raptor6

My Ballot. Thank you ballot helper! --Generator: Jordan's Ballot Helper 2013 (steel)-- --Ballot: f5f0240cf20-- LOCATION IN NEXT LINE (Please LEAVE THIS LINE IN BALLOT) ~"East Lansing, MI, USA" NAME IN NEXT LINE (Please LEAVE THIS LINE IN THE BALLOT) ~"Donald Benko" RANK THE FOLLOWING RIDING SENSATIONS <-LEAVE Abrupt Airtime_____________________________,y,y,1 Sensation of Speed_________________________,y,y,2 Out of Control Feeling/Directional Changes_,y,y,3 Positive G's/Loops_________________________,y,y,4 Floating Airtime___________________________,y,y,5 Lateral Forces_____________________________,y,y,6 COASTER NAME PARK LOC <--Please leave this Maverick Cedar Point OH,y,y,1 Bizarro SF New England MA,y,n,2 Millennium Force Cedar Point OH,y,y,3 Favorite Wood Coaster Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,4 Ride of Steel Darien Lake NY,y,n,5 Top Thrill Dragster Cedar Point OH,y,y,6 Storm Runner Hersheypark PA,y,n,7 Diamondback Kings Island OH,y,n,8 Apollo's Chariot Busch Gardens Will VA,y,n,9 Magnum XL-200 Cedar Point OH,y,y,10 Raptor Cedar Point OH,y,y,11 Volcano: The Blast Co Kings Dominion VA,y,n,12 Montu Busch Gardens Tamp FL,y,y,13 Kumba Busch Gardens Tamp FL,y,y,14 Manta SeaWorld Orlando FL,y,y,15 Afterburn Carowinds NC,y,n,16 Dominator Kings Dominion VA,y,n,17 Intimidator Carowinds NC,y,n,18 Incredible Hulk Islands of Adventu FL,y,y,19 Hollywood Rip Ride Ro Universal Studios FL,y,y,20 Kraken SeaWorld Orlando FL,y,y,21 Batman The Ride/Clone SF & Other Parks **,y,n,22 SheiKra Busch Gardens Tamp FL,y,y,23 GateKeeper Cedar Point OH,y,y,24 Chinese Fireball Islands of Adventu FL,y,y,25 Hungarian Horntail Islands of Adventu FL,y,y,26 Talon Dorney Park PA,y,n,27 Raging Bull Six Flags Great Am IL,y,n,28 Cheetah Hunt Busch Gardens Tamp FL,y,y,29 Alpengeist Busch Gardens Will VA,y,n,30 Flight Deck Kings Island OH,y,n,31 Mindbender Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,n,32 Revenge of the Mummy Universal Studios FL,y,y,33 Journey to Atlantis SeaWorld Orlando FL,y,y,34 Fav Intamin Impulse Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,35 Great Bear Hersheypark PA,y,n,36 Whizzer Six Flags Great Am IL,y,n,37 Batman - Dark Knight SF New England MA,y,n,38 Apocalypse Six Flags America MD,y,n,39 Joker's Jinx Six Flags America MD,y,n,40 Steel Force Dorney Park PA,y,n,41 Gemini Cedar Point OH,y,y,42 Flight of Fear Kings Island OH,y,n,43 Flight of Fear Kings Dominion VA,y,n,44 Loch Ness Monster Busch Gardens Will VA,y,n,45 Backlot Stunt Coaster Cedar Fair Parks **,y,n,46 Firehawk Kings Island OH,y,n,47 Hydra the Revenge Dorney Park PA,y,n,48 Sooperdooperlooper Hersheypark PA,y,n,49 Avalanche Kings Dominion VA,y,n,50 Fav Schw Shuttle loop Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,51 Fav X SC2000 Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,52 Viper Darien Lake NY,y,n,53 Fav Gerstlauer Spinn. Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,54 Superman - Ultimate F Six Flags Parks **,y,n,55 Fav Intamin Bobsled Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,56 Mantis Cedar Point OH,y,y,57 Iron Dragon Cedar Point OH,y,y,58 Fav Vekoma Invertigo Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,59 Vortex Kings Island OH,y,n,60 Dark Knight Six Flags Parks **,y,n,61 Fav Spinning Mouse Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,62 Ninja Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,n,63 Fav Arrow Mine Train Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,64 Fav Vekoma Boomerang Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,65 Fav Vek Susp Loop SLC Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,66 Fav Wild Mouse Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,67 Fav Arrow Corkscrew Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,68 Doppel Looping Traveling US,y,n,69 Fav Zyklon Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,70 Fav Zyklon Loop Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,71

Overall: Transformers - Fantastic ride. The wife and I rode it 5 time when we visited in December. Universal has a real winner. I'm surprised that USJ has received a copy yet, with Japan's huge love of all things giant robot. Favorites by category: Coaster: Incredible Hulk Dark Ride: Transformers Water Ride: Jurassic Park Flat Ride: Dr. Doom Show: Horror Make-Up Show

^ At least Intamin prototypes don't lose their seats

My previous about the cost factor comment was directed towards hyyyper and has been edited to clear up the confusion. I didn't realize that the lifts hills were launched. Is it a full launch like Incredible Hulk or just speedy lift hill like Maverick? And if the ride was really expensive as _koppen and COASTER FREAK 11 have stated, then it makes USS look even sillier for buy an unproven and pricey Vekoma concept that have been a giant lawn ornament for months. If I was going to buy a expensive prototype, it would be from Intamin, not Vekoma.

