Cedar Point opening day (5/5/02)
Associated parks:
None
A new year, and so much to tell. I'll try to go in order of what I did for the sake of remembering. Lots of things to talk about!
First off, I ran into nearly every CoasterBuzzer or GTTP member that lived within a thousand miles. Shouts to you all, and yes Kara, you can move here any time and play on my volleyball team (regionals in two weeks would be nice ;)).
I met Dan at Magnum and after what was apparently some air gate issues (yes, the ride has air gates now), we got out on the first public train in the ejector seat. Trims were wide open. It was running insanely fast. We did it again toward the back, and with the trims squeezing hard it was still insanely fast. Nice way to start the day.
At this point I should probably mention that the former Dogem site is surrounded by a big old wall with lots of landscaping around it. Inside the walls are two big old footers. Let the speculation begin!
From there we passed the relocated climbing wall and the new Snoopy Bounce, replacing the one that blew away last October. We hopped on Gemini and got a trimless ride. It moved like it hasn't for me in awhile. This was a trend that would only continue throughout the day!
The train ahead of us on Mean Streak was apparently light and slow, because the trims didn't touch us on the first drop. Here's the shocker... no squeaking, no shuffling, no bumping around the track. The entire first half of the ride was pure speed. Had it not been for the mid-course grabbing on hard, it would've been a ride unlike any I've taken since '91 or so.
From there we continued our leisurely pace around the trail and passed Millennium Force, which was running very quiet. All wheels were steel, no nylon, and the stainless steel front car shells had been replaced with silver fiberglass, thus far not mutilated with that nasty looking orange logo. Yellow had not yet made its way to the track.
They're experimenting with something called "Freeway," an obvious slam to the various "virtual queue" schemes that cost money at other parks. The premise is simple... get stamped with a time, come back then and ride. We got a 6-7pm stamp and moved on. At the moment they're apparently doing about 10% of a ride's capacity, which means about 120 stamps per hour on MF. The rest is filled by the queue. Wicked Twister was also using the system.
Working our way up to Blue Streak, we find Dave "RideMan" Althoff and Scott "ShiveringTim" Short exiting the ride oddly happy. They raved about Blue Streak, we shrugged it off, and got on.
I speak the truth when I say that anyone who says Cedar Point needs a good wood coaster has not been on Blue Streak this year. New paint aside (which looks great, by the way), this thing is smooth as glass and doesn't let go from the first drop on. Extreme airtime every hill, and the laterals on the turn around insane. Sit in the back and listen to those upstops smack the track. This quite frankly is your parents Blue Streak, and we were happy to repeat with another lap. I don't have the slightest idea what they did, but I'm very proud to have Blue Streak at my park.
On Disaster Transport we got all kinds of surprises. First off, lots of new black lights in the queue, and some new props in the third room. Even the robotic arms repairing the shuttle work! Inside the ride, lots of 3D star fields (for use with glasses). Looks kind of cool, but in some ways it's a "hide in darkness what you won't fix" kind of thing. Fine with me though... I really enjoyed the ride.
Wicked Twister, by some freak of nature, only had a 20 minute wait, so we hit it, near the back of course. Having to actually wait this time, I really appreciate the view on the beach now. Great location. And yes, I dig the ride more and more every time I ride it. The back seat is the money seat. If you doubt how different this ride really is, don't go to Cedar Point and have fun on your holding brake. One less person in front of me!
We stopped at the PR office to chat it up a little, then headed off for another lap around the park. Eventually we landed on the train, and led the group in a "hump that fence" chant on behalf of the skeleton that gets acquainted with the fence under Snake River Falls.
Mantis at this point had a short wait, and we jumped on. Here's the deal... they're only running two trains (the third is being stored under the transfer). As a result, the timing issue is eliminated, and that means no trim on the first drop. It's not a factor. Even the mid-course is barely a tap. Yes kids, our intensity on Mantis has returned, and you even get new restraints, free of six years of goo and bugs.
Iron Dragon was outright odd because the foliage has not really bloomed yet. Our trees really haven't filled in yet here on the North Coast, but I bet it'll happen this week.
After some Wicked photography, we returned to The Force and got in the cheat line. Our wait was about 20 minutes. The ride is running just a hair slow, and I'm guessing it's because there aren't any nylon wheels in use. They've added pull straps to the seat belts, not sure why. I noticed that the guide wheel springs are getting really sloppy, leading to lots of lateral play in the turns. If it gets worse, the ride is going to feel "rough." I wouldn't be surprised if they begin to change them throughout the season.
That's the big picture stuff. It was a beautiful day and it just felt nice to be "home." Shame I've gotta work in the morning.
-----------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"
Jefff, That report makes me want to get in the car and head up. Right now!
I just turned 30 and my family believes I'm getting too old for this "hobby" of mine. I don't care what they say. I could be doing worse things. You have to do what makes you happy.
BTW, Jeff, what's the status of my CBC membership. I need my card for SRM.
