Coasterguy21
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Posts posted by Coasterguy21
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Camper Village was removed this last off season for more cabins for Lighthouse Point.
Only some of Camper Village was removed for that. There's still a bit of it left. Not much for anything huge, though.
Yeah, there still some sites left (and more than one would think). It's just all a part of Lighthouse Point now, hence the reason Camper Village no longer is listed as a resort option. All in all, I like the expansion of Lighthouse Point.
I love the clothes hanger still on the rack in the closet!Hahaha, that's great. I had to go back and look after you posted this.
By the way it seems like the park is having a lot of issues with wind closing rides this month. Is this typical of October on Lake Erie (it wouldn't surprise me) or is it just a coincidence? I know October on Lake Erie is generally very cold but I didn't know if wind was more prevalent than normal also.Wind is usually an issue this time of year. This is my 3rd year living here and I can say that going into fall/winter has always been cold, rainy, and windy. More-so wind this year rather than rain, but high winds are nothing out of the ordinary in October, nonetheless.
I went the last day of the season in 2012. Temps were in the upper 30s to lower 40s. The wind was really whipping when we got there and there was rain near the peninsula. As we were riding Millennium Force, it actually started to rain and then sleet (talk about painful). WindSeeker, Power Tower, Iron Dragon, Top Thrill Dragster & Raptor were not running (there were probably more but that's about all I can think of right now). Thankfully, the haunted houses were open on the last day of the season that year, so we were able to hit up Boeckling's Eerie Estate & Eden Musee.
We just went for Mantis' closing day recently and I had been watching the weather forecast like a hawk. It was all over the place. I wanted to go down to get my last rides in on Mantis, but I had also yet to ride GateKeeper yet, so I really wanted to make sure I got that in. The winds were forecast to be somewhat up there, but as the day came closer they went down. When we arrived, it was actually a pleasant day. GateKeeper wasn't open when we arrived, but I knew it'd only be a matter of time before it did because WindSeeker was operating. Wind and low temps can make or break a day there. But, forecasting is forecasting, it could not be that windy. It's a gamble either way.
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^Michigan's Adventure isn't really having issues at all in most respects, it has the highest profit margin in the chain and attendance has been up. In that sense, it would make sense not to build a really large ride until attendance starts to slip and/or enough money is saved up. Afterall, they're still riding the Thunderhawk wave (yes, I know it was relocated but it increased attendance significantly in 2007 and has been up ever since...even through the downturn).
You are correct in the sense that each park operates independently. Each park literally "has their own account". Just don't go to the Facebook pages for the parks because they'll point out about how "The money made at Michigan's Adventure must go to Cedar Point then" . Corporate planning for the parks is great and there is a lot of experience there. Essentially, the General Managers do have quite a bit of say on what can come to the parks now from what has been stated. It passes through corporate and the planning department works with each individual park to figure out the details of the next project. It's a really good system.
As for Mean Streak, I had the same feeling when I was there last weekend for the final rides on Mantis. Don't get me wrong, the ride was surprisingly more smooth than I have remembered it being in years. I actually enjoyed it more than usual. But, the transformation of Mantis kind of moves in to show that the park and chain aren't afraid to change things up to make rides declining in ridership a bit more popular.
Mantis, in my opinion, wasn't so bad of a stand-up coaster (and was a lot more comfortable when wearing jeans ), but, no doubt, that Rougarou will be popular. It will have the pull of a new coaster and ridership will be high. Not to mention, capacity will be too (now that three trains will be back to running). Loading and unloading also won't take as long as on the stand-up version. While it won't be too terribly of an expensive renovation, Mean Streak more so would be. It will be interesting to see how this goes.
If the closing photo booths are any signs, Mantis & Mean Streak have had theirs closed for awhile
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A few years back, a train was stopped on the lift hill on Whizzer at Six Flags Great America. I had just finished my lap and we were sitting on the brake run. With the train broken down on the hill, our train was not cleared to enter the station yet. We were stuck there for a good 45 minutes before a maintenance worker was able to get the train on the lift going.
For safety purposes, we could not exit the train despite there being a platform next to us. We had to wait to be in the station. All in all, wasn't a big deal to me. It's a comfortable coaster to breakdown on so I ended up taking a nap. Once in and we exited, we received a free drink voucher and free, front-of-the-line pass for a single ride. So we went and grabbed a soda pop and headed to Raging Bull to use our pass.
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^^Pretty sure they never stated what they were doing with the name, just that the name would be coming to the park.
Bryan Edwards was quoted as saying in the newspaper that it could be naming a new coaster, temporarily re-naming an existing coaster or permanently re-naming an existing coaster. That was the last time anything was said about it so pretty much all options are still on the table.
