CP P&D themed Xcelerator

For all the folks that think CP has sucked at doing theme (myself included) for the last dozen years or so, I was surprised to find out it was CP's planning and design folks that did Xcelerator's theme:

Diary Entry

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"The world rotates to The Ultra-Heavy Beat!" - KMFDM

Hey, that's really cool!

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"Know thyself!"

From the pics I've seen of Xcelerators theming it does not look like a big departure (except of course the ride) from the theming they do in front of the Coasters food stands at various Cedarfair parks

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I don't care what anyone says, Magnum is better then Millenium Force.

I guess the pics you saw didn't show the engine parts in the queue. I actually think it was well done. I liked the 60's (or was it 70's) motif...plus the trains are one of the best out there.

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Party goin on in the corner.....gotta be California!

i agree that cedar point sux at theming, thats one of the main reasons i think that cedar point isnt the best park cuz it doesnt really live up to its full potential for all its worth

Antuan - try 1950's.

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Bars are now serving a new drink called The Saddam. No matter how much you drink it takes 48 hrs to get bombed!

Riiiiigh... because having "only" a dozen coasters, including two of the fastest in the world, makes it a real waste of time. I always take the opinions of those who "sux" sans punctuation very seriously.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"The world rotates to The Ultra-Heavy Beat!" - KMFDM

While the themeing isn't as elaborate as places like Disney or Universal it does add to the enjoyment of the ride a whole bunch. I know if Xcel didn't have all those oldie songs playing and the neat 50's theme it would be half what it is now. When the ride is themed it sticks in your memory for a quite a while. I just wonder why Cedar Fair didn't do this a long time ago...

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"This time I think ... I think it's ... it's going to work!" - Dr.Bruce Banner

Oh my bad....to me everything after the 80's is fuzzy. Bear with me..I'm not a native.

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Party goin on in the corner.....gotta be California!

IOA Rules, they have done it before. The first 2 years, DT had excellent theming, but fell into disrepair. Frontier trail is also pretty nice too....especially back when that area of the park was remote. Heck, the only way to get there was the skyride! (Frontier Lift)

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

CP's "theme" has mostly just been, well, being an amusement park. That in itself is fine, but it's the embarassing failed attempts that make it seem like something else (read: Disaster Transport). The park is clean, smells like park food and giant rides rise up on all sides. Landscaping is neat, often simple but generally attractive.

Sounds like they're going all out this time. Let's hope they keep it up.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"The world rotates to The Ultra-Heavy Beat!" - KMFDM

I would bet that John Taylor of P&D was significantly involved in the theme of the new ride. He is the go-to guy at the Point for a multitude of projects.

He puts his touch on the set pieces for Live Shows, the design of the hotel rooms, the Ice Cream Shoppe in Breakers, Coasters Restaurant and the list goes on and on. If Kinzel gave John an unlimited budget for themeing of a ride I am quite certain it would be comparable to anything Disney does. He is THAT talented.

John's home in Sandusky was once featured on "Extreme Homes". He turned an old garage into his home, a work of art, by incorporating everday "garage" items in the design of his living space. His plans for Snake River Falls were impressive before the budget was slashed.

Cedar Point makes no secret that the theme of the park is Extreme Thrills but if they let John off of his short leash I can only imagine what he could do to the place.

Jeff Said:

"For all the folks that think CP has sucked at doing theme (myself included) for the last dozen years or so, I was surprised to find out it was CP's planning and design folks that did Xcelerator's theme:"

Sheesh, no wonder why the theming really did suck. Seeing pictures of the ride made me think that this ride was well-themed. However, the ride is pretty much stuck in a corner of flat land with a nice looking station, a nice looking shop, and some cool looking trains.. that's pretty much it.

If you want to see some themeing, head over to the front of the park. Cedar Fair definitely wasn't afraid to bust out the white midways and flaming colors in the rest of the park ;).

I'd have to agree with Rob. Theming would imply that there's more than a cool looking gift shop and a few old cars sitting under the tophat. I'm very disappointed.

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- John
Dag, yo
Support Rob in the Great DDR Challenge!

John's home in Sandusky was once featured on "Extreme Homes". He turned an old garage into his home, a work of art, by incorporating everday "garage" items in the design of his living space.

The episode will be re-playing April 09, 2003 7:00 PM EST and April 10, 2003 2:00 AM EST on HGTV.

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June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
VertiGo Rides - 82
Technical Services - 2002-2003
Frightzone Screamster - 2002-2003

Oh no! I tried to post on the other thread that was posted first before this one and it was already deleted. Another post lost... out there!

Bits and pieces I remember from it... "Thanks for bringing this entry to our attention... interesting points on theming... I wonder if PKI announcing TRTR had anything to do with decision to take another stab at theming... Knott's has always been a theme park, so no surprises that they themed Xcelerator there... I don't get the most highly-themed part... How can you judge between the themed rides on which one is more themed?... Is Peter Pan's Flight or Snow White more themed?... Maybe it has to do with costs... I can only "rethink" in "..." note format. ;)

-Danny
*** This post was edited by Koaster King 3/18/2003 8:18:52 PM ***

Impossible as it might seem, it might have exactly nothing to do with PKI! Gasp!

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"The world rotates to The Ultra-Heavy Beat!" - KMFDM

I'm with Jeff on this one...if you go back and read the diary, it seems that theming work was already underway before Tomb Raider was ever announced. Remember, they were already working on it in 2001.
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Jeff's Stalker
My K'Nex Coasters
Spring has arrived in Ohio...the Orange Barrels are blooming

While Xcelerator's theming is pretty nice (but too bad the chrome and glass station got wiped out), IMO theres too much CF esque cement. I wish they would extend the boardwalk fake wooden flooring down to Perilous Plunge. IMO Knotts is doing as well with theming these days (Ghostrider, Xcelerator, Perilous Plunge).

I agree with wahoo skipper I toured John Taylor's house when it was on the annual Sandusky Christmas tour and it was phenominal.

I also helped decorating during Halloweekend which is John Taylors baby, he has control over everything and is allowed to do whatever he wants, as long as its under budget.

I rememberr seeing the original sketches for Snake River falls it would of rocked.

Distarer Transport kicked ass its first few years, but as typical with CP themed areas they slowy but surely fade away as the ride budget is cut.

Luckily White Water Landing still has a great feal to it, as well as that whole Frontier Town area proably because it hasnt been drastically changed since its been built