Bonesville maintenance, or lack thereof

IDK, I think some here are underestimating things like this. I really enjoy the railroad and the old fashioned animatronics. And when they are working as intended I enjoy the experience more than if they are not working. Why else ride the train, to look at the woods? The boneville scenes IMO make the ride worth it. To think that people don’t care about those scenes is short sighted. Here is a Disney example: Peter Pan. Talk about old fashioned, outdated animatronics; that is the whole ride. BUT that is still a hugely popular ride. Let’s hope Boneville gets refurbished and looks great next season.

The difference though is that the animatronics on Peter Pan ARE the ride. The train, despite having some show scenes along the way, is a mode of transportation and also something to do if you don't like thrill rides. All of Boneville could be removed and it wouldn't make a difference on the ridership numbers. I am all for those show scenes to be up and running all the time but Cedar Point has never made animatronics a priority. Until they can trace back a slip in ridership to the lack of working animatronics, you won't see them at the top of the list for repairs. And I don't say this as a best guess, but from actual conversations from those who were responsible for the repairs.

I wouldn’t be surprised if some people board in Frontier Town, or ride the full loop, just because of Boneville.
Regardless, I think it would be better to remove troublesome elements altogether if they can’t be properly maintained. Non-functioning features leave a bad impression, cheapening the experience.
I think this is a symptom of CP struggling to hire enough people.

I could be wrong, but I think it's more likely a symptom to which others have alluded; the offseason was approaching, and the park likely felt there was better use of their resources than to refurbish the Boneville animatronics with only a few operational days left. Now if they're still not working come beginning of next season, that's perhaps a different discussion.

TomT:

I wouldn’t be surprised if some people board in Frontier Town, or ride the full loop, just because of Boneville.

This is the only reason our family rides it. In fact it just dawned on me that I don't think we have ever ridden the train from the MF station back to Frontier Town.

I know it is, so I'm not saying it isn't, but I have never thought of the train as a mode of transportation to get from one part of the park to the other. For me and now my own kids, it's the Boneville train ride.

Love the train itself, though. It's one of those things about Cedar Point that really stands out as being "better than most" when you travel to other parks. And whenever I'm near a railroad of any kind and take in the smells, I'm instantly transported back to Cedar Point.

I get it, but it still sucks that something that is essentially a built-in permanent "haunted" attraction wouldn't get more love during Halloweekends. If anything, I would say it's an under-emphasized opportunity.

From the “I Remember When” column, there was a time when the train was the only way to get to the new little area, Frontier Town. Then Frontier Lift and Frontier Trail were added to allow other options, but for some time there was no way to walk there.

And a “haunted train” attraction in the fall makes sense and a lot of theme parks do it. But I think CP relies on the train as a transportation device and for that reason making it scary is out.
I saw an article just the other day about the decline and scarcity of steam locomotives and how theme parks are gradually retiring attractions like that. I guess we’re lucky in Ohio to have operational rides at both of our major themers.

Kevinj:

it just dawned on me that I don't think we have ever ridden the train from the MF station back to Frontier Town.

I sense a deep rooted fear of some sort that has kept you from taking that part of the journey. Sounds like you need to sign up for the Face Your Fear class!

I remember our kids (and I) would get excited when riding the train from MF to FT and the timing would be such that we would be at the bottom of MF's hill as the coaster train came flying by.

Kevinj: Oh, now you’ve done it. Remind me to never answer another one of your history questions again.

I went to CP yesterday and none of the skeletons were operating. Not one.

With the major news released this morning, the CP&LE might be traveling through Gotham City now instead of Boneville.

CP needs to get boneville up and running. These elements had a distinct "feel" to them and was some of the last remaining things that made CP feel unique and special and not just another big box amusement park.

fritzer,

My thoughts exactly. I have been saying this for years and get blown up for it. But it is happening.

I have used the term "cookie cutter" but I like your "big box" term better.