Cedar Fair buys SFWoA

Here's something:

I bet it's an exciting time for Merchandise departments. . .

. . .how long has this been 'under consideration?'

I have no doubt that names, themes, etc. have been under consideration and most likely finalized over the past several months.

Will we see Geauga Lake and ride-related merchandise for sale on Opening Day?

(All I can picture is exiting that Batman ride directly into an empty store. ;) )

I wonder what's 'in store!'

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"Hmm. . .we don't have anything like that. . .but I can give you this comment card."

I always felt that Batman's exit was not only tacky -- but arrogant, taking you right into a gift shop. Maybe CF will change that up as well. Some other changes I would love to see is that damn road just outside the park entrance closed. Stop letting kids get dropped off for the day while their parents go to work. That was one of the main reasons why I hated going to that park; it was more like a school field trip everyday of the summer.

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Michael McCormack
Magnum Count: 933
"Is it raining nickels?"

Ok, this is really freaky, cause I had a dream this happened last night and this is the first I've heard of it! Wierd.

Anyway, everyone has been saying that kinsel had something big up his sleeve... folks, I believe this would be it! While I am REALLY excited about this, I will be a little bummed to see the themeing on Batman removed. Asside from the exit going through the gift shop, I loved it's themeing. At the same time, I think that we'll see a VAST improvement in saftey. When I went there last year, they didn't even check my restraints on 3 rides... superman, the looping one, I forget it's name, and on Serial thriller. I was appalled. Also, the park didn't have the friendliness that I have come to know and love from cedar point. I really hope that CF can change this with this park. Also I expect ride maitnence to be improved, and maybe even x-flight can even come close to meeting intervials, I mean, they fixed dragster, they should be able to handle a little vekoma! I also hope they make mind eraser alot less rough, I went to Worlds of Fun last year and went on their boomerang and it was smooth as glass by comparison. I do think that they will eventually repaint the themed rides (batman and superman) to help people forget that it used to be six flags. But I don't see that happening for a couple years. I hope they get rid of that darn simulator thing, it is so annoying walking past it and hearing everyone yelling at something that dosen't exist. DROVE ME NUTS! I can also see Mr. Hyde's Nasty Fall moving to another park, possiably Worlds of Fun as their closest thing to a freefall ride (detonator, prototype for power tower) is a REALLY weak ride.

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Arms down.....Arms down.....Arms down.......Arms down.....Arms down....Arms down...(you think they would get it the first time?!)

2003-TTD-15 Rollbacks-1
2004- Demon Drop (first year)

I am very happy about this. I can't wait to go to this park now and not worry about a lot of the crap I have seen in the past.

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Cedar Point Ride OP 2000-2003
2004 CP Pass Holder
Magnum Rides: 0

Here's a little point...

For those of you worried about the fact that the parks are so close, take this into consideration - Walt Disney World. I know, that is its own complex, but, none the less, it is still four theme parks in close proximity. A rather thin comparison, but still makes a point.

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"Somebody help me, I'm being spontaneous!"

I just thought of somthing that will suck about this, Wolf Bobs, Big Dipper, and really all the coasters will probably getting seatbelts. Bummer, I love the airtime you get on these rides!

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Any comparison between a Disney complex and CP/GL is just silly, IMHO. Disney built those parks close for a reason - to create a complete one-stop resort. CP/GL is nothing like that, that is unless a monorail is going to be built between Sandusky and Aurora (and wouldn't that be cool!! :) )

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Scott W. Short
mailto:scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

Wow, I read this earlier today, then took a nap. When I woke up I thought it was just a trippie dream. I guess not. I have mixed feelings about the acquisition of SFWOA. Competition IS good, it pushes CP to be bigger/better. I think with the distance, PKI won't provide the competition that SFWOA did. Also, are we sure that the animal side of the park will close permanently, or perhaps just this year until new animals can be acquired and trained? That was one of the parks biggest drawing points over CP and I think it would be a huge mistake to close it permanently. And just a questoin, does SF even have other parks with animal facilities where they can move the animals?

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Rides 2001
Guest Services 2002
www.veronicaspreciousgifts.com

First of all, yes the animlas are gone for good. In the conference call Kinzel said Cedar Fair had no knowledge of how to keep the animlas and they have to deisre to learn how to do so. And secondly, i do believe that Six Flags is going to relocate the animlas to other parks.

Perhaps, since the Bruce Wayne Foundation building (The Batman Knight Flight station) is starting to look a little ratty and run down like a haunted house, BKF could be renamed... Banshee. I bet they could find, er, throw together a logo real fast... ;)

I really wish I could work there! It would be rather exciting I think. . .it's OK though. What are some other in-park things that are so unique to Six Flags that they WON'T survive the change-of-ownership?

I was only there once, last year, and I am trying to think of things. . .other than the obvious ones.

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"Hmm. . .we don't have anything like that. . .but I can give you this comment card."

Biran Noble,

When I made the comment about the season pass prices, I had only looked at Michigan's Adventure and Cedar Point. I didn't bother to look at any of the other park's prices, because I didn't plan to get one. So I just made the assumption that all parks were the same.
*** This post was edited by 0g 3/11/2004 1:12:03 AM ***

Although, I see the reasoning behind Cedar Fair's decision to focus on amusement operations, it's disconcerting to see a total write-off occurring with regard to the wildlife aspects of the park.

