Cedar Point (CP) Discussion Thread

[coasterbill]

You're implying that someone besides a coasterbill would be staring at a Cedar Point webcam 24/7/365. And coasterbill knows what a valley is.

 

 

 

You're mostly right but I'm generally staring at Cam 2... because Sky Ride.

[DorneyKid14]

 

You obviously have not ridden a dive coaster.

 

What the hell does that have to do with anything? I think any enthusiast would enjoy riding any coaster without the MCBR regardless if they've ridden that type of coaster before, or not.

 

That being said THANK YOU to the fella that linked to that FB video of Valverononenomenonass testing. The ride looks VERY fun. I will be there the second week of May with my uncle and I can't wait!!

 

What are the dates that you are going in May!?

[DoinItForTheFame]

It's has the roar on it!!!

 

Valravn says:

 

[thrillrider]

Hey now....let's not lose focus of the the more important issue here. I'm talking about the boat of course.

[DoinItForTheFame]

Hey now....let's not lose focus of the the more important issue here. I'm talking about the boat of course.

 

Ohhhhhh yes... The boat. . . Of course!!

 

 

[DoubleDown]

 

What are the dates that you are going in May!?

 

I'm only going for 1 day, and that day is Monday May 16th! I am so stoked, and I'm hoping a Monday will be less busy!

 

$45 tickets online for admission is a steal! However for $115 you can get Admission AND Fast Lane Plus which I am considering but really it depends if the park is going to be super busy? Anybody have an idea of what the crowds might be like? I have a hunch it won't be bad, but who knows. Whenever I've gone to this park it's been super packed.

 

I only ask because the $115 Fast Lane deal is online ONLY so I'd have to buy them before we got to the park. I'm thinking about just playing it safe and buying it no matter what. I only get to visit the park about every 5 years so I like to take as much advantage of all the rides as I can when I'm there.

 

Valvereenomenonassticali here I come!

[DoinItForTheFame]

I only ask because the $115 Fast Lane deal is online ONLY so I'd have to buy them before we got to the park. . .

 

I know I am different than 99.99% of coaster enthusiast... But I'd buy the Fast Lane deal online before I went to the park. The worst case is that you get there and you don't "need" the Fast Lane. But:

 

1.) It's money that (by the time you visit the park) has already been spent.

 

-and-

 

2.) Even if it only saves you 10 minuets... That's 10 minutes saved that could be spent on another coaster!!

 

Like I said, I know I am in the minority, but when we visit parks we ALWAYS buy the "line skip" in advance.

[ALT2870]

 

What are the dates that you are going in May!?

 

I'm only going for 1 day, and that day is Monday May 16th! I am so stoked, and I'm hoping a Monday will be less busy!

 

That's crazy, I'm flying in that night and going the next day. I'm not seeing any events for my day or your day and being schools are in session that week I figure it wouldn't be an issue. However I have purchased a season pass while you are going for the one day ticket and only visit every 5 years. Doing the math you are saving ten dollars by buying advanced. I guess it is up to you is that worth it or not. (Maybe see how fast they sell out?) Personally I would wait until arriving. Hope that helps.

[DorneyKid14]

 

What are the dates that you are going in May!?

 

I'm only going for 1 day, and that day is Monday May 16th! I am so stoked, and I'm hoping a Monday will be less busy!

 

$45 tickets online for admission is a steal! However for $115 you can get Admission AND Fast Lane Plus which I am considering but really it depends if the park is going to be super busy? Anybody have an idea of what the crowds might be like? I have a hunch it won't be bad, but who knows. Whenever I've gone to this park it's been super packed.

 

I only ask because the $115 Fast Lane deal is online ONLY so I'd have to buy them before we got to the park. I'm thinking about just playing it safe and buying it no matter what. I only get to visit the park about every 5 years so I like to take as much advantage of all the rides as I can when I'm there.

 

Valvereenomenonassticali here I come!

 

Poop. I leave the 15th. Was hoping we could maybe meet up.

