Raptor

"Excuse me while I kick the sky!" Raptor, at Cedar Point amusement park/resort, is one of the tallest, fastest and steepest inverted roller coasters on the planet. This popular thrill ride was recently voted No. 8 in the "Best Steel Roller Coaster in the World" category in a survey conducted by Amusement Today, an international publication that covers amusement and water park news and trends. Cedar Point's own Millennium Force and Magnum XL-200 were voted No. 1 and No. 3.

From the creative minds at Bolliger and Mabillard (B & M), Monthey, Switzerland, this menacing bird of prey takes riders on a 2-minute, 16-second-long journey along 3,790 feet of bright green track. Raptor features a "cobra roll," a thrilling design element that flips passengers over, spirals them upside down into a 180-degree roll and repeats the twisting movement in the reverse order.


 

Raptor is by far one of the best coasters in the park. You know you're in for a thrill when you're loaded on to the inverted train and the floor drops out from below you. It is incredibly smooth, yet very disorienting. The first time you ride it, you'll exit the platform feeling like you're a bit intoxicated.
For the best ride, I suggest waiting for the front seat. It really makes a difference. The trains are so large that your view is mostly obstructed. Sitting up front lets you see the track and the direction it's about to twist. Be warned, however, that the mini-queue on the platform is always full, and if it's full, you have to take your place somewhere else on the train.

Another great spot to ride is in the back seat on the right side. When the train crests the lift hill, you'll be yanked out and over the midway. The cobra roll and first corkscrew offer similarly exciting motion. It's a completely different sensation compared to the front, or anywhere else in the train.

The barrel roll is a great feature, and other inversions like the cobra roll near the Turnpike Cars get you head over heels in perfect form. You'll be turned upside down a total of six times with your feet dangling about the entire time.
Riding at night is a different experience. Some people find that the motion without the visual cues to go along does a number on your guts. I think it is far more disorienting. It's probably the best choice to sneak in line just before they close the queue for the night.

If you do ride at night, it doesn't hurt to let those french fries digest a bit.

Even if you've been on Raptor a hundred times during the day, you might find yourself a little prone to motion sickness at night.