Sean
-----------------
Hey Jeff, did you ride MS later in the day? Like you I was so impressed with the thing in the morning, but later in the day Kneemeister and I rode the roughest ride I have ever experienced on it, brakes all the way down the first drop and rougher then rough. I was ready to light the thing onfire after that. Purely awful.
Got the backseat ride on WT and holy cow, that thing is truly truly amazing.
-----------------
The Beast and Night, They go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly
*** This post was edited by MagnumForce on 5/5/2002. ***
Jeff said:
"#1 From there we continued our leisurely pace around the trail and passed Millennium Force, which was running very quiet. All wheels were steel, no nylon, and the stainless steel front car shells had been replaced with silver fiberglass, thus far not mutilated with that nasty looking orange logo. Yellow had not yet made its way to the track.#2 They're experimenting with something called "Freeway," an obvious slam to the various "virtual queue" schemes that cost money at other parks. The premise is simple... get stamped with a time, come back then and ride. We got a 6-7pm stamp and moved on. At the moment they're apparently doing about 10% of a ride's capacity, which means about 120 stamps per hour on MF. The rest is filled by the queue. Wicked Twister was also using the system.
(SNIP)
#3 I speak the truth when I say that anyone who says Cedar Point needs a good wood coaster has not been on Blue Streak this year.(SNIP)
#4 If you doubt how different this ride really is, don't go to Cedar Point and have fun on your holding brake. One less person in front of me!(SNIP)
#5 Mantis at this point had a short wait, and we jumped on. Here's the deal... they're only running two trains (the third is being stored under the transfer). As a result, the timing issue is eliminated, and that means no trim on the first drop.(SNIP)
#6 That's the big picture stuff. It was a beautiful day and it just felt nice to be "home." Shame I've gotta work in the morning."
#1: This maybe the first time I've heard of Cedar Point not having ALL of their trains running on a coaster. Where you privy to any special "issues" with the missing train?
#2: First off, I *told* y'all CP would have a FastPass incarnation. Second, how is this a "slam"? I characterize it as a "submission" or at least simply a response :). But anyway are only MickeyFickey and WhiteTrash 'Freeway' accessible?
#3: Well seeing as though CP hasn't been open but a couple of days this year, there likely HAVEN'T been too many riders on BullSchitck2002. But I've always liked BS despite what people have said about the modifications. Most days I like it better than Raptor...
#4: Thanks! I'll do just that! I'm not (planning on) going to CP this year, but I think I'll be @ SFGAm sometime this summer(fingers crossed).
#5: Was the "timing issue" the *real* reason for the trim? What about all those reports about "roughness" and "excessive intensity". Though, I noticed no marked difference in Mantis 1996 and Mantis 2000. I'm with you on the "Trims are in the eyes of the Enthusiast" deal.
#6: Weren't you recently complaining about *not* having a day job? Some people are never happy (j/k). Work sucks dont it? (unless you're RGW who doenst really work anyway...)
All in all, it seems pretty much like business as usual at the Point.
lata,
jeremy
--Did I ever mention my Mom is a de-facto CP-Diehard?
Business as usual in some respects, and not in others.
#1: Yes, I do know, and yes, I'm a little disappointed it was ready. Given the shorter off-season now (the park closed at the end of October), knocking off three weeks of it, and knowing how prior to this year stuff gets ready barely in time, I'm not a bit surprised that something that didn't make it. To their credit, one missing train among 68 functional rides (every last one was open) isn't bad.
#2: I guess to understand how that's a slam you had to hear the conversation I listened to in line. Dude in the freeway queue sees his buddy in the main queue. Buddy says, "How much did that cost?" "Nothing," Dude says, "That's why they call it Freeway." "Oh, so they don't try to screw you for more money here," says Buddy. Note the additional negative hype in the local market regarding SFWoA's pass system and you get the big picture.
#5: Ellex King (with us part of the day) had heard Monty Jasper say at one of the off-season gatherings that indeed the brake was there to space out trains. When they did spend a few years trying to run three (after the belts were installed), stacking trains meant the one coming in got stopped hard, even violently, at the safeties. Having the trim bought them a few seconds.
#6: It's not that I mind work, I just would rather be working for me instead of The Man. ;)
-----------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"
-----------------
He let the contents of the bottle do the thinking; can't shake the devil's hand and say you're only kidding.
If you ride the CP&LE from Frontier Town to the ID/Wildcat midway, there's a skeleton in Boneville on the right that appears to be humping the fence. Sure, he might be climbing it, but after this many years you'd think he would've been able to get over it by now. ;)
-----------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"
-------------
With great power, comes great responsibility-Spiderman
I'll use 2hostyl's "snippet system" to reply to ....snippets!
Jeff said:
1) I met Dan at Magnum.
2) Streak was apparently light and slow, because the trims didn't touch us on the first drop. Here's the shocker... no squeaking, no shuffling, no bumping around the track. The entire first half of the ride was pure speed. Had it not been for the mid-course grabbing on hard, it would've been a ride unlike any I've taken since '91 or so.
