larrygator

Only 76 of them

Since I haven't traveled much the past few years, I'm missing many of the newer coasters. I've ridden 85. Says I'm in the Top 1%

No matter what conspiracy theories you throw out there, Cedar Fair wants all their parks to succeed. Dorney built a coaster in 2005 and did not see the return on investment to warrant another big expenditure. Small changes, especially to the water park, do more to raise revenue. Dorney would need to add multiple coasters (or one legit Top Ten coaster) to compete with Hershey and SFGAdv for thrill seekers. However, they would also need significant upgrades to compete with Knoebels to grow their family market. They are stuck in the middle and need to focus on the areas they are strong, or where they can be a leader. To me that is with the waterpark and season extending events.

I had less than 10 to go before the 2017 additions Zippin Pippin (Bay Beach) * Gold Striker (CGA) * Lightning Rod (Dolllwood) * Goliath (SFGAm) * Roar-o-saurus (Story Land) * Mystic Timers (Kings Island) * InvadR - (Busch Williamsburg) * Mine Blower (Fun Spot) Switchback (ZDT) Roller Coaster (Upper Clements) Kiddie Coaster (Rye Playland) Classic Coaster (Washington State Fair) * Trying to ride these ones in 2017

I have no issues with Nathan's leaving since it sounds like other places in the park will still serve the Nathan's brand.

It was certainly an unspectacular coaster.

1. What is the farthest distance you've traveled to specifically visit a theme park? Hong Kong 2. Your favorite coaster in the state you live in? Coney Island Cyclone 3. Would you rather wait in line for a boomerang (at any park) or a VR coaster @ a Six Flags? I would wait for the boomerang at Wiener Prater 4. Have u ever been the only person in a train during a coaster ride? Yes 5. What is your favorite thing to do at your home park that does not involve riding something? Use the water cannons 6. Better time for ERT: Early morning or late night? Late Night 7. Name some theme park food that *sounds* gross, yet is oh-so-delicious? Beaver Tails 8. Name your top three "bucketlist" coasters you have yet to ride. T-Express, Wildfire, Formula Rossa 9. Have you ever been E-Vac'd? Did you receive anything if you did? Yes, no. 10. What is the longest length of time you've waited for a coaster? 3 hours 11. Worst flat ride ever. Name it. Huss Fly Away 12. Your favorite SWEET treat at a park that is NOT your home park. Dark Chocolate Shake at Hersheypark 13. Congratulations! After aggressively gambling on the Plinko game you finally won a front of the line pass. Which ride do you use it on? Depends on the park, the ride I like with the longest line 14. If you could have a lifetime fast pass to ONE attraction what would it be? El Toro 15. Have you ever been next to someone that puked on a coaster? No 16. Your home park is getting a new B&M and YOU get to pick what type. Do you want an invert/hyper/dive/floorless/flyer/wing/standup? All of the above is not an option. Dive 17. Name your favorite Vekoma. GIB 18. What water ride delivers the most unacceptable amount of wetness? Popeye at IOA 19. If you were able to help design a coaster would you want it to focus on airtime or inversions/positive G's? Air 20. Most comfortable trains/seats for a coaster are... Phantom's Revenge 21. Choose one: Unlimited front-of-the-line access to your favorite coaster at your home park for one season OR $1,000 cash? Money 22. You just got drowned by a flume/rapids/chute-the-chutes. Do you pay the $$ for the dryer machine or do you continue on with your day trudging around like soggy dog? Neither, if I drowned it wouldn't metter 23. What is the worst food you've had at your home park? A hot dog at Tusenfryd 24. You're at Cedar Point. You have a one hour ERT session on ONE coaster of your choice. You choose... Millenium Force 25. Favorite (non-clone) dark ride? Journey to the Center of the Earth 26. What was your favorite park you visited in 2016? Knoebels 27. What's your current credit count? Don't be shy. over 1,000 28. Winner winner chicken dinner! You just won a trip with hotel and airfare included. The catch is its only good for Six Flags America or Mt Olympus. Which do you choose? SFA 29. What is the best Intamin coaster you have ridden? iSpeed 30. Your home park has to remove one coaster and one flat for an expansion. Which two rides would you be OK with losing? Skull Mountain and Congo Rapids 31. Song/music you've heard playing at a park that absolutely has not business being played in a theme park? I rarely notice the background sounds 32. There's 5 minutes before the park closes. You choose to: Reride your favorite coaster in the park, OR get the new kiddie/junior coaster credit? I would never be stuck in such a situation that I still need a credit 5 minutes before a park closes 33. Do you visit the waterpark if it's connected to the amusement park? Rarely 34. What 2017 addition are you most looking forward to? Gale Force (for the second year in a row) 35. What was the most disappointing addition to your home park in the past 10 years? The Dark Knight 36. The most overrated coaster ever is... Incredible Hulk 37. What ride makes you wanna vomit? None 38. What is the best consolation prize you've won at a games booth? I did not know there were consolation prizes 39. And the worst? I did not know there were consolation prizes 40. End this questionnaire by posting a picture of your favorite light package (coaster/flat). Photo Courtesy of Jack Crouse and lighting done by TPR

