Cedar Point pt 2 6/2/06 - CoasterMania (incomplete, oddly enough)
It’s just after 4 am, I get a shower, all groggy, and stuff, as it’s that time of year again: we get up early to ride coasters! I pick up Brian from his room at around 5:15, and we head over to the park. Not even minimal breakfast service is available yet, so fortunately, I stopped at a Wal-Mart before leaving Thursday afternoon for some snacks.
Just before 6:00 am, Robin greets us at the podium inside the front gate, of course, to inform us that Millennium Force was still being worked on. That meant that Raptor, Top Thrill Dragster, and Skyhawk were our ERT ride selection. Our “group” grew some. We had Adam and Alan, as well as the ladies, Karen and Rachel, and good old friend, Jim from Philadelphia, who I first met at the same event four years ago. To get started, two Raptor flights, front seat, before making our way up to Top Thrill Dragster for two rides there. It was consistent for once (at least this time), and I got the chance to see manager Tony Clark, who is featured in Cedar Point’s official blog, OnPoint. What’s better than traveling over 120 mph when you’re half awake? Also, I noted that the big sign next to TTD was changed to say “Are You Ready? 120 MPH, 420 feet tall” in place of “The World’s Fastest Coaster!,” as it was surpassed last year by a similar installation in New Jersey.
Because some of us hadn’t been on it yet, we go on SkyHawk in Frontier Town. After riding, I seemed to be the only one that really like this ride. I wouldn’t be surprised if this ride model ended up at Kings Island eventually. With some of us not to excitied, especially Jim, about flats, we go back to the Dragster for another high powered launch. Millennium Force, of course, was still down, and we decide to head back towards Raptor for another ride, plus some donuts at the Donut Time stand.
Oddly enough, the Donut shop didn’t open until 8:30, when I got there. The line ended up being a little long and slow, but I got satisfied with the pastries I love…
By the time I fed myself, it was time to head over to Raptor for a third ride of the day. The general public was quickly making their way in, and because Jim was with us, we decide to do his favorite coaster, Magnum XL-200. Because I have my “likes” I decided to get on Corkscrew and pass up on a ride on Magnum – I must have MUCH better roughness tolerance than most ENTHUSIASTS! But really, Corkscrew is still a great ride, though I don’t exactly see the need for the redundant seatbelts.
I meet up with the group once more for two rides on the Magnum, then 1 Gemini ride, blue side only (for now). We decide to go to the nearby Cedar Creek Mine Ride (see yesterday’s trip report), and then just relax for a little bit. The rain was coming down a little, so we head back down to the main midway, one more Magnum ride, then back toward the Coliseum Ballroom, for the 1:00 pm Question & Answer session. I pick up a regular soda for $2.75, which is cheaper than last year, still a little pricey. The Coliseum is one of Cedar Point’s oldest buildings, and built in 2006, is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The lower level, now used as the main arcade, was originally a rathskeller, used for beer prior to Prohibition. The upper level was built as a dance pavilion, which was later renovated in the Art Deco style in the 1930s, as it is seen today. It may be occasionally used for some events, but during the 1930s and 40s, it was THE place to be at Cedar Point – and helped keep the resort alive with traveling bands and perfomers to get through the Depression.
The Question and Answer session featured managers and executives from Cedar Point and Cedar Fair, L.P. Tony Clark, from the Blog, had the tough job of assisting with the microphone… which failed at times, despite Tony’s hard work. You could say that the Q&A turned out to be a roller coaster ride in itself. Some question asked:
- What is your 2007 project?
- What is your 2020 project (150th anniversary)
- How about changing the name of the kiddie coaster at Kings Island back to Beastie?
- I can’t fit into the restraint of Intamin coasters and it’s embarrassing. DO SOMETHING!
- What about chain-wide season pass system for 2007?
One of the high points was when Scott Holmes wanted to thank the maintenance staff for their hard attempt to get Millennium Force up and running. John Hildebrandt, the park’s Vice President and General Manager called Mont Jasper, director of construction and maintenance, on the cell phone! Then not too long after, a surprise visit from none other than Cedar Fair’s big guy, CEO Dick Kinzel, who went up to assure that the Millennium fix as being done. He drew a large applause, and some cheers (especially from me, with the Paramount Parks purchase!).
With not too much time between Q&A and catered lunch, our gang gets in the line for Blue Streak. It ends up being not too long a wait – even though it is the longest wait I’ve had for that coaster. Quite possibly, it’s my favorite wood coaster in Ohio, it still gives a smooth, fast, air-filed ride. Not bad for a coaster named after the high school football team. I also run into a guy wearing his Conneaut Lake Park Blue Streak shirt, which brings up my desire to head to that old, classic, yet troubled park, as its days may be numbered.
It’s time to head to the Point Pavilion for lunch, where the serving gets started just before 2pm. Not much better parts to CoasterMania than free food! While we’re all eating, Tony Clark of CP, and Lexi Robinson from Geauga Lake hand out raffle tickets for some great prizes to be given away. The next day, is CoasterEXT at Geauga Lake, the second annual such event at the sister park just 1.5 hours east of Cedar Point. One of those prizes is the old White Water Landing wait sign – and then the Millennium Force wait time sign, as it won’t be running (as of right then).
Just after 3pm, we all decide to break up and do other stuff. Jim decides to head back to Philadelphia, and Brian, who has been on a 7-day-plus coaster trip to the South, wants to get to his room for some rest. I, however, head back to the car, to grab my stuff, as I’d like to do the water rides, even though it’s no more than 75 degrees out and cloudy.
After stopping in the bathroom at the Coliseum, I get on the good old Cedar Downs Racing Derby carousel, where I run into someone from the Cincinnati area, John Fidyk. We also walk up the midway to ride Iron Dragon, which has a fast-moving line. Wanting to get on the train to Frontiertown as soon as possible, I head for the earliest available seat, then look for a place to store my bag, which brings me to another thing.
In previous years, you had to give articles to a non-rider or store them in a locker, at most Cedar Point rides and coasters, they wouldn’t let you leave stuff in the station – presumably as a safety and theft/liability issue. Other parks, like Kings Island, have always had places in the stations to store items. But, as an effort to be more convenient and respond to demands, they began to allow loose articles last year. This year, Cedar Point has installed storage bins in most ride stations (except Disaster Transport, Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster, which have separate load and unload platforms). They are large, and are clearly marked by train number or color, in large Helvetica numbers (or lettering.) The bins are also attended by ride operators, so moron guests don’t put their stuff in the wrong section.