3) They're experimenting with something called "Freeway," an obvious slam to the various "virtual queue" schemes that cost money at other parks. The premise is simple... get stamped with a time, come back then and ride. We got a 6-7pm stamp and moved on. At the moment they're apparently doing about 10% of a ride's capacity, which means about 120 stamps per hour on MF. The rest is filled by the queue. Wicked Twister was also using the system.
4) Working our way up to Blue Streak, we find Dave "RideMan" Althoff and Scott "ShiveringTim" Short exiting the ride oddly happy. They raved about Blue Streak, we shrugged it off, and got on.
I speak the truth when I say that anyone who says Cedar Point needs a good wood coaster has not been on Blue Streak this year. New paint aside (which looks great, by the way), this thing is smooth as glass and doesn't let go from the first drop on. Extreme airtime every hill, and the laterals on the turn around insane. Sit in the back and listen to those upstops smack the track. This quite frankly is your parents Blue Streak, and we were happy to repeat with another lap. I don't have the slightest idea what they did, but I'm very proud to have Blue Streak at my park.
#1) Dan was at MAGNUM....shocking...!
#2) Mean Streak "kicked" when I first rode it, was right up there with Beast....glad to hear they put the Mean back in, even if only up to the MCBR....
#3) LOVE the name "Freeway", and it certainly does seem to point an accusing finger at the virtual queueing pay schemes. I'll never really fall in love with these things, but when they're free, and at a park that actually employs ALL the staff needed to run the system RIGHT....maybe I won't be QUITE so....hostyl....towards the systems....;)
#4) Glad to hear Blue Streak is back, too. As CP's oldest running coaster, I'm very happy to hear they're taking good care of this classic John Allen.....sounds like CP spent some time and effort on their wooden coasters this year....:)....CoasterMania can't come soon enough...see you ALL there!
-----------------
....teachin' people about towel safety and proper towel usage...it's important!
...P.S., for whatever reason when I edit, I lose my emoticons, so I'll just respond to jeremy's little *barb* with a return of...."and what are YOU doing while waiting for the work to come in...;)
Hey Rollergaor,
The shape Magnum was in yesterday I was more embarassed to be seen by Magnum. I actually ended the night on Twister.
-----------------
Danny J
magnum count :2166
Jeff,
On Disaster Transport we got all kinds of surprises. First off, lots of new black lights in the queue, and some new props in the third room. Even the robotic arms repairing the shuttle work! Inside the ride, lots of 3D star fields (for use with glasses). Looks kind of cool, but in some ways it's a "hide in darkness what you won't fix" kind of thing. Fine with me though... I really enjoyed the ride.
What's with the glasses? Are they an upcharge? I thought I saw someone say they didn't get them. If it is an upcharge item, how much do they charge for the glasses?
-----------------
Posting, "Me too" like some brain dead AOLer. I ought to to the world a favor, and cap you like old yeller...
*** This post was edited by redman822 on 5/7/2002. ***
-------------
The word "definitely" is definitely the most misspelled word on the buzz.
What's the wait like for Mantis now that it's only using 2 trains? It was a b*tch with 3.
-----------------
JOHN
member of the
RCT INSOMNIACS
owner/operator
KIMBERLY LAKE INC.
*** This post was edited by john13601 on 5/8/2002. ***
Ok...does anyone have an answer for me in regards to the 3d glasses for Disaster Transport? (See my post above for what I am referring to)
An inquiring mind wants to know...
-----------------
Posting, "Me too" like some brain dead AOLer. I ought to to the world a favor, and cap you like old yeller...
They're using a queue system because the market demands it. I don't see a need for it personally, but the "GP" certainly does. We went without it last year and except for the busiest days major rides rarely went over an hour.
Taking the train off of Mantis makes absolutely no difference in capacity, since with three trains there was always a train sitting in the brake run.
-----------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"
Good to hear that the Blue Streak is smooth! Last year when I went to ride the Blue Streak it was rough like you know what!! I think that was the worst coaster I've ever ridden! It was a walk on last year when I went;) But good to hear that it's riding good. With the Mantis operating three trains it doesn't make sence to me either because just like Jeff said there's is always going to be one on the brake run. When i went to ride the Mantis they only had two trains running the other one was covered in a blue tarp??
Who ever rode the Wicked Twister how do you rate the ride??
-----------------
:)KENNYWOOD:)
Well, after much searching online - since nobody here was willing to answer the question - I finally called CP to find the answer about the 3D glasses mentioned by Jeff in his post.
The 3D glasses are an additional cost, you don't have to buy them but they make certain effects 3D. They are charging a dollar for them but they are yours to keep.
This looks like CP is joining the ranks of parks trying to wring every cent out of park-goers wallets...$1 for 3d effects, $3 for a bottle of soda from a vending machine...what's next?
-----------------
Posting, "Me too" like some brain dead AOLer. I ought to to the world a favor, and cap you like old yeller...
You must be logged in to post