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I didn't find it rude either, just his opinion and it was not vicious or anything. I just didn't agree with it at all. The 9 million comes from CF and the research they did on this market. The market included South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and Western Wisconsin which they could draw visitors from due to distance and none of those area's having a park as big as VF and what it has to offer. Like you said, Minnesota has about 5.5 million in people in the state with 2.75 to 3 million in the Twin Cities area including all the suburbs. According to garyman6 when he walked with GM Dave Frazier this year he referenced the 9 million people also when comparing the Twin Cities (VF) to Cincinnati (KI) and said they are looking at KI and what they do and what VF could do to approach their attendance considering they have a similar market size. (HINT: Get some good rides like KI ) He used that number which (according to CF research) is about the same size market as Cincinnati area which is 2.2 million with a wider market of 9 million due to northern Kentucky and the southern half of Ohio. We will find out if their research is right. I personally think it is close to right. When I visit KI in Mason, see Cincinnati and the surrounding suburbs and what they have to draw from I don't see a big difference. I think with the right attractions VF should be able to draw at least half the attendance KI does and maybe a little more than half. CF seems to think the same but we have to see how much $$$ they are going to invest over the next 5 years, until then it is just talk.
Actually, when you read Cedar Fair's portfolio online, Kings Islands total market area is 15 million. The words "total market area" aren't included in Valleyfair's description like they are for the other properties. They have 3 million in the area and they only say "combined population base of 9 million people".
I guess we'll see what Cedar Fair does with the park over the next few years. But don't get your hopes up to high. Can't believe everything read on here because those that know usually don't speak.
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^Notice how the article said "17 roller coasters"
You are right, with Wildcat, now they are down to 16...HMMMMM
It's because they count Pipe Scream as a coaster. Therefore, they say they have 17.
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Don't know if I'd put stock into that. KI apparently had no plans to convert Flight Deck until they did the tease and it got a great response.
I was under the impression that they already had a plan to change it to "The Bat" so it would fall more in line with Banshee. Before that logo was even teased, a lot of Flight Deck merchandise went on sale for 50%-75% off and the logos from the front of the trains were removed. I thought that was a very good sign. That's when I started thinking the name was going to change at least.
As for Mantis. I really don't know what to think. Maybe it'll stay and be converted or maybe it'll move to another park where it can begin a new life. A B&M has never been scrapped and I don't see this one being the first one to either.
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Valleyfair has the longest history with Cedar Fair. It was their first park purchase after decided to expand. The name Cedar Fair comes from Cedar Point and Valleyfair
I believe that Cedar Fair is finally seeing the market potential here and has decided it's time to tap into that market. We have the same market size as Canada's Wonderland. Our state fair just ended it's 12 day run and topped 1.8 million visitors. That is second in the nation only to Texas whick I believe attracts about 2 million visitors during its run. And don't say it won't work here cause it's in a northern climate. That's a very poor answer cause 3 out of 4 of Cedar Fairs most attented parks are in similar climates and with very similar operating seasons. Knott's Berry Farm is the only park that operates year around.
So next time you want to make a rude statement, why don't you base it on facts and not just because its Valleyfair! Thank you very much!!!!
Market size and attendance figures are way different. Valleyfair may be in a market size of 9 million (which, is absolutely true, its the same size as the market for Canada's Wonderland). However, Valleyfair (along with Worlds of Fun) only pull in around 1 million visitors a year, far less than the 3 million at CW.
Basing on facts also doesn't mean basing on history. Truth be told, yes, Valleyfair was the first park acquired to create Cedar Fair. However, when the company was in debt after the Paramount acquisition, it was one of the first parks they tried to sell (along with Worlds of Fun & California's Great America). Profit margin, Adjusted EBITDA and lots of other factors factor in to feeling the need to sell a park. Thankfully, it didn't sell (I didn't want any of them to but I understood why. Was extremely happy when the Apollo merger didn't go through and they announced they wouldn't sell anything). Not trying to be rude here, but this just proves that the history card can't be played because the park could've become an ex-Cedar Fair park just a few years back.
Read through some posts and obviously saw a lot of fanboy/its my local park posts. Understandable and I don't usually have a problem with this. But the park needs to operate as a business. They know what to do. If a B&M isn't a part of that equation, then its not. If it is, then it is.
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^Those probably wouldn't have been the names of all of them.
Not to mention, many of the Cedar Fair parks above were never Paramount Parks. The only Paramount Parks were
-Kings Island
-Canada's Wonderland
-Great America
-Carowinds
-Kings Dominion
...all of them had the "Paramount" title before the name.
They also ran Star Trek the Experience in Las Vegas, which Cedar Fair kept operating for a short while before closing.
Cedar Fair purchased the parks and the other parks listed above were purchased before the Paramount deal. Michigan's Adventure was acquired from Roger Jourden in 2001 and Geagua Lake was acquired from Six Flags in 2004. Paramount never owned any of the other parks except for what is listed above. Six Flags would've never attempted to buy out Cedar Fair (mostly because, at that time, with their debt load, they couldn't) and because they didn't want to mess with Worlds of Adventure again.
