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Kingda Ka, the largest, fastest roller coaster on the planet, opened to record crowds and fanfare last week, rocketing the park back into the thrill ride wars and sending riders on a white-knuckle ride into the sky.
The new hydraulic launch coaster rockets riders from 0 to 128 mph in a mind-numbing 3.5 seconds before catapulting them 45 stories into the sky. After a brief, yet spectacular view of the park, riders then descend 418 feet back down to earth in a 270-degree spiral.
Having braved Kingda Ka on Saturday, I have only one thing to say. Hold onto your seats, Delaware Valley. Coaster enthusiasts in this neck of the world, who have grown used to mediocre coasters like Superman, Storm Runner and Steel Force, are in for the most extreme ride of their lives.
Kingda Ka, when it opened last week as part of the largest expansion in the park's history, surpassed the current record holder, Top Thrill Dragster, at Ohio's Cedar Point -- the coaster capital of the world and my favorite park -- by an intense eight miles per hour.
Having braved the Dragster two summers ago when it opened, I was anxious to compare and contrast it to Kingda Ka, also built by Intamin.
So on Saturday, accompanied by coaster enthusiasts from throughout the Delaware Valley, I took advantage of a gorgeous day to try out the newest entry into the coaster wars.
Despite some technical difficulties that prolonged the wait from two to three hours, I wasn't disappointed. Kingda Ka, an almost exact duplicate of Dragster, literally took my breath away as I rocketed straight into the sky from the front seat of an 18-passenger train.
At take off, the G-forces immediately take hold, pushing you back into your seat with emmense force. The sheer intensity of the experience -- these rides are not for the faith of heart -- sent my adrenalin into maximum overdrive as the train cleared the top and headed back down.
The whole heart-pounding ride took an incredible 50 seconds as the world passed by in one giant blur. But it was the most intense 50 seconds I have ever spent on a coaster.
The ride was much smoother than I remembered from my journey on the Dragster. It was also longer, by a mere 20 seconds or so, yet it was just enough to make the ride seem worthwhile. One of my criticisms of Dragster was that while it is dramatically intense, it fell short on duration, at least for my liking.
For Top Thrill, the ride stops after an intense 120-mph trip into the sky and then back down to earth. But for Kingda Ka, the thrills continue for another moment of weightlessness as riders soar over a nearly 13 story "camel hump" hill before gliding back into the station.
Intamin, in creating Kingda Ka, seems to have learned from Dragster, adding the extra hill at the end of the ride to prolong the experience, and eliminating some twisting on the rapid climb toward the top to create a smoother, yet intensely awesome launch.
But don't take my word for it. Matt Bowman and Cori Linden made the three hour journey to Great Adventure from Harrisburg to take on Kingda Ka. It was their first visit to the park in about a decade.
Both veteran coaster riders, having also tackled the Dragster at Cedar Point, Bowman and Linden gave the new coaster a rating of ten for intensity and adrenalin rush.
"That was insane," said Bowman. "When you're shot off, everything is just dillusional. The adrenalin rush is just incredible."
"Unbelievable," added Linden. "It took my breath away. It was worth it," she said.
There is one word of caution, though. Be prepared for long lines. You may want to arrive at the park early -- prior to opening -- and then head straight to the new ride when the gates open. That doesn't mean you won't have to wait in line, but at least you'll shave an hour or two off. If you wait until later in the day, you may be faced with a six or more hour wait, so be prepared and plan accordingly.
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Kingda Ka is the keystone of a new 11-acre, mythical jungle domain called "The Golden Kingdom." The Kingdom also features "Balin's Jungle Land," an elaborate new children's area, and "Temple of the Tiger," a massive, new educational exhibit featuring live Bengal tigers and a new 1,000 seat amphitheater, the home to "Spirit of the Tiger," a Broadway-quality show fusing multicultural music, dance and animal athleticism.
"The Golden Kingdom offers something for everyone, from the littlest guests to ultimate thrill seekers," said Rick McCurley, the park's vice president and general manager. "This exotic kingdom is a one-of-a-kind experience that guests have some to expect from Six Flags Great Adventure."
The multi-million additions to the park represent the first step in transforming Great Adventure into a "true family destination," added McCurley.
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For information about Great Adventure, visit www.sixflags.com or call 732-928-2000.
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