CP vs. The World

[08stien]

I don't mean to come off as a Cedar Point fan-boy, but it is difficult living less than 1 hour away. O.K. to get to my point, I was wondering with the broad audience enthusiasts on this site how did your experience at CP (if you've have one) measure up to the experience of other parks around the world, and does it really live up to the "Greatest Park" status it is given.

 

I apoligize if this topic is repetitive or ignorent.

[PhishyBrewer]

And another one bites the dust!!!

[08stien]

....sitting down.....shutting up......

[Carnage]

Cedar Point is an extremely over rated park.

 

Sure it has a good ride lineup. But there are ALOT of parks I've been to that are more "fun" or are run much better.

 

It's a good park, but it's not the hands down top park in the world like the media makes it out to be.

[Chris Benvenuto]

Cedar Point is an extremely over rated park.

 

Sure it has a good ride lineup. But there are ALOT of parks I've been to that are more "fun" or are run much better.

 

It's a good park, but it's not the hands down top park in the world like the media makes it out to be.

 

And life sucks doesn't it?

 

I've been to Six Flags, Kennywood, and had numerous bad experinces, right.....they say smaller is better, some cases yes and some no.....this case is that CP is a nicely run, but sometimes is overrated. I agree with you but the other parks being run better thing, I do not agree.

[Gnome]

I've never been to CP, but I'm pretty sure IOA and USF really give it a run for its money. I can't tell you how much better IOA's 3 major rollers, great atmosphere, and extremely freindly is over Six Flags magic Mountain 14 - 17 running coasters, low grade atmosphere, and employees that just are there to get paid.. Heck, USF alone was better than any other park I had been to and IOA was just the icing on the cake, and says a lot.(even if the park is a little stingy on rules, but who isn't now a days?)

I know there are other parks that compare like Holiday World, and others, but basically what I'm saying is CP is not the "cure all" for parks like the polls want you believe. The fact is its just a really good park with pretty good service and rides, and like any park, there's still room for improvement, and it doesn't blow all competition out of the water.

[ECZenith]

CP is an awesome park, one of my favorites... but I still prefer parks like IOA and the Disney parks. One thing CP has needed (and has been getting, thankfully!) is flat rides... and they've gotten two giant flats the past two seasons.

[robbalvey]

CP is certainly one of the better run parks, at least from my visits. But the selection of coasters, while it's "good" is by no means as amazing as people make it out to be. Here would be my rankings:

 

Blue Streak: B- I mean it's an ok woodie, but nothing I'd go out of my way for.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride: C it's ok for a mine train, but nothing spectacular

Corkscrew: C Probably one of the better Arrow loop-screws, but then again that's not saying too much!

Disaster Transport: C+ Welcome to Alaska! This is always kind of fun.

Gemini: B- Actually one of my more favorite rides at CP.

Iron Dragon: D Probably the worst in it's class.

Magnum XL-200: C Never quite understood what was so awesome about this ride. It's just pretty average, IMO. Heh, I rated Disaster Transport higher!

Mantis: C+ Not a great stand up, but not the worst one either.

Mean Streak: C It's like a giant wooden mine train. I don't mind this ride, really. Ride in the front seat and it's not so bad.

Millennium Force: B+ A good ride, not as good as most of the other Intamin hypers, though.

Raptor: B In my "2nd tier" B&M inverts. Good, yes, but it's no Dragons, Nemesis, Batman, Pyrenees, Montu, or Katun.

Top Thrill Dragster: B I'm just not into "one trick" rides. And I like Xcelerator's launch better.

Wicked Twister: B+ I really like this!

Wildcat Steel: C Can't go wrong with a Schwarzkopf wildcat!

Woodstock's Express: C Good version of the roller skater, but still, it's a roller skater!

 

So if you add that all up, the average grade would be a "C+"....like I've always said "The best collection of slightly above average rides anywhere!"

 

--Robb "Nice park, yes, just overhyped, IMO." Alvey

[Hercules]

I've never been to Cedar Point, but it just looks dull to me. My home park is Dorney and the life has been sucked out of that place. I can't imagine that the atmosphere is any different at Cedar Point. Just looking at webcams and photos of the place, it just looks blah to me. Good rides, but no atmosphere don't measure up to a good park to me.

 

That is just my opinion though and I'll wait to experience the place to make a fair judgement.

[Jon Sabo]

I would say this would be hard to judge based on that each person has their own personal preferences what makes a park great.

