Password121

^ I seriously hope you're joking.

^If the extra hump leads right into the drop and doesn't flatten out before dropping again, it could be to increase the drop radius to allow the train to navigate the drop at full speed without excessive ejector air (or if you're a Debbie downer, reducing the strength of the airtime). If it flattens out and drops again like a double down, then I have no idea. Probably just to make what had been the mid course flat section a little more interesting.

Does the chain engage in front or middle of the train? Maybe it's just a backup system to push the front end forward if it doesn't have the momentum to engage if the train is held back coming out of the station if the sensors trip.

Perhaps just a major reprofile/retrack? Reprofile the drop/turn after and make it steeper? I don't think anyone would complain about that.

Personally I would've LOVED to see Valravn with a dark theme and an all black/slate color scheme. Make the first drop dive underground into a tunnel of mist surrounded by barbed wire. I love how CP has such a bright and colorful skyline and I understand them wanting to add to that (and I think they're doing a great job of it), but something like Raptor or Kreke would be impressive. Regardless, the colors they chose are very nice and are kind of a balance between the bright and colorful and trying something a little different. I like it.

Remember when that lady fell to her death on Texas Giant at SF Over Texas? Because I do. Oh, I hadn't realized that happened again in 2015.

^Do you realize the only major accident in either chain in 2015 was a death at Cedar Point? And that these "accidents" are the park's fault less than 1% of the time? Come to think of it, the only other "accident" I can think of from either chain outside of the Raptor incident was the first Raptor airgate incident. The fact of the matter is that both chains have nearly impeccable safety records. I wouldn't consider an incident like those at Raptor to be a negative on the park at all--in fact, I give the park credit for handling it as professionally as they did. Regardless, I'd recommend at least visiting a SF park before claiming your distrust in them. Most of the time, you'll enjoy your time at the park (especially if it's at one of their better parks--Fiesta Texas, Over Georgia, Great Adventure).

^Can you try to capitalize and use proper grammar/avoid shorthand? I'm not trying to backseat moderate but it takes some more effort to decipher your posts. Thanks.

My political correct response: That is certainly an interesting way of thinking. My unabashed response: Wow, that's illogical.

^It's just a super long freight train... "Freight Fest"

95 degree July day, dehydrated, tired, and Mind Eraser at SFA. I didn't end up vomiting, but I had to lie down for more than a minute or two and chug some ice water.

El Toro. I'm still waiting for the day a longer sustained moment of ejector airtime is built on a first drop. I haven't ridden Skyrush yet. This summer.

^^Well... I don't know if that was sarcastic or not but if you didn't know and the post was worded in a way that makes it seem like the person in question is well known (which it was), then I imagine it would save a lot of time to just google his name. Jim Reid-Anderson is the CEO of Six Flags. If that was sarcastic, then my mistake and I apologize. But it wasn't the best execution.

Anyone know when Cedar Point and/or Kings Island usually release operating hours? I'm going to make a thread for trip planning when they do but I'm hoping it's sometime in the next month or two for planning purposes (and I'm getting excited already haha).

I wouldn't be surprised if it's at least part of the reason. The rumors I've heard are that Great Adventure spent $75 million combined on their '05/'06 expansions--$25 mil for Kingda Ka, $25 mil for El Toro/PDC improvements, $25 mil in Kingda Ka maintenance and running costs for the two years. Spending $75 million for the best wooden coasters (at least at the time) and an unreliable PoS is not worth the price, no matter how good El Toro is. **Rumor--not necessarily fact, but could be**

^Those Dorney and Valleyfair "rumors" have been enthusiast pipe dreams for what seems like an eternity. I don't want to be a negative Nancy for you but I don't see either of those parks getting *new* coasters in 2017 at all. Also, B&M coasters are not designed based on the popularity of the most recent one the chain opened. If Cedar Fair is installing a B&M coaster in 2017 it's been in planning since at least when Banshee was built. As for 2017, while I do think it could be a bigger year than 2016, I don't see a GCI anywhere (although maybe a GCI refurb like Ghostrider) and if there's a B&M I'd bet on either Canada's Wonderland or Kings Dominion.

