I recently went to LV during thanksgiving break and I found the ride quite fun. It was a little rough, and it felt like that dive loop nearly killed me, but it was still fun. Probably not worth the cost and wait though.
I definitely did not expect the actual dive to be a forceful as it was on that element. The hanging portion was nice and then suddenly tons of force slamming you back. Not bad, just unexpected
I went to Vegas a few times as a kid and remember begging my parents to let me ride it. It was something I always looked out for, since I was a starry eyed kid who didn't see a lot of roller coasters outside Lagoon and Disney. When my parents finally caved and bought me and my brother tickets to ride, I got "stuck" in the restraints, as in I had no idea how the shoulder pads worked and when they came out, I was slightly turned to the side looking at my brother. Only 1 shoulder pad came down on my shoulder while my other shoulder was out in the open and I was flailing cause I was worried they would dispatch the train with me like that; so I made a pretty big scene about it... They corrected it and dispatched it, and all I remember after that was a lot of screaming and pain while telling our parents that it was fun and well worth the $20 for each of us... I had many regrets from my childhood. That was one of them...
Honestly people bag on older transitions but I personally love em. I feel like it gives them that older charm. Especially the old arrow transitions i've ridden, and i'm sure the same applies to togo transitions
Perfect timing, I’m going to Vegas in April for a bowling tournament and was gonna get all the coaster credits out there. I was nervous about this one but I’m feeling much better about it now
Hi Chris. I got my 600th credit on Iron Gwazi on March 5th. It’s a Top 10 coaster, probably around 5 or 6. You know what’s not a Top 10 coaster? The Big Apple Coaster! I rode it the first year it was open and it was rough. Rode it again like 3 years later and it was even rougher. It’s not worth the $19 to try it with the new trains!
@@AirtimeThrills Just goes to show it was just a garbage product. It’s so outdated that if you were to tell me that this POS opened the same year as Alpengheist at BGW, I would laugh!
Yes way better now. I secretly love the transitions and always buy the unlimited pass to marathon the crap out of it. Front row is the smoothest row in my experience.
I rode this a week ago and it was actually really fun. I didn’t experience any real vibrations or bangs because I know how to brace myself. My wife did bang around a bit so I guess I can see it happening but we both really enjoyed it. Great ride!
Great video as always! Thank You! I was able to ride this last Fall in October of 2021. SOOOO much better with the new trains. Still a bit on the rough side but improved. I think it was 2008 the last I rode it. The interesting thing about all the coasters in the Vegas area …well they may not be the best of the best but as you mentioned they are interesting and I think worth it. A night ride on this one is pretty cool too!
It’s nice seeing the casino trying to squeeze the absolute best out of this troubled coaster. I might have to check it out again when I get back out to Vegas
I haven't ridden it in 20+ years, but I can say I loved the dive loop. It was the first time I experienced that element. I wasn't expecting it and found the motion of the loop one of the best from that era.
I rode on it with the old trains in 2018. I had no issues with the old trains and fit in them better than the nearby Canyon Blaster's trains. Really was not a bad ride per say, just very strange. Why they swapped trains was a bit of a mystery, perhaps I either got lucky or I just fit in them better than most? Then again, I seem to take rough rides just fine.
It is a little underrated especially with the new trains, but one thing to keep in mind, the the first half of the ride will be better in the back row and the second half in the front row, I’ll pick front so you can see and brace yourself for the elements but the second half is airtimeless in the back
Went to LV back in November and got to ride it with the new trains for the first time (had previously ridden it with the old ones). My thinking is that the ride is still fun despite the fact that all the complaints that you and other coaster reviewers have about it are 100% accurate. Oh and the new trains are a VAST improvement.
I rode this coaster as a kid in summer 97. I didn't know a thing about coasters and to me it was massive! Had a blast on it but having been to Magic Mountain and Great America knew it was not the best ride out there. Either way I have that credit and a night ride is pretty awesome.
I got to ride this recently as pretty much my first coaster ever. Thought it was pretty fun, but I can imagine how much worse it would be with bad trains. Overall I enjoyed it tho.
I rode Big Apple in 2015 and I didn't enjoy it that much, not very memorable, jerky and uncomfy. I have it ranked at 50 out of 58, which is at the same rating as something like Big Loop at Heide Park. It looks low, but I really haven't ridden that many rides I would actually concider terrible. It's just bad, but not terrible.
SO cool how you found the old trains! I imagine they are definitely headed for the scrap yard... or maybe they'll chuck one in one of their restaurants as a decoration or something at best. For better or worse they are iconic, you're probably one of the last people to see them in their original form. That's an interesting flex to be able to make.
I rode this in October for the first time, so I missed the awful original trains. Comfort collars still suck ass but they are an improvement from the older restraints. I was allowed (or just not told I couldn’t) lots of station pictures with my phone, I even got some of the Togo sea rail number plaque on the dispatch podium. The ride itself wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t great either. Yes it’s over 200 feet but it doesn’t get anywhere near street level so it does t fully utilize its height. They were selling re rides for $10, but I passed. I didn’t hear anyone on the ride at the end ask to go again or exclaim how awesome it was, it was more of “well, that was… an experience”. I did snag an awesome t shirt in the gift shop of the ride with track styles hybridized with Vekoma and something else not Togo. The Manhattan Express painting also uses elements from Viper from SFMM I believe. Worth the money for the credit and the experience but I doubt I’d ride it again. Still cheap for something to do in Vegas
I got to ride this last summer and I really felt that slam into the seat in the dive loop. I didn’t remember that from my ride in 2019. I did learn after my first ride that if you keep your phone out of sight they won’t make you lock it up. Just make sure it’s secure in your pocket for the ride. I personally don’t love the look of the new trains but there is no denying that they are more comfortable!
