SANDUSKY, Ohio — We're still more than a month away from the start of the 2024 season at Cedar Point, which will include the debut of Top Thrill 2. But you may not have to wait until May 4 to experience the excitement!
On Friday, Cedar Point announced that there will be several preview events leading up to the park's opening day that will give the public an opportunity to ride Top Thrill 2.
Top Thrill 2, which is the tallest coaster at Cedar Point, is an overhaul of the original Top Thrill Dragster. The enhanced attraction features three high-speed launches between two 420-foot tall towers.
Here is the list of preview events for Top Thrill 2:
Prayers From Maria Charity Ride
- Sunday, April 28
- Noon – 3:00 p.m.
- $120 per ticket
- Exclusive, with extremely limited capacity
Cedar Point says this charity event is the very first chance for the public to ride Top Thrill 2. "For your donation of $120 per ticket, you’ll not only support a wonderful Cedar Point charity partner, Prayers From Maria, but will have the opportunity to ride Top Thrill 2 multiple times, along with Power Tower, Corkscrew, Super Himalaya and Magnum XL-200," the park notes.
All proceeds will go directly to Prayers From Maria. A commemorative Top Thrill 2 gift will be provided, along with complimentary food and beverage.
Tickets on sale on Wednesday, April 3.
Cedar Point Prestige Passholder Preview
- Sunday, April 28
- 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
- Free (reservation & valid 2024 Cedar Point Prestige Pass required)
- Limited capacity
During this preview, Cedar Point Prestige Passholders "will receive a boarding pass to ride Top Thrill 2 once during an assigned time window." Power Tower, Corkscrew, Super Himalaya and Magnum XL-200 will also be open. Guests can buy all-new Top Thrill 2 merchandise from the new CP Racing Store, plus buy food and beverage from BackBeatQue.
The park notes that "Prestige Passholders from other parks who have purchased an All-Park Passport are not eligible for this preview."
Reservations can be placed starting on Wednesday, April 3.
2023 Coastermania Keychain Holder Preview
- Sunday, April 28
- 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
- Free (reservation & Coastermania keychain required)
Guests who participated in Coastermania 2023 who also have a CP Racing keychain are invited to join the Cedar Point Prestige Passholder Preview event. As with the "Prestige Passholders," boarding passes will be issued for an assigned time window to ride Top Thrill 2 once, and the same rides/offerings will be available.
"Coastermania guests who also have a CP Racing keychain must register for this event and must present their keychain at the gate to enter. Registrants without a CP Racing keychain will not be admitted," Cedar Point adds.
Registration opens on Wednesday, April 3.
2024 Cedar Point Gold & Summer Passholder Previews
- Tuesday, April 30, Wednesday, May 1, Thursday, May 2
- 4:00 – 10:00 p.m.
- Free (registration and valid 2024 Cedar Point Gold or Summer Pass required)
- Limited capacity
For three days, 2024 Cedar Point Gold & Summer Passholders, along with 2024 Platinum and Ticket of a Lifetime Passholders are invited to register for a chance to ride Top Thrill 2, in addition to Power Tower, Super Himalaya, Corkscrew and Magnum XL-200. Valid Passholders can select one single day to participate.
Like the other events, boarding passes will be issued with an assigned time window to ride Top Thrill 2 once. The CP Racing Store and BackBeatQue will be open for purchases.
This event is for 2024 Cedar Point Gold & Summer Passholders only. Cedar Point Prestige Passholders or Gold Passholders from other parks may not register for these events.
Registration opens on Wednesday, April 3.
How to register or buy tickets for the previews
To purchase tickets or register for the various previews on Wednesday, April 3, click on the Top Thrill 2 Preview Events page, where you'll find links.
The latest look at Top Thrill 2
Last week, Cedar Point released fresh video of the ongoing ride testing of Top Thrill 2.
"Engineers from the ride’s manufacturer, Zamperla, are programming the strata coaster’s fully automated ride sequence, fine tuning the linear synchronous motor launch system, testing rider safety systems and running the metallic silver train through its paces," according to Cedar Point.
