Photo TR: Cedar Point opening weekend

[jackskellington101]

Last weekend (May 10th - May 13th), my family and myself finally went to Cedar Point for the first time. I say finally because Cedar Point seemed to be that location that we'd always say "Oh we need to go there this year" and it never seemed to happen. Generally, we'd look and it and decide Disney instead. So this year, Cedar point became my graduation present, so instead of doing the lame senior week stuff from school (which originally included Dorney, but apparently "there wasn't enough drinking options" so it didn't happen), we all went to Cedar Point finally. So, it became super credit Stu, trying to get everything I could, generally with my bro Spencer with me.

 

This first set is from day one, our arrival and a bit of "starlight" at the Point. It was also jam packed because of some music competition, it seemed, so it felt that every 14-16 year old in the tri-state area was in the park. As such, there was line jumping galore and some of the most moronic line conversation I think I've heard. One case in point, while Spencer and I were waiting for our longest wait, Mean Streak (yes I know), the two 14 year old girls behind us, messing with their phones and cursing like sailors, turned to Spencer and I, who were kidding and joking about in brotherly jabs, and said "Like, are you two gay?". We both looked at them like they had lobsters crawling out of their ears and I replied "No, we're brothers". They then looked at me and immediately replied with the witty banter of "Are you, like, sure?”. With my quick, newly college educated mind I replied with the only thing I could think of, "Yes, I'm pretty sure we're brothers." That was pretty much the end of it and we all then waited for our doom on Mean Streak. At least a Mean Streak doom is both boring and painful, at the same time.

 

Anyway, on with the photos! There’s a lot. The multiple sets should rival my massive Disney one. I know I have a problem.

Here's some other coaster. I don't think anyone's ever heard of it.

Oh wait, this is a roller coaster site! Well, here's some coasters that we saw as Spencer and I head to the Point for the Twilight deal.

Wow, that's one expensive foosball table.

Well, at least there's a foosball table...wait...

An Ahhh! Real Monsters game?!? That's all sorts of awesome! To bad it was broken.

There's one!

Crabbie's arcade? Well, we need a Crabby there.

The crashed boat lobby with it's parrots which sing every once an a while. I never really figured out their pattern.

SCREENED PATIO POV! OMG!

There's Dad relaxing after the ride over.

Bop! We're here. We decided to stay at Castaway Bay. Mighty fine hotel, did it's job well. There's Spencer looking at me strange, just because I decided take pictures of the room.

There's Mom stretching her legs before going into the next set of driving.

Dr. Scoumis DMD just made us laugh. Of course, we pronounced it Scummies, so that's where the humor lies.

Right next to the restaurant there was this abandoned hotel. It seemed like it was an old abandoned Howard Johnson. It seemed only fair to use black and white for this.

First, the ride over to Ohio. This is our lunch location, a local chain restaurant just outside of Pittsburgh. A wanna be Ruby Tuesday. It was good though. I had a triple onion burger, which made me very popular in the car.

[hemmy]

At least Mean Streak wasn't your favorite ride like the last dude who posted a Photo:TR

[jackskellington101]

What? You want more coaster pictures? Ask and I shall deliver.

Magnum going down. An exceptionally fun hypercoaster, actually pretty high on my list. Massive air on the run back. But I'm sure most y'all knew that.

Two Magnums, passing in the black in white.

Top Thrill. I'll ride you later.

I believe that this is a required shot for all trips to Cedar Point.

Iron Dragon, an actually very fun suspended coaster. Not too thrilling, but still fun.

Praying Mantis.

From one crappy coaster to another. Here's a fleet of people "enjoying" the lovely trim on the first drop of Mantis.

Boy...that font looks awfully familiar...hmm...

Oh the pain!

Ugh, Brown Streak.

We even waited in a line for Brown Streak. We're crazy like that.

I will admit, it looks promising. Too bad it decided to be simultaneously boring and painful.

Mean Streak...our first coaster of the day. Well, might as well get it out of the way.

Maverick closed. As Spencer put "Since Tom Cruise went crazy, Maverick's never been the same again".

Yes, because the raft ride would be good at high 50 degree weather.

[jackskellington101]

yet some more of day 1. Yes, day 1. This is going to be quite the report, I know.

While I liked this one.

