It’s been around 5 years, I think!? Â Seriously, the last time I went was with Larry and we were visiting from New York. Â I’ve just looked it up in my Picasa and yeah, we were at Magic Mountain last in July 2009. Â So there’s been some changes and additions! Â The purpose for the visit today was to go with Brian as he was there to celebrate his birthday. We’d missed the last few years doing this with him and the gang, but not this time! Â Unfortunately, the newest coaster that was going to open this year, Twisted Colossus, opens this upcoming Saturday for Memorial Day weekend. Â That fact provided the impetus to upgrade our daily ticket to a season pass, as I HAVE to go on that this year sometime!
Larry & I ended up getting to the park when it opened but slightly ahead of when everyone else arrived. Â I didn’t really want to wait on them as the lines were fucking empty, so we knocked out some of the rides that can get some intense lines later on. Â Although, for a Sunday, I was pretty surprised how not crowded it was at the park today. Â I’m guessing it’s more of a lull before the official start of the summer season, and once Twisted Colossus opens, I bet the crowds will be back. Â Anyway, we took advantage of it!
First up for us was going on a new coaster (for us), Full Throttle, which opened in 2013. Â HOLEEE SHIT. Â This coaster is absolutely fantastic and utterly surprising. Â It’s also holding the world record for the tallest rollercoaster loop, and man, you feel it. Â Full Throttle starts off by launching you into the loop immediately, and the launch must be calculated based on the weight in the car to make sure that when you hit the top of the loop, you just hang there for a sec. Â It at least feels that way as it’s INSANE. Â You can actually get a great glimpse of the park, inverted, while up there. Â So not only is the loop an adventure in itself, you then head back and into a hillside tunnel only to be slammed to a stop. Â You can see the track continues, but then the train launches backwards! Â You don’t go all the way back, but just enough up from where you came from to be rocked. Â Then gravity takes you back into the tunnel and then you’re massively accelerated AGAIN and on to the top of the world’s tallest loop, which after you crest, you plummet straight down. Â You’re quickly and painlessly slowed down and you realize holy shit that was amazing. Â It really is a fantastic coaster, and likely my and Larry’s favorite. Â WOW.
May 17, 2015 – Entry into the Park / Full Throttle
The Magic Mountain vista - now including Twisted Colossus
17-May-2015 10:21, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 4.5, 7.325mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
17-May-2015 10:21, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
The approach to Full Throttle
17-May-2015 10:40, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
17-May-2015 10:40, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100
The world's biggest loop is here
17-May-2015 10:40, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
It's fucking massive
17-May-2015 10:41, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 10:44, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 10:44, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 13.0, 8.794mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 10:49, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
View of X2 from the Full Throttle line
17-May-2015 10:49, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 5.6, 31.883mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125
17-May-2015 10:49, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 5.6, 31.883mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
You're launched immediately into the loop
17-May-2015 10:54, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
Very comfortable cars
17-May-2015 10:55, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 10:55, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 10:56, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 10:56, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
Off they go!
17-May-2015 10:57, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 11:02, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 11:02, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 11:02, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 250
You return to the station on TOP of the loop
17-May-2015 11:02, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 11:03, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 11:03, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 4.5, 6.9mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 160
17-May-2015 11:03, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 4.5, 6.9mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 160
17-May-2015 11:04, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 4.5, 6.9mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 160
17-May-2015 11:04, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 4.5, 6.9mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 160
After that, it was time to try another of the new coasters that had popped up since 2009.  We walked over to the Batman area and that’s where Six Flags has built Green Lantern: First Flight, a very compact and small coaster that packs a huge punch.  As the pictures below show, you’re in a car that holds people on a car that straddles the track, with 2×2 – 2×2 seating, but the people have their backs to each other.  Then you just tumble over these hills and make it feel like you’re getting thrown forward into the air or ground.  It’s quite a ride.
Green Lantern: First Flight
Superman, still really tall
17-May-2015 11:11, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
17-May-2015 11:11, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 5.0, 15.441mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
17-May-2015 11:11, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 4.0, 5.803mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
Lex Luthor is on the side - don't think I'll ever go on that
17-May-2015 11:13, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 5.6, 21.929mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
Green Lantern- small but intense!
