The end of Paddlewheel at Cedar Point

Article in the Register about them placing the Kings Island Dinosaur show on Millennium Island at Cedar Point - If they do this spells the end of Paddle Wheel.

It was a dying ride - I just wish they incorporated the boat ride with the Dinosaur theme some how.

http://www.sanduskyregister.com/news/2011/aug/06/dinosaurcedarpointxml

That would be disappointing.

Just the thought of dinosaurs coming to CP piss me off! Who the hell has these type of ideas and then the others that think its a good one?!?! Put the money to fixing up Paddlewheel Excursions....boats, props, new scenes... Let it return to its glory instead of burying it like WWL and bringing in another joke of an attraction <<cough>> STR!

If dinosaurs do make their way onto the island, even if they install a bridge to keep PWE, i will not take my family through there! Lame idea!

If it's an upcharge like the installation at KI, my daughter and I may pay to see it once, and that will probably be it.

As a side note - they put that bridge in place for a haunt in October - I bet they see this as a way to permanently avoid having to do some of that extensive setup in the fall.

To be ADA compliant - and keep the boats - it would have need to have quite an expensive incline and decline ramp - I don't see them spending that.

Its just CF and its quest to eliminate Charm.............. Next up. CP&LE for the complete removal of any aspect of relaxing family attraction

If they do build it I won't be surprised. Actually, I was kind of expecting it to be built in some of the other Cedar Fair parks anyway, like the Windseekers. :)

-Tina

Charles Nungester said:
Its just CF and its quest to eliminate Charm.............. Next up. CP&LE for the complete removal of any aspect of relaxing family attraction

The train isn't going anywhere. Ridership is high on it.

Jerry said:

Charles Nungester said:
Its just CF and its quest to eliminate Charm.............. Next up. CP&LE for the complete removal of any aspect of relaxing family attraction

The train isn't going anywhere. Ridership is high on it.

Ridership is definitely high, but charm on the other hand is not what it was like 10 yrs. ago. Was gonna say 30 yrs. ago, but most people on this site weren't even born yet to have enjoyed it then like I did and a few others on here.

So they're putting in a highly themed attraction on an island with nothing on it and that equates to less charm?

I still wonder if some of y'all really enjoy the hobby or complaining about the hobby more.

It's just a speculation article. Paddlewheel has survived many other removal rumors in the past.

^^I wasn't complaining about an island with a lack of charm on it, with or without an upcharge dino-themed attraction that would be alot like 4 similiar attractions in the immediate vicinity.

If anyone has a reason to complain about the removal of Paddlewheel, it would be me. I bet you I have been around that lagoon more than anyone here.

I am really distressed about this rumor... Really, really distressed.

But, it is understandable. The ride has had a very low ridership over recent years, especially after TTD was built. Camp Snoopy used to bring riders to the ride, but after TDD, the entrance to PWE was kind of hidden away. TTD and other new rides over the last ten or so years also kind of killed the seclusion that was felt when riding PWE.

I have feared fr PWE's demise for many years now. This rumor is the most substantial and believable of all that I have ever heard. The ride has been ruined over the years with the placement of new attractions, and the removal of old scenery that some of the jokes relied on. They have done nothing to try to increase ridership for the ride.

The day this is announced will be a very sad day for me.

If you're really distressed about something like that, you probably don't have any real adult problems to deal with. Pray tell me, what is that like? Would love to know.

Believe me, I'd be pretty angry if the dinosaur thing happens too, but to be fair, it sounds like they're rolling in the dough at the KI attraction. Sadly, cash trumps charm.

Although if they do have the dinosaurs, who's to say the boats have to go away entirely? If they're already going to charge extra for an area considerably smaller than the KI attraction, why not build a dock on the opposite side of the island from where PWE is now and use the boats to shuttle people? It would make the attraction that much more interesting.

Corkscrew Follies said:
^^I wasn't complaining about an island with a lack of charm on it, with or without an upcharge dino-themed attraction that would be alot like 4 similiar attractions in the immediate vicinity.

I was responding to Chuck.

I wont be happy until they put in a B&M floorless and a Intamin woody

kRaXLeRidAh said:
If you're really distressed about something like that, you probably don't have any real adult problems to deal with. Pray tell me, what is that like? Would love to know.

Oh, please. Like it's impossible to have a normal, average life full of normal, average problems and still really care about the existence of something like a paddleboat ride.

Your reaction struck me as exceptionally crass.

Even with the coasters invading the lagoons I think the Paddlewheel is still a good ride. Anyone can ride it from your 90 year old grandma to your 4 month old infant. The interaction with the "skippers" is still a unique experience at the park. Having some movement on the lagoon adds life and energy to the waters and I think there is something to be said for that.

Now, as far as ridership is concerned, they screwed that ride when they built the current station. It IS out of the way. It is like they took a decent sitcom and moved it to Friday nights. It isn't the sitcoms fault that nobody watches tv on Friday nights. If the station were more visible then there would be more riders.

Now, if they were removing the ride to put in a dark ride on the island (or something that the same demographic of rider could enjoy) then I'd be less opinionated about it but I still think a boat ride is a unique component of Cedar Point and when you strip away those unique attractions you are left with just another steel park.

And then, of course, they eliminate the ride only to put in an upcharge attraction.

I think it is a horrible idea but one that doesn't really surprise me anymore. We were in Sandusky a couple of weeks ago and did not feel compelled to go to the park on this trip. That says something considering I'm a unitholder, my wife and I are former employees, and we have two kids that are really at that age. But, we had no problem plunking down some significant money to buy four season passes to as yet unopened Legoland Florida.

If you get a chance then Google the Orlando Sentinel story that features video of their GM giving a virtual tour of the park. He is very clear that the demographic they are going after is the families with kids ages 2-12. They have a ton of attractions that parents can ride with their kids on...and he is quick to point out that you don't need "an iron stomach" to enjoy them.

Again, Cedar Point has paid lip service to the family demographic over the years but I don't see them putting their money where their mouth is. Dinosaurs might appeal to the 2-12 year old set but that attraction at another $5 per person is going to be a temporary success...if at all...in my opinion.

If the wheels were already in motion on this when Ouimet got here then I challenge him to step up and show us that Cedar Fair is ready to turn the page and move into a new direction.

I strongly agree, Wahoo. I find myself going less and less the last couple seasons, especially this one. Reading the comments from the article pretty much sums up my thoughts.

The park is unique that these lagoons were built a long time ago and have been a big part of their history. It is tragic that their role may be dimished down to almost nothing.

Of course this all may not even happen as nothing official has been announced yet but I'd be willing to bet that PWE goes.