Had a great day at Cedar Point yesterday. This trip was completely a spur-of-the-moment decision. We decided Monday night at 10 that we were going to Cedar Point on Tuesday. I called off work and we were on our way. We left Pittsburgh at about 9:30 and arrived at the park at 1.
Quick recap of the rides and a few obervations:
General
Great weather. Looked like rain but never came.
Park was moderately crowded.
Looked everywhere for CoasterBuzz t-shirts. Never saw one but saw TONS of yellow shirts. Never realized what a popular color this is.
Finally had Dippin-Dots. Not too shabby. They have been using that slogan for so that they should change it to "Ice Cream of the Past"
1. Raptor
Sign said 1 hour wait, was more like 40 minutes. Only once while in line did I see the trains even come close to being stacked. They were running so efficiently. Every time one train hit the mid course the next train was half way up the lift. Rode 8-4, my first time in this seat. Awesome first drop from this seat. For some reason I really enjoyed the middle portion of the coaster this time (exit of cobra roll through the final heart line spin)
2. Millennium Force
Sign said 1.25 hour wait, was more like 40 minutes. While waiting for this ride I noticed how respectful the crowd was. Never saw one annoying person/thing in the lines all day. It is great how the play music and sometimes have DJs - this really helps pass the time. A few of the ques needs some more shade though. This coaster has gotten a little louder since last year but I loved standing in line listening to it roar into the final brake run. Rode 3-2. This coaster is awesome. I just love it. It doesn't pretend to be anything other then what it is - a pure flat out speed machine. It never lets up the entire ride. Finally had the guts to ride with my hands up. I never realized how many hand/head chopper moments there are. Especially the one right before the hill that takes you off of the island. Without a doubt this is my favorite coaster.
3. Cedar Creek Mine Ride
First ride on this coaster. Ugh. Walk on. Funny thing. Right as we engaged the final lift hill, we noticed that one of the MF trains had also engaged the lift hill. It actually took us longer to get up our lift hill then it did for MF. And in case you don't know, the 2nd lift on CCMR is about 30 feet. Anyways, still a coaster, and the final helix was pretty fun.
4. Gemini
Pretty much a walk on. Waited 1 coaster. Sat 3-2. This coaster is okay. Kills your kidneys in a couple different spots. But you got to love those head choppers.
5. Magnum
30 minute wait. Sat back row. I like the first half of this coaster, especially the second drop into the tunnel, but the second half does nothing for me. Almost no air at all. Everytime I ride this I try so hard to see why people like this coaster so much but it just doesn't do it for me. One annoying thing about the track design - why do they tilt the track so far in advance on entering the pretzel - it feels so unnatural.
6. Mean Streak
15 minute wait to platform. 2 incidents where people were too large for the seat belts on 2 consecutive trains. I got to be honest with you - these people were overweight but not that much. This coaster is a tight fit. Sat last row, right side. Barely felt the trims on the first drop. Coaster seemed much faster then last year. A few really rough moments but also a few great drops. Could have been a great coaster but instead is just okay. The other 2 people in our party rode the train after us, a kid threw up, during the ride, in the seat in front of them. In his on-ride photo you could see how sick he was.
7. Power Tower
Rode drop side. I much prefer the Pit Fall at Kennywood to this thing. The drop seems so controlled.
8. Mantis
45 minutes wait. This is definetly a que that needs some more shade. This is also the only que where the underestimated the actual wait time. Lots of train stacking while in line even though they were only running 2 trains. Sat, or rather, Stood 2-4. I really like this coaster. I tried the lean-into-harness trick this time. AWESOME! It works really well. I love how twisted this ride is in the second half.
Then we headed home. Short but sweet day. Employees were all very friendly and enthusiastic. Park was clean and the ride were run very efficiently. Good job Cedar Point.
Ride Rankings for the day:
1. Millennium Force
2. Raptor
3. Mantis
4. Magnum
5. Mean Streak
6. Gemini
7. Power Tower
8. Cedar Creak Mine Ride
Souvenirs Bought
1 Shot Glass (bringing my collection to 183)
-------------
signature withheld
*** This post was edited by jdancisin on 7/4/2001. ***