If CAI wins the contract, I assume they will add Zamperla rides and would like to see the following rides. I think it would benefit Zamperla to have these installations in the US if they want to showcase them to other potential buyers. Twist and Bounce Super Spin Backflash - Suspended Windshear Energy Storm Sombrero

I would like CAI to offer a better Combo package between Luna Park and Scream Zone rides first. But they are doing very well with their current pricing structure.

The city is accepting RFPs to build on the last big remaining piece of undeveloped around the current amusement area. Based on the map in the article it appears there will be 5 small parcels. Two parcels would be between the Thunderbolt and MCU Park. Three other smaller parcels appear to be current streets Stillwell Avenue, West 12th Avenue and West 15th Avenue. It appears the streets would no longer run along the sides of Scream Zone and be and turned into amusement areas. I'm sure the RFP process will just be a formality for CAI unless Deno's is willing to pony up some money to expand a little. In my opinion I don't see the city letting another vendor in. https://commercialobserver.com/2017/02/city-looking-to-add-more-fun-in-coney-island-with-new-rfp/ City Looking to Add More Fun in Coney Island With New RFP By Liam La Guerre Feb. 6, 2017, 2:58 p.m. Coney Island will be getting another amusement park if the city has its way. As a part of the city’s redevelopment plan for the Brooklyn neighborhood, the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the city’s Department of Parks & Recreation released a request for proposals, or RFP, today for the creation and operation of new rides, games and other attractions in the entertainment area. The RFP includes 150,000 square feet of space on five vacant parcels along the boardwalk between West 10th and West 16th Streets. Proposals are due on March 17. The city is hoping the new amusements will be opened by summer 2018. “Coney Island just keeps getting better,” the new NYCEDC President and Chief Executive Officer James Patchett said in a prepared statement. “The de Blasio administration is working to grow jobs in the amusement district, build affordable housing and invest in critical infrastructure. It’s all part of our effort to improve quality of life and expand opportunities for Coney Island residents while preserving the unique culture of this historic destination.” Following decades of deterioration and closings of various independently owned rides, the Bloomberg administration partnered with Central Amusements International (CAI), a subsidiary of Italy-based amusement park operator Zamperla, for the construction of Luna Park in Coney Island in 2010. That first year CAI opened 19 new rides in the new amusement park. A year later, CAI opened the Scream Zone, a sister park with additional rides. And then in 2013 the company won the RFP to build the Thunderbolt roller coaster, which opened in 2014. Today CAI operates about 30 rides in Coney Island. A representative for Zamperla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Coney Island has long been a home to amusement rides. The famous Deno’s Wonder Wheel opened in 1920 and the Cyclone in 1927. At nearby Luna Park, Joseph Sitt’s Thor Equities sold the 3.1 acres to the city in 2009 for $95.7 million, retaining about 55,000 square feet on land off the boardwalk. Thor has used the site for its twice annual art show, but has plans for a hotel and movie theater someday, as CO previously reported. Sitt did not immediately respond to an inquiry seeking comment about the RFP, according to a company spokesman. Local Councilman Mark Treyger called the RFP a “victory that benefits all.” He added: “Expanding the already exciting array of activities in the iconic Coney Island amusement district means more employment opportunities for local residents and more reasons for New Yorkers to continue making the ‘People’s Playground’ one of our city’s premier recreational destinations.”

Because the paint is not important, and by important I mean vital to operation.

^Sorry, I should have been clearer regarding the liquor license comment. I meant in relation to liquor liability insurance which would greatly increase if expanded to the theme park.

I never watched the Big Fat Panda Show before, but just watched all three of Robb's appearances (and Yehaa Bob). Very entertaining, amusing and educational. Even though I have been there I did not realize the Tokyo Disney parks were back to back (to share service areas).

They might make some incremental money but I don't think it would be a killing. But who knows, no one wold know unless it happens. I don't know if there are financial implications to add a liquor license to business the size of Dollywood, but I don't think Herschend would want to deal with the hassle, stray from their core values or worry about a possible public outcry from their core constituency. The park is not struggling for new revenue streams especially after just opening Dreammore.

^^I wasn't 100% set on visiting Kennywood this year, but now I am. Thanks for mentioning this deal.

Holy crap... that actually makes sense. LOL. Look up the history of CF capital expenditures. This isn't SF where they constrain things to a set % of revenue. How long have you been Cedar Fair finance committee? The original poster's theory has been proposed on a few occasions. One doesn't need to look at the history of CF expenditures, look only at the last few years to see how much lower their capex spending become.

Answer

Every little piece helps. The park has cut its debt in half since 2014, however, most of the money to pay down debt came from the sale of property. According to this article three of six lots have been sold to date. If the remaining three lots fetch the same prices, that covers the existing debt. Seems to be a simple solution to what was once posed a difficult to solve problem. Conneaut Lake Park's real estate debt cut in half since bankruptcy filing By Keith Gushard, Meadville Tribune With the recent completion of the sale of a third lakefront lot, Conneaut Lake Park's real estate tax debt now is about half what it was when the amusement park filed for bankruptcy protection more than two years ago. In December 2014, Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park, the nonprofit corporation that oversees the amusement park’s operations, filed for Chapter 11 federal bankruptcy protection. The amusement park owed about $1.3 million in real estate taxes, interest, fees and penalties to Conneaut School District, Crawford County, and Summit and Sadsbury townships dating to 1997. Completion of the sale of the third lakefront lot has trimmed the amusement park's real estate tax debt by more than $600,000. Under its bankruptcy reorganization plan, Trustees are selling off the former Flynn property, located north of Conneaut Lake Park’s midway/former Beach Club site. The Flynn property, vacant land with about 330 feet of lakefront, is considered unnecessary to the amusement park's long-term operation. The site was subdivided into six lots — five approximately one-third acre each at the lakefront and a 1.6-acre lot located behind the lakefront parcels. A report of sale filed Jan. 18 with U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Western Pennsylvania stated Trustees completed the sale of a 0.33-acre parcel to Anthony F. Uberti and Jill L. Uberti of Hermitage for $255,000 on Dec. 30, 2016. It was the third lakefront land sale by Trustees in 2016. Each sale had to have prior approval by U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Western Pennsylvania. The Uberti sale generated net proceeds of $201,936.43 to the Crawford County Tax Claim Bureau to pay the school district, county and two townships for back taxes, interest and penalties owed by Conneaut Lake Park. The three lakefront lots sold generated combined net proceeds of $618,510.95 toward the $1.3 million owed to the school district, county and two townships. The net proceeds are what remains after the deduction of realty settlement charges, real estate transfer taxes and professional fees associated with each sale. In April, bankruptcy court approved Trustees’ sale of a 0.38-acre lakefront lot to Drew Russ of Pittsburgh for $260,000 and in September approved the Trustees’ sale of a 0.37-acre lakefront lot to Robert F. and Donna L. Naples of Warren, Ohio, for $260,000.

Please use this thread

I once rode an indoor ride frog hopper that was in the dark but accentuated with lasers and strobes. It was extremely disorienting and unpredictable. I don't care about the hype for most 2017 rides but I seriously see the potential here.

Thanks, I'll update. I'm very confused about the upcharge family tower

I'm more intrigued by this development than any other new 2017 ride in the US. By the way,all those rides are listed here http://themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=72373 (CHEAP PLUG)

Yeah about that though... I have to admit, the marketing of this place confuses the hell out of me. Based on what we saw, we felt like the place was totally geared towards families but they're focusing their marketing on adults, young professionals and companies looking to do offsite team building functions. Seriously... look at their promotional images. It's almost all adults, even on some of the kids rides. My understanding is that although it is a fairly new place they are well known within a 10 mile radius as a great place for kid's birthday parties and they continue the focus the majority of marketing dollars locally (whether it be via online, mailers, couponing, billboards). I know my friends with kids that live in Manalapan, Matawan, Freehold, Englishtown and Howell think of the place as a kid's birthday party place. However, to extend the hours and keep the place open at night they need to also attract an older crowd and those the marketing efforts that adults are more likely to see. Locals going to the website already know it is the place for kids birthday parties in the area.

No you were scammed by scammer!

I have no way to tell for sure, but that has to double the cost of the installation. I never paid much attention to how much shorter this ride will be than the typical mountain coasters.