Ridden this several times, great wooden coaster that even a big non-coaster fan like myself can ride. A must after Coney Island Nathan's or a Cyclone game. read more

I absolutely love the nostalgia of this coaster. It isn't the scariest coaster I've ever been on, but it was a rollicking good time. The coaster itself is crazy rickety - I sat in the back and I literally felt like I was going to get thrown out. Seriously - put that lap rest ALL OF THE WAY DOWN. My fiance hurt her back from it! I personally quite liked it. My back was sore the next day, but that might've been from my run the previous day. Overall, I'd def do it again. Not sure about the $8 price tag though. read more

Fantastic if you are not underweight. Speaking as a scrawny little Asian dude, I feared for my life the entirty of the ride. Felt like I was going to pop out of the seat any sec. Pretty awesome ride nonetheless. There are at least 7-8 drops. read more

I think this is about nostalgia more than anything else. Sure it's a great coaster. I rode it 4 times so far this summer. But how can you compare it to Nitro at Great Adventure? Or even the Great American Scream Machine? To compare wooden to wooden, let's use the El Toro ride that hits speeds up to 98 mph. No the Cylcone isn't better. We just like it. If it is scarier it is for only 2 reasons - 1) you always fear it could fall down since it is so rickety. 2) It throws you around so violently that you feel as if you had just been mugged. This is not what I use to gauge a good coaster. It has its place, but the best? C'mon. Let be honest here. It is what it is - an icon. read more

man!!!!! this ride is Awesome!!! I friend and I were walking along the boardwalk and he asked me if I ever ride a wooden roller coaster, kind of shy I replied...no...hahahahaa so he suggested I should try, so then we did!!!!!! oh-my-god-!!!! this ride is intense!!!! that's all I have to say read more

For how old it is and how unassuming it looks it's surprisingly fast and fun. Seriously a super fun time. $9 a ride but totally worth it. Give it a try read more

The Cyclone is a magical bit of enduring, old-time, Coney Island magic for you. It's old as hell and possesses a certain unique, rickety charm. I really love it but gotta admit that it's seriously scary! Last summer, my friends and I rode it in the rain, in the midst of a thunderstorm! (Yes, it was still running even in the rain.) And although the Cyclone operators were almost going to give us one more free go 'round with the rain pouring down, we were all drenched and terrified and begged them to stop. That being said, I can't wait until this summer because I'm already craving another wild ride on the Cyclone! * Helpful hint: Apparently you can get a free ride if you flash the ticket taker. (I haven't tried this and don't plan on ever doing it, but a girl in front of me once pulled it off.) read more

Rode in the last car. Sustained minor back injuries. Loved every minute. read more

Amazing. Terrifying. Painful. Awesome. I think that about sums up my review. Like any wooden roller coaster, you are going to get knocked around, jarred, and a bit beat up. So my arms were a bit sore afterwards, but it is worth it. This is history, people. On a hot, sunny, Saturday in July, there was no wait to get on. They have a bag check and they give you a bracelet with a tag. So that was really helpful. And the staff is super nice. Go big or go home! Ride the Cyclone! read more

Cyclone Coaster - The Cyclone! - Amusement Parks Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I've lived in the tri-state area my whole life of 46 years...and until this week have never rode the Cyclone-I brought my 16yr old son who agreed to spend a day w/ me... Let me start by saying that I LOVE roller coasters-especially wooden ones....this was the WILDEST, ROUGHEST ride I have ever experienced. My son actually said that he "didn't feel safe".... now THAT"S a ROLLER COASTER! http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=453330331365268&set=a.225864690778501.65058.100000649149946&type=1&theater read more

This coaster is scary as shit! You know why? Because it feels like you're going to die on every turn and drop. My husband doesn't really like coasters but he'll do this one and proud too. The first time I came here to ride it, I saw a girl being pulled off on a stretcher. I don't know why my mind told me to get on it anyway, but I did. In all the times I've been on it, the worst was sitting in the back car where the whiplash was just too much. Normally, the back is my favorite seat on a coaster. It feels smoother now more than ever. I don't know if they did work on it, but me likey! read more

The Cyclone is incredible fun. It is definitely old school. It's wooden, it creaks, and it's been there forever. Do not miss it. Sooner or later a developer will turn it into condos or co-ops and it will be gone like Yankee Stadium, never to return. read more

