Cedar Point - June 28/29 (Tues/Wed) 2011

It's been 11 long years since I had last been to the Point. I had kinda been down on the Point for a few years. The changes to the Blue Streak left me very emotional, and I found the park getting
more and more blah and the newer coasters (Raptor, then Mantis and MForce) to be mediocre rides at best.

My good friend Beth has very recently been bitten by the coaster bug, thanks to our recent trips to ride the Zippin Pippin, then Holiwood Nights, Indiana Beach and our home park SFGAmerica.
She has been hearing all the super-hype about CP, so it was time to go back for me.

We got there Tuesday around 5pm. Our first ride was my (former) beloved Blue Streak. I worked on the ride in 92/93, and loved the coaster for years. I accept the changes, but still very sad about them. The trains bump up and down along the track now, ehhh... I can see how people still like the ride, but it is VERY different now. I just really miss this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46609124@N07/5891226139/in/photostream

Disaster Transport/Disaster Disco - totally different than it used to be, mostly a dark ride now. The comments Beth had after the ride (actually, after most of the rides at the park) were pretty funny.

Wicked Twister - would be so much nicer with the soft Intamin restraints. I definitely need to do something with myself, as I barely fit in the ride!

Onto Iron Dragon, Draggin' Iron. I told Beth all the history of the ride, how it was a big deal b/c it was suspended, but turned out to be kinda a dud. But was still enjoyable - especially compared to all these years of plainness with recent B&M stuff... So many trees gone!

Wildcat - always a great ride! Still a great ride. Beth loved it (turned out to be her favorite ride of the trip, probably mine too). Simple, to the point, comfortable, Anton goodness!

Corkscrew - Front seat; Beth's flip flops fell off her feet on that speed bump, tossing around in the Arrow train nose. Great to see an original Arrow train that doesn't block out that leg space in the nose of the train. It was fun spending the ride trying to pin down Beth's flip flops with my feet, of course that required me to push my crotch against the new 'seat belt'!? Anyway, Corkscrew is great as ever, still smooth but herky-jerky, Beth loved it.

Magnum - Nearly a walk on - never thought I'd see that day! Pretty bumpy on the pull outs, maybe needs new wheels. Beth didn't care too much for it, but another ride changed that a little.

Gemini - very suprised to see seatbelts and only 4 trains on the ride.
Red side was shut down by the time we got out there, so it wasn't as fun w/o racing.

At this point (about 90 minutes into the park) Beth was really starting to wonder where a "good" coaster was. I had to remind her (for the 1,000th time) that she has started her coaster geekdom at some of the cream of the crop parks/rides - Holiday World and Indiana Beach. Those wild woodies are some of the best. But she had here eye on Mean Streak. So we headed that way.

I explained to her the difference between big woodies and the kick butt ones we rode in Indiana; many of the big woodies started out good to great, but have needed to be changed in many ways over the way mainly b/c of their size and speed. Also, how track gets horribly beat up on such big rides. Then I had to explain to her that our home racer, American Eagle, is probably the single exception to that rule; but only after many changes to that particular ride, and only in the last few years has it been such a great ride, again...

Onto Mean Streak. A long walk back to a completely empty station. Front seat would be the smoothest. The first drop was its usual inert self, and not too rough in the front. By the second curve, Beth looked over to me and wondered what was going on. It was pretty funny, she didn't need to say anything. That high bank, no force and the train barely creeping around. Ride ops let us stay in the front for another ride. Same, some bumps, but overall in much better shape than say, GA Cyclone.

Top Thrill Dragster (High Heel Dragqueen) - it was nearly park closing, so this was going to be a first for me and Beth. I didn't care for Kingda Ka at all, so I didn't think I'd care for this. After about a 45 min wait, we were on the black cherry train. I was suprised how much I loved this ride! I think it's the presentation/theming and the lack of shoulder bars that did it for me. I could look around and put my arms out, it was great. I couldn't believe how much I liked it!

Wednesday morning we were there for the season pass early entry. I hate getting up this early, but figured it would be worth it (simply to avoid the lines).

Millenium Force - back seat, Beth was pretty intimidated on the lift. Overall, same for me - very meh except for the first hill/drop. I have to say it's a work of art compared to I-305 at King's Dominion. I
enjoy the whole first hill so much simply from the lack of shoulder bars. At least I can look around at the lake/park and see how high we are! Can't do any of that on I-305.

Maverick - really impressed with the quick loading/efficiency (more on this later). Painful. And I know the layout (from pics/vids), but still OUCH! I think it would probably be a pretty good ride with the soft Intamin restraints. It seemed like it had some unique stuff, but those harnesses suck. A little more theming/trees/rocks would help too.

Mine Train - same as always, one of the more interesting rides for Beth.

Gemini Red (for Beth) - much better while racing!

Mantis - OUCH, never need to do this again.

Raptor - Eh, same B&M ness to me. But I do like the meander between the corkscrews!

Beth borrowed a kid b/c she wanted to ride Gemini Jr.!

We rode Woodstock Express together, that was new for me. All that gravel under the ride - how about a tree, a funny house or something?

We did MForce again - nicer at night with the station lights, etc.

Last ride of the trip was TTD/HHD - loved it again! It's all the
presentation/excitement that really helped me there.

So 11 long years for me. It's still Cedar Point, lot's of glaring
concrete, less trees - but very nice at night though! I thought the food and drinks (although still very expensive) were a better value and quality than that of Six Flags parks. The crews were still some of the best to be seen! Very happy to see that! Looking for single riders, getting the trains out fast, even joking - as long as it doesn't slow the operation down. Many Six Flags ride ops try to joke, but it usually falls flat as there is a such a lack of real connection between the employees and guests... and the way they do it, holding back a train to get a response, therefore capacity suffers.

