2008 Watch

I suppose that would make sense for it to fit there then.

I just skimmed through this thread to see if what I'm about to mention was brought up, and I don't believe I saw anything close to this, so I'll give a full explanation.

After working at the park this summer and having access to a lot of information and areas that I otherwise wouldn't have, I have had a lot of opinions change about what actually works in terms of bringing in a profit and guests. I have also had a lot of discussions with fellow co-workers, and have heard some interesting things from people in foods and merchandise concerning those areas of the park. One of the things that I heard that actually seemed like a very likely and plausible idea is that the park will be installing POS (that's Point of Sale) systems at most, possibly all merchandise/food sale locations, as well as installing fiber optic lines for the new POS systems. In addition, the POS systems would allow resort guests (and possibly season pass holders) to use their room keys as credit cards.

For those members that are usually discussing options on the resort/guest services end, you may recall a system similar to that of Disney or Universal where wait times are posted and updated digitally on boards around the park(s) that has been discussed. That was actually something that was asked by an employee this season, and management's response was that while it is a nice system, it would be something not worth the return. Now, in my opinon, with a fiber optic line system possibly going in, why not take advantage of the possibilities and start working on a system like that? I'm sure that much of the cost of a project like that would be the cost of the fiber optics and installation of the lines.

On another, completely different note, I am actually excited about Halloweekends this year, particularly the addition of the parade. I can say with complete confidence that what they have in store is definitely some of the best work in terms of themeing to come out of CP's P&D department.

Wow, that was quite a lengthy post after such a long absence! There are many more things that I have to talk about after spending almost three months at the park, but I have a class in about an hour, so "chaos." ;)

I'm not sure what to do about the characters. Peanuts, though not as popular has more longevity than the Nick shows. Though SpongeBob may be more popular, there will soon be something new, as has been pointed out. Nick is always changing the shows. The cartoons I grew up watching aren't even heard of anymore. If a park in the late 90's themed everything from Rugrats, Doug and the Wild Thornberries, they'd quickly find themselves needed to spend more money to re-theme and it would never really end. While Nick characters are better known, Peanuts is relatively timeless and appeals to multiple generations. If CP got wrapped up in cartoon themes, we'd see less new rides and improvements because the money would go to updating themed areas. Of course, if they attract more people and revenue because of those themes, it would even out. Only time would tell.

I wonder how many of you criticizing the Nick characters have kids. I personally can't stand the Nick characters but my three year old loves them, particularly Dora, Diego, and Blues Clues. Don't ask me what the appeal is, but it is definitely there! In my opinion, Nick is far better than Peanuts for attracting kids. Most of the time I'm at CP, Camp Snoopy is relatively deserted. Most of the kids would rather be at Kiddy Kingdom.

Nick has a limited license span but I'm certain Peanuts does as well. When the license is up, they do the same thing they did with Berenstain Bear country - re-theme! I don't really see that being an issue.

halltd said:
Cement can't cure because it's a powder. You mix cement with water to make concrete. Also, the proper term is footing, not footer. People use footer and it appears in some dictionaries, but it's not the correct term.

A footer is something you use in a term paper or something at the bottom of the page.

LOL I have never heard someone call it footing! I have alot of family that is in the construction business and they would laugh there butts off if they saw this comment!!! Footing!! LOL

From American Heritage Dictionary via Dictionary.com

4. Architecture The supporting base or groundwork of a structure, as for a monument or wall. Also called footer.

**EDIT - added reference to AHD ** *** Edited 9/4/2007 5:26:20 PM UTC by JuggaLotus***

This is pretty random, so forgive me.
When I was at the park on Friday, I rode Mean Streak in the late morning around 11:30. When I was going over the two turns after the first drop, I noticed a worker about 100 ft high on a mechanical lift. He wasn't near any rides or anything, and there was nothing in the air where he was, so this just made me wonder what he could have possibly been doing. The lift that he was on was in the same area as the construction vehicles shown in the OnPoint blog. I just thought that was really curious that he was up so high when there was nothing around him. Any thoughts?

Possibly one of the T's taking pictures.

Or maybe he was putting up another banner saying Mean Streak was one of the (chuckle, excuse me) best wooden coasters in the world.

redsfan said:
no childrens ride ever built has ever been as good as the smurf ride!

You're kidding, right? Enchanted Voyage ate Smurfs for lunch. It was such a let down when they got rid of those great classic Hannah-Barbera characters and stuck those damn blue gnomes in there . . .

^^^ In your example, please note what the PRIMARY definition is. :) Also, as noted in my prior examples, if you look up the word footer, the definition for foundations does not come up. My family owns a construction company, I have an Architecture degree, worked as an architect and now as a construction manager. So, no one has to tell me what the laborers in the field use. I know what they use. The simple fact is that it's wrong. :)

Footing has one of several definitions (based on context). From the tally of a column of numbers, to creating the foot of a sock.

Under footer one of the definitions is "see footing". They are interchangeable and do stand for the same thing. Whether that was the case even a few years ago (at least formally) I do no know as I don't really following language evolution. But it would seem now that at least on that one definition they are synonymous.

Sorry to ask, guys... but seriously who cares? If someone says that they saw some footers being poured last week at CP, I don't think many people are going to think of a Word document.

John - Tim is always right, remember?

;)

I think a new flume/dark ride is in the works. The facade of the ride could appear something like Disney's Splash Mountain. The CP&LE would travel through the bottom in a tunnel, while that maintenance building between MS and Gemini could possible be converted into a show building for the new attraction. The course of the ride could also intertwine with the bottom of MS's structure, and Boneville can be relocated inside the tunnel for the CP&LE.

Just take a look at Splash Mountain in the Magic Kingdom on live local and compare it with that area back in Frontier Town.

^^ Well, there are things I know, and there are things I don't know. As you know, I'll stand behind the things I know based on my own education and experience. If I'm not sure on other things, I'll ask those that know and learn from them. It's as simple as that.

Go ahead and use "footer" all you want. If you ever hire an architect to design a house for you though, just know they're chuckling to themselves when you ask about the footers for the basement. LOL!

edit: ^ Do you know what the budget for Splash Mountain was at the Magic Kingdom? I doubt Cedar Point wants to pay anything NEAR that for a flume ride. Is that possible? Yes. Is it a cool idea? Yes. Will CP pay for something like that? Doubtful. *** Edited 9/4/2007 8:21:53 PM UTC by halltd***

$90 million plus, not including marketing/promotion.

No, Cedar Fair will not spend $90 million on an attraction, at least not in the next couple of decades. But, a good portion of the $90 million was a result of the animatronic figures. IOA's flume uses less ambitious (expensive) figures and has a great ride there anyway.

I thought Maverick's land was the best place for another water ride (considering Snake River Falls and Thunder Canyon are right there) but maybe the area back by Gemini would work too.

halltd said:
Go ahead and use "footer" all you want. If you ever hire an architect to design a house for you though, just know they're chuckling to themselves when you ask about the footers for the basement. LOL!

Right. Because all architects are as pretentious as you. :)

I'd like to stick a foot-er-bat up someone's....

Ah well, nevermind.

Can we possibly move on from that already? Good grief.

I'm already done, thanks! :)

So, 2 comments and I'm the one who needs a bat shoved... somewhere? Nice.