Virtual Midway survey results released

Wow... that sends a strong message to Cedar Point. If your biggest fans don't buy into the bigger-better-faster thing, imagine what the general public thinks.

It's probably just a matter of people not buying into the bigger-better-faster-but-17-seconds-long thing. Cedar Point ought to co-opt the "come for the food, stay for the pie" slogan.

Yeah, and it also supports my take on that blurb from the TTD in 2004 news story from last week where Monty Jasper seemed genuinely surprised that TTD didn't rank higher in the Golden Ticket Awards.

I stand by my original assesment - TTD is a great experience, but not a great coaster.

As much as I like CP and even TTD, it's nice to see that something big, fast and new doesn't automatically make the top of various polls.

*** This post was edited by Lord Gonchar 12/8/2003 11:46:42 AM ***

Millennium Force is the favorite, but Dragster is the ride that the crowd runs to and gawks at. Millennium Force never attracted that kind of viewing audience it's first year (granted, it doesn't have it's own bleacher area, either).

Millennium Force may be a better coaster, but Dragster's overall package makes it a bigger impact. I think the general public would rather have a great experience than a great coaster. If you just compare ride vs. ride, than it looks like Millennium Force is on top. But I think the buzz, the talk about the height and speed, the people watching factor, etc., gives the overall edge to Dragster ... at least for now. Millennium Force has been on top since it opened. Will Dragster still fight for #2 in, say, 2006, after the novelty has worn off?

There's no doubt that making Dragster the focus of the '04 marketing campaign is a good decision.
*** This post was edited by Gemini 12/8/2003 11:59:42 AM ***

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I think the general public would rather have a great experience than a great coaster.

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I think you're exactly right. That's why there were roughly a gazillion people standing around (in my way, mind you ;) ) just staring at the damn thing. Add to that the other gazillion overflowing the queue down the midway (all the way to Iron Dragon's pretzel ending the last day I was there) and I think you nailed it.

Most popularity polls are taken by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts (and for nice little marketing phrases) - all that's really lost in the big scheme of things is the chance to hang extra little banners all around the ride proclaiming that TTD was "voted the world's best coaster"...and they'll have to stick a little number '11' next to it in this year's getaway guide instead of a number '1'

I still find humor in Monty's reaction, though.

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Will Dragster still fight for #2 in, say, 2006, after the novelty has worn off?

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My guess is "not even close".

*** This post was edited by Lord Gonchar 12/8/2003 12:15:32 PM ***

yes ,Gemini you are so right, most of these polls are the views of coaster enthusiats, This sight is exclusively for them ,the coastering public. I my self am not a coaster enthusiats, Im a amusement park enthusiast. Coasters just happen to be there.( A great experience in a park on a whole is my response also.) I go for the total package. But this is the best site going to voice your opinion, So be it. Polls will come and they will go .But Id really like to see a G.P.poll , what the average Joe thinks? Most average Joe wouldnt care.V. midway is a great site also, Its informative and very well done. Smidty ,In my opinion is in second place .Only to Screamscape.com. Coasterbuzz is my personal favorite.So lets keep on amusement parkin" and the world will be a better place..

I just dont understand who wearwolf canyon was voted second best hallow weekends atraction. In my opinion thats was the overall WORST atraction. It was just trees in pots with fog around them. I only saw one wearwolf actualy jump out and try to scare the guests, the rest were just walking around, not scaring people at all. I think they did a good job anticipating the guests, with the ranger showing the guests the cage, and the sounds comming from the canyon, that could be heard from all over. I got kinda uneasy, and a little excited while waiting in line from all the things that you could hear and see, and they made me imagine and think that this thing was going to be really cool, but when i entered the actual canyon.... It sucked.

About Monty jasper,s commenting about Dragster only being #11 in the golden ticket. I theink it would probably be in the the top 5 or very very close to it, just because the impact that first couple of rides have on you. And then it would fall farther back ever year. The thing is that the ride was down a considerable amount of the season, it was even closed on coastermania, which is when many people who vote for the golden tickets make there only visit to the park that year. SO i think it will move quite a ways up next year, wehn more people are able to experiece it. The same type of thing happened to millenium force its first year. It was ranked second to Magnum, and the year latter it was much higher than magnum, this was becasue it was sown so many times in its first year like all rides are, so not as many people were able to ride it. This is the case for most new rides, many times the people arnt able to make to that park to ride it that year, and sometimes when they finnaly do make it to the park the ride is down for machanical problems.

I just dont understand who wearwolf canyon was voted second best hallow weekends atraction. In my opinion thats was the overall WORST atraction. It was just trees in pots with fog around them. I only saw one wearwolf actualy jump out and try to scare the guests, the rest were just walking around, not scaring people at all. I think they did a good job anticipating the guests, with the ranger showing the guests the cage, and the sounds comming from the canyon, that could be heard from all over. I got kinda uneasy, and a little excited while waiting in line from all the things that you could hear and see, and they made me imagine and think that this thing was going to be really cool, but when i entered the actual canyon.... It sucked.
About Monty jasper,s commenting about Dragster only being #11 in the golden ticket. I theink it would probably be in the the top 5 or very very close to it, just because the impact that first couple of rides have on you. And then it would fall farther back ever year. The thing is that the ride was down a considerable amount of the season, it was even closed on coastermania, which is when many people who vote for the golden tickets make there only visit to the park that year. SO i think it will move quite a ways up next year, wehn more people are able to experiece it. The same type of thing happened to millenium force its first year. It was ranked second to Magnum, and the year latter it was much higher than magnum, this was becasue it was sown so many times in its first year like all rides are, so not as many people were able to ride it. This is the case for most new rides, many times the people arnt able to make to that park to ride it that year, and sometimes when they finnaly do make it to the park the ride is down for machanical problems.

I have to agree there... I found Werewolf Canyon to be a great idea that was very poorly executed.

one of the best places to people watch was which came in , in the top ten was the bleeches near THD, Cedar Point. Its a great way to watch the exspressions on the riders faces as they blast of into olblivion. Great Idea. More large rides should have this format. Exspecially for the non rider . Its a great way to get up close and personal. IS IS SUMMER YET?

I think it'll be tough for TTD to stay up in the top two for more than a couple more years. I think you will see the novelty wear off and people will go back to their old favorites. Plus, if CP goes by their normal plan we'll be seeing a new coaster in there by 2005, which would pretty much finish TTD's newness factor. Not that it really matters anyway, as most people's favorite ride isn't going to change just because they're in the minority or because their ride is a couple years older.

I think TTD is a great experience. It could either be rated number 1 or 2. I love the twist addition on the drop and i have to try it. Millenium Force is a strong second and coasterwise it is the best coaster in the world. It is smooth yet ripsnortin' fast. The almost inverted turn provides a great feeling. It is smooth and the kind of coaster i like. The two coasters should be running mates for the golden ticket for best coaster. TTD should rank first while Millennium Force is its vice-president, ranking a strong #2.