Cedar Point (CP) Discussion Thread

[SaweetDude04]

^^ I think it has more to do with the structure itself becoming unable to support the stresses from the ride. If I recall, the main reason for removing BBW was because it was becoming too expensive to maintain, and forces on the ride were causing issues with the supports and/or track.

[Hilltopper39]

SOMETHING has to replace Iron Dragon after next year (if the Arrow Suspended = 25 years pattern is true). A major roller coaster-type investment won't have happened for six years at that time (except for Shoot the Rapids, but it probably would be less expensive than a you-know-what).

Didn't S&S keep the Arrow parts division open?

 

As far as I know they did but with so few Arrow Suspended coasters in existence it might not be that beneficial for S&S to continue to supply those part if the parts are that different than other Arrow Coaster parts. In the business i work in our manufacturer has several models of equipment that are far less that 25 years old (and they produced a lot more than 5 or 6 units like the arrow suspended) that have parts that are completely obsolete so I can see this situation being realistic. I don't know if the 25 year number is true or not but I could see potential replacement parts being a legitimate reason for removing the attraction.

[FeelTheFORCE]

^ Cedar Point owns 5 arrow coasters. If saving money on maintenance costs were really that big of an issue, I doubt they would continue to keep 5 of them year after year. I also highly doubt removing only one or two is going to save them all that much either when they would have to just turn around and continue to maintain the other three or four they own.

 

Besides, Mean Streak's maintenance costs are astronomical, and most likely trump any single coaster at Cedar Point. If it's really that big of a concern, Mean Streak is definitely at the top of that list, far ahead of any Arrow coaster. I'm not sure if this is true (I don't doubt it), but I remember reading somewhere a year or two ago that Mean Streak alone costs hundreds of thousands of dollars each and every year to maintain.

[xChris125x]

Besides, Mean Streak's maintenance costs are astronomical, and most likely trump any single coaster at Cedar Point.

 

You'd be wrong. Top Thrill Dragster gets the highest annual budget by far.

[Hilltopper39]

Yeah they might have 5 Arrow Coasters but only 1 Arrow Suspended coaster and as far as I know there are only 4 other Arrow Suspended coasters in operation in the world. If the parts for the suspended coaster are different than all the other Arrow's and are specific to that model then it may not be an issue of saving money, it may be an issue of there are not parts available anywhere in the world, and when our parts inventory expires we can not operate.

[sammmmmy]

I would imagine that a smaller Eurofighter could fit in the space where Wildcat sits, along with clearing out a little bit of space just behind it, still along the Midway. Or a ZacSpin...or better yet, two side-by-side ZacSpins...

 

 

Yeah but I dont think cedar point would just put any eurofighter in.

[xChris125x]

Keep in mind Cedar Fair operates 3 of the 4 suspended coasters in North America. Clearly they have someone able to provide parts. Also, Iron Dragon will probably be around for a little while longer. Iron Dragon offers a ride for younger guests that would have to be replaced with an equal height requirement. Also, a lot of spot welding has been done on the track and support connections (seen by grey paint on the supports to cover the welding burn marks), so I can tell they don't plan on abandoning it.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

Nahh,the dippin dots guy said t hat they've invested in the worlds biggest loudest toilet for 2013 & it'll be called Millenium Flush to compliment the new plumber's world theme they're going with.

 

Nice one!!!

 

They will need a good maitenance crew, so they could fix Top Thrill Clogs.

 

LMAO!!!!

 

Don't you mean "top thrill "dumpster"? (and now I don't mean a garbage can here as CP's already got enough of em).

[FeelTheFORCE]

Besides, Mean Streak's maintenance costs are astronomical, and most likely trump any single coaster at Cedar Point.

 

You'd be wrong. Top Thrill Dragster gets the highest annual budget by far.

 

Either way it's definitely up there, and TTD is a main part of what attracts people to Cedar Point, so every penny spent on maintenance is well worth it. Mean Streak...not so much.

 

 

Yeah they might have 5 Arrow Coasters but only 1 Arrow Suspended coaster and as far as I know there are only 4 other Arrow Suspended coasters in operation in the world. If the parts for the suspended coaster are different than all the other Arrow's and are specific to that model then it may not be an issue of saving money, it may be an issue of there are not parts available anywhere in the world, and when our parts inventory expires we can not operate.

 

I'd be willing to bet parts and maintenance are generally high for any Arrow model. Kennywood recently contracting Morgan to replace Phantom's entire first drop, and the removal of GASM at Great Adventure strongly support that notion.

 

Parts can always be made available for the right price, even if that means custom fabricating new ones. It's not a matter of running out of parts and not being able to operate, but rather if a park is willing to shell out the cash for said parts, and/or if that would be economical moving forward.

