Theme park/roller coaster thread

Just got back yesterday after two days with my coaster-freak 11-year-old son at the Mecca for coaster freaks: Cedar Point.

We rode them all. Top Thrill Dragster, coaster porn, with a zero-to-120 mph in four seconds launch up a 420-foot hill followed by a 270-degree drop (a 90-degree drop with spins), all in 17 seconds. Millennium Force, quite possibly the greatest coaster in the world. Maverick, with a 95-degree drop (yup, going slightly upside down), twists and turns including a horseshoe spin and turn, and a zero-to-70 mph launch out of a tunnel. Rode 14 out of 17 coasters in all (stayed off the Junior Gemini and Woodstock Express, both kiddie coasters, and Disaster Transport, an indoor bobsled coaster for which have you have to pay $10 for 3-D glasses, and is shut down so frequently that it'll probably be the next ride to go when Cedar Point adds another coaster.

We didn't just jump in and hit the biggest rides. Bringing my son to Cedar Point was like bringing your old-country Catholic grandmother to the Vatican -- there's such a sense of awe, you can't just jump into St. Peter's and kneel. We spent the first day on rides, but also my son taking a lot of pictures. This is a kid who can explain to his old man the finer technical details of how these coasters work, the motors they use, the lifting technology that gets the cars going. The real mindbenders, we did on day two.

Speaking of mindbenders, I feel like my brain is still jostling around from the weekend. But I'm of firm enough mind to say that if you like coasters, get to Cedar Point at least once in your life. However, I would caution at staying at Breakers Express. It's a CP-owned hotel, which means you get one hour early entry to the park. Very cool. But I've stayed at $50-a-night Quality Inns that were cleaner and smelled less funny.

Please feel free to add your coasters and/or park recommendations and/or memories here.

 

Space Mountain at Disneyland.

 

Do they check IDs on that one?

 

I love roller coasters, but when I'm out with my family I have to go on them by myself. MrsExpendable is too chickenshit to go on them, and the eldest of the little expendables is taking after mama. I'm hoping my little one keeps the sense of adventure she appears to have at nine months, but that's still some time in the future.

 

Ah, roller coasters. I haven't been on one in years. I remember when I was younger my dad took the family to Busch Gardens which is now Six Flags. I refused to go on the roller coaster and balled like a baby and gripped onto whatever I could like I was falling off the the earth.

 

I used to love them but now I can't take them so much. All the banging around and jostling makes my head hurt.

 

Don't give up, Ace. The newer coasters are, like barbers would say, smooth as a newborn baby's ass. Millennium Force goes 93 mph and has drops of 300, 180 and 150 feet, but it feels easier than riding in your car.

 

The Bobs.

Riverview.

Chicago.

Western & Belmont.

Glorious, for its time.

 

Been to Cedar Point once. Top Thrill was closed, and at 5-10, 280, I was too girthy to get on Millenium Force.. at least that's what they said.

Anyhoo, the rest were great, though I was severely disappointed with the big wooden coaster.

Best wood coaster I've ridden is the big one at Six Flags St. Louis. The Screaming Eagle is an American classic (and it's where my mom found out she was pregnant with me after getting sick on it).

Worlds of Fun in KC has changed some since I last visited, but the Timber Wolf is still fantastic. It'll beat the shit out of you, but it's great, as is Mamba, the big steel coaster.

 

Absolutely true. Millennium Force is hands down the country's best. Still better than Top Thrill Dragster, IMO. and I still love me some Magnum at CP, especially at twilight when you look out over Lake Erie as you climb that first hill.

The one I can't take anymore is the wooden one in the back of the park (Mean Streak?). used to love it; now it leaves me feeling like a crash test dummy.

 

I grew up a couple hours away from Cedar Point and recall many a summer day getting sunburnt and getting sick from riding those roller-coasters. Great days.

 

If it makes your head hurt, I don't suggest riding the Mean Streak. That thing is a concussion waiting to happen.

Anyway, I once got stuck at the top of the Millenium Force in high school. That was not fun. Getting a free ride pass as a result was. I think I rode the Raptor like 5 times straight after that. It was sweet.