Alumni visits yesterday

I drove to CP around 2:30pm and met up with my old CP co worker. We're both Platinum Passholders.

Parking was great...the park was empty!! I parked in the 6th row of employee parking right near the gate.

We headed towards Pink's for our 1st visit. I tried the Baja Veggie Dog and it was deee-licious. Guacamole on a hot dog? Yes please!! The service was friendly & engaging but VERY SLOW. There was no crowd..so how long does it take to make a meal? Anyways, good food.

Noticed that none of the Landscaping/floral displays are even started on the Midway and it looks 'really' bad. Hope someone gets in there soon and works their magic.

Headed towards Red Garter for the "Tropical Heat, Island Beat" show. Someone please sink their battleship. Seriously? Enough with the Gloria Estefan tribute. How about some TRUE reggae? Bob Marley, Harry Belafonte anyone?? The singing was pitchy & sharp at its best. As a musical theater director, I was NOT impressed. The performers "did" attempt their best with the paltry material they had to work with. The Maya Rudolph lookalike was very energetic, as was the guy who looked like Richard Kind (TV's "Spin City"). This show needs serious revisions immediately. And the costumes? I could see the girl's "Cheeseburger in Paradise".

Went over to Mean Streak where we walked right on and then felt as if I needed a chiropractic appointment after. Par for the course. Ran into a guest issue at Magnum, where two very sassy girls cut in line and gave attitude to us & the employee. Super Himalaya for some kicks, and then Disaster Transport. Onwards to Ocean Motion. Love the new set-up, it looks great with the rock/water landscaping! Would be cool if there were 'water jets" that shot up out of the water for effect. Went into the Snoopy shop and noticed 'Marcy" and "Franklin" merchandising. VERY COOL!! They had a great variety of product there. Walked RIGHT onto the Raptor where I felt like Pinks hot dog would re-visit me. Whew! Sallyforth and tally-ho to Cedar Downs. Enjoyed watching the college kids in front of me 'raising the roof' & smacking the horse's ass. Ha! Then time for my best Morgan Freeman impression as I drove Miss Daisy around on Cadillac Cars. My car started to sputter halfway through the track..time to fill 'er up. Did a quick back n' forth up & down the Midway before my friend had to head into work at 7pm, then decided to take the Chausee out for the 'eve. Gorgeous weather and perfect night for that drive!!

Went to both Target & Wal Mart to look for some home furnishings afterwards and noticed a LOT of new CP employees looking for things for their dorm rooms. Overheard some of them with their parents...took me back to the old days. Went into Starbucks on 250 for an iced coffee around 8:30pm, and it was PACKED with a group of new CP employees after their 1st day of employment. Met up with my old friend again at 9 and we went to Cracker Barrel for a late dinner. Service was excellent even though we were the LAST ONES EATING. They really "went the extra mile" for us and it was appreciated. The allergies/hayfever kicked in hardcore, so my plans for spending the night were cut short. The medicine wasn't working,..so headed back to Toledo on Rte 2..sneezing & dripping my merry way home. FYI- there are "always" people being pulled over by cops westbound on Rte 2 "right" before you hit David Besse near that tiny gas station. Two cars pulled over last night. There was "quite" a light show in the sky with lightning & thunder, but no rain until I hit east Toledo/Oregon around 11pm.

Going back to the park next Sunday, the 29th,..to celebrate my belated birthday- the 28th.

That spot on 2 is definitely a speed trap. They also like to sit at that little rest stop that's about 100 feet past where the speed limit drops from 65 to 55.

Ryan Mahaffey said:
Noticed that none of the Landscaping/floral displays are even started on the Midway and it looks 'really' bad. Hope someone gets in there soon and works their magic.

I've never seen flowers planted before Memorial Day weekend. I suspect they want to wait until the possibility of night time frost has passed.

Ryan Mahaffey said:
And the costumes? I could see the girl's "Cheeseburger in Paradise".

This has got to win the award for most creative description. :-)

Ralph Wiggum said:

I've never seen flowers planted before Memorial Day weekend. I suspect they want to wait until the possibility of night time frost has passed.

It's been a while since I've worked there, but late May is the general rule. The exceptions are new rides or other new "high profile" areas. Once they start, it happens pretty quickly. They're usually done planting and switching to maintenance mode by early July.