Im really torn between a 9 and a 10 for this ride. I have to say that the launch was excellent. It was the best launch Ive ever been on, even weeding out Storm Runner. The tophat was phenomenal, giving me more airtime at its pinnacle that I was hoping for. The launch and the tophat are clearly Xcelerators defining moments. I loved the fact than it had a lapbar instead of OTSRs. Even though it takes longer to load with lapbars, I think the freedom of the upper body is worth the wait. The extra loading time for the lapbars definatly pays off when you crest the tophat and fly straight down into a twist, throwing you into a euphoric moment of airtime. The post tophat twists are fun, but nothing to be too excited about. I have to disagree with larrygator on the value of these turns though. I think this ride would have been really dissapointing if it wasnt for the twists, because the ride just wouldnt feel complete. I think the turns bring satisfation to riders not because of intensity or thrill factor, but because they allow riders to further experience the momentum and speed of the launch and tophat. If there was a break run directly after the tophat, it would be a waste of speed and excitement. The turns allow riders to feel the excitement for just a few more seconds. However, that is not to say that the turns make it comparable to Storm Runner. If Xcelerator had the post tophat elements of Storm Runner, it would be a likely candidate for my number one coaster. Overall I really liked Xcelerator and I think it gave a great thrill. Im going to give it a nine because of its shortness, but I still thought it was an incredible ride.

After riding silver bullet once, I ran back to the far corner of the park. Xcelerator stood proudly on the midway, waiting for me. It also looks great along the parks skyline. If I had come to knotts not knowing about this coaster I would have been blown away! You can see the top hat for miles. Its very impressive. I walked up to xcelerator and went into the queue. The line was themed pretty well. They had things that youd see in the 1950s. They had old hot rods and broken up pieces of cars all over. I walked into the station and got in line for the front seat. I waited 3 trains and got on. I pulled the very comfortable lap bar down and prepared for the launch. I watched the countdown and we were off! We launched extremely quickly. The launch felt even more powerful then dragstor! I couldnt breathe. The launch was insane. After that we turned up the hill and FLEW over the top hat! I got so much airtime! I was off my seat the whole way back down the top hat. After that we hit a few intense twists. The twists seemed to be getting that old intamin rattle though. It was surprisingly bumby near the end! We hit another overbank that had a great head chopper. It really looked like the green bar was going to hit my head! We hit the sloped brake run and went back into the station. Xcelerator was great! I looked at my picture and rode xcelerator 3 more times. I loved every ride. On my last ride I had to wait 10 minutes. While waiting I asked a ride op if xcelerator ever rolled back. He said they had never had a rollback with people on it! I was surprised since TTD does it all the time! Xcelerator is a great coaster at knotts that shouldnt be missed. The wait is never longer then 30 minutes so its worth a try!

It was a decent ride, but not the best Ive been on. The launch was grest but once you come down the top hat the 2 turns are boring, you get no air, its just turning.

Storm Runner is much better in comparison, and this ride could use a fresh coat of paint. The skimpy lap bars are great!

This ride was great!!!! Sitting in the seat waiting to take off if sooo fin scary!!!! When you take off you pretty much cant breath until you start to go straight up!!! Goin straight down was pretty fun too. Goin over the over-banked turns was ok but its just to burn off some speed. This ride is great and a must when you go to the park along with Supreme Sceam and Ghostrider!!!! This is a definate 10!!!!

Awesome coaster. 0-82mph in 2.3 seconds, thats amazing. I screamed my head off, and I usually dont sream on roller coaster.

Its too bad to see such a great ride is in such a lame park. Go after 4PM (as you can paid haif the regular price) and ride this and Ghostrider for 5 times and then drive home.

This was the prototype Intamin rocket coaster, and my second favorite ride at Knotts (after Ghostrider). Take a moment to marvel at the design before riding. The supports stop half way up the top hat element, so from about 100 to 200 feet in the air it is just train and track and nothing else. Its a pretty terrifying sight that will either lure you in or turn you away. The first time I rode this the launch out of the station literally took my breath away, which hasnt happened to me on a ride since I was a kid. Im telling you, the speed is instant. I love the feeling of turning 90 degrees upward, then 90 degrees to the side. At the top the coaster slows to barely a crawl, which is a genius of psychological terror. Its still not much time to look around though, as you then get thrown straight down the other side, once again turning 90 degrees on the way down. The two overbanked turns that finish this ride are a walk in the park compared to what youve just experienced, but theyre a good way to catch your breath before being slammed into the brake run, stopping almost as quickly as you started. This is a short ride, but its all you need to get that adrenaline pumping.

Analyzing Xcelerator: The launch of 82 mph in 1.8 seconds is amazing. Better than any launch ive experienced. Also, the trip upward is thrilling, as you do not know if you will fly upward, or go down the other side. Next, the trip down at a 90 degree angle gives you so much airtime, its not even funny! The two overbank turns are simply an amazing end to my favorite ride.

The ride is well themed in a 50s hot rod motif. The train looks like a classic hot rod, there are 50s cars and car parts throughout the queue, the photo booth like looks a drive-in movie entrance, and the ride ops wear these cool button down shirts with an Xcelerator hot rod on the back. Now on to the ride.

Seats are comfortable, the launch is intense and the drop from the top hat is great. Now Im sorry folks but those extra 20-30 seconds of overbanked turns dont make it that great. I bring that up because a lot of people say TTD needs more elements and that Xcelerator looks better. Well Im here to tell you that it is not better than TTD or KK. However, it is better than Hypersonic XLC.