Cedar Point goes national with ad

During Road Rules on MTV the other night, I saw an ad for CP. It clearly highlighted my home state of Maryland and said "less than a day drive". So what do you think; is CP looking to become the Disney of the midwest?
------------------
If you have a problem with clones, the solution is real simple—Stop traveling.

That's what they were aiming for in the 60s. I guess they made it. Just took some time off to sweeten the pot.

------------------
Please visit the small parks. We don't know what's happening behind the scenes
Woodencoaster.com

The Disney of the midwest?? I thought SFWOA had already accomplished this... ;)

-Danny
------------------
Coaster Insomniacs

I just saw a big billboard by O'Hare and a full page ad in a local summer attractions booklet. They are definitely trying to become the hot spot of the Midwest.

------------------
Check out this awesome park!http://games.coasterbuzz.com/filedetail.aspx?GameFileID=3001

If it was targeting your state, then it wasn't a national ad, it was likely inserted by your cable provider.

------------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

I did notice a mentioning in the Town Hall Museum calling CP a "Disneyland of the Northeast."

------------------
YOUNGSTOWN 2010

I was told that this is the first time that CP has expanded advertising past a 300 mile radius (or something of that magnitude). What an accomplishment! I guess this proves that "if you build it, they will come."

-Matt "hoping that a FL park sees this success with Intamin rides and wises up" D.
------------------
I-4: The scariest ride in all of Orlando!

Around Chicago there is a big Cedar Point Billboard by O'haire and I have also seen a commercial advertising for a free Cedar Point Getaway guide. So im assuming they did expand thier advertising radius.

------------------
Final Deja Vu Count for the 2002 Season: 52
Superman: Ultimate Flight Count (SFGAm) = 42
http://www.SFGAmWorld.com

I've seen CP ads the past few years in the Chicagoland area while traveling to and from SFGAm.

With the reputation the park has I would not be surprised if they started to market nationally.

X Factor

When I was in Deleware over the Memorial Day Weekend I saw a full page ad in the USA Today for CP.
------------------
tambo

Matt D said:
-Matt "hoping that a FL park sees this success with Intamin rides and wises up" D.

Yeah, I'm sure they're just stumbling in line to get their very own ride that will potentially toss someone from the train and will experience more downtime than uptime.

(Warning, there is some exaggeration in the above statement, but not much!)

------------------
Top Thrill Dragster -- The most intense, unbelievable, and spectacular fifteen seconds on any coaster, anywhere, ever.

I haven't seen the CP billboards near O'Hare, but there are radio ads and airings of the 1-800-BEST-FUN ads in Chicagoland.

How is it an accomplishment if CP expanded beyond a 300-mile radius with advertising? They're the ones doing their own advertising! It's not like someone said "CP is such a great park and since it now has the best ride ever, we should advertise for them!"

Also, if you're comparing a park to Disneyland, don't they need dark rides... at least one dark ride? Or maybe theme more than one coaster and "land"? If they're really calling themselves that, I don't know why. A resort destination pushes it, but they can say what they want.

-Danny
------------------
Coaster Insomniacs

I have not seen Cedar Point ads down here in Florida so I would say it isn't a national campaign. Are they trying to broaden their market. Absolutely.

I would describe it as "If you build it, you'd better convince them to come."

However, with CP's increasing focus on growth in resort revenue, this strategy makes a lot of sense. They have a record-breaking ride and lots of hotel rooms to fill. The impression I get from the financial statements is that Resorts has a much better profit margin than the park itself, though I could be way off about that.

------------------
http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~bnoble/

Brian, you are not way off. You are in the ballpark. Everyone boo-hoos resort expansion in lieu of new coasters but Mr. Kinzel and the unitholders smile all the way to the bank.

Legendary said:
"Yeah, I'm sure they're just stumbling in line to get their very own ride that will potentially toss someone from the train and will experience more downtime than uptime.

In response to your "tossing riders" comment, that could happen on any ride, Disney, Universal or anywhere. As far as downtime, if I recall Test Track did not have a "worry-free" opening, as did almost all of Universal (especially Jaws - which had a boat sink leading to a complete ride makeover).

If you're referring to specifically coasters, even GP friends of mine complain about the lack of variety here in recent times. The most 'different' coaster in Orlando is RNRC. IOA has proven that people in this area want thrills - I say give it to them.

-Matt
------------------
I-4: The scariest ride in all of Orlando!

Koaster King said:

....if you're comparing a park to Disneyland, don't they need dark rides... at least one dark ride? Or maybe theme more than one coaster and "land"? If they're really calling themselves that, I don't know why. .
-Danny
------------------
Coaster Insomniacs
On terms of calling it a Disneyland, CP was referred to that back in the 1960's. The CP renaissance occured at this time, and it broke away from those older and smaller parks just as Disneyland did when it opened in the 1950's. Cedar Point has theri Fronteer Town, and used to have Jungle Larry's Safari liked Dismneyland had Fronteerland and Adventureland. Disneyland has the Mark Twain Steam boat and CP has Paddlewheel Excursions. But that was then. Today, Cedar Point has kept some of those attractions, but kind of drawn away from that themeing scheme. (Excluding the new TTD)
------------------
YOUNGSTOWN 2010

*** This post was edited by jkpark 6/4/2003 10:02:00 AM ***

What are the most popular attractions at IOA??? Spiderman and Dudley Do Right Ripsaw Falls. Basically, with 4 coasters ( Hulk and DD for thrills, Flying Unicorn for families and Pteranodon Flyers for the little ones), they're covered. Now, another dark ride on the scale of MIB and Spiderman, that's what they need.

I would assume that with Chicago's large population that it might be in the best interest of CP to market themselves that far away. CP is more of a destination than SFGAm.
With the amazing accomodations that CP offers right on the lakeshore without all of the commercialization that SF has it is a great idea for marketing. CP is different. They are not a theme park like SF. Maybe some in the Chi market need to check it out.
------------------
Blue People fly sideways when it rains...