Cyclone Coaster - Buckle up, the Cyclone is about to start. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I obviously sang Beyoncé's "XO" while riding this roller coaster- aside from the laughing and slamming of my body from side to side. I obviously was hesitant to embark on this journey that possibly would end up in death because of it being built in 1927. "How safe can an 88 year old roller coaster be?"- I thought to myself as I climbed into one of it's carts. "Well, I guess I'm going to find out." I think if you're going to go to Coney Island, you need to experience the Cyclone because it is a famous landmark within a famous landmark! If you're over 5'10" tall like I am, you're going to be cramped into the little car with your knees being pushed against the car in front of you (totally safe though). I would definitely ride it again (as I rode it twice the other night)! read more

WARNING: THE INTENSITY OF THE RIDE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY CHANGED BY ITS NEW OPERATORS. I have been riding on the cyclone since I was a little kid, and the new operators have most definitely changed the intensity of the ride (most likely by adding brakes). The first drop used to be negative g (meaning you were lifted from your seat no matter what you did) but is now only average, and does not approach the spectacular terror of the original ride. I am sorry for all who never got a chance to experience the cyclone in it's original state. It was truly the most terrifying roller coaster I had ever been on Additionally, the operators have continually ratcheted up the price, have disallowed waiting for the front or back seat, and have eliminated discounted re-rides. As a result, the lines for the ride were significantly shorter than I had ever seen before. read more

I had been on a few roller coasters in my teenage years ranging from stuff at Disney World to the Bush Gardens and thought that I had a good handle on coasters. Maybe it's my age (36) or the age of the rollercoaster, but I screamed my head of and felt like jelly afterwards. You get rattled around and I wouldn't recommend it if you have any injuries, but bloody hell it was good! read more

The Cyclone is the last remaining wooden roller coaster at Coney Island. When I rode on it, I could see the ocean, and Sandy Hook from the first ascent. read more

Cyclone Coaster - Cyclone from the Boardwalk - Amusement Parks Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Like a mighty lion, you can hear the roar of the Cyclone for what seems like miles away. The deafening roar sends tingles down your spine and rumbles the very island beneath your feet. At first glance the fabled Cyclone looks no different than the other wooden roller coasters. Aside from its storied history and loud sounds, one often ponders why they should pony up $9.00 to ride just another roller coaster. The Cyclone is not just another roller coaster. It is THE ROLLER COASTER. Charles Lindbergh, the deaf-defying aviator, once said that riding the Cyclone was the scariest thing he had ever done. Granted back in the 1920's the Charleston and the Lindy Hop were pretty dangerous too, so it is easy to brush off his claim. However that is anything but. After paying you step up into the line and wait patiently. The line is awkward and moves in a kind of organized chaos. Signs say that there is never a wait for those brave enough to ride in the front or the back. In the middle it gets a little complicated. The seats of the roller coaster look and feel like a plush armchair inside of Frank Lloyd Wright's house. Sometimes they can fit two. Sometimes one. This seems to be more on the whim of the operators rather than any exact science. While waiting in line. You see the nervous faces wondering what the hell they were doing. This thing opened when Calvin Coolidge was in office for Pete's sake! And then you see possibly one of the scariest thing of the ride. On even older roller coasters there is modern operating mechanisms. However, the only thing that makes the Cyclone go is one man pulling back a giant lever that looks like it came out of a Bugs Bunny Cartoon!! By Caesar's Ghost! Are you kidding me? And then the car disappears; and like that, the machine unleashes its mighty storm. With screams reverberating and encircling you as the ride continues. And finally it stops. And it is your turn. Despite what you had heard while waiting in line, or even reading a review, there is nothing that can prepare you for that first hill. The clinking and clacking of the chain taking you to the very top, which carries you to the top without even giving you time to think about how you are going to survive this thing. And you reach the top and are unable to look at the surrounding before you descend into flight. Not the tallest roller coaster in the world, but there is something magical about this first decent. It is like you are literally flying, as if for just a second, and then you have a flashback, as if you life were flashing before you eyes. You remember every childhood joy and are brought back to a simpler time. And then the rest of the ride happens... With each hill and each dip, duck, and dive the ride takes, the toll on your body starts to mount. The jerkiness of the ride and coupled with the fact the damn thing is 80 years old, you feel as if you had been sucked into a twister and you are being slammed with debris. By the time the ride is over, about a minute or two, you are banged up and bruised. You think back about the close calls, the wood beams, and death curdling screams you wailed. Then you think that you hope somewhere on the board walks sells some aspirin. And finally as you rub your front temples and finally collect your senses, you seriously contemplate getting back in line. read more

