Jorgé's Thrill Seeker Guide

Cedar Point

1. Roller Coasters
   
   
   • Blue Streak - Built and designed by the Philidelphia Toboggan Company in 1964. It is the oldest Roller Coaster at the Point. It was named after a local high school football team and it gives riders wicked airtime as it flies over bunny hops and camel backs at speeds of 40mph.
     
     
   • Cedar Creek Mine Ride - Built by Arrow Dynamics in 1969. It is the second oldest coaster in the park. It was also one of the first ever coasters to use steel tubular track. It has a nice mix of elements including good head choppers and an incredible helix before the station.
     
     
   • Corkscrew - Built in 1976, America's Bicentennial. This coaster was one of the first to travel over the midway. Since it was built when our great country celebrated it's 200^th birthday, the trains show off their patriotic red, white, and blue color scheme with pride.
     
     
   • Disaster Transport - Built by Intamin in 1985. It was then known as Avalanche Run. However, the ride was then enclosed before the 1991 season and renamed Disaster Transport. In addition to enclosing the ride, the park also added special effects to the ride. This is a bobsled coaster, which means it doesn't run on rails but rather in a trough. Much like an actual bobsled. For the 2002 season they rehabbed the cue line and turned the ride into a 3D sensory experience. Personally I miss the old Disaster Transport as I feel the new additions in 3D are rather weak. (Jorgé's Tip: DO NOT BUY THE 3D GLASSES)
     
     
   • Gemini - Built in 1978 by Arrow Dynamics, it has thrilled riders for the past 25 years. It is the only racing coaster at the point. Among the elements that make this a great ride are the incredible head choppers, the helix before the station, and of course the racing.
     
     
   • Iron Dragon - Built in 1987 by Arrow Dynamics. This coaster holds a special place in my heart because it was my first steel coaster. This coaster is known as a suspended because it dangles below the track. Iron Dragon is packed with helixes and sharp turns that cause the cars to swing back and forth, as if you were almost in an airplane.
     
     
   • Jr. Gemini - Built by Intamin in 1979. This is one of two kiddie coasters at the point, and sadly I never rode it when I was younger, but hey I can always ride with the next generation of Bunker kids (hehehe).
     
     
   • Magnum XL-200 - Thrilling riders since 1989, this classic steel out and back was built and designed by Arrow Dynamics and is constantly rated in the top 10 of roller coasters across the globe. Magnum's intense ride features huge camel backs, bunny hops, and head choppers when entering the tunnels. This is a must ride for any enthusiast and should be tackled before Millennium Force or Top Thrill Dragster.
     
     
   • Mantis - A stand-up coaster designed by Bolliger and Mabillard (B&M), this coaster was originally to be named Banshee but a last minute name change was made and Mantis debuted at the beginning of the 1996 season. This ride can be somewhat enjoyable, when your head isn't bouncing off the shoulder harness like a ping-pong ball and (if you're a guy) you have a little room between the bicycle seat and your...well you get the idea.
     
     
   • Mean Streak - Designed by Curtis Summers, this coaster debuted in 1991 as the tallest and fastest wooden coaster in the world at 161ft tall and reaching speeds of 65 mph. This coaster enjoyed a few years of popularity, however, the high speeds were soon causing a maintenance nightmare. So in order to ensure Mean Streak would not shake herself apart, Cedar Point installed two sets of trim brakes on the descending hill after the lift. This killed the ride in every major way as before the trims the coaster offered some wicked lateral G's. All in all this is a decent coaster, but only if you are lucky enough for them to not use the trims.
     
     
   • Millennium Force - This Intamin coaster was built for the historic year of 2000. It was the first coaster to stand over 300 feet tall as well as the first coaster to ever use an elevator lift cable to pull the trains up the lift hill. This ride is about pure speed and some awesome negative G-forces. MF, as most enthusiasts call it, is not only a great ride during the day but it becomes even better after night fall. This coaster is constantly rated among the top ten coasters in the world.
     
     
   • Raptor - A classic B&M inverted coaster, when built in 1994 it stood as the tallest and fastest inverted coaster in the world. This coaster is unique in that you dangle beneath the track, much like Iron Dragon. The only difference between inverted and suspended coasters is that inverted coasters do not swing while traversing the track. Raptor has a good mix of elements including some mind-blowing inversions, wicked lateral G-forces, and fantastic foot choppers. A must ride at night if you get the opportunity.
     
