Attendance & Capacity

We once had a thread concerning the park capacity at CP and if I remember correctly, the numbers of 60,000 and 100,000 came from various sources as guesses of the highest ever single day attendance. Honda announced to it's employees that the total attendance for their buy out day this last September was 29,700. Judging from the crowd that day, I would say that 100,000 in CP at the same time would be impossible and 60,000 would be believable but very tight. Anyone else who went to Honda's day have a thought?

How does Honda day compare to a typical summer day? Is it a lot less crowded?

yes sir, its less crowded

Having seen what the park looks like with 53,000 people, I think it's safe to say 100,000 would not even be possible. The park feels busy with anything over 30,000 and when you get around 40, it gets rather unbearable - especially with operations not being up to past CP standards the last couple years.

I've always wondered what the max. capacity was. Anyone out there know? We were there the last Saturday of 2005 and holy Toledo was it crowded, the most I've seen. Always wondered how many were there that day.

I would venture to say 65-70,000 would be the max. Anything over 50,000 would probably start to get pretty ugly.

Just my guess.

Bender said:
I've always wondered what the max. capacity was. Anyone out there know? We were there the last Saturday of 2005 and holy Toledo was it crowded, the most I've seen. Always wondered how many were there that day.

That was a very crowded day.

I remember someone saying, I think MrScott, that he saw the park at 45,000 and there were 15 minute lines for the restrooms even. Unless you stay multiple days or want to learn why going on July 4 and Saturday's during Halloweekends are a bad idea.

Hey, bite your tongue!

Saturdays during HalloWeekends are excellent. Crowds or no crowds, spending a fall day at Cedar Point is probably among the top ways to spend a Saturday.

I agree, Saturdays in October can be some of the most awesome days to spend at the park.

As for busy days, the last Saturday of 2005 wasn't nearly as bad as some of the Saturdays I've seen during HalloWeekends. One Saturday, there were 45 minute waits for pizza on the midway!
Contrary to popular belief, I've found that July 4th isn't exceptionally busy. It's no busier than the average Friday, Saturday, or Sunday during July or August. On the other hand, everyone in Sandusky comes in the evening and just pays for parking and then goes and sits on the beach and what not to watch the fireworks, which makes leaving the park after the fireworks a nightmare!

*** Edited 3/6/2006 3:09:12 AM UTC by DBCP***

Both of my Saturdays during Halloweekends have been ridiculously lucky. In 2004 it was rainy so that kept crowds down. I got my first ride on Dragster before it closed and rode everything else that we wanted to without problem. In 2005 it was even better. We experienced more Halloweekend features and rode everything (except Dragster due to its extended downtime) and I did experience Millennium at night for the first time. Point of the story, I love Halloweekends.

If you go to the park many times throughout the season then you can get enjoyment out of a nice fall day. For me I only go 3 times scatter throughout the season. A nice Sunday in October is what I call fun. I've gone to 7 of the 10 HW's so far. It has become a tradition of mine.

Sometimes, the amount of people in the park might be an illusion. One thing it depends on is staffing issues. Late in the season, especially during Halloweekends, Cedar Point is short-handed, which means fewer ride hosts have to check seatbelts, and there's fewer food hosts to put that extra pepperoni on your pizza.

I was there during a record Saturday during Halloweekends. Busiest day they had in 3 years, from what I was told. Not sure what the numbers actually were, but the 45,000-50,000 range keeps coming up.

Neat to see, but I'd rather have smaller crowds/lines. Waiting an additional 15 minutes to pee when one has to go is not a good time.

MrScott

The park could fit the people, they just wont have anywhere for them to park!!!

were you being serious about having to wait 15 minutes to pee?

Yep, as serious as a bursting bladder.

NOT fun.

MrScott

Urination is not a joking matter.

-S. Eagle

If the mens line was 15 minutes just imagine what the womens line was like!

I often pity the women and how they have to wait in line. And then I get angry because they tend to go more often, thus making me and other male members of our group have to wait.

worked at cp in the mid 80's, 86 at giant wheel, at its former location, saturday in may that year 60,000 plus, remember that was before any of the big coasters, gemini line went to the witches wheel, corckscrew to the matterhorn, blue streak went past the calypso, former location on the main midway, we ran a full giant wheel all day, funny i remember the friday before our supverisor colleen stopped by and said get ready for tomorrow