Aesthetically beautiful and historic. This roller coaster jerks you around, slams you into the side of the car, is noisy, rickety and noticeably flexes -- it is great fun : ) read more

I was not going to get on this coaster. It looked rickety - a relic from the past. And by all means, it probably still is. My friend was dead set on going and bought two tickets despite my whining. She also made me go in the first cart. There we were, the two of us, gambling on our lives. They even made us switch seats because I was the larger of the two of us. This didn't help the nerves at all. When they pulled the lever and the coaster started to roll forward, I was angry. Very angry at my friend. By the time we hit the top, I gave her a dirty look. However, the rest was history. Once we started dropping, I started screaming. It was literally one drop after another. I lost count, but I think there were 8 credible drops where I was fearful of my life. Being in the front cart, we were pushed up the hill by the carts behind us, making the curves terrifying. I couldn't have imagined what the last cart must have felt like getting pulled down the drops. In any case, by the end, I had lost my voice. Everyone was laughing and clapping. Even I had to agree that it was a splendid good time. High five. read more

Not as smooth as the newer tubular steel coaster...but if you like it hard and fast nothing compares ! ( Well almost nothing... ;)- but THIS is a FAMILY web site )This coaster will KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF ! Watch out for charleyhorses , the rear cars are faster . read more

Oh man! This is the best Coaster in the world!!! And I've done studies... I once went to Great Adventure on a cloudy Tuesday (no lines), and got on every single roller coaster. Nothing touches the Cyclone. Seated two by two, you and your partner share a ceremonial ritual that wont be soon forgotten. In this cart, you are stripped bare. No window dressing, no PHD, no bank account. It's just you and natural law. You against the universe. How will you react? Will you pull your arm over your partner, protecting him/her? Will you hang on for dear life? Or will you take what the world has to offer full-on, fists raised in defiance? I cry in fear... The clanking rise to the heavens, atop that first hill, the panoramic vista, the long-stretching ocean ahead, a refreshingly serene breeze... the peace lasts just a second... then, like life itself... your pulled down again... That first drop is torturous, my insides turn, my insides tickle, the tears start. That first drop does it to me every time, I cry. (and I'm no crier, gun in face, prison sentence... I'm dry as a bone, Cyclone? like a little girl).Then the hook to the right comes at the bottom of that first drop. If you ask me, the laws of physics don't allow for such a ferocious 90-degree turn from a century-old wooden coaster... and this is oceanside wood... cracked, faded, and creaking... No other coaster grinds your insides the way this one does. I believe that modern coaster designers have engineered-out the kind of dip that produces that severe stomach spinning - impending death- feeling. If this is so, we must all come together, masochists young and old, and splay ourselves on the pavement, lay our bodies were bulldozers look to roll... In this time of leveling all that rusts...we must protect this - OUR great leveler. For if it goes, what will we be left with? Sky diving? Russian roulette? Train surfing? read more

I am pretty fearless when it comes to roller coasters. I' ve done them all...upside down, loopy loops, drops... so when I saw the Cyclone, I thought..."whatever!..child's play!!" BOY WAS I WRONG. That first drop sent my stomach shooting out of my mouth.. and it didnt stop there. This coaster went so fast that my little bottom rarely was sitting on the seat. Some parts I felt like I was going to be decapitated by the overhead beams. Fun stuff. Scary, but fun... 1 star off because although I like the old-school element to the coaster, the rickety design kept my neck hurting with whiplash for hours. read more

