Boardwalk Project 2016

In this presentation at IAAPA on April 24, 2012 - Matt talks about his past (as the new kid on the block at CF & Disney) and the many things he learned along the way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb9E3Ral4lM
He covers about the new front gate, Mainstreet details at Disney along with everyones front gate, and alludes to "opening up the beach at Cedar Point" to unlock it's potential. (hence this discussion topic)
He wanted a piece of the landscape to be recognized like Mainstreet was. He never wanted to make CP look like Mainstreet but he did want that important association you get when you see them in a photo, and I agree - he got it. But in reality, the keyhole idea actually came from B&M way before Gatekeeper.

When I was talking about design skill I wasn't taking about the concept of the keyhole as a roller coaster element. I was talking about the entire design of the area and how the coaster was blended into the main gate along with the towering keyhole structures that define the entrance. It is how they were designed and implemented, NOT what they are.

Just like every house has a kitchen but a skilled designer can take the common elements of a kitchen that everyone has and make it look fabulous. And that's what I meant about the design skill that went into the front gate will go into the beach and resort improvements.

SteveH said:
Have you never heard of Great America's X Flight?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Flight_(Six_Flags_Great_America)
B&M did the keyhole trick on that one way before CP.

Cedar Point's design team basically picked out the paint color on Gatekeeper.

Seriously? If an element exists, anything comes after it is merely routine or uninspired?

The complete package of the new plaza, gate, and GateKeeper gives Cedar Point one of the most dramatic amusement park entrances outside of Orlando. It goes far beyond paint color. The nonchalant dismissal of the design team isn't justified.

This video is definitely worth watching:

http://pointbuzz.com/c/WhereTheRollerCoastersComeFrom.aspx

SteveH said:
But in reality, the keyhole idea actually came from B&M way before Gatekeeper.

Who cares? Why does this matter? The P&D gain wanted something iconic and new, and they did it in grand style.

While the entrance looks much better (except for the Dino) I think iconic and in grand style are a bit over the top when describing the look. I doubt it will be studied along side Greek and roman architecture triumphs years from now.

I would be curious as to what amusement park has a better entrance than what Cedar Point has come up with? I think P&D did a great job with the whole redesign and incorporating Gatekeeper into it. It went from a boring dated entrance to something that excites people. Just sit outside the entrance and listen to peoples reaction sometime.

Who is comparing it to Greek architecture? It's only being compared to other amusement parks.

I guess we all have to wait until some magazine or website has a poll for best entrance. I am sure CP will have a link to it on every one of their sites pages to get votes.

Haven't posted in a while but I have to chime in and say Cedar Point has one of the best entrances outside of Florida. Not only is it contemporary and IMO very beautiful with it's colors it manages to do something a lot of entrances don't and that is send a message. Cedar Point is known as "Americas roller coast" and that entrance sends that message by having you enter into the park under a roller coaster. Even some of the entrances at the Orlando parks don't go as far as sending a message of exactly what it is you are about to experience.

It all depends on IF you can actually judge a book by its cover.

SteveH said:
Ever hear about the Mineral King project? It was to be a winter sports facility...

Mineral King was to be a year-round facility.

SteveH said:
I guess we all have to wait until some magazine or website has a poll for best entrance.

Nahhhh, you're the only one waiting for something like that. ;)

I can see it now... The Golden Pre-Ticket Award for best front gate experience!

In separate news... More Disney Talent is being added to the Cedar Fair Management team! Yea!!!

http://cedarfair.com/ir/press_releases/index.cfm?current_root=15&mo...ory_id=402

I think the gate looks great! Every time I walked into work it wowed me.

I saw American Hustle a few weeks ago. I thought it was one of the best films of the year. In talking with friends and reading reviews, I noticed many others also felt it was one of the year's best.

Turns out, however, that my observation was invalid until the film won "Best Comedy or Musical Film" at the Golden Globes. Because you can't have a general consensus on something unless it's validated by an award.

At least the studio didn't ask for votes. :)

William Friedkin, an Academy Award-winning film director and former producer of the ceremony, expressed his sentiment at a conference in New York in 2009, describing it as "the greatest promotion scheme that any industry ever devised for itself".

Of course, the best contender if such a coveted prize actually existed would be...

http://forum-s3.pinside.com/201304/817448/93337.jpg

http://076dd0a50e0c1255009e-bd4b8aabaca29897bc751dfaf75b290c.r40.cf...iginal.jpg

You just can't get more excited looking at a front gate and skyline than that!

SteveH said:
...I think iconic and in grand style are a bit over the top when describing the look. I doubt it will be studied along side Greek and roman architecture triumphs years from now.

What do Greek and "roman" architecture [sic] triumphs have to do with Cedar Point's iconic and quite grand new entrance? You're comparing apples and tuna fish.

One could argue that Cedar Point's new entrance is not iconic compared to the entrance to Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World, for example; but comparing an amusement park entrance to the Parthenon is a bit over the top.

It was Jeff that referred to it as "iconic" and "in grand style".

CP's entrance is most definitely iconic, it is instantly recognizable as CP which makes it iconic.

SteveH said:
It was Jeff that referred to it as "iconic" and "in grand style".

So? Jeff wasn't the person who thought Cedar Point's gate would not compare favorably with Greek and roman [sic] architecture.