FeelTheFORCE

My visit was on Tuesday, August 10th, 2010. It was a HOT one with the temps reaching 100+ degrees, which probably means the heat index was 110-120 with all that concrete and asphalt. However, it was a nice, clear day with minimal crowds nonetheless. I'll get right to it...I305 was a great coaster, but I think I had my expectations set a bit high, and it didn't really blow me away like I thought it would. Still an awesome, one-of-a-kind coaster that puts KD on the map, nonetheless. As others have said, the straps are awesome, best OTSR's ever! However, I was disappointed in the fact that my first ride in the very last seat had a noticeable Intamin shuffle, very similar to an aged Intamin, like Millennium. It only happened that first ride, though, so I guess i'll chalk it up to the extreme heat and the fact that I was in the very last row. I was really surprised by Volcano, a great coaster, but it's too bad the capacity sucks. Although it was only about a 15-30 minute wait max for the entire day, it was the only coaster with a real line all day. Avalanche is an underrated coaster, very fun! For some reason I really like KD's FoF and BLSC over KI's. They both seem faster and more intense (especially FoF). Maybe it was just the heat? Either way a pleasant surprise nonetheless. I did like how KD's FoF doesn't come to a complete stop at the MCBR, unlike KI's. Regardless, I really like Flight of Fear and think both KD's and KI's are extremely underrated coasters. Can't get enough of Dominator. I was really happy to ride it again after 3 long years since my last visit to Geauga Lake. Still a great ride and very smooth. Once again, the heat probably played a factor, and the fact that they aren't that great to begin with, but all of KD's woodies were only average at best. It's a shame that Hurler's turns beat you up so much because it's straight sections were actually very smooth and fun. Anaconda was fun, a lot less rough than I thought it would be. Shockwave sucks, a lot MORE rough than I thought it would be, lol. Drop Tower was great, I can't get enough of those style of drop rides. All in all, awesome park to end my summer on, and one that I definitely want to return to some day. I am definitely jealous of everyone who is going on the 22nd! Hopefully this Trip Report will quench their thirsts a bit until then. Here's my ride count for the major rides: Intimidator 305 - 3 Dominator - 3 Volcano - 2 Anaconda - 1 Flight of Fear - 1 Back Lot Stunt Coaster - 1 Hurler - 1 Rebel Yell (South) - 1 Grizzly - 1 Shockwave - 1 Ricochet - 1 Drop Tower - 1 Avalanche - 1 On to the pictures, enjoy and thanks for looking! People having fun around one of Avalanche's turns. Intimidator 305 from Rebel Yell's exit ramp. Hurler's first drop. Eiffel Tower rising above the trees. A random picture I took, but I like how it turned out. Still an awesome ride, and very smooth. Hypersonic's former spot. Aerial view. Dominator. I305. I305. I305. Dominator closer. Volcano and Flight of Fear. Back half of I305. Entrance area and fountains. Volcano doing it's thing. I305 entrance area. Dale's car. Such a cool touch, like the Dragster at TTD. I really liked the I305 plaza. Well done KD. More Volcano while waiting in line. Volcano's fire. Funny thing, I didn't even know it was coming, the fire in this picture was a complete accident. Cool coincidence, huh? Dominator's back half. I really like this one for some reason. I305 from it's exit ramp. KD's entrance area. Dominator from the parking lot on the way back to the car.

Looks awesome! Makes me wonder, though that if the USA wasn't so sue-happy and so worried about liability all the time, if I305 could have made do with just lap bars also. Ah well, I guess we'll never know.

Intimidator 305 on August 10th, 2010.

Here are some at KD: Avalanche - faster and more intense than I expected Flight of Fear - seemed better and more intense than KI's version Hurler - at least the straight bits, the turns beat you up pretty bad Volcano - an extremely fun coaster that doesn't get talked about all that much, especially because it now lives in the shadow of I305 Ricochet - a fun and borderline crazy Wild Mouse...watch out for those brakes, though!

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True, although all this depends on how the seats/harnesses/OTSRs are designed. The seats/harnesses would have to be completely new, although I imagine we would see the soft shoulder straps that i305 got. No matter what it would be very awkward. Yes, I agree it would be incredibly awkward regardless. It would probably feel like sitting in the station or on the brake run in a Vekoma flyer, which is definitely a weird experience, lol.

I disagree, I think being head-first would be the most comfortable, because you'd be pushed into the seat instead of the top of the harness/restraint. Launching like that shouldn't be much different than riding the launch version of an S&S Tower, and the transition might not be much different than a pretzel loop on a B&M Flyer. Why, because everyone is civilly talking about Superman, a ride you seem to hate with a passion and bash in every thread you visit?

^ Here's a tip, if you don't like it, then don't ride it! *gasp* :O Why do you insist on coming in here posting garble that you very well know could de-rail the thread?

Maverick is an early entry ride, so it will have a decent line by 10:00.

^^ Adding to that, didn't Cedar Fair get the rights to the name 'Mustang' back when KI was getting Diamondback? Everyone thought that was going to be the name, but it wasn't, so nothing is for sure until an official announcement is made.

