BIGGEST CEDAR POINT MISTAKES

HEy I was wondering what everyone thinks Cedar Point's biggest mistake was?

Strange topic but I am game.

Every move the park makes will be interpreted many different ways but if there was one "mistake" that I may have done over, it would be Iron Dragon.

This was an unproven coaster at the time (with the exception of Big Bad Wolf). However, it has worked out very well because it can be considered a "family" coaster. I don't think that was the parks intent when it was built (and I don't think you can characterize BBW as a "family" coaster).

I also thought it was a mistake to eliminate portions of the campground over the years. Here again though, CP ends up smelling like roses by acknowledging that and building Lighthouse Point.

It is pretty tough to be critical. On the employee side I thought it was a mistake to build dormitories without air conditioning but here too they are making amends with the newest dorms.

Wasting all that money on improvements to Disaster Transport.

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Let's Go Pens!

Tough call. There are several rides/attractions that have been removed that I'd rather have seen stay.

That having been said, without those removals, we wouldn't have some of the rides/attractions that we do today.

I miss the Mill Race, but we have Raptor in its spot. I miss the Frontier Lift, but we have several coasters in that airspace.

CP may have erred on some calls (Pepsi over Coke :) ) but they haven't majorly bungled anything that I'd classify as "biggest mistake".

Although I'm partial to the Bon Air section of Hotel Breakers, if they replace it with a 10-story tower, is that a mistake? Or is that a sound business decision?

I think that most things that people would be likely to list as "mistakes" probably contribute to Cedar Fair's bottom line.

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Duane Cahill
Coming soon to a park near Sandusky!

Millennium Force, now that was a flop. I mean, they wasted $20 million on a ride that isn't that good. Woo, it's really tall and really fast. But please, it's just a big Magnum.

(If you did not take this out of sarcasm go behind your house and knock yourself out with a shovel)

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Visit the Colossus Park homepage site.
http://colossus.s5.com

I'd bring up the year Cedar Point went in for sponsorships, with all the information stands being sponsored by Britannica, the Mill Race renamed the Nestea Plunge in honor of its sponsor, and I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting. Fortunately CP realized that extensive sponsorships, while fine for the Disneys of the world, don't fit in quite as well at more traditional parks like Cedar Point (or at least that's what I think), and got back to normal the following year. I believe several of the information stands they built for Britannica to sponsor are still in use, one next to Corkscrew selling gifts, one next to the salt water taffy shop on the Midway near the Cinema?

Cedar Point needs more trees back. I guess this falls in the category of "contributing to the bottom line". But to me, the Cedar Point experience is characterized by great rides in a leafy setting with the smell of Mama Berardi's french fries wafting through the air.

-- Harley

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CP fan since 68.

Man ddogg, I'm so stupid. I just had to hit myself with a shovel!

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Two more days 'till my first Cedar Point trip for 2001!!!!!

I would have to say the removal of the double ferris wheel!! I loved that ride!! They have plenty of room to bring it back. It is an overall classic ride that everyone can enjoy.

This is just my humble opinion...but I think Cedar Point's biggest mistake was not giving Millennium Force a more memorable ending. Let me just say that I LOVE this ride. But I would have made the ending more dynamic...another bunny hop, another tunnel, a tight helix very close to the ground. To me, the ride just fizzles in the last few seconds. I guess that available space was too tight...but I look at those ugly dorms right next door, and I think about the possiblities. Oh well, the ride is still fantastic.

one word MANTIS
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magnum or MF now that is a real question.... final anwser magnum

I realize that rides age and maintenance becomes an issue, but rides such as Bayern Kurve and the Double Ferris Wheel should have been retained. Once rennovating the Avalanche Run to Disaster Transport, they should have maintained the special effects. Removal of the effects in the Magnum tunnels. And of course, the biggest sin, retrofitting the Blue Streak trains after 20+ years of safe service with just a lap bar to first the single seat belt, then the awful orange lap bars and Volvo head rests, and now the individual seat belts. Why don't they just buy a huge staple gun and staple us to the seats. I still vividly remember my first ride on the 50+ year old Wildcat at Idora (a far far FAR more intense ride than Blue Streak) and noticing only a grip bar, no seat belt, no lap bar, just the seat, grip bar, and you. The Big Dipper at SFWoA is far more violent that Blue Streak and they still run with only a lap bar. They really ruined a classic ride with the excess restraints.

Idora Wildcat

Turning the greatest game in the world (Fascination) to a crummy, high priced restaurant that I will never step foot into.

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daniel j. haverlock
'01 magnum: 317
'01 force: 16 *** This post was edited by Dan on 6/14/2001. ***

Amen to that one Dan. Fascination rocked...I don't get it why these games are disappearing. Ok I do...profit, but still sometimes you just need to look beyond profit. That is the quintessential grandma game. They just tend not to do nearly as well at Cat Rack or Wacky Wire.

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-Brian
I really should be working...

No doubt here...the demise of the Surf Lounge in the Breakers. A bar for drinkers, not those interested in crazy uniforms, a couple of ferns on the wall, etc. The Surf was never crowded, always easy to get a cold one, no waiting. I can still smell the mildewy air conditioning system in there.

removing fascination was the biggest mistake cedar point has ever made. Also renovating the Blue Streak was a bad move. But I suppose they try to think of profit and do whats best for cedar fair.

I got one more, didn't they used to have some wooden signs outside the entrance of each ride? (not coutning space spiral) What ever happened to those? Ohh wait never mind they replaced them who those easy to read signs that have the ride name in big bold easy to read writting. When the park was dead in early May I saw longer lines for people wanting to reading the signs than I did in line. They are just so easy to read, and full of information that makes my ride expereince that much more enjoyable. I don't understand why they didn't come up with those years ago, they are just filled with personality and charm. They really add a special unique touch to each ride.

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daniel j. haverlock
'01 magnum: 317
'01 force: 16

Tie -- Disaster Transport and Fascination.

No Don't get into a argument here folks, as someone is bound to start one....But I have to say TTR. Don't start a thread on it.

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I rode Magnum 5 times and MF once with Robin Innes.
Gemini 100
It's Dan K's fault.

The cool thing about TTR is that they realized it was a mistake and did not bring it back!

Its proof that some mistakes can be fixed so they could still bring the entrance signs back. :) Knott's has both signs, we shoudl too!

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daniel j. haverlock
'01 magnum: 317
'01 force: 16