     
   • Top Thrill Dragster - Just built this past season by Intamin, it is the first complete circuit coaster to reach 120 mph. This behemoth towers over the CP peninsula like a 420 ft. guardian of Lake Erie. This ride simulates the experience of being in a top fuel dragster, except in a top fuel dragster it's bad when your nose points skyward. This ride is nothing but speed from the time you take off to the time you reach the finish line. There is, however, an incredible head chopper coming into the 180° twist. This ride is a must when at the Point.
     
     
   • Wicked Twister - Added for the 2002 season, this impulse coaster was built and designed by Intamin. It stands as the tallest impulse coaster. However, I feel it lacks the one thing that makes Superman: Ultimate Escape better. It lacks a holding brake on the back spike but the designers made up for that flaw by adding some wicked (bad pun) foot choppers on both front and back spikes.
     
     
   • Wildcat - Built in 1970 by Anton Schwarzkopf, this coaster is the third oldest in the park. It is an old style wild mouse coaster that has lots of quick drops and sharp turns. Kind of ugly now since they painted it neon yellow and purple, but still a good ride.
     
     
   • Woodstock Express - Another one of them kiddie coasters I can't ride. Actually I think I can but I can just imagine the looks from the other kids and their parents. I think I'll wait on this one too for the next generation.
     
     
2. Recommended Flat Rides
   
   
   • Cedar Downs Racing Derby - This is basically a carousel that travels (at least it used to) around 5-10 mph. They slowed it down for this season for some odd reason, and it didn't seem as fun as before.
     
     
   • Thunder Canyon Raft Ride - If you want to get wet (without getting completely soaked) this is the way to go. It's your classic raft ride where the chances of getting wet are up in the air.
     
     
   • Wave Swinger - An old style Bavarian Wave Swinger. Once the swings start going the inner pillar rises and the ride begins to tilt, taking riders on a cool ride

Six Flags Worlds of Adventure

1. Roller Coasters
   
   
   • Batman: Knight Flight - This B&M coaster debuted for the new Six Flags Ohio in 2000, one of four coasters added that year. It is a floorless coaster which means you sit as you would on a normal B&M coaster but there is no floor beneathe you. This ride has a great mix of air time, lateral g's, and some awesome pullouts through the inversions. The only thing Batman: Knight Flight seems to be missing, compared to other B&M Floorless coasters is a Zero-G Roll. However, the ride still packs quite a punch, even without one.
     
     
   • Big Dipper - The classic Big Dipper was designed by John Miller and opened for the 1926 season. This is a classic out and back coaster with great air time, even though the hill is only 65 feet tall. The Big Dipper holds a special place in my heart because it was my first coaster ever and it will continue to be among my top rated coasters.
     
     
   • Double Loop - Built in 1977 by the Arrow Dynamics company, this first of it's kind double looping coaster has been proclaimed by some to be the "smoothest Arrow coaster around". While I do not support that statement, one seat on the Loop is truly unique as you get quite a bit of negative vertical G's right before the helix into the station. Ejector air can be easily attained sitting the first seat of the front car.
     
     
   • Mind Eraser - Built in the waning days of the classic Geagua Lake Park. Mind Eraser is the concept of a crazy coaster company called Vekoma. It's generic name is a Boomerang. This is by far the roughest ride at the park, and I refuse to ride it. If you are crazy enough to be thrown from side to side and slam you're head into the restraints that by all means ride this coaster.
     
     
   • Raging Wolf Bobs - Once the roughest wooden coaster at the park, this 1988 creation of Summers and Dinn has seen a complete turnaround from last year. The last half of the coaster was retracked this past off-season, with the first half coming this upcoming off-season. Still a little violent in the first half but can't wait until it's completely finsihed.
     
     
   • Road Runner Express - Another kiddie coaster. This is another of the four coasters added in 2000. Though I must say it was quite enjoyable. Jeff and I rode it one day so we could add it to our track records. Probably not the smartest of things to do since me and Jeff were getting weird glances from the parents on the coaster. All in all a decent coaster, but not suitable for adults.
     
