Clever titles aren’t really my forte, but neither is keeping up with this column. This summer, with the aid of some serious taunting in my general direction, I have been persuaded to ride roller coasters. I am, by no means, an expert on the topic, but I figured I could at least do a write up on my thoughts on these coasters. I will rank, based on a number of factors (how much I enjoyed the coaster, the general consensus of the coaster, etc) the coasters I’ve enjoyed this summer in hopes that they may provide some help to fellow amusement park-goers.
VIP/Special Honorary Mention: The Mantis:
The Mantis was, by far, my personal favorite of the day. The second and, later on, final coaster I went on during my trip to Cedar Point, this stand-up coaster really caught my attention. I was linked to the Point of View video from this when my friends were telling me I would probably not want to go to the park, and it ended up being the reason why I started being a bit more bold with roller coasters. With four instances in which riders are flipped upside, this standing–yes, standing–coaster is certainly worth paying at least one visit if you’re at Cedar Point. My rating: 5/5; Overall rating: 4/5
Maverick:
Maverick was the last “new” coaster of the day that we rode, and the general consensus among the group I was with was that it was the best of the day. Riders are launched up the first hill, which then takes you down at a 95 degree angle. Another thing about this coaster that really made it an enjoyable and unique experience is that there are two launch points: the one in the beginning, of course, as well as a second one. The train pulls into a tunnel, slows down, and then riders are propelled forward and through the remainder of the ride. It seemed to have the longest waiting time, around an hour and a half, but it’s completely worth the wait. Overall rating: 5/5;
Mean Streak:
I don’t think Mean Streak gets enough love. Admittedly, when you compare it to any steel coaster, the choice is clear; the smoother, more less rickety ride on a steel coaster trumps any wooden coaster. However, this titanic wooden coaster remains one of the largest operating coasters of its kind in the world and, really, it’s one enjoyable ride. If I had to compare it, size-wise, to another coaster I’d say it’s roughly the equivalent of a wooden Phantom’s Revenge (provided, once again, the Phantom’s Revenge doesn’t really beat the hell out of you quite like this does). If you can get over the smell of the ride–and trust me, it does stink something terrible–and get over the whole wood coasters are inferior to steel coasters business this is another ride that shouldn’t be overlooked. My Rating: 5/5 (a personal favorite); Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Magnum XL-200:
Magnum XL-200, up until I rode Maverick, was easily the best and most exciting coaster of the day. As its page on Cedar Point’s Web site explains, it was the largest and fastest roller coaster at the time it debuted in 1989. While it can no longer boast such claims, the Magnum XL-200 is certainly one of the more enjoyable roller coasters in the park. Provided, once again, I have limited knowledge on the subject as I’ve only been to Kennywood, Cedar Point, and Idlewild (so, for all intents and purposes, I’ve only been to Kennywood and Cedar Point), so it wouldn’t say my word is the most reliable one on the subject, but it’s also worth mentioning that I’m not totally useless on the matter. My rating: 4.5/5; Overall Rating: 4/5
Top Thrill Dragster:
The second-tallest roller coaster in the world, formerly the tallest (prior to the completion of the Kingda Ka), this is the coaster most thrill-seekers will seek out if they can’t quite make it to New Jersey. This is the first thing you’ll likely notice from the parking lot, as it is positively massive.
