Best way to take advantage of a good situation

Hi everyone. This is my first post on the boards.

Recently, my brother-in-law and I visited The Point and, due to high wind, Raptor, Magnum, Gemini, Mean Streak, and MF were all closed while Dragster was only opened part of the day. While waiting in line on Dragster's platform, the ride closed for the day. As a result, a Cedar Point official issued us each an immediate boarding pass for the ride to be used this season. After this disappointing visit, I wrote a letter to Park Operations to express my disappointment. I received a reply from the Vice President of Park Operations issuing me another imemdiate boarding pass on Dragster as well as one other ride of my choice. So, in total, we each have two immediate boarding passes for Dragster and one for any other ride we choose.

What I am asking for is if you have any suggestions on how we should use these passes. Because I live near Philadelphia, the only time I can visit is over Labor Day weekend. We're probably shooting for Sunday of that weekend. I figured we would rush to Millennium Force when the gates open since most people are heading to Dragster. After MF, we were going to hop on Mantis and work our way around the back of the park, hitting Mean Streak, Mine Ride, Gemini, Magnum, Corkscrew, and Power Tower. After that, we planned on hitting some rides up front like Raptor, Wicked Twister, and Blue Streak. Before grabbing a late lunch, I thought we'd use one of our Dragster passes. After eating, we planned on hitting some flat rides, water rides (if it's not too cold) and Iron Dragon. Toward mid to late afternoon we were planning to use our other Dragster pass and our other boarding pass for Millennium Force. After that, it's hit or miss, depending on wait times, how tired my brother-in-law and I are, etc.

Do any of you have any suggestions or changes to my plan that might help us maximize ride time and get the most out of our immediate boarding passes? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Ed

Cedar Point was very generous in giving you those passes - especially since they have yet to learn how to control the weather.

If you want to get the most out of the passes, wait to use them when the lines are long.

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Walt Schmidt - Virtual Midway
"Da da ba ma. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" - Cameron Schmidt

I realize they were very generous. I pointed out in my letter that I understood they cannot control the weather but, I also felt that I could have been better informed about ride closures. I called information the day before regarding weather and did not hear of any rides that could be affected by high winds. Also, there were no signs posted of closed rides at all. I had no idea until after I purchased my ticket.

Weather forecasts are not 100% accurate. How could they have known the day before that high winds would close certain rides the next day? Until the 'weather' happens, no one knows if it will force a ride closure.

It's not practical to post notice of weather related ride closings like you suggest. Rides can open on a moment's notice. Top Thrill Dragster is different - they know it's down and will be down, so they post notice. They also will post signs if they know when other rides will be down. But weather is a whole different ballgame - and that's the chance you take when you go to an amusement park.

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Walt Schmidt - Virtual Midway
"Da da ba ma. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" - Cameron Schmidt
*** This post was edited by Gemini 6/12/2003 2:59:46 PM ***

Being on Lake Erie, the sign should always say, "Sunny and calm, Rain and wind likely; High near 85, low 40. Chance of snow 50%." ;)

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The best thing about Six Flags "Worlds of Adventure" is that Cedar Point is nearby!

Sometimes it just ends up that way. I think we all have been blown or rained out of Cedar Point but things like that happens. Cedar Point has a disclaimer on their website and even before walking into the park that rides may close due to weather and they don't offer refunds. Infact, they don't have to give you anything but they value their customers. I'm sorry that it happened and I hope that when you return, you will have a calm sunny day.

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Ohio State, here I come!

If they posted a sign out front that said, "rides closed due to wind/rain" and you turned around and left. What would you say if an hour later it got sunny and calm? Would you be made that you left and they subsequently opened up?

The park is 130+ years old. Don't you think they may have give this a little thought over the years?

hmmmm, you could send the front-of-the-line passes to me. ;)

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"I'm sorry, Timmy, but you need 15 tickets to live..."
"you have exceeded your post quota set by the administrators..."Trips to CP: 4 TTD: 4

If you plan on getting there when the park opens, run to something like Magnum and hit Power Tower on the way. Ride the rides that have some line, not super-long but definately not super-short first, to get them out of the way. I'd recommend trying to hit Power Tower, Magnum, Gemini, Meanstreak, and Raptor in the first hour and a half.

Later in the morning, ride Wicked Twister. The line never gets longer than a half hour. Don't ride Disaster Transport yet. So far you've ridden 5 coasters and Power Tower. By then it will still be late morning or early afternoon. So ride Corkscrew, Wildcat, and Iron Dragon.

Then, at around 1, use the pass on Millennium Force, and sit in the front row. It's way worth it.

Then, what the hell, ride Woodstock Express. If the line for Gemini isn't long, ride it again. Then do the same with Magnum.

Then go down back to the Main Midway and hit Blue Streak and check the line for Raptor. If it's under an hour hit it.

Then take a second to breathe. Walk around, enjoy the scenery, maybe ride a couple flats, then at around five eat a small meal.

Then go ride Disaster Transport. This'll be your 12th coaster of the day. Then head back over to the Frontier Trail and ride Mantis. Then go back into Frontiertown and hit the Mine Ride. The line gets really short at night.

Check Gemini Again, and if it's under a half hour, ride it. If it's not, keep going.

Now, around 7:30, go over to Top Thrill Dragster, and use your pass. Factoring in possible break-downs and other people using passes/freeways at that time, it should be around 9:00 when you get off. Sit in the front row on Top Thrill Dragster too, it's worth it too. At around 9, go check Magnum, and if it's under an hour, ride it, and if it's not, ride Corkscrew and Iron Dragon a couple of times. If you have a kid ride Jr. Gemini, for the record.

Then, at 9:55, get back in line for Dragster, and wait the full time. Sit in the back row. By the time you get off it should be around midnight.

Hope this helps. ;)
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