Opened in 1997 as the "Manhattan Express" and later rebranded the Big Apple Coaster, this ride wraps around the exterior of the New York-New York building with a 14-story drop, a 67 mph top speed, and one of only two coasters in the world (at the time it was built) featuring a heartline roll-and-dive combination.
A Note on Current Status
This guide comes with an unusual caveat: research for this writeup could not find a confirmed source newer than a July 2024 news article, and MGM's own site and most major review platforms were unreachable during research. There's no evidence of closure, renovation shutdown, or removal -- Wikipedia describes it in the present tense, and a Strip-news outlet that reliably covers ride closures had no closure coverage on it as of this writing -- but the two-year information gap means pricing and hours here should be treated as dated. Confirm the ride is currently operating and check current pricing/hours directly with New York-New York before planning a visit.
The Ride Itself
At 4,777 feet of track and 203 feet tall, the coaster's signature moment is a 144-foot max drop combined with a heartline roll -- a maneuver that rotates riders around their own center of gravity rather than a standard loop, producing up to 3.4 g's over a roughly five-minute ride. Trains are styled as classic New York checker cabs, and much of the track is visible from the Strip as it winds around the resort's exterior.
Practical Advice
- Call ahead or check newyorknewyork.mgmresorts.com to confirm the ride is currently operating before making it a destination.
- Historic pricing was pay-per-ride (~$25) plus a discounted re-ride option (~$10) -- confirm current rates.
- Secure loose items before boarding given the heartline roll-and-dive maneuver.
Bottom line for a first-time visitor: this is likely still running, but it's the one guide in this batch where you should double-check operating status before planning around it.
