Superdasher

Remember the annoying announcement that plays whenever Dragster is about to launch? "Keep arms down, head back, and hold on! (Dragster engine sound effect plays).....arms down......arms down...............arms down...arms down (ride launches)" Wikipedia has a theory on this whole Arms Down business. They say that it is manually replayed by the ride ops to get the riders to lower their arms if they have them in the air. It would be hysterical if the designers had put in an odd program to do that absentmindedly. I don't know for sure if this is true though. In fact, one time I heard it repeat "arms down" a split-second AFTER the launch started!! Anyone else have any input on this?

Americans are too lazy to build them. What better way to test the stability of one's stomach than to ride Top Thrill Dragster immediately after eating a triple cone ice cream with chocolate/mint, strawberry, and cookies & cream?

Rode the ride... By far the best Space Mountain, still trying to figure out where it ranks on my list of 157 coasters... Space Mountain Mission 2 is in what I would consider to be that "middle range" of coaster intensity. It's not as intense as the "big thrills" at Six Flags (Tatsu, Batman The Ride, Goliath, etc.), but it IS much more intense than most Disney rides, and then again, Six Flags are very thrill-oriented - Disney has to cater to the many families that visit their parks. It would be hard to compare Space Mountain Mission 2 to another dark coaster, since there hasn’t been one I can think of to compare it to. I guess you can say it’s like “What Rock ‘n Roller Coaster SHOULD have been” or “A shorter enclosed version of IOA’s Incredible Hulk”, but what the ride experience actually “feels” like is more along the lines of Tennessee Tornado or California Screamin’. It has a nice unique layout that I really like, it isn’t too forceful yet it’s certainly NOT "forceless", and it has some excellent effects (the spiraling red neon tunnel during the final helix was great!). I also liked the little dive into the cannon at the start of the ride, and when the dude did the French countdown just before the launch ("Trois, deux, un..."). As for the Tongue, yes, it felt like an overbank to me. It seemed more like an "egg turn" than like a Silver Bullet/Maverick overbank, but nonetheless, the motion was highly unexpected and great fun. By the way, "Tongue", IMO, is one of the COOLEST inversion names ever, behind "Flying Snake Dive" and "Twisted Horseshoe Roll". The only problems are the natural things that come due to the fact that it's a Vekoma ride. It is quite rough in parts, and I did hear complaints about headbanging, so be warned if that's a problem for you. There's quite a lot of padding in the trains, but even that doesn't really absorb the impacts. The train design is also much more enclosed than that of the Premier Rides Spaghetti Bowls, providing riders with a sense of security that doesn't exist. But to be fair, Vekoma was a much cheaper option, and I'm sure Disney had to focus a certain amount of money on the ride theming. Also, as for the changes from Mission 1, I actually kind of like the new soundtrack, as I like techno music. It's not very different from the new soundtrack for the Space Mountain in California. But after watching videos of the Mission 1 ride, I completely understand why most people feel it has lost a lot of charm. Overall though, this coaster did NOT disapoint!

Once again, Six Flags demonstrates its ability to construct a truly world-class coaster, and then ruin it with a modification. A coaster with a COLD theme...to be repainted RED?! Please! What's next, Top Thrill Dragster getting painted hot pink? Rock 'n Roller Coaster replacing the Aerosmith theming with Britney Spears theming? Super "How many changes are parks going to make this season?! Seriously?!?" Dasher

Vertical LIFE? You mean "inverting lift"?

This could well be the most stupid and pointless sign on a ride I have seen to date since the "loud and unnessecary screaming" one at Drayton Manor. Let's just READ this warning sign, which is posted outside of Revenge of the Mummy at USH (attached to the bottom)...Done reading? Yes, it really DOES say, "Service Animals are not permitted on this attraction"! So does this mean I can't bring my dog on the roller coaster? Hot damn, I had NO IDEA! WTF?!?! I mean, no ride op in their right mind is going to allow a guide dog onto Mummy (or any roller coaster). Even if they did, it's not very nice to force animals onto a scary ride experience that's not even designed for them, hm? I don't think they would have put up the sign if people hadn't tried to bring their service animal on the ride. But what's the use of putting up a sign like this that BLIND PEOPLE with guide dogs CAN'T EVEN SEE? Have either of you ever (or anyone else) noticed any signs like this regarding dogs or other animals on rides at any other parks? Super "I mean, I'm not blind with a service animal, but still..." Dasher

Dang, you got me there.

Heck no! Any form of cinnamon that isn't sweet or spicy is not high on my list... Do you ever buy on-ride photos?

Another driving relatred rant... I hate it when you're on a freeway and this guy comes speeding right past you, then a couple of minutes later they slow down and you pass them, and then a little while later the same car comes zooming right by you again! Stupid idiots! Make up your mind what speed you wanna drive!