All three of the ride's 20-passenger trains will be programmed to operate together, which Cedar Point says will be followed by additional ride commissioning, safety testing and state licensing.
Top Thrill 2 explained: New ride experience
So what makes Top Thrill 2 different? Here’s how Cedar Point describes it...
Riders will immerse themselves as they join the CP Racing Team and climb into one of three, sleek high-performance racing vehicles. Each of Top Thrill 2’s trains will feature open-air seating, providing heart-pounding views on the world’s first and only dual-tower vertical speedway.
On the start, using an all-new linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch system, riders will peel out down the straightaway reaching speeds of 74 mph, racing toward the sky on Top Thrill 2’s original 420-foot-tall “top hat” tower. After experiencing weightlessness during the “rollback” – the coveted fan-favorite moment when the train’s momentum isn’t great enough to make it up and over the tower – the train shifts into reverse and into its second launch, reaching speeds of 101 mph.
Riders will then see Cedar Point unlike ever before as they speed into a backward climb at a 90-degree angle on a new, 420-foot-tall track tower. After a second moment of weightlessness, the train shifts into drive and races forward into its third launch, clocking in at the ride’s top speed of 120 mph.
Crossing over the top hat tower, the train decelerates momentarily before diving into a 270-degree spiral and crossing the finish line.
PHOTOS | Top Thrill 2 roller coaster testing at Cedar Point
Top Thrill 2 ride stats
- Top height: 420 feet
- Top speed: 120 mph
- Ride duration: Two minutes
- First launch (going forward): 74 mph
- Second launch (going backward): 101 mph
- Third launch (going forward): 120 mph
Bringing Top Thrill 2 to life
Cedar Point has partnered with Zamperla Rides and its Roller Coaster Business Unit to create the Top Thrill 2 ride experience.
"Top Thrill 2 is one of the first roller coasters in the world to utilize Zamperla’s 'Lightning' trains, capable of high-speed aerodynamics, performance and rider comfort," Cedar Point explains. "The ride’s new high-tech LSM launch system delivers smooth and quiet acceleration while giving riders the chance to feel the rush of motorsport racing."
The end of the original Top Thrill Dragster
The original Top Thrill Dragster has been closed since August 2021 after an incident in which a bracket came off the ride and struck a 44-year-old woman in the back of the head. She later filed a lawsuit in connection with the incident.
A 620-page report released in February 2022 by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which oversees the state’s amusement parks, declared there was “insufficient evidence to find the action or inactions of Cedar Point violated any of the laws.” You can review that report HERE.
“Cedar Point has cooperated fully with ODA throughout its investigation into the incident and we will closely review the substance of ODA’s report," park officials said in a statement after the ODA report was released.
When it first opened in 2003, Top Thrill Dragster became the first roller coaster in the world to top 400 feet. Here's how the attraction was initially described:
Put the pedal to the metal because no speeding tickets are cited to Top Thrill Dragster. Three point eight….that’s 3.8… seconds. That is all it takes to go from a complete standstill to 120 miles per hour. You’ve never experienced speed like this. Even with a true drag strip “Christmas tree” light counting down the launch, you’ll never be ready for the pure adrenaline rush packed into a 17 second race. Riders are launched in the blink of an eye before sprinting straight up at a 90-degree incline. If you dare to open your eyes at the top you will see spectacular views only viewed by the bravest 420 feet in the air. But look quick, before you know it, you’re hurtling back to the ground in a 270- degree twist before crossing the finish line. We aren’t kidding when we say that this high-octane sprint to the checkered flag knows a thing or twenty about horsepower.
More Cedar Point coverage:
- Watch: Cedar Point unleashes new video of Top Thrill 2 roller coaster in action ahead of 2024 season
- Snake River Expedition boat ride closes at Cedar Point ahead of 2024 season
- Cedar Point limits Fast Lane Plus skip-the-line option to one-time access for new Top Thrill 2 roller coaster
- Top Thrill 2 construction continues: Cedar Point gives behind-the-scenes updates