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GateKeeper is actually fairly well. I know some enthusiasts who like it and the GP eats it up. However, it is definitely doesn't have a "fan club" like you'd find on some of the other major coasters in the park. It isn't the best in the park, but it isn't too bad.
Iron Dragon: Boring and a bit rough. Ninja at SFMM is faster, more fun, taller, longer, and even smoother than Iron Dragon. Not really worth my time. But it does look cool over the water and mist.Actually, Ninja is not taller or longer than Iron Dragon. It is faster, but Iron Dragon is 76 feet tall whereas Ninja is 60 feet. Iron Dragon is also, wait for it, an entire 100 feet longer than Ninja . I rather enjoy Iron Dragon, I just like the way it runs, but, to me, it was better before TTD was built with a lot of the trees surrounding the swamp still there.
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Will be announced first on YouTube tomorrow:
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I kidd, I kidd.
Ya don't say....
^And then you post that as I post this. Kind of awestruck.
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^That was Bryan that posted that, not Jason.
And don't listen to Tarheel's post, he's just goofing and yanking chains. I mean, we can't rule that out necessarily but i have my doubts that it's a Super Loop.
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^^Even if pictures of Scorpion were used, notice under price it lists EUR, so this coaster is in Europe. It is also a 1983 whereas Scorpion opened in 1980.
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^No, I do believe its NOT a typo. There will simply be an update tomorrow, whether it be more teasers or more information about how the announcement will go down. I think it was pretty straightforward...
Announcement is Tuesday at Noon.
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^I feel that Thunderhawk at Michigan's Adventure is rather re-rideable. May list it up there with some of the B&Ms that jostle you around a bit. I think it was a fun ride and the upkeep on it is rather good. That's a different model SLC though.
I, however, am very excited to see how T3 pans out with the new trains. Hopefully they'll end up on many more SLCs in the future.
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^Still Tuesday. They're probably just going to give some last minute hints and an update on how the announcement is going to go down tomorrow.
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^Generally. I haven't been to the park in September in a few years. Last year I was there on the last day of the operating season and the weather was horrible so the haunted houses had longer lines.
The last time I was there on a Sunday in Mid-September, the longest wait I had was Top Thrill Dragster at 30 minutes. Mantis, Magnum & Raptor were walk-ons. Millennium was at 5 minutes.
Hopefully it stays the same for you.
FOR 2015 Announcement: Update on the announcement coming tomorrow. Will just be a press release, no streaming:
(ANNOUNCEMENT STILL SET FOR TUESDAY. THIS WILL JUST BE AN UPDATE ON WHAT TO EXPECT ON TUESDAY) -
Does anyone know why CP isn't open next Friday? They were scheduled from 6-10 but now are closed due to private event. I was planning on going to CP Friday and Sunday and Kennywood Saturday. I looked last week and now they are not open.
Answered your own question haha.
Someone came along and bought out the park. Private events this kind of the year aren't unheard of.
REV3 Triathlon is Sunday, the 7th.
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Cedar Fair: Cedar Point
Disney: Magic Kingdom
SeaWorld: Busch Gardens Tampa
Six Flags: Six Flags Great America
Just based off the past few years. These are ever changing IMO.
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-Ron Toomer
-Anton Schwarzkopf
-Werner Stengel
-Walter Bolliger
Then some new faces would have to be added:
-Alan Schilke
-Sandor Kernacs
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If they came out with an announcement saying they're restoring the water effects on X-Flight, that would be enough to get me excited. It doesn't have to be a massive, multi-million, record-breaking, number-one coaster every year.
I would love that. When I rode it last time, I was a bit sad when I realized that the mist and water effects were no longer operating. Hope to see them back sometime.
Yeah, agreed. The park has seen so much love the past few seasons. This will be a great season celebrating the nostalgia of the park. Something many parks should do I feel.
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^Yes it could. But I was just going with his "maybe a thrill ride" line. We know it'll be a thrill ride that caters to teenagers.
Just remember, WindSeeker is a thrill ride too. I must say that I am afraid of heights and was scared crapless my first time on that ride. But after that I have come to appreciate the view from the top.
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^Well we already know it'll be a thrill ride of some sort: http://www.sanduskyregister.com/blog/reporters-notebook/5839991
Top 3 Roller Coasters From Your Birth Year
in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
Posted
1991. While a few woodies built during this year didn't age well (and Psyclone got torn down), I still feel Mean Streak makes the cut.
If I had to say....here's the Top 3 from 1991.
1) The Ultimate (Lightwater Valley)
2) Mean Streak (Cedar Point) (wasn't so bad this year)
3) Anaconda (Kings Dominion)
Honestly, if it still counts, I'd say Steel Phantom could replace Anaconda. But that's up to you all seeing as it was a modified ride to become Phantom's Revenge.