RaptorBoyASU

I so need to get to this park. It's on my short list. Maybe in 2009. I want to ride Goliath so bad, and Mindbender, and much more. Hopefully I can pair it up with a trip to Dollywood. Another great TR! BTW, digging the new hair and beard (well assuming it's new, last TR was the CP one, looked different there)

LOL, they're sure taking a lot of cues from Disney, from the Park Layout to the Soarin ripoff. If it is anything like they describe, it should be a great park. Of course it could also be more like Wild West World. -Kyle "skeptical" Miller

I still think it's a cop out. We had bins on Raptor, and still made 38 second dispatch times. Of course the operators have to be moving quickly if you ever expect the riders to have the same sense of urgency. That said, I don't mind mandatory lockers for major rides or rides with dual stations. What I would have an issue with is if more than say 25% of the major rides required an extra fee for your stuff. Of course, I don't ever bring stuff besides what fits in my pockets to parks.

I don't remember it raining that much through late June and July. Typically May and Aug/Sept were the rainy months. I never took my rain gear off the first 4 weeks I worked there. It also depends on the summer. Ohio is known to either be extremely rainy, or in a drought.

REALLY? When I went I was totally let down by what that crew has become. I guess this is why you guys all hate Knott's, because it used to be so much better. When I went, I saw all 3 trains stack at least once, and saw the 2nd train stop behind the station every time. Things we were blasted for when I worked there. Stacking all 3 was basically a reason to have an area sup up on platform on your ass (they could see the ride from the park op office). The goal was to hit as many intervals (returning trains don't stop at all and glide right back into the station) as possible during a shift. We would regularly hit 30-40 in a row. A good day we could hit almost 100 until a fatty or a disabled guest slowed things down. A full queue was a 45-50 min wait (unless you wanted the front row) back in 01, this past year it took 80 min to get through that same queue. I figure they must only be hitting 1000-1150/hr, vs the 1450+ we were expected to hit. They still do better than almost any park out there, but it's still not the same.

^^That's because you're on this site. Yes, the rain policy is stupid, but I would take a day at CP over a day at SFMM any time. Part of that is probably bias since I grew up close to there. But I'm a part enthusiast more than a coaster enthusiast. And for me, CP has more to offer than SFMM. The setting: The mountains around SFMM are beautiful, but those hills are a bitch to walk. What SFMM gains with the mountains, CP gains from Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay. The coasters: Personally, I like CP's collection a bit more. SFMM's are way more intense, but that's not a positive for me since I always end up with the Magic Mountain headache by mid-afternoon. Tatsu, X, Goliath, Riddler, Batman, Deja Vu < Maverick, TTD, Millennium Force, Raptor, Magnum, Gemini in my opinion. And I don't think I'm the only one that feels that way considering Mitch's poll shows 5 of CP's coasters in the top 50 to SFMM's 1 (Tatsu). The flats: CP totally trumps SFMM in this department. Troika, Cedar Downs, Chaos, Skyhawk, Maxair, Super Himalaya, Antique Cars, Cadillac Cars, Calypso, Matterhorn, Monster, Wave Swinger, Dodgem, Giant Wheel, Paddlewheel Excursions The shows: CP yet again Operations: There used to be a clear winner, but I feel that gap is closing quick. Food: SFMM. Even though SFMM's stands don't have stellar food, most of them are better than the crap at CP Ok, so I got off topic. But even if we went with just the coasters. I would still call CP the coaster capital. SFMM's worst coasters are better than CP's worst. But CP's best are far better than SFMM's best IMHO.

Cool PTR. I can't wait to ride Toy Story Mania. It's been taunting me for far too long. If you end up doing these every week though, you might want to stick to what's new and different in the future updates, or it's going to be waaaayyy too many pictures to sort through.

See this is what I mean by not getting the hate. It may have been one of the best parks in the country. But I don't see it now being one of the worst. It's still a nice park, not spectacular, and not even great, but a good park. The coaster line up is good, they have good food scattered throughout the park, lots of family rides. Again, none of it is great, but I've been to FAR worse parks.

Being a non-native Californian, I feel pretty much the same about Knott's as you did. I don't get the hate around here, but I never saw the "Old Knott's". I think it's a very nice park. I think I might be the only one left though that still likes Ghostrider. It still makes my top 10 wood (out of 60 or so). Of course, Knott's is nothing compared to Disney in my book ;-D

LOL, and what random detail did I notice? That the kid in the front row is wearing very long white boxer briefs.

I don't know how anyone hasn't said it but.... SPOODLES. We had a fantastic meal there, and really liked the open kitchen atmosphere. Plus it allows you an evening stroll along the boardwalk My other favorites: Boma California Grille

Jahan has become my favoritest person alive after saying that Raptor > Batman. So true, so true

I use Firefox and it looks perfect to me.......

^So like I said, the weekend will be crowded like any weekend (including Sunday), Monday should be much lighter crowds as people head for home

^^So who you been test driving?

I used to go every Memorial Day when I lived near the park. IT WAS DEAD. The Saturday and Sunday before however, crowds like an early summer Saturday. Monday is a great day to power ride though. Or at least it used to be.

Hell, I'm Lou Credit free, and I roomed with her.

Mine is fine unless they force you to look straight at the ground. So X, Intamin Impulses, TTD and Kingda Ka, and flying coasters are out.

Nice TR. I always enjoy seeing CP through a first timer's eyes.

Large drop towers still scare the crap out of me. Hurakan Condor was crazy scary the first time. Other than that, only the large carnival flat rides make me think twice, and I'll actually skip some of them (like the one right above this post)

^^Maybe it just came out of rehab. It's always night and day. Yah, I'll re-ride Ghostrider over and over (until I get a headache). But two rounds on Stampida was enough abuse. Of course that could have been from the hangover.

^I agree with Hector. Last Row right seat on Raptor to be more specific. I think Blue Streak has more air in the front. Front of the corkscrew has 2 pops of air in bunny hop and pop before the corkscrews, but the back seat has air on the first drop and the bunny hop. Ride both! Gemini only has air in the back seat on the first drop. Otherwise there is very little "air"

The company has really taken an initiative to appeal to families lately. However, most of these additions have been targeted to appeal to children. Are there plans to increase the number of attractions that families can all enjoy (not just ride, but enjoy) together? What kinds of things are in the works for adults that don't brave the coasters?

I did! I did my top 50 and then did the rest in 3 groups. Ranked my worst 5 below the bottom group. Gouderix was my last place winner again.

Lou..........have you put on sunscreen lately?