Lakeside Gliders at Michigan's Adventure

I was just looking at the Michigan's Adventure page on facebook, and looks like the Lakeside Glider ride is complete. Lots going on there. They aparently removed the go karts, and the new classic ride is located between the "lake" and the Corkscrew. It's a good location, as it is close to many rides, and it is certainly a nice looking ride. My only complaint would be that it will be just another ride in the blazing sun. Looks like an entrance on the midway straight across from the bumper cars, or Dodgem, and they are working on landscaping, with new sidewalks being put in.Also. From what I saw in facebook, the so-called Beer Gardens will be a new restaurant, that will be located next to the water, in the space that the Go-carts took up, and the go-carts will not be replaced. Looks like they are already working on that as well. But nothing going up, as far as I could tell. But looks like Lakeside Gliders will be ready for riders. If it has not had some already.I always thought they made a bad choice putting go carts by the water. So, kind of glad to see that they are changing that, and the Gliders look good there. With some new trees, and freshly laid grass, it will look very nice.

Have you been there yet this year?

No Tyler, I have not been to the park this year. However, if you go to the Michigan's Adventure page on facebook, there are photos of the Lakeside gliders construction, and mention of the Beer Gardens that will built next to the Glider ride. There is also some mention of track work being dones on Shivering Timbers helix. Would be really great if they were to add a second train to the Wildcat, as it is the only coaster in the park that can have a 2 hour wait, as it only runs one train.

However, up until 2010, I used to go to the park every year, sometimes 4 or 5 times a year, and was going to get a season pass, when that pass also included Cedar Point. But, they nixed that pass the same year, and went to platinum. Which I can not afford. The old Cedar Point and MA pass was only $89.00, which at that time would equal 2 visits to MA and one to Cedar Point, and it would have been paid for.

Now, The park is too expensive for my tastes. I would much rather save my money, and go to Cedar Point or Great America, where you get your money's worth on rides, shows, and attractions. Again, the admission price for MA is fair, at $28.00. It's all the other charges that sock your wallet. $10.00 just to park the car, and other $10.00 if you want a locker to go to the water park. And, food is outrageous, for the quality you get, which is not on par with the other Cedar fair parks, for around the same prices.

It used to be that there were great discounts for MA, but, now, the most you can save is $1.50 off admission, if you buy a regular priced ticket at Meijer stores, and I don't think they give out the coupon books anymore. Most of that is not going to matter if you have a platinum pass, but a majority of regular park visitors don't.

As for fast lane. Unless the parking lot is full, (which is rare) You will not need it. The only rides in the park that have long waits are typically the water rides, and the one with the longest wait (Grand Rapids) is not included in fast lane. At least, it was not included last year. Actually it's kind of a joke, because most of the rides on the list have little or no wait at all. Most of the high capacity rides have under a 30 minute wait. Unless it is extremely busy. DON"T GO ON A SATURDAY!! IT"S PACKED!!

The longest Lines you will encounter are at Wildwater adventure. Most people go there, and it is crazy busy. Funnel of fear can have over a 2 hour wait, and is not included in fast lane. So, ride the rides during the peak daytime hours, and hit the water park, after you have had your fill. Then, go back and close out the day with more rides.

You can do everything at MA in a day. Multiple rides on almost everything, because there are no shows, and no entertainment. It's just a ride park. Also bring plenty of suncreen. There is very little shade.

$10 to park is expensive? I'd give my right arm for my local parks to only charge $10...

...although I have a SF Gold Pass and will soon have a CF Platinum Pass, so it all works out.

