Even after 38 years, the twins are still looking pretty sexy.
If you think you're seeing double, it isn't that funny-tasting beer; it's the side-by-side tracks on this hybrid coaster. A red side + a blue side offer virtually identical rides and wait times are negligible. Two tracks with two trains apiece equates to incredible throughput (i.e. riders per hour), so I can practically guarantee you'll never have to wait more than 5 or 10 minutes for this one.
Every solid theme park has a dual-tracked coaster (Racer @ KI, Rebel Yell @ KD, American Eagle @ SFGAm, etc) and Cedar Point is certainly no exception to the rule. This 'hybrid' (wooden supports, steel tubular track) features a few terrific 'headchopper' moments and some brief moments of negative G's.
Because the trains are dispatched simultaneously, they climb the lift hill together, navigate the turnarounds together, and are generally neck-and-neck throughout most of the 3,935ft course. During these times, riders seated on the inside of the track--red train's right side, blue train's left side--can extend their arms and slap hands!! This is loads of fun when you can get both trains loaded with people. Otherwise, you might as well be high-fiving yourself, and that's just silly.
?BinsNoBins? = Bins!....I think. With such minimal wait time, Gemini is pretty much a walk-on, but seeing as how it's one of the park's older rides, I'm going to say 'yes' bins.
Trim brakes slow down the trains at various points to keep things from getting too wild, but on occasion they're switched off which results in a more intense 360° ending helix. The drop from 125ft gets both sides up to a modest 60mph (not bad for a roller coaster built in 1979), and a 2 minute 20 second ride time gives you a solid bang-for-your-buck. The station looks cool from the inside, too.
Eric S's Cedar Point coaster ranking : 10th out of 13.
Verdict : the novelty of exchanging hand slaps with the opposing train is awesome fun and should not be overlooked. Very few coasters in the WORLD allow that privilege. And a great "value" means you'll likely spend longer on the ride itself than you will waiting in line, because it's a capacity monster, chewing through 3,300 guests per hour (mmmmm, riders! chomp chomp chomp) And the headchopper effect during the 5th drop is lovely. Ride it and you'll see what I'm referring to.
Definitely recommend on a trip to the park. read more