[boldikus]

All I have to add is that FL+ at CP on a crowded day is the smartest thing ever. I've told this story here like 5 times already but we were there on beautiful, sunny Memorial Day wknd 2015, all the big dogs (TTD, MF, Maverick, etc) had 1-2 hour waits and the longest we waited for those was 15-20, mayyyybe 30 minutes. Most rides for us were walk ons or station wait. So worth the extra money. It allowed us to hit everything we wanted (some multiple times, I rode Maverick 6xs the weekend and MF 4xs) and not rush around worried we werent getting everything in. We had a very relaxed time in a packed park doing whatever the hell we wanted.

 

Consider we bought FL+ for four people on two days so it was something like $7-800 all told JUST FOR THE FAST LANE. I have no idea when I'll be back at CP so I'll say it again - worth every single freaking penny.

 

My philosophy is if I am going to a park I don't normally go to, especially on a nice day on a weekend, skip-the-line pass all day. After a few years of this I'm pretty reluctant to get Flash Pass at my home park cause Ive ridden all those rides a million times, but why travel/go out of your way to go somewhere to stand in line all day? Budget the extra money to skip-the-lines, because having to stand around waiting all day seems like a pointless trip to me (and I'd imagine to most people).

[thrillrider]

Looks like the park received a spring snow storm this morning.

[Fidelity]

$45 tickets online for admission is a steal! However for $115 you can get Admission AND Fast Lane Plus which I am considering but really it depends if the park is going to be super busy? Anybody have an idea of what the crowds might be like? I have a hunch it won't be bad, but who knows. Whenever I've gone to this park it's been super packed.

 

The Fast Lane Plus Pass that day is at its cheapest, suggesting that the park does not expect to be too busy on that Monday. The park will get busier late morning through mid-afternoon with the Physics, Science, and Math week schools getting bused in. Outside of that window of time, I would expect, not guarantee, that the park will be pretty relaxed.

[TBpony414]

Video of the Periscope:

 

WOOHOO thanks for posting this!! Looks great and I love the roar.

[coasterlvr]

I only ask because the $115 Fast Lane deal is online ONLY so I'd have to buy them before we got to the park. . .

 

I know I am different than 99.99% of coaster enthusiast... But I'd buy the Fast Lane deal online before I went to the park. The worst case is that you get there and you don't "need" the Fast Lane. But:

 

1.) It's money that (by the time you visit the park) has already been spent.

 

-and-

 

2.) Even if it only saves you 10 minuets... That's 10 minutes saved that could be spent on another coaster!!

 

Like I said, I know I am in the minority, but when we visit parks we ALWAYS buy the "line skip" in advance.

 

 

i'm right there with you. but i'm also coming from california. my last two trips 2-3 days each have been scattered with thunderstorm and tornado warnings. so, fast lane just gives me that extra amount of time. one day i'll get a full day of nice weather and fast lane +!

[Canobie Coaster]

The nice thing with the park's Fast Lane is that you can still wait for seats too. You just skip all the switchbacks.

[coasterkid124]

Just in pre-planning mode for a trip soon. I really couldn't crunch more than 1 day at CP this year due to my other trips and time off from work. I'm looking for a trip around the 26th of May.

 

Would I be able to get most of the good rides some without a Fast Pass, or would it be smart to opt for one? Valravn will be the biggest reason for my trip, but I would also like to hit Maverick, MF, etc. I'm guessing that it would be best to try and hit Maverick as soon as it opens, correct?

[coasterbill]

Just in pre-planning mode for a trip soon. I really couldn't crunch more than 1 day at CP this year due to my other trips and time off from work. I'm looking for a trip around the 26th of May.

 

Would I be able to get most of the good rides some without a Fast Pass, or would it be smart to opt for one? Valravn will be the biggest reason for my trip, but I would also like to hit Maverick, MF, etc. I'm guessing that it would be best to try and hit Maverick as soon as it opens, correct?

 

Do you have a Platinum Pass? If not STAY ON PROPERTY so you get Early Entry. Seriously...

 

I'd enter the resort gate and go straight to Maverick. Besides that what you do with Early Entry is up to you. You could hit Valravn, you could probably get a very short wait for Gatekeeper (don't try this once 10:00 hits) or you could hit Millennium Force but do Maverick first.

