Cedar Point - 5/11/01
Associated parks:
None
What a better way to spend my first day of summer vacation than a day at CP; what made it even better was that it was the LEAST crowded I've EVER seen the park. My friend (a prospective gf)and I left the park after four hours and were satisfied.
Arrived at the park around 11:30. The first thing we had to do was get our passes processed. I really like the look, and it's hard to believe that up through last year CP was still using typewriters to make season passes!
We started riding around noon. The first ride of the day was on the venerable Blue Streak, as it always is the first ride of the season for me. It was the first roller coaster I ever rode, and so I always start the year out on it (Actually, this year, my first ride was FOF at PKI, but whatever). The Blue Streak was a great ride as always. Sat in the back and enjoyed some airtime without being stapled (for once). This thing got some attention over the winter. Not only new lapbars (racheting, of course :( )but also some retrracking on the first drop. I've come to expect a little jolt at the bottom of the first drop, and I was surprised when we flew over it, smooth as glass.
While going up the lift on BS, I noticed that Raptor had about a 20 minute wait. Fully knowing that it would be a walk-on later in the day, we headed to the back of the park to ride my favorite steel coaster...nope, not MF, but Magnum!! This was a walk on with 2-train operation. We rode 4 consecutive times - Once in each of the seats in the back car, and once in the ejector seat. This thing runs SO much smoother than last year. Unfortunately, after hearing reports of trims being shut off, I was looking forward to that, but the trims were on, even though it was pretty windy. They were on light however, and the return trip was faster than usual. Magnum's third hill is pretty close to the Beast's helix as being my favorite moment on any coaster. Our ejector seat experience wasn't the greatest because my bar stapled itself on the first drop, and wow, was I hurting! It wouldn't have been so bad if not for those raised steel boxes that are in the rear seats of every car that forced one of my legs up into the lapbar. I actually prefer back to the ejector seat anyway. The airtime in the back is still great, and I like being whipped down the drops and through the turns.
After four trips on the Magnum, we decided it would be fun to ride Woodstock's Express. I've never ridden this ride, dismissing it as a kiddie ride, but since there was no line, we decided to try it. All I can say is WOW, that is one intense ride for kids! Maybe it was just because I was expecting a lame kiddie ride, but that helix in the first drop surprised the hell out of me! I had no clue this ride is so fun and am mad that I have been missing it these past few years! I am also mad at my friend (a different one) who, when we went to Kings Island, didn't want to ride Runaway Reptar because it looked too childish.
After Woodstock, we had some fries at Happy Friar. I was a little disappointed at first because they were out of cheese, so I tried my fries with vinegar and ketchup instead. They are excellent that way, also (and more healthy too). Oh well, I'm sure as soon as CP gets cheese I'll be eating my cheese fries again!
After fries, it was Gemini time. For some reason, instead of racing one pair of trains, they were just running 2 reds. No midcourse brakes on this one, and it added more airtime on the return bunny hops. This is the underdog coaster of the park. Fun ride with nice airtime, headchoppers, and an awesome finale. Often overshadowed by the Big Boys, it doesn't get the props it deserves.
We then ventured our way into Frontiertown for a hop on the good ol' Mine Ride. Same as always: cheesy ride but fun. We managed to scream on both of the drops off the lifts, effectively making the rest of the train to turn around and look at us like we were insane.
We decided to pass on the Mean Streak for reasons that I won't divulge on this site (let's say that my friend--a girl--does not like the bouncing and shaking nature of this ride. :)...woops looks like I've divulged it.
We walked across the newly blacktopped Frontier trail (didn't this used to be paved?) to the highlight of the day--a TEN MINUTE WAIT FOR MILLENNIUM FORCE!!! I couldn't believe this. I remember waiting in line for two hours last summer thinking, "Wow, it would be so awesome to wait only 10 or 15 minutes for this...oh well, it will never happen for a while." Well, it happened May 11th! We got three rides on this sucker: 5-1, 8-1, 9-2. Add this ride's first drop in there with the Beast's helix and the Magnum's first hill, but after that, I still believe Magnum has a superior ride. Can't complain though, MF is still great! I was convinced late last year that this thing had more airtime than I had originally given it credit for, but the airtime was weak for some reason yesterday. Maybe by the end of the season, it will be back. Seems like these Intamins can be quite tempermental on the ride they give. It also sounds like the wheels could use some grease, for the entire ride featured a wonderful metal-on-metal squeal.
