Announcement time... the delay is bad!

That's true. Shipping them via sea through to Sandusky doesn't make much sense, it's been a long day and my thoughts are escaping me more quickly than they usually do.

True,WT does seem like a filler ride,it is a coaster,but it does just leave a small empty feeling compared to a major addition like MF,Raptor or any other huge coaster.

Actually, and I am sure others can support me on this, you're wrong about Intamin bringing materials in through an East Coast port. It's much more economical for the ships to dock in Detroit where the Customs charges are less and the paperwork is easier to deal with. Or at least, it was when MF arrived.

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James Draeger
"Make it stop!"
"There goes the body buggy"

Hmm. An interesting mystery. I do Intl Air shipping most every day and Detroit is about our biggest port of exit out of the USA next to JFK,you do have a point there. It seems like a lot of trouble to float a load of sea containers all the way from Europe to the great lakes though,it would seem easier to rail them from the east coast but I don't really know.

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Draegs said:
Actually, and I am sure others can support me on this, you're wrong about Intamin bringing materials in through an East Coast port. It's much more economical for the ships to dock in Detroit where the Customs charges are less and the paperwork is easier to deal with. Or at least, it was when MF arrived.

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MF came through Detroit? My hometown... Or close to it.

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I fool so feelish...

Well Draegs, I hate to be a dick (OK, no I don't), but in this case you're wrong. I made some phone calls shortly after Millennium Force was announced. It was shipped in to Montreal if I remember correctly, where it made its way by rail to Detroit. From Detroit the shipping containers came by truck. Intermodal, baby!

At the time I was working for Transportation and Distribution magazine, so they gave me the tips on who to call (a customs broker in Detroit, in this case, who said the first shipment arrived in December '98). And customs is customs... the only difference in cost is the gas used to get it to its destination.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP, Sillynonsense.com
"Let's stop saying 'don't quote me,' because if no one quotes you, you probably haven't said a thing worth saying." - Dogma, KMFDM

So is this the way the new coaster is coming in as well?

(Hoping for a slip) :)

No container ships go into the Great Lakes. Jeff's scenario follows right along with what I said.

Heck most cargo going from East Asia to Europe goes by ship to Long Beach or Seattle or Vancouver. And then by train across north America to Norfolk, New Jersey, Montreal or the like, where it is loaded onto yet another trip to complete it's journey.

Intermodal is a wonderful thing and everyone thinks railroads are dying.

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Welcome back Magnum riders how was your ride?

Okay, here's a theory about the delay, not sure if its been mentioned yet...We're all pretty sure that this ride's gonna be a larger version of Xcelerator. Which was, of course, a prototype. Now, the construction on that ride was delayed for some time, and the ride didn't open til the end of June (correct?). So, maybe the 'higher-ups' at CP wanted to see that ride run a few months, to make sure there were no major bugs before announcing (or finalizing) the larger version. However, since the opening of Xcel was delayed, maybe they had to delay the announcement of this new one at CP, simply because they wanna make sure the ride runs pretty well over an extended period of time.

Make sense?

Sure, but when you have all the plans ready, some footers poured, and obviously track and supports arriving here from Switzerland, do you think they would wait and possibly cancel the ride? I think not. So delaying for that reason doesn't seem too plausible.

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June 28th: LocoBazooka Tour (Sevendust headlining)
July 11th: Korn, Puddle of Mudd, and Deadsy

Perhaps they delayed the announcement long enough to let a third-party engineering company look over the structural drawings? It's just an idea...not trying to imply anything :o)

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James Draeger
(still feeling the sting from Jeffy laying the smackdown on him)

Hey gang, just got back from the park. Went for a great afternoon ride session. Anyway, when we arrived, my friend had to cash a check at Park Operations.

While there, I asked if they had any idea when 2003 Season Passes would be on sale. They told me "after Labor Day".

I then asked if they had any idea when an announcement would be made for any plans for the 2003 season, and they replied, "Not until January."

