TR: Cedar Point - Late June and Early July 2011

[IrishBuckeye]

I've visited Cedar Point 4 times recently, 2 by myself, and 2 with one of my best friends (who I call nina). I went by

myself on 6/27 and 6/30, and with Nina on 6/6 and 6/7. Sorry, no photos this time. I have done Photo TRs of CP before.

 

First of all for the lone wolf visits, I normally wouldn't go to CP by myself, but I just happened for be in the area that

week so I figured why not. A chance for me to get some laps in on my favorite coasters. Monday 6/27 was my first visit, and

I had my season pass processed upon arrival, very fast with no issues. No complaints. It was a very nice day outside, the crowds weren't bad at all, and wait times were around normal. I enjoyed a funnel cake from a vendor near the frontier town entrance (I think its called "Toot sweets"). Talk about fattening. At this vendor, you can get a funnel cake with a large amount of ice cream on top, (and I mean large, not just one or two scoops), with fudge topping if you want. Just looking at one of those was like a heart attack. But I didn't get the ice cream or toppings, just a regular cake.

 

I spent roughly 7 hours in the park, mostly focused on my favorite rides, not anything with a real long wait since I was by

myself. The longest wait I had was 45 minutes for Millennium Force. I passed on Maverick since the wait was 1 hour. And I

did get wet, with short waits for both Shoot the Rapids and Snake River Falls. (ride counts below).

 

On Thursday 6/30, I arrived at 9AM with a good parking spot, and took advantage of the early entry for pass holders. I was

confused as to where exactly to go for the early entry, as it now works differently than it does in previous seasons I was

a passholder. It turns out I did enter the park at the right entrance for early entry, but I didn't realize it at first.

 

After sorting out all my confusion, I got in line for MF, which was all the way back to the red garter saloon, but a short

wait since the queues weren't fully open. I rode MF twice with about a 20 minute wait each time. Always a blast. Those

intense G-forces are a nice way to wake up in the morning. After MF, I rushed back to Maverick and by the time I got there

the park was open to the public. Maverick was about a 45 minute wait but very well worth it. I've always liked Maverick but didn't consider it in my top 3 of CP coasters. However, its really beginning to grow on me the more I ride it. The feeling

you get going over the first hill which is steeper than straight down is incredible, along with the tunnel launch in the

middle of the ride. I'm not a fan of the OTS restraints, and find myself having to really lean into the turns, but the ride

is enjoyable nonetheless. After Maverick, the rest of the day was pretty much the same as before. Ate lunch at the gameday

grille, which is one of my preferred places to eat inside the park. Magnum XL-200 will always be my favorite ride at Cedar

Point, because of the airtime. Followed closely by Millennium Force. I spent roughly 7 hours in the park on both days, and

really enjoyed myself. About all I could expect for a loner visit.

 

Rides 6/27:

 

MagnumXL-200 X5

Gemini X3

Blue Streak X2

Millennium Force

Shoot the Rapids

Snake River Falls

 

Rides 6/30:

 

Magnum XL-200 X3

Millennium Force X2

Maverick

Gemini

Skyhawk

 

On July 6th, I drove the hour long trip from Cleveland to Sandusky with my friend Nina. We stayed 2 nights at the Comfort

Inn on Cleveland Road just off the causeway. Nice hotel and I have no complaints about it. The rooms were clean and

comfortable. Nina slept very well both nights (and she normally is a very light sleeper). On the 6th we got to the park

just after 12 pm, and were there until close (with a break at the hotel included). After taking in a couple rides on

Magnum, was decided to head over to soak city and cool off as it was already humid. We had a nice swim in the wave pool and

lazy river, and then went back into the park. One of my biggest complaints about Cedar Point is how ridiculously short the

seatbelts are for MF and TTD. Particularly TTD. I need a lot of help every time I go to ride it. I skipped TTD but we did

ride MF, another ride I just barely it into. (I'm 6'1", 260 lbs, 40 inch waist, just for the record). I've talked to other

people who aren't even as big as me and they say they barely fit on either MF or TTD or both.

 

Later that evening, we waited about 90 minutes to get on Maverick, due to a mechanical breakdown. We were right at the

bottom of the stairs that go up to the platform when the ride stopped operating, and wasn't operating for a while. So many

people left the queue that when the ride finally started back up, we were on one of the first 3 trains. Maverick is Nina's

favorite ride at CP, with all the twists and turns and the launch tunnel, and she was very glad we rode it. We wanted to

ride Skyhawk afterwards but while in line it broke down as well. So we finally headed to MF and got in line just before the

park closed, and rode MF to end the day. I absolutely love riding MF at night, its a wonderful experience. Due to a long

break at the hotel and going to soak city, we didn't get a lot of rides in, but it was still a fun time.

