Not sure what comments you are reading to make you think that people are taking this ride "far, far too seriously" when all I see is basic discussion about the ride. Nothing else. If you think that is taking things far, far too seriously then I am sorry that your ability to handle basic coaster discussion has been triggering for you. I know coaster talk isn't for everyone. That's alright. I get it. In regard to this park being a family park. You are right. It's a park aimed for everyone to enjoy, including Americans wanting to visit as many parks as possible on a tour. I went back to Japan last summer and visited this park once again. It was a very hot day and the park has almost no shade so I didn't stay very long. Having said that, I ended up staying for a longer period of time at Hirakata than I did at Universal Studios Japan. While the rides at Universal are more of my liking, it was dangerously hot and spending time in all those outside queues wasn't exactly healthy, so I left. The operations at Universal are really bad as well.

@SeanFlaharty Listening to the way you and your buddy are talking about the ride whilst on it is cringy as fuck. My Japanese friend actually asked me to translate what you guys were talking about in this video, which is what brought me to it. I told him about what you were saying and he's embarrassed on behalf of you guys. He wishes you'd never came to Hirakata and thinks that the concept of you wearing head-cams, paying a few thousand yen to get in, only to sit by yourselves and sourly critique a children's ride is absolutely hilarious. Anyway. I kinda don't give a fuck about this video. It is what it is. Peace out ✌️

@@Seedy32 To each his own. If your "friend" was embarrassed, I apologize to both of you for this video being so triggering for you. Perhaps you should watch something else with the sound turned down? That way, you won't get so offended when you hear easy commentary. I quite enjoyed the ride to be honest. So you don't give.a fuck about this video? Says the person who has left two comments after watching said video. Thanks for playing. Have a peaceful life!

It was more like a big kid than anything. Mean Streak wasn't a very intense ride, compared to the wilder Texas Giant. I usually rode it once a year, just to see if it had some improvements. I am glad RMC came in and provided a newer version, even though I haven't been on it in a couple of years. Lol.

That is true. That was John Blakemore talking about Villian construction.

@@SeanFlaharty awesome. Sounds like he has a dream job.

@@coryluscombe1239 I don't think he actually helped build the ride but did take some up-close pictures of its construction.

You are welcome. Thanks for checking it out.

It works for me. You have to walk up to the platform and pay to ride. It doesn't automatically happen. You have to hit a button to pay for the ride.

Thank you!

Absolutely you can use it! Thanks again, Ryan!

@ thanks Sean!

Very good observation! I would guess it would be something close to that, at least. I remember the park hiring a hydraulic expert when Intamin couldn't fix the problems with the launch system. It was a nightmare for the park. Apparently the ride still is a nightmare and I wouldn't be surprised if they remove it from the park within the next year or so.

@@SeanFlaharty That's crazy they had to have a specific mechanic dedicated to just one feature of the ride! Yeah the future seems uncertain. Maybe coasters at this scale just aren't practical

Yes, that is Janice. She was my main contact at the park for many years.

@ she was so nice, she’d send me media packets which I wish I still had today

@@TJMichiguy That's awesome. She was a great person in the industry. Once she left, my interaction with the behind-the-scenes stuff came to a halt.

I always wondered why there was so many sensors on the track. It was a big nightmare for the park dealing with the sensors on top of everything else that made this ride a big chore to operate.

@ They could’ve closed several unpopular attractions permanently so they wouldn’t have to deal with those other rides plus TTD. Cedar Point has too many coasters.

Fun stuff! Can't believe this is 21 years ago.

@@adamdragster Meanwhile Magic Mountain is saying 'hold my beer' with having 19, (20 in 2026), overall.

There was 1 sensor for each brake fin on the track. If a sensor didn't lower in the allotted time, the trouble light on the launch and main op panel would flash.

That drop is all about that pause. I have seen the ride operate without the pause and I think that would zap the anticipation.

131-feet.

It sounds like a few larger rides may be removed soon from the park to install the new Vekoma coaster.

It was an awesome ride. Probably my favorite wooden coaster in Ohio at one point.

It was short, compared to the other versions similar. I didn't find it too boring as I was expecting it to be really rough. It wasn''t.

Chiller always ran with LIMs. They were a huge part of the reason why the ride had issues.

It was a surprise. We didn't know it ran a car in reverse until we got into the station. They didn't offer that feature in 2005 when I first visited the park. Riding facing backwards was quite an intense experience.

Yes, that was the one.

@@SeanFlaharty Yeah 😢

It has been a very safe ride since it opened.

Jerry! Nice to see you on here, dude.

While the new version is indeed more intense, something had to change as the older version became too rough to enjoy, in my opinion.

@SeanFlaharty yeah I don't ride too intense rides. I will just stick with RoadRunner. I wish they will fix the Flash soon.

Thanks, Rob! Due to my work schedule, I don't think I will have time to visit any parks the year. I hope I find at least a couple parks on my work travels but I have no plans to visit anything in particular.

I don't remember a countdown on Storm Runner. It always had a "Get Ready" voice when I rode it.

@@SeanFlaharty Interesting!