Cedar Point (CP) Discussion Thread

[pǝʇɹǝʌuı]

So I did what any sensible enthusiast would and bought a FastLane+.

 

You would not like my take on FastLane! But then nobody on here does, so what else is new!

 

I've heard your take on FastLane and I sometimes agree--see my previous CP TR and my rant about the merge point for SV. I will say, however, that I very much enjoyed having it yesterday.

 

Something is just off about the drop; perhaps its my expectations. I think B&M does big first drops better.

 

It's surprising you feel that way, because my son (who you met the other day) and I were talking not too long ago about how even after all of these years, and all the other great drops on coasters we've been on, MF still has THE BEST first drop of any coaster out there in our opinion! It's pretty much the best part of the ride in our perspective. So that's interesting you feel the complete opposite.

 

Yeah and I'll reiterate that I really can't put my finger on it. I've ridden Millennium countless times in the front, back, and middle. Both rides yesterday were in the back, which, in my experience, has been the best seat for the first drop and it does give you airtime. Something about the shape of the drop, though, is just not quite as thrilling as many other coasters I've ridden. As far as CP goes, SV takes the cake for the best drop, then maybe Maverick, and after that Millennium. At least for me. My all time favorite is Fury, but the other B&M hypers I've ridden have really slapped on that first drop as well.

 

F&%@ OSU!!!

 

Basically the exact reaction I expected from you

 

I don't feel like a dive element is any more of a "gimmick" than any other element on a coaster is

 

I consider it like a drop track or backward launch where it's out of the ordinary from a traditional track maneuver. But I think you would agree that enthusiasts hate on "gimmicks" too much; I personally love the holding brakes on Valravn and Hangtime. If I'm not mistaken, Valravn's is short even for a B&M, so I'd love to get out to BGW or BGT and ride one of the OG American Dive Machines before I really make the call that Gerstlauer is better.

 

I hope to be able to enjoy a park with you again sometime when you're back in the area, maybe even CP! (Or you can come North, and marathon Shivering Timbers with me while I hum the U of M and MSU fight songs! )

 

Yes, aboslutely! I would love to meet up again! But if I do visit MiA I may just have to skip Wolver*ne Wildcat out of spite! (haha--I make fun, but it's all in good spirits; I respect your schools up north). Let me know if you ever come out west, espeically if it's during a school break! I love a good excuse to drive down to Vegas or LA.

[coasterbill]

They've transferred all of the trains on to Top Thrill Dragster.

[pǝʇɹǝʌuı]

They've transferred all of the trains on to Top Thrill Dragster.

 

Yes, they were all on the track yesterday except maybe one. Didn’t see any cycling, though.

[coasternut]

^^ Ditto when I was there last week too.

[coasterbill]

Apparently I misunderstood the big excitement. I assumed the trains were in transfer (as is tradition for prolonged Dragster breakdowns), apparently they were always on the track, they’re just moving them up to different positions and actively messing around with it finally. That’s probably still a good sign. I’ve heard a lot of positive rumblings today.

Edited August 22, 2019 by coasterbill

[MiABeta]

(Or you can come North, and marathon Shivering Timbers with me while I hum the U of M and MSU fight songs! )

“On the banks of the red cedar...” *pauses to brace for the trick track even though it’s been gone for years* “man I’m glad the trick track is gone”

 

Whenever I’m bored in line I always sing the MSU fight song, and I love how the rivalries work out at Cedar Point, in a way there is almost a three way mutual hatred. Also love both of your guys’ takes, and it reminds me I really need to make it out to Carowinds for Fury.

 

Something about Yukon Strikes works more for me then Valravn, but honestly the new restraints are just way too tight (definitely a broken record on this one). I’m a pretty small person and it feels like it crushes me, also I don’t know what’s going on with Gatekeeper but I feel like the restraints got worse, I was barely able to ride it this year. I think it’s partly just psychological but I get back to the station guppy breathing every time.