That's what I really learned working at the Point back in 91-93; it was always safety and then capacity. We gave park operations a compliment for that, as well as NOT implimenting any sort of pay to cut crap.

Windseeker was very nice and very intimidating for both of us. Skyhawk was great too.

Beth (where are you!?) really liked how the park was nice and clean, layed out, and the superb operations - but wondered how such a HUGE, popular and saught-after park could lack a single GREAT coaster. CP is a great park, but the coasters are more for the masses, I had to remind her that our tastes are little different - and we are spoiled as well.

After we finished TTD around 1030 Wednesday night, we headed out of the park and rode the Skyscraper upcharge ride. What a great value! $10 bucks a pop - but 2 for the price of one with our season passes! This ride scared the crap out of both of us. I had previously rode one at Wisconsin Dell's but this was different in that it was a very LONG ride! We were at the top for 5 minutes and were treated to forward and backward revolutions. What a way to end a long day!

Overall, I was suprised how much fun I had at the park. I won't go out of my way again for a long time, but If I'm on the Ohio Turnpike, I would like to drop in for a ride on Wildcat, Top Thrill or that insane Skyskraper! Also, we didn't get on the Sky Ride, or some of the other flats.

I was there on Tuesday as well (after a 17 year absence)! Strange to see how we had the same reactions to some things and completely opposite on others...

We were going to stay for Wednesday as well, but went to KI instead since did everything we wanted to do in the first day of our planned 2. How were crowds on Wednesday?

^Crowds on Wednesday? Huge. For me, if lines are over 20 minutes, the park is packed.

Lol at High Heel Dragqueen.

About Wicked Twister... I have never had any trouble fitting into a ride (except when riding a kiddy ride in the same car as you lol), and I think I am as big as you if not bigger. Maybe we are shaped differently or something.

I agree about mantis. It only needs to be ridden once for the credit and then never again. The layout is somewhat interesting and unique, but way it moves makes me sick.

They put gravel under Woodstock Express? That sucks! It used to be grassy.

Amen Brother Billy about Pay-to-Cut. ;)

Yup, seems Cedar Point is not into letting people pay to cut, I like that.

What's up with smokers everywhere in the park!? Uck - Six Flags has them one up on that one. Does everyone in freaking Ohio smoke? I guess it was much worse when I worked there...

But Mantis unique? It's very close to Riddler's Revenge and Chang... very run of the mill B&M - and that awful snapping corkscrew. Uck! I think it would be great when they change it to a sit down coaster, with lap bars, of course ;)

Well, compared to other B&M coasters, I would say that Mantis is unique ( although similar to RR and GL). But it either hasn't aged well, or I am just bored with it.

Knott's has a pay-to-cut system similar to Bush Gardens. Even though I hate pay-to-cut (I will refrain from going on and on and on about that right now though ;) ), the way Knott's and Bush do it is the best way to do it, in my opinion. I wouldn't be surprised to see that system roll out to other Cedar Fair parks.

CoasterDemon said:
Yup, seems Cedar Point is not into letting people pay to cut, I like that.

They just haven't figured out how to do it yet. They've tried in the past. Two years tops once Dick is gone.

^I have a feeling it wouldn't go down too well with the CP clientele. Some would love it of course, but I think most will "boo" it.

That's what naysayers have said about every system at every park that implements one.

It just doesn't happen.

As cynical as it sounds, the reality of it is that the increased revenue (and good vibes from those that like such systems) outweighs any complaints.

I'm gonna spit at the next people who can hold me back from a front seat ride when they have "Platinum pass" privileges and can ride the front 2x.

Ha! Spit...

...and then wait, of course. :)

I will wait, I will be there stuck in the damn que :)

And then my baboon friend will join me! And we will go to the nut house, handcuffed together. Sometimes one has to take one for the team.

Thank you Billy for your excellent & complete trip report about C.P. The location, operations of the park/rides, maintenance of the grounds are all done very well. Definately better than SFGA. I hope they do not implement a fast pass system as well. I'm glad we went to C.P.& had the opportunity to ride some thrilling rides. I do have to express that I'm so disappointed that C.P. with all it's hype & money doesn't have a really good woody & that they changed your beloved blue streak from the masterpiece it used to be. Suffice it to say I don't think C.P. would know what a "good coaster " is since they don't have one! I did love love love the anton wildcat. I could have rode that a few hundred times more! It was the exception to my"good" coaster comment. I've lived in chicago for 23 years & just made my first & last trip as a solo destination to C.P. for a long time. I don't regret the purchase of the platinum pass only because we will be going to michigan adventure, kings island, & worlds of fun. Don't think I'll spend my coaster money again the same way. For the same distance I can go to holiday world & ride 3 kick b-tt woodies. Not to mention the 2 great woodies & steel hog at indiana beach.

CoasterDemon said:
I will wait, I will be there stuck in the damn que :)

And then my baboon friend will join me! And we will go to the nut house, handcuffed together.

Stupid baboons never have the sense to grab a FlashPass on the way in. You need to find new primates to hang with. ;)

Yes, as your baboon friend I will go to the nut house in handcuffs with you & we'll take one for the team together! Lol

Most baboons don't have jobs, so they can't afford to stop by the Fastpass booth. lol

Your comment is funny Travis. However, the idea of a flashpass is wrong, offensive & objectionable since it creates a culture in the park of some people having money to cut in line & others just having to wait their turn the old fashion way.

:)

I agree, Gonch. :)

With all due respect, it's kind of cute.

Is Billy's baboon friend the same one that may or may not live at Great Adventure? Seems like a long walk from Chicago.