I rode it once when it was still kind of new. I thought it was fun but honestly I had had a lot to drink so that probably made it seem better than it was
Never rode Big Apple but I liked Ultra Twister, I loved Shockwave, and I hated Viper. Shockwave wasn't liked by people who just got 1 ride or people who were overweight or exceptionally tall. Regular sized regular riders loved it.
I rode it several times in the mid 2000s, so it's been a good 15 or so years since I last rode it. Back then, it was a NIGHTMARE. Now, I'm a bit curious to give it a spin again whenever I make it back to Vegas.
I haven't yet ridden this. I would do it, even at $19. I did draw the line at that price point a week ago at Celebration Station in Clearwater FL. It would've been almost $19 with tax for a tiny kiddie coaster. I didn't do it.
I’ve been on this coaster twice, both in the front and I never thought it was that bad. I never really found the neck banging that painful because of how close the shoulder pads were. I really don’t like the comfort collars on west coast racers and that ride is smooth so I’m not really sure how much they will help in this.
I just rode this ride with the new trains, and oh my LORD I love this thing! There’s such good airtime! That dive loop is so fun; hangtime rapidly followed by such positive g’s is insane! This thing is in my top 30 out of 350.
Funny story, but this summer I plan on going to Vegas, specifically for this. Should be interesting to get first impressions on this when I ride it for the first time.
We stayed at the New York New York hotel last summer and rode this ride. After hearing the unanimous negative reviews from coaster enthusiasts I was bracing myself for the worst. But honestly I enjoyed this coaster, we all did. I never got the chance to ride it when it was Manhattan Express but we were still impressed and entertained by this interesting ride. I do get it why this ride gets the hate it does but that's beside the point. Since we don't ride coasters very often it was a fun thrilling ride.
I just have to wonder, how much would a redo of the track with new profiling like Python@Efteling cost? Reuse the supports and put new track on top. In fairness it probably would be more expensive than new trains, and there's almost certainly legal and physical challenges with building on top of a casino.
Last Togo I got to ride was Headslammer, er I mean Wind Jammer. I did ride Manhattan Express back when it cost $13. Which do you think is better, Headslammer or Manhattan Express? I'd say old M.E. by a whisker.
I just went on this ride last week. It’s… not as good as you’d think for a freaking hyper coaster with a long track length. I would’ve ridden it again but it was so hot outside (110 F!) that I decided to not go again. I think this ride would be a lot better if they “Space Mountained” it up. Like how cool (literally) would it be if it was indoor and it was themed to some kind of runaway taxi going through NYC? It would be a lot more fun and it would give that Disney-esque flavor to it. It’s not enjoyable riding a coaster in the squelching heat. Also they closed this ride one time because there were huge dust storms coming through Vegas and I couldn’t ride it a couple of years ago. It’s an ok ride but idk if it’s underrated, just like what Chris says. I wish it was better for being a hyper.
Man those old restraints were something else🤣 It's definitely something I'd recommend at least once in your life though. I've always found the setup and theming to be very cool. Almost wish Vegas had more rides that were updated and unique. Some rare flat rides maybe?
I'd try this with the new trains! I'd only been on this back in 2004 when I was 23, and I remember loving the second drop and the dive loop. I was probably too young to remember the pain, but I'd also had two martinis before I rode it the first time (one of the VERY few times I'd had any sort of booze before a coaster, because let's face it.....the coaster IS the stimulant so why would you need anything else before?).
I actually snuck my GoPro on this thing. The first 2 times they didn't catch me. The third time the train stopped on the lift hill, i sat there waiting for like 2 minutes then suddenly I heard the loudest footsteps of my life and a ride op came up to confiscate my GoPro. Least I got it back after the ride. Didn't try filming again after that. Also brought the GoPro on Canyon Blaster and El Loco.
I went to Vegas to get married back in 2004, and had the option to ride either this, the "High Roller" coaster at the Stratosphere, or "Speed - The Ride" coaster at the now defunct Sahara casino. I chose this POS instead. And now, those other 2 coasters are gone, so I'll never get those credits! To this day, this is still the worst F-ing roller coaster I've ever ridden. It's no surprise that the new trains didn't help it.
I don't mind the "bad elements" at all on this ride! It's tall and has a couple good drops, but for me it's an awesome ride solely because of the views of the strip that you get. Still annoying how overpriced it is, but that's everything in Vegas so...
I last got on this in 2000 when I was about 10 and I haven’t been on it since and I don’t plan to. I hit my head so hard on the dive loop and I was small for my age but tall enough to get on so my head would just bounce against the harness the entire time (it had the big hard plastic harness restraints) that I ended up with a black eye ,swollen cheek and bloody lip- the lip was my own fault though as i had my lower lip in my mouth to keep me from complaining that I was hurt cuz I didn’t want to make a big deal which was dumb on my part since my dad took notice of what was happening and held my head back while the ride was still going. It almost turned me off to ever riding any rollercoaster ever again luckily it didn’t since my dad is huge lover of theme parks so he took me to six flags and I got on everything I could and had the best time ever.