I think most would agree on the basics such as the following:

1. Park beauty (landscape/clean)

2. Good staff (friendly/helful, etc)

3. Good selections of rides (not just coasters, but family rides/dark rides/water rides and so on).

4. Quality for $$ (just imagine how much parking will become in say-5yrs?..lol). We want a "bang-for-the-buck!"

5. Same as above, but with the addition of quality FOOD (and shows).

[Scaparri]

I think it is a great park, but I wouldn't call it the best. As far as overall ride collection, yeah, it's hard to beat. Sure, not many of the rides are the best in their category, but the huge variety is what makes the collection great. As was mentioned before, the park is also run very smoothly. Last summer, I read a lot of complaints about CP stacking trains. I think that right there says a lot. It's not expected. You always know that the employees at CP are busting their ass to keep the ride efficient with as high of capacity as possible. They pride themselves on their hourly numbers. How many parks have you been to where you see the employee slowly checking trains and taking their sweet time? Most. And for $40 a day, the place is a steal compared to most parks this day in age. The only thing the park really lacks is theming.

 

It's all about what a person is looking for. If a person is looking for a park with a lot of really fun rides where they can just have a good time riding, then CP is the place to go. If a person wants good rides, but uniqueness, charm, and history, then a place like Knoebel's or Kennywood is probably more fitting. If it's a few good rides with extensive theming that really sucks the person into a different world, then a place like IOA, Dollywood, or Disney probably does the trick. I like it all. It just depends what mood I'm in.

[dandaman]

CP is certainly one of the better run parks, at least from my visits. But the selection of coasters, while it's "good" is by no means as amazing as people make it out to be. Here would be my rankings:

 

Blue Streak: B- I mean it's an ok woodie, but nothing I'd go out of my way for.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride: C it's ok for a mine train, but nothing spectacular

Corkscrew: C Probably one of the better Arrow loop-screws, but then again that's not saying too much!

Disaster Transport: C+ Welcome to Alaska! This is always kind of fun.

Gemini: B- Actually one of my more favorite rides at CP.

Iron Dragon: D Probably the worst in it's class.

Magnum XL-200: C Never quite understood what was so awesome about this ride. It's just pretty average, IMO. Heh, I rated Disaster Transport higher!

Mantis: C+ Not a great stand up, but not the worst one either.

Mean Streak: C It's like a giant wooden mine train. I don't mind this ride, really. Ride in the front seat and it's not so bad.

Millennium Force: B+ A good ride, not as good as most of the other Intamin hypers, though.

Raptor: B In my "2nd tier" B&M inverts. Good, yes, but it's no Dragons, Nemesis, Batman, Pyrenees, Montu, or Katun.

Top Thrill Dragster: B I'm just not into "one trick" rides. And I like Xcelerator's launch better.

Wicked Twister: B+ I really like this!

Wildcat Steel: C Can't go wrong with a Schwarzkopf wildcat!

Woodstock's Express: C Good version of the roller skater, but still, it's a roller skater!

 

So if you add that all up, the average grade would be a "C+"....like I've always said "The best collection of slightly above average rides anywhere!"

 

--Robb "Nice park, yes, just overhyped, IMO." Alvey

 

The thing I was most surprised at in this post was the fact that you enjoyed Wicked Twister a lot. Having ridden most impulse coasters (I think), I'd have thought your opinion on it would be slightly less. (Not that I'm complaining! )

 

P.S. Agree about the Mean Streak thing. I've ridden in the front, back, and middle, and the front is the least jostling.

[ParkTrips]

It's a good park but not even in my personal top 10 favorite parks. "The World" wins

[CoasterFanatic]

My Best Attempt of describing Cedar Point:

 

Great Park

Clean

EXCELLENT Operations

Mediocre Food

Killer Arcade

Outdated Waterpark

 

and ...

 

The Worlds Greatest Collection of Mediocre Coasters

[Carnage]

As far as food goes I'd say CP actually ranks pretty low. There's not really anything there that I really crave.

 

I normally just drink, and snack on small stuff. Then once we leave the park we go to a good sit down place locally.

[robbalvey]

My Best Attempt of describing Cedar Point:

 

Great Park

Clean

EXCELLENT Operations

Mediocre Food

Killer Arcade

Outdated Waterpark

 

and ...

 

The Worlds Greatest Collection of Mediocre Coasters

My feeling EXACTLY!

[mightypotato]

I really enjoyed CP the two times I've been. But, I would take IOA or BGE over it any day of the week. However, its proximity to me makes it a more viable option than my other two "local" parks: Canada's Wonderland and Six Flags Darien Lake. Its definitely a better park than those two.

