Millennium Force Boarding Pass - Kinda Cheap?
First of all, one very specific point needs to be specified here: CEDAR POINT OWES NOTHING TO ANYBODY. True, they owe their business and their success to their many satisfied guests, but as has been repeated in these forums numerous times, PARKS DON'T REVOLVE THEIR OPERATIONS AROUND ENTHUSIASTS. They revolve their operations around the general public, the other 90% of their attendance figures, and not the minority that greedily wants all 14 coasters open every time they attend the park.
Also true, Millennium Mania was an event planned around enthusiasts, those who strictly enjoy riding BIG coasters. However, I'm sure they never saw a cable break coming. Was the cable frayed? No one but maintenance knows for sure. But remember once again: the way maintenance saw it (and they're the only ones that matter...the ones who are trained and paid to ensure the rides are operable), there was no reason for them to close the ride. Cedar Point makes money by keeping their rides open; do you honestly believe they would have operated Millennium Force with a frayed cable if they thought it couldn't hold up? That would mean MANY dissatisfied customers (and not just dissatisfied enthusiasts) and that would also mean lost money. No business wants this, not even the great Cedar Point.
So recognize, like many others here have, that the cable break was an UNFORSEEN ACCIDENT. No blame placed anywhere. If maintenance thought there was a severe enough problem, they would've fixed the cable sooner, and would have avoided ALL of this problems.
Given the circumstances, Cedar Point realized that they could not cancel a heavily hyped event with a great deal of presold tickets. That would piss off EVERYONE. So instead, they attempt to make amends by offering alternatives. Let's think about this here: free rides on VertiGo. With 300-400 people spread over five CP rides and this Challenge Park ride, how long can the line for VG be? And at $10 a ride normally, three rides more than makes up for the price of MM itself. How long could that take? An hour? Two? If everyone took advantage of this at least twice, they'd be making next to nothing, or even losing.
And, contrary to what you'd like to believe, they did not have to open Blue Streak. Call it what you will (and I won't call it anything cuz I've never been to CP) but that's just one more coaster you can ride. Does it stack up to MF? No. But does it make up for not having MF? Considering that you'd be taking BS over...well...nothing, I'd say hell yeah. Matter of fact, I'd take Ninja or Disaster Transport or Woodstock Express or even Jr. Gemini over nothing! Now, I just started calculus, and I'm still not that sharp, but as I recall, 5 is still better than 4. The numbers just don't lie.
Is Cedar Point being cheap? No. They're trying to save their spotless reputation. Rides break down. Even the great Millennium Force breaks down sometimes. Sh*t happens people. We just gotta deal. For those of you who are flying in just for MM, I really feel for ya. For those of you who are within striking distance of CP, this won't be the last time you'll ever ride the Force, and this certainly won't be the last Millennium Mania. In fact, I'm sure that all of us will forget about this damn thing in about two or three weeks. Like Jeff said, we've all got other things to do. I'm sure we've all lost a little money at some point...what can you do? My family, like many others, lost money in the stock market...money that was just LOST. At least you have other rides to ride...you'll still manage to get the most out of your money.
Do I understand this plight? Yes. April 11, 2001, was Six Flags Great Adventure's media day for Nitro, unbeknownst to me. Dad (who hates all theme parks) and I took a pilgrimage, in the pouring rain, to find out that Nitro wouldn't be open till 3:00, and the likelihood of us staying till then wasn't good. So did I b*tch and moan about how I wasted a day's pay at work, or how my dad wasted almost $50 admission to just sit in the rain? No. I went on the Scream Machine, Batman, the Chiller, and GA's other rides, trying to make the most of a bad situation. As it turned out, I got ONE ride in before I left...just like all of you get with the one-time MF boarding pass. Did I complain? Hell no! There would definitely be another time to ride Nitro, if not this year, then SOMETIME in my life. It's called realistic thinking, folks.
It's a shame we're reduced to this stupid bickering. Wake up and think on the bright side, people: THIS IS OUR HOBBY. NOT OUR LIFE. If it is, there's something wrong. And, above all else, remember this: IT'S $22. And, like I said before, the Point owes you nothing. As far as their concerned, they've got your money. Do you run back to the deli if you asked for cheese and it isn't there? Probably not. You just suck it up and deal. Which is exactly what a good majority of these high-strung, pampered, whiny enthusiasts need to do right now.
If you don't agree with a damn word you just read, let me know. I'll be happy to debate logically and sensibly.
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The Luv Monkey has spoken...
NITRO kicks it into high gear...only at Six Flags Great Adventure!
Track Record: 29 and counting...
Who is complaining?? It is a simple fact that the *other*chain is highly critisized among the enthusiast community.Am I complaining, Nope.Am I complaining about the whiners who are angry MF isn't working and then the people who defend CP come back and claim it is highly critisized?? You betcha! Anyone who says CP gets critisizm on this particular forum is out of their minds.I see more praise for CP here then any other park.
I laugh at the people who dispise that other chain so much yet, they still spend their money to go and ride their coasters.I guess that other chain is OK when they have something your homepark doesn't and being the coaster enthusiasts that we are, I guess it makes us foolish to want to take a chance and go to that *other* park to ride a new coaster.
My post in no way was intended to critisize CP.In fact, I was defending the park and I've never even been there.I really can't make the statement that the *other* park runs at half capacity all of the time and considers themselves open and doesn't give any compensation.Why??? Because I have never been to all of those *other* parks so, it isn't fair for me to judge them all.
My homepark(In case that was totally directed at me) has been known to have at least one or two rides closed on any given operating day but, I don't complain because chances are I have already ridden it or, It will be open at some other point in the season when I visit the park.I can understand the out of state people being angry but then I have to ask once again, Why bother going if you know you may be dissapointed or this certain park is notorious for poor ride availabilities.
Maybe Cedar Fair should buy out all of that other parks properties and run them the way you think they should be run.Then again, what are the chances every park manager CF hires is going to run every park the same way CP is run??Give me a break!! That being said, I am out of here.I liked my park outlook alot better when I wasn't reading this forum and, before my desire to go to CP gets spoiled, I am closing my account here permanently.Ciao folks and, for those of you who were kind, decent and, willing to answer my questions,thanks! I'll see some of you at CCVI :)
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~*Rickyswmn*~
from the mouth of my Enthusiast in training.. Mom, I Wuv Grade Abenture!
After going to Millennium Mania today, I really didn't notice that Millennium Force was down. Heck, I kind of forgot it was even at the park. The fact is, I enjoyed myself on the rides I went on (and I went on a lot!). I appreciate the event given to us people who like to ride.
So thanks for the concern, Cedar Point, and sorry to all the board members that my little whiny post caused the heartache and disgust to.
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Chris B.
http://sfwoa.tripod.com/
Radioheader08@netscape.net
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