I rode it some days ago, my previous ride was in 2012… had no idea the trains had been changed, but i suspected it after i got off the ride, now its bren confirmed. I had low expectations and expected to get that old coaster feel, but i was pleasantly surprised… i think the new trains are a big improvement… i rode viper at six flags mm and that was true pain! If new trains can make such a difference the six flags should do it asap for viper!
Tip for buying tickets: If you have a MGM Rewards account use the MGM Rewards app. It was pretty easy for me to buy a ticket with it. For my back row ride the dive loop made the lap bar punch my gut! 😂 But for all it’s negatives I did still enjoy the ride. Especially the airtime on the second drop. It’s probably the third roughest coaster I’ve been on behind Cedar Point’s Corkscrew and Son of Beast. But like I said I still had fun it wasn’t terrible
@@tigerrocks503chase8 Haven’t been on Steel Vengeance yet, but I’d love to. RMC should replace Manhattan Express either with a hybrid or a raptor rail.
tbh I hope they don't replace it with an RMC in my lifetime because that would give me a reason to go to Las Vegas, which is literally the worst city in the United States (and that's saying a lot)
Damn dude, I remember when this first opened it was $6 bucks lol. You're like 2-3 years younger than me, so you likely experienced things the same as me growing up where you did. I grew up in Orange County my entire life (finally leaving in a couple months for Missouri!!), so as a kid a teen and a young adult I spent a ton of time at the OC Beaches, Inland Mountains (Big Bear, Mammoth, and Mt. High) as well as Las Vegas of course. My parents took me to Vegas about 3-4 times a year at least from age 5 to about age 17. I then went with my sister when I was 17 to 20 to see shows at the ghetto downtown Vegas venue (it's probably gone now) and the HOB in Mandalay Bay. After that I went a ton with friends and my Dad for a total of 65 trips in 16 years (21-37). ANYWAYS lol, I remember this ride when it first opened only being about $5 bucks, then it went up to $7 and then $12 and then I just stopped riding it. I haven't been on it since they changed it to the "big apple" but next time I go to Vegas (and probably one of my last in a while) next month, I'll def ride it after watching this video. It was a rough ride and my Dad would go on it with me with his bad back (being thrown off a track/APC that ran over a mine fighting overseas in the late 60's). I haven't been on it since I got thrown from my motorcycle on 3 occasions going 55-65mph, which I feel is probably how my Dad felt. But besides that being in my late 30's now, I am a bit more careful about things that shake me around. As far as other close Rollercoasters, I remember Desperado was a ROUGH ROUGH ride at stateline, and I usually was one of like 8 people on it back in the late 90's and early 2000's. In fact I almost fell out for real because they were half assed about their safety checks and didn't realize there was a 6 inch gab between my waist and the lap bar so I literally had to hold on for my life at some point. I heard that ride hasn't operated in a while which doesn't surprise me Buffalo Bills was an AWFUL casino and that was the only attraction. At this point the Chevron station with 32 stalls is more of an attraction at State Line, lol.
when i went to the big apple coaster with my dad, i didn't know that they just replaced the trains 3 days ago, anyway we bought our tickets and we had a slight delay, we patiently waited until they finally opened it, the ride was alright, nothing too crazy but that dive loop was super rough and cruel, it actually made me gray out the rest of the ride. at last, we enter back into the station and whine because of my headache.
I hope they go all in one day and just have Premier redesign it, even if they keep the existing support structure. Like adding outward facing wave turns along Trop and doing some other stuff could be really cool. At least it's not terrible anymore. The previous "New Trains" were still a mess but these are certainly better.
Big difference I did not feel any horrific shaking or head banging. It’s a little rough in spots but for what it is it’s good. Thankfully they are investing to keep it and not ruin another Vegas coaster
I would love to see this taken down and replaced by a new coaster from a different manufacturer with an inspired layout that pays respects to its past. I think it could become an elite coaster if redone.
I haven't ridden it with the new trains, but it seems like they've made the ride halfway bearable. Those old trains were horrendous, the worst trains ever. Currently my #3 least favorite coaster, but it may move up once I ride it with the new trains.
Too bad we don't have many good TOGOS in the US. I have ridden 3 TOGO coasters. I rode the Vegas one before the refurbishment and hated it mostly because it was truly a painful experience. Literally adding insult to injury is the price to ride this awful mess. It was my choice to be stupid, so I guess I'm mostly mad at myself because I knew it was going to suck. I also rode King Cobra and Shockwave many times back in the 80s. Those were TOGO stand ups coasters. I was a tween-teenager when I rode them, so a lot less sensitive to roughness. To me back then the standup coasters were exhilarating! I loved them both. Before Batman, those felt the closest to what I imagined the sensation of flying would be.
Just rode it in January. Last time I rode it was back in 97. I remember it being fun back then. My recent ride was a front row and honestly it was just boring to me. Need to get a back row to see the difference.
Yup, I just ride it 3 weeks ago and I think I never have this in my mind "what a bad coaster lol". So hard turns and transitions. Mini bumps and ... oh 19$ per ride, like half of Six Flags entry fee. But as you say, have issues. Oh and another 1$ for the locker. Joking after 19$ ...
