Coastermania 2008

Hands down the best Coastermania CP has held to date.

We were treated to free Coastermania sweatshirts, free coffee, juice and donuts in the morning, lunch was better this year, additional Maverick ERT added to the evening schedule, free drinks, chips and nachos during evening ERT and outstanding hospitality from everyone in management and employees working the rides, serving drinks and selling/taking tickets starting at 4:30 am to 12:30am.

Thank you to everyone at CP, you all are amazing.

By far, the best Coastermania I've ever been to, and perhaps even the best enthusiast event at any park that I've been to. In the middle of the morning ERT, Bill Spehn changed the re-ride policy and they were allowed. During the evening, when it was going to rain, the park could have just closed up shop, but they didn't. They waited it out and we had some of the best rides ever. They added Maverick ERT in the evening. I felt really bad for the crew, though.

In general, the park has really done a 180 of sorts this year. Operations are better, employees are friendlier and more entertaining, and there seems to be more presence from the top tier employees.

Like I said over at Pointbuzz, it's like someone at Cedar Point flipped a switch, and all of a sudden, it's like the Cedar Point of the late 90s-early 2000s. The "golden years" for me, at least.

The magic seems to be back, folks.

We were going to go to Evening ERT after a day at Kennywood, the weather looked absolutely awful with Tornado Warnings back at home in Defiance so we just skipped CP on the way home. Guess we shouldn't have. Dragster was pretty from the Turnpike though.

Sounds better then HWN for sure. *** Edited 6/8/2008 3:22:14 PM UTC by MagnumsRevenge***

It was the best CM that i have been too. I got a roll back on TTD on the first train out at the evening ERT.

Very impressed. Bill has definatley put his touch back into the park operations. I was impressed on Magnum ERT when we were told "If you desire to ride again, stay seated if there is no one waiting for your seat. If someone is waiting for your seat you are welcome to quickly choose another open seat". We rode 8 times in 4-2 without having to move. That is what it's all about folks!

^Got you beat 15 times, one in 6-1, two in 5-3, 12 in 5-2 all on the black train :). That was truly a fantastic day.

*** Edited 6/8/2008 8:55:29 PM UTC by Touchdown***

So there were no breathalyzers or write-ups? No one asked to leave?

What kind of second-rate event was this? ;)

^LMAO! Sorry to dissapoint you, Gonch. ;)

Actually, I suggested to someone that they should have breathalyzers at each metal detector/at every park, along with someone to take your SSN number to run your credit history/criminal record. ;)

All kidding aside, it was the BEST Coastermania I attended. In addition to the free admission, free buffet, and free parking (God BLESS the MaxPass!!!,) the park went ALL OUT this year. The hoodie was a nice little gift although it was too hot to wear that day. :) The free soda, nachos (during nightime ERT) candy apples, salt water taffy were also nice little perks that I didn't expect. ;) Everyone was SO cool!

The crowds seemed lower this year, which was fine. Even the storm Friday night was cool, even though it didn't amount to much. It was strange hearing the ride ops tell me "you better go for cover!"

Wussies. ;) I have rode coasters in hail and POURING rain! That storm was NOTHING! The winds were high but it barely rained. It was over in like 30 minutes. The ERT's were freakin AMAZING!

I am SO spoiled! ;)

The BEST part was seeing and hanging out with my buds again. :)

Oh, and I got to ride Ravine Flyer 2 the day before....ROCKIN!!!!!! :)

-Tina

*** Edited 6/8/2008 10:00:07 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

This was my first coaster enthusiast event, and I went in not knowing how exactly it was going to go. I had heard all about how CM is "not really that much of an ERT" and was worried about seeing a lot of enthusis-asses I always hear about (and sometimes see posting.)

Well those fears were pretty unfounded, I got 36 rides on roller coasters Friday (4 Raptor, 1 DT, 1 Blue Streak, 5 MF, 4 Maverick, 2 Gemini, 17 Magnum, 2 TTD) of which 30 were during ERT sessions (I rode the flats, went to the Q&A, lunch and Soak City for 3 hours during normal hours) far and away blowing any previous daily record I had ever had, it was mind blowing.

Everyone I met at the event was also really nice, it was clear everyone there was having an absolute blast, didnt matter it was hot, didnt matter we had a rain delay, everyone was enjoying themselves, and that extended to the park staff too. I said it on Pointbuzz, but Ill say it again here, the staff was top notch that day, from the poor ride ops (some of which worked the whole event) all the way to the CEOs and EVPs everyone was friendly, and really went out of their way for us. I will defiantly be attending another CM, it was by far my best day in my 10 years of going to Cedar Point I have ever had.

This was my third CM and was also by far the best one yet. It was kinda funny about the sweatshirts, I think it was Dick who said something along the lines of, "If we had made T-shirts to hand out, it would have been 32 degrees and raining. So instead we decided to cover our bets and give out hoodies."

So I don't know if handing out T-shirts would have made it 32 degrees and raining, but maybe handing out the hoodies had something to do with the fact that it was one of the most beautiful days I have ever spent at the park. Maybe a little warm, but it wasn't a blazing heat like I've experienced before. Plus it made the time at Soak City that much more enjoyable too.

