Halloweekends - Cedar Point, October 13

Before I say anything else, Cedar Point is home to the greatest Steel Roller Coasters EVER! Especially Millennium Force, Maverick, and Magnum. (Any coincidence that they all start with M?) However, I felt, once again, the park is poorly maintained and poorly managed.

We got there and immediately went to Millennium Force only to find out it was broken down. Broken Down? 10 minutes after opening? Oh well, we went to what makes logical sense, Maverick. The line started next to the water canons, and took about 2 hours and 15 minutes to ride. No Breakdowns! Just saw my first rollback, which it recovered instantly from. AMAZING! We rode front row, by the way, and it was worth the extra 5 minute wait! Maverick still gets 10/10 from me.

After that, we ate at the Round Up next to Maverick. 45 minutes to get a Chicken Fingers Basket for $8.29. The food was decent, but not worth that wait. We then went to Mean Streak, but decided since the wait was 1.5 hours, we would try Millennium Force again. It was finally open at 4:15. While in the line, they took off the yellow train, delaying the wait. Then 15 minutes later they decided to put the yellow train back on. What kind of poor decision making was this? Off and On, Off and On. When we finally got on (Back Row of course) it was once again worth the wait. Still 10/10 and my favorite steel Coaster.

Having not been on much, we were kind of disappointed. Maxair was closed for mechanical reasons. We then went to Gemini for a ride. One hour for Gemini when both trains running? WOW. Well, we rode red and really enjoyed it.
Red still gets 8/10.

From there we did Magnum, and after a 75 minute wait, we rode back row. That ride is fantastic. 10/10.

After Magnum, we did Disaster Transport. 15 minute wait via an alternate entrance due to a haunted attraction. Decent ride, too bad the service lights were on, however. 7/10.

Making our way back to the back, we walked through the transformed Frontier trail. Not too scary and way too many people, strollers everywhere. We then rode Cedar Creek Mine Ride. After hearing so much positive buzz on this ride, had my hopes up. After the ride I decided it was AWFUL, no excitement factor whatsoever. Adventure Express at KI is soooo much better. 2/10.

Then I finally got my credit on Mean Streak. I felt it was very similar to Son of Beast, back when it had the loop. Not a bad layout, just a bit harsh on the fillings. 6/10.

After another really mediocre cheeseburger and cold hard fries (food really sucks in frontier town), we hopped on Gemini Blue. Trims were off for the night and we flew! What a blast! 9/10.

Then as we made our way out of the park we did another back seat ride on Magnum towards the dark, cold Lake Erie. Then hit up Corkscrew for the first time! Not bad at all! Smooth and quite fun, just small. 6/10.

This park needs better management! I realize they were probably short staffed, but then they should have limited admissions. Food stalls were all packed with 30+ minute waits. Not even all the food outlet were open. The scary zones were over packed. The food was not only way over-priced but it SUCKED. At least when Six Flags over prices their food, you get large quantities and pretty decent fare. With ride operations, some things make no sense. Running 3 then 2 then 3 trains within 25 minutes on MF confuses me. 3 train operation on Corkscrew when there were 2 people on each train confused me. What happened to Maxair? That was disappointing. The bathrooms are filthy, sidewalks dirty and food outlets covered in bugs and spider webs. Like I mentioned before, the park has by far the best rides, but they have a long way to go to perfection. From now on, I will never need to go there more than once a year, if I want to keep my sanity!

I hate to hear things like that about one of my favorite parks. I did read (from a vehemently loved or hated source around here) that MaxAir was down for the season.

I can't wait to ride Maverick for myself though, it looks like such a unique experience. That is weird about the 2/3 train op on MF. I wonder if the yellow was causing some kind of issues?

I believe it was from what I've heard now. ^

Did you consider MF took off a train for a mechanical issue?

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WildStangAlex said:
From now on, I will never need to go there more than once a year, if I want to keep my sanity!

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Or you could just not go on a Saturday. I was at the park three weekends ago and when we got there on Saturday the park was packed with a capital p. Sunday was walk ons all day long, longest wait was 25 minutes for Dragster.

The crowd Saturday night was a blast. It could have been that I was into a few beers at that point, but we had tons of fun despite the crowds. In fact, I think they even enhanced our night. Seeing the park through other peoples eyes is cool, I have been there so many times that I forget what it was like when I could only go once every few years.