Premier Rides supplied them with those older trains in 2004 I believe, and they've been using them until Premier gave them the updated Sky Rocket trains~ So Premier Rides knows this ride all too well~
Manhattan express is worth checking out for the sake of saying you did it or you just want a little thrill on vacation but nothing special. I’m curious to see just how much better the new trains are, but that 100% price jump is hard especially when staying at the strip at base cost has doubled too with their parking charges and additional fees.
Rode it in May of 2021. Didn't know about train swap. Thought it might actually be good because of that. It wasn't. It was rough, there was a definite rattle, it was very jerky, and i got a lot of neck banging. The only good thing about it was the surprise pop of airtime off the drop and i was not even in the back row.
I didn't think it was terrible when I rode it back in October. Of course, I had figured out a way to ride it for free with reward points so the opinion might of definitely been affected if I had to actually pay for it ( I refused to pay for it back in 2013 for my previous Vegas visit, just wasn't worth it). Having ridden both, the comparison to Georgia scorcher is about right as far as where I would rank it too. Not great, but there are definitely a lot worse out there.
I went out to Vegas in February and got on ride with the new trains. Had a front row seat. I will say it wasn’t a bad ride at all. Dare I say kind of fun. The $19 I paid was crazy, but I had to get the credit! 🤓
Me and my wife went back a few months ago to check out the new trains and we were so exited that maybe this huge roller coaster could be good! We’ll……. We were highly disappointed it’s still an awful ride and it’s just flat out painful to ride! We got off heading to the gift shop like usual to get Tylenol! Lol I was hoping they would just scrap this garbage and put an amazing coaster in but looks like it will be around for a while!
Those new trains are probably way worse. I cant stand them, hence why i rank Tempesto 9th worst coaster ive ridden, I twisted my knee very badly and it hurt like hell. Premier Rides makes the absolute worst coaster trains ever, so poorly designed.
just rode it today and no it's better than it was, but the new trains only fix one of several core issues, the others being the poor transitions and pretty mild layout. still, I would even consider riding it two or three times if the line is short (re-rides are half price).
This ride is fantastic now. I always enjoyed the layout. Now with the Premier trains, it runs great. Dare I say it's even now worth paying for the re-ride?
i operated trained and ridden viper at six flags great adventure. its the only togo i had any experience with. big apple may be bad but i still want to ride it
I like SkyRider at Canada's Wonderland which is now operating at Cavallino Matto in Italy. Shockwave at Kings Dominion wasn't horrible, Ultra Twister at Nagashima Spa Land is fun, Bandit at Yomiuriland is good, that's proof Togo can make good rides!
I recently went to LV during thanksgiving break and I found the ride quite fun. It was a little rough, and it felt like that dive loop nearly killed me, but it was still fun. Probably not worth the cost and wait though.
Worth the experience tho
I definitely did not expect the actual dive to be a forceful as it was on that element. The hanging portion was nice and then suddenly tons of force slamming you back. Not bad, just unexpected
I think we all can admit that you are underrated
You're too kind
Tru
Yeah
He’s actually pretty popular dude
I went to Vegas a few times as a kid and remember begging my parents to let me ride it. It was something I always looked out for, since I was a starry eyed kid who didn't see a lot of roller coasters outside Lagoon and Disney. When my parents finally caved and bought me and my brother tickets to ride, I got "stuck" in the restraints, as in I had no idea how the shoulder pads worked and when they came out, I was slightly turned to the side looking at my brother. Only 1 shoulder pad came down on my shoulder while my other shoulder was out in the open and I was flailing cause I was worried they would dispatch the train with me like that; so I made a pretty big scene about it... They corrected it and dispatched it, and all I remember after that was a lot of screaming and pain while telling our parents that it was fun and well worth the $20 for each of us...
I had many regrets from my childhood. That was one of them...
Dang
Honestly people bag on older transitions but I personally love em. I feel like it gives them that older charm. Especially the old arrow transitions i've ridden, and i'm sure the same applies to togo transitions
Depends on the coaster, the old transitions on Magnum add to the character while the ones on a standard Arrow corkscrew are annoying
i like jankyness as long as it doesn't hurt too much or have otsr's i feel like it gives the ride character
W pfp
@@AdamSmith-gs2dv I've been on the OG at silverwood and I thought that ride was great imo, it definitely varies
Depends on how bad the headbanging you get it on.
Much like Riddler’s Revenge at New England, new trains turned a god awful ride into a tolerable one
Good comparison. Riddler also has horrible trackwork but at least your head is saved
Perfect timing, I’m going to Vegas in April for a bowling tournament and was gonna get all the coaster credits out there. I was nervous about this one but I’m feeling much better about it now
Yeah its not dreadful anymore, its just not a great ride
@@AirtimeThrills at least my neck won’t have to completely suffer. Much more excited to ride El Loco and Canyon Blaster though
That dive loop is on crack
I just rode it in February for the first time, and was shocked that it wasn't as bad as people make it out to be.
Hi Chris. I got my 600th credit on Iron Gwazi on March 5th. It’s a Top 10 coaster, probably around 5 or 6. You know what’s not a Top 10 coaster? The Big Apple Coaster! I rode it the first year it was open and it was rough. Rode it again like 3 years later and it was even rougher. It’s not worth the $19 to try it with the new trains!
Rough in year 1? Thanks Togo
@@AirtimeThrills lol
@@AirtimeThrills Just goes to show it was just a garbage product. It’s so outdated that if you were to tell me that this POS opened the same year as Alpengheist at BGW, I would laugh!