I have been to Michigan Adventures multiple times. I have a Platinum Pass so it's a nice park to just go to hang out in their good water-park and ride Shivering Timbers. I do that in the morning and night then can go to my cousin's house, who lives 10 minutes away, and hang out there when it gets busy and hot from about 1 PM-4 PM

Sirloin Dude. Have you been to Michigan's Adventure? It's in the middle of nowhere. There is no reason for the park to charge $10.00 to park the car. It wasn't that long ago that parking was just $3.00, and before that, it was free! $5.00 would reasonable, and they would probably get more business. The only reason they justify a parking charge is because it is a chain wide policy. They do nothing to improve the lot. There are no markers telling you where you car is, and after a certain time of the day, there are no employees in the lot directing traffic. The only person in the lot, (After the toll booths) is the person who manages the lame preffered parking. Preferred parking is even more of a rip off, not only because of it's price, but, it makes people who don't pay park farther from the entrance, where 3 years ago there was no preferred parking. Then parking was $8.00It's just a big money sponge. When it was Deer Park, the lot was a lot smaller, parking was free, and they even had trams to take people to the entrance. If they did something like that, then I could see the fee. But, they do nothing with the lot, other than collect cash.
Also, there are a lot bigger parks out there, that have no parking charge at all.

Of course there's a reason to charge a $10 fee for parking. It's a business. "Collecting cash" is kinda what businesses are in business to do.

If you had a lemonade stand and you knew that'd you'd make more profit if you charge for ice, would you do it? Of course.

So, if they start charging $5.00 to park the car at your local grocery store, walmart, or your local shopping mall, are you going to be ok with it? Slithernoggin? If it's just a business, any business should be able to charge what they want for anything. My view is, jsut because they can, doesn't mean they should. In the case of Michigan's Adventure, their fee is just too high. That and it is the only game in town, there is no bus service, or any other kind of service to MA, so they could get awy with charging a lot more. Glad that they don't, but I see it coming.

And in answer to your question Tyler. No I would not charge for ice, just to jip people. I would have the best lemonade, and offer great customer service. That's the problem with parks these days, they come up with all thse ways to get more cash out of people's pockets, and no longer see the value in making all of their guests happy. Now it's make some of our guests happy, and really spoil the ones with disposable income. And, let the rest come as they may.If I owned or managed the park, I would change a lot of things. The parking charge would be one of them. I certainly would not have prefered parking. This isn't Cedar Point we are talking about.
I know old agruement. Not going any further.

If you had the greatest lemonade and customer service, then charging for ice would ruin that, and you would be making less profit. That wouldn't answer my question. Michigan Adventures thinks that ripping people off for parking won't lower people's desire to come enough to stop them from making a higher profit.

I stopped going tyler. And, I know a lot of other people who have stopped going as well. I do not plan to go back to Michigan's Adventure until they get a decent new attraction. I used to go 5 times a year, now I don't go at all. It's too expensive. I'll save my money and go to Cedar Point or Great America. It costs more, but there is a hell of a lot more to to do, for maybe $30 or $40 more than it costs to go to MA. My last visit was once in 2010. Have not been back since.
Just in case you are wondering why I would post about Michigan's Adventure if I don't go there. It's mainly to give people who might want to go a heads up, on what is going on with the park. By my complainsts about high prices and $10.00 parking, will give those who have not been there an idea of what to expect, and so that their mouths don't drop to floor from sticker shock.

My advice to you is to get a $180 platinum pass.

I can't afford that, and I would have no use for it. If I am lucky the only park I will go to this year is either Cedar Point Or Great America. I am not rich, and can't afford to go to park after park, like some of the people on this board are able to do. I thought about getting one on the monthly payment plan, but i am guessing it would have to be paid in full before you could use it. but, the only parks I would use it for would be Cedar Point and MA. I can't afford to go anywhere else. I really miss my old park hopping days.

Timber-Rider said:

I thought about getting one on the monthly payment plan, but i am guessing it would have to be paid in full before you could use it.

Yeah, that was their master plan. Create a six-month payment plan so that by the time people paid them off, the season would be over.

True, the driving is expensive. I've already had 5 days in Carowinds, and 1 day in Cedar Point. Michigan Adventures will be my Memorial Day park, and I'll be in the marching band in the CoasterMania parade at Cedar Point.

Do you know something I don't know Lord Gonchar?

Where would he start?

About halfway through mid timbers smarty pants.

I know that the pass not being valid until it's paid off makes no sense at all for the simple fact that by the time it was paid for, the season would be over.