A great example of bigger not always being better.
I had a short 20 minute or so wait on a rainy, dreary day in May. I was looking forward to my trip to the ‘Coaster Capital’ (Cedar Point)
for a number of reasons, including riding my 100th new coaster. As I arrived at Cedar Point I was drawn to Millennium Force like a magnet. It was to be number 100. The ultra-steep lift hill was very intimidating even for a seasoned vet like me. Luckily, I was able to draw on the courage of the pre-teens I rode with. The quiet, speedy lift doesn’t help to settle your nerves as you quickly rise high into the air and feel like your basically over Lake Erie. And then, the BEST and most intense drop I’ve ever experienced. I fought the urge to pull my hands down and hold on as we plummeted down the longest drop of my life. I figured that if the kid half my age could keep his hands up so could I.
Finally, we reached the bottom, and we were being pelted with a light rain at 90+ miles per hour. Next, we’re thrown into the huge over-banked turn. It reminded me of the Superman: Ride of Steel (@ Six Flags New England) only much larger. After the over-bank MF let me down. The rest of the ride was very fast and relatively smooth, but not all that thrilling. And for me, the hills offered NO airtime.
None. Well, the small hill right next to the station offered a little lift, but nothing to write home about. Where Superman: Ride of Steel (again I’m referring to the SFNE version) offers a thrilling opening and a near flawless middle and finale, Millennium Force doesn’t do much with it’s layout. It didn’t bore me by any means, but it definitely didn’t wow me either.
Also, the theming was lackluster and almost non-existent. But how do you theme something called Millennium Force? I guess Cedar Point needed a name that meant: big, high tech, and opening at the start of the new millennium. Never mind the fact that the real start of the millennium was 2001. I admit that I may be a bit too critical of coaster names.
Millennium Force offers an exhilarating ride, but by no means is it a classic. For one of those see that shorter, slower, older red coaster on the other side of the isle. This is a great coaster,
but I think it gets more credit than it deserves. The points here are for the unique lift, breath-taking drop, smoothness, setting, and the speed which is unparalleled for a coaster of this length. Final Rating – 9.0 (Excellent)
Wondering how good a 9.0 is? Check out the CCCS to find out. Also, watch this official roller coaster video of Millennium Force to get a taste of what it’s like.
For safety reasons, please DO NOT take a camera on a roller coaster.
Millennium Force is rated ‘IN’ for Intense. It’s a 4 out of 5 on my Thrill Scale for of its extreme height and speed.
What’s Your Take?
What do you think about Millennium Force? Do you agree with my review? Leave a comment below.
February 10, 2008 at 03:06
dude this ride is the best!! The hills have great air time!!
May 30, 2008 at 17:53
i love this ride too. its da bomb
June 15, 2008 at 16:55
This is the reason why I was paralyzed by fear of coasters for basically my whole life until very recently. My wonderful father took me on this coaster as my very first when I was barely tall enough to ride; as over-analytical as I can be, that was not a good choice. I just got over my fear about a month ago and now the only thing that makes me weary of coasters is roughness (hola, Arrow and Vekoma)… and I'm so PO'd about the countless family trips to Cedar Point, etc. where I skipped out on the bigger coasters. ><When I re-ride this coaster, I vow to buy a tee shirt, something I consider somewhat tacky.BTW, great site. It's cool that you're from about the same area as me, so I get to see reviews of more local stuff. I can't wait for you to make more theme park reviews.
July 4, 2008 at 10:58
The reason many people are disapointed with the Millennium Force is that they expect a huge amount of airtime or major ejector airtime. It only has 4 hills. Only 1 hill has has near zero airtime though. The first drop does have the best drop on any roller coaster. The second hill, which is right after the first tunnel, is the only hill without much airtime. The next hill has very good airtime and so does the bunny hop. I have not been on Superman Ride of Steel, but the Magnum comes in with an extremely close second place behind the Millennium Force for me.
October 23, 2012 at 11:37
The Magnum could have better restraints, and it is rough. I totally love the MF and think it is the best. After that, Top Thrill Dragster
July 21, 2008 at 14:36
One of the most insane and best coasters out there! A must ride! My number 1
July 24, 2008 at 09:53
Hey there CoasterCritic , I would like to know if the Millenium Force has a scarier drop than El Toro's. Thx
July 24, 2008 at 15:08
Millennium's drop was probably the most intimidating I've ever experienced. Even though Kingda Ka's and Top Thrill Dragster's drops are taller, MF's drop was insane. At 80 degrees and 300' it's both steeper and a lot taller than El Toro's drop. Although for a woodie, El Toro's drop is nothing to sneeze at.Emma, I know how you feel I used to skip coasters before I became an enthusiast. I even skipped Space Mountain at Disney World when I was a kid!Anonymous, I DO remember a bit of air on that bunny hop like you mentioned. I just wish it offered more air.
July 27, 2008 at 16:34
I have been on 200+ foot coasters, and I fully intend on riding Millenium Force this year, but I am scared to death. This review does not help my fear.
I have a feeling I might wuss out of this, but I'm going to try not to. Kingda KA and Top Thrill still scare me more, but this ride makes me nervous just looking at it, just like KK and TTD. I hope it's good and not just frightening.
January 11, 2009 at 07:18
He clearly needs to research before he does a review. The Millennium Force opened in May 2000, not 2001. Also the 3rd hill is bigger than most coasters main hill and just as steep you definitely get airtime on that. Riding in the front also makes that coaster 10x better.