It's so odd to me how Togo never did anything right in the US (except Ultra Twister probably)
Glad it’s no longer terrible!
I don’t think I’ll ever want to go
All the way to Vegas for it…
But cool none the less!
Vegas has good coasters like Canyon Blaster and El Loco
This coaster actually doesn’t bother me nearly as much as it does other people, I enjoyed it.
same, I liked this one a lot
Yes way better now. I secretly love the transitions and always buy the unlimited pass to marathon the crap out of it. Front row is the smoothest row in my experience.
I rode this a week ago and it was actually really fun. I didn’t experience any real vibrations or bangs because I know how to brace myself. My wife did bang around a bit so I guess I can see it happening but we both really enjoyed it. Great ride!
Great video as always! Thank You! I was able to ride this last Fall in October of 2021. SOOOO much better with the new trains. Still a bit on the rough side but improved. I think it was 2008 the last I rode it. The interesting thing about all the coasters in the Vegas area …well they may not be the best of the best but as you mentioned they are interesting and I think worth it. A night ride on this one is pretty cool too!
It’s nice seeing the casino trying to squeeze the absolute best out of this troubled coaster.
I might have to check it out again when I get back out to Vegas
I haven't ridden it in 20+ years, but I can say I loved the dive loop. It was the first time I experienced that element. I wasn't expecting it and found the motion of the loop one of the best from that era.
I rode on it with the old trains in 2018. I had no issues with the old trains and fit in them better than the nearby Canyon Blaster's trains. Really was not a bad ride per say, just very strange. Why they swapped trains was a bit of a mystery, perhaps I either got lucky or I just fit in them better than most?
Then again, I seem to take rough rides just fine.
It is a little underrated especially with the new trains, but one thing to keep in mind, the the first half of the ride will be better in the back row and the second half in the front row, I’ll pick front so you can see and brace yourself for the elements but the second half is airtimeless in the back
But is it better than Steel Vengeance?
of course it is!
anything is better than steve
What isn't?
now I'm curious about how much it would cost to retrack those transitions and if the owners think it's worth it
With the crowds this thing still gets, and without the neckbanging anymore, i cant imagine theyd bother
@@AirtimeThrills basically I should shelf that dream in the same tab as La Ronde retracking Ednor
a retrack would mean the coaster went from awful, to tolerable, to probably pretty good
I work here and have been waiting for you to come in! The one time I wasn't there you decide to ride!!
Greetings! May I use your footage of the new trains in a video I'm making on most improved coasters? I will credit your channel as usual.
Sure, i can compile some raw footage and let you know when its uploaded or you can grab this one if it works for you
Went to LV back in November and got to ride it with the new trains for the first time (had previously ridden it with the old ones). My thinking is that the ride is still fun despite the fact that all the complaints that you and other coaster reviewers have about it are 100% accurate. Oh and the new trains are a VAST improvement.
I rode this coaster as a kid in summer 97. I didn't know a thing about coasters and to me it was massive! Had a blast on it but having been to Magic Mountain and Great America knew it was not the best ride out there. Either way I have that credit and a night ride is pretty awesome.
Neat. I'd love to this one. Togo huh? I remember my park's coaster. Skyrider. It's gone now. Yukon Striker is there now. Neat video.
I got to ride this recently as pretty much my first coaster ever. Thought it was pretty fun, but I can imagine how much worse it would be with bad trains. Overall I enjoyed it tho.
Had the king cobra at our home park ki growing up, and although it was rough, the stand up element is something sorely missed these days.
I rode Big Apple in 2015 and I didn't enjoy it that much, not very memorable, jerky and uncomfy. I have it ranked at 50 out of 58, which is at the same rating as something like Big Loop at Heide Park. It looks low, but I really haven't ridden that many rides I would actually concider terrible. It's just bad, but not terrible.
SO cool how you found the old trains! I imagine they are definitely headed for the scrap yard... or maybe they'll chuck one in one of their restaurants as a decoration or something at best. For better or worse they are iconic, you're probably one of the last people to see them in their original form. That's an interesting flex to be able to make.
I rode this in October for the first time, so I missed the awful original trains. Comfort collars still suck ass but they are an improvement from the older restraints. I was allowed (or just not told I couldn’t) lots of station pictures with my phone, I even got some of the Togo sea rail number plaque on the dispatch podium. The ride itself wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t great either. Yes it’s over 200 feet but it doesn’t get anywhere near street level so it does t fully utilize its height. They were selling re rides for $10, but I passed. I didn’t hear anyone on the ride at the end ask to go again or exclaim how awesome it was, it was more of “well, that was… an experience”.
I did snag an awesome t shirt in the gift shop of the ride with track styles hybridized with Vekoma and something else not Togo. The Manhattan Express painting also uses elements from Viper from SFMM I believe. Worth the money for the credit and the experience but I doubt I’d ride it again. Still cheap for something to do in Vegas
I got to ride this last summer and I really felt that slam into the seat in the dive loop. I didn’t remember that from my ride in 2019.
I did learn after my first ride that if you keep your phone out of sight they won’t make you lock it up. Just make sure it’s secure in your pocket for the ride.
I personally don’t love the look of the new trains but there is no denying that they are more comfortable!
I rode it once when it was still kind of new. I thought it was fun but honestly I had had a lot to drink so that probably made it seem better than it was
Very entertaining and fun to watch. Thanks for posting this.
