Philrad71

^ It happens year after year in the forums on opening day - to the point where it's almost comical. As you know, the CP thread after opening day is almost always a dumpster fire of non-stop bitching & complaining for about a week. In between those posts are the inevitable, "I'm going to CP on July 21st at 10:15 AM...how long do you think the lines will be that day? Will I need a Fast Lane +?"

That looks awesome...thanks for sharing! We went to a retro arcade/bowling alley combo place called Funspot Family Center In Weir's Beach, NH one time and I almost crapped when I saw all of the awesome games that I used to play at the arcades back in the 80's! Apparently they have the largest collection of retro video games in the country...here is a link for any of the die-hard video and pinball nerds in here: Funspot

^ I can't even guess the first letter, Bill! But, yeah...I'm definitely familiar with Bench: The Ride. As long as Michael has an ice cream cone or beer in his hand, he'd likely be good on Bench: The Ride!

^^Thanks Bert...I'll let you know if any of them are interested in the Arno cruise. ^ WTF is FFBFWMAG?

I rode Lightnin' Loops one time and then heard someone died or flew out of it...a couple of years after it happened. Damn...I always come in last.

^ Just posted something similar in the CP thread earlier, but it could apply here too.... What are the lines usually like for opening weekend? BUSY/CROWDED I went opening weekend a few years ago but I forget completely. STONED, DRUNK...OR BOTH? I am trying to decide between Friday and Saturday ....or... Saturday and Sunday. SATURDAY AND SATURDAY - OF COURSE! Glad I could be of assistance! Damnnnnnnn!!!

^ We'll keep our fingers crossed for Michael as well as for good weather on that weekend - if it happens for us - thanks Bill!! It would not surprise me if Lighthouse is booked, but depending on the situation we could either splurge for another CP resort (if any are even available for that weekend) or we can stay at the KOA campground, which is about a mile from the causeway. Bert - I mentioned your cruise trip report and Michael said that he will likely check it out on his Kindle. We have a couple of bear friends around the Boston area (where Michael is from) that we are certain might be interested in this cruise in the future!

I am wondering as well, Phil. I must let you know, I already got myself and Bert the Fast Lane PLUS tix for the Saturday we're there, June 2. But, Sunday during that weekend is our "No Park Day", and that means lots of time to meet up, catch up, drink up.... I was also thinking we might hit Famous Dave's that day as well, with a nice perimeter walk around the Secret Mean Streak project, etc. It's certainly looking good guys, and I really appreciate you both asking! We are hoping to get Michael home from the hospital on Good Friday (or before) and that will leave a couple of months at home to recoup before Coastermania. I have talked to Michael about going in the motor home that weekend, staying at Lighthouse Point (if they still have any spots open) and possibly meeting up with you guys there or in the park (drinks and snacks at the campsite would be a given! ). He already said that he won't be able to do coasters/rides, but loves the idea of going and meeting you guys and maybe even doing the Brew and BBQ fest!. He really likes to people watch and is perfectly happy watching folks while we ride coasters..and yes, FastLane Plus is the way to go, so I would get one too! I'll PM you both once we get closer to getting him home. He moved out of acute rehab last week and into transitional rehab, so we are hoping only a few more weeks until the big day. It's been such a long haul...I just want him to be home where he belongs!

C'mon...you guys make it sound like free streaming wi-fi (porn) at the campground after you're drunk and bored with the park is a bad thing?

Reading these posts and I was like.... Daaaaaamn!!!

Well gee...now you're just starting to make this park sound like Conneaut Lake or something. Seriously though, I hope that they can turn it into a nice family park, keep the classics and sell the other rides to DelGrosso's or Knoebels. And if they can't farm them out to either of those parks, well...they always have Dorney, Michigan's Adventure or Valleyfair as a last resort!

Glad that you had a great time, Bert...you really needed this. Also glad to hear that your dog is okay (despite the high vet bill)!

Yes, the fries, IPA and new stands during F&W piqued my interest as much as the thought of new InvadR pix.

^ LOL...yeah, forgot about the knees pressing. Very awkward!

Have to make it back to this park to ride Drop Line and LR - thanks for the report, CB. WTF is with that Time Saver wristband though? That looks really awkward, uncomfortable and flimsy.

Oh for sure! Wildcat was a great little ride, as are most things Herr Achterbahn had a hand in creating. My main beefs with DT were: 1. So very goddamn ugly 2. Terrible investment 3. Intamin/Giovanola bobsleds just weren't very good in my opinion. They're neat and add diversity to a coaster line-up, but there's a reason why only 5 of them were ever built worldwide over the span of 2 years in the mid-'80s. I rode two of them: AR/DT at CP and Rolling Thunder at SFGAm, and whether outdoors or enclosed, the ride experience just seemed very short, lackluster and disjointed to me. Shallow drop -> turn-turn-turn -> MCBR -> shallow drop -> turn-turn-turn -> MCBR -> shallow drop -> turn-turn-turn -> End. They're not terrible or objectively bad or anything like that, they just never really dId it for me. A Schwarzkopf Wildcat on the other hand, now you're talking! I never cared for Wildcat...whether on the beach or over by Iron Dragon. I think I rode it a grand total of 2 times during my visits in the 80's, 90's and up until it's removal. I just remember it as an okay transitional coaster (along with Iron Dragon and CC Mine Ride) with one good drop, a horribly abrupt brake at the end and it being very noisy with all of it's clunking and clanking. It always felt a bit too "carnival" to me and seemed horribly out of place at CP - just my opinion though.