 

I wouldn't suggest anyone visiting on a weekday in May get a Fastlane before you get there. It takes 2 minutes to buy them at a shop if you see the lines get long but on a weekday in May the rides may generally be station waits or in the case of Millennium Force down the ramp but no further than the merge point. Maverick's almost a guarantee to be beyond the merge point and Dragster is a pretty safe bet but that's really about it.

[Philrad71]

All I have to add is that FL+ at CP on a crowded day is the smartest thing ever. I've told this story here like 5 times already but we were there on beautiful, sunny Memorial Day wknd 2015, all the big dogs (TTD, MF, Maverick, etc) had 1-2 hour waits and the longest we waited for those was 15-20, mayyyybe 30 minutes. Most rides for us were walk ons or station wait. So worth the extra money. It allowed us to hit everything we wanted (some multiple times, I rode Maverick 6xs the weekend and MF 4xs) and not rush around worried we werent getting everything in. We had a very relaxed time in a packed park doing whatever the hell we wanted.

 

Consider we bought FL+ for four people on two days so it was something like $7-800 all told JUST FOR THE FAST LANE. I have no idea when I'll be back at CP so I'll say it again - worth every single freaking penny.

 

My philosophy is if I am going to a park I don't normally go to, especially on a nice day on a weekend, skip-the-line pass all day. After a few years of this I'm pretty reluctant to get Flash Pass at my home park cause Ive ridden all those rides a million times, but why travel/go out of your way to go somewhere to stand in line all day? Budget the extra money to skip-the-lines, because having to stand around waiting all day seems like a pointless trip to me (and I'd imagine to most people).

 

Very good points made...

 

I go to CP (usually) multiple times every year and despite the fact that it is 3.5 hours from my house, I still consider it my "home park" just because it is simply blows away any of the other parks closer to me.

 

We have only gotten Fast Lane + for the park only once due to the fact that we have been there so many times. We know when the best times are to go and the times when you avoid it like the plague - just like you and Coasterbill with SFGadv.

 

We have family coming in from Maine (in June) that we would like to take to the park. They have never been to the park before and we would have to go for one day only on a weekend (most likely a Saturday) so I already told Michael that we need to budget/plan for Fast Lane + for their visit. Otherwise his two teenage grand-daughters most likely are not going to get to ride everything they want in one day.

 

We also have friends coming in from London in September and we are planning on taking them to Halloweekends. Again, this will most likely be a Saturday visit, so I am going to pre-buy Fast Lane + online before our visits just to make sure that we get them before they sell out.

 

I don't think that I can stress this enough to people coming from long distances or are first time park visitors. Buy Fast Lane + for ANY and ALL weekend visits if you want to enjoy everything! You may luck out on weekdays in May and early June and perhaps the weekday before Labor Day weekend. Every other day in between is most likely going to be very crowded, therefore if you are the least bit concerned about not getting enough rides in...splurge for the Fast Lane + and you will not be disappointed!!

[coasterkid124]

Just in pre-planning mode for a trip soon. I really couldn't crunch more than 1 day at CP this year due to my other trips and time off from work. I'm looking for a trip around the 26th of May.

 

Would I be able to get most of the good rides some without a Fast Pass, or would it be smart to opt for one? Valravn will be the biggest reason for my trip, but I would also like to hit Maverick, MF, etc. I'm guessing that it would be best to try and hit Maverick as soon as it opens, correct?

 

Do you have a Platinum Pass? If not STAY ON PROPERTY so you get Early Entry. Seriously...

 

I'd enter the resort gate and go straight to Maverick. Besides that what you do with Early Entry is up to you. You could hit Valravn, you could probably get a very short wait for Gatekeeper (don't try this once 10:00 hits) or you could hit Millennium Force but do Maverick first.

 

I wouldn't suggest anyone visiting on a weekday in May get a Fastlane before you get there. It takes 2 minutes to buy them at a shop if you see the lines get long but on a weekday in May the rides may generally be station waits or in the case of Millennium Force down the ramp but no further than the merge point. Maverick's almost a guarantee to be beyond the merge point and Dragster is a pretty safe bet but that's really about it.

 

Thanks for the tips!

 

Most of the trip is still up in the air and depends on my friends and their needs. But I will most likely get a Platinum Pass for myself for other trips, and stay on property so my friends can get the early entry. Seeing that I can only stay one day, I chose the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend to try and avoid the crowds.