Never rode Big Apple but I liked Ultra Twister, I loved Shockwave, and I hated Viper. Shockwave wasn't liked by people who just got 1 ride or people who were overweight or exceptionally tall. Regular sized regular riders loved it.
In fact, all of the North American TOGO standups were initially well-received upon opening.
As for Windjammer, it was just a flat out embarrassment.
For me, shockwave was ok, but Ultra Twister was among my favorites. A really, really good Togo in America... Killed alongside astroworld by six flags.
I rode it several times in the mid 2000s, so it's been a good 15 or so years since I last rode it. Back then, it was a NIGHTMARE. Now, I'm a bit curious to give it a spin again whenever I make it back to Vegas.
I haven't yet ridden this. I would do it, even at $19. I did draw the line at that price point a week ago at Celebration Station in Clearwater FL. It would've been almost $19 with tax for a tiny kiddie coaster. I didn't do it.
I’ve been on this coaster twice, both in the front and I never thought it was that bad. I never really found the neck banging that painful because of how close the shoulder pads were. I really don’t like the comfort collars on west coast racers and that ride is smooth so I’m not really sure how much they will help in this.
I just rode this ride with the new trains, and oh my LORD I love this thing! There’s such good airtime! That dive loop is so fun; hangtime rapidly followed by such positive g’s is insane! This thing is in my top 30 out of 350.
bruh to make you add a dollar for the locker like bruh.This dude has a super comforting voice for some reason.
Funny story, but this summer I plan on going to Vegas, specifically for this. Should be interesting to get first impressions on this when I ride it for the first time.
We stayed at the New York New York hotel last summer and rode this ride. After hearing the unanimous negative reviews from coaster enthusiasts I was bracing myself for the worst. But honestly I enjoyed this coaster, we all did. I never got the chance to ride it when it was Manhattan Express but we were still impressed and entertained by this interesting ride. I do get it why this ride gets the hate it does but that's beside the point. Since we don't ride coasters very often it was a fun thrilling ride.
I just have to wonder, how much would a redo of the track with new profiling like Python@Efteling cost? Reuse the supports and put new track on top.
In fairness it probably would be more expensive than new trains, and there's almost certainly legal and physical challenges with building on top of a casino.
thanks for the dinner reminder
Last Togo I got to ride was Headslammer, er I mean Wind Jammer. I did ride Manhattan Express back when it cost $13. Which do you think is better, Headslammer or Manhattan Express? I'd say old M.E. by a whisker.
I just went on this ride last week. It’s… not as good as you’d think for a freaking hyper coaster with a long track length.
I would’ve ridden it again but it was so hot outside (110 F!) that I decided to not go again.
I think this ride would be a lot better if they “Space Mountained” it up.
Like how cool (literally) would it be if it was indoor and it was themed to some kind of runaway taxi going through NYC? It would be a lot more fun and it would give that Disney-esque flavor to it.
It’s not enjoyable riding a coaster in the squelching heat.
Also they closed this ride one time because there were huge dust storms coming through Vegas and I couldn’t ride it a couple of years ago.
It’s an ok ride but idk if it’s underrated, just like what Chris says. I wish it was better for being a hyper.
Man those old restraints were something else🤣 It's definitely something I'd recommend at least once in your life though. I've always found the setup and theming to be very cool. Almost wish Vegas had more rides that were updated and unique. Some rare flat rides maybe?
I'd try this with the new trains! I'd only been on this back in 2004 when I was 23, and I remember loving the second drop and the dive loop. I was probably too young to remember the pain, but I'd also had two martinis before I rode it the first time (one of the VERY few times I'd had any sort of booze before a coaster, because let's face it.....the coaster IS the stimulant so why would you need anything else before?).
I actually snuck my GoPro on this thing. The first 2 times they didn't catch me. The third time the train stopped on the lift hill, i sat there waiting for like 2 minutes then suddenly I heard the loudest footsteps of my life and a ride op came up to confiscate my GoPro. Least I got it back after the ride. Didn't try filming again after that. Also brought the GoPro on Canyon Blaster and El Loco.
I went to Vegas to get married back in 2004, and had the option to ride either this, the "High Roller" coaster at the Stratosphere, or "Speed - The Ride" coaster at the now defunct Sahara casino. I chose this POS instead. And now, those other 2 coasters are gone, so I'll never get those credits! To this day, this is still the worst F-ing roller coaster I've ever ridden. It's no surprise that the new trains didn't help it.
I don't mind the "bad elements" at all on this ride! It's tall and has a couple good drops, but for me it's an awesome ride solely because of the views of the strip that you get. Still annoying how overpriced it is, but that's everything in Vegas so...
I last got on this in 2000 when I was about 10 and I haven’t been on it since and I don’t plan to. I hit my head so hard on the dive loop and I was small for my age but tall enough to get on so my head would just bounce against the harness the entire time (it had the big hard plastic harness restraints) that I ended up with a black eye ,swollen cheek and bloody lip- the lip was my own fault though as i had my lower lip in my mouth to keep me from complaining that I was hurt cuz I didn’t want to make a big deal which was dumb on my part since my dad took notice of what was happening and held my head back while the ride was still going. It almost turned me off to ever riding any rollercoaster ever again luckily it didn’t since my dad is huge lover of theme parks so he took me to six flags and I got on everything I could and had the best time ever.
I rode it 3 weeks ago and I loved the drops and the roughest part was the pull out of the dive loop.