[sfmmFREAK]

as you can see by my screen name, i think it would be best if i didn't say anything

[Carnage]

^ What does being a SFMM fan have to do with how good CP is?

 

Beleive it or not they are not in competition with each other.

[robbalvey]

^ Yeah, I mean my thoughts about SFMM pretty much echo those of CP. Good park (getting better, actually) with a good selection of rides, but nowhere near the best.

 

Honestly, the more SFMM keeps improving, the more like CP it becomes. Where I think that CP might have the *slight* edge over SFMM as far as quality of coasters are concerned, it's real close IMO.

 

CP has the operations over SFMM, but other than that, both parks are pretty much on par with each other.

 

If you're going to compare CP to any other park, I'd say it's closer in competition to SFGAdv these days, not SFMM.

 

--Robb

[08stien]

I will try to keep my ratings as open minded as possible.

 

Blue Streak-B+- Classic woodie with great air time(better before the seats were changed)

CC mine ride-C+- Average family coaster with nice theming

Corkscrew-C-- As stated before, it is an Arrow

Disaster Transport-C-- The only indoor coaster I know that can't run in the rain

Gemini-B+- Very fun and very overated

Iron Dragon-C-- Boring, but a nice change of pace/starter coaster

Magnum-A-- Without this air-time-machine there would be no Millennium Force or Goliath or anyother coaster from the hight/speed race

Mean Streak-D-- Just skip this one FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

Millennium Force-B-- The First drop itself will get a B but the rest of the ride is actually pretty boring

Raptor-A+- I just can't get enough of this ride, great drop, great intensity, great hellix, JUST GREAT

TTD-A- One word AMAZING!

Wicked Twister-A-- This ride in the back seat is tough to beat

Wild Cat-B-- This thing is really fun, don't skip this kid-coaster it's a gem

Woodstock-C+- Fun kiddie ride that the adults can enjoy too

 

So in all CP's coaster lineup isn't quite as solid top-to-bottom as advertised, but it still holds 3 of my top ten coasters.

[Blue0ctane]

Blue Streak-C- Nice airtime but jolts you around a bit too much

Corkscrew-B-- One of the smoother Arrow corkscrews

Disaster Transport-D+- Last time I went, it ran in the rain...

Gemini-A- I'm a sucker for airtime and headchoppers

Iron Dragon-C-- My first and so far only suspended, and it's not that great

Magnum-B- Too rough on wheel seats, a bit overhyped, lap bars WAY too tight

Mean Streak-F- If you already have the credit, skip

Millennium Force-A++- I can't get enough. :-/

Raptor-A+- My favorite invert. And Robb, for me, DD is in the second tier of inverts, not the first.

TTD-A+- Melikes

Wicked Twister-A-- Excruciatingly fun with a fairly short line

Wild Cat-C- Fun because of its short wait

 

Cedar Point is my favorite park, but maybe that's because I haven't been to a lot.

[robbalvey]

Raptor-A+- My favorite invert. And Robb, for me, DD is in the second tier of inverts, not the first.

.....And your point is?

 

I'm really fucking sick of people having to point out how their opinions are different than mine. Big fucking deal. Get over it people!!!!

 

--Robb "Just because I have a different opinion from your doesn't freaking mean I'm WRONG, ok???" Alvey

[Blue0ctane]

Sorry if I came off as offensive. I was simply mentioning my own opinions; I didn't mean to put down yours.

 

Zach "Did anyone notice that the emoticons here are themed to DD?" A.

[coasterlover420]

I'll have a go!

 

Blue Streak-B+- I really liked this coaster for some reason...maybe it's because I am tamed to the Rattler and it was my first out and back coaster ever

 

CC mine ride-B-- Kinda slow, Kinda short, nice scenery

 

Corkscrew-C-- A little rough around the edges (and the head)

 

Disaster Transport-B-- I'm not really into dark rides, but this one was cool

 

Gemini-B+- Racing coasters are fun! I won both times I rode!

 

Iron Dragon-C+- I like that it hovers over TTD and I like the knot at the end.

 

Magnum-B+- Rough coaster, nice airtime

 

Mean Streak-D-- Well, duh!

 

Millennium Force-A- Nice smooth coaster with height, speed, and airtime. (I like to look down at the grass infested wih geese during the 2nd overbank)

 

Raptor-A-- A very smooth B&M coaster. I dodn't like the jerk at the end very much.

 

TTD-A++- Best experience in the world! Amazing launch forces! The sounds it makes are cool, too.

 

Wicked Twister-A- Very unusual feeling coaster when you're in the front, really good in the back

 

Still best park in the world!!