Trip Report: Cedar Point on September 25, 2010

Halloweekends trip #2 started with the Halloween Hullabaloo. Compared to last year, it sucked. Not only was it the exact same show, but the cast was horrible, except Kristin, but she was in it last year. There were multiple errors in the show: a few from the cast and the #1 problem with the theater: microphones. Every year there seems to be a problem with them and it’s only this theater. Moving on, I went and saw the parade.

Wonderful as always, but I see the reason Cedar Point only has this once a year. It’s a lot of work to control the crowd. Most of the people come to Cedar Point to ride the baggiest rides around, not stop and watch a parade. Thus they are inconvenienced by it going down some of Cedar Point’s smallest, and most crowded, midways. Next up was Happy Jack’s Toy Factory.

Cedar Point - Happy Jack's Toy Factory

I got in line about a half hour before opening and was in one of the first groups to go in. TIP: Get there early and a half hour will be the shortest wait of the day/night. Basically, it was the same as last year with no new surprises. Then I took some time to do a little shopping before Carnival: A Sideshow of Magic began.

Cedar Point - Sideshow: A Carnival of Magic

My opinion of this show: it sucked just like Rock Band, and it even used the exact same set and TV screens. Cedar Point really needs to get Chris Linn back. My theory is that they went way over budget with Rock Band and needed a cheap show to fill the Halloweekends gap. After the show I headed back to the car to eat dinner before The Overlord!

Cedar Point - The Overlord Screamsters

Cedar Point - The Overlord

Then it was to the Fright Zone for opening, but first I had to check on my rapids. The water effects were on, but the ride had already closed for the Fright Zone.

Cedar Point - Shoot the Rapids Closed

Cedar Point - Shoot the Rapids Closed

After opening, I headed to the Garter for The Edge of Madness: Still Crazy.

That is a good show and much improved from last year! Then it was back through the Fright Zone and I headed back to Mean Streak, which had closed already for off-season maintenance.

Cedar Point - Mean Streak Closed Sign

I got stopped at the train crossing where the worker probably thought I was crazy for two reasons: One was for waving at the train as it went back, required by workers, but not by guests and not many do it on their own. The second was going to take pictures of the sign and new smoking area. But, oh well, that’s the way I am. ;D After a little more shopping, I headed over to CarnEVIL and Terror Island before calling it a night.

Ride Count:

  • Happy Jack’s Toy Factory x1
  • The Fright Zone x2
  • CarnEVIL x1
  • Terror Island x1

Show Count:

Trip Report: Cedar Point on August 25, 2010

For Trip #11, I chose one of the best weeks to go, “Dead Week”.  This is the week where most kids have already gone back to school, but not me!  I started the afternoon off with a walk-on Raptor ride.

Cedar Point - Raptor Wheels

Before getting off the ride, the train came into the station, but didn’t make it completely in and we couldn’t get off for about 5 minutes.  Then it was on to ride Disaster Transport and guess what!?!?!  The lighting effects were actually working!  I guess Cedar Point decided that with WindSeeker coming into the area that they would do a bit of repairs on the rides in the area.  Next up was Wicked Twister, Chaos, and Ocean Motion.  In case you haven’t heard, is leaving next year* and is currently for sale to make room for WindSeeker.

Cedar Point - Ocean Motion

Cedar Point - Wicked Twister

Then it was onto the Scrambler and a first for me: Matterhorn.

Cedar Point - Matterhorn

They were both lots of fun!  Being almost 6PM, it was time to head over to the Garter for Tropical Heat, Island Beat.  Instead of a movie, I took plenty of photos of the show.

Cedar Point - Tropical Heat, Island Beat

Cedar Point - Tropical Heat, Island Beat

Cedar Point - Tropical Heat, Island Beat

Cedar Point - Tropical Heat, Island Beat

Cedar Point - Tropical Heat, Island Beat

There was also a cast change with Sarah Chybrzynski leaving and another girl, who I don’t her name, took her place.  After the show, I took a ride on Millennium Force and Terror Island looked almost ready to open for the season.  I then walked down the Frontier Trail to find Shoot the Rapids, you guessed it, broken down!

Cedar Point - Shoot the Shoot New Sides

Next was Maverick and no matter how empty the park is, this ride always has a line.  I waited only about 30 minutes for my second ride of the season.

