CoasterJunkie
Editor
Six Flags Magic Mountain VS. Cedar Point
CoasterJunkie here once again to give some of the current lowdown on our most treasured possessions. No, not our Nintendo..I'm talking about coasters, of course! This article will focus on a continually growing controversy that has been tearing the east coast and west coast apart for more than 2 years. This article will be a very special one, because it is my first one to have an interactive feature on it so that registered users can vote and talk about CP and SFMM and this editorial in the forums. I must first admit, that as of the April 12th opening of Scream!, the count is now official and (as of now) SFMM does have the most coasters with a total of 16. I know, I feel like I have betrayed my favorite park and my fellow coaster enthusiasts, but numbers don't lie. Well, instead of me just ranting on about how much I love Cedar Point and my hatred for the Six Flags Company, why don't we take a look at the true facts and statistics about CP's and SFMM's coasters with only facts and fairness.
First off, lets look at the coaster count as of April 2003. Scream! has now officially opened to the public and Magic Mountain claims to have a grand total of 16 roller coasters. Here is the list and year of opening: Gold Rusher-1971, Revolution-1976, Colossus-1978, Ninja-1988, Viper-1990, Psyclone-1991, Flashback-1992, Batman: The Ride-1994, Superman: The Escape-1997, Riddler's Revenge-1998, Canyon Blaster-1999, Goliath-2000, Goliath Jr.-2001, Déjà Vu-2001, X-2002, Scream!-2003. Now lets look at the coaster of Cedar Point: Blue Streak-1964, Cedar Creek Mine Ride-1969, Corkscrew-1976, Gemini-1978, Jr. Gemini-1979, Wildcat-1979, Disaster Transport-1985, Iron Dragon-1987, Magnum XL200-1989, Mean Streak-1991, Raptor-1994, Mantis-1996, Woodstock's Express-1999, Millennium Force-2000, Wicked Twister-2002, Top Thrill Dragster-2003. As one can see, both parks have a total of 16 coasters. so now what? Why don't we compare the coasters in one park to the coasters in another park? Lets see what park is better in the coaster department.
1st Category: The Big Boys
Superman vs. Top Thrill Dragster
I personally feel that Superman shouldn't even be considered a coaster because if that where the case, then every other Intamin 1st generation freefall ride could also be considered a coaster as well. But since many important people have named it as a coaster, I must follow the rules. Superman was built way before Dragster, but Dragster is 420 feet tall and goes 120 mph. Superman is only 415 feet tall (the car doesn't even get close to that height) and only goes 100 mph. Following basic numbers alone, any moron can see that Top Thrill Dragster is 5 feet higher and goes 20 mph faster than Superman. Plus, what is good airtime compared to a 400 ft tall, 270 degree spiraling vertical drop? The winner of this category is Cedar Point, by a long shot.
2nd Category: Attack of the Monsters
Goliath vs Millennium Force
Anyone who has ridden Millennium Force knows the winner of this category. I will admit that Goliath has a wonderful layout with plenty of speed, high G's and a great tunnel. but its no match for a 300 ft tall, 80 degree plummet to earth in a tiny aluminum car while making several overbanked turns without any trim breaks! MF just has way too much over Goliath. The placement of MF gives a breathtaking view of the park as well as the surrounding lake. The lift also gives much more to MF for its unique design and high speed, which almost seems to launch you out of the station. Goliath isn't all that bad though. The tunnel at the bottom of the drop is a great headchopper effect and the placement over top of Colossus makes it look much bigger than it is.
Score: CP 2, SFMM 0
3rd Category: Standing Ovation
Riddler's Revenge vs. Mantis
This one is an easy one, based on the numbers. Riddler is bigger, taller, faster, longer than Mantis, and has the advantage of incredible placement in the park, while Mantis has a decent layout, and that stupid drop break, and a shoehorn fit right next to Iron Dragon. Even though Mantis was the first major B&M stand up coaster to open, it isn't the best. Riddler just gives an all around incredible ride, packed with high g's, lots of inversions and twists, and a great layout. I know that it hurts me to say this, but if riddler got into a fight with Mantis, it would squash it in an instant.
Score: CP 2, SFMM 1
4th Category: Reverse, Anyone?
Déjà vu vs. Wicked Twister
If we look at the numbers, WT is taller and faster than DV, but height doesn't always matter. I have had the chance to ride Déjà vu at SFOG and I must say that it is an experience like no other reversing roller coaster. The fact that you are slowly pulled out of the station backwards at a 90 degree incline, with nothing to hold you back except a bulky harness is something I will never forget. While I must admit that WT does give one hell of a ride with its unique double twisting 215 foot vertical towers, it cant hold a candle to the awesome and odd power that can come from the creators of the first boomerang coaster. My vote goes to the blue and green meanie.
Score: CP 2, SFMM 2
5th Category: I Got Wood!
Colossus vs. Mean Streak
If this were 1991, I wouldn't have a second though for Mean Streak. But I think that most of us who have ridden it recently can say that it is nothing like it once was. MS jst got trashed when the park went crazy with the brakes and is now slower than Draggin' Iron (trust me, its really slow). Colossus is just a very pleasing coaster ride. Even though its not the smoothest or the most intense, it still nice to see a wonderfully build racing woodie. The one thing about Colossus is the speed bump being tracked over, but the show must go on. Plus, who could forget the movie National Lampoon's Vacation? Just the way that it looks is so awe-inspiring, it just looks like a really fun coaster to ride. There is no comparison here, adding goliath to the layout just made it more interesting to look at and to ride. My vote goes to Colossus!