The drop tower looks great!

I remember my sister and her husband waiting for over two hours in line for DT during opening season and they were PISSED that they waited that long for something that sucked that badly! Me and my friend held off after they "gave us their review" and waited until our next visit when the line was more manageable. I had already ridden Avalanche Run and remembered how badly that sucked (only rode it once), so we weren't overly excited to ride DT. While it was definitely better in the dark, it just felt like a slower, lamer version of Space Mountain. I found it interesting that the queue line theming seemed like it only lasted one or two seasons before it just all sat idle....likely because it didn't have much of a line because the word was out that it wasn't very good. But yeah, on rainy days or really hot days, it could pick up an hour wait easily. I do remember the queue line stinking as well as the hotter than Hades (and equally smelly) enclosed lift hill.

I think the first-time Magnum stories are cool myself...let's settle down people. Anyone can choose to read someone's post, skim, or move on to another thread. My first Magnum experience involved (you guessed it)...drinking. 1989 and we were staying at Camper Village. There was no Soak City, no parking lot...just trees and campground. There was a "trail" to the gate that used to be all wooded, but Magnum just opened that up. I remember us looking at it and thinking to myself - "OMFG - not sure if I am ready for THAT beast!!". I also remember the picture in the Getaway Guide showing the animated coaster going into space and then down the hill... which built up the anticipation even more because there was no internet, no drones or any bull-shit like that...you didn't know what it looked like until you went there to see for yourself!! I was 18 at the time and thought drinking was a cool thing to do (who didn't?) and I remember me and my friend splitting a pint of Jim Beam in the woods (where'd the trees go?) and then going into the park on a Starlite pass and getting in line. The line was close to two hours long and the queue actually went behind the restrooms and down where TTD is now (Troika used to be there) and at times, down to Corkscrews entrance. The line was full of enthusiastic, excited people and despite the seemingly never-ending queue, the line seemed to always be moving so it didn't seem that bad - and dare I say it...even fun? Beach balls were flying around, people were all happy and I think a year or two into it, they then absorbed that vibe and added the DJ booth. As others have said, Magnum on opening year was like a religious experience. It was the most balls-out insane thing on the face of this of this earth and EVERYONE loved it. The station was like a freaking party and people were hooting, hollering, screaming and crying...it was fucking awesome. Magnum's line was like that for at least 5-10 years until MF was built. Yeah, Mean Streak, Raptor and Mantis drew away some of that line, but Magnum was (and still is) king among them...it is still my favorite over all of those additions when they came years later. It wasn't until Maverick and MF that it was de-throned as THE king of CP.

^ Same here...we had 70's a week ago and are now under a winter storm warning starting tomorrow night stretching into Wednesday. I am soooo over winter!!!

We had originally been planning on taking a Viking river cruise of the Rhine River (before Michael got sick)...and are still hoping that we can do it in the fall of this year. Could be tough though because those are something that likely need to be planned for well in advance. But cruise we will, damn it!

It looks so different, but it will be such a welcome addition to the water park...count me in as one of the ones that is psyched for this revamp. Also put me in the camp as one of the folks that has been remaining patient for the MS announcement. The only photos that I have seen thus far have been the legal ones posted on here - and I'm cool with that. Really stoked for the announcement!

I thought pagoda gift shop was the main gift shop at the park? And if you take US 2 to Milan Road is pretty easy getting to the park as well from Cleveland. I have heard that using the Milan Rd exit can be a nightmare around park opening because all of the hotels in the area, the traffic from the turnpike as well as Rt. 2 all merging onto Cleveland Rd (two lane). Plus they were doing a lot of construction on it last summer - although that could (or should) very well be finished by now. If you are coming in later in the morning or afternoon, using that route shouldn't be an issue, but if trying to get in for early entry or around 10, I would highly recommend the Rye Beach Rd. exit off of Rt. 2. For anyone going to the Point from the west and staying on site or day tripping, I'd recommend taking the OH 4 exit off the Turnpike or OH 2 and then using Monroe St and 1st St (once into downtown Sandusky). You pick up the Causeway just south of the bridge and you also avoid US 6 (and US 250) completely. Bonus: OH 4 takes you right past Sandusky High School, home of the Blue Streaks! And right in front of Sandusky High School & the Blue Streaks...Berardi's!!! Great breakfast! Om, nom, nom!

^ Sigh...you are right, David...it's been a really tough go in recent months. And my sore throat has now decided to invade my sinuses and chest...yuk! But on a higher note, Michael broke yesterday's record of a 45' walk with the walker with a 50' walk today, so I will take that as positive progress!

I'll absolutely get fridge magnet (s) and *maybe* a shirt for Nick (and one for me if I can find one I like) I'm a fridge magnet guy too! Last year CP had several cool t-shirt designs with the old logo as well as one's of some of the now defunct rides like Schwabinchen, Jumbo Jet and the old Earthquake dark ride. I'm not a big coaster t-shirt guy, but I do like these retro style t-shirts. I also have one from Canada's Wonderland, Kings Island and Kings Dominion (all released during their anniversary years). Here is the one I bought.