Cedar Point is still the most impressive visual park I’ve ever seen. It’s simply so huge and colorful. Even though I’d seen it before, I was still in awe by the place. We high-tailed it to Top Thrill Dragster.
Having done Dragster before, it isn’t as frightening or exhilarating the second time around. It is still nuts though, and one of the most intense rides ever. Definitely something you could never get used to, which is what I love about it.
Since we were in the neighborhood, we hit Magnum next. I guess the secret to a good ride on this ride is in the middle of the car, away from the wheels. I definitely enjoyed this ride more the second time around. The drops are great, and each hill offers a good amount of airtime. Other than the bumpiness, the only fault I could find in the ride was the trim brake right before the turnaround. As the track banks left into the turnaround, it catches the train so hard and kills off so much speed I felt like I was going to fall out the side of the train. It regains quite a bit of speed by the end of the ride though. Is it overrated? Of course. But ias long as you don’t expect a world-beater, it is tons of fun.
Maverick was next, and had a wait a little over an hour, which was pretty much standard for the two days we were there. The setting of the ride is cool, and the first thing I noticed waiting in line was that the trains absolutely flew through each element. On the ride, the lift hill was smooth and quick. The 95-degree drop was incredible. I just wish it was bigger. The camelbacks had some of the most powerful air I’ve experienced. Each element was taken with crazy quickness and speed, which makes this one of the more intense rides around. Unfortunately, the quickness also causes quite a bit of “snap” through each element. With simple lap bars, it wouldn’t be bad. But the shoulder restraints definitely detract from the ride. It’s by no means a rough coaster, but it’s not fun getting your head snapped against a harness every few seconds. It’s a great ride, definitely one of the best in the park. But it could be so much better with lap bars…
Up next was the best ride in the park, Millennium Force. This ride grew on me more and more each time I rode it. Last summer, I wrote that the ride was so graceful that it bordered on boring. But the sheer speed is simply mind-blowing. The more I rode it, the more I realized that each drop and turn was simply perfect; fast, smooth, and intense. I still wish it had more variation, more camelbacks, and more “wow” moments. But what it does have, intensity and speed, it has in spades. The first drop is unparalleled, the overbanks are intense, and the camelbacks offer near-perfect moments of air. Doesn’t slide into my list at #1 simply because it lacks the out-of-control insanity of the Voyage, but it is firmly entrenched near the top of my list.
Raptor was next, and it is still one of the most intense coasters I’ve been on. Each element is so forceful, and puts the newer Beemers (ala Patriot) to shame. I love Patriot, but Raptor is simply sheer ass-kicking at its finest. Other than the painful snapping final turn onto the brakes (I’ve never been shuffled that bad on a ride in my life, including SOB and Timber Wolf), this ride is great.
Blue Streak was a walk-on, and we couldn’t pass up a chance to hop on. Not a great ride by any means, but still fun. Has a few very good moments of airtime.
The only other big ride we rode was maXair. It’s not as intense as one would imagine, but I absolutely love it, especially this giant version. It’s so much fun to look up at your feet…
The rest of the time at CP was spent riding the main rides over and over again. I realized that even though I had done almost the exact same trip the year before, I still loved every second of it. Cedar Point and Holiday World are two great places that guarantee a good time. They are everything theme parks should strive to be, and I was again blown away by both places.