A cautionary tale: My friends and I walked up to the Cyclone, ready to experience the thrill for the first time. But what happened was a nightmare. We checked our bags, and were the last ones in the cars. Two of my friends sat in front of us. My other friend and I jumped into our car with about 20-30 seconds to comment on how the seats felt surprisingly comfortable and cushy for a wooden roller coaster. Then the ride started. During the first drop, I felt like something was wrong, because my friend in the car in front of me hand her arms in the air, and I did not feel like I could do that without falling out of the car. During the next few drops, as the Cyclone descended, first the car threw me a couple of inches into the air, and then as the Cyclone continued on each drop, my body was slammed down into the car. Luckily, I was holding onto the metal handrail, so I did not get completely thrown out of the car. My jaw hit the lap bar during each drop. After the ride, I had bruises all over my right arm and leg, which seems fairly common given the other reviews. The friend sitting with me said her brain hurt. It was not until we got on the subway back to Manhattan that we realized THE ATTENDANT DID NOT CHECK THAT THE LAP BAR WAS DOWN IN OUR LAPS. If I had not been holding onto the metal handrail, without a doubt, I would have been thrown out of the car from 85 feet. While we felt stupid for not thinking about putting the lap bar down ourselves, neither of us had ridden a wooden roller coaster before, neither of us had time to think about it before the ride started, and the attendants should have checked before starting the ride. The friend sitting with me suffered a concussion, where she had convulsions for an hour. I suffered a mild concussion, and four days later, I still have neck and back pain, and I still have numbness and tingling in my fingers and feet. How would I describe this experience? Imagine sitting in a stationary car without a seatbelt, then getting rear-ended by another car driving at 60 mph, over and over. Bottom line: Ride at your own risk. Check yourself that the lap bar is down, because the attendants will not. read more

It is a hallmark of Brooklyn and a must do once after that it is six flags for me! I find the ride to be too rough and noisy which makes it unenjoyable. By the time the ride is over I have been flung around like a rag doll and truly need a hug. With that said I respect the history and will continue to bring my nieces and friends to enjoy. I will sit out thank you very much. read more

There are three kinds of people in this world, those who refuse to even consider riding this mighty beast, those who go for it and swear that they will never do it again and those who do it and contemplate getting back in line to do it all over again. I happen to be number three. I recently went to Coney on a hot August day with my best friend who is terrified of heights and being tossed about. I have neck issues and after listening to blood curdling shrieks and watching this thing careen around the rickety tracks from the street in front of it, I was seriously worried that I would get whiplash on it yet still.....something in me yearned for that intense adrenaline rush. The idea that my long gone parents once rode this thing many many years ago as a young couple really tickled me and I was excited about being able to share something with them. After staring at it from the street for a good 15 minutes I defiantly handed my purse to my friend ,who refused to ride the monster, and I marched up to the ticket window and heard myself say "one please" as if I was having an out of body experience. My blood immediately began to pump faster in fear. There is no way you can take anything on this ride with you. It would surely end up in the "grave" that lies beneath her through the tracks. I wouldn't even take glasses or a cell phone as it would probably fly out of your hands as you battle to hold on for dear life and even if you put it in your pocket you are thrown around so violently that I think you'd risk smashing it into a million little pieces. Thankfully, there is an area before you board where you can check your belongings before getting on. That alone should have indicated that the ride would be something otherworldly. I boldly walked up to the boarding area and sauntered toward the cars. I avoided the first and last cars even though there are signs telling you that there is no wait for either. That sign terrified me from sitting in those cars so I went for the middle. I am a tall girl, 5"7" and I weigh about 155 pounds. The bar smashed down onto my stomach and I had to spread my legs outward because they were too long to fit in front of me. These cars were definitely not made for supersized people. I just fit and I'm not big at all, I would imagine that if you are even slightly overweight you will really have to squish yourself in. I was in a car alone and I was happy about that. The end was nigh. I bowed my head and said a short prayer, and as I looked up there in front of me was the most horrifying vision of the man starting the ride. There is no little switch to be pulled, it was a GIANT lever that looked like something out of a horror movie. The train began to move and the sound of the old chain pulling us over those old wooden slats made me wish I had worn a Depends just in case. Click-click-clack....and then for what seemed like one triumphant moment we reached the top and there was the ocean and the horizon in all it's glory when ...AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! BOOM....the drop was like nothing I've ever experienced. I honestly felt as if I was going to do a flip out of my seat! My butt actually lifted up and the only thing holding me in was one relatively small metal bar. Oh I screamed. A lot. And I prayed. And I giggled hysterically for nearly 2 minutes. I girded myself fiercely for fear of my neck being jerked out of alignment and every time I thought it was over, it wasn't. It just kept going and going and going. The hairpin turns and steep drops were a true test of my survival instinct. It was as if it was me against this mighty machine. I was struggling to stay put and I cannot even count the number of times it punched me in various places. My stomach was in knots and the excitement sent surges of adrenaline pumping through me. After nearly 2 minutes of nonstop fear and maniacal laughter we pulled into the boarding area again. I was exuberant and I truly felt invincible, like I could do anything after this. If you want a smooth ride, an 87 year old wooden coaster is not your best bet but if you crave excitement and the devilish thrill of wondering if you will make it out alive you have to ride this animal at least once! I have ridden smoother coasters and even ones that do flips and this....this was the grand daddy of anything I've ever experienced. Do it now! read more

