alilstronger

I think my opinion differs from a lot of people's but I prefer staying off point at a cheaper hotel. Regarding your post, I guess it depends on your definition of a budget motel. Generally if I'm staying at a cheap hotel (which I do frequently) I only stay at a chain as I feel like they have some standards they need to meet (albeit minimal) to be able to remain part of the franchise. I also read reviews on multiple websites before booking a hotel as 2 hotels with the same name can differ greatly. Generally my thought about hotels is that if I'm not going to be spending any time there, then I don't care about anything as long as the hotel is clean, quiet and safe. All I need is a place to sleep because I'm going to leave when I wake up and not get back until I'm ready to take a quick shower and immediately go to sleep. If I were going to the beach or something then I would want a much nicer hotel because I'll be spending a lot of time in the room. I absolutely understand the benefits of staying at Cedar Point but for us it's not worth the cost. We'll be at the park from 9am to about 11pm on a standard day (assuming we get in line for something like Millennium Force right before closing like we always do), so the amenities offered by the Cedar Point hotels don't matter (unless you don't have a platinum pass and want the early entry). We won't be spending any time at the pool, the hot tub or looking at the lake because it's going to be dark. The only benefit is the location but I don't think a 20 minute drive will kill anyone. Hotel rates vary greatly across the country and we found the area around Cedar Point to be ridiculously cheap. You can get a pretty decent hotel room for less than $50 per night. When we were there we stayed at the Super 8 near the Ohio Turnpike (yeah I know, but not all Super 8's are created equal, this one is pretty nice) on Labor Day weekend for 4 nights for less than $200 and it was great. We do pretty well, but we are on a fixed income... and with the money we saved on the hotel we could spend it on Fast Lane Plus instead. I'd consider that a much better use of the money. I could not agree with you more. I look for the cheapest with decent reviews. I only need a clean and safe place. I do not need a pool, closed in walk ways, gym, free food, etc. I'm literally only sleeping and showering at hotels when I go on a park trip so I need to spend as little as possible on a room. I stayed at the Mecca Motel which is so close to Cedar Point but so much cheaper. Is is falling a part? Yes. It is EXTREMELY dated? Yes. Was it a little scary? Just a tad. Was it clean? For the most part. Was the advertised mini golf grown over? Yes. Was the advertised pool there? No. However, once I saw several others families staying there I was relieved. And over all I will gladly stay there again. The staff was friendly to me and I only paid $50 a night!!!

When You Were Mine - Megan & Liz

^ There is a gay sports bar in DC called Nellie's. They play remixed dance music while showing sports on the TVs. This is the bar the straight guys went to that were on the Real World DC and they had no idea its a gay bar.

^ Last summer when I went if they saw you carrying anything they would not let you take it on. I just put my phone, wallat, keys in my pockets before getting to the platform.

I Will Remember You - Amy Grant

Welcome to the Farm - Luke Bryan

Awesome trip report!!

Awesome pics! The new midway looks great! Last year was my first time to Cedar Point and my first thought walking through that section was how out dated it looked. On the opposite side of the park the mid way is heavily covered with tress and has the old time feel that I like. I was hoping this side would get a make over eventually.

Discipline - Janet Jackson

Both but prefer park index.

Free - Destiny's Child

Slides like these are so much fun. I hope to get to visit and ride eventually. I think the purple one looks pretty good. That drop is pretty steep.

Great spread sheet!

Seems like it is moving along just fine to me. 2016 is not unreasonable to have the theme park open. They seem like they are taking things slow with this one by starting with the sports complex, then water park and finally the theme park. Perhaps they see what happened to Hard Rock Park and they do not want the same thing to happen. Also this is not a Six Flags park so they could have it all up and running in no time.

