SANDUSKY — The air is noticeably colder at 420 feet.
Being launched at 120 miles an hour to those heights definitely gave me goosebumps. But I don’t know if it was from the wind or the nerves.
In case you missed our Tuesday Instagram stories on Richland Source, I attended a passholder preview event of Top Thrill 2 this week — ahead of the May 4 opening day.
I jokingly asked if the company would pay for my mileage if I took some photos and videos.
Our editor Larry Phillips said sure, if I turned it into content for our sites, so that’s exactly what I did.
The ride doesn’t allow you to have anything in your pockets, so you’re forced to talk to people or be alone with your thoughts — just like in, well, way back in Larry’s day …
I talked with a nice couple from Michigan for a little while, who later went in the front row. There’s a good chance they swallowed some bugs.
I had put the jacket I was wearing in a locker with everything that was previously in my pockets and started to raise my arms on the third and fastest launch, but in addition to signs telling you not to do that, I didn’t find it very comfortable because you’re going so fast.
Top Thrill 2 is the tallest and fastest triple-launch strata coaster the world. A strata coaster must be at least 400 feet tall.
The ride launches you partway up the 420-foot tower at 74 miles an hour, backward at 101 miles an hour up to 420 feet, and forward and over the tower at 120 miles per hour.
It is exhilarating.
You experience positive and negative G-forces and a few freefall-feeling moments. I liked the ride better than the original Top Thrill Dragster because Top Thrill 2 gives you significantly longer airtime than the original ride.
Top Thrill 2 also features an observation deck for non-riders to observe the coaster’s timer countdown and launch.
I rode Top Thrill 2 around 8 p.m. Tuesday after getting my boarding pass for between 6 and 7. The line lasted nearly two hours for the special event. If not for some maintenance breaks, I would have been through the line in just over an hour.
Child-like excitement
There’s something about Cedar Point that fills me with a child-like joy and exhilaration. Maybe it’s the thrill of feeling like you’re falling while knowing you’ll be back on stable ground in two to three minutes.
My family had the Cedar Point platinum pass back in the summer of 2016, which allowed an hour of early entry to the park. Being raised in a working class family meant there were multiple times we pulled out of our driveway at 6 a.m. to get our money and time’s worth at the park.
First thing in the morning was the absolute best time to ride Maverick, also constructed by Adena’s steel team. Park at the back/ Cedar Point Shores entrance to be closer to that, Steel Vengeance and Magnum XL-200.
I think the Shores entrance is slightly closer to Top Thrill 2 also, though I didn’t measure it.
I remember riding the original Top Thrill Dragster a few times, once in the front row — which was totally worth it.
The freefall moments are better in the front, but I think I’d avoid a front-row dusk ride because I’m sure there would be more bugs in your face.
Tips & tricks for thrill seeking in Cedar Point
I usually aim to ride around 10 thrill rides at Cedar Point in a regular day between the 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. hours.
Granted, I’m usually at Cedar Point either by myself or with adult friends. Keeping track of young kids and making sure everyone in a large group is fed, hydrated and wearing sunscreen might make 10 rides in a day impossible.
My best advice is to get to the park when the gates open and get in line for your favorite, most popular ride when you enter. Keep an eye on the Cedar Point app for wait times.
I visited Cedar Point on Memorial Day weekend last year with a friend, and Steel Vengeance delayed for maintenance while we were in line. Since we couldn’t get on in the morning, we had to decide between our last ride being Steel Vengeance or Millennium Force.
In my opinion, nothing beats a night ride on Millennium Force, so that was our final ride. I was able to ride Steel Vengeance later in the season and it might be one of my new favorites.
There should be a few times in the day when you can find Steel Vengeance at a 45-minute wait or less. You will have to rent a locker or leave your belongings with a non-rider as Steel Vengeance and Top Thrill 2 both have metal detectors in use.
Both of those rides are secured only with a seatbelt and lap bar, so the rules are stricter than most over-the-shoulder restraint rides.
Cedar Point has nearly 70 rides on its property including 17 roller coasters and multiple thrill rides and family rides. Though a Fast Lane Plus would be about half of my monthly entertainment budget, I’d honestly consider it if there’s a weekend day this summer that I want to ride all the coasters.
Coasting to a close
Many people considering a visit to Cedar Point probably already know the cost of tickets and parking, but in case you don’t, read more below.
Park tickets purchased online are $49.99 and at the gate can be up to $80. There are discounts for active or retired members of the military, including free Memorial Day weekend tickets.
Fast Lane Plus users will get quicker access to one ride on Top Thrill 2 this season, and unlimited rides to the other most popular coasters including Maverick, Millennium Force, Steel Vengeance and Valravn. Fast Lane starts at $95 per person and Plus starts at $115.
Parking is $25 for regular tickets, and AAA members can get $57.50 tickets that include entry and parking.
If you don’t have a season pass but you know someone who does, you can be extra nice to them and maybe they’ll buy $40 bring-a-friend tickets and let you carpool with their parking included.
If you stay at a Cedar Point hotel property, you can get some perks that include early entry and discounted tickets during your stay.
Cedar Point is open May 4 through Oct. 27. It’s open seven days a week starting May 16 through Sept. 2.