Anyone who gives this marvel of engineering fewer than five stars can go mope around in mouse ears at Disneyland. Enough said.

Surprisingly good. Surprisingly worth it. No one throws up, no one gets injured, and everyone loves it.

I've been on a lot of roller coasters in my time, but this one tops the list in several categories. First, the creaking and shaking of the wood as you climb the first hill makes it hard to believe that there is not at least a little chance that the entire ride might fall apart. Therefore, pretty much one of the scariest I've ridden. Second, the Cyclone holds the distinction of being the only roller coaster rough enough to actually break my cellphone. I came off the seat so hard that my phone was literally crushed by the restraint bar, breaking the front screen. Needless to say, I payed the $4 to ride again.....guess I'll never learn. Beware, however, of the last car. It gives you the wildest ride, but possibly too much for some people. read more

I've always prided myself on my ability to withstand even the craziest roller coasters, but the Cyclone! I have no words! It's not that I was frightened of the thing - I actually think its 80-something year old woodiness is pretty cool - it's that it was downright painful. I think my mistake was holding onto the bar in front of me, instead of putting my arms in the air like everyone else. But seriously, why would I not hold on for dear life? It felt like I could fly out of the seat at any moment. They should also give you some kind neck stabilizing device. At the first drop, my neck snapped back and a good 4 or 5 seconds went by before I was able to pick it up again. In the end, I walked away with a strained neck, a rattled brain, and bruises all around both elbows. How anyone considers this "fun" is beyond me. read more

A classic. With all the advances in roller coaster technology, this one still holds up as a GREAT roller coaster. A super first drop and some of the hardest, bumpiest turns you will ever see and feel. Like a Lay's potato chip, its hard to ride only once. Discounts if you stay on for additional rides and you can work your way to the front. read more

Once, I paid the guy $10 and forgot to get my change. Yep, that's how scared/apprehensive/flustered I was. read more

DO NOT RIDE IN THE LAST CAR. Especially if you weigh under 120 lbs. That should be one of the stated rules of the ride. I love roller-coasters. I have ridden on the Cyclone several times in the past and adored it (front and middle seats only). I have always thought of it as one of the greatest roller coasters in the country, not just because of it's age and history, but because it is a true thrill ride. I loved everything from the adrenaline, to the speed, to the crazy drops that never seem to end. That said, when I went on it this past weekend, I very much feared for my life. I have never been scared of amusement park rides, and although I know the Cyclone is far from a kiddie roller coaster, I never expected it to be quite this intense. My friend and I were not given a choice about where to sit on the ride. We tried to sit in the first car, but the attendants told us the line had to move back to where the bag check is and that we didn't have a choice about where to sit. This put us smack at the last car. One attendant said under his breath "it's going to be a bumpy ride" and we exclaimed "what??, really??" and he shook his head and said "nah, you'll be fine." He definitely shouldn't have said that. My friend and I are both small, under 120 lb girls. We quite literally were holding on to the lap bar for dear life. Every single drop threw us into the air and almost out of the seat. The ride simply whipped us around like we were dolls. I have never felt that unsafe on an amusement park ride in my life, and like I said, I have ridden this ride before and did not have that experience. It basically felt like being in a massive car accident over and over and over again. Every drop felt like that. The next day my whole body ached and was bruised. I get it, this that type of ride. The kind of ride that scares the bejeezers out of you but is also a kick-ass, old school, down and dirty institution of NY. I'm not trying to shut it down, I just felt like this one time that i rode it, it went too far. My only hope with writing this review is that it will prevent someone from getting seriously hurt, because based on my last experience with the ride, that is totally possible. read more

