Will Cedar Point's New Coaster Be Themed?

Doesn't anyone else appreciate the theming on Montu or Alpie? Esp. Montu. That's what makes the diff for me between those two and Raptor.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
You must be this dumb to ride Viper. -SFGAdv.

Well, I have a hunch (I changed my opinion when I saw all the facts) that the ride, despite the rumored name "Dragster". Is going to be... USA+Canadian-themed. Think about it, the track is red and white (colors of the Canadian and US flag), there's a Canadian flag on it with the US flag and the Christmas tree, and to top it all off (no pun intended), Lake Erie connects USA (Ohio) and Canada. That would be really cool.

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Take it up a notch, Mr. Operator! I wanna feel my brains in my feet!

In some cases, it looks nice but must one park do it b/c others do.

I think Cedar Point's theme is impressive rides, out in the open for all to see, that will kick your a$$.

Andy - I agree with you completely. Theming can be put to great use (see BGT, BGW, IoA) if the effort is put into it, and its part of what the park is known for. Now someplace like Cedar Point, being a Thrill Park as opposed to a Theme Park, I don't think that trying to theme "Dragster" any more than they did with Millie would fit in with the park's surroundings.

Putting massive themeing on Dragster would be like Kennywood's effort with Exterminator. True, Exterminator is a heightened experience because of the theming, but it still seems a little out of place and loses its charm that it might have say at IoA. Kennywood is a Traditional Park, through and through and theming just looks a little out of place.

To sum it up, keep Dragster simple. IMHO, the red and white track alternating is theming enough.

Edit: Had to look up how to spell "theming" at dictionary.com

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1. Kumba 2. Millie 3. Mantis 4. Lightning Racer 5. Wicked Twister (Front Seat)
-- Brett

*** This post was edited by PittDesigner on 12/13/2002. ***

Exterminator's theming actually hurt my experience. That damned underground bunker was so obscenely loud I couldn't think straight.

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http://www.rockandrollconfidential.com

Theming helps me get caught up in the wonder of the park itself, and it certainly makes long ques more tolerable. But I really cant think of any coaster that the theme really helped enhance the effect of the ride itself. If you are concentrate on the theming during the ride, that seems to indicate to me that the ride itself isnt interesting enough.

Now scenery and landscaping on the other hand can greatly enhance the effect of a ride. Screaming along at 60+ mph is great, but doing so within close proximity of a bunch of trees is even more so.

Jeff, I dont know if I agree completely with your statement about the wall on Ice. That coaster could have been parked in the middle of a parking with just some random wall in the same place and you would still have the same effect. What I truly love about Fire and Ice is crusing over the water below the coaster.

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sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't

Parks aren't obligated to theme their rides, no. I've been preaching that for awhile. Yet SF seems to get reemed for not theming their rides(for example, X).

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Superman:The Escape(1997-2002) May he one day fly again.

I won't ride it if it's not themed! ;)

Seriously, I would rather have a park spend it's money on new and better rides and coasters than spend a fortune on theming. This ride will probably have the 57 Chevy hoods on the front of the trains just like Xcelerator and a Christmas tree just like at a drag strip. That is plenty of theming for me. The money that they save from lack of theming can go into other rides and improvements in the future.

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There is a new twist in the Top-Hat. :)

Yeah, i think themeing is overrated in general. Don't get me wrong, theming can look great and enhance rides but i enjoy the traditinal amusemnet park look and feel just as much. Also, i enjoy what are essentially 'ride parks', or 'rollercoaster parks', which have some but not extensive theming.

For me, natural surroundings and landscaping make for an equally beautiful ride as the more specific and intricate man made theming. For instance, i love the backdrop of mountains at SFMM and the Lake Erie of course is a stunning backdrop, most noticeable to me on magnum's return run. As well as this, a lot of today's coasters are such works of art themselves imo, and such stunning and impressive engineering masterpieces that the only 'theme' needed is the coaster itself.

Having said all that, basically i enjoy a mixture, and the range of extensiveness of theming, from the likes of BGW to KD, to take 2 close by examples.