 

But MF this year? Absolutely been magical. I was on the last two rides of the day one of my visits and it blew my mind, I don’t know why.

[B&MIntaminGCI]

I heard the crew is scheduled for Friday from someone that works there as well. I mean obviously that doesn't mean it's going to open Friday but that could be a good sign since they haven't been scheduled for 21 days or s/t like that according to said person.

[josephcissell]

After years of dreaming, I am finally visiting this park tomorrow and Sunday. I can't believe it's actually happening. I'll be going back in this thread and searching for some tips about the plan of attack of course, but if you have any you want to share or share again, feel free. Thanks!

[prozach626]

Have fun. I hope it lives up to your expectations. Fast lane plus.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Definitely get Fastlane+. Even late season those lines can get super long on weekends. Fastlane+ will take care of you on coasters and big flats; beyond that, it depends on what you like to do. If you need downtime, Melt is a good place to chill, as is Chickie's and Pete's. Cedar Downs and the Skyride are both underrated--don't skip those.

[bill_s]

Is queue-times accurate for this park? Wait times for the big rides haven't particularly changed since a few weeks ago. The lesser rides I think have improved, perhaps that's just the way that works. There has been some user posts of much shorter lines, but one of those was TTD 5 minutes, which wouldn't have been believable even if the ride was open. By next Monday almost every kid in the country should be in school, so I'm hopeful. But still not sure. Considering driving 2 hours more to skip tolls and save for fastlane, but also I'm doing the 2 half-days plan so that will be only the larger half at best. If it wasn't beautiful I'd be reconsidering very heavily.

[coasterbill]

Is queue-times accurate for this park?

 

It's not Disney accurate but it's very good for a regional park. Rides at the front of the park are sometimes slow to lower their wait times towards the end of the night though so be aware of that.

 

User reported wait times are a hilariously useless feature that needs to die.

Edited August 23, 2019 by coasterbill

[Haymaker]

When I was there Corkscrew said 65 minutes... always check anyways.

[prozach626]

Is queue-times accurate for this park? Wait times for the big rides haven't particularly changed since a few weeks ago. The lesser rides I think have improved, perhaps that's just the way that works. There has been some user posts of much shorter lines, but one of those was TTD 5 minutes, which wouldn't have been believable even if the ride was open. By next Monday almost every kid in the country should be in school, so I'm hopeful. But still not sure. Considering driving 2 hours more to skip tolls and save for fastlane, but also I'm doing the 2 half-days plan so that will be only the larger half at best. If it wasn't beautiful I'd be reconsidering very heavily.

I'd skip the tolls and change your plan to two days only in order to get FLP. Let's say that even if the park is not that crowded it will make every ride walk-on.

[Invertalon]

Stopped by the park yesterday evening, arriving around 6pm to a 2/3 full lot. The only thing we really waited for was Valravn, at 1hr which was sad because it should have easily been half that. They stacked each... and... every... train. I couldn't believe how terrible this crew was the entire time we were in line! Running three trains and constantly stacking all three. Oy. Six Flags operations here!

 

Last ride on Raptor had another issue, where a rider was sick/fainting or something and waiting for EMT to arrive. Crew never announced anything, so the station got a big rowdy. To the point a guest nearby was practically insulating the poor girl on the ride for not getting off (who was fainting and/or sick),yelling that that the park is closed, she ain't stuck, etc... Quite rudely. The girls friend was basically yelling back at this guy, it was getting fairly heated and totally unnecessary. Felt bad for the girl. Sad thing is, there was an officer in the station who did nothing except stand there, on top of the ride crew not even as much as informing the guests there was a medical issue and awaiting EMT before continuing operation. So it just fueled this station of people basically verbally insulting this girl awaiting EMT's. Could have been handled so much better...

 

Aside from that, all was great. Everything else we rode was 5-10min... Blue Streak, Magnum, Rougarou, Gatekeeper and our rides on Valravn and Raptor... Enjoyed a lap on the train and the antique cars. Beautiful weather, perfect evening.

