Cedar Point 7/10/08

It was a beautiful day in Sandusky. The weather was just right. I think it was barely 80 degrees.

I was able to get multiple laps in on Magnum in the morning. Magnum seemed to be running very well today. There was no wait in the morning and all trains were running. I headed to Gemini for a few laps, also no waiting. I made it over to Mean Streak and took in a few laps there as well. Once again no waiting. It appeared that most of the waiting was at Maverick and MF.

Today I passed on Maverick, MF, Wicked Twister and Iron Dragon due to the very long lines. Yes, Iron Dragon had very long lines. When Iron Dragon and Wicked Twister have long lines the park must be very busy. I was able to get a few trips in on Skyhawk and MaXair. MaXair was down in the morning but running after lunch. However someone lost their lunch on MaXair and that resulted in a 25 minute delay for clean up and an incident report. I also got multiple laps in on Blue Streak in the afternoon. Blue Streak is still a favorite for me.

Raptor was down. There is some work being done on the lift hill. I cannot be certain if the lift motor or the lift chain are being replaced/repaired. There was a crane at the lift hill to move supplies for the replacement/repair.

Dragster was down until lunchtime as well. After the repairs were made I got one lap on the ride. Power Tower was a walk on for both sides as well. I spent a good portion of the day riding attractions that I typically do not ride (Calypso, Scrambler, Matterhorn, TurnPike Cars, and Cedar Downs).

While on the Sky Ride one could see how busy the park was today. The parking lot was very full. The overflow lot by the marina was not in use. The main lot was almost full out to the toll boths.

To end the day I spent a few hours in Soak City. I find that going to Soak City at the end of the day is a nice way to relax before the return trip home.

As always, the park and most of the restrooms were very clean. The new Toft's Ice Cream parlor was very nice and the ice cream was good. Occasionally I found a park employee who could care less about their job. Overall it was a good day at the park. *** Edited 7/11/2008 3:46:18 PM UTC by MotorCityCoasterFan***

Raptor being down seems out of character for that ride. Once in a while, it's nice to hit the smaller spinners & rides for a change of pace.

That's our "busy day" strategy too: the "minor" coasters (many of which would be "major" at some parks) and flats can make for a fine afternoon.

I was there yesterday as well, and even on a busy day, was able to get quite a bit of riding in. We rode Maverick, Millennium Force, Wicked Twister, and Magnum twice each, and then Wildcat, Iron Dragon, Gemini, Mean Streak, and Blue Streak once each. We even stopped and had lunch at Famous Dave's and caught the ice show (which was terrible, by the way. What happened to a little thing called "plot?"

It just goes to show that when you're at a park of CP's size, even long lines don't necessarily mean that you can't ride the rides that you want, even if they are the big ones.

Wait, you mean you actually got to ride and didn't stand in line all day?!? That can't happen at a corporate park like Cedar Point! :)

I am surprised that Raptor was down as well. B&M coasters don't typically spend a lot of time closed.

With it not being too hot out, did you happen to notice if TTD was having more rollbacks, if any? Did you ride TTD? How about Mantis?

It's funny because yesterday, for some reason, all's I could think about was: wanna go to Cedar Point, wanna go to Cedar Point. I must have known in my head that it was a perfect day. :)

What, in your opinion, are the best rides at CP? I have heard wonderful things about Maverick, Magnum, and Millenium Force (the three M's...ehehehe), but have never really heard anyone refer to Blue Streak as one of their favorites. Interesting....

I'm scared to death of MaXair, yet I want to ride it. It just looks so intimidatingly huge. I like all the Claw rides like it, but MA is different...I don't know if I'd like it or I'd lose MY lunch. LOL

Glad to see that you had a wonderful day. I've noticed a fair amount of CF hostility lately, so it's nice to see that people are still having positive experiences. Makes me more excited to visit the park (fingers crossed for this summer).

^Who doesnt want to go to Cedar Point everyday ;)

Bunky666 said

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With it not being too hot out, did you happen to notice if TTD was having more rollbacks, if any? Did you ride TTD? How about Mantis?

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I have not witnessed any rollbacks for TTD for the past two years. I am still hoping to be on TTD for a rollback. In regards to Mantis...I have nothing against it. Its just not a favorite. I dislike Mantis and Corkscrew for the same reason...too much headbanging.

Bunks 666 said

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What, in your opinion, are the best rides at CP? I have heard wonderful things about Maverick, Magnum, and Millenium Force (the three M's...ehehehe), but have never really heard anyone refer to Blue Streak as one of their favorites. Interesting....

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Sometimes I think it just depends on my moods as to which is a favorite. Raptor is an all time favorite. Magnum and MF also have their place with me. I think Blue Streak is sentimental. It was my first "big" coaster when I was 11. Although Blue Streak still gives a super ride.

Bunky666 said

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I've noticed a fair amount of CF hostility lately, so it's nice to see that people are still having positive experiences

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You've noticed the hostility as well? I am not sure I understand what it is all about. Some people were pissed about Geagua Lake, which is understandable. Some people seem to think that CF is removing the uniqueness from the former Paramount Parks. All of my experiences at the CF have been very different. I have very high expectations for CP & KI. But the others not so much. But I still have had good trips to MiAdventure this year. I guess it all depends on what you are looking for.

