DILinator

Nina Kleppe doesn't like this...

MiA has not made their announcement yet. They usually wait until after VF makes their announcements. GCA hasn't announced yet either... I keep thinking that they're converting Vortex into a Floorless, but nothing's officially been announced, so it's possible that isn't actually going to happen...

You won't get any argument from me! I'd definitely say Vortex is by far my favorite Arrow Suspended Coaster that is still in existence! The only one I've ridden, that I liked more, was Big Bad Wolf at BGW. Obviously, Eagle's Fortress looked AMAZING, but I'll never get to ride it now, so let's stop talking about it... Ninja, The Bat, and even Iron Dragon all have their moments, but I was VERY impressed with Vortex, and considered it a Top 3 coaster at CW! (That was before Leviathan and after Behemoth.)

<---------------------------Definitely a "shorter" person here!

Oh, still my beating heart! Just the thought of an unbraked drop into another vertical drop makes me excited! Too bad it'd probably be WAY too intense for most of the normal coaster riding public to enjoy (as opposed to my crazy ethusiast self!)

^I agree with you that Nighthawk, and Vekoma Flyers in general, tend to be a bit on the rough side. And I always feel so uncomfortable riding them as well - particularly going up the lift with the sun in my eyes!

Probably Kings Island for Haunt in early October, though I may be making a trip out to Cedar Point next Friday, if I can work it out!

Viper is awesome yo! That is certainly not my memory of it! It DID, however, make me appreciate how far we've come from my early days of coaster riding when that was considered to be a "great" rollercoaster! To each their own, however... I still insist Drachen Fire was awesome and shouldn't be torn down, but clearly I was in the minority there!

I always think that is an important perspective to remember, whenever looking the large amusement parks like SFMM or Cedar Point! However, I would seriously question whether Viper was even a B-list coaster these days! Seems like a solid C, maybe a C+ at best to me!

Ok, that's a little better... I just think sometimes Coaster Enthusiast forums can be so nasty, and our hobby is supposed to just be a fun diversion from the harsh realities of life.

I agree that thinking the name was going to change was idiotic, but calling people "idiots" directly, and linking to their posts, seems a bit mean spirited to me...

Other than that, it was a pretty solid rant... I will say that a lot of things you say authoritatively, are actually just your opinion, and while I understand being frustrated with some of the responses to this coaster, people should be given the ability to express their opinions without being told off. So somebody doesn't like the name? Who cares?! No big deal to me. I think it's cool, personally, but to each their own... Oh, and if anybody should get super defensive about CP it should be me, who has been going there for 33 years (or, more years than many posters here have been alive!) But I have learned that even CP isn't infallible, and not everybody has to love it as much as I do. Just sayin'...

I see others ranking them, and now that they're all pretty much announced... (First off, if I don't see any chance of me riding a new coaster next year, I am not anticipating it. If there's even a slight chance, I'll rank it!) 1. Lightning Rod - Words can't even begin to describe how amazing this looks! Can't wait for my first trip to Dollywood! 2. The Joker - I'm cautiously optimistic that I'll be making my first visit to SFDK next year, and this one barely edges SC for #2! 3. Storm Chaser - Along with Lightning Rod, I KNOW I'll be riding this coaster next year, and the other RMCs don't diminish its luster! 4. Valravn - I'll be making multiple visits to CP next year (+ Media Day?), so this'll be the most ridden of the new coasters for me! 5. Mako - I doubt I'll get on it next year, but I'll be going to SWO for sure in 2017, so I'm still highly anticipating this B&M Hyper! 6. Total Mayhem - Not sure if I'll make it out to SFGAdv or not, but I'm looking forward to riding this type of coaster if I do! 7. CGA Vortex Floorless coaster - Not sure if this is even happening, but if it is, and I make it out, I'll look forward to it, somewhat... 8. Monster - I probably won't get to ride it, but you never know... The following coasters aren't "new", but will potentially be new to me, assuming I make it out to ride them, and are highly anticipated! 1. Twisted Colossus - I've been jonesing to ride this since it was announced, so I'm definitely hoping to hit it next year finally! 2. Wicked Cyclone - SFNE is my #1 "Holy Grail" park I've never been to (in the US!) Hopefully next year, that finally changes! 3. Superman: The Ride - Never been on this legendary, former #1 coaster in the world, so hopefully SFNE does indeed happen! 4. Goliath (SFGAm) - I was going to ride it last month, but it didn't work out. Hopefully 2016 is the year!

