Coaster reviews

Comfort Pace Intensity Theming Capacity

This is a flyer built on top of a mountain, such that you get a real strong sensation of HEIGHT throughout the ride. Photos of the coaster don't show this very well. Frankly, Tatsu feels a lot more like "Superman" than the Superman ride. The height sensation just amplifies the already very good course. I just wish it didn't always have such long waits.

First Drop Pace Intensity Dead spots

The first drop is ridonkulously high and the sustained Gs in the final flat helix make me light-headed - the only coaster that's been able to do that to me (its a positive!). Too bad the hard brake in the middle of the course really interrupts the experience. Still, I'd rank Goliath as the 3rd or 4th best coaster at the (20-coaster) park.

First Drop Intensity Discomfort

I got a headache every time I've ridden it, but the 4D design of the train and the intense layout make it a pretty special thrill.

Airtimes Launch Intensity Too short Capacity

Intense launch, great air-time, and the barebones train makes you feel very exposed. Too bad its quite short, and the combo of poor capacity and being located close to the park entrance make for grueling wait-times. I end up skipping the ride on half my visits. Also, the last time I rode it they had stopped blasting Ozzy's Crazy Train in the tunnel; it felt like something was missing.

Inversions Nice surprise! Intensity Reliability

The completely vertical lift and beyond-vertical first drop really caught my by surprise. From there its a frantic whirlwind of tight turns and inversions. Not for the faint-of-heart. Best ride in the park for me.

Airtimes Capacity Nice surprise! Layout Intensity

Jack Rabbit is the oldest continuously operating roller coaster in the US; a literal classic. That alone makes it worth visiting at least once. The layout shows its age, but its not as tame as you'd expect. They've done a good job of pacing the train to squeeze as much airtime as possible out of the old girl's hills. Its also fairly smooth for a woodie.

Comfort Masterpiece Duration

Definitely my favorite ride in the park BY FAR. The dueling trains aspect adds a unique element that sets it apart (until west-coast racers opened) - it even makes the lift hill fun! And when the two trains don't perfectly sync up, its still a great ride all around: airtime, comfort, duration, etc. And while the initial drop doesn't have the highest elevation, its steepness is literally beyond vertical.

Capacity Inversions Intensity Too short

Underrated. Great ride if you enjoy the disorientation of spinning end-over-end as the coaster rolls. I highly recommend saving it for the start or end of the day, because its wait=times get super-short due to being in a corner of the park, and people would rather line up for the Top Fuel dragsters ride across the lane. My wife and I were able to ride it 3 times in a span of 25 minutes.

Capacity Headbanging Discomfort Tear it down!

Viper has Magic Mountain's shortest wait time by far....for good reason. Even by midday, when there's a 2-hour wait for Tatsu, there will be less than 50 people in Viper's line; because this ride is pure PAIN! Its jarring from beginning to end. The protective padding is hard, sharply rounded, and positioned to punish the sides of your head and neck. Its so bad that I honestly think it needs to be shut down until they can decide to renovate or scrap it. Its over 30 years old now, and its age shows - even more so than Revolution, and that ride opened in 1976! This is the only coaster I've ever ridden that I truly believe deserves a 1-star rating, and that's coming from someone who rode Green Lantern: First Flight!