We took the boys to Six Flags Magic Mountain today. We decided to go and brave the Memorial Day crowd (which really wasn't too bad) for a couple of reasons:
- J has finally reached the magic number... 54", the tallest height requirement for rides.
- Later this summer we'll be going to the mecca of roller coasters, Cedar Point! For our highly scientific evaluation using the SA rating scale (Saiki-delic Awesomeness, trademark pending), we needed to set our baseline somewhere.
- Buying season passes for the family before the end of May got us a free parking pass for the rest of the year. And as an added perk, the season pass is also good for admission to any Six Flags amusement park in the country, Great America included. Looks like it will be a roller coaster summer for us!
After waiting to get our passes processed, we went straight over to ride X2, where we promptly waited some more. Another 75 minutes to be exact. With all that time to watch the ride go by, I knew that I wasn't going to be able to go on it... spinning + flipping = puking, no way! However, R and the boys did, although M had to ride by himself since I chickened out.
(M) Liked going backwards, flipping over, flames shooting out at you, but -1 for my head getting banged around = 9; (J) Too short, didn't like riding backwards = 5; (R) Cool coaster, but long wait for a short ride, my head kept hitting the harness = 6
Overall SA Rating: 6.7
Viper
Overall SA Rating: 6.7
Viper
Since Viper is right next to X2 and the line seemed short, we decided to try it. Bad decision. Very. Bad. Decision.
The height requirement for Viper is 54", and the ride operators measured J to be sure. Unfortunately for him, 54" still probably isn't tall enough because his head was knocked back and forth between the restraints. And all of the loops, corkscrews, and dips one right after another proved to be just too much - ruined me for the rest of the afternoon! Such a bummer to be old.
(J) Banged my head around way too much = 1; (Me) Rough, big puke factor = 2; (R) Short line = 7; (M) Liked all of the loops and corkscrews, but not amazing = 6
Overall SA Rating: 4.0
Ninja
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| The look on J's face says it all... |
The height requirement for Viper is 54", and the ride operators measured J to be sure. Unfortunately for him, 54" still probably isn't tall enough because his head was knocked back and forth between the restraints. And all of the loops, corkscrews, and dips one right after another proved to be just too much - ruined me for the rest of the afternoon! Such a bummer to be old.
(J) Banged my head around way too much = 1; (Me) Rough, big puke factor = 2; (R) Short line = 7; (M) Liked all of the loops and corkscrews, but not amazing = 6
Overall SA Rating: 4.0
Ninja
Hi ya! Hi ya! Hi ya! I was still reeling from Viper, so R kept me company while the boys got in line by themselves. Ninja is one of their favorites. If the lines had been shorter, they would have ridden more.
(J) Fast, the car hanging from the rails is cool, good view of the park = 10; (M) Pretty fast, liked how the car swings going thru turns = 8; (R) Fast, but easy-going ride = 7
Overall SA Rating: 8.3
Gold Rusher
M was the only one to go on this ride because the rest of the family needed a break after eating lunch, although all of us have been on it before. A pretty tame coaster. Guess rides like this one are all I can look forward to now. <sigh>
(R) Simple, but fun = 6; (M) Not much thrill, rough ride = 3
Overall SA Rating: 4.5
Tatsu
J didn't want to ride Tatsu, so at this point we split up. (He played one of the games and won a basketball - happy kid!) M and R waited in line for about an hour, less than the posted time of 90 minutes. They were not pleased that the ride operators kept loading the people with Flash Passes into the same row (theirs!), which held them up for a couple of cycles before they could finally board.
(M) Really fast and smooth, you "fly" all over the park, loved the forward dive loop that puts you on your back = 10; (R) Very smooth, think it should be named "Superman" instead since you're lying prone and flying = 10
Overall SA Rating: 10
Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth
There are rides like this in my lab -- they're called centrifuges! Magic Mountain used to have another ride where everyone would be stuck to the sides and the floor would drop...the boys would get off and run right back on over and over again. The floor doesn't fall away on Wonder Woman, but it does elevate and spin at an angle, so needless to say, this one is a definite favorite of theirs.
(M) Very fast, liked being "centrifuged", great for drying off after getting wet = 10; (J) Awesome, spinny = 10; (R) Not for old people = 3
Overall SA Rating: 7.7
Batman The Ride
Again, only R and M went on this one, while J and I waited for them. Good thing the line was short and J had a basketball to play with to pass the time! I'm so glad that R can go on the big rides with M and that he enjoys it. (Way to take one for the team, hon!)
