Dragster leaves coaster enthusiasts grounded

I went last Tuesday and Wednesday and we were very, very lucky. Both days TTD was broke down, but right when we got up to the ride it opened. Not only did we ride it twice (the launch delivers the single most powerful adrenaline rush you will ever feel), but the line was short both times: 40 min. and 20 min. I think everyone needs to relax. You will get your chance to ride eventually, and even if you don't, it is still a great park with much to offer.*** This post was edited by Bakeman 6/12/2003 12:52:13 AM ***

The double standard assumed by so many on this site is not really that amazing to me. Now every seems to understand that a prototype ride of monstrous proportions (yes, TTD is still a prototype obviously) will have some down time and that's OK. Now I guess you understand what we went through with X. CP fans are falling over each other to make excuses or say how much fun they had at the park without it. Now you can understand the dissapointment when someone travels from Europe to ride the first "stratacoaster" and its not even operating. Hopefully, all the CPer's will learn to be a little more tolerant of all these type of situations instead of slinging blame all over the place. As they say, what goes around, comes around.

Mike E,

A person being disappointed is one thing. A person berating the park, its staff, the manufacturer, the ride operator, the guest service staff, etc is quite another. Nobody is saying you have no right to be disappointed.

Expecting a refund at the park because one ride isn't working is, in my opinion, a stretch at best. I think that is the consensus of most level-headed people.

Quothe the Moosh:

'Why is everyone surprised?'

No doubt. Common sense tells that the bigger, more extreme version of a problematic ride is going to have a whole new set of problems. It's not like there wasn't a precedent set.

Anyone complaining about a trip being ruined should have waited a year or so to make sure that all the bugs were worked out before investing a lot of time and money into a trip revolving around one ride.

I know that's what I'm doing.

Good call.

Gentlemen, There sure seems to be quite the buzz about the new ride and I'm deeply sorry your experience wasn't all some of you had dreamed of. It's true that patience is a virtue and as such something not easily learned by some, but yet is a necessary thing. I'm also sure that the people that aren't seeing the "end of the world" when they happen to see their "favorite" ride not open when they want to partake of it's pleasures, in the back of their mind they know that something has apparently gone wrong and the ride was shut down for the patron's safety and not because the operator needed a coffee break. Mr. No Thrill is entitled to his opinion, but that is where it should stop. It should be painfully obvious to all that the very choice of his (or her) name for logging into this site, is the intent and posture of a predetermined opinion of anti-Cedar Point. The point that he (or she) has missed is that these decisions are made for a reason, summed up in one little word. Safety. I watched TTD go up all winter. I watched as the trains were unloaded and put on storage tracks. A rollercoaster is not a "plug and play" computer printer you get at Staples, or a squeak in the dashboard of your new Pontiac. I hate to tell him this, but the world does not revolve around him, thankfully If you can't handle the occasional "disapointment" either stay home or buy a season pass. (better yet, try a six flags park, or buy Americana and re-open it, but be sure and get your parents permission first.) Anyway, I'm sure the complaining will stop when school starts up again. Nor am I suprised when security was called when a calm complaint turns into a yelling match. Dealing with the public is never an easy job, and then again, some people just simply won't be satisfied no mater what you say or do for them. Cedar Point's safety record speaks for itself. Look it up for yourself, absolutely impeccable. Of all the parks I have visited, Cedar Point remains the benchmark by which the others are judged. Each seems to have it's own flavor and feel, but C.P. is home. Given enough time the glitches will be worked out and a good time will be had by all - all that want to.

By the way, about your ticket refund... Kindly post your address and I'll see what I can do. C.P.Dan

This is my take on not only this situation but our hobby in general:

ANY ride can be down at anytime for a variety of reasons. A great deal of those reasons are out of the park's control such as weather or things like this, a part needed. To pin your hopes on any one ride, especially a new one, is very foolish. Stuff happens in our hobby, you have to be flexible and roll with the punches. There's been plenty of times where a ride has been closed and I missed it. In another case, it rained so hard that I even missed an entire park. No big deal. Risk is the nature of the hobby. And it isn't anything new. (Even KBF's Monte was closed for a week or two a short time after opening due to a cracked flywheel)

Risk & Chance. Remember it. Live it. Get used to it. And stop complaining! :)

Brent,

I agree! I LOVE Cedar Downs. I think we should suggest that to the park for next year's event......:-)

-Tina

------------------
Feel The DragsterGasm....
www.intenserides.com

Its a new type of ride. Well sorta if you dont count Xcelerator. Problems always. Thats why you wait a couple years to go on them. Then again I've tried to ride Deja Vu during a couple trips to MM this year and its been down. So I still haven't been on it. Oh and X hurts, but it gives the most disoriented experience ever so its now my top coaster.

Jeff, I never said I flew thousands of miles to ride one ride, I said I planned my trip around Coastermania, which is entirely different. If CP hadn't have built TTD or some other record breaking coaster, I would have gone no where near Ohio since I've done all the major parks there several times, and I would rather visit different parks.

Oh and yes, what a silly mistake I made wanting to ride the world's tallest and fastest coaster - what a silly mistake! The only mistake I made was giving CP a THIRD chance to have their newest roller coaster operating for my visit.

As for the exit passes, not everyone got one!!! Fortunately, I did, but what use is a Dragster exit pass when it never opened for the entire day, and I live in a different country and cannot afford to travel over to the states again this year. I saved up for 6 months for this trip. It's all right for people who live in Ohio or nearby states, they can go whenever they please - I can't.

Late May is the only time I can afford to fly out to the states, since our summer runs from June to September, and flight prices triple and it would cost me in excess of $1000 for a flight alone. So please, nobody suggest going in late August when the park is dead and TTD problems should have been ironed out.

I'm so glad I went though, because at least I got to meet many other enthusiats who don't think the sun shines out of Cedar Point's a**. It's just a shame so many of them have moved on to other less biased sites, or are too afraid to voice their opinions.

------------------
Coaster Grotto - Save your Top 20 Coasters and Track Record Online!

Luckily I live in the area and have season passes I am 0 for 5 so far this year for the TTD, only one time it was actually operating but it was down in the morn and running in the evening, then the rain came and shut it down. Personally I dunno how some people or whay theyd drive the hour or so to WOA then come back, personally I live like 25 min from WOA and used to work 5 min down the road to this day I have always hated that park, I only go when I get free tix and have absolutly nothing to do. But as far a CP goes they need a good woodie, Blue Streak is alright I guess, but the mean streak is moody ,,sometimes get a good ride sometimes terrible, the best was front seat during coaster mania right as it began to rain, we rode it like 4 times in a row with no line to wait in, other than that I dunno if cedar point did a lot of improvements but all the coasters seem to be way smoother this year. Also all of you people that are pissed about the TTD atleast thats the only coaster down, ive been to other parks where they have like 3 or 4 coasters down and only have like 7 or 8 tops if that, Anyway Im going again this mon, hope that got the TTD running, I know its down again right now