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Entering the world in 2000 as the world's first 'giga-coaster,' which in coaster terms signifies a lift height above 300 feet, Millennium Force has become a world-famous ride, and it is also the world's favorite ride, ranking number one on Amusement Today's Polls. It is one of my personal favorites, and though it is comparatively short in length when compared to its lift height, it packs a huge punch that begins to show up right around when the cable (a world-record setter for being the first coaster to use an elevator cable for the lift) hits the train and the train jumps out of the station, accelerating to a comfortable 15-20 mph up the lift.
After 30 seconds, the train is already at the peak of the 45 degree lift, and after climbing 310 feet with no side rails and nothing between you and the ground except the air beside you, it is breathtaking- literally. I actually held my breath until the cable separated from the train- the first drop is the most incredible I have ever experienced. Because of the way each car is set up, anyone from anywhere in the train is able to have a perfect view of where the train is going, except when the lift is going to end! Six seconds after reaching the crest of the first hill, the train is screaming into the first high-bank curve, another record-setter for closest section of track to reach an inversion without actually reaching the 130 degree mark.
You might think that the rest of the ride leaves a lot to be desired compared to the first 45 seconds- just wait. From the first turn the ride plunges to 85 mph into the first of its tunnels, and screams up the second hill, a camelback the size of Magnum XL-200's lift. The airtime is incredible, and over the top the train dumps you into another curve that leads to high-bank turn 2 of 4. From an aerial, the track looks relatively simplistic, but from on the ride, it looks so twisted and contorted. From the second curve the train continues through another steep turn near ground-level, and into the third high-bank curve past the nearby walkway, a favorite of photographers.
Then the train begins the finale, the second best part of the coaster. The first main element of the finale is the super neg-G camelback next to the second hill, which high-banks into the second tunnel. When the train emerges, it travels quickly over an extended bunny hop and straightens out next to the queue line. Finally, the train launches into the final high-bank curve, which is impressively tall for being the final element before the brakes, occurring at a height of over 60 feet. The brakes are quick and effective, and before you know it, the ride's over!
This is the best ride ever created on earth, and if you ever get a chance to go to Cedar Point, believe me it'll be worth the two- to three-hour wait to ride it. Believe me, you won't be disappointed.
Millennium Force
builder- Intamin AG
height- 310 feet
length of drop- 300 feet
degree of drop- 80 degrees
top speed- 92 to 94 mph
length- 6595 feet
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