January 11, 2009 at 15:28
You might want to read the review before you comment. I don't care if you disagree with the review, in fact I invite people to share their views no matter what they think. But I never said Millennium Force opened in 2001. I look forward to re-riding MF, but on my ride back in 2006, I got very little airtime regardless of how big the 3rd hill was. It's still an awesome ride though.
Thanks for 'kind of' reading.
November 2, 2012 at 16:04
I thought that you said: "Never mind the fact that the real start of the millennium was 2001." What did you mean by that?
November 2, 2012 at 21:01
Some argue that technically the start of any millennia begins with the year 1, 1001, 2001 etc. More here – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium
I was just nitpicking. Obviously, I know that we all celebrated the new millennium in 2000.
January 15, 2009 at 09:17
The time of day might also have an effect on your ride when you ride MF or any coaster for that matter. If you go early or late in the season when it's cold, it will take a while for the wheels to warm up and the ride will be slower at first. Not sure when you rode but that could explain the shortage of air on that last bunny hill. I've ridden MF probably 30 times and there are notable differences in air quality depending on when you ride.
July 12, 2010 at 11:39
Millennium Force runs a full 10 seconds faster when it closes than it does when it opens.
May 3, 2009 at 14:53
Went to CP, but did not ride this. 120 ft. is my limit. My gut can't take more. I want to love coasters. That overbanked turn seemed faster from the ground though, but on the video it was slowwww…
August 21, 2010 at 21:05
SLOW?!? Man, you're going nearly 90 mph through that turn. Just ride it, even if you have to keep your eyes closed until you're past the first hill.
May 31, 2009 at 17:37
I like Bizarro better!
June 3, 2009 at 22:37
I am always blown away the years that Superman somehow beats Millennium on the Golden Ticket Awards. Superman is obviously one of the greatest coasters ever, but Millennium completely stands alone as the greatest steel coaster of all time. I've ridden 98 different coasters, no other ride has ever made me black out or made tears stream down my face. I agree speed isn't everything, but I love it. As for floating, I think Millennium has a nice amount. Sometimes too much can get a little boring (Shivering Timbers & Steel Force). Great coasters but they seem to beat floating to death, like a lot of older steel coasters used to do with loops. Millennium Force is the greatest structure man has ever created, and one of his greatest accomplishments.
April 19, 2011 at 11:02
I think it's going a bit too far saying "it's the greatest structure man has ever built", but yeah, it's a good coaster, although Bizzaro blows it out of the water for me.
May 14, 2011 at 02:03
I'd really like to ride MF. I've ridden Bizzaro so I'd really like to see how it matches up to it.
May 19, 2011 at 09:40
….Then you haven't obviously been on Bizzaro.
P.s. Greatest structure man has ever built? Are you serious?
June 3, 2009 at 22:48
I was just re-reading this… NO airtime… None? They must have crushed you with the lap bar. I think there are at least 3 big floats.
June 5, 2009 at 14:47
I'm a little curious as to where you sat on this ride. I'm a back-of-the-train rider by nature, and this is one ride that, after trying out many seats, I will do everything I can to grad a seat at least 3/4 of the way back.
From that position, I find that not only is the first drop absolutely perfect, but that you set yourself up for a nice long float coming down the third hill (as you cross over onto the island). The return hump and the bunny hop are nice bits of air from that seat, albeit not as thrilling as hill 3.
I will admit that the turnaround could have incorporated more than just a couple turns, and I would have liked a couple more drops, but what keeps me coming back is the speed that is preserved at the finish, and the fact that there are no brakes to be found until the very end. That first hill can only overshadow everything else, but pound for pound, I think it's the best ride at the Point.
I enjoy reading the site, and look forward to more reviews, especially Diamondback, which I'll be riding for the first time next week.
June 21, 2009 at 13:17
DUDE!!!! The Millennium is pretty much the best roller coaster on the planet. You just don't know how to tell when it's a good ride obviously.
June 21, 2009 at 17:50
I rode MF 3 years ago, but I think it was towards the back of the train. It's a great ride, even an excellent ride. I just didn't get any discernable moments of airtime. At least not until the small hill next to the station.
And I definitely didn't get BIG moments of air. Again, I'm looking forward to a re-ride, but I've heard many others say the same about the ride's lack of airtime, so it must not be just me. It's not a complete knock on the ride just something that I noticed that was missing. I'd ridden SFNE's Superman/Bizarro the year before and that airtime was unbelievable. Anyone that's ridden both will agree. Still MF is an excellent ride.
July 3, 2009 at 12:07
I find that (like you) the first hill and the first over-bank turn are the two best parts of the ride. I DO however, find that I get airtime over the hills.
I don't try and force myself low into the seat and slam the lapbar down as far as possible, which helps greatly. I agree that Millennium Force is lacking the 'ejector' feeling that Magnum has, but I'm a person who likes 'floating' better.
My advice: sit up front, don't slam down the lap bar, and put your hands up.
July 3, 2009 at 13:15
Personally if you go in the middle you dont get air time at all. Thats in my point of view. I was expecting major air time from these crazy speeds. But nope. I should have sat in another seat. But the first drop was different then a drop on any other coaster. Your going down the drop at the beginning and the lift cable is still attached to the car. Overall the speed was the only thing i think was interesting about this ride. Deffinetely wont wait an hour for this ride again