AndrewRnR

I'm aware of the many "over weight" accidents (for lack of a better term) but I feel like I'm missing something (maybe these came out in the previous accidents that I didn't as closely follow?). If the restraint locks/shows a green light/etc how would I operator know that the guest is too large to ride? Does the extra pressure up against the restraint cause the failure? I'll admit I've see all the time when one or two operators have to push the restraint to close around a larger guest but does that translate into extra force on the restraint? Or as others mentions is it, for lack of better wording - their body shape and the way the restraint comes down around it? Maybe the answer isn't known - I'm just curious and thinking out loud.

It is hydraulic - hence my comment why I was saying in general. If a safety bar can lock it should be designed to hold someone in - if not then it shouldn't lock. At least that is how I view it - but again, I'm no engineer.

I'll preface this with by saying I'm no engineer but I don't understand what role her sizes plays into all of this - if the restraint is able to lock shouldn't it be designed to remained locked whether is it at one "click" or three? (I know there is no "clicks" on this system just saying in general). I would like to believe that if a person can fit inside the restraint and it locks then it is the restraints responsibility to hold them in. Again, I'm no engineer - just thinking out loud.

I would recommend taking the main route in - it is so iconic that is is something that should be experienced. Unless you go on a Saturday in July/August or between 10-11am you won't find a crazy long line. They usually move people through quickly so I wouldn't worry about traffic and even if you don't have a platinum pass I would still recommend aiming to be parked at 9am anyways so you can get to the gate and be ready to go. While the "scenic" route is certainly scenic there is nothing too exciting about it... just a bunch of houses along the water. I've been going to the park for over 20 years and maybe have taken that way two or three times. Especially for first timers it is much more exciting to drive across the causeway and see the park across the bay.

^ Depends on your budget and expectations - if you want a low cost exterior corridor motel that you only planning on sleeping in it will barely serve that expectation. I always recommend checking out rates for Breakers Express generally it isn't much more than the going-rate around town.

I always say a ride on Magnum depends on the alignment of the planets. Sometimes it is really smooth (by Magnum standards) other times I have sworn never to ride it again. Was it ever smoother? Perhaps, but I wonder if our definition of "smooth" has changed over the years. For the first several years Magnum was open there was no B&M, let alone MF/Maverick to compare it to. Having never rode those during the early years I used to remember the ride as smooth. Now you ride a B&M or one of the newer Intamins and almost anything feels rough, let alone Magnum. On a related, but unrelated note, Magnum has received a lot of work - almost like a wooden coaster over the years to a lesser extent. The third drop pull-out was re-profiled after the first season and the pretzel helix was retracked in the mid-90s. Heck, the cars used to have up-stop bars vs wheels. Smooth or not the ride experience, in some ways, has changed slightly over the years.

Lake Erie is actually quite shallow even at its deepest. I believe Sandusky Bay (the body of water on the Millennium Force side of the park) is roughly 12 feet at the deepest points. It isn't so much of an issue of depth, or the fact building in a lake that freezes over, it is who owns the land. The State of Ohio owns Lake Erie through a trust - if I'm not mistaken Cedar Point (or any lakefront property) only owns the property up to where the ordinary low water level is (I believe that is how the state words it). While I'm sure there are some exceptions for docks and such, building a permanent structure could be quite different. (Dr. M - I know you said you knew they didn't own it when you asked - just figured I would throw out some of the facts I learned from my nerdy Cedar Point research days).

That's great to hear - when I worked at Disney the cups of fruit and sandwiches sat in the cooler for a day or overnight (we always got the "past serve" food in the admin offices if they didn't sell). This was several years ago so perhaps there is new standards.

I'm "new" on the healthy food scene (I used to be "fried food? Perfect!") so maybe this is the norm but any kind of "fresh" or "healthy" food at parks (or at stadiums and arenas for that matter) is alway prepackaged and is either salads or fruit bowls. The Sea World parks seem to be the only spot I can find a fresh fruit cut up that doesn't look like it has been sitting in a bag or container for days (I'm talking to you Disney... promoting apple slices as an alternative to fries but they are bagged up from who knows how long!). I would love to see a fresh salad bar... only if parks could stop adding Chick-fil-A and add Sweet Tomatoes instead (for those who don't know what that is... click the link and discover the awesomeness - there is one a half a mile from Universal Orlando if you are coming to town!).

^Not only is Transdemonium a credit but lets not forget it had that fake ending just like Mummy at Universal! I thought Parc Asterix was a decent park but with it coming after some of the best parks in the world it didn't quite stand up. Not to mention the crowds... holy crap!

Maybe I'm missing something... but why timing on this announcement? It starts next year? They open a major new attraction and are about to kick off "Summer Nights" (which strangely I've heard or seen nothing about it around town) yet they are marketing something that happens next year? Weird. While in part it sounds similar to a certain other major celebration by another theme park... the atmosphere at Sea World is already great so random entertainment and surprises certainly can't hurt. People seem to always eat up anytime someone is walking around with even the smallest animal.

