Cedar Point without Coasters?

My wife Carol will not be able to ride ever again because of some extremely serious back surgery.Because we love CP so much,we can't imagine a summer without multiple visits.What can possibly replace riding the Raptor, or the Magnum, or other "scream" machines"?

Hi Allan, very sorry to hear about this new reality for your wife.

Nothing will ever replace those experiences, per se, but that does not mean that visiting Cedar Point together cannot be a meaningful worthwhile experience for both of you.

You love Cedar Point. Obviously, the two of you have created years of memories at this place together, yes?

And out of curiosity, is it just the coasters she cannot ride?

That remains to be seen Kevin.It will be up to the Neurosurgeon.It will depend on the results of the surgery.We are in the process of getting a second opinion tomorrow.
The surgery is unavoidable, but we hope that by June we might be able to come to CP and maybe ride the flat rides. Maybe.Assuming all goes well.

Allan, I too am sorry to hear about your wife's health issues. I don't even need to personally meet you to be able to tell what kind of a good guy you are, since you still want to enjoy a place that you two have enjoyed together for years.

Every time I go to the park with my girlfriend any more, we love to take walks and site see. I love checking out the shows, and the atmosphere of all the locations throughout the park. There's nothing like a nice relaxing day on the beach, truthfully. We love taking walks along the path between Breakers and Sandcastle, providing nice views of Magnum and the lake of course also. Hell, if she is allowed in water, maybe a relaxing day at Soak City in the lazy river, Breakers pool/hot tub, or Bubbles. A couple rounds of mini golf in Challenge Park. As a coaster enthusiast myself, I still enjoy watching people ride something for the first time, and seeing the smiles on faces. That alone, is one of the biggest reasons why I love Cedar Point, and it is the number 1 place that makes me happy.

For many of my family members, it's not so much just Cedar Point that makes the yearly weekend trip amazing, it's all of Sandusky. Battery Park is so relaxing to watch the park from across the bay. My uncle (who isn't a big thrill seeker) usually finds a couple of local fishing places around the area as well while we're at the park on Saturday (unfortunately, I don't know where they're at as I'm usually in the park). One year me, my girlfriend, and a couple of her family members took a walk down around Camper Village around the circle and made a lot of friends with some very cool people. Even had a beer with them and chatted about a few things.

Like Kevin said, nothing will ever replace riding the coasters, but there is just so much hidden nostalgia in many different places inside the park and in surrounding areas that we sometimes tend to overlook.

I really hope this helps.

^+1000

Cedar Point is not just a place to go ride roller coasters. It is a place to spend time with people you love and are friends with, and to make memories while spending a great day at the park.

Roller coaster rides last several minutes. Memories last a lifetime.

Even at the young age of 37, Cedar Point has already meant something different at different times. When I was young, it was merely a giant playground ripped out of my imagination. As I got older it was all about the thrill seeking, and I literally was blind to anything Cedar Point had to offer beyond coasters well into my 20's, simply because that's what it was to me.

Enter my wife, when it became a special place where we shared memories together as a couple. It was a place that became part of us, from our outdoor camping nights at East Harbor to discovering Chet & Matt's together, horrible cheap hotel stays, etc...in other words, it became something very different than just that place with all the coasters.

Enter kids, and probably the biggest shift in perspective. Now it's all about watching their faces as they discover the park and all it has to offer on their own. And lamenting the lack of family attractions. :)

This post could go on for pages, but I hope you get the idea. I get a strong sense from you, Allan, that Cedar Point is something special for the both of you. That will never change, no matter what you and/or your wife can or cannot ride.

I would bet that after a couple visits together this season, you'll see a new meaning evolve. Something unexpected and new, and every bit as special as it has always been.

Ride On_17 said:
^+1000

Cedar Point is not just a place to go ride roller coasters. It is a place to spend time with people you love and are friends with, and to make memories while spending a great day at the park.

Roller coaster rides last several minutes. Memories last a lifetime.

Thank you. You are right.

@Kevin.We will be at CP regardless. Thank you for the nice letter, and i do know what you mean. We both love the Ambiance of the park, and even if we can't ride we will be there if at all possible.After all it is our own very special place.We got married on the Big Wheel 7/4/2003.

If you have an android phone check out an app called Ingress. Join the Resistance!

That game has my husband looking forward to going this year instead of just tolerating it for me.

Try to get her into photography. I always bring my camera to the park and if it happens to be a very busy day with long lines and I don't even feel like waiting in lines to ride rides, I just go back to my car, get my camera, and wander around the park taking photos/video all day long. While she might not be able to ride the coasters, she can still enjoy them through any photographs she might take.

What are we resisting Krafty?

She loves photography, so it's already something she likes to do. I just want her to be healthy enough to have more or less normal life.We plan to go in June, if everything goes well and she is able to travel.Thank you everybody for letting me share with so much compassion.

We are resisting the Shapers, aliens trying to take over the world and influence all of humankind.

In reality a cross between capture the flag and dots (that game you play by drawing lines between dots to capture the squares made by the lines).

I love coasters but hate waiting excessive times, I think the park is great to people watch and just enjoy. Depending on the surgery she may be able to ride. My father has had an L4/L5 (lower back) fusion in addition to some other smaller back surgeries and can not ride. My mother has had a C3/C4 (Mid Neck) fusion and can ride without any concerns (Though she avoids Mean Streak most of the time).

My bit of caution in seeing these repairs in addition to an uncle and grandmother is get 3 or more opinions prior to letting them attempt to repair anything in the back. It is highly, highly unlikely it will be a 100 percent fix. Also trusting the reputation of your doc is very important.

Best of luck with the difficult situation.

I know what you mean. The second opinion was somewhat contrary to the first one. My wife's problems are with C/4,C5/C6/C7.

I see your from out of state but in Cleveland we have a Dr. Jerold Gurley he took care of my father as well as my grandmother. On his wall hangs the patent for the Titanium back screws. I would recommend an opinion from someone as experienced as him. That seems like a serious surgery.

Ouch..never fun having issues with C-Spine..

I still remember my first trauma package and holding C spine, literally have someones life in your hands, crazy stuff.

Are you a Doctor? She is seeing a Dr An in May. he is considered one of the best. Third opinion, a tie breaker you might say.

Nope, medic in the military

Thank you.