 

So aside from the horrendous Valravn crew and the incompetence at Raptor, great visit!

[B&MIntaminGCI]

Top Thrill Dragster is testing apparently.

[thrillseeker4552]

I believe it has now opened. Somebody I follow on Instagram just rode it.

[josephcissell]

Confirmed. Dragster is open again. Got on it around 4pm

[SbSteveZ]

Not sure if the website is completely updated, but apparently there’s a whole bunch of new stuff this year:

 

Scare Zones:

- CornStalkers 2.0: Revenge of the Pumpkin Heads

 

Battleground HalloZone (new for 2019 at Celebration Plaza)

- Boneyard Battleground (scare zone)

- Dead End Kitchen Alley (food trucks)

- Raging Inferno (Heavy Metal Show on Luminosity stage)

- Skin & Bones (Skeleton Band Show on Luminosity stage)

- Toxicity (Acrobatics Show on Luminosity stage)

 

Other new things include:

- Happily Never After (Red Garter Saloon Show)

- Midnight Syndicate: Creatures of Darkness

- the Pumpkin Patches (BackBeatQue stage)

 

I’m honestly a little surprised there’s nothing happening in Forbidden Frontier. Seems like it could be the perfect place for some form of walk through haunted maze or something. Regardless I’m glad to see so much new this Haunt!

[operative_me]

From what was stated by the park, they didn't want to push the Forbidden Frontier area too hard in it's first year, but they remain open to using it in the future for Halloweekends.

 

I'm with you though, it seems ready made for Haunt stuff. Which I am sure is by design.

[cparkes92]

Checked queue-times yesterday around 6pm and there were insane lines such as:

4 hours for Steel Vengeance

2 hours 15 minutes for Valravn

1 hour 45 minutes for Millennium Force

1 hour 30 minutes for Raptor

Corkscrew, GateKeeper, and Rougarou all showing one hour waits

Gemini (which is almost always a walk-on when I've been there) was showing a 45 minute wait

[Philrad71]

^ End of summer push, perhaps?

 

FL+ worth every penny and more on a day like that...wow.

[Invertalon]

Crowds have shifted at CP the past few years. You can basically go anytime in May, June or July now and it's never THAT bad. But come late August through October, good luck.

 

With the pass promotions (including free fastlane), bring a friend free, Halloweekends, etc... Even the glorious Fridays in September are thing of the past unless weather is bad. Sundays are picking up as well, as those ticket and free fastlanes are only available Fri/Sun for use. They have filled up what used to be their slower days.

 

I miss those dead Halloweekends Friday's! Could always count on a dead park... Easily my absolute favorite times to go to CP. Now, as an example, last year the second Friday during Halloweekends I believe it was, I had to turn around and go home as the wait to get into the park was across the entire damn causeway! In the past, you would be surprised if the lot was more than maybe half full.

 

Good for the park, though!

[bluestreak]

My friends and I go to the park 2-3 times a week and really think the jump in crowds is because of the gold pass. $99 for the rest of this season plus all of next season? That's a steal. Plenty of people who buy tickets and visit say, once in the summer and once in the fall will grab that pass and start going 3 or 4 times a year. And they are selling those things like mad. I see a ton of people carrying them around already and the ads for the gold pass are on the same level as twix ads in Six Flags parks.

 

Definitely great business for the park. Sucks for the regulars who don't usually deal with the crowds but if all the extra attendance is gonna pay for more and more new coasters I am all for it.

[DILinator]

I can verify that the Gold Pass is having an impact! Even up here in mid-michigan, I was buying some some stuff at Aldi the other day, and the checkout guy saw my CP shirt and excitedly asked me if I'd heard about the Gold Pass! He had apparently already purchased one for himself, and his wife and kid. I responded that I had, but had splurged on Platinum Passes for myself and my kids! Still, it was a clear sign that the Gold Pass is really resonating with your average, everyman park-goer!