2012 Improvements, Additions, and Changes. Leaks and Announcements

I really did not think Iron Dragon's line was all that bad last year. I'm sure there were some bad days, but whenever I went it didn't seem to bad. It would be nice seeing the third train come back though. It just gives the coasters a cooler look in my opinion when you see multiple trains running at once instead of what they now do where they basically wait until the train comes back to the station. I know they do it for safety, but still..

Cedar Point used to be known for the capacity of it's rides. Seems that starting with the installation of airgates and the installation of new computerized parking on rides like CCMR, Iron Dragon, and Corkscrew, they've really let capacity go on a bunch of their rides.

Gemini still uses manual parking (the person in controls is responsible for parking the train in the proper spot in the station to the lapbars will release, cars line dup with the gates, etc). I've never seen them mess it up and they let the trains fly into the station. Then you have CCMR and Iron Dragon with its new(ish) computerized parking that completely stops the train upwards of 3-5 times before it actually puts it into a parked location, which further slows down the speed at which you can load and unload.

I'm sure some of the older employees can tell you about the times on corkscrew when the employees would stand at the back of the station and hit the lapbar release as the train was rolling into the station.

RideMan could provide much more information as to intervals and how parking and such works and likely provide insight to why the changes were made. Some of them (such as putting Magnum ops behind a pillar in the name of safety just don't make any sense.

I would, however, love to see Gemini back to 3/6 train operation.

I used to operate a wooden coaster with manual breaks (Big Dipper at Camden Park, WV) And by manual I mean 3 big wood levers that operated fins located under the station.

I got pretty good so I could bring the train in at a pretty good speed, slow it to a smooth stop, and end up at the same place every time. And there was a small piece of metal at the beginning of the station that would contact a lever on the side of the train to release the lap bars.

I think manual control, even if it still uses pneumatics and computers offers a cleaner and at times faster parking system. But it also brings the human error into the equation. If done correctly manual control can work well, and consistently. But it's that one time that it doesn't work right that is the problem.

Cant they make a manual break with a computer back up? Like if the train reaches a certain part at too high of a speed, the computer can just take over

Computerized braking is great because it gets rid of the human error aspect. It's not great when whoever programs the thing makes it stop the train 3 times before the train gets halfway into the station.

Back on the topic of 2012:
Wildcat is testing, there's a ton of scaffolding or truss (or both, can't tell from this distance) up at the Luminosity stage, and it looks like Coasters roof is either going to get some maintenance or possibly some new lighting on it as well. They aren't wasting any time getting stuff done today.
http://imgur.com/GmT6Z

Has anyone that is working at Cedar Point this year Confirmed anything yet on how many trains are on each track? (Gemini/Mean Streak/Wicked Twister :) )

Or if Gemini's trains will be used on the Mine Ride?

Maverick00 said:
Or if Gemini's trains will be used on the Mine Ride?

That one I'm looking forward to hearing about. I think though it may be one more year for that so they can work on the station to accept these trains (Lap Bars / Braking)

Sealedseven said:
Has anyone that is working at Cedar Point this year Confirmed anything yet on how many trains are on each track? (Gemini/Mean Streak/Wicked Twister :) )

Didn't you hear, they finally ordered the second train on Wicked Twister from Intamin.

On a completly unrelated note, Cedar Point was said to have taken a big increase on the insurance this year. :)

CDF said:

Sealedseven said:
Has anyone that is working at Cedar Point this year Confirmed anything yet on how many trains are on each track? (Gemini/Mean Streak/Wicked Twister :) )

Didn't you hear, they finally ordered the second train on Wicked Twister from Intamin.

Dang, I was 47 minutes too late. I do know that Twister's train has been on for a while. Dragster and Corkscrew's are on too. I think I remember reading on Twitter last week about them prepping Millennium Force to put their trains back on the track too

wicked twitter :)

Has anyone noticed any work going on with Power Tower or Millennium Force in regards to their new lighting packages? I'm curious as to if they've been installed yet or not, and if so when they'll be testing them out.

I'm sure they have to go through each ride making sure all the LEDs work and the sequences work for the lightshow (the big wheel alone has over 3000 combinations). They might not even be done installing the LEDs on Millennium and/or Power Tower. There's still 2 weeks and that's plenty of time.

I've often lamented the tragedy of Gemini losing two trains. Sure, with the added capacity elsewhere in the park, Gemini really doesn't need to be able to run all six trains anymore. On a busy day they really can get by with four. But what I think gets lost is that there are times when it would sure be nice if it could run *three*. Half the crew, but running at 1,700 PPH instead of 1,100 PPH...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Are Giant Wheel's lights going to be in sync with the new show, or is it just going on by itself?

I prefer the look of the bulb lights but I'd rather have this LED setup then a half-lit wheel.

As for Luminosity, everything seems to be going up fast. I really hope the control box isn't going to permanently be located in front of WildCat's entrance. I thought it was going to go in that empty space next to WildCat's queue, as to not obstruct anything.

It looks like WildCat is really getting boxed in. It has the control booths and those high white towers right in front of it. It seems like it'll be hard to see from the midway.

That's a little dramatic.

Maverick00 said:
It looks like WildCat is really getting boxed in. It has the control booths and those high white towers right in front of it. It seems like it'll be hard to see from the midway.

Really? The thing is neon green and purple, its would be hard to miss if it were walled in on 3 sides. Putting that booth in front of it is not blocking the ride at all.

This is obviously just the first step in their two year plan to turn Wildcat into an indoor coaster themed to Snoopy. ;)