Not reading into anything. While waiting to be allowed in the ordering area the team member asked us what we thought and I asked if the Flaming Moe had alcohol. She said no but in the future there will be an alcohol option. As I mentioned she was a hourly team member so take it for what its worth. As others have said if there is a will there is a way. This is the park that nearly transforms itself into one giant bar for their Halloween event - they seem to have a grasp on how to manage alcohol in their park.

FWIW I was told that a alcoholic version of the Flaming Moe is coming. Granted that was just from a hourly I chatted up while in line so take it with a grain of salt. The area looks great - Moe's is a self contained area of the larger quick-service place and the theme all around is fun. However I had the chicken and waffles and it was just plain bad (ever by theme park food standards) the waffles seemed to be frozen that when heated up were bone-dry with no taste and the chicken was ok. For an average park guest the food does it job with the theme and atmosphere but it isn't the fun certainly isn't anything to seek out by itself. Overall it is a win - anytime a park updates a boring area with a fun new theme is a win in my book.

I don't think I've seen this mentioned yet - I just heard about this and know there are a few annual passholders here. Next Thursday, June 6th, the park is having an annual pass holder party from 4pm-8pm which includes 2 free beers per passholder! I'll head over around 5:30 when I get off work! Here is the flyer: http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1111570680408-81/Annual+Pass.pdf

Nope - was there last night for a few rides as well as today after work for a few more. Got a few rides with the train to myself - the back seat seems to be the money seat IMO.

Yup! It opened around 7:15 or so. Got a quick ride in and as I was leaving the outside queue was really filling up quickly. It is a great ride... some reviews I've heard (from friends, coworkers and people tonight) were using the word "disappointment" because it is "just like Spiderman" (while it is similar it improves on the 14 year old technology). To me Spiderman is one of the best dark rides ever built so how another version of one of the best rides ever built can be a disappointment is beyond me. I'm not a fan of the movies (only saw part of the first one) so I didn't quite follow the storyline but the projections are top-notch and overall it is a solid experience.

Finally got a chance to check out the ride last night - it is a great throw-your-hands-up-in-the-air-and-have-fun ride. Not sure how I would compare it to other GCI coasters but it is lots of fun and perhaps my favorite coaster in Orlando. Buying the annual pass last year as part of the half-off special has already greatly paid for itself! If anyone around town wants to meet up and grab a few laps just drop me a message. My office is just up the road - I plan on swinging by on my way home from work a few times a week to unwind from a day at the office!

Didn't the park buy a whole new chasis for Batman? Seems like a lot to effort for a few months- maybe we'll see that chassis end up at another park for a Batman promotion.

Stealing this photo from Hanno's thread. The picture sums up one crazy ERT session in Germany last year. It was painful, I got soaked, and it was worth every minute - they actually were going to stop because it was raining, we said we didn't mind and they kept it open!

^Thanks for the heads up - think I'll stop by on the way home from work today and redeem my annual pass!

It was opening day -there always are bugs. I went to countless opening days at the park before moving to Florida and the day is always filled with downtimes, long lines for merch and food, etc - but that is almost expected for the first day. You can test and train over and over but when thousands of people flood the park, fill the rides, and challenge employees for the first time things are bound to happen. Not surprising most opening day trip reports on TPR for parks around the world are similar in that sense.

The first rider auction has been pushed from May 1st to the 8th so it looks like opening day could be the second weekend in May now. On a related, but unrelated note, I will be in town for the first weekend and now that Goldstriker most likely won't be open I'm thinking of doubling up Six Flags and CGA. Does locals think both are doable in a day? I'm staying downtown San Fran, was going to rent a car, thinking I could get to SF at opening, leave around 2, get to CGA by 3:30, and close out the park? Would that work to credit whore? And how is the drive between the parks?

^ Perfect - that's enough notice. I just wanted to be clear with my answer I couldn't attend a July event if announced in say June.

I voted yes - however my one concern/suggestion is advance notice. I work M-F and have no problem taking time off to fly to an event for a park that interests me - however generally by April I already have my few weeks of vacation time already penciled in for the summer. Most club/parks events are announced by then and I try to fit my plans around that. I'm not sure what goes into planning Bash events so perhaps it wouldn't be possible so early but for any upcoming season, if we knew the events by April I know I would attend most, if not all.

I was able to attend an offseason construction event for Millennium Force back in late '99 and the park's spokesman said they looked at several companies but Intamin was the only one that was willing to work with the 300ft spec. To that point and as a few others have said - Intamin is willing to push the limits. People always say to get aheld in a job do something no one else is willing to - I think that is Intamin's almost "niche" if you will. As in the case with Millennium Force, and we can only wonder how many others, Intamin had a leg up on the competition simply because they were willing to try.