Cedar Point - Maverick Sunset

Cedar Point - Maverick Horseshoe Roll

Cedar Point - Maverick Station

Cedar Point - Maverick Brake Run

Next up was Wave Swinger and this ride is going to seem like a kiddy ride next year after 301ft WindSeeker opens up.  To finish off the night, I rode Gemini and Top Thrill Dragster.

Cedar Point - Moon over Johnny Rockets

*EDITOR’S NOTE: This trip report was written at the time of the trip and should have been published shortly after, but it wasn’t and because of that, something has changed: Ocean Motion is MOVING to the old Demon Drop site after no one purchased it.

Ride Count:

  • Raptor x1
  • Disaster Transport x1
  • Wicked Twister x1
  • Chaos x1
  • Ocean Motion x1
  • Scrambler x1
  • Matterhorn x1
  • Millennium Force x1
  • Maverick x1
  • Wave Swinger x1
  • Gemini x1
  • Top Thrill Dragster x1

Show Count:

 

Trip Report: Cedar Point on August 21, 2010

Trip #10 was going to be a short trip because rain was forecasted, which happened after I left.  The main reason for going was to celebrate Millennium Force’s 10th Anniversary.

Cedar Point - Millennium Force Anniversary Sign

Before the celebration began I got to ride Raptor, Millennium Force, and Iron Dragon.  The ceremony began and Dick Kinzel (Cedar Fair CEO), John Hildebrandt (General Manager), and Bryan Edwards all talked during the ceremony.

Also Tony Clark was there taking a movie for Cedar Point’s YouTube.

Cedar Point - Millennium Force Anniversary Cookie Lady

They gave out free cookies during the ceremony like with Snoopy’s Birthday.

Cedar Point - Millennium Force Anniversary (Dick Kinzel and John Hildebrandt)

After it was all over, I asked to take a picture with Dick Kinzel and of course he said yes.  Then I headed to the back of the park to ride the Antique Cars.  After exiting the ride, I got a tweet about the next 5 people to show it at Millennium Force’s entrance wins a prize.  So I ran all the way from the back of the park to the entrance of Millennium and Tony was there and he gave me a bag filled with Millennium Force things after seeing the tweet.  If you’re wondering, inside was a Millennium Force picture frame, keychain, 2 postcards, and a snow globe.  Thanks Cedar Point and Tony, I hope they do a twitter contest again!

Cedar Point - Windseeker Location (Coming 2011)

That was it for the day because it started to look like rain.

Ride Count:

  • Raptor x1
  • Millennium Force x1
  • Iron Dragon x1
  • Antique Cars x1

Trip Report: Cedar Point on August 8, 2010

This Cedar Point trip was another early one, but instead of hitting the park first, I went to Soak City.

Soak City - Wave Pool

I just going to put this out here now, I’m a color and shade person.  I don’t care who small Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom it is still my favorite water park because it has shade from trees and manmade structures as well as colored slides.

Cedar Point - Magnum XL-200 First Drop

Also the fact that Cedar Point surrounds it and Magnum cuts through makes you think the entire time you’re waiting in line that you could be over there having fun on walk-on rides.

Soak City - Zoom Flume

Anyway, the first thing I went on was Zoom Flume and it wasn’t the best experience of my life because it’s so violent it throws you around, I bonked heads with my sister a few time, which hurt, and it feels like you’re about to go over the side.  I ended up going on it twice and it was OK.

Soak City - Eerie Falls

Next up was Eerie Falls and I went on all three, but on the second slide I went on, ended up flipping over at the end.  I wasn’t expecting that at all and water went up my nose and I wasn’t a happy camper. After that I went on Renegade River, which is Soak City’s element filled “lazy river”.

Soak City - Renegade River

Soak City - Renegade River

After going on that I have just one thing to say: “Why isn’t the water heated like Wildwater Kingdom?” It was freezing in there, although it might feel good later on in the afternoon, first thing in the morning, it doesn’t.

Soak City - Water Slides

I then went on all of the other tube slide; I prefer to skip the body slides because unlike modern slides, you empty out into a pool of water which looks like it all goes up your nose.  Again, not fun!  To finish off the morning I went into the Wave Pool and took some action and geek pictures of the Magnum.