     
   • Serial Thriller - Another painful Vekoma. Built in 1998, this inverted coaster (correct name Suspended Looping Coaster or SLC) has been nicknamed a "Hang and Bang". The reason for this name is rather simple because you Hang from the track and you Bang your head on the shoulder harnesses while you're on the ride. Though it does have some nice foot chopper effects. Might as well ride if you're there, but it's only good for one ride a year.
     
     
   • Superman: Ultimate Escape - Built by Intamin in the great coaster year of 2000, this was another of the four introduced to the new Six Flags Ohio. It is an inverted impulse coaster. This basically means the trains hang below the track and electromagnets propel the train up to 70mph. The kicker on this ride, is not the free falling effect but rather on the second trip up the back spike there is a holding brake that freezes the train at the top of the spike for six tenths of a second before releasing the train to free fall. A must ride whenever you might have the opportunity.
     
     
   • The Villain - The last of the four coasters built in 2000 to open Six Flags Ohio with a bang, this coaster is by far, in my opinion, the best. It's a hybrid coaster, wood laminate track with steel supports, but it is definitely an awesome woodie. Designed and built by CCI (Custom Coasters Inc.) this great woodie offers some intense airtime, killer speed, and wicked lateral g's. It has become a little rough over the past three four seasons but woodie's are supposed to be rough. I have ridden Villain close to 40 times this season alone, and I hope to have many more in the future.
     
     
   • X-Flight - This coaster, built for the 2001 season by Vekoma, earns Jorgé's Craziest Coaster Award. X-Flight is a flying coaster (Flying Dutchman). This basically means through the majority of the ride your whole body is facing the ground just being held in by very secure restraints. When it first opened, X-Flight suffered through some mechanical problems, and for the most part, the park now has them all worked out. To compound the matter, however, in 2001 no more than a few months later did Vekoma declare bankruptcy, thus cutting off any help they could offer to the mechanics at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure.
   
   
2. Recommended Flat Rides
   
   
   • Grizzly Run Raft Ride - Another great raft ride, good for cooling off on all of those hot Ohio days.
     
     
   • Turbo Bungee - This a pay per ride attraction, but basically you hop on a trampoline while attached to two bungee cords at the waist. Cool if you ever wanted to do flips without killing yourself.
     
     
   • Yo - Yo - A classic Yo-Yo Swing. What else can I say, it goes in circles, like my life.
   
   
3. Shows
   
   
   • Batman Water Thrill Spectacular - This is a cool Batman show, though there does tend to be a little overacting, but hey that will happen, especially when the words are blared over the speakers. Definitely worth seeing.
     
     
   • Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show - A cool logger's camp show, with some pretty funny jokes, such as "Maybe it's a Ford, you have to tow it." Ok so they might not be that funny, but it's still a pretty decent show. A must see show if you have kids...or hairy legs.
     
     
   • The Sea Lion and Otter Do it Yourself Show - The premise of this show has been the same everytime I've gone, but something different has gone wrong each time I've seen it. Definitely worth seeing at least once, and if you are looking for screw-ups you have to go back and see it again and again.
     
     
   • Shouka's Rockin' Summer Symphony - By far the best show at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure. Shouka , a female orca, was acquired from France for the 2002 season. She's on a breeding loan and needs a mate in order to stay at the park. Words alone cannot describe her show, you have to see it to truly enjoy it. If anyone knows where I can find a male orca, raised in captivity, my e-mail is on the bottom of the page, or better yet just call Six Flags.

Paramount's Kings Island

1. Roller Coasters
   
   
   • Adventure Express - Built for the 1991 season by Arrow Dynamics. This coaster has a Central American theme to it. It's a decent mine train coaster that is on par with Cedar Point's Cedar Creek Mine Ride
     
     
   • The Beast - Designed in house at Kings Island for the 1979 season. This monster covers 7400 ft. of track across several acres. It's unique ending, a 540° helix, provides some extreme lateral G's. This ride is best experienced some time after dark. The reason for this is there are no lights on it at all and because of that a night ride provides a out of control romp through a dark forest. Jorgé's favorite coaster by far. (Jorgé's Tip: MUST RIDE AT NIGHT)
     
     
   • Beastie - Built in 1972 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Co., this is a Junior Wooden coaster. It's a good ride to build a kid's courage up to ride The Beast.
     
