When the Magnum ruled the world.

Oh this is the coaster that marks my B-day year...Aug. 18,1989. I love this coaster, I don't think it is my favorite but it definately has some of my favorite qualities...One beinging that slow climb to the top, you get such a great view of the lake and Soak City. Like I said, it is not my favorite, but it definately shows a true classic, and something that I have to ride every year!

It was amazing when Magnum first opened, and I couldn't believe how it dominated the CP skyline along with those fanatastic chasing strobes on the lift hill. I still view the opening of this coaster bigger than any coaster at the park, before or after it. Building taller and faster roller coasters after 1989 just became routine, nothing had a bigger impact than what Magnum created.

I worked at the park the year Magnum opened - It was amazing. The line in the morning (every morning) before they opened the que would go all they way past the Giraffe in kiddie kingdom. I always thought the long slow climb up the lift hill was much more exciting than Millie.

Of course, this was long before it starting sinking.

The Magnum has done more for the park then any other ride there, including Millenium Force, which is way less thrilling then Magnum. The crew is always the fastest moving one, as long as it is running all trains. The line is hidden from the line, the long lift hill. Everything about it makes it a first class coaster, especially when it is trimless. I think a perfect design = boring coaster(aka MF). Magnums sightly rough feel is what makes it fun for me.

The way Magnum's blocks are set up make the crew move fast. They have no choice.

There's obviously a lot of love for Magnum, but some of you are almost funny.

I rode the magnum for the first time in June of '89 with my first wife. We waited in line for an hour or so and it was worth every minute of the wait. I still enjoy the ride.

I know its because of the way the blocks are set up. I wish more coasters would run that way. Gemini used to, and the Raptor crew used to be good, every year they let the trains stack more and more.

I said it before and I'll say it again, take a look at the giant, ugly, horrible, stupid things we call "THE BINS". They are exactly the reason everything lags. Iron Dragon is one ride that doesn't have them for the sole purpose that the ride couldn't handle them. Three train operation would be impossible. That is mainly due to climbing through the "bucket like" trains to get to the other side. Corkscrew also has this problem, on top of the whole seatbelt craziness.

Anyway, Magnum had an amazing crew when I worked on it for a week. They have to be on their toes at all times, because there really cannot be a slow moment. The station design isn't the best either. "THE BINS" cause problems on Magnum as well, as they have a "slow guest" every hour that holds up the ride and someone has to run out and reset the safety break on the ride. It's a very hard stop on that brakerun as well.

Anyway, I blame most of the capacity issues on "THE BINS".

Solution to the problem would be free timed lockers, like those found at Universal Studios and make it even clearer that none of your "JUNK" can be taken on the ride "PERIOD".

P.S. - Just because I like saying it, it's "THE BINS" fault.

*** Edited 12/6/2007 12:49:43 AM UTC by Gomez***

Yeah, it's not all the bins fault. There were plenty of times I went and people were taking their good ol time.

Or, if the park wants to make money still, charge one fee, give people a card or PIN, and allow them to use any locker, in any location, as much or as little as they'd like.

^^Sure there are other problems (ie: slow crews), but mainly the bins are the issue I saw the most.

the first time i saw Magnum was in 1991. I was in 8th grade. I was so scared out of my mind by it! I got in line with my friends who were trying to convince me I would be ok. After about 20 minutes in line, I chickened out and left the line.

I didn't get back to CP to ride until 2000. I rode it and it was great. I was so disappointed that I was a chicken of a teen.

I like the key card idea, charge $3 or $4 a day, make it a disposable style card that equals as a souvenier for a kid.

Oh yeah, Magnum XL-200 still rocks!

I was thinking more like $10 a day. You get a plastic "credit card" from a kiosk located at any bank of lockers. The lockers have a green and red LED on the front. Green = locker available. Red = locker occupied. Swipe your card at any green locker, open it, put in your junk and close the door. It automatically locks and turns red. You come back later, swipe your card, extract your stuff and close the door. The LED then turns green and the locker is available for the next person. Repeat this at any locker bank in the park, including Soak City.

RideMan on Coasterbuzz suggested double sided lockers in the queues to eliminate the loose articles bins on the platform. This idea would work there too because you don't have to use a physical key in the locker. So, you can swipe your stuff in on the front, and swipe your stuff out on the back. Piece of cake.

If you forget your locker number, the kiosk could tell you the locker number (and even location) if you forget. Swipe your card, up pops your locker location.

If you wanted to get really fancy, you could also encode locker fees to your room key. When you check in, the clerk could simply ask, "Would you like unlimited locker use for your days in the park and/or Soak City? It's only $10 per day and I can add it to your key right now." Piece of cake.

The investment in the lockers alone would be worth it for the increase in capacity of the coasters. Not to mention, more people would be paying $10 a day for locker use if the system is implemented at each coaster.

^Sounds great, but it also sounds like something that involves technology SCARY.

TWO YEARS after Magnum, out came Steel Phantom.

One year after, they were planning for it, heh.

EDIT: My years are bad, my bad. Thanks for the correction!

2 years after Magnum, it came out in 1991.

http://rcdb.com/id123.htm

^ Take a trek out to Jackson, New Jersey. Ejector air is given a new meaning with El Toro. Violent, yet smooth.
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Agreed.

Magnum still holds a spot in my heart, coming in at #13 in my top rankings.

I'd say the quality of ride has gone down with the more and more they trim this sucker. My best rides of the season were without the trims. With them.. :(

Why is the title of this thread in the past tense?

--Dave Althoff, Jr. (Magnum R00LZ!)