 

The next day, July 7th, was one of the best days I ever spent at Cedar Point. We got atleast one lap in on every single

ride and coaster I could possibly have wanted to ride, with the exception of Raptor. I often find myself skipping Raptor

due to its long lines. We arrived just after 9am, into the early entry and went straight for MF. This time, the line was

all the way back across the railroad and almost to the wildcat. We were on within 30 minutes. Afterwards, we made a break

for Maverick. I forget exactly how long we waited for Maverick this time but I don't recall it being a long wait. After a

spin on the Gemini, we finally decided to head for what I had been dreading, Top Thrill Dragster.

 

I sat in the test seat in front of the queue on dragster, and with a little effort me and Nina were able to get it to fit.

The posted wait was 90 minutes, but we were on the train in a little less time than that. I needed the help of 2 ride

attendants to get the seatbelt fastened, but they were atleast nice and never forced me off the ride. I've ridden TTD a

handful of times now, and there simply is nothing else like it. From 0 to 60 in one second. From 0 to 120 in four seconds.

Although I was permitted to ride, I still say the seatbelts for both TTD and MF are way too short.

 

In addition to riding coasters, we got some flats in as well, including the new Windseeker. Windseeker was a neat

experience as it holds you 300 feet in the air and keeps you there for a while, giving you a fantastic view of the park.

Its not an aggressive white-knuckle thrill ride, but I don't think that is the point. Windseeker is an experience just as

much as a ride. Another flat I am falling in love with is Skyhawk. You get some major airtime on the high swings, and if

you lean back you see everything upside down. Also rode Power Tower, CP's S&S Tower, going down. It probably isn't the nicest tower out there, but is still a fun ride. Good airtime on the drop.

 

For lunch, we wanted to go to Johnny Rockets but there was a big crowd and a long wait. So we settled for Gameday Grille instead. Gameday Grille was understaffed and it took us a long time to get our drinks and food, but atleast the food was good. I ordered the collassal hot dog which I couldn't finish, and Nina ordered wings. During the day we also enjoyed Ice Cream from the Toft's parlor, located at the front of the park, on the right side if you are walking in the main entrance. Toft's has very good ice cream and I highly recommend checking it out.

 

After a break at the Hotel, we came back to the park and were pleasently surprized in two ways. One, the weather had really cooled off and it wasn't humid anymore, and secondly, the park didn't seem nearly as crowded as it was earlier in the day. Upon returning we parked in the Soak City lot and took a couple spins on Magnum, always a winner. Then we cooled off with 2 rides on Snake River Falls, both times it was a near walk-on. After this we rode Skyhawk twice, my thoughts on it summarized earlier. After Skyhawk, we made our way through Frontiertown, where the starlight experience was going on, and to Millennium Force. The starlight experience is really neat, and I especially enjoy walking through it after the park closes, going back through frontiertown on the way to the soak city lot. It sure beats walking through the old dead dark frontiertown at night.

 

Got to MF just after 9PM. The posted wait time was 75 minutes, but we were on in under 60. There simply are no words to describe how awesome MF is in the dark. I like going up the first hill, how it goes up so fast and you can't see anything unless you're in the front row, like you're on a runaway train in the sky. And then the first hill and nothing but constant speed after that. This time, when coming out the third tunnel near the end of the ride, there were fireworks going off from the show in the middle of the park. A wonderful end to the trip, seeing fireworks while riding MF.

 

I enjoyed myself at Cedar Point (just as always), and have no complaints other than the seatbelts mentioned above, and the overpriced food which almost everyone knows about.

 

Rides July 6th:

 

Magnum XL-200 X2

Millennium Force X2

Gemini

Blue Streak

Maverick

Sky Ride

Soak City Lazy River and Wave Pool

 

Rides July 7th:

 

Millennium Force X2

Magnum XL-200 X2

Top Thrill Dragster

Maverick

Blue Streak

Gemini

Power Tower Down

Snake River Falls X2

Windseeker

Skyhawk X2

 

Total combined rides - All 4 Visits:

 

Magnum XL-200 X12

Millennium Force X7

Maverick X3

Gemini X6

Top Thrill Dragster X1

Blue Streak X4

Skyhawk X3

Snake River Falls X3

Windseeker X1

[mmichael]

Great post, IrishBuckEye.