I agree that it's certainly not a "new" ride type, but to say there's nothing "exciting" about it simply isn't accurate. There are only 10 Dive Machines in the world once Valravn is built, only three of those in the U.S. It's perfectly reasonable to expect that the GP are going to eat this up with a spoon, and a very large bowl! While you are correct that it's far from cutting edge as far as new coaster installments go, it is still a very rare, and unique type of coaster. I imagine that when CP management was sitting around, planning out their major coasters for the next "X" number of years, they looked for something that would be a new and exciting experience for the majority of their park-goers. Now, take B&M Flying coasters... As much as I personally love them, and have wanted to see that "different" type of experience at CP for ages, they are fairly prevalent these days. Heck, while not a B&M, they have a Flying Coaster in Ohio already, in the same chain. So CP management is sitting there, talking about a "new" coaster experience for The Point, and they realize there is an "old" coaster type, that isn't very common in the US, and has easily accessible "records" that can be heavily marketed (as we saw them do at the Press Conference today.) The best part, it's by their current favorite manufacturer, and they have just the spot to put this massive coaster in, with minimal removal of anything significant! Who knows if that's entirely accurate, but I could definitely see it going down pretty much like that, honestly! So, while I understand what you're saying, and don't disagree about some of it, I do think this will be an exciting attraction for most people coming to the park. TTD still gets a decent crowd just sitting on the grandstand watching it, and I suspect this will have quite the crowd of strictly observers as well! And isn't that the whole meaning of excitement, and hype? Just from the GP I've talked to about the coaster so far, I've seen a very visible reaction when describing the experience, or showing them the pictures! So, while not all of us enthusiasts are super excited about it (I'm actually really looking forward to it, personally!), I don't think there's any doubt that CP has another marketing hit on their hands. I don't agree with everything CF/CP does, but I can definitely see the logic behind this move!

Funny... I had that same cool idea for Hurler. Ok, you win. Let me also throw in my Well played, sir!

I don't even know why I come into this thread... It just depresses me, because I know I won't be able to afford to get over there and ride this beauty for a while, if ever!

I could see Hershey's Wildcat or Gwazi being the next RMC'd GCI's I think you're right-on, here! Assuming there are four 2017 RMCs, I wouldn't be surprised if those 2 are among the group, and their respective parks' next "new" coaster! Of course, it may make more sense for 2018 to be RMC Gwazi, as they are getting a new coaster in 2016 already. But there is a good chance we'll know by 2017 if it's happening! I also have a feeling that 2017 will the first foray by CF into the RMC market!

I think my biggest mistake in approaching the announcement of Valravn was forgetting that this is Cedar Point we're talking about here, and expecting something that a Disney, Busch, or even Dollywood type of park would put in. Had I been approaching it looking at prior attempts at theming, I should have realized all of those "missing" elements like tunnels, splashdowns, or off-ride interaction weren't going to be present here. And that would have prevented what minimal anticipointment there was upon its announcement. Here's the thing: CP isn't looking to make an "exciting" ride by your definition. They are looking to add a new coaster that is exciting to the GP or non-enthususiast, which is at least 90% of their patrons. My wife (GP), and a bunch of her family (GP) went to CP on Monday and rode GateKeeper for the first time, and they all gave it rave reviews. That's because it IS exciting! Maybe not to you, but to "normal", non-enthusiast types, rides like GateKeeper, or especially dive coasters like Valravn are exciting. I'm pretty sure most of the world's population would look at the enthusiasts talking about not "feeling" anything on coasters like GK and Valravn, and think they've lost their marbles... And maybe we have!

I 100% agree! It's definitely a victim of the "spoiled" nature of us Cedar Point fans, that anything about Valravn would be a disappointment! Heck, I still remember being excited about the addition of Mantis ( ), and then a couple of years later reading about the Power Tower addition and being like "Eh, ok... Cool, I guess..." It's the nature of the beast when CP is your "home park."

Very well said! I am quite excited about getting an awesome new coaster at CP, and also really looking forward to seeing that whole new opened up section of the park! I'm actually seriously thinking about getting a Platinum Pass for the first time in ages, and already am planning my early-season CP run. I really enjoyed ShieKra when I rode it, have wanted to ride Griffon for forever, and really wanted a Dive Machine at CP eventually. There are many more positives and superlatives I could spit out regarding my excitement for Valravn (such as both my FB Profile and Cover picture now being it, as well as my work desktop wallpaper), but I think you get the point. Having said all of that, however, I still feel a bit of that "anticipointment", that somebody referred to earlier, where I really, really like this coaster, but don't "love" it, really. That being said, I still can't wait to ride it, and anticipate it'll settle comfortably into my Top 5 coasters at CP! I just think it could have been so much more... But it's not, that's okay, and what it is still looks great!

Turnpike Cars replaced by Valravn... Said no one EVER!

There, I fixed that one for you! Tied with Knott's Berry Farm? Going by coasters, I think you're right! But I was thinking more in terms of length of track/amount of track. Either way, that's a lot of orange!

There, I fixed that one for you!

Circling back around to the awesomeness that is the new path between Raptor/Cadillac Cars and Valravn, did anybody else notice that there will be those curved benches directly under Raptor's cobra roll, and drop off the MCBR? Those will be another couple of sweet places to sit and coaster-watch, as well as take pictures! I am really excited to see that whole area in person next year!