Cedar Point's Winter Chill Out expands to 2 days and switches tickets to lottery

I've been waiting for news on Winter Chill Out for a while and it looks like it was posted.

I'm loving that they expanded this to two days so there is a bit of flexibility. I'm usually way less busy on Sundays than Saturdays. I'm interested to see how many folks will be denied with this new system. Obviously, having it over two days means a double of the amount of folks who can show up, but I wonder how many people won't be able to attend. I'd love to see the progress on the Boardwalk, especially if they've started moving rides over to the area.

My guess is that some of these changes aren’t made with the attendees in mind, but the volunteer staff. Maybe they’ll invite the same number, meaning the take will be the same, but with fewer people each day maybe they won’t be stretched as thin. Either way poses its own inconveniences. So… maybe they will double the amount of attendees and double the money and the work.
I seem to remember that in years past the major construction project was off limits. If it was in the back then most of the Chill Out was in the front. And vice-versa.

I mean, they could just not do it at all. 🙂

But then someone would complain.

I don't understand why a event at a closed amusement park in the middle of the winter is so popular? What am I missing here?

All jokes aside, the fact that it sells out faster than Lord Gonchar can fasten his safety belt speaks to its popularity.

It's a behind-the-scenes tour of the rarely (if ever) seen goings-on of one of the world's greatest amusement parks.

I'm not sure what you're missing since you are posting on an enthusiast website, to which 99.99% of the world's population would say "I don't understand why CoasterDude316 is taking 2 minutes of his life to post here". Not to mention, "Who calls him CoasterDude"?

Going through the shops and seeing all the things disassembled is pretty cool. You wouldn't have to ask me twice to check that out. I've been very fortunate that I've been able to do all the things. I've driven my car through the park in the winter, which is very surreal. I've been able to climb around places one doesn't normally go, in part because it's dangerous when the machines are configured to operate.

Why is this so popular, indeed.

I think if you get a kick out of "backstage tours" of any kind, it's a really fun event. My first and only Winter Chill Out was in 2020 and it was just kind of cool to see the park in its closed state. We could look at coaster trains up close and walk in restricted areas. I loved walking in Maverick's tunnel (which is way more massive than it looks when you're riding) and getting to go to the maintenance shop to ask their engineers questions about the rides. Also loved the area near Steel Vengeance where there were a lot of old memorabilia. Nothing like seeing old height meters from when I was a kid.

It's not the same as going to the park, but it was a nice way to spend a few hours with my partner. Would recommend.

Jephry:

Nothing like seeing old height meters from when I was a kid.

One of the reasons I love the Melt inside the park. They even have the artist sketches for the signs framed and on the walls.

You guys are making me consider a vacation to Ohio in February which otherwise seems like a terrible idea.

If the lunch features Cedar Point's famous chicken tenders then it is definitely worth the trip!

Let's not be crazy now.

Shades:

If the lunch features Cedar Point's famous chicken tenders then it is definitely worth the trip!

Even if it's the Kinzel-era "people gotta eat" tenders, there will still be the annual social media outrage when certain people don't get tickets.

Every enthusist is an enthusiast for different reasons. I can relate to CoasterDude's question. While I can see why it is so popular, I myself would not be overly excited about attending this event.

My question was a pretty legit one, I have never been to or talked to anyone who went to winter chillout in the past. I've never even looked it up, I was legitimately wondering what happens at the event to make it so popular, especially where people seem to want to go year after year. It might be a crazy question to people who go every year, but to someone who doesn't pay attention to theme parks as much as I did 20 years ago when I made this "coasterdude" screen name, I think it was a fair question.

I think you missed the joke.

You're currently logged into and reading a post on a website 100% dedicated to people with a greater-than-average obsession (to use the word lightly) with amusement parks and/or seatbelt safety.

You questioned why people might be legit crazy excited about visiting one of the world's premier amusement parks during its off-season to see what happens during a park's off-season.

It's a backstage tour like no other.

LostKause:

While I can see why it is so popular, I myself would not be overly excited about attending this event.

My memory is fuzzy, but didn't you work at a park (or parks) at some point? I spent several years working at a park and have no desire whatsoever for seeing the peek behind the curtain of a closed park. That said, I can similarly see why someone who hasn't seen one on a regular basis would want to do that.

Out of curiosity, is there usually a mix of out of state visitors or is it largely locals?

I imagine much of the appeal is simply because it is held at a time of year when not much else of note is really going on in the region. It provides something, somewhat unique and interesting, to do on a cold gray February weekend in northern Ohio. It fills a void during a quiet time of the year.

I wouldn't image too many people are traveling great distances to attend this event. But for those who are already within reasonable driving distance and perhaps experiencing some end of winter cabin fever, it gives them something to do and a reason to get out of the house for a few hours.

Walking around a closed amusement park in Ohio in mid-February > Rip Ride Rockit