After a walk-on Mantis ride (with two trains running)- nothing really to say about Mantis besides I hope it is the next ride to get a paint job and that I love the figure-eight finale- we hopped aboard the Iron Dragon and Wildcat. Iron Dragon is the same lame ride. Actually, I just wish it had a more exciting first half. The final helix over water is a lot of fun. Wildcat is another underrated coaster at CP. The sharp drops and tight helixes take your breath away.
We then caught a ride on the Corkscrew (walk on with ONE train - not even completely filled - running). Great airtime on second hill and also a tight loop. This ride got new harnesses, which go down lower on your body and also have handlebars.
The final ride for the day was the Raptor. We sat in the very back. I really wanted to snag the so-called "death seat" but some single rider obviously wanted it as much as me as I could see we were both inching our way onto the yellow line to grab it. I was nice and let him have it; besides, I realized how stupid it really is to fight over something as miniscule as a little seat. Great ride as usual on Raptor...and yes, it was running fast...and yes, it looks beautiful with its new paintjob. I see that CP painted the rails green while they have always previously been unpainted. Looks great, and rides even better. Once again, a walk-on with two trains running.
Just a few complaints about my day:
After Raptor, my friend and I went to ride the Demon Drop but when we got up onto the platform, the ride op told her that she would have to leave her purse (a tiny little bag) with a nonrider or get a locker. That was the second time someone had done that (the other time was on MF). Not wanting to waste another 75 cents for a locker, we just walked through the car and out to the exit. Now, I don't understand what CP has against leaving items on the platform in a box or on a shelf when they clearly announce that "CP IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ITEMS LOST, STOLEN, OR DAMAGED." Now it's either take it on the ride or get a locker, and some rides don't even let you take it on the ride! Looks to me like CP is out to get more money. Seriously, I believe that this policy is just going to make customers mad, and if CP is so intent on it, they should provide FREE lockers outside the queue. I got so hot about it that I even filled out a comment form and mailed it. We'll see what kind of response I get. After this little occurence, we noticed it looked like it was going to rain, and we left. This was at 4 PM. Unfortuantely, it didn't rain till later in the night, but we were satisfied when we left that we rode everything we wanted to.
One other complaint: I don't like the fact that CP replaced the little guys holding the sticks at the ride enterances with those official looking "Safety Guide" signs. I know it's no big deal, but those signs were part of my childhood. I used to always notice what type of character stood at each ride enterance when I was little, and now that part of nostalgia is gone! Maybe I should ask if I can have one...probably not!
All in all, it was a great day, and I am looking forward to a summer of fun and thrills!
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Coasters...the best natural buzz available.
*** This post was edited by MooreOn on 5/13/2001. ***
Arrived at the park around 11:30. The first thing we had to do was get our passes processed. I really like the look, and it's hard to believe that up through last year CP was still using typewriters to make season passes!
We started riding around noon. The first ride of the day was on the venerable Blue Streak, as it always is the first ride of the season for me. It was the first roller coaster I ever rode, and so I always start the year out on it (Actually, this year, my first ride was FOF at PKI, but whatever). The Blue Streak was a great ride as always. Sat in the back and enjoyed some airtime without being stapled (for once). This thing got some attention over the winter. Not only new lapbars (racheting, of course :( )but also some retrracking on the first drop. I've come to expect a little jolt at the bottom of the first drop, and I was surprised when we flew over it, smooth as glass.
While going up the lift on BS, I noticed that Raptor had about a 20 minute wait. Fully knowing that it would be a walk-on later in the day, we headed to the back of the park to ride my favorite steel coaster...nope, not MF, but Magnum!! This was a walk on with 2-train operation. We rode 4 consecutive times - Once in each of the seats in the back car, and once in the ejector seat. This thing runs SO much smoother than last year. Unfortunately, after hearing reports of trims being shut off, I was looking forward to that, but the trims were on, even though it was pretty windy. They were on light however, and the return trip was faster than usual. Magnum's third hill is pretty close to the Beast's helix as being my favorite moment on any coaster. Our ejector seat experience wasn't the greatest because my bar stapled itself on the first drop, and wow, was I hurting! It wouldn't have been so bad if not for those raised steel boxes that are in the rear seats of every car that forced one of my legs up into the lapbar. I actually prefer back to the ejector seat anyway. The airtime in the back is still great, and I like being whipped down the drops and through the turns.