I tried many times to get the awesome lighting that is Millennium Force at night. Spencer liked this one.

Mel's Coaster Dine In.

Spencer: "Hopefully the Game Day Grille doesn't give you the Blue Streaks."

Night blurry Raptor vertical loop. Somewhere Derek is exploding.

On to the night midway. It's so pretty. Ooooooh. Ahhhhhh.

See, 3D! 3D neon paint! Maybe this is the direction of the Flight of Fears! They'll become as awesome as Disaster Transport.

The super special awesome repair bay.

This was a triumph.

If this wasn't bolted to the floor, I possibly could drive it.

Look at the special effects! They're amazing!

Now to Spencer's favorite attraction the entire trip. The one that he wanted to ride over and over again. One that became the recurring reference of "best ride ever". That's right, Disaster Transport. IN 3D!

Top Thrill at sunset.

Gemini. The twins were set really apart this time. Gemini Red ran pretty well while Gemini blue jackhammered my lower spine into my chest.

Snoopy! Of course, this made me think of my dearest companion who's currently in Washington State.

[jackskellington101]

Finishing up day 1. More to come when I do it.

And, while trying to avoid the camera, I still get a good shot of Spencer. HA!

The next it's gone.

One minute it's there.

For being a dragster, it's got the strangest station.

This isn't suggestive in any way...nah.

[Thom25]

Great pics and story line - thanks.

 

Question - Did Mantis have the drop trim on?

 

I gotta tell ya - when it is off - it is one hell of a ride, and it wasn't on the last few years. When it's on - it severly impacts the rides pacing imo.

[jackskellington101]

^ It was on, it was loud, and it was forceful. When we hit the trim, the inertia of everyone in the train went flying forward and everyone went "Oof". Mantis was a huge disappointment. Now, I did ride it in the rain, but it threw me about like a rag doll.

[Thom25]

Well, the rain may have something to do with it. And YES, it is a HUGE disapointment with the brake on (no doubt).

[SFOGdude25]

I will tell you, Mean Streak is pretty enjoyable in the front. The ride is somewhat smooth, and has a nice visual experience going through all that wood. I agree with most others that, as a ride itself, it is still boring.

 

Nice pics by the way! Can't wait for the next set!

[ghost007jas]

Great pictures. I stayed at Castaway Bay when I went last year, brings back lots of memories! Mostly good ones.. mostly.

 

Did you check out the water park (inside the hotel) while you were there? It was really nice if you decide to fit some time in for it. I still think it's stupid that it closes at the same time as the park, it means you have to lose some park time just to go to the water park. Oh well!

 

Your comment about the girls in line for Mean Streak is one of the reasons I don't like Knott's Berry Farm anymore. Because it's like that on every ride, every visit, ever, always.

[jackskellington101]

^ We did get some time in the indoor water park. It's pretty cool, nothing fantastically special, but cool. The little master blaster is neat, but the dinky little wave pool was ok. I've also never been a fan of the water playthings, but the one in there seemed to be the major attraction. Really, a lot of the time, Spencer and I just played basketball in the little side pool and I sat in the hot tub thing. So overall, it was nice but nothing overly special.

 

In fact, a lot of our waterpark time came from...

 

Day 2

 

This was supposed to be our major all day time at the park. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate. Because we were staying at a Cedar Fair hotel, we got into the park an hour early and, even with the threat of rain and the occasional shower, they still were running Millennium Force and Raptor. So, that's where we headed immediately. Both were running fandamntastic, with the little bit of rain getting it to unparalleled speed. We got the very back of Raptor and it was 2 ways to awesome. Millennium Force...well, I had high expectations...and it met every one of those expectations and then some. It's EXTREMELY high on my list of top coasters and it's exceptionally awesome. The only even remote downside is that in the rain shower in which we originally rode, it felt like getting a shower with a power washer. As the time passed, the rain picked up. By noon, it was a torrential rainstorm and we were about done. With the weather report saying that it'd be all day, and it being right so far, we headed out and went into downtown Sandusky.

 

In downtown Sandusky, Mom and I actually went to the Merry Go Round Museum. It may sound like nothing really fantastic, but it really was pretty cool! They had a ton of old horses and animals, their own classic merry go round and a hair-blastingly loud pipe organ. It's actually a neat little thing and worth taking a look. So, everybody ready, so on with the show!

