Coatermania at CP, What should 1st timers expect?

It's my first time attending Coastermania, but not my first trip to CP. I was wondering what past experiences were like. How many times should I expect to get on a coaster during ERT and how many enthusiasts usually attend? Thanks. See ya on the midways

You should expect at the least about 5,000 other enthusiasts.

Biggest coaster event of the year. It's insane.

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GOCC member #335
DigitalThrills.net

This will be my first time at CoasterMania also. I was wondering if they allow you to re-ride if there is no one else waiting in line. I would like to power ride on the Raptor so I hope everyone wants to go to Top Thrill Dragster...

I have only been to one other coaster event with ERT and they let us stay on the trains if we wanted to. Does CP still stick with their policy of making you get off and walk around through the station every time?

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My knex coasters
GOCC member # 671
*** This post was edited by BeccaRaptor 6/1/2003 12:02:14 PM ***

Trust me wehn I tell you this... I have been to every Coastermania.... There will be no open lines...

1ej

Yep, "open lines" seems like a pipe dream. This will be my first CoasterMania event, but I've read up on past reports. Think about it, attendance at this thing keeps growing every year. You may not have 5,000 as someone else mentioned, but I think 3,000 to 4,000 of coaster enthusiasts is a fair guess.

During Raptor's ERT you will have Blue Streak and Power Tower running during those two hours. Obviously some folks will still be in line for their Dragster ride, but since Blue Streak has light crowds during the day anyway I think Raptor and Power Tower will have somewhere between 45 minute-1 hour waits.

I'm torn over the appropriate game plan. It's either get up at 4:30am to make sure I'm at the gate by 5am to have a shot at riding Dragster before 7:30am -- or just arrive at 7:30am and hit Raptor and Power Tower.

I do have some questions though as far as the entrance goes. Do they start processing the CoasterMania admissions at 5am and then you get into a seperate line until the 6am open? If so, can one stand in the registration line while the rest of one's party waits by the park entrance? And, to those early birds in the past, how punctual are these times? Do they open early? Late? On time?

WHAT? You mean that I will be spending the day waiting in lines still? What is so special about this whole thing then? There are 15 minute waits for Raptor during the day at times, you mean to say that CoasterMania is going to have so many people that I will have to wait an hour? This doesn't sound fun anymore, I enjoy the exclusive club trips where you can ride again and again. What is so special about this then? Will they at least turn the trim brakes off?

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My knex coasters
GOCC member # 671

Riding from 6 in the morning until 1 the next morning sounds pretty special to me. And yes, from what I hear in the past they've run Magnum trimless during the evening ERT.

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/\ Jonathan Hawkins
Starcoasters.com | ThrillSpot
Howard Dean for President!

I challenge anyone to find a better ride than Magnum, trimless during night ERT at CoasterMania...it's a religious experience.

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It's still me, here from the beginning back in 1999. Add 1500+ posts to the number I have in the info section if you care about such things.

Wow, it's not that crowded. I went last year, and walked on Raptor 6 or 7 times in a row. Then rode Mantis with a walk on. Power Tower was the only thing I had to wait for in the morning. At night, since Wicked Twister was down, Millennium Force had about a 30 minute wait. Magnum had maybe a 5-10 minute wait. I figure there's probably around 2,000 coaster enthusiasts. You'll be able to get a few rides, but not a ton.
*** This post was edited by Atrace 6/2/2003 11:03:48 AM ***

Going of off last year probably won't help much. Think back to 2000 when MF opened. That'll be more accurate in regards to crowds. Raptor and Blue Streak ERT will be very light since they're up against TTD ERT.

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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

I don't think the TTD ERT is against the other morning ERTs, unless you are at the end of the line. Be ready to wait close to the normal times you would during the day, only because the draw will be bigger with the new record breaking coaster.

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CBClub member #30 and #364 (renewal)

I'll tell ya' one thing you might look forward to.... me winning that essay contest for the "Front Of The Line Contest"! ;) I wonder how many people actually took the time and entered it?

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This ain't no book you can close, when the big light hits your eyes. Cropduster-Riot Act-Pearl Jam

I took the time to enter the contest :)

I have heard from many people who have attended Coastermania in the past that they will not making it this year. Not sure why, I am sure it is for a variety of different reasons though. Maybe that will keep the numbers down but I doubt it--I am sure there will be a record amount of attendees this year due to TTD.

I am bringing someone from work who hasn't been to CP since the 70's! Should be an interesting day :)

In terms of last year... it wasn't terribly bad. Mantis and Raptor were station waits just about all morning. Power tower was close to a half hour for both sides because they only had two out of four towers open. At night, Mean Streak was re-ridable, Magnum was station waits and Millennium Force was a good 20-30 minutes for me.

I would definately expect a larger crowd this year than last. I personally know about a dozen "first-timers" that are going this year, many of whom aren't even huge coaster fans, and some who probably will make Coastermania their one and only trip this year.

BeccaRaptor, what is special about the event, even if you don't get walk-on rides, is the fact that you get to be in the park riding coasters for about 6 hours longer than you normally would. Not to mention the free lunch, Q&A, discounts at Challenge Park, discount admission tickets, and fact that there is nothing better than riding MF at 1 am after its been "warming up" since 9 am that morning.

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Rob - Who believes it is possible to like both Cedar Point and SFWoA...
"A gun is not a weapon Marge, it's a tool. Like a butcher knife, or a harpoon, or... or an alligator" ~Homer J. Simpson

I think lap bars will be tightened and seatbelts fastened the entire ride.

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"Step on that lapbar and make it nice and tight!"

Oh ok, I was just worried when someone said hour longs waits. I don't want to have to wait that long when I have had whole days of walk on rides during normal operating hours. I am just spoiled I guess. :)

I have always wanted to ride Magnum without the trims so I am really looking forward to that, as well as the Q&A. Thanks for answering my questions and see you there! (I will be in a bright orange shirt if anyone wants to say Hello!)

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My knex coasters
GOCC member # 671

I know a lot of acers that won't be there because next years Coaster Con will be at CP for 3 days and 2 at SFWOA. So you can expect about 2500 people.

CPgenius said:
I challenge anyone to find a better ride than Magnum, trimless during night ERT at CoasterMania...it's a religious experience.
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Religious in what way now? I think it would be more like " Please get me off now.. PLEASE" That ride is so terrible it isn't funny. Nothing on it is fun... I just don't understand. Magnum and Mantis are rides that I don't ride when I go to CP, just because of how bad they are... But on the other hand... Dragster.. *drool*
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