After four trips on the Magnum, we decided it would be fun to ride Woodstock's Express. I've never ridden this ride, dismissing it as a kiddie ride, but since there was no line, we decided to try it. All I can say is WOW, that is one intense ride for kids! Maybe it was just because I was expecting a lame kiddie ride, but that helix in the first drop surprised the hell out of me! I had no clue this ride is so fun and am mad that I have been missing it these past few years! I am also mad at my friend (a different one) who, when we went to Kings Island, didn't want to ride Runaway Reptar because it looked too childish.
After Woodstock, we had some fries at Happy Friar. I was a little disappointed at first because they were out of cheese, so I tried my fries with vinegar and ketchup instead. They are excellent that way, also (and more healthy too). Oh well, I'm sure as soon as CP gets cheese I'll be eating my cheese fries again!
After fries, it was Gemini time. For some reason, instead of racing one pair of trains, they were just running 2 reds. No midcourse brakes on this one, and it added more airtime on the return bunny hops. This is the underdog coaster of the park. Fun ride with nice airtime, headchoppers, and an awesome finale. Often overshadowed by the Big Boys, it doesn't get the props it deserves.
We then ventured our way into Frontiertown for a hop on the good ol' Mine Ride. Same as always: cheesy ride but fun. We managed to scream on both of the drops off the lifts, effectively making the rest of the train to turn around and look at us like we were insane.
We decided to pass on the Mean Streak for reasons that I won't divulge on this site (let's say that my friend--a girl--does not like the bouncing and shaking nature of this ride. :)...woops looks like I've divulged it.
We walked across the newly blacktopped Frontier trail (didn't this used to be paved?) to the highlight of the day--a TEN MINUTE WAIT FOR MILLENNIUM FORCE!!! I couldn't believe this. I remember waiting in line for two hours last summer thinking, "Wow, it would be so awesome to wait only 10 or 15 minutes for this...oh well, it will never happen for a while." Well, it happened May 11th! We got three rides on this sucker: 5-1, 8-1, 9-2. Add this ride's first drop in there with the Beast's helix and the Magnum's first hill, but after that, I still believe Magnum has a superior ride. Can't complain though, MF is still great! I was convinced late last year that this thing had more airtime than I had originally given it credit for, but the airtime was weak for some reason yesterday. Maybe by the end of the season, it will be back. Seems like these Intamins can be quite tempermental on the ride they give. It also sounds like the wheels could use some grease, for the entire ride featured a wonderful metal-on-metal squeal.
After a walk-on Mantis ride (with two trains running)- nothing really to say about Mantis besides I hope it is the next ride to get a paint job and that I love the figure-eight finale- we hopped aboard the Iron Dragon and Wildcat. Iron Dragon is the same lame ride. Actually, I just wish it had a more exciting first half. The final helix over water is a lot of fun. Wildcat is another underrated coaster at CP. The sharp drops and tight helixes take your breath away.
We then caught a ride on the Corkscrew (walk on with ONE train - not even completely filled - running). Great airtime on second hill and also a tight loop. This ride got new harnesses, which go down lower on your body and also have handlebars.
The final ride for the day was the Raptor. We sat in the very back. I really wanted to snag the so-called "death seat" but some single rider obviously wanted it as much as me as I could see we were both inching our way onto the yellow line to grab it. I was nice and let him have it; besides, I realized how stupid it really is to fight over something as miniscule as a little seat. Great ride as usual on Raptor...and yes, it was running fast...and yes, it looks beautiful with its new paintjob. I see that CP painted the rails green while they have always previously been unpainted. Looks great, and rides even better. Once again, a walk-on with two trains running.