^There's an aquarium at Cedar Point the size of a wild mouse?

Hmm... it's an interesting way to look at things. On one hand I'm with coasterbill on this one because every coaster I list (other than maybe Skull Mountain) would already be one of my favorite coaster for being the "best." I might put Millennium Force above I-305 for this one because it's hard to laugh and smile through I-305 and riding Millennium Force at night is how I want to die. I've never been so happy in my life and honestly I think that is the essence of riding coasters. Other than this it would be more of the same... coasters that are already my favorites because it's hard to distinguish. Skull Mountain would be up there though/

I love Kingda Ka. Front seat rides on it are breathtaking, and the Golden Kingdom expansion itself was initially really impressive. But the reality is that Six Flags knew what they were getting themselves into after the problems Cedar Point had with Dragtser. They had a sign designated just to play outside the gate saying if Dragster would operate that day. Additionally, while Kingda Ka wasn't as big a gamble, Six Flags had already tried competing with Cedar Point with Worlds of Adventure. After that massive financial failure they wanted to try again? I know it's by no means the same thing but it had the same underlying idea. I brought this figure up maybe a year ago and somebody shot it down, but from GreatAdventureHistory it's been tossed around that the total expanse from Kingda Ka and its maintenance/running costs/construction totaled $50 million after the 2006 season. It's still one of the most expensive rides to run anywhere, so much so that SF considered shipping it overseas in the late 2000's to a new concept SF park (I want to say in Dubai-- SF Dubailand rings a bell). I love the ride but I think if you asked them SF would admit it was a mistake. Dick Kinzel has been quoted as saying that Magnum was his best decision ever, Top Thrill Dragster was the worst mistake.

Kingda Ka.

It's ridiculous to argue that it would be better than Leviathan without riding it. I was only pointing out how early on it is in construction to give us a little perspective on how far away we are from actually riding it, not to imply that once it was complete (but before it opened) it would make sense. It would still be ridiculous. I don't want to discuss this for all that long because I agree it is stupid, but I'm arguing that the layout itself is the best of any dive coaster, and it if rides like the others than I think it would have a good chance to be better. All we need are renderings to form an opinion on the layout, and obviously we'll have to wait and ride it to form a definite opinion. We're just arguing different points here. The layout to me looks like the best dive coaster layout, and you don't have to ride it before you can agree or disagree.

I'm just saying it has more substance to its layout. As I said, *assuming* it rides similarly to the other dive coasters, I think it could be a really good ride. Nothing ridiculous about that. Edit: Adding to this, that's like saying that during Fury's construction that it's ridiculous to argue it would be better than Leviathan based on the layout because it hasn't been completed yet. So... we're just guessing what the rest of the ride of the ride will do as construction moves along? Haha

Obviously I don't want to raise hopes up too high, but I don't see any argument, outside of the lack of immersive theming, why Valravn wouldn't be the best B&M dive coaster. From a layout standpoint only, it has everything the best dive coasters have (minus a splashdown, which isn't a positive for the layout, more for visuals, which, by the way, this ride will more than make up for IMO), along with about 1/3 more substance on the back end preceded by a taller and faster first half. Assuming this ride has similar forces to the current best dive coasters (Griffon, Sheikra, etc), it's actually pretty impressive what B&M has been doing the last couple years. Arguably their best speed coaster (Fury), best wing coaster (Thunderbird), arguably a top 3 invert (Banshee), and potentially their best dive coaster.

^^Can you explain your preference for Millennium Force in the middle? I've ridden it about 15 times in 2013/2014, and every single time was in row 18. 90% of the time I'm a back seat rider, especially on coasters that have even a moderate focus on airtime. This summer I'm thinking about waiting out the front for a night ride, but those back seat rides at night are just so incredibly awesome that I don't want to risk ruining that experience if the ride feels sluggish.

^I think you misread my post. I meant that, excluding a select few, most people don't know/care if a marketing claim (especially about coasters) is false. Hence why marketing is effective.