Long live Canyon Blaster haha!!! I wish we had a legit coaster park.
Adventuredome has some really solid coasters for what its worth
I rode it some days ago, my previous ride was in 2012… had no idea the trains had been changed, but i suspected it after i got off the ride, now its bren confirmed. I had low expectations and expected to get that old coaster feel, but i was pleasantly surprised… i think the new trains are a big improvement… i rode viper at six flags mm and that was true pain! If new trains can make such a difference the six flags should do it asap for viper!
I just moved to Vegas and had no intention or desire to ride this… until now.
Tip for buying tickets: If you have a MGM Rewards account use the MGM Rewards app. It was pretty easy for me to buy a ticket with it. For my back row ride the dive loop made the lap bar punch my gut! 😂 But for all it’s negatives I did still enjoy the ride. Especially the airtime on the second drop. It’s probably the third roughest coaster I’ve been on behind Cedar Point’s Corkscrew and Son of Beast. But like I said I still had fun it wasn’t terrible
Manhattan Express always struck me as the Mean Streak of steel coasters. It’s beautiful to look at, but ugly to ride.
At least Mean Streak was able to be salvaged and transformed into a masterpiece by RMC.
@@tigerrocks503chase8 Haven’t been on Steel Vengeance yet, but I’d love to. RMC should replace Manhattan Express either with a hybrid or a raptor rail.
tbh I hope they don't replace it with an RMC in my lifetime because that would give me a reason to go to Las Vegas, which is literally the worst city in the United States (and that's saying a lot)
I always ride this when I go to Vegas. I never regret it, it’s always so much fun. Desperado was better though.
Damn dude, I remember when this first opened it was $6 bucks lol. You're like 2-3 years younger than me, so you likely experienced things the same as me growing up where you did. I grew up in Orange County my entire life (finally leaving in a couple months for Missouri!!), so as a kid a teen and a young adult I spent a ton of time at the OC Beaches, Inland Mountains (Big Bear, Mammoth, and Mt. High) as well as Las Vegas of course. My parents took me to Vegas about 3-4 times a year at least from age 5 to about age 17. I then went with my sister when I was 17 to 20 to see shows at the ghetto downtown Vegas venue (it's probably gone now) and the HOB in Mandalay Bay. After that I went a ton with friends and my Dad for a total of 65 trips in 16 years (21-37).
ANYWAYS lol, I remember this ride when it first opened only being about $5 bucks, then it went up to $7 and then $12 and then I just stopped riding it. I haven't been on it since they changed it to the "big apple" but next time I go to Vegas (and probably one of my last in a while) next month, I'll def ride it after watching this video. It was a rough ride and my Dad would go on it with me with his bad back (being thrown off a track/APC that ran over a mine fighting overseas in the late 60's). I haven't been on it since I got thrown from my motorcycle on 3 occasions going 55-65mph, which I feel is probably how my Dad felt. But besides that being in my late 30's now, I am a bit more careful about things that shake me around.
As far as other close Rollercoasters, I remember Desperado was a ROUGH ROUGH ride at stateline, and I usually was one of like 8 people on it back in the late 90's and early 2000's. In fact I almost fell out for real because they were half assed about their safety checks and didn't realize there was a 6 inch gab between my waist and the lap bar so I literally had to hold on for my life at some point. I heard that ride hasn't operated in a while which doesn't surprise me Buffalo Bills was an AWFUL casino and that was the only attraction. At this point the Chevron station with 32 stalls is more of an attraction at State Line, lol.
when i went to the big apple coaster with my dad, i didn't know that they just replaced the trains 3 days ago, anyway we bought our tickets and we had a slight delay, we patiently waited until they finally opened it, the ride was alright, nothing too crazy but that dive loop was super rough and cruel, it actually made me gray out the rest of the ride. at last, we enter back into the station and whine because of my headache.
I rode this when it first opened up and it was a good ride at first, it wasn't until the following years that it became such a rough experience
I hope they go all in one day and just have Premier redesign it, even if they keep the existing support structure. Like adding outward facing wave turns along Trop and doing some other stuff could be really cool. At least it's not terrible anymore. The previous "New Trains" were still a mess but these are certainly better.
The adventure to the station is quite interesting
Big difference I did not feel any horrific shaking or head banging. It’s a little rough in spots but for what it is it’s good. Thankfully they are investing to keep it and not ruin another Vegas coaster
Sounds like they maybe should get Vekoma to do a complete retrack/reprofile of this ride and give it their new vest restraint trains.
Are you telling me we could still have Windjammer at Knott's? 😂
I would love to see this taken down and replaced by a new coaster from a different manufacturer with an inspired layout that pays respects to its past. I think it could become an elite coaster if redone.
I missed out on riding this a couple years ago now I wanna go back and ride it
wait you rank every coaster you've ridden?
I'd say the best Togos in the world are either Bandit, Fujiyama, and the Ultra Twisters. Those have been said to be legitimately good rides
I haven't ridden it with the new trains, but it seems like they've made the ride halfway bearable. Those old trains were horrendous, the worst trains ever. Currently my #3 least favorite coaster, but it may move up once I ride it with the new trains.
Do you still have to pay if you're staying at the hotel or is it included?