The general public as a whole is fairly dumb, and that applies to a lot of things in life, not just parks and coasters. For example, take a drive down the road sometime and observe the behavior of fellow drivers. You'll be amazed at how few people actually know things like who has the right-away, when you can turn right on red, how to use a turn signal (big one there), and driving etiquette in general. Why are you guys getting so defensive about a GENERAL statement that CLEARLY wasn't singling anyone out? Go to SFMM, the general public still thinks Terminator is Psyclone. And do I have to even mention the guy that called 911 on Harry Potter at Universal?

While that's definitely true, I'd be willing to bet Cedar Fair wouldn't even bat an eye if it came to spending $30-$40 million for their "baby," Cedar Point. But like I said, even building a giant version of anything they have to offer really wouldn't stand out tremendously and be anything terribly unique, in my opinion, so it wouldn't be worth it. Hydraulic technology is hydraulic technology no matter how it is used. Xcellerator still trumps Dragster. I disagree. That's like saying video games are video games, so a Playstation 2 is the same as a Playstation 3. Saying "Xcellerator trumps Dragster" is a matter of opinion on the quality of the ride. In my opinion, Xcellerator is fun, but Dragster is much more of a thrill (yes I know Xcelerator's launch is slightly more intense, technically), and a ride people are definitely going to go out of their way for (the basis for this entire debate). I think the word "groundbreaking" needs to be thrown out of this debate. It can be used in so many different contexts that everyone seems to be missing each other's points and the same things are getting repeated over and over. The whole original argument was the fact that Cedar Point builds coasters that will cause people to go out of their way for, and are found NO WHERE ELSE at the time they open (NOT whether they are good coasters or not), which is true for most (if not all) of their coasters, or they wouldn't be Cedar Fair's flagship park and a resort destination for people all over the world. There really is no denying that, whether someone likes Cedar Point or not. EDIT: ^ Steve said it very well. ^

My point being, B&M may only be willing to build a coaster so tall or make it go so fast, no matter what park it goes in. Companies like Intamin are willing to work with Cedar Point to push the limits and cater to their needs, where B&M might not be.

Considering the definition of "innovate" is "to introduce something new; make changes in anything established," I'd classify Cedar Point as considerably groundbreaking (at least at the time those rides were built). The original debate was whether B&M has anything in their arsenal that you can't ride or experience anywhere else (at the time of construction), and would considerably add to Cedar Point's coaster collection. And in my opinion, excluding unbuilt concepts, I'd say no...at least not right this very second.

According to the weather channel, "Colin has croaked." Those shears have dissipated it.

^ You're missing the point. No one is arguing that Raptor is better because it's bigger, that is all a matter of opinion (CPMaverick was just saying he personally like it better). What is being argued is the fact that Raptor and Mantis broke new ground when they were built, because there was nothing else like them (or at least as large as them) in the world at the time, which is arguably true. Regarding a Dive Machine, I think if CP ever does get one, it would have to be 250'-300' tall, and I'm not sure if B&M would push those kind of limits...at least not right now. For all we know Cedar Point could have approached B&M sometime in the past about a monster coaster, but B&M could have declined...who knows.

I'd say at least go to Dorney, it's a well-rounded park with some great underrated rides. As for the other two, I haven't been to Knoebels, and Waldameer doesn't really have anything that Dorney doesn't (at least in some form), except RFII.

There are numerous possible paths for it right now, it's still way too early to say anything definitive, but if it doesn't get broken up by the increased shear near the Lesser Antilles, it will probably hit the coast, at least the edge of it will, making for possible extended rain at KD. Even if it does get broken up by the shear, the wave of T-storms/rain could still make it's way up the coast, affecting KD around early to mid next week.

Yeah, cross your fingers and hope that Tropical Storm Colin dissipates. I know I am.

In that case, I bet it is that Intamin version, except each gondola will hold 16 instead of 12. I couldn't imagine the capacity to be much different from MaXair and/or Skyhawk, which hold 50 and 40 people per cycle, respectively. Also, MaXair's cycle isn't exactly short at two and a half minutes.

^ I'm wondering if it is the low capacity one, will it be an upcharge?

If so, I hope it's more along the lines of this, instead of the traditional low capacity StarFlyer.

Disaster Transport doesn't open until 11, so unless you feel like waiting an hour (or two depending if you have early entry), go to TTD, MF, or Maverick first. My 'must-rides' are: -TTD -MF -Maverisk -Magnum -Mantis -Raptor -Gemini -Wicked Twister -MaXair (non-coaster) -Skyhawk (non-coaster) -Power Tower (non-coaster) I'd suggest trying to do every major coaster and ride, but anything not on that list is fine if you miss it, and not worth going out of your way for, in my opinion.

^ I don't believe that's what they mean. Say someone is sitting on a handrail, over the line behind the air-gates, or whatever, if they don't oblige because can't understand the op when they tell them to step back, get down, keep their hands in the car, etc. then something could go wrong because they couldn't understand the warning. All the safety training in the world can't help some stupid person hanging out of a coaster train, or something similarly stupid.

I believe this is just a bonus, and while it would be nice, I don't think CLP is completely banking on this to happen. There is currently TONS of work being done on it without this Pepsi funding, and I believe the current overhaul is $125,000, which is happening whether they 'win' this or not. I don't know if they can have it running by Labor Day, but they sure as hell are making incredible progress regardless, and it definitely doesn't seem out of the question.