 

But either way, my plan is to bullet straight for Maverick and work my way back down the park. Valravn is the main reason for the trip, so if that's open I'll probably do that during early entry as well.

[jonskinny12]

I don't think that I can stress this enough to people coming from long distances or are first time park visitors. Buy Fast Lane + for ANY and ALL weekend visits if you want to enjoy everything! You may luck out on weekdays in May and early June and perhaps the weekday before Labor Day weekend. Every other day in between is most likely going to be very crowded, therefore if you are the least bit concerned about not getting enough rides in...splurge for the Fast Lane + and you will not be disappointed!!

 

I want to re-iterate this. I've been to Cedar Point on 4 separate multi-day trips, and they've all been weekdays in late May and early June. I've only been once since FL+ was introduced (last year) and I didn't get it. For the most part, I haven't run into long lines other than a few rides (MF was longer in 2001, TTD was longer in 2005, Maverick was longer in 2007, Rougarou was longer last year). If I hadn't spent so much time there last year I would be wishing I had spent the extra for FL+ for sure. I rode Maverick almost exclusively during early entry and got lucky with the timing on TTD a couple times so I ended up riding Maverick 11 times and TTD 10 times, but I'll always wish I had more rides on Maverick.

[DoinItForTheFame]

 

GETTING CLOSER TO DIVING IN

 

You’ve probably noticed on the webcam that trains haven’t been moving on Valravn just yet. And technically, they have – but in small distances between the train storage tracks and the station. Even though it looks like nothing is happening, representatives from B&M are working with a controls technician to fine tune the ride’s control system. They’ll test sensors, move tires, start the lift chain up, raise and lower the combs in the station (that’s the retractable floor), test the gates and a lot more. Valravn will fly for the first time very soon.

 

Up in the station, crews are putting in the ceiling tiles and finishing the masonry work around the perimeter of the building. Station stairs and railings are also now installed.

 

Ride lighting is also going in. And I'm pretty confident Valravn will be lit like the Griswold's house at Christmas.

 

Down on the ground, concrete is being poured as the base for pavers, dirt’s being repositioned so we can plant grass, the ride entrance and queue are being installed and there are a few other site prep projects that are happening as we get ready for our May debut.

 

I can’t wait to see the world’s tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster run for the first time!

 

- Adam Pooch, Project Manager

 

 

Obviously, this is a little dated since we have seen the trains making full circuits. . . Still a neat read though.

 

I can't wait to see Valravn's lighting package!!

[blakelemay23]

1.) This section of the park is not only going to look incredible, but its going to be loud! I love it.

 

2.) I can't wait to see a POV of this thing. (or ride it for that matter)

 

3.) I am less than a month away from processing in for the first time! Any advice for first year rookies from current or former employees around here?

[DoinItForTheFame]

3.) I am less than a month away from processing in for the first time! Any advice for first year rookies from current or former employees around here?

 

Get there early.... REALLY early. If it is anything like it use to be, the best "rooms" go first. Not only if you get there early are you more likely to get a better "room." But then you have the rest of the day to get settled in, instead of spending half a day waiting in line just to process in.

[coasterkyle]

Processing in has gotten more streamlined in that last few seasons. No more first come first serve, they give appointment times same with wardrobe and any HR training. My advice for processing is make sure you have the online paperwork filled out and the things you need when processing in are the 3 pages of "additional paperwork" printed out. You'll also need an ID and social security card. It's a fairly simple process then what it was before. Also make sure you're in grooming guidelines before going to HR. If you are going to have facial hair (new this year) you must have it trimmed and started before processing in. (You will be asked to shave if you try to start it after). I hope this helps

[blakelemay23]

3.) I am less than a month away from processing in for the first time! Any advice for first year rookies from current or former employees around here?

 

Get there early.... REALLY early. If it is anything like it use to be, the best "rooms" go first. Not only if you get there early are you more likely to get a better "room." But then you have the rest of the day to get settled in, instead of spending half a day waiting in line just to process in.

I process in on the 10th, so i plan on leaving Memphis on the 7th and driving 6 hours to Lexington, may ride Storm Chaser. Than i plan on driving the other six hours on the 8th, and spending the 9th at the park and getting settled in.