I think the seat chipped away at my ass every time we bumped and bounced on this rickety old ride. It was AWESOME!! Girl I thought I was about the fall out of the damn coaster each time we went down a drop. This is the kind of ride where you actually do want to keep all limbs within the car because your hands WILL get chopped off by the wooden beams if you raise them in the air. Oh yeah...make sure you save lunch for AFTERWARDS!! read more

A timeless classic. Wait for the first car, totally worth it. Sometimes you might have to fight a crackhead for it, totally worth it. Can't wait to take a few spins on it this summer and then head over to Nathan's for a hot dog. read more

Easily the scariest coaster in existance. And it doesnt even do crazy loopy, upside down make you wanna throw up type stuff! Ther herky jerkyness of this legendary coaster is probably the best part....you never know if youre going to come off alive when its over. Or at least with all of your limbs. im going today...because its 5 minutes away and its freakin NICE! holllllller! :) read more

Every time I come to Coney Island, I make sure I try to ride this bad boy. I am in love with this coaster! I just love that neck-jerking, body crushing, fear inducing experience that you can only get from this historic wooden roller coaster. It's $10 for this unforgettable experience. Plus, with each purchase (probably for a limited time), they are giving away a really cool Cyclone 90th anniversary pin! read more

My last time going to Coney and riding The Cyclone was back when in 1980 when I was nine years old. Mind you, this summer was my first time goin' back to The Warriors turf since 1980. This past Saturday (8/20/07) was my 2nd visit this summer. My ex braved the Cyclone whilst I stayed with my toddler. When he got off, he told me of a woman in front of him who was reduced to tears by the first drop. The crybaby story plus the intimidating appearance of The Cyclone had me shakin' in my sandals. I haven't been on a roller coaster in the three years since my daughter was born. I was/am coaster crazy! While I was pregnant with her, but BEFORE I found out that I was preggers, I'd hit The Ninja, and that stand-up roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, However, for whatever reason, I was too chicken-schitt to get on the Georgia Cyclone! Hmmm... I'd also done numerous back to back excursions on The Ghostrider at Knottsberry Farm and The Hulk and Dueling Dragons at Universal! Anywho, let's get back to Coney... Ex went on The Cyclone. I knew I wouldn't respect myself if I'd left without ridin' it, so about an hour later, I bit the bullet and decided to ride. Got on the line which appeared long. In under two minutes, I purchased my ticket, walked up a few stairs and there I was. I then noticed the little area where it's recommended that you leave your belongings such as your handbag, etc. I had a small messenger on which I temporarily exchanged for a little paper ticket that's seen better days. The idea that anything that wasn't securely on my person might fly off only made me more nervous!. As I waited to board, I'd struck up a conversation with another lone female rider. Asked if I could ride with her. When she got in the car, a park employee lowered the bar before I could get in. I attempted to tell him that I wanted to share a seat with her. He said in so many words that she was too big and would have to ride alone. Long story short (uh...okay, it's too late for that...) I let about four cars go before I got the balls to ride. So, I got in the red seat. Alone. Scared. When the ride began and made its ascension, I thought "well, there's no goin' back now. In a minute, it'll be all over." Got to the top, and as we started to descend, I glanced down. When I couldn't see the bottom, I stared up at the sky...which really worked for me; it kept ME from crying after the first drop! I tried with all my might to control the expression on my face, but the drop and the wind and the force dropping 85 feet at 60 mph was just too much. If I were a cartoon character, you'd have seen the flesh peeling off of my cartoon face. After that first drop, it was gravy! I continued to look up at the sky whenever my fellow passengers and I were confronted with a drop. It's the only thing that helped me maintain any level of sanity. When it was over, I wanted to hand over another $4 to ride again. But all of my money was in my bag which was behind the desk. As I didn't want to keep my family waiting too long. But my beloved Cy and I will meet again in a couple of weeks. Wooo-whooooo! read more