Bunky666 said

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I'm scared to death of MaXair, yet I want to ride it. It just looks so intimidatingly huge

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I prefer MaXair over Skyhawk. Skyhawk reminds me of a park swing on steroids. MaXair has a neat element with the pendulm rotating. And if you are in the right seat...at the top of the swing for MaXair...your feet are over your head. Its pretty cool.

MaXair rocks. Its really smooth sailing and just a ton of fun.

It seemed to me when I rode it in June that Maxair was running a longer ride cycle. Anybody else notice that?

maXair looks freaky, but the radii of movement are so large that the forces don't actually change that fast---it's much less intense than your average frisbee. Sort of how Wildcat pulls more Gs than Millennium does.

I've never even BEEN to Geuega Lake (however you spell it) and the whole CF thing pissed me off. I mean, why buy a beautiful, nostalgic park like I heard GL was and then keep it for a year or two and then sell it? Kind of a d*ck move by CF. I mean, it happens all the time in all sorts of businesses, but I do agree that it was crappy. I'm not a grudge holder though.

I know what you mean about sentimental/nostalgic rides. Thunderhawk at Dorney, Tidal Wave at Trimper's, Steel Force also at Dorney, and Storm Runner all have ridiculous memories associated with them, and they're all firsts of some sort for me (Thunderhawk was first real coaster, Tidal Wave was my first upside down, Steel Force first hypercoaster, and Storm Runner first launch coaster). Even when a ride is great, you sort of tend to hit your old haunts, am I right? :) Actually, Thunderhawk scared me so bad that I didn't ride ANY rides for a good three or four years after that. I had to slowly reintroduce myself to the amusement world. LOL

I hope Raptor is back in order by the time I get out to Cedar Point. I fully intend on making a trip out there by the end of the season this year, so...well, here's to hoping. I watched a video of it, and I was interested in the layout. I still want to get on Mantis though, crappy though it might be. I've never been on a standup.

I can see where the larger size of Maxair might make the whole ride feel slower. I remember getting on those mini versions of 1001 Nacht/Joker rides and they'd feel like little b**chslaps every time they'd slam to the bottom of the revolution. Then you ride a big one, and the airtime is better but less brutal and the whole ride feels kinda slow. Sounds like this comes at you from a similar point of view.

Bunky, I only had the chance to get to GL once. Nice little park.

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I've never even BEEN to Geuega Lake (however you spell it) and the whole CF thing pissed me off.

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No one else went either. That's why it didn't last.

Bunky666 said

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I've never even BEEN to Geuega Lake (however you spell it) and the whole CF thing pissed me off. I mean, why buy a beautiful, nostalgic park like I heard GL was and then keep it for a year or two and then sell it? Kind of a d*ck move by CF. I mean, it happens all the time in all sorts of businesses, but I do agree that it was crappy.

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Bunky, I do not believe that CF ever had the intention of closing down Geauga Lake. I went to Geauga Lake shortly after Six Flags purchased the property. It was great that they invested so much money in the property. If I recall, the number of coasters almost doubled when SF took over. The first year of the SF takeover was fine. The park looked great and it was nice to see all of those rides and the animal park was great as well. However, on another trip to GL (under SF ownership) the park had looked very run down. The park was dirty, the queue line railings were broken, the rides appeared neglected, and the employees were unpleasant.

When CF purchased the property I was very excited. I had a huge expectation for that park. I did not go to GL during the first year of ownership. There were many horror stories about the change over and park operations. If one remembers the park changed hands about one month before opening for the season. I finally went during the second year of CF ownership and the park looked very good. A lot of the cosmetic issues that I had with my last visit were resolved. Although, there was no secret that many of the rides needed some attention. There were many suggestions that Six Flags left the rides in very poor condition.

I also believed that because CF spent so much money on the water park and refurbishing rides that there was never any intention of closing the ride portion of GL. If I remember correctly, CF revamped some of the sit-down resturants in the park, and refurbished a few rides including finishing the work on Raging Wolf Bobs (which later had an accident and never re-opened) last year. To be honest, as much as my wife and I enjoyed our trips to GL (she is a non riders but liked to go to the parks); I have always felt that GL was a waterpark that just happened to have rides. I rarely ever waited for a ride at GL. From a coster rider point of view it was a good park because there was a great collection of rides. Villian, Dominator, Thunderhawk, Raging Wolf Bobs, and X were good rides. I am in the minority when it came to the Big Dipper...I could do without it. I understood its place in history....but that ride should have been history many years ago.

I also believe that the demise of GL had to do with the multiple changes in ownership over a short period of time. My understanding is that some people did not even realize that GL was still operating after CF purchased it. I think a lot of people stoped going to GL once the animal side of the park was gone. People were upset with CF for that. But CF is not in the business of maintaining animals. The proof of that were the giant parking lots on either side of the park. They were usually 1/4 full. Some people may also say the demise of the park has something do with the proximity of CP and Kennywood.

I never got pissed at CF. I was just bummed because I would go to GL after Coastermania. *** Edited 7/12/2008 3:10:11 PM UTC by MotorCityCoasterFan***

MotorCity - - -> That's the best thing about Cedar Point...even when the park is crowded, those smaller - family rides - can fill a day, keep you busy and take the stress off of the longer lines.

Blue Streak is just a Damn good ride IMO, the best John Allen for sure. It has nothing to do with sentimentality.

MagnumsRevenge said

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Blue Streak is just a Damn good ride IMO, the best John Allen for sure. It has nothing to do with sentimentality.

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That pretty much sums up Blue Streak. Well stated.