     
   • Face/Off - This Vekoma (pronounced VeCOMA) Invertigo was built in 1999. Sadly I didn't experience this coaster in it's inaugural season. However, if it is the same as many Vekoma coaster's I didn't miss much. The unique idea behind this ride is that while each car seats four people they seat them two facing front and two facing back. Make's for a more painful ride I guess.
     
     
   • Flight of Fear - A Premier spaghetti bowl coaster. One of the first LIM, or Linear Induction Motor, coasters it was built in 1996 and when I rode in 1999 it was quite painful on the ears because of all the sharp turns and loops and such. They have since removed the over the shoulder restraints and went with simplistic lap bars. I have heard that makes for a more comfortable ride. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
     
     
   • The Racers - Built for 1972 season, this typical Wood Out and Back is anything but typical. This coaster is a racing coaster, much like Kennywoods Racers, however the big difference is King's Island runs one side backwards. This makes for a disorienting experience, hence why they named that side the E-Racer. A must ride for wooden coaster lovers.
     
     
   • Rugrat's Runaway Reptar - Built in 2001,this is the world's first inverted junior coaster. Alas, it's built by Vekoma.
     
     
   • Scooby Doo's Ghoster Coaster - A single rail suspended coaster built in 1998 by Caripro, it utilizes and elevator lift instead of a normal hill.
     
     
   • Son of Beast - Daddy's little boy is all grown up. This mammoth coaster stands at 215ft. and is the first and only wooden coaster to have a loop. Designed by Werner Stengle and built by Roller Coaster Corporation of America in 2000. This coaster also travels nearly the same distance as good ole dad but falls a few hundred feet short. Haven't had the chance to ride this baby yet but I'm trying to get down to PKI as soon as I can.
     
     
   • Taxi Jam - Another one of them Junior Coaster's I can't ride until the next generation of Bunker's comes along.
     
     
   • Top Gun - This Arrow Dynamics Suspended Coasters was built for the 1993 season. It's very much like Iron Dragon save for Top Gun is built upon a hill and uses it's terrain very well. A must ride.
     
     
   • Vortex - This Arrow Steel Looper is an awesome site. It was built for the 1987 season and sits at 148ft tall. The unique inversions on this coaster are what makes it a classic in Jorgé's book. A definite ride whenever you're there.
   
   
2. Recommended Flat Rides
   
   
   • Delirium - A Huss Frisbee. Never been on one, they just look fun.
     
     
   • Drop Zone - Standard drop tower.
     
     
   • Tomb Raider: The Ride - Standard Huss Top Spin....or is it.

Kennywood

1. Roller Coasters
   
   
   • The Exterminator - This indoor Spinning Wild Mouse was built by Revechon for the 1999 season. This ride is extremely disorienting due to sharp turns and the sudden spontaneous spinning of the ride carriage. Can also be painful, but a must ride at least once.
     
     
   • Jack Rabbit - The great classic Jack Rabbit. Designed by John Miller in 1921 this great wooden coaster is full of surpises. The first hill looks unassumming as it should for only standing at 40ft. but then you plunge into a little valley and what follows is a great ride that has you out of your seat for most of the ride. This is best experienced on the incredible double down.
     
     
   • Phantom's Revenge - A reprofiled version of the Steel Phantom this coaster debuted in the 2001 season. After removing all the loops from Steel Phantom, Morgan came in and turned the out of control, painful Steel Phantom into an insane speed demon with lots of air time. A must if you are ever at Kennywood.
     
     
   • The Racers - Much like the King's Island Racers. The cool thing about this coaster is the tracks cross at some point and you return to the station on the opposite side from which you departed
     
     
   • Thunderbolt - This is Jorgé's favorite classic coaster. Built in 1968 this coaster has all the elements of a great one, plus it has an insane first drop. The first drop is right out of the station. This ride is packed with negative G's and lateral G's the whole way through. Whether you're a coaster enthusiast or not you must ride this coaster.
   
   
2. Recommended Flat Rides
   
   
   • Noah's Ark - Not really a flat ride but it's a walk through fun house of sorts. Can be scary for young children.
     
     
   • Wave Swinger - Exactly like Cedar Point's Wave Swinger
     
     
   • The Whip - The best of the classic flat rides. This ride travels in an elongated oval. Once a car reaches the end of the oval it's snapped around to the other side like a whip.