Las Vegas Coasters / Rides

[Digicub]

Hi all, going to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas next week and wondered if any USA peeps could direct me to the best rides in Vegas? Ive already got Six Flags SF and Six Flags MM sorted but Vegas sounds kinda sucky for rides....is Manhattan Express and Speed all I got to look forward to? Stratosphere tower sounds dreadful....

[David Ellis]

Manhattan Express is painful...but does have a very unusual inversion and is worth doing once.
Circus Circus has an indoor theme park with a 4-inversion steel coaster, and is not bad for its type.
Speed is my favourite ride in Vegas...well worth doing. I had heard rumours that it was being removed (someone local can perhaps confirm its current status).
Stratosphere is well worth doing too. The space shot on top is the best of its genre and its position 1150ft above the strip is second to none. High roller is an average junior coaster but again at 900ft up the view is worth it!
Desperado is on the state line at Buffalo Bills Primm resort. I found it a rather painful experience in 2002, and would recommend if going that way...the turbo drop there is jolly good though!

Hope that helps,
David (UK)

[Harpo]

Since you're going through LA, are you also stopping at Knott's? Knott's GhostRider ranks as tied for my favorite wood coaster. (The other one is Wildcat at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania.)

In just under 2 weeks, I'll be making another trek to Knott's, coming from Detroit, Michigan. I'm eager to try out the new Silver Bullet, and to eat some of Mrs. Knott's delicious chicken!

[Digicub]

Well, you've opened a can 'o' worms now!

Knotts or Magic Mountain? Hmmm.....silver bullet sure looks good with that new banked element, and ghostrider looks amazing - but MM has got some classics - Ive only got 2 days in the LA area - whadda I do folks, KBF or MM?????

Oh, and David thanks for the Vegas tips - i heard that ME is rough - but Im staying at the MGM Grand over the road so Im sure I'll get a few rides on it.

Does anyone know if the Stratosphere is open for rides in late Feb? I heard that it was closed at various times in Winter.......

[Harpo]

I have previously been to Vegas in February, and the rides on Stratosphere were open. (There were only two at that time, now there are three. All three were open on my last visit, New Years 2004/05, although the line was too long on Jan 1 2005, so I skipped it. However, I did ride Speed, Manhattan Express, and Canyon Blaster on Jan 1 2005.)

They will not run High Roller in any amount of rain at all. The operators don't have a true understanding of why -- they claimed the ride would slide off the rails! The real reason is that it has a tire drive, so the tires would slip too much, causing the ride to "valley," although there isn't much of a valley on that ride!

Oh, by the way, if you plan on going to parks both days, it is possible to do Knott's one day and Magic Mountain on the other day. Neither park desperately needs two days.

If it's any indication, I'm going to Knott's for my birthday in just under 2 weeks. I'll be out there for 2 full days, flying about 4.5 hours to get there -- I'm not going to bother with Magic Mountain on this trip, because I prefer Knott's. But, that's just my opinion.

[Digicub]

Thanks Harpo - you're a mine of USA Coaster information as usual!

Oh, and Ive got my tickets booked for Summer 2006 at Cedar Point, Ohio already under your previous recommendations....:up:

[aoshi]

heres a few that haven't been mentioned (I live in vegas :D )

The Luxor has a few motion simulators and an IMAX theatre inside the big pyramid.

The Hilton has The Star Trek Experience, which is a walk-through type ride that basically is an experience.


these have been stated before but...

I reccomend The Manhatten Express, it is shaky and all that but is a fun ride

The Stratospheres rides are for the brave! They are great for a view though. The new ride Insanity is said to open in March

The Adventuredome is fun too!

[Digicub]

Thankx all, Im looking forward toit BIG TIME!!!!