weeks ago, I think the only good adjective that possibly comes to mind is 'credit!' but even that's a bit of a stretch. To paraphrase the quote heard that day: "take every bad transition Arrow's ever made, put them all together in one coaster, and presto! Desperado." The square wheels didn't help much, either.

Speed still has OTSRs, and yes, Speed is still the best coaster in Vegas. :)

-Skydiving Jeff

Speed! The Ride was great. When I went I got one of the wrist bands so you could ride it as many times as you wanted. There was no lines, so I got on every launch for about a half hour. That ride is great.

I have to agree with you guys here, Manhattan Express was by far the roughest ride I have ever been on. You can stand next to it and hear it jumping around. It makes SOB seem like a B&M... For and idea of how bad this ride is, go to this link and scroll about half-way down the page to the Manhattan Express video:

http://www.themeparkreview.com/videos/video.htm

I'm sure some of you have seen this movie, but I love it. Mostly because it was exactly how I felt on it a few years ago.

Speed is an all around awesome ride. Getting launched out of the station and on to "the strip" is a feeling like no other... It also comes very close to the things around it.

At the Stratosphere, I didn't waste by time on High Roller, but Big Shot is also an amazing ride. This may be blasphemy around here, but Big Shots perch 1,000 feet in the air easily gives this ride a win over Power Tower. You get shot up. and you cant see the tower below you... its breathtaking.

Unfortunately, I didn't get on Canyon Blaster or Desperado...

Hmm, interesting, I thought Desperado was very good. The head chopper at the beginning was just plain awesome. I think I rode it before I rode Magnum, but I can't remember for sure.

gilbert, did you ride Insanity at Stratosphere?

I am going to Vegas shortly and can't wait for my first coaster of 2005.

http://www.insanityride.com/

Vegas coasters are more on the side of scenery and an additional activity besides gambling (which I won't get started on, Jeff ;-)

I just watched the video of Insanity.....WOW thats looks crazy. Its been a few years since I've been the Vegas and I guess I need to make a trip back out there.

raptorqueen, i watched insanity but didn't have the nerve or desire to try it. i would have had to sucked down twenty budweisers to even consider getting on that thing. oh well, maybe someday i'll be up for that one.

I rode both Insanity and X-Scream here in Utah, and in Las Vegas. I will tell you that 1,100 Feet makes a lot of difference. Its just a shame that the company who made them is now being sued by Hersheypark, Interactive Rides. But S & S has to be one of the best american coaster manufactuers ever. They are set to release a LAUNCHED 4D Coaster in Japan next year. Who knows maybe one will find its way to CP :)

LeGrand

We rode the manhattan express when we were in vegas a few years ago and found it to be just really rough and the restraints at the time made your shoulders hurt. The coaster on the stratosphere just plain sucked, it was about as bad as woodstocks express except you happened to be 900ft in the air.

I would not, by any stretch of the imagination, compare the coaster on top of the Stratosphere to Woodstock's Express. Heck, WE is better than more than a few coasters I have ridden!

I would sooner whack myself in the goodies with a sledgehammer than ride Manhattan Express again. No amount of Vegas alcohol can dull the pain that ride causes.

Did anyone ride that insane coaster on the top of a skyscraper?It looks terrifying to me.

The only thing terrifying about it is that it was built at the top of the Stratosphere Tower. The coaster itself is very mild, more like a kiddie coaster.

I realize that Pete,but just being in coaster looking down what, 1000 feet? is enough for me.

I used to work at Cedar Point and I miss it more than anything...and I now live in Vegas so I know a thing or two about the coasters here too. Vegas is definitely not a Mecca for coaster enthusiasts by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, Rolo's right...they're more for scenery than anything else.
The only thing I ask is, don't be too hard on them because you're not really comparing apples to apples when you're talking about Cedar Point vs....well, anywhere else on the planet. The coasters here are not trying to be the tallest, the fastest, the smoothest or the best. They don't have to be...the mere fact that they're in Vegas is enough to make people pay the ridiculous prices in order to ride them...you did, didn't you?
Vegas is about finding anything and everything...a coaster that wraps around the Manhattan skyline, an indoor amusement park and the pure "Insanity" that comes with taking the Waveswinger to a whole new extreme. Enjoy Vegas for what it is...an adult playground....not a weak attempt at taking over Cedar Point as the thrill capitol of the planet.
Oh and by the way...there are plenty of people out here who have been re-educated regarding the idea that Magic Mountain can't hold a candle to the park we all hold near and dear. Happy riding, have a great season at the point and for those of you who are coming here, good luck!

Even if you're in the outside seat on High Roller, you can't really see down or anything because of the way you're pinned in the cars, and the slight banking toward the inside. It's a lame ride even up that high.