17-May-2015 11:16, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 11:16, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 200
Interesting cars, as you're back-to-back
17-May-2015 11:19, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 11:19, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800
17-May-2015 11:19, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 11:19, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 200
It's a very disorienting ride
17-May-2015 11:23, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 11:24, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200
The lines were still pretty great and we completed the tour of the Gotham backlot by jumping on both Batman The Ride and Riddler’s Revenge.  Those are still classics and are both massively enjoyable, with Batman’s dangling feet experience a freaking blast and the stand-up mayhem of Riddler very exhilarating.  It was after that when most of the group had finally arrived. We wandered over to where they were in line for Tatsu and while they were waiting, we ended up recovering and eating lunch.  I was very happy to do that, as those 4 rides in a row hit hard.  It’s kind of humbling to realize I can’t do Magic Mountain non-stop anymore.  My ass got kind of kicked and spoiler alert, we ended up leaving around 5:15 today while they’re all still out there even now, probably until closing at 8pm.  We were both just done!  But we did persevere after lunch, so don’t think we pussed out that early!
Anyway, we caught up with them once we snuck in a ride on Revolution.  The original rollercoaster is still quite a great ride.  Once we met up, a quick jump on the Jet Stream was nice for everyone.  They were set on going to Batman the Ride after that so Larry & I stopped for churros.  They all came back shortly though as the line there had gotten really long in the meantime.  So it was lunch for everyone at that point!
Batman, Riddler’s, Revolution & Jet Stream / Lunch!
Batman The Ride is still a classic
17-May-2015 11:24, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 4.5, 6.699mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
17-May-2015 11:25, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 4.5, 6.699mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 125
A very long and exciting coaster
17-May-2015 11:35, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 250
Riddler's Revenge is awesome still
17-May-2015 11:41, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 160
17-May-2015 11:41, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 4.5, 9.952mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
17-May-2015 11:41, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
This is the surprise section of Full Throttle
17-May-2015 12:01, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 12:02, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 250
17-May-2015 12:02, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 12:03, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 12:03, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
Tatsu is a blast, but we didn't go on it this time
17-May-2015 12:08, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
I do love Magic Mountain
17-May-2015 13:14, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
Viva la Larry Revolucion!
17-May-2015 13:17, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 400
17-May-2015 13:17, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 200
A good time on Jet Stream
17-May-2015 18:42
Finally caught up with Nicki and the group
17-May-2015 14:21, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 200
Even made a goose friend
17-May-2015 14:21, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 14:21, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 5.6, 25.699mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 400
No effing way
17-May-2015 14:51, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100
Seriously, no
17-May-2015 14:51, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 5.0, 16.453mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
Once lunch was settled in our stomachs, a warm-up ended up being on Gold Rusher, still a classic in my books.  It goods some good damn speed and while not as flashy as it’s many counterparts in the park, provides good thrills.  After that, the group had been consulting wait times online and Full Throttle was reporting only 30-minute wait times!  So it was off to go on that, and honestly, while I was kind of nervous about doing it again, I’m soooo glad we did.  Such an amazing ride.
Back on Full Throttle with the Gang
Back at Full Throttle
17-May-2015 14:57, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 15:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
Group shot before going on Full Throttle
17-May-2015 18:42
We got separated, so here's a long-distance shot
17-May-2015 15:22, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 6.3, 63.966mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 15:22, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 6.3, 63.966mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 400
17-May-2015 15:28, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
The wait time for X2 was also showing as 15 minutes, so off we were to that part of the park.  Man, X2 is another one of those rides that can really knock you off your ass as it is definitely the most intense ride in the park.  I wouldn’t say it’s a violent kind of intense – just overwhelming in that way where you can’t really be sure what’s going to happen and it’s just so fast and furious.  The fire effects weren’t on today though.  Boo!
X2
Over at X2 now
17-May-2015 15:51, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 4.0, 5.083mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125
17-May-2015 15:52, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 6.14mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 200
This ride is ridiculously intense
17-May-2015 15:52, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125
17-May-2015 15:53, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 15:55, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 160
17-May-2015 15:55, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
17-May-2015 16:15, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 3.8, 4.5mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200
It was after X2 when I think Larry & I had hit our threshold. Â The group was going to go back to Batman to see if the line had gotten better, so our plan was to go with them until Ninja and say goodbye. Â We did get to Ninja and saw that the line was way longer than we’d want to deal with, so we said our goodbyes there. Â On the way out we picked up our season pass upgrades and enjoyed the absolute lack of crowds while leaving. Â That’s one part of the Magic Mountain experience I’m certainly not sad about as it’s always such a pain when the mass exodus occurs!
So, Magic Mountain is still incredible, and we’ll be going back sometime this year to partake in the awesomeness of Twisted Colossus.  It’s too bad about the whole getting old business, but what can you do???  Anyway, we wanted to get back in time to enjoy the series finale of Mad Men and the latest episode of Game of Thrones.  Priorities, people!
17-May-2015 16:58, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 6.14mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200
Farewell, Six Flags
17-May-2015 17:00, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 17:00, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 250
17-May-2015 17:00, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 11.0, 4.5mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
17-May-2015 17:00, Canon Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, 13.0, 8.022mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200