One of the posts at CB suggested that this decision seems to be an easy out for the company. I also believe that to not at least explore the long-term viability of maintaining both parks is a mistake. As much as the decision to discontinue wildlife fits with the company's business philosophy, plans for ROI, etc ad nauseum; it also appears to be a missed opportunity to capitalize on additional entertainment market sectors that could be tapped by the rejuvenation of the wildlife park. The success of this effort would establish another major family destination in the Cedar Fair chain, and give Cedar Fair the confidence they seem to have lost with managing non-amusement style attractions and/or prefer not to acknowledge within the partnership’s modern business philosphies. Kinzel’s statement regarding not having experience with animal life seems to sweep past successes like CP’s partnership with the Tetzlaff family, aka: Jungle Larry’s Safari, and Oceana under the rug.

The decision to restore Geauga Lake to a family themed amusement park has its justification, but at the same time I can’t help but think of it as a further attempt to distance the company from any semblances theming that is not in the traditional family amusement park style. I’m not writing this part to start up the perpetual “To Theme of Not to Theme” argument but rather, just to state that I am observing a certain apprehension on Cedar Fair’s part to attempt areas that might be on the cusp or just outside of its current expertise. As much as CF has innovated and led thrill-rides, park-ops, and seasonal resorts; they’ve also been very conservative and have followed trends in amusement planning. In CP’s case, I feel that as much as the last 15 years of development have strengthened the park’s popularity, the park has also lost some of it’s character. This is character that exists through multiplicity and diversity of experience (trees too ;) ). But I am ranting…

Sure it’s all about the shareholders at the end of the day, but when you’re in a position such that CF is in, it doesn’t hurt to try to broaden your area of expertise. In the long run, a broader arsenal of entertainment choices might make it easier to expand into markets once thought out of reach down the road.

IMHO they’re missing the BIG boat by re-relegating GL to a regional destination and dismantling the wild life park, but that’s just my two cents on another way to skin the cat…

At the least it would be nice to see something like OldCPer is describing.

Dave Kochman

Longtime member in hiding :)

Maybe they will name this Longaberger Park! ;)

Ha, just kidding... anyway seeing as this is a Cedar Fair park now I am hoping it will become a cleaner park than it has been in the past.

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cyberdman

Does that mean Geauga lake will change all coke products over to Pepsi products?

I hope it stays Coke. What are the drinks at the other CF parks? Pepsi or Coke? I would love to see they park stay with Coke. I can't stand the taste of Pepsi.

Another thing I hope CF decides to dust off is the old Geauga Lake logo. I got out my GL ticket from 1999 and I was looking at that logo. As well as going to CP every year growing up, I also went to GL every year growing up. However I can't remember the years prior. Did Six Flags make that logo for Geauga Lake when they first owned the park, or was it always the park logo?

From the article posted on Coasterbuzz -

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Cedar Fair expects to open the park on May 1. Kinzel said after a tour of the park today that they expect all rides to open with the park if they pass detailed inspection, the only question mark being the Enterprise ride.

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For those of you who aren't sure. Witches' WHeel is an Enterprise ride. So, does anyone have any idea what is wrong with the Enterprise ride there? I haven't been to that park in a few years.

From the Six Flags, Inc. Press Release - Commenting on the Cleveland transaction, Kieran E. Burke, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Six Flags, stated “This transaction offers a unique opportunity for us. Cleveland has represented our most difficult market. While there is an opportunity for significant improvement in park performance over time, the improvement would take several years and a meaningful capital investment. Cedar Fair has the ability to take advantage of marketing and operational synergies with its highly-regarded Cedar Point park to exploit this opportunity more quickly and efficiently than we could.”

Maybe I'm reading this the wrong way but here is Six Flags CEO, Burke, in my opinion, stating that Cedar Fair has a much better ability and opportunity of taking care of the park. In the middle of that, he advertises Cedar Point as being a GREAT park. He could have very easily stuck by his company, and just said Cedar Point.I get the feeling there is more to come from Six Flags. Maybe a few more transactions between SF and CF or even with other companies and private investors. I was even more suprised yesterday when I heard SF sold all of their european parks. Sounds like an extreme effort to save the company. As much as I don't like some Six Flags parks, SF has a major part in the amusement business. After all what other company buys and builds coasters that don't work, and after they do work, then other companies start buying those types of coasters. Ok, there was TTD. I kind of see CF buying WOA as not only being a good opportunity for CF, but as a way to help SF in order to still have some good competition. Microsoft practically did a similar transaction for Apple in 1997 under different circumstances. I'm not sure if they actually bought anything from Apple though. Anyways, I'll just be quiet now before I think to out of line.- Chris -
*** This post was edited by Flisk 3/11/2004 9:03:19 AM ***
*** This post was edited by Flisk 3/11/2004 9:06:11 AM ***

I believe all of the other parks are pepsi, but maybe if they get a good deal with coke they will stay with them but I have no idea.

There is a great animal park in the Cleveland area already. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is high on the zoos nationally, and it is open year round. What they don't have is a whale/dolphin show but the only parks that really do that well are Sea World parks...and Sea World themselves lost confidence in the viability of a marine animal park in the midwest.

Shamu in Ohio didn't make sense to me from day one. It was a nice park, don't get me wrong, but I think Cedar Fair has made the right decision here. Had Six Flags made the same decision they might not have had to sell the park.

As for the theme or no theme debate...I have never ridden a rollercoaster and had my first words at the end of the ride be..."wow, what great themeing."

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"You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world...but it requires people to make the dreams a reality."

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"wow, what great themeing."

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I totally agree with you, Chief, on the question of themeing. Cedar Point's philosophy is to let the ride speak for itself.

Though, I will say, I think I did say something to that effect the first time I rode RnR at Disney MGM. :)

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Walt Schmidt
Virtual Midway

Well, maybe it is my old eyes but I barely noticed the themeing on RnRC as it whizzed by. I did think the queue area was nice but once I was on I was oblivious to much around me.

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"You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world...but it requires people to make the dreams a reality."