Score: CP 2, SFMM 3
6th Category: Early Loopers
The Great American Revolution vs. Corkscrew
This one is a very hard one to say. Obviously corkscrew has a few more years of technology above Revolution, as well as more inversions, but who could argue against "Mr. RollerCoaster"? Now I'm not just picking Revolution because it was done by Anton Schwartzkopf, this coaster has much on Corkscrew. First off, Corkscrew has great airtime and awesome placement over the midway, but Revolution has a longer layout, a better layout, and a killer staring role in one of the greatest movies of all time ("Rollercoaster" for those of you who don't know what movie I'm talking about). Thank you Herr Achterbahn for your wonderful contributions to the coaster world!
7th Category: Portables
Flashback vs. Wildcat
This was a very tough decision for me to make. On one hand you have the world's only "Space Diver" coaster with its very odd drops and layout, but on the other you have one of the better versions of a Schwartzkopf, Wildcat, mass production carnival ride. I will be the first one to admit that Flashback is a very interesting ride and will ever be the only one of its kind, but for some reason the Wildcat at CP is really fun! Plus, the fact that Flashback is rarely ever open and has had numerous complaints about being rough. Ill have to give this one to CP.
Score: CP 3, SFMM 4
8th Category: Bird of Prey Against the Dark Knight
Batman: The Ride vs. Raptor
This is a no-brainer for you B&M enthusiasts out there as well as Invert fans. I have to admit that I favor the Batman clones over other custom inverts (*cough*TALON*cough*) because of the intense ride it gives, but Raptor is just such an awesome ride! This coaster is by far one of the best B&M inverts out there and contiues to make top ten lists to this day! Even though the mass-production Batman inverts are always great rides, they have no comparison to the experience of Raptor. My vote goes to the bird of prey.
Score: CP4, SFMM 4
9th Category: Swing Things
Ninja vs. Iron Dragon
This isn't a very fair fight here. Ninja just kicks ass when it comes to great suspended coasters. The long track, the great layout, and awesome banking has nothing on the Draggin Iron. Don't get me wrong, im a lover of every suspended coaster, but Ninja is just that good! My only concern is that what the hell is "the black belt of roller coasters"?
Score: CP 4, SFMM 5
10th Category: I Got Little Woodie!
Psyclone vs. Blue Streak
One word best describes the winner of this category, AIRTIME!! Anyone will tell you that airtime is one of the best features on a coaster, and Blue Streak was designed and built for just that purpose. Also, every SFMM patron and enthusiast knows that the only word to describe Psyclone would have to be "ow". Size any layout doesn't always matter, a little out and back can be much better than a big ol' cyclone copycat any day!
Score: CP 5, SFMM 5
11th Category: Runaway Arrow Trains
Runaway Mine Train vs. Mine Train
This is another easy category to figure out. I'm just gonna come out and say that SFMM has the credit for this one. Mine Train might have an incredible layout over the water and through the trees, but Runway Mine Train has many more advantages to it. The terrain, length, and ride all surpass CP's little contribution to Arrow's coaster number. Bravo SFMM on this one!
Score: CP 5, SFMM 6
12th Category: Mega Looper and the Hyper Non-Looper
Magnum XL-200 vs. Viper
I know what your thinking. "how can you put a looper and a non-looper in the same category?" Well, this is based on track design and height. When we look at Viper, we see a wonderful mega-looper with a great layout and intensity that only Arrow can produce. But when we look at the worlds first hyper coaster, we see something completely out of the ordinary. Just because it was the first coaster to go over 200 ft doesn't mean much, but you have to admit that when you crest the second hill all your thinking is whether or not your going go right into lake Erie or not. The layout of Magnum is just incredible and being that the ride is 14 years old it still produces an incredible ride. I'm just going have to go with Magnum on this one.
Final Category: The Wee Ones and Their Coasters
Canyon Blaster and Goliath Jr. vs Woodstock's Express and Jr. Gemini
Its funny that this category would be the tie breaker because of the fact that its all about kiddie coasters. This category was hard for me to do because I have never ridden any of these coasters and can only judge them by layout and length. Canyon Blaster in a nice little ride that could really help to jump-start a young coaster enthusiast, but that can also be said about Woodstock's Express, so they are equally matched. But when it comes to Goliath Jr. and Jr. Gemini, it is clear that Jr. Gemini has a much better layout and design than Goliath Jr. Unfortunately I will have to give credit to both parks which puts us at dead even once again!
Score: TIED!
Conclusion
So now what do we do? The scores are tied and there are still more coasters that could bring one park over the top. Now we must look at the individual designs to see how we can conclude this debate. First off we have X. This coaster deserves to be in a category of its own. Period. I have to give SFMM much credit for this coaster because of the Xtremely unique design and, from what I can tell, a mind-blowing Xperience. I can't really say much for Scream! because of its horrible name and placement as well as being just a mirror image of Medusa East. As for Gemini and Disaster Transport. Well Gemini is such a fun ride because of the combination of a mine train with a racing woodie, and Disaster Transport is the only enclosed bobsled coaster in the entire world. What it all boils down to is the fact that when it comes to coasters, both parks have a great lineup and continue to improve it constantly. But when it comes to the quality of a park, Cedar Point blows Six Flags Magic Mountain out of the water. CP always makes sure that all of their rides are open and only down for maintenance or other reasons and SFMM is constantly closing rides for long durations for reasons unknown. Plus the food, atmosphere, location, and cleanliness of Cedar Point far surpasses that of almost all Six Flags Parks. So my final evaluation is that Cedar Point is better than Six Flags (this is also shown by CP's many Gold Ticket Awards. Sorry SFMM, but CP got ya! Thank you all for your time and I hope that you keep on fighting for the love of your park! And as always.. Keep on Coastin'!
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