Cedar Point - Magnum XL-200 First Drop

Cedar Point - Magnum XL-200

Cedar Point - Magnum XL-200 Track

Cedar Point - Magnum XL-200

Cedar Point - Magnum XL-200 First Drop

Cedar Point - Magnum XL-200 First Drop

Part II of the day started after lunch at the car.  I headed into Cedar Point, still wearing my swimsuit; I bet you can guess why!  Snoopy’s 60th Birthday celebration was going to be held that day and of course I had to go!

Cedar Point - Snoopy's Birthday

Everyone fan-related to the point was also there because we all thought it was going to be an announcement for “New for 2011″ but we were all disappointed when Snoopy opened his present and it turned out to be cookies.

Cedar Point - Snoopy's Birthday

After the celebration, I headed over to the Main Midway to try out the splash fountain that I’ve been waiting for ever to try.  Well, it’s not as fun as it looks.  If you want to get wet you’re better off going on Shoot the Rapids, which I did after taking the train over to Frontier Town.  I went on it once before it broke down, then I went on Thunder Canyon and Snake River Falls before going back to ride Shoot the Rapids one more time before calling it a day.

Ride Count:

  • Zoom Flume x2
  • Eerie Falls x3
  • Renegade River x1
  • Tube Slides x4
  • Lazy River x2
  • Wave Pool x1
  • Shoot the Rapids x2
  • Thunder Canyon x1
  • Snake River Falls x1

Trip Report: Cedar Point on July 30, 2010

This trip, #8 if you’re counting, started off as a get-there-early-to-ride Shoot the Rapids trip.  Well being Cedar Point’s newest and most unreliable ride, it was closed for the morning and most of the day.  So with my dad and sister off riding Maverick, I was stuck for a short period of time with nothing to ride.  Of course that didn’t bother me as I took pictures of Shoot the Rapids, the Frontier Trail, and I also got to see the filling up of Thunder Canyon.

Cedar Point - Millennium Force Overbanked Turn

Cedar Point - Petting Farm Cows and Goats

Cedar Point - Petting Farm Chickens

Cedar Point - Thunder Canyon Without Water

Cedar Point - Thunder Canyon Without Water

This happens every morning and if you want to know more, Tony and Tyler wrote a blog entry on it.

After that I met up with my dad and sister and we took the train over to the Main Midway where we found Millennium Force with a very full queue line and moved on.  We took the train fully around again and then got off and took the Skyride to the other end of the midway and then rode Chaos and Ocean Motion.

Cedar Point - Minions

I also took pictures of the many construction markings in the area.

Cedar Point - 2011 Ride Watch Markings

Cedar Point - 2011 Ride Watch Stake

Cedar Point - 2011 Ride Watch Stakes

I then exited to the Beach and walked the boardwalk to the Hotel Breakers and took my very first peek inside.  It’s very cool in there and if it wasn’t so expensive I might look into staying the night.

Cedar Point - Hotel Breakers

Cedar Point - Hotel Breakers

Cedar Point - Hotel Breakers

It was then time for lunch at the car.  After lunch I headed to Paddlewheel Excursions for a ride and to take my yearly video of the ride.  After that I headed over to Frontier Town to see Grand Ole Country which is an OK show, but nothing special once you have seen Tropical Heat, Island Beat.  The audience just seems more into Tropical-Beat then just sitting there at Grand-Country.

Cedar Point - Top Thrill Dragster

There is about a half-hour delay in between shows, so I took this time to stroll through the Town Hall Museum and check on how Shoot the Rapids was doing, still down if you’re wondering.

Cedar Point - Higher Up Staff

After Tropical Heat, Island Beat, I headed to the car for a quick snack and then took the longer way around the point by going to Frontier Town to catch the train so I could check on Shoot the Rapids.  I was finally open and I met up with my dad and sister and headed over to get in about two rides before it broke down AGAIN!  After that I was done with rides for the day because my parents went all crazy about the Snoopy Scavenger hunt and we all ended up going back and forth between all three kids areas.

Cedar Point - Planet Snoopy Banner

Cedar Point - Snoopy's Deep Sea Diver

Cedar Point - Flying Ace Balloon Race

My day at the point then ended and on the way home we stopped at Costa Azul for dinner.  The food there is OK, but I have defiantly had better at my local Mariachi Coco’s.

Ride Count:

  • CP & LE Railroad x1
  • Skyride x1
  • Chaos x1
  • Ocean Motion x1
  • Paddlewheel Excursions x1
  • Shoot the Rapids x2

Show Count: