TTD waiting for parts

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CP Twister said:
So YES, I was disappointed even though I knew it would not be running. Why? because I was still told yesterday when I called and today when I arrived and throughout the day that it MAY run. Now I read this and if its true CP was not being honest

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How is Cedar Point being dishonest by saying that Top Thrill Dragster "may" run? This simply means that the ride could run that day or it could not run that day. "May" does not promise a rides opening.

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Intelligence is a God given gift: Know how to use it.

I live in Seattle. I don't work at CP. I have been to CP twice, and Holiday World twice. The insanity that exists to actually think I, of all people, am a fanboy of any park, either proves you don't pay attention on these boards, or you are a newbie. My point in my original post is that I never get out there, and although I was extremely excited to ride TTD (and I ultimately did get to ride), I wasn't torn, or even fretting about the possibility of NOT riding. Cedar Point is a wonderful place, and although it is much more corporate, my point in comparing it to HW is that it is run so darn well, is clean, and they really do try there to please their customers. From a huge corporate level, that kind of customer service is truly unparalleled. So, yes it IS a LOT like Holiday World in that respect. If not to you, so be it. To me, it most certainly is.

Oh....and when you ask such pointed questions regarding where I've been, why don't you look at my track record? I have been around, friends.

BTW, Sfgam Viper. It was me that Corey asked for you to give me the last ride of the night on the Intamin drop on Monday. Thanks, that was cool of you. :)
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There is trouble afoot. - Don't fret.
*** This post was edited by nasai 6/7/2003 12:56:42 PM ***

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Legendary said:
How is waiting for replacement parts *not* excessive downtime, bud? Is the ride running? No? Then it's down, I believe. And for a long time, too. Excessive. Downtime.

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Top Thrill Dragster -- The most intense, unbelievable, and spectacular fifteen seconds on any coaster, anywhere, ever.

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One request - don't call me "bud".

Your word-by-word analysis of the English language is impressive, too. I think I learned something today! I guess patience is indeed a virtue and something that comes with age. Your comprehension of "excessive" is apparently different than mine. Like others have said above, since when was CP only fun when TDD was up and running? I think they could have protected themselves and built something much easier to maintain, but keep this in mind - if you've ever seen TDD in operation, and if you have any appreciation at all for the complexity, number of parts that must be working properly and synchronized with one another, and the potential for error and breakdown that must occur, the fact that TDD has provided the numbers of rides that is has so far this season is AMAZING. For someone to sit here and complain about a few short days of downtime that need to occur for parts to arrive is, while expected, unfortunate.

And besides, there's only excessive downtime (on anything) when I'm waiting in line ;)

Zero-G said:
Boy oh boy, you guys make it seem like guests at Cedar Point last year weren't having fun when TTD wasn't around at all. Face it, Cedar Point is worth the visist, with or without

CP is worth a visit without Dragster.. But with TTD, I will go 5x as much.. To me, CP doesn't have all that great of rides.. Dragster, WT, Raptor are pretty much the "rides" to go on. MF is a solid ride, but it isn't all that great. Everything else is just bleigh, then you got magnum.. Which should sink... burn.. fall apart.. get stress cracks.. SOMETHING.

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Six Flags Worlds of Adventure Online

ophthodoc,

While I can grant your request not to call you bud, I can't help but think you have no argument since you resorted to the whole "I learned something today" banter and not to mention "since when was CP only fun when TDD was up and running?" That is so not even what we were talking about! The debate had nothing to do with anything else other than TTD, and its unreliability.

But your first sentence from your original post is just so silly it's funny!

Sorry to burst your bubble, but being closed for several days while the ride awaits replacement parts is hardly 'excessive downtime'.

Honestly, man (can I call you man? LMAO), did you even read that before typing? The ride has operated with four car trains (aka not to original design), has opened with the park less than a handful of times since CP has been open, snapped a cable, opened at noon and ran for thirty minutes, then broke down for six hours, then ran three trains and broke down another hour when I was there last Thursday, and now is down for at least four days. I ask you, when does your take on the word "excessive" apply to Dragsters downtime?

I'm certain Mr. Kinzel is in his office just loving how much money they have invested in this thing and how it's performing. It's an *amazing* ride (see the sig for more information) but it operates like crap. I honestly didn't even realize that was up for discussion lol.

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Top Thrill Dragster -- The most intense, unbelievable, and spectacular fifteen seconds on any coaster, anywhere, ever.

As I was mightily unimpressed by Cedar Point in 2001, unless Top Thrill Dragster is running reliably, the park is not worth a visit nor an 8 hour drive and an overnight stay.

While I realize I'm not a member of the coveted market demographic that CP panders to, it is important to realize that these places and these rides aren't within easy access of all of us.

As unreliable as TTD has proven itself to be, right now, I'd be perfectly happening with saving all that money and parking my behind on Knoebel's Phoenix for three or four days. It's a better value and sure-fire hit.

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--Maddie--
"yes I am on the online street team"
Wha? Online. . .street. Online. . . street.

TTD 3 times this year Ive failed to get on this ride, last week it wos broke in the morning, then opened and by the time I got within like 15 min of riding the rain came, the last 2 days, broke waiting for parts, but I guess when your exploring new ground as far as rides go your going to have some kinks to work out, from what i remember didnt the magnum break all the time, i think it took a few years before i got to ride that one, anyway, it must suck for people who travel to go there, I should b$tch i live an hr away and have season passes and go atleast once a week, so maybe next week!

Sounds like TTD is falling into the same catagory as Xecelerator and X.

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SFMM is the mega looper coaster capital of the world while CP is the Hypergigaterra coaster capital of the world
*** This post was edited by Coaster Bob 6/7/2003 3:05:04 PM ***

Xcelerator And X? How can you compare the downtime? Xcelerator has been up hella lot more than X has in its existance.
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Shaun Rajewski
CoasterLine
http://www.coasterline.com

The season still early. talk to me in October.

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SFMM is the mega looper coaster capital of the world while CP is the Hypergigaterra coaster capital of the world

I don't think he DID compare them. He said that it is falling into the same category as, and it is undeniable that Xcellerator hasn't had substantial downtime.

X has had more, but Xcellerator has hardly been dependable.

Well from my experience I can tell you that neither X or Xcelerator are dependable.....

In my visit to SoCal last summer, both we're closed the days we went to each park! Sucks to go all that way and the 2 rides you were most excited about, are CLOSED!

My SoCal experience wasnt as good as i suspected it to be as you can tell.

Ill be testing out Dragster for the first time on Tuesday though, do you guys think it should be open by then?

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"Love can sweep you off your feet and carry you along in a way you've never known before. But the ride always ends, and you end up feeling lonely and bitter. Wait. It's not love I'm describing. I'm thinking of a monorail" -Jack Handey

Ok...I am officially tired of all these people who seem to think that the people and parks that run coasters have god-like abilities. They cannot predict when something is going to break down, they cannot throw a magic spark into the air that can prevent problems, and they don't have a magic wand that can fix things in no time flat. This is the real world. Things will break down. Everything is un-reliable, especially the new rides. The fact that you think a ride should be perfectly up and running it's first year on every single day is just hilariousy nuts. People, let me remind you of something.

-IT is the beginning of JUNE for crying out loud.-

The park has been open a little more than a month. A 400 foot tall coaster full circuiting has never been done before...neither has a real 400 foot tall coaster *cough*. When have you seen a coaster with 6 Trains that each hold 16 people...? (No, bobseld coasters don't count, so don't even try). Just be patient everyone. So it isn't up....your life isn't ruined. If you travel countless hours to ride *just* one ride, then you've been to CP before...15 out of 16 isn't half bad....and it isn't like the other 15 are kiddie coasters. Just enjoy the park for what it has, not because one coaster isn't up, regardless of the fact it's the new one....that should make you more cautious. So basically what I'm saying is this : The people that run the ride and park can only do so much. Cedar Point has way more to offer than just this one coaster. So get your head out of *wherever it is* and look up. You'll see a great collection of coasters. They were great before TTD, and they still are. Enjoy them, and stop complaining. When you hear the same thing stupidly said 30 million times, it gets very annoying.

You can complain all you want at a park for not having their signature ride open. I did when I was at SFGAm last year and Deja Vu was closed, and I got flamed just like everybody else is getting flamed for CP bashing. I learned something though: stuff happens, and you just have to deal with it. I know EXACTLY how it feels to miss out on a park's star attraction, but in the end, YOU an not do anything about it. Just be happy you are at Cedar Point...imagine if ST was down all day at MiA, now THAT could ruin somebody's day. We all know CP is working their hardest to keep this ride running and not being ignorant like SFGAm was with Deja Vu. Take a deep breath, and just enjoy life!

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I play in a really awful garage band, but it's still fun.

I knew this was coming. The same people that smugly whined about X are now defending TTD, simply because their beloved Cedar Point is involved. I'll sau now what I said then, new ride technology *will* have excessive down time. It's common sense...

You sign up for a ride like this, you have to take the pains of downtime along with the glory of great reviews. I just don't think Cedar Point fans got that....but they do now. ;)

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Tease Alert!

*Something* wicked this way comes...to the west coast in 2004!
*** This post was edited by DWeaver 6/7/2003 4:59:29 PM ***

There is a huge difference between X and Dragster.

X was supposed to open to the public for the Summer of 2001. It actually opened in January of 2002. Dragster was supposed to open in May of 2003. Dragster actually opened in May of 2003.

After X finally opened, it had some serious issues and did have to close for a lengthy period of time while they fixed the trains. Are we going to see the same with Dragster? Who knows. All I can say is that at least CP has made every attempt to open this ride on time, and operate it as much as possible.

I sat and watched X test over and over in November of 2001, yet couldn't ride because it wasn't ready. Did SFMM care? No. They just kept handing out brochures with X all over them and didn't even place a sign outside stating it wasn't open. However, I kept a positive attitude and enjoyed my day anyways. I got on every coaster and almost every flat ride on a Saturday.

And by the way, I'm not a CP local fanboy either. I live in FL, and am VERY glad I got my 6 rides on Dragster in mid-May. I did plan my trip when Dragster was announced, but wasn't expecting a guaranteed ride out of it. If you maintain a positive attitude, you will have a much better time!

Also, when in line this May, a ride op told us they cannot reset the ride with a train in the launch area. They (the ops) are even frustrated by the fact that they have to bring the trains back into the station and let everyone off to reset the ride if a sensor goes off.

-Matt
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I-4: The scariest ride in all of Orlando!
*** This post was edited by Matt D 6/7/2003 5:11:01 PM ***

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CP Twister said:

This ride has some major problems, obviously. I dont know why people cant just say CP grossly underestimated this ride and it is not ready.

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I don't think "CP" grossly underestimated this ride. If anyone even mildly underestimated anything it was probably Intamin...

If your so disappointed that TTD isn't running just go to that other park that has a 420' roller coaster that does 0-120 in 4 seconds...

Good point Dorney, lets take a trip over to SFMM circa 1996, when S:TE was supposed to be open! ;)

Funny, I was just looking at rcdb.com, now here is a coaster with what I would call "excessive downtime":

Batman & Robin: The Chiller
"Opened on 6/7/97 and closed down shortly after due to problems. Opened full time in 1998."

Nonetheless, I too visited CP earlier this year and I couldn't help but to have a little fear in the back of my mind that the ride would have a problem during my visit and I would not get to enjoy a ride. I am thankful that I was lucky enough to experience this awesome ride, but I was prepared for the fact that I might not get on this trip...

I am quite positive that CP and Intamin are doing everything possible to get this ride 100%. From a common sense standpoint, the last thing a park wants is to spend money advertising a ride and it be closed for any reason. Just ask Six Flags how much fun their 1997 season was...

CP Twister said:

I have never seen so much downtime on a new ride at Cedar Point. I think Cedar Fair should have done another smaller rocket coaster at a different park and worked more of the bugs out of this before going so big at its main park. This ride is obviously not ready. I just hope they get it going by the end of the season and I'am able to attempt another trip to CP this year.

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Umm... that's exactly what they did. They built Xcellerator at Knott's and worked most of the bugs out, I believe (it's been up every time I've been but usually is down for an hour or so during the course of the day). Secondly, this ride is much bigger and has its own problems to be ironed out, every ride is different.

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Purple cows eat silver moon pies, among fiesty, glowing fireflies.