After reading the bleak reviews Hydra had been getting, I wasnt expecting much from the ride. What I was initially impressed with was the rides amazing color scheme...second only to Dorneys other great B&M, Talon. The ride almost glowed neon green. After taking a few pictures, I jumped in line and after a 1 train wait I was sitting up front head to head with the infamous jojo roll. The inversion is taken extremely slowly, but the hangtime is amazing and not at all uncomfortable as many have complained. Then for the drop, which to many enthusiasts dismay is a mere 100 feet. Now let me tell you, this little drop packs a punch, with some nice floater air the whole way down, until finally leveling off with some powerful forces and strong laterals entering the Inclined Dive Loop (which I personally consider to be an inversion after finally riding it). It was then on to the Zero-G Roll, which was fantastic. I did not touch the seat during the entire maneuver. Pulling out of the G-Roll came the enormous Flatspin, which also packed its fair-share of forces. The cobra roll caused the ride to lose a lot of its speed, unfortunately, but precious airtime was not entirely destroyed on the two hills that follow. Then the final flatspin dishes out yet another inversion and the ride meanders through a tame helix and into the brakes. Quite frankly, I am shocked that this ride has been receiving such dismal reviews. I was completely taken by surprise by this ride. The layout, the visuals, the interaction with the terrain, and the fierce line-up of inversions makes this one of my top rides. Maybe its just because this was my first floorless......but I doubt it. Though its not the most intense or wildest B&M out there, it is still a great ride.
UPDATE 2006
I am changing my rating to an 8. I still think it is a better ride than a lot of people are toting it as, but it definitely lacks in intensity. I see it as more of just a fun ride that pretty much everyone can enjoy, which is precisely what Dorney Park was shooting for
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