(R) Smooth ride, fun because your legs are hanging free = 8; (M) Fast, liked the loops and corkscrews = 8
Overall SA Rating: 8
Scream
With less than two hours to go before the park closed, we decided to split up again. I went with J over to Buccaneer and Swashbuckler, while M and R got in line for Scream. Their wait time was minimal.
(R) Another smooth ride, fast, lots of loops = 9; (M) Fast, pretty strenuous because of the loops (pulling G's), fun = 9
Overall SA Rating: 9
Apocalypse
Our penultimate ride of the day was Apocalypse. By this time I felt much better and was ready to give this one a try, especially since it didn't have any loops. R took a break, so just the boys came with me. We walked right on, no wait at all.
(J) Seats are cushiony, best wooden roller coaster = 8; (Me) Drops and banked turns were great, no hurling from Mom (+1) = 8; (M) Really fast, better than Colossus because it has bigger drops, best wooden coaster I've ridden, smooth = 9
Overall SA Rating: 8.3
Revolution
The boys hit Revolution on our way out of the park. R does not like this ride at all, so he took a pass. There wasn't much of a line, because the boys were back in no time -- all smiles and ready to head home!
(R) Head rattled too much in the harness = 2; (M) Banged my head a lot, the big loop is good = 5; (J) The shoulder harness hurts, liked the big loop = 6
Overall SA Rating: 4.3
All in all, a pretty good day spent at Magic Mountain. Even though it was confirmed that I am officially old and too decrepit to ride the big ones anymore (bummer!), it was fun to watch the rest of the family enjoy themselves. Guess I will have to accept my new role as all-time bag watcher and prize-holder for the rest of the summer. Look out, Great America and Cedar Point... here we come!
(M) Really fast and smooth, you "fly" all over the park, loved the forward dive loop that puts you on your back = 10; (R) Very smooth, think it should be named "Superman" instead since you're lying prone and flying = 10
Overall SA Rating: 10
Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth
There are rides like this in my lab -- they're called centrifuges! Magic Mountain used to have another ride where everyone would be stuck to the sides and the floor would drop...the boys would get off and run right back on over and over again. The floor doesn't fall away on Wonder Woman, but it does elevate and spin at an angle, so needless to say, this one is a definite favorite of theirs.
(M) Very fast, liked being "centrifuged", great for drying off after getting wet = 10; (J) Awesome, spinny = 10; (R) Not for old people = 3
Overall SA Rating: 7.7
Batman The Ride
Again, only R and M went on this one, while J and I waited for them. Good thing the line was short and J had a basketball to play with to pass the time! I'm so glad that R can go on the big rides with M and that he enjoys it. (Way to take one for the team, hon!)
(R) Smooth ride, fun because your legs are hanging free = 8; (M) Fast, liked the loops and corkscrews = 8
Overall SA Rating: 8
Scream
With less than two hours to go before the park closed, we decided to split up again. I went with J over to Buccaneer and Swashbuckler, while M and R got in line for Scream. Their wait time was minimal.
(R) Another smooth ride, fast, lots of loops = 9; (M) Fast, pretty strenuous because of the loops (pulling G's), fun = 9
Overall SA Rating: 9
Apocalypse
Our penultimate ride of the day was Apocalypse. By this time I felt much better and was ready to give this one a try, especially since it didn't have any loops. R took a break, so just the boys came with me. We walked right on, no wait at all.
(J) Seats are cushiony, best wooden roller coaster = 8; (Me) Drops and banked turns were great, no hurling from Mom (+1) = 8; (M) Really fast, better than Colossus because it has bigger drops, best wooden coaster I've ridden, smooth = 9
Overall SA Rating: 8.3
Revolution
The boys hit Revolution on our way out of the park. R does not like this ride at all, so he took a pass. There wasn't much of a line, because the boys were back in no time -- all smiles and ready to head home!
(R) Head rattled too much in the harness = 2; (M) Banged my head a lot, the big loop is good = 5; (J) The shoulder harness hurts, liked the big loop = 6
Overall SA Rating: 4.3
All in all, a pretty good day spent at Magic Mountain. Even though it was confirmed that I am officially old and too decrepit to ride the big ones anymore (bummer!), it was fun to watch the rest of the family enjoy themselves. Guess I will have to accept my new role as all-time bag watcher and prize-holder for the rest of the summer. Look out, Great America and Cedar Point... here we come!
2 comments:
Great trip report Anne! So envious that you got to ride X2. When we went there it was down all day. :( So was Ninja. But I did get to ride every other coaster.
Bill
Thanks, Bill! I really appreciate all of your tips/advice for our Cedar Point visit. So looking forward to it!
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