[coastermaniac]

It's understandable as to why TTD has such a high annual maintenance cost, but why Mean Streak?

[coasterlover420]

^Because it's wood. Wooden coasters need to be maintained because they're...wood. Wood rots over time, and with consistent wear and tear of 7 car trains, it basically is self-destructive.

Dragster is basically the same. It basically tears itself apart, specifically the wheels.

[A.J.]

I'd be willing to bet parts and maintenance are generally high for any Arrow model. Kennywood recently contracting Morgan to replace Phantom's entire first drop, and the removal of GASM at Great Adventure strongly support that notion.

 

Parts can always be made available for the right price, even if that means custom fabricating new ones. It's not a matter of running out of parts and not being able to operate, but rather if a park is willing to shell out the cash for said parts, and/or if that would be economical moving forward.

It gets to the point where purchasing custom parts gets too expensive, and it causes the park to lose a lot of money. I'm sure if Cedar Point wasn't so concerned about the number of roller coasters they have in their park Iron Dragon would be gone by now.

[coasternut]

One thing I'd like to see happen is an NTAG-esque makeover of Mean Streak. I don't hate Mean Streak, and I've ridden much rougher, but it's kind of a pointless ride in it's current trimmed-to-death state and seems like a perfect candidate for a makeover. Of course it wouldn't increase the coaster count but they could always pull a Magic Mountain and add a Zacspin too...

 

While I'd love to see the "Rocky Mountain Treatment" (NTAG) for Mean Streak, it won't happen. That question was asked during the "lovefest for Big Dick" at Coastermania this past June. He said they looked at it, and they won't spend $22 Mill. for a rework of an existing ride. I tend to agree with this. Very seldom do I agree with anything Big Dick says or does the past several years. My guess they'll get a new coaster back there someday. The key word there is someday. Who knows what this new CEO will do. Rest in peace -- Big Dick...

[Thom25]

Did anyone ask a follow-up question as to why it was twice the cost of Texas? With the amount of space MS takes up, at $22m, you could easily build 3 Zac Spins there and have a ton of space left over.

[coasternut]

Did anyone ask a follow-up question as to why it was twice the cost of Texas? With the amount of space MS takes up, at $22m, you could easily build 3 Zac Spins there and have a ton of space left over.

 

Big Dick said the $22 Million number, so I'm guessing it was realistic.

[Thom25]

I'm not questioning the $22m number, but more the company that provided it since it prices them out of the work. You don't have to be in the industry to know $22m is a crazy number that would never justify the additional investment. It's a shame because MS is a beautiful ride to look at, and not worth the time even as a walk on. I guess on the positive side, it's a ton of land that could accommodate a "real" draw at that end of the park.

[FeelTheFORCE]

I'd be willing to bet parts and maintenance are generally high for any Arrow model. Kennywood recently contracting Morgan to replace Phantom's entire first drop, and the removal of GASM at Great Adventure strongly support that notion.

 

Parts can always be made available for the right price, even if that means custom fabricating new ones. It's not a matter of running out of parts and not being able to operate, but rather if a park is willing to shell out the cash for said parts, and/or if that would be economical moving forward.

It gets to the point where purchasing custom parts gets too expensive, and it causes the park to lose a lot of money. I'm sure if Cedar Point wasn't so concerned about the number of roller coasters they have in their park Iron Dragon would be gone by now.

 

Agreed.

[Pki4ever]

Wasn't the 22 million an estimate for SOB to get the NTAG treatment not mean streak

[braztaz]

Wasn't the 22 million an estimate for SOB to get the NTAG treatment not mean streak

 

Yeah, that was for SOB.

 

I do remember hearing that it would be expensive for Mean Streak, though I forget how much...

[coasternut]

Wasn't the 22 million an estimate for SOB to get the NTAG treatment not mean streak

 

Yeah, that was for SOB.

 

I do remember hearing that it would be expensive for Mean Streak, though I forget how much...

 

 

You guys are correct. That number was for SOB, not Mean Streak. I guess I've ridden too many coasters (not possible) and it scrambled my brains.

[Joe Cool]

They just need to have a big bonfire with Mean Streak and build a Intamin pre fab.

[SharkTums]

They just need to have a big bonfire with Mean Streak and build a Intamin pre fab.

 

That's what I'm talking about!

[niiicolaaah]

I sooooo agree. And I think a lot of parks should do similar things.

[JJ728]

Out of curiosity, how much does a standard Intamin prefab generally cost?

[coasternut]

Out of curiosity, how much does a standard Intamin prefab generally cost?

 

It's got to be very expensive since El Toro (my true love) is the only original one.

Edited September 11, 2011 by coasternut