What's with Cedar Fair and the flats?

What happened with Cedar Fair and the flats parks were supposed to get? Worlds of Fun was rumored to get one (frisbee) and Dorney Park was rumored to get one. Will Knotts be the same way?

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If only it was 90 degrees in the winter Dorney could be open.

That's what happens to rumors. They stay just that.

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

Knotts is rumored to get a Huss Giant Frisbee this summer (keep in mind its 65 here all winter long and rains like 6 inches only). Either in the Vertigo Spot (now one of those build your own bear places that gets no attendence and a popular BBQ that seves beer-which can happen in numerous places such as along the back of the calico mine ride or in indian trails), or in Fiesta Village, in the former homes of Tumbler, Grandslammer, and a small walk up food service location.

Nah, I'm happy with the new Dippin, Dots stand we are getting next year at WOF and the Paradise Falls at OOF. Basicly my home park is using the money for improvements to the park. We are hoping for a big one in 04.

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Chris Knight
I can't decide is it BGW or SDC/CC.
Coming to WOF in 2003: A New Dippin' Dots stall :-)

Dippin Dots Rule! sorry I had to put that in.

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Corey
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MF-19
Top Thrill Dragster Coming Soon

I HEART OHIO

I agree Chris, I'm hoping for something big in 2004.

Well, you guys are also rumored to get an Invert or Rocket coaster for that year (or '05)....

Almost every park is "rumored" to get a new coaster next year....until they announce otherwise or we learn through the grapevine. I can just imagine how many would be found simply by searching through the forums here.

I doubt that we're going to see any more rocket coatsers at any more Cedar Fair parks, except maybe Dorney, although I'd love to be wrong.

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0-60mph+ in 2.5

Xcelerator only cost 13 million, if it raised your attendence enough (it raised Knotts by 2% even though it wasn't advertised much being an Intamin prototype), if it were to raise yours 10% you probably would get one, but who would know if it would raise attendence. Having one of the most extreme launches in Kansas would do a hell of a lot.

Realistically Speedy you have to think about total attendance and how quickly you're going to get your Return on Investment.

Knott's could afford it because they've got money coming in year round and they pull in over three million people a year. Also, Knott's has a hotel, I believe, that's pulling some money in for the resort so in case the rocket coaster didn't fully suceed Knott's could still get its ROI fairly quickly.

Its similar at Cedar Point where they're drawing in over three million people a year, they've got hotels and campgrounds also bringing in revenue. So putting down that kind of money (25 million) is actually a pretty safe investment as they've got all sorts of avenues to make sure they make their money back and then some.

Valleyfair and Worlds aren't pulling in enough people or have enough other means of generating income to make a rocket coaster a safe investment in my opinion. I know some of you Michigan Adventurers would like to see a Rocket come your way, but with drawing in less then 500,000 people I imagine it'd be hard to convince the board that this is a safe investment.

The only reason I think Dorney could have an outside shot is simply because they seem to be doing so well these last two years and if that trend continues maybe they'd be able to justify spending another 13 million or so within the next few years.

But hey, what do I know?

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0-60mph+ in 2.5

They can still afford major rides at the smaller parks, just not as often. 5 years between rides (bommerang and an invert or rocket) would make up for the attendence difference. with all of CP and KBF's revenue though, they can afford to spend many millions each year. But then keep in mind that CF pays for each park. No park has to make up their own money to get rides. but, being a smart business, they aren't pumping tens of millions into WoF each year cause increased revenues will not make up for it. They just put in a major ride occasionally. BTW, it was just a screamscape rumor. Take it as a rumor. 2005 is a long time from now too. BTW, more than likely, if knotts gets rid of some of its flats, i'm sure they'll at least consider donating it to one of the other parks.

Donating one promlematic flat ride to another park so they can deal with it and all its issues doesn't make sense to me if Cedar Fair does send Knott's Gran Slammer and Tapioca Tumbler elsewhere.

That's not to say that Cedar Fair hasn't shown that they will move rides from park to park, because they have in the past, but I want to believe that they're smarter in just junking maintainence nightmares then giving another park a "new" ride with issues to deal with.

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0-60mph+ in 2.5

Feel the Strike said:
Valleyfair and Worlds aren't pulling in enough people or have enough other means of generating income to make a rocket coaster a safe investment in my opinion. I know some of you Michigan Adventurers would like to see a Rocket come your way, but with drawing in less then 500,000 people I imagine it'd be hard to convince the board that this is a safe investment.

Feel the Strike, even though WOF is my homepark, I do agree with you. It is all about the ROI. Is Valley Fair drawing in enough people to make an 8.5 million Impulse a safe investment? I don't know. However i do believe that if a top spin (Thunderhawk) can raise the attendence 2% for World's of Fun, a well designed coaster good seriously help the park in the coming years. They are gaining some good competition down the road in St. Louis, and in Branson with SDC and the new CC. WOF is focusing on park inprovements right now as they need to be doing, but I can only hope for something nice in 2004 or 2005.

Just my 2 cents

I believe that Valleyfair is going to do alright in the ROI department as they managed to please Cedar Fair enough with how quickly they recovered from the cost of Power Tower. Its important to not that VF hasn't done jack squat for the last two years so one can assume they were saving to make the 8.5 million drop in the bucket a safe investment.

But I guess we'll find out for sure here next year.

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0-60mph+ in 2.5

*** This post was edited by Feel the Strike on 1/12/2003. ***

Feel the Strike said:

Donating one promlematic flat ride to another park so they can deal with it and all its issues doesn't make sense to me if Cedar Fair does send Knott's Gran Slammer and Tapioca Tumbler elsewhere.
Two things: First, isn't that what SF is doing with ViperLightningWave....it *does* make a little sense in that you're completely tearing down the track and the mechanicals and control systems and everything to move it anyway. What better time to replace/repair all the major parts than when it's already down for transport. Sure it's expensive, but not as much as a brand new ride...and in Viper's case, WHAT a ride...:)
Second, Tapioca Tumbler is one of the funniest things I've read....combines food and coasters, almost like an ACE event, ROFL...just FYI, it's Tampico Tumbler, definitely laughing WITH you, not like it's a common name
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Tampico Tumbler is a fun ride. They can't let it go to the scrap yard. Come on CF, make it reliable!

LOL, thanks for the correction Gator, but come on doesn't Tapioca Tumbler sound so much better

Problem with Knott's flats is that I think it'd be more cost effective then to just junk the rides and buy new ones of the same type then pay for the shipping, installation and rehaul for them.

But, I'm talking out of my rear as I really don't know what the figures would really be.

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0-60mph+ in 2.5

*** This post was edited by Feel the Strike on 1/13/2003. ***

WoF is gonna have to build something big in 2004 if they want to survive with the new Council Bluffs park taking people from Omaha and Lincoln (assuming it opens next year).