3 Cedar Point workers test positive for coronavirus

Tommytheduck said:

I was considering taking this time to make a solo trip to finally visit Star Wars GE. Then I talked to a guy who works there who said that the Lightsaber shop is closed, probably wouldn't get into the Cantina, and my Millennium Falcon rides would be solo with 5 empty positions unfilled.

It could be a both-and rather than an either-or. Falcon would be weird without others in the cabin, and the Cantina probably benefits from having a good crowd in it. (I am not sure how Una Duey Dee works when the place isn't at least a little busy, for example.) But, the land is worth exploring and Rise is worth the price of admission. The Runaway Railway is one of those attractions that benefits from revisiting due to the level of detail.

Just out of curiosity, WKYC is reporting Gemini, Blue Streak, Cedar Downs not running (among others). Anyone know if this is just a staffing issue now / cost issue? Gemini and Blue Streak of all rides seem like they might be "less technical" to keep running than the other rides.

PS: Not complaining, just more curious. As much as I'd like to get there this summer, the length of the drive doesn't exactly make it feasible.

My guess is staffing. Personally I'd rather have Gemini and Blue Streak over Corkscrew or Mine Ride, but I'm sure there is a reason for it.

I can at least confirm that they are not running, or even testing.

Power Tower and Dragster have at least tested (with Dragster certainly opening in the next few days at the rate it has been testing, complete with sounds/lights, crew, etc.)

But those rides have been 100% dead.

It has to be staffing. Troika and Tilt-a-Whirl are currently both being operated by the same two people, and they are alternating hours of which ride is open.

99er said:

The local employee bar Louie's is still opening nightly so if a lot of employees are going there, it certainly increases chances.

Employees seriously hang out at Bar Louie? That place charges like $8 for a Miller Lite.

BrettV said:

I also see Cedar Fair has dropped reservations for Worlds of Fun...

Worlds of Fun has not only dropped reservations, but is now closed 3 days a week and only operating Thursday through Sunday, closing at 7pm each night. The demand is clearly not there.

Walt S said:

Just out of curiosity, WKYC is reporting Gemini, Blue Streak, Cedar Downs not running (among others). Anyone know if this is just a staffing issue now / cost issue? Gemini and Blue Streak of all rides seem like they might be "less technical" to keep running than the other rides.

From what I've heard, CP has over 20 rides that are currently closed. I don't have insight in to why, but some such as Cedar Downs were recently operating, so it's not an inspection/maintenance thing AFAIK.

I think what we're seeing is that there is a certain segment of people that simply do not want to risk going to an amusement park no matter how well they are sanitizing, distancing, etc. Then there's another segment that won't go because they refuse to wear a mask. The parks are left with those in the middle, and there doesn't seem to be too many people in the middle of ANYTHING in this country any more.

I know Power Tower opened last weekend. Had Cedar Downs opened or just tested?

The Louie's near CP is not the chain. It's your typical local ****hole.

The Texas Six Flags parks started closing two days a week. San Antonio has not seen any rebound to their typical tourist business and the Dallas area is a COVID and literal hot spot right now.

Cedar Point listed the rides that are not currently operating on their blog. I appreciate their transparency with this.

https://www.cedarpoint.com/blog/access-passes-and-more

I don't know the numbers, but I would guess that CP typically has hundreds of international workers each summer. My guess is this summer they have zero. Those workers are not typically ride operators from my experience, but obviously a staffing loss like that has to be balanced across the board.

International employees can operate rides as well as lifeguard at the water park.