Now we're from Switzerland! (Don't get it? Watch the Totally Rad Show and you will. Specifically episode 29.)

Oooooooh. So pretty. Why can't all coasters end this way?

No fighting!

On the AWESOME train, there was some more silliness going on.

Oh those poor people.

There we go! Sure glad this isn't a film camera.

...cooooome oooooon...

...Come on....

We tried to get at least one nice picture with Spencer. Come on...

First the crazy, then the rain. Can't catch a break with Maverick.

We were apparently too wet to see the dry goods store.

Even in the rain Mantis ran. It still was a painful ton of yellow and red poo poo, but still, it ran.

This is from the Cedar Fair opoly. I'd have to say, the first aid person looks a lot like General Akbar. Then it just might possibly be A TRAP!

Wow, who would have thought. Oh, and Hi Joey.

Hello Cedar Point. Maybe the rain will hold out for a little longer. And maybe I'll see a Gen 1 Intamin Drop Tower in 5 minutes.

[jackskellington101]

With all the darn rain, we had to find something to do...

"It's stuck on my fingers! It looks like a giant booger!"

Unfortunately for us, he got some fart slime. It's gonna be a long car ride back.

Mom's waiting patently while Spencer is getting his whatever with the tickets.

For being a spooky thing, it sure is bright.

Wow, Spooky things just seem to follow me everywhere I go.

Then we all Skeed some balls and everything was awesome.

Though Spencer quickly took charge.

While Dad tried Time Crisis 3...

To the arcade and to Skee Ball! We love Skee Ball. We suck, but we love it.

Well, Spencer's content on watching International Gladiators on ESPN Classic...but we must move on.

Hmm, what should we do? Oh and the lovely shirt comes complements of my lovely companion who got it for me as a gift.

[jackskellington101]

Well, the rain let up a little bit...but we didn't get hand stamps. Well then, on to "downtown" Sandusky and the Merry Go Round Museum. Speaking of which, here's a video I took of that huge pipe organ shown:

 

On our way out, I saw this. Wow, I didn't know Colbert did so much here.

And what's a Merry Go Round Museum without a merry go round. It's also run at the full speed of which it can go. The tour guide mentioned that most parks throttle down their merry go rounds, so the one they run goes at the top ability.

Boy, Tinkerbell let herself go...

This organ could blow hair off a dog. It obviously was not made for indoor use.

So far I've had theme parks, coasters and now donkeys. I think I've done everything required for this board.

Moooooo.

This horse will be raffled off and it'll be at your house by Christmas! Want one?

A restored horse in the process.

The concept art of a Toy Land in the 1930s, 20 years before Disneyland.

Some more of the horses inside the museum.

Mom admiring the horses in the lobby.

Right near by is the Merry Go Round Museum. In a past life, it used to be a post office.

... and this is the time on the garden clock ACROSS THE STREET. The question becomes which is right. I'll give a hint...it's the garden like one.

But here's the conundrum. This is the time on the court clock...

Here is the local district court with the icon of Sandusky, a boy holding a boot...I don't get it either.

[jackskellington101]

Now, onward to...

 

Day 3

 

Well, Day 3 was still cloudy day, and somewhat rainy, but it was better. Still was enough to delay the opening of every attraction in the park. We came in at that 9 am early opening and nothing was open due to the spritzing rain and 20 mph winds. Everything was still testing around lunch and, to top everything off, Top Thrill was valleying every other launch during testing. But, everything worked out by the end, though the clouds never really left.

 

I also got a lot of my re-rides and first rides. Millennium Force was just as awesome a second time and not as painful with rain lacerating your skin. My choice for best coaster in the park that I rode. The Wildcat just may have the shortest break time of any coaster I've ever been on. Top Thrill was fun, but it really is all launch and that's it. Even the top of the hill isn't all that cool because it goes by so fast. The rumble of the car breaking during the run is a little discerning as well. Maverick...never opened. We didn't even see it run all trip. Ah well. Blue Streak had some surprising air, as did Corkscrew. Wicked Twister was nothing real special. And Joey, be proud, my last ride of the park was Demon Drop. With all the clanging and noise, I thought I was going to die and that break run was a new testament in pain, but I have ridden my first Gen 1 Intamin drop tower. So, onto the pictures!