My 11 year old daughter has been bugging me to ride a "real" roller coaster. I've been thinking it was time to take my kids to Coney Island anyway so I took the whole family early Monday morning. I figure there wouldn't be a crowd on a Monday and I was right. I was even able to find free street parking. Started off easy with couple of lame rides next door and we headed off to the Cyclone. I h aven't ridden a roller coaster since I was in my 20's and I'm too wise and mature to go in for all the "thrills" of artificially induced vertigo. But my wife refused to go and my son is too young so I had to go with my daughter like a good dad. We set in the back of the first car. An attendant told us to hold unto our glasses. I ignored him. I may not ride roller coasters anymore, but I'm a Man of Action! I ski black diamond. I run 10K. I lift weights. I do diving rolls when I play paintball. Psshhaw! I'm not afraid of some lame, ancient roller coaster. When I did ride, I rode the monsters at Six Flags. I know that the wooden roller coasters just seem more scary because of the noise but it's nothing compared to modern steel monstrosities with huge verticle drops, loops, inverted dives, etc. My daughter is all excited and pumped with adrenalin as we slowly go up the first incline. I'm trying to be all cool and calm for my baby girl. Damn, the view from the top is gorgeous -I can see the beach, the ocean -ships far off in the distance. I'm thinking I should take out my cellphone and take pictures. Before I can reach down to my pocket, we are hurled downwards. It's a bit faster than I expected but I'm not freaked out yet. I even do a fake yell to try and get into the spirit of things. Then we hit the bottom. My breath gets knocked out of me. We are hurled left and right. My daughter has her hands on her face -to cover her eyes and to hold on to her glasses. I figure that's not a bad idea. I grab my glasses just in time to catch them when they are ripped off my face by the g-forces. I grab my daughter's glasses as well just in case. Now I got my hands full and I'm being bounced around so much, I'm tempted to drop the glasses just so I can hang on for dear life. I'm silently begging the heavens for this ride to end before my daughter and/or I am killed, crippled or severely wounded cause at this point, I just know that one or both of us are going to be hurled out of the car as we are violently bouncing along the tracks. And it does end. My daughter can't speak. Neither can I. My throat is hoarse. The people in front turn around to look at me with a grin. Apparently, I have been screaming at the top of my lungs the whole ride. I guess you do that when you think your time on earth has come to an end. My legs were wobbly when I got off. I heard that cliche so many times and this was the first time I actually felt it. It was the worst 3 minutes of my life in recent memory. Neither my daughter or I will ever get back on the Cyclone unless our lives are threatened or we are offered BIG money. So naturally, we give the Cyclone 2 big thumbs up. Because at the end of the day, isn't the whole point of a roller coaster to thrill you and scare you and make you forget about the world? My daughter is prematurely jaded. We have been there and done that all around the world and it's not easy to impress either of us. Well, neither my daughter or I will ever forget our ride on the Cyclone. Already, it's become a treasured memory -like combat vets and prison inmates, my daughter and I have been bonded by this intense shared misery. I only give it 4 out of 5 stars because the rest of Coney Island is kinda faded and seedy. Although I was surprised and thrilled (in a different way) to find a Grimaldi's Brick Overn Pizza across the street with NO LINE! PS: My daughter got a bruise on her forehead that lasted for a couple of days. I don't know if I got bruised but I know that it was physically uncomfortable to a degree that I don't understand why more people don't get injured from this ride. The other reviewers are correct: the Cyclone will kick your butt and slap your face. Literally. PPS: Get the souvenior photo. I never do. I think it's a big rip-off. But now I regret I didn't get one. The picture of me sitting next to my little girl and one of us clearly a frightened little girl and the other just screaming like a frightened little girl -I wish I had that keepsake to remind me of the time I went on the Cyclone with my little girl. read more

It was everything I ever wanted it to be and more... I laughed, I cried, I kept my Nathan's down... only thing not covered in gold chains and hair gel at Coney Island. read more

A Must Stop! I did a review on the "Giant Dipper" in San Diego, and this is next on my list of "Old Wooden" Coasters. How can one review a wooden coaster and not put this on the top of the list! The "Original" in my opinion! You have to do this in the "Summer". Like most Beach Coasters this one is dead in the Winter, but in the summer it's still slammin' and worth the trip out. It bangs you, twists you, makes your body hurt! Yup, all that and when it's all said and done, your like hmmmmmm, did really like that ride, give it a week, and even better give it a month when your back home! You'll be like ya, that was cool, I liked the fact that I know, one of the things I did in my life time was ride the "Coney Island" Cyclone wooden coaster! read more