Time Traveler, Silver Dollar City- Review

 Time Traveler Review

Written by Trevor Mungeam

Ride Theme and Queue

I only had a few hours at SDC so I planned to ride Time Traveler first, and then make Outlaw Run my 70th credit. I entered the park to see that Time Traveler was down so went to Outlaw Run, a walk on, and got a couple rides. I came off disappointed and made my way back to the front of the park to make Time Traveler my 70th coaster. The queue line was already 40 minutes and it opened for the day just after I got into line. The ambiance created by the ride is exquisite, from the intricate ride entrance sign, to the clocks, notes, and blueprints throughout the queue. The constant metronome of the clocks within the line are a very unique touch that help to build anticipation. From the queue you can look through the window to a great view of the coaster as it travels along the hillside. As you make your way into the station you notice even more theming elements, and the ride operators are dressed perfectly to seem like vintage, scientists hoping to travel through time. The foil between the antiquity of the operators with the futuristic feel of the time travel and ride technology is excellent. The trains are perfectly crafted to fit the theme. My recommendation is to sit in the very last row, as it is a must for the best possible experience. The Mack restraints are very comfortable albeit being difficult to avoid stapling. 

Ride Experience

 The slow crawl out of the station is the pinnacle of the anticipation. Sitting in the back row you wait, unaware of the impending drop from the station. Prior to the drop you reach spin-inducing magnetic fins and then enter the drop. Many people were worried by the trims along the drop, but I can assure that they do not prevent the insanity that is the back row. You are VAULTED over the drop, falling backwards. The airtime is powerful, and due to the spinning the fall is slightly accelerated and feels beyond vertical! I never thought I would experience another drop in the same category as Skyrush’s but this is as close as it gets! The base of the drop is surprisingly intense and rises into the first inversion. The peak of the inversion gives fun hangtime and a feeling of weightlessness, enhanced by the varying rider orientation. The ride then swoops into an s turn, which would be average without spinning trains, but with them gives varying sensations, a combination of some floating airtime and strange laterals. You then enter the brakes, in preparation for the first launch. This is my main complaint with the ride as it does affect the pacing. The launch is a bit more intense than expected. While it is nowhere near my favorite launch it gives a good kick and feeling of acceleration. Once again the launch is much better due to the spinning trains, and is pure fun. You then fly into an overbanked turn which, despite not being listed as an inversion, feels like one. It provides some awesome hangtime! You then go into the vertical loop. On my second ride (of two) I was sideways going through the loop, providing an extremely unique, yet amazing, sensation. The next element is the twisting airtime hill, which is very unexpected. It provides some ejector airtime and laterals all in one and banks into a somewhat intense turn. You then rise into a fun zero g roll. You bank around a turn and into the second launch, but not before another airtime hill with a surprising pop of floater airtime. The second launch is rolling and is a boatload of fun. You ride into another overbanked turn, similar to the first, and lastly a twist into the brake run.

Final Thoughts

On the brake run there are recordings about your time travel and it’s success. As riders are unloaded a recording tells that time travels will be offered all day, so to return again! If I had more time in the park I definitely would have marathoned it! I wish I had the chance to get night rides as it may have ranked even better for me. Overall, it completely shocked me, much more intense and airtime filled than expected. The drop is easily the best moment, and is one of my all time favorite moments on any ride. I urge anyone to get over to SDC because Mack and SDC have created a true masterpiece, and one of the most fun rides out there. I have tentatively ranked it as my 7th or 8th favorite roller coaster, and is one that has me dying to get back to Silver Dollar City again!

Trevor is currently finishing his senior year of high school. During college he hopes to major in mechanical engineering and some day be a roller coaster designer. Trevor is a 3-year member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, and his favorite coasters are Boulder Dash at Lake Compounce and Maverick at Cedar Point. He is a long time athlete, an avid distance runner and basketball player. Trevor is also very interested in photography and traveling the world.

All Photos from Silver Dollar City