Now take a look Disney, Cedar Point can have its fire going. We need our housewarming party again.

Millennium force....who needs it when skeletons are around!

I've been skelling on the rail road. All the real dead day...

Sing skeletons sing!

Fishing skeleton in the blue recreation water.

Skyhawk: THROUGH THE TREES!

Drunk skeletons! That alcohol must be really dry.

Coaster pictures...mah, go back to the skeletons!

Words cannot describe how awesome this picture is.

With shooting! Shooting that scared the ever loving cr@p out of me!

I delayed in these before. This is why the train is so awesome! Skeleton towns! Animated skeleton towns!

It's now time for everyone's favorite game: Count the trash cans!

Spencer! No drinking from the all Mountain Dew vending machine. "It's the vending machine of the gods!"

My extended family likes to call me Joe Cool, especially when I have sunglasses on. So I went as Joe Cool as I could, with my bright yellow raincoat.

Jooooooooooey. Jooooooooooooeeeeeeeey. I'm in Cedar Point Joey.

[jackskellington101]

Aww, no more skeletons...aw well, I guess I'll keep going... I guess.

Ah Maverick. You win this time. Maybe next time.

The Cats Cafe? Serving tacos...I'm afraid to ask what kind of meat.

Now THAT'S a bunch of pressed fried dough. If only elephants really had ears like this, the world would be a yummier place.

Can you find the Stu? Look for the painfully bright jacket.

Corkscrewing fun...wait...

Mom and Spencer zooming on the Matterhorn. No, not THAT Matterhorn.

OMG! Disaster Transport trains!

I guess I'm contemplating the intelligence of this move...not much time to think though.

And, the logical ride to ride after lunch is, of course, Wicked Twister.

We ate at my cafe, as evidenced by the place mats. It was really geared for kids, but having a ton of TVs showing Charlie Brown specials is just cool.

COOKIE!!!!

Spencer being a smart alec as we head to lunch.

The super carousel of speed. It's actually a really fun old ride.

Loopy loopy loop.

I think this EXCLUSIVE SHOT doesn't have the same punch it usually does.

[jackskellington101]

Not too much more now!

Me with my Joe Cool brethren.

Alternative signage.

The carousel shot and Spencer's starting to be wary.

Be wary of these two and air hockey. They'll kick everyone's butt.

A bench style Star Wars Arcade machine? Never seen one of these either.

Wait, Dazzler? Yeah, Dazzler's in the arcade game. And only the geeks find this funny.

Ah, the X-Men arcade game. Such a fun beat um up. Being able to play as such classic characters as Wolverine, Cyclops, Nightcrawler and Dazzler.

Off to the big arcade. They've got the normal ticket coin eaters, but I went all the way back and found this gem. A line of vintage pinball machines, pretty much all in working condition. Such a fun use of a quarter.

Raptor raptoring. In a funny bit of unexpected continuity, they kept playing Eagles songs in the Raptor queue line.

Wicked Twister wicked twisting I guess.

Disaster Transport!!! Yay!!! Such love for such a sad, pathetic ride. The ride itself isn't too bad, but it just feels so sad.

I love sky rides. Such great pictures, such as this place here.

Ohhiokthxby

Ahhhhhhhhhh Spookyspookyspookyspookyspookyspookyspookyspooky.

Ack! Maverick took Thunder Canyon with it!

[jackskellington101]

This is the last set, I promise.

Bye Cedar Point! See you whenever the next time would be!

Yay for reruns of Star Trek: Voyager!

Laying back in the room, chilling with my Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow shirt. That's right, I'm promoting horrible horrible movies. At least it's unique.

Over here's the little tiny wave pool. With a wave pool at max being 4 feet, it wasn't too thrilling for me.

Here is a shot of the water park, specifically the little kiddy area and a smidgen of the play structure. That brown slide about is the master blaster.

Castaway Cay in all it's building glory.

[FeelTheFORCE]

Great pictures! You know, I used to hate it when the trim was on, on Mantis. That is, until I rode it on Monday and Tuesday. They had the damn thing on the hardest I've ever seen. It was awesome, though because it crawled through the loop and dive loop giving you SO MUCH hang time!

[adeuce02]

nice photos. I was there today to see if i sum rides in and it started to barely drizzle and just like everything shut down. Cp is getting terrible with there rain policy