^^ And Universal is paying a big price for trying to save a few million dollars.

The only wing rider that I've ridden is Gatekeeper. It was pretty fun in the back row (especially the first drop), but a little on the rattly side and not as intense as I would prefer. I plan visit SFGAm this summer with the wife to compare X-Flight and Gatekeeper. I am interested to see if a smaller wing rider will provide more forces.

If Universal Studios Singapore wanted a solid dueling coaster, why did they not just ask B&M for a Dueling Dragons clone? I never did understand why they went with an unproven Vekoma concept. I would guess that price was a big factor, but Universal makes money hand over fist, I think that they can afford the hypothetically more expensive B&M.

I have never heard of this place. It's apparently less than 2 hours from my house and on my way to Chicago. The Kiddie Coaster looks nice in the wooded setting. I might have stopped there for the credit if I ever knew about this park.

Start flack: Wow! I've never heard anyone complain about the Big Dipper at Geauga Lake. I rode it pretty much every season until the final weekend in 2007, and I can't recall ever having a brutal ride. I just remember a fun, family friendly wooden coaster. End flack.

Online ticket prices for a 2 day park to park ticket with the 3rd day free is still $146.99 (Still includes a coupon book with 4 buy one get one free alcohol coupons!). The tickets must be used by May 22nd (so before Summer and Potterland 2.0). I would expect the price to change very soon. Screamscape thinks that the change will occur on March 4th. These price increases make me really happy that I went to the park in December!

Those pictures of Alton Towers look great. I've really wanted to visit the park for a long time and it's interesting to see how the park looked eight years ago. As always, your trip reports are very entertaining to read!

Connecticut - Boulder Dash Florida - Incredible Hulk (Florida is really a tough choice) Georgia - Mindbender Illinois - Batman Kentucky - Kentucky Rumbler Maryland - Joker's Jinx Massachusetts - Superman: Ride of Steel Michigan - Shivering Timbers New York - Superman: Ride of Steel Ohio - Maverick Pennsylvania - Phoenix South Carolina - Afterburn Virginia - Volcano Illinois will probably switch to Goliath this summer. Pennsylvania might change as well, but Phantom's Revenge and/or Ravine Flyer II will need to blow my mind for this to occur.

^^So, by that logic, the "A" must stand for Aquatrax. And let's say that the "N" would be New Texas Giant.

Pun intended?

Impulse looks great! Knowing Knoebels, there won't be any trim brakes and the crew will be super efficient. Looping coasters with lap bars are always a win in my book!

Didn't Donut Time have Starbucks Coffee anyway? I'm not shocked about the addition of Cinnabon since a lot of other Cedar Fair parks have them but it's nice to see Cedar Fair upping their food offerings with all of these outside vendors (Chick Fil A, Chickie and Pete's, Pinks, Cinnabon, Famous Daves, TGI Fridays...) since their standard park food is pretty mediocre. As far as the slingshot goes, I'm assuming this will be a lot like the version at Great Adventure which is a lot of fun. The open air seating makes a huge difference and the ride has a very permanent look to it which is more than I can say for most theme park slingshot installations. I'll definitely be taking this thing for a ride or two. Correct about Donut Time. They have served Starbucks Coffee since it opened several seasons ago. I hope that still keep all those tasty pastries that are made in house.

I rode Kraken for the first time in December and it was fantastic! Very fast and old-school B&M forcefulness!

Your Japan Trip Report is legendary. I really need to visit the land of the rising sun sometime in my life.

Maybe they could put a polar coaster in the Challenge Park area near Hotel Breakers? It could be a resort nightlife destination with restaurants and a nightclub or two, to go along with the observation tower and roller coaster.

Susan Glaser (Cleveland Plain Dealer and cleveland.com writer) interviewed the new Cedar Point general manager Jason McClure about rollers coasters, customer service, and the importance of preserving the park's past. Don't read too much of the comments section; all they pretty much do is complain about Fast Lane and closing Geauga Lake! www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2014/02/new_cedar_point_gm_jason_mcclu.html

The go-carts also seem to be over-priced for the track and cars. The tracks at amusement parks are uninspired and the cars generally run slow. If I recall correctly, the tracks at Kings Island and Michigan's Adventure were simple ovals and look to be made for children. The tracks at Cedar Point had a great Platinum Pass deal last season, as they were buy one get one free!

Wow! I feel clairvoyant! I totally said that last week! Now hopefully it will happen next year!

The only coasters in the top 20 that I have ridden are Boulder Dash (4), Phoenix (5), and Ravine Flyer II (6). I really need to get out more! Luckily, there is a very good chance that the wife and I are going to pay a visit to Goliath at SFGAm this summer. Now to find some park entry discounts!

^ I would drive 4 hours for a Mega-Lite! Luckily for me, I live less than 2 hours from the park. Right now, I probably only go 1 or 2 times a season. Each time I spend only spend the afternoon.

Is it bad that I was way more excited for Transformers, than for either of the Harry Potter expansions? I rode Transformers like 5 times and after I rode all the rides in Potterland, I was done with the area. I will say that, regardless if frozen or liquid, the butter beer was amazing! I hope that the new Diagon Alley rides are more inviting to the non-fan boys, unlike Forbidden Journey which was super disorienting and confusing. Also, it's a shame to hear that it looks like the new area will have the same crowd issues.