2012 Improvements, Additions, and Changes. Leaks and Announcements

Look at that weather. You guys are all insane. Unless that hot chocolate had some Bailey's in it I would be taking a pass.

You've grown soft in Florida. :)

Ralph, in regards to the premium parking I was thinking the same thing. I park there too whenever I can. That area will probably cost $20 this year. Just a guess folks.

Other than that change I am looking forward to the 2012 improvements.

Personally, I hope the premium parking is as popular at Cedar Point as it is at Kings Island (not the Gold Pass lot, but the big empty space where the early-birds used to park). That's the one "improvement" that I don't think anybody was actually asking for. In my opinion, if they want to do something customer-friendly with the parking lot, they should roll the parking fee into the park admission and bulldoze the toll booths. I just hope I can still park in my preferred location 'round back!

Mr. Hildebrandt was asked directly after the presentations about the Mine Ride train situation, and he indicated that it was still under study, as though no decision has yet been made as to what trains will run on Mine Ride this season. Someone mentioned photos of Mine Ride cars, and honestly, I did not see any cars that I could positively identify as Mine Ride cars, except for one that was tarped and sitting in the parking lot behind the Gemini lift hill as I drove past. All of the other Runaway Train cars sitting in the Breakers lot were Gemini cars, with one possible exception, a car that was stripped to the bare frame. It did not occur to me to check to see if the center beam was tapered on the ends. The Magnum cars were not in that lot either, though I did see a few in the other lot behind Corkscrew.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

It will be nice to finally get the lighting fixed on Big Wheel, Millennium Force and Power Tower. Now if we can just get the strobe lights back on Raptor's cobra roll.

^^ Trains #1 and #2 from Mine Ride were by Blue Streak.
http://coaster-net.com/park-gallery/6-cedar-point/photos/127-2012-o...otos/15647

Yeah, I was going to mention that. It implies that they were or will be serviced in the shops in the picnic pavilions.

As to parking I wonder how it will affect the employee parking. Normally employee parking is farther forward that is really good for a premium parking but to get to it you would have to go "through" the premium parking. Wonder if they will have it fenced off (as in KI) or what?

Great photos and videos of the entire event! I am excited to get to the park and see all of the new improvements this summer!

Morte615, I hope Cedar Point doesn't fence their premium parking like Kings Island. I don't like the way that looks! But with the new improvements, it seems like Ouimett knows how to take something bland and turn it around!

I'm actually surprised that nobody asked John if the trims were going to be removed over time in regards to the question about Mean Streak. I would have liked to hear his response. Hopefully next season I'll be able to make it to one of these off season tours.

I'm not sure if this has been asked yet on one of the topics, but here it goes. What's going on with Iron Dragon? I saw the pictures that Coaster net provided and the queue is gone? Are they trying to re-locate the entrance along with making the queue itself shorter?

This article on NewsPlusNotes includes a drawing showing the new midway configuration as well as Iron Dragon's new queue.

http://newsplusnotes.blogspot.com/2012/02/look-at-cedar-points-luminosity.html

The queue block in front of the Iron Dragon transfer table has been removed, as that is where the stage for the new nighttime show is going to be located. The ride entrance is being relocated, and will be right next to the ride exit. You will enter, walk straight back along the station wall, then turn right, head down to the end of the existing queue, turn around, and go back to the station and up the stairs as usual.

It will be a short queue space. Which is why I hope they are planning to run three trains.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

We've compiled everything into one list.

http://pointbuzz.com/c/cedar-point-2012.aspx

If anyone sees something missing or incorrect, let me know.

Quick question for the members who were on the tour, since you were inside Disaster Transport did they take you up to the control room for Happy Jacks? It's at the top of one of the stairs in the room with all the spare parts.
Did you tour Blood on the Bayou? That is located right behind Iron Dragon and an easy route to get there from the ride itself.

No, and no.

Kinda expected it, but the lockers aren't like Universals. :(

I like how the lady said there would be very few current songs in Luminosity, but the preview songs were all from around this year. . .

When they said that would enhance Millennium Force's lighting (comparing it to windseeker), was it implied that the original lighting would be redone, or something totally new would replace it?

I believe it will be replaced. The old ones are basically stage lighting in weather resistant housings. As I recall, the rubber seals tend to vaporize over time and cloud the lenses, which is why they have appeared dimmer at various times. At least, that was the problem after the first year. Obviously, the Power Tower lighting will be wholesale replacement. It hasn't worked in years anyway.

We walked in and around the lights in December with ACE and some of the lights are broken. I wonder if things have been dropped on them.

The bike/walk path on Cedar Point Drive is interesting. This is the causeway right? Not sure how they will squeeze that in in a couple of spots. I know when the triathalon takes place during a non-busy day it gets pretty tight