Press Pause - Danity Kane

When I walk into a very clean park with several 25 million dollar plus rides and lots of fairly happy employees, I don't think walmart. When I am paying $8 for fries and $35 for a sweatshirt, I do not think Walmart. Have you ever worked for either Walmart or Six Flags? If so, I would love to hear some real reasons why Six Flags is anything like walmart in anyway shape or form. Honestly, how much more complex of a lighting package do you need on the ride? Top Thrill Dragster has essentially the same exact thing and I have never heard any complaints. There are homes within 10 feet of the park's borders and an airport a few miles away. I doubt either of those would really appreciate a thousand lights on a 456ft tall structure. There is a difference between practical and cheap. If a single spotlight is all you need to do the trick, than I wouldn't call having just that "cheaping out". I don't understand all of the sudden Gadv hate. Yeah, the park is going through some growing pains rights now and has some weird dead ends, but in reality its got one the best collections of rides out there and a fairly nice atmosphere. Golden Kingdom and PDC are two of the nicest areas in any Six Flags or Cedar Fair parks out there. Both cost a fortune and nobody wants to bring them up when comparing the park to Walmart. End rant. I feel the park lacks details, such as theming on many of the rides, or had them, and let them go to crap like the following year. and out the 3 parks I have been to this season so far, its by far the dirtiest. that's why I consider them like walmart. and yes, I worked a handful of season at SFGadv in the 1990's in rides. This thread is full of fighting and complaining, jeez. haha Let's settle this. Walmart and GADV are nothing alike. First off, the only thing dirty about Walmart is maybe some of the people that shop there, but that makes for some hilarious internet pictures. GADV isn't even a dirty park. Sure it's the cleanest place in the world but it's hard to keep a place spotless that serves nearly three million guests a year, and I think the park does a damn good job for what it can. I work at GADV currently and my supervisors are constantly picking up trash and as employees, we are taught to clean up any garbage we see lying around. Even our park president walks around the park everyday just picking up trash. We take cleanliness seriously. Walmart charges almost nothing for its products while GADV prices things at typical expensive amusement park prices. I see no similarities. Walmart is a store, GADV is an amusement park. Again, I see no similarities. And having a light placed on Kingda Ka is better than nothing at all. Like honestly, does it really matter how it was rigged. It works and serves its purpose. We can complain all we want but it won't change anything. I'm sure management has a multiyear plan for the park already worked out to smooth out the dead ends and round the park out more. Just give the park some time. haha Let's focus our energy on Zumanjaro. The ride opens this month!!! I could not agree more with either of you. This park a long with any Six Flags park are not known for themeing. Six Flags is known for its rides - not beautiful gardens and things like that. The park could stay just the way it is look wise and I would still love it. I am someone who can appreciate a park for its coasters and/or its beauty/themeing. I hate when people pick it all apart. They start to take away from the fun of it.

Android users can also download Auto Ride Count. I have not used it in any parks yet but it is supposed to know which park you are in and bring up the coasters in that park. You can also add them manually. Good idea because then I can access from anywhere. Thank you! I should have known this my BF only uses Google docs for everything.

^ Thank you for that report. I hate when manufactures use restraints like that. That is why I avoid Crazy Dances at parks/carnivals when it has a long line.

Thank you everyone for your feed back. Looks like I need to start an excel spread sheet. Laura I love all of your detail I am going to check out Coaster Grotto now

Hello Everyone! I looked and could not find a thread about this. I apologize if one exist. I know many of us use websites like http://www.coastercounter.com and http://www.coaster-count.com to keep track of our coaster tallying. I use both actually. However, I have been thinking lately I would like to create my own list via excel or other means. I like the idea of creating my own format as well as I do not always trust the internet and these sites could go down at any minute. Losing all of my tracking. What ways do you all keep track? I have thought about creating a list - In this list I would have the park name, its location, open/closed/SBNO and the coaster name. I am not concerned with much else. I am open to any ideas though. Thank you!

Nasty - Janet Jackson

Don't Be Stupid - Shania Twain

I was just wondering if this would happen this year. Glad to see it planned. Now gotta save to go!

^ RIGHT?! lol I love Buc-ees.

This is my experience. I have not seen them use both stations in literally years. If they have, that is awesome. Even when I have went during Fright Fest the two past seasons when the line was hitting an hour+ they used one station and one train.