Just a few complaints about my day:
After Raptor, my friend and I went to ride the Demon Drop but when we got up onto the platform, the ride op told her that she would have to leave her purse (a tiny little bag) with a nonrider or get a locker. That was the second time someone had done that (the other time was on MF). Not wanting to waste another 75 cents for a locker, we just walked through the car and out to the exit. Now, I don't understand what CP has against leaving items on the platform in a box or on a shelf when they clearly announce that "CP IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ITEMS LOST, STOLEN, OR DAMAGED." Now it's either take it on the ride or get a locker, and some rides don't even let you take it on the ride! Looks to me like CP is out to get more money. Seriously, I believe that this policy is just going to make customers mad, and if CP is so intent on it, they should provide FREE lockers outside the queue. I got so hot about it that I even filled out a comment form and mailed it. We'll see what kind of response I get. After this little occurence, we noticed it looked like it was going to rain, and we left. This was at 4 PM. Unfortuantely, it didn't rain till later in the night, but we were satisfied when we left that we rode everything we wanted to.
One other complaint: I don't like the fact that CP replaced the little guys holding the sticks at the ride enterances with those official looking "Safety Guide" signs. I know it's no big deal, but those signs were part of my childhood. I used to always notice what type of character stood at each ride enterance when I was little, and now that part of nostalgia is gone! Maybe I should ask if I can have one...probably not!
All in all, it was a great day, and I am looking forward to a summer of fun and thrills!
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Coasters...the best natural buzz available.
*** This post was edited by MooreOn on 5/13/2001. ***
They took away the characters! I hope you are kidding, friend. No more robot by Magnum? This stinks! Oh well, I think myself and some friends are skipping school to take the trek up to Sandusky in a week or to. By the way, I totally agree w/ you on the whole Gemini thing.
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"It's Sadie Hawkins Dance, I'll wear my khaki pants, there's nothin' better" relientK
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"It's Sadie Hawkins Dance, I'll wear my khaki pants, there's nothin' better" relientK
I applaud them for not allowing people to leave stuff on the platform. I have become so irritated at other parks tripping over other people's crap, especially giant book bags filled with crap that no person should ever need to have on them at all times. If that's how I feel, just imagine what the ride ops think that have to walk there all day!
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
Great TR.
I like the line... prospective gf. She'll be your girl if you keep taking her to the park.
Someone else mentioned they got stapled on Magnum. Wonder how people can prevent it?
Wouldn't that be a funny letter to send to CP.
"Uh, sirs, your ride is stapling itself, can you stop this so we can all have more airtime?"
Someone else also mentioned the platform problems with leaving things. Too bad they can't install the electronic lockers like they have at IOA, where you get time for free, just enough to go on the ride. I think Raptor has bins on the exit side. It would be nice if they had a box for each train on the exit side. You put your stuff in, and the box is closed when your train leaves. I've seen this done on a couple coasters. The only negative is that it lengthens the loading time as people cross and put their stuff in.
I like the line... prospective gf. She'll be your girl if you keep taking her to the park.
Someone else mentioned they got stapled on Magnum. Wonder how people can prevent it?
Wouldn't that be a funny letter to send to CP.
"Uh, sirs, your ride is stapling itself, can you stop this so we can all have more airtime?"
Someone else also mentioned the platform problems with leaving things. Too bad they can't install the electronic lockers like they have at IOA, where you get time for free, just enough to go on the ride. I think Raptor has bins on the exit side. It would be nice if they had a box for each train on the exit side. You put your stuff in, and the box is closed when your train leaves. I've seen this done on a couple coasters. The only negative is that it lengthens the loading time as people cross and put their stuff in.
Jeff said:
"I have become so irritated at other parks tripping over other people's crap, especially giant book bags filled with crap that no person should ever need to have on them at all times."
Jeff, I have nothing against that as a policy, but I think that if CP isn't going to let riders set stuff on the platform they should at least provide free lockers. Rides like MF and Demon Drop don't even allow a woman to wear a little purse (which was only about 6 inches by 6 inches)on the ride. To pay 75 cents each time she rode one of those rides is insane, and it is not right to expect a woman to go all day at a park without a purse. CP used to have boxes on the exit side of the platform to put stuff in (just as PKI has shelves now)and I don't see how these could get in anybody's way. I seriously think this policy is going to hurt CP's games because if someone wins a jumbo stuffed animal, now he or she has to take it on the ride or buy a locker for it, which some of those lockers aren't big enough for some of those stuffed animals anyways. Just my thoughts. If they provided free lockers at the ride enterance, I wouldn't care.
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Coasters...the best natural buzz available.
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