Power Dive
A looping starship; functions like a pendulum until you reach enough speed to turn upside down. Unlike many other rides in the park that can add cars or parallel tracks during busy periods, this is a single-”car” ride, which means lines move in spurts and capacity is limited. Opened: 1987. Riders in 1989: 550,000.
The wait: 20:09 at noon; 27:30 at 12:45 p.m.; 22:56 at 5:30 p.m.
The ride: 2:00 to 2:18.
Testers` comments: ”Great.” P.H.
”Too freaked to go on.” M.H.
”A new feeling to be sitting upside down.” T.M.
”I got hit by a quarter (falling out of another rider`s pocket when they were upside down). It was really worth the wait. It was a long ride, and the anticipation was pretty cool.” F.S.
Rating from testers: 8.0.
Other riders` comments: ”I liked Iron Wolf and Shock Wave better.”
”She cried.”
Rating from other riders: 7.5.
Roaring Rapids
White-water rapids ride with round rafts; rafts are not on tracks but move with water flow. Multiple opportunities to get wet. Opened: 1984. Riders in 1989: 1.3 million.
The wait: 3:52 at 11:18 a.m.; 6:19 at 12:58 p.m.; 4:55 at 1:15 p.m.;
16:30 at 4 p.m.
The ride: 2:53 to 4:05.
Testers` comments: ”I liked how there wasn`t just one splash.” M.H.
”Probably the best of the water rides.” T.M.
”It`s still the best water ride no matter what they think of because it leaves to chance who`s going to get the wettest.” F.S.
”Exciting.” P.H.
Rating from testers: 8.0.
Other riders` comments: ”High excitement.” ”Needs more water.” ”Wish I could guide the raft.” ”The best-we already went on it twice.”
Rating from other riders: 8.1.
Rolling Thunder
Bobsled-style trackless roller coaster. Opened: 1989. Riders in 1989:
900,000.
The wait: 33:00 at 10:45 a.m.; 31:00 at 1 p.m.; 34:47 at 3:17 p.m.
The ride: 1:28 to 1:45.
Testers` comments: ”Fun.” P.H.
”I thought it would be scary but it wasn`t.” M.H.
”Not worth the wait.” T.M.
”I agree with Trip.” F.S.
Rating from testers: 6.4.
Other riders` comments: ”This ride sucks-turn around” (an exiting rider to one waiting in line). ”It was pretty cool because it`s different from other rides.”
Rating from other riders: 7.7.
Shock Wave
A seven-looped steel roller coaster; was tallest (155-foot drop) and fastest coaster when introduced. Opened: 1988. Riders in 1989: 1.79 million
(No. 2 in popularity).
The wait: 33:30 (including a 10-minute shut-down when car got stuck) at noon; 26:19 at 12:35 p.m.; 13:24 at 4:16 p.m.; 8:54 at 7:45 p.m.
The ride: 2:00 to 2:03.
Testers` comments: ”Thrilling.” P.H.
”I was too scared to go on it.” M.H.
”It drops as good as the Eagle because you twist in the drops. It`s still a good ride. It would have been a 10 if Iron Wolf hadn`t been here.”
T.M.
”I like it because you go upside down five times (actually seven, including corkscrews). It has so many ups and downs. The lines were a lot shorter this year. It didn`t seem as fast as I remembered it, or as compared to Iron Wolf.” F.S.
Rating from testers: 9.6 (our highest rating, thanks, somewhat, to the adults; all four of the adults-one passed-who rode it ranked it ”10”).
Other riders` comments: ”Iron Wolf is better.” ”The Eagle is better.” ”Most thrilling.”
Rating from other riders: 9.7 (highest except for the unchartable Iron Wolf).
Splashwater Falls
Water flume ride with only one splash-but a big one-just before boat goes under the bridge; exiting passengers going over the bridge get even wetter if a boat comes along underneath. Opened: 1986. Riders in 1989: 1 million.
The wait: No wait at 10:15 a.m.; 1:58 at 10:20 a.m.; 3:44 at 3:20 p.m.
The ride: 1:58 to 3:05.
Testers` comments: ”Too short.” P.H.
”I liked going on the bridge more than riding it.” M.H.
”The bridge is the whole ride-you get more wet there.” T.M.
”All it has is one purpose-to get you wet. It completes its purpose.”
F.S.
Rating from testers: 5.8.
Rating from other riders: 7.5.
Tidal Wave
Shuttle-loop roller coaster with backward upside down. Another single-car ride, but rides are short so line doesn`t get out of hand. Opened: 1978. Riders in 1989: 1.29 million.
The wait: 3:04 at 11 a.m.; 4:45 at 1:20 p.m.; 4:35 at 4:42 p.m.
The ride: :34 to :36.
Testers` comments: ”Fast.” P.H.
”I`d never go on this ride again.” M.H.
”Too short.” T.M.
”Even sitting in the front wasn`t as good as the bigger rides.” F.S.
Rating from testers: 6.0.
Other riders` comments: ”As thrilling as it gets.” ”Third best in the park-Iron Wolf and Shock Wave are better.”
Rating from other riders: 7.2.
Whizzer
A ”starter” roller coaster or ”family” roller coaster (i.e., not intended to be too scary); climbs seven stories in spiral with free-sailing down. Opened: 1976. Riders in 1989: 1.09 million.
The wait: 10:00 at 11:30 a.m.; 30:06 at 9:30 p.m. (Ride was open only sporadically throughout the day; two teams rode together at end of day.)
The ride: 2:00 to 2:33.
Testers` comments: ”Wasn`t worth a long wait.” P.H.
”It was neat. I liked it a lot.” M.H.
”It`s got one moment of excitement at night because you can`t see where you`re going.” T.M.
”It really wasn`t worth the wait.” F.S.
Rating from testers: 6.6.
Rating from other riders: ?? (park closed while our pollster was waiting in line, and people were only interested in getting home).
Yankee Clipper
Water flume ride; same concept as Loggers Run. Opened: 1976. Riders in 1989: 700,000.
The wait: 17:15 at 12:28 p.m.; 8:00 at 1:35 p.m.; 22:03 at 3:20 p.m.
The ride: 3:18 to 4:00.
Testers` comments: ”Fastest water ride.” P.H.
”Stupid. You hardly get wet.” M.H.
”It`s probably the worst of the water rides.” T.M.
”It has a good drop, but it wasn`t as effective if its purpose is to get you wet.” F.S.
Rating from testers: 5.0.
Rating from other riders: 6.2.