I'm still a little sore from all the running around. Got up (in Cleveland) at 3:00am and got to the Breakers Express a little after 1am. Not my longest day, but boy oh boy was I tired. I can't wait until next year.

What I'm excited about this year still is what they said at the Q&A. Something along the lines of, "If you've never been to Halloweekends before, this is DEFIANTLY the year to come. Bigger and Better than ever."

^That was me that made that question. And that along with Tony basically inventing a new way to do a jumping jack from the back (one that involved a neck slicing moment) before Bill answered it really makes me excited for Sept.

Maybe it is just me, but did anybody notice how the one EVP (I can't seem to remember his name) worded his sentence about Mean Streak when asked about maybe replacing it with a better woodie? He said "Taking Mean Streak down is going to be painful." It just struck me funny at how he used the present tense instead of just saying "...would be painful."

As for the event in whole, this was my first. My mom and I were there together (I finally got her on Maverick; she is scared of heights and some roller coasters), and she specifically told me that "we had established a new tradition." We both really enjoyed CoasterMania, and I am really looking forward to it next year.

Likewise, I enjoyed CM alot this year too and it was also my first CM. I must have missed the memo on Maverick ERT at night along with the free food at night. When was the Maverick ERT announced? Where was the food located? Thanks for any answers. I'm not disappointed, just curious.

^The Maverick night ERT was mentioned at the Q&A and at lunch. Also at lunch they told us there would be food by TTD somewhere. I didn't make it to TTD until right before 12:30 (because I was having way too much fun marathoning Magnum to care ;)) so I don't know exactly where it was.

The food by TTD was underneath the "grandstand" bleachers, in the shop there. They were serving nachos and cheese, potato chips, and soft drinks.

Somebody also told me that there was food by Maverick too, but I cannot confirm that.

The ERT came about when Eric (Raptor Jo's husband) stood up and said, "During the morning ERT Jo only rode Raptor and wanted to know if you would consider adding Maverick to the night time ERT so she could get some rides in on it?" They sorta looked at each other and said, "We'll have to ask everyone here and see if that's ok" the crowd cheered and ERT was added. It seemed to be a bit of a set up but was all in fun. They may have been covering their bases. It was pretty windy and I was actually surprised they were able to keep Dragster on the night ERT.

OK, I did see that the Grandstand Foods booth was open and I guess I didn't factor in why in the world they were open at 11:30pm. :-)

Wow this is the most positive feedback that I have ever read for Coastermania. I absolutely have to agree that the park went all out this year.

I am a little dissapointed that I was not able to stay around for evening ERT. It sounds like that was a great time as well. I left the park around 6pm to return home so I missed all of the excitement of the storms passing over the park.

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Maybe it is just me, but did anybody notice how the one EVP (I can't seem to remember his name) worded his sentence about Mean Streak when asked about maybe replacing it with a better woodie? He said "Taking Mean Streak down is going to be painful." It just struck me funny at how he used the present tense instead of just saying "...would be painful."

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This quote has caught my attention. Can anyone else verify this? I like Mean Streak, however, I believe that chunk of property could be used for a better attraction. I would not be very upset if MS were replaced.

I have to agree with Touchdown's earlier post

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This was my first coaster enthusiast event, and I went in not knowing how exactly it was going to go. I had heard all about how CM is "not really that much of an ERT" and was worried about seeing a lot of enthusis-asses I always hear about (and sometimes see posting.) Well those fears were pretty unfounded.

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It seems that in years prior the coaster fans could be very unpleasant to be around. It did appear that everyone was just having a good time.

Whatever CP did this time around, they need to do it again. This was the most enjoyable Coastermania since my first one in 2003.

Its still a shame that Geagua Lake is gone. I really enjoyed going to Coaster EXT the day after Coastermania. Plus Coaster EXT gave me an excuse to go see the Cleveland Indians. *** Edited 6/9/2008 10:55:21 AM UTC by MotorCityCoasterFan*** *** Edited 6/9/2008 10:56:08 AM UTC by MotorCityCoasterFan***

^I also remember him saying something about, "it being painful." I just don't remember if he said will or would.

In regards to EXT, I think they could still do a day after event at GL, I just don't think many people would go. What I think would be better would be to bring KI into the mix. Do a Saturday Evening and Sunday Morning at Kings Island. That would give everyone the morning and afternoon on Saturday to sleep and get to KI.

Don Hilbig was at the GOCC event and I mentioned this to him. Though his response wasn't definitive, I got the impression that it wouldn't happen. He made it sound like he was going to look into doing an event there later in the year, but I have yet to hear anything about one. Maybe Donald can shed some light on the subject.

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CoasterStreak said:
Maybe it is just me, but did anybody notice how the one EVP (I can't seem to remember his name) worded his sentence about Mean Streak when asked about maybe replacing it with a better woodie? He said "Taking Mean Streak down is going to be painful." It just struck me funny at how he used the present tense instead of just saying "...would be painful."quote]

Na, just soak with gasoline and torch it, and sell tickets to the bonfire! ;)

I actually fell asleep on and off during the Q&A but what I heard was entertaining. It was just nice to sit down in the air conditioned room (although a bunch of us went to the wrong location at first..lol) I heard someone mention "replacing the Wildcat" followed by a bunch of evil stares. ;)

-Tina

*** Edited 6/9/2008 3:49:12 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

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