LSMs on a water slide?!!!!? Crazy...but fun!

I could play with this thing all day! Here are some of my cards:

6 feet exactly.

I bet right now CP is saying, "YEAH!!! We got the record again!" I agree that Psyclone should be torn down, I never got to ride Flashback, but if its anything like what the reviews say I won't have missed much.

Many will undoubtably view this quiz as being stupid and pointless, but here it is for anyone who wants to take it. An interesting note is that each result has its own hot anime girl for you to feast your eyes on! Mine is pictured below. Be sure to share your result if it's not too embarassing! The link: http://www.quizilla.com/users/MissKitten/quizzes/What%20color%20describes%20you%20best%3F%20%28Beautiful%20anime%20pics%21%20And%20detailed%20results%21%29

Yes, sometimes. I'm sure everyone does! Have you ever dyed your hair?

With the help of NoLimits, I can now confirm that on a standard Boomerang, the 5.2Gs is hit in the back row in the vertical loop backwards, right as you are fully upside down. Sure enough, I rode a Boomerang in real life not too long ago in the very back row, and this time I could definitely feel the Gs going through the loop backwards... Unfortunately though, the back row is also where the roughest ride is!

R&E, I just wanted to know, what do you consider to be your favorite slides at SFMM Hurricane Harbor? Personally, I think my favorite slide there is a toss-up between the Twisted Fang/Coiled Cobra slides on Black Snake Summit and Tornado! I'd say that Twisted Fang and Coiled Cobra have a slight edge due to the sensation of speed you get on them, but Tornado is a lot of fun with a group (and packs more of a punch than one would think)! I also like the two tube slides on Black Snake Summit (Sidewinder and Boa Constrictor), they're much more gentle than the body slides on this same tower, but I like how the waterfalls seem to sort of sneak in there and get you wet and you're like "Hey! What was that for?!" Super "Although I have to confess that I wasn't brave enough to do the Venom Drop (awaits impending tomato onslaught)" Dasher

Post things that you think would be fun if they appeared on an indoor dark coaster. I'll post mine first... HEARTLINE ROLL/ZERO-G-ROLL!!! Are there any indoor coasters out there that have a Heartline/Zero-G-Roll? I can't think of any off the top of my head (that I've been on anyway), but it sure would be a lot of fun in the dark. B&M Inverts could also be fun in total darkness...

When I first heard that the drop would be 95 degrees I was like: "NOOO why can't it be a 100 degree drop - that'd be the steepest drop on a coaster so far, a good record for Cedar Point to take!". Seriously though, it looks and sounds like fun, but we still are not sure if it's an Aquatrax or just a California Screamin' like ride. Going into a 95 degree drop when the train already has a lot of speed from the uphill launch sounds like an exhilirating experience. I think I'll make it out to CP sometime in 2007. Most likely on my Holiday World/SFGAm trip. Can't wait.

Man, I gotta try that Vekoma Staircase coaster sometime... Funniest part though was the TPR dinner. The doll with Elissa's face singing: "I've got a never-ending love for you...from now on" OMG, I nearly peed my pants when I saw that.

Maybe it's a Powder Keg-like coaster...I mean, they're both launched and have a western theme...oh yeah, and Powder Keg's got the splashdown. I still think it's an Aquatrax with inversions. What's so bad about an Aquatrax anyway? A launched water coaster made by Intamin, the first of its kind in the US, sounds cool in my book!! Super "We'll see who wins, we'll see" Dasher

No. Have you ever gotten an e-stop on a coaster?

I call AquaTrax for a couple of reasons: 1. If it were an Intamin Rocket, I think the hydraulic launch system would've arrive by now. I remember when looking at construction photos of Stealth at Thorpe Park, the launch track was among the first pieces to be delivered. And then they've gotta put together the hydralic system, which takes awhile.. 2. They already have an Intamin Rocket, TTD! (Well, that was a record breaking coaster, but still...if they're going to use an Intamin launched coaster they need some variety, such as water elements and inversions!) My guess is it'll be a 100-120 foot Aquatrax with a top speed of 60-65mph, But then again, it could be an LIM launch Intamin like Calfiornia Screamin', I quess we'll see! We'd know better if Cedar Point would hurry up and announce it! Magic Mountain didn't announce Tatsu's stats until November 2005, hopefully Cedar Point will announce a little sooner. Super "Can't stand the suspense! Tell us what it is, CP!" Dasher

I recently read about the Moonsault Scramble at Fuji-Q Highland in Japan. It was apparently closed because it was too intense. It is a 207ft Boomerang-style coaster that pulls 6.2Gs ( ), and has a unique Pretzel Knot inversion that looks a lot like a Batwing. Has anyone ever been on it? Maybe you, Chris Belson? If so, I'd love to hear what it was like.

No, but it might be cool to get one. Have you ever been evacuated from a coaster?