I LIKE themeing! I think it enhances the whole experience of being at a park. I also think that even an park that isn't considered a theme park still has a not-so-noticable theme of "charm".

Maybe I am confusing "architectural style" with "theme", but I believe they have a lot in common.

For example, Kennywoods "Lost Kennywood" section is themed to the turn-of-the-century amusement parks. It could be considered just the "style" of that section of the park, But I believe it to be more "themed" than anything else. It slightly looks like the rest of the park, which has kept it's same "look" for years and years now. I see Kennywood as themed to "traditional amusement park". That is my unpopular opinion.

I view CP in somewhat the same way. The rides are slightly themed, but not nearly as much as other parks. It's just a traditional amusement park on a much larger scale. Buildings and attractions still have an interesting look to them. I believe that the theme of a ride at CP is almost open to interpritation.

I would LOVE to see "Dragster" themed somewhat. Once again, I LIKE themeing.

It doesn't cost an arm & a leg to theme a ride, dude...

The money saved from the lack of theming (depending on how unique and extravagant the props are), isn't all that much. A sign, a few toys to match the name of the ride scattered along the queue & other spots... and you really are only spending maybe about a $50 grand to $100 grand at most.

Landscaping, on the other hand... can cost plenty. Re-plenishing the trees that were cut down during the construction of this new ride will cost at least $100 per tree, possibly more, depending on size... and landscaping is definately different than theming... I guess once the name of the ride is announced, we can hope for some kind of theming.

Den said:
""I hate theming in all its forms. I don't even put it in RCT2."

I just don't see how you can say that. I mean, why are Ripsaw Falls and Splash Mountain so much better then your average bump-around log flume? Theming can make a ride a lot more fun, in my opinion.

And of course it won't really work on a fast coaster, anyone can figure that out.
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TOGO!

*** This post was edited by PT300 on 12/13/2002. ***

It's the Johnny Rocket coaster :)

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Charles Nungester.
Is it about coasters or friends? I say both!

Jeff, Remember your theme, schmeme next time your at a special invite (Or your wife) RAVING ABOUT THE THEMEING!

Chuck, who say even a Travel Channel shoot.

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Charles Nungester.
Is it about coasters or friends? I say both!

The reason I believe CP won't theme "dragster" is simple...They are not a Theme Park...CP is an amusement park. They are there to provide a day or two of fun. Where as a Theme Park (i.e. Disney or Universal) is meant to be an immersive experience where you can't help but look around and say oooh and aahh while simply walking through the park. IMO, I enjoy theming (sp?) but it doesn't really bother me that CP does very little of it because CP provides me a weekend full of amusement.

I am ALL for theming (as if you didn't know already, lol). We *do* do it better here than anyone else in the states that I've seen, and it does make a difference. Moreso when the lines are long or move slow. CP has lines that move pretty fast, so the lack of theming there isn't as big a deal for me. Sure, Montu and DD *have* theming, but there's only one good, big, fast coaster that really WORKS the theme throughout, and it has inspired me....Alpie!

What theme? It's name doesn't indicate ANY kind of theme. ;)

The Launch Coaster™ - "Ready, set, LAUNCH!"

CP is not themed, Give me a break. Camp Snoopy, Oceana, Former Jungle Larrys, The old Frontier area. The main midway is themed kinda like the old traditionals. Disaster Transport isn't themed? The Flume isn't themed? Heck, even Mean Streak is somewhat themed to a bigger, badder version of Blue Streak but they didn't call it Son of Blue Streak :). Paddlewheel Excursions isn't themed?

Chuck, who says the town square isn't themed either

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Charles Nungester.
Is it about coasters or friends? I say both!

Cedar Point does not need themeing. What they provide guests with is one of the best thrills at an AMUSEMENT PARK guests could ever receive. Keep that in mind...It's all about making the guests happy. I don't think many people complain about a day at Cedar Point.

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"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." (Walt Disney)

I wasn't complaining about CP in any way, Just pointing out THEMED areas or rides at CP.

Chuck, who could never win a CP debate here.

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Charles Nungester.
Is it about coasters or friends? I say both!