I agree with on a lot of your points, especially the bugs and spider webs. How can they keep such amazing care of the ride's trains, but not clean the station more than once a year? Or why do they insist on having sidewalk sweepers everywhere but not someone attending the bathrooms more often?

Hour wait for Gemini? I would think with a line starting at the front gate, it couldn't be that long.

Were all 6 trains running? I remember saturdays and the que was full, it was maybe 10 or 15 minutes. I think Gemini has the highest capacity in the world (I guess that's counting it as one ride.) Miss it though! Always dependable!

I for one welcome spider webs. Seeing as this is Northern Ohio and poisonous spiders are rare, those webs pose no threat to humans and manage to catch loads of bugs, including mosquitoes and may flies which means one less of those things to bother me in the world.

^^ They haven't run 6 trains on Gemini in a couple years. :( Not only that, but since they have loose article bins and double check every seat, they can't even run four anymore without stacking. It's kind of sad. Maybe Bill Spehn will fix that now that he's back. :)
*** Edited 10/15/2007 11:23:10 AM UTC by MDOmnis***

Saturday Halloweekends---even the previously quiet September versions---are just crazy busy.

Our strategy for Saturdays is to get there for ERT, stay in the park until things get too hectic (usually around 3 or so), and then duck back out to the hotel to recover, with perhaps an early dinner at Chet & Matt's. Back to the park around 7 or so. By 8, when the Fright Zones open up, the lines for the "lesser" rides tend to die down a little bit.

If you don't have a local crash pad, that time from mid-afternoon to evening is a good time to be riding flats, the train, paddlewheel, etc. and seeing shows.

Agreed on Saturday's....after being VERY surprised and satisfied with only busy (but not crazy) Saturday's on Sept 15th and 22nd (where only Maverick had a line longer than 2 hours, except for the 15th when it was down), every Saturday since has been dreadful!!

Didn't even go last Saturday, and as of the 6th I'm done for the season now.

Trust me.. you picked one HELL of a day to go.. That's all I will say..

Don't judge the whole park by one of the busiest days in a long time.

I was there over the summer on a rather empty day and it was just as dirty, just as falling apart, just as dull. The only thing that keeps me coming back is the EXCELLENT coasters. I also do think it is neat that they have the MC's in the stations.

I have to disagree with you WildStangAlex. I have gone to CP about 3 times this summer and never found it to be dirty or run-down. I found this year to be the cleanest of all years at the park. And let's not forget it is October, so the service will be slow and the park will be understaffed. The bugs really can not be helped. They are on the water and bugs will come out. But whatever that's your opinion, I just find the park to be one of the cleanest out there.

I'm just wondering, Parker17, but have you ever been to Holiday World, Unviersal's Islands of Adventure, or Disney World? Those are what I consider clean parks. Both times I was at CP this year I found it the same. Sure, they have trash cans everywhere and sidewalk sweepers scattered about. I mean the paths are clear of litter and the gardens are well-kept in addition to immaculate roller coaster trains. However, I just feel that I shouldn't have to jump across puddles in bathrooms, wipe off my sleeves when I put my arm on a counter at a restaurant, or avoid looking at the grease buildup on the cash registers in many food service outlets. I guess I expect too much out of such an old park.

And after all, everything said on this topic is all just a matter of opinion, and this is just my opinion, so I don't mean to attack you, just say what I feel. :)

So wait, you think the park is poorly managed because it's busy? Or because they may have taken a train off of MF temporarily, likely to swap out a wheel or something?

I think you're looking for something to complain about.

I'm really not. I understand what happened on the yellow train and I understand why it was crowded. What I don't get is why the just overlook simple things like cleaning bathrooms and stocking toilet paper, or filling vending machines. I couldn't find a Vending Machine with anything in it until I got in the Magnum line. I was glad to see some Halloween Attractions for free for a change.

They didn't overlook anything, they just got slammed. How many 80+ degree days happen on the weekend in October? It was a perfect storm, and they weren't prepared for it.

Complaining about greasy cash registers is looking for something to complain about. Most of the rest of your complaints sound justified.

The vending machines were most likely out because of the crowds, and especially with the hot weather.

Hot weather? It maxed out at 60 degrees people were wearing winter coats and hats on the rides. It was not hot.