I'm not sure if they lady was being serious or not, but I didn't detect a joke or anything in her voice. Oh well, wanted to share as the wait go on...

-mikey

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Let your mind go...and your body will follow...

Ive heard two stories of higher ups saying nov, and now someone in the park saying january. I think they are playing a big joke! and its on us
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D/\MN GINA!!!!!!!!

Hey, they're going to miss the sales of all the people in the park during the weekends, why not miss Christmas too!? (end of extreme sarcasm) Maybe they're just doing this to ease our anxiousness and the announcement will catch us by surprise in late August or early September. :)

-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

You know, it just occurred to me that the announcement delays probably aren't about the season pass sales...they're about the stock prices.

Right now, CF can keep the prices up based on results alone...but during the offseason, it's great for some free attention and a second look.

-'Playa

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

I dunno... generally speaking, and not really calling it a trend, their stock price has been higher in the first half of the year anyway. Regardless, I'm glad I picked up another 45 shares at 21.75 earlier this week, because it has been up almost $2 since then. I think the fact that Six Flags' earnings sucked, and Cedar Fair's had modest increases (despite the alleged poor economy and weather excuse that the PKS execs gave), it can only help me out.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP, Sillynonsense.com
"Let's stop saying 'don't quote me,' because if no one quotes you, you probably haven't said a thing worth saying." - Dogma, KMFDM

45 shares at 21.75...thats quite a bit of cash, roughly 900 dollars! but that was 900 dollars well invested.

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D/\MN GINA!!!!!!!!

Some random thoughts...

PKI is already selling 2003 Season Passes and they have "only" announced Scooby Doo so far for next year.

If Cedar Point waits until November or January, isn't that technically considered after the season, and doesn't the sign say "look for news later this season"? I would think if they waited it would damage their integrity and credibility, something I always thought the park was big on.

Hearing a lot of people on different sites say they are debating on if they should get a Worlds of Adventure or a Cedar Point Season Pass for next year. Their argument is that SFWOA is getting an Intamin Hyper, while for the most part, Cedar Point's attraction is still not known. Needless to say, I always encourage them to get the CP one, regardless of what may happen in 2003, there's just more to do than at SFWOA. Anyway, the point being that if people are debating the issue...how can waiting help Cedar Pt?

If the rumored happenings of Troika/Chaos/PWE do in fact happen after Labor Day, the first set of Bonus Weekends would be interesting. You would have those rides closed for the season (?), and no doubt people talking about what was going on. Wouldn't an announcement during that week be the way to go, so when people arrive for Bonus Weekends, they can see the sign and buy the Season Passes before they leave, (I believe the 2003 Passes go on sale starting after Labor Day).

If the rumors stats are somewhat correct, (seems everyone has their own theory), and the ride is around the 400 foot mark with speed towards 110mph, why would you not want that info leaked/released ASAP. Who's to say people won't show up at the park for the rest of this year just to see how construction is moving along?

Comments?
-mikey
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Let your mind go...and your body will follow...
*** This post was edited by olympic10086 8/15/2002 4:18:04 PM ***

I doubt most people even notice that sign for their credibility to be damaged. I mean, it's not like there's going to be a Dateline NBC investigation if there isn't an announcement by October 27. Besides, it wouldn't be the first time things changed over there - and their credibility hasn't suffered.

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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

Very true, Walt. I was just making conversation :)

-mikey

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Let your mind go...and your body will follow...

Maybe Cedar Point will not build the 200-400 footer next year. Im sure all this talk of this "coaster" that everyone "knows" CP is building next year will sell more passes than if they announced a flat ride. Then again, I doubt the general public thinks the same way people here do. A sign with something for 2003 no matter what is on it may remind people that season passes may be a good idea now rather than forgetting about them all together. Don't get me wrong, I have a somewhat strong feeling CP will in fact get a coaster next year but there is just no solid evidence.

Just food for thought.