Too bad we don't have many good TOGOS in the US. I have ridden 3 TOGO coasters. I rode the Vegas one before the refurbishment and hated it mostly because it was truly a painful experience. Literally adding insult to injury is the price to ride this awful mess. It was my choice to be stupid, so I guess I'm mostly mad at myself because I knew it was going to suck. I also rode King Cobra and Shockwave many times back in the 80s. Those were TOGO stand ups coasters. I was a tween-teenager when I rode them, so a lot less sensitive to roughness. To me back then the standup coasters were exhilarating! I loved them both. Before Batman, those felt the closest to what I imagined the sensation of flying would be.
Just rode it in January. Last time I rode it was back in 97. I remember it being fun back then. My recent ride was a front row and honestly it was just boring to me. Need to get a back row to see the difference.
last time i went on it, the front row on this coaster is way smoother than the back row. so if you want a smooth ride, i recommend the front row
I rode this with the new trains, and I honestly loved it. It was really fun. Not as rough as everyone is making it out to be.
Yup, I just ride it 3 weeks ago and I think I never have this in my mind "what a bad coaster lol". So hard turns and transitions. Mini bumps and ... oh 19$ per ride, like half of Six Flags entry fee. But as you say, have issues. Oh and another 1$ for the locker. Joking after 19$ ...
Premier Rides supplied them with those older trains in 2004 I believe, and they've been using them until Premier gave them the updated Sky Rocket trains~ So Premier Rides knows this ride all too well~
Premier whiffed on those old trains
Manhattan express is worth checking out for the sake of saying you did it or you just want a little thrill on vacation but nothing special. I’m curious to see just how much better the new trains are, but that 100% price jump is hard especially when staying at the strip at base cost has doubled too with their parking charges and additional fees.
Rode it in May of 2021. Didn't know about train swap. Thought it might actually be good because of that. It wasn't. It was rough, there was a definite rattle, it was very jerky, and i got a lot of neck banging. The only good thing about it was the surprise pop of airtime off the drop and i was not even in the back row.
Haven’t ridden it with the new trains but it’s the fourth worst coaster I’ve been on behind Coastrider, West Coaster, and SFMM’s old Green Lantern
I didn't think it was terrible when I rode it back in October. Of course, I had figured out a way to ride it for free with reward points so the opinion might of definitely been affected if I had to actually pay for it ( I refused to pay for it back in 2013 for my previous Vegas visit, just wasn't worth it). Having ridden both, the comparison to Georgia scorcher is about right as far as where I would rank it too. Not great, but there are definitely a lot worse out there.
I got a chance to ride this back in 2010. That price was the same back then. I wasn't impressed with this one. Very rough.
I went out to Vegas in February and got on ride with the new trains. Had a front row seat. I will say it wasn’t a bad ride at all. Dare I say kind of fun. The $19 I paid was crazy, but I had to get the credit! 🤓
Me and my wife went back a few months ago to check out the new trains and we were so exited that maybe this huge roller coaster could be good! We’ll……. We were highly disappointed it’s still an awful ride and it’s just flat out painful to ride! We got off heading to the gift shop like usual to get Tylenol! Lol I was hoping they would just scrap this garbage and put an amazing coaster in but looks like it will be around for a while!
Imagine if Togo gets an idea and starts making there own version of premiere trains and putting it on all their coasters.
Or just you know
Being subsidiaries of Premier Ride instead. It's rare to no Premier ride in Japan in the first place.
Those new trains are probably way worse. I cant stand them, hence why i rank Tempesto 9th worst coaster ive ridden, I twisted my knee very badly and it hurt like hell. Premier Rides makes the absolute worst coaster trains ever, so poorly designed.
just rode it today and
no
it's better than it was, but the new trains only fix one of several core issues, the others being the poor transitions and pretty mild layout. still, I would even consider riding it two or three times if the line is short (re-rides are half price).
Rode it last Spring and it’s the best it’s ever been for what that’s worth. I was first ride of the day in the front and still enjoyed it just fine
Does anyone think Peter from ThemeParkCrazy has taken off his sIave muzzle yet, and ventured into *Indiana Beach* yet? LOL
It's cool that they got new trains, but I just feel like they could've done some re-tracking too.
This was a lot better with new trains and restraints! Still, Canyon Blaster holds as #1 coaster in Vegas for me.
This ride is fantastic now. I always enjoyed the layout. Now with the Premier trains, it runs great. Dare I say it's even now worth paying for the re-ride?
This ride looks like my first ever planet coaster creation
i operated trained and ridden viper at six flags great adventure. its the only togo i had any experience with. big apple may be bad but i still want to ride it
0:59 Why is the frame rate so low?
I'll be there this weekend for March madness. Front rows where its at.
I like SkyRider at Canada's Wonderland which is now operating at Cavallino Matto in Italy. Shockwave at Kings Dominion wasn't horrible, Ultra Twister at Nagashima Spa Land is fun, Bandit at Yomiuriland is good, that's proof Togo can make good rides!
It’s just a shame some of the TOGOs that came to America were pieces of garbage such as Knotts’ Windjammer Surf Racers and Great Adventure’s Viper.
@@tigerrocks503chase8 yeah, Viper was horrendous
19 dollars?! no thanks, i'll just pay the extra for the Adventuredome and ride Canyon Blaster/El Loco for the day instead.
Had Arrow built the Big Apple Coaster, I suspect it'd have a more positive reputation, although I don't know how much better of a ride it'd be.
Arrow's transitions are slightly superior to Togos. It seems like Togo was trying to make them bad