Cedar Point - not all its supposed to be

Let me get right to it: Day 1: Top Thrill Dragster. Closed. Unbelievable. I don’t care what people say, about how “with new technology these types of problems are typical…” that is absolutely ridiculous. Note to Cedar Point management: If you are going to build a TWENTY-FIVE million dollar roller coaster – maybe it should work most of the time!!! I’m pretty sure that when Japan opened up their big roller coasters in the last three years, they didn’t have this many problems or delays. I’m not sure which was worse, the fact that the stupid thing didn’t work, the humidity, or the fact that more than 200 people were waiting in line for Top Thrill Dragster while it was down. That’s right, these people paid money to wait in line for NOTHING!!! Unreal. We asked these same people WHY they would wait for something not even having test runs going, to which they replied they were told that the TTD would be ready to be tested at 6 or 7pm that night. By 10pm, the first few trains, er, sorry – Dragsters with no tail – got tested. No people rode it that day. Also, we got in line for the Magnum XL 200 only to have someone announce that it too was down…we got out of line. 5 minutes later, it’s up and running again. Amazing. It seems the geniuses at Cedar Point REALLY know what’s going on. Day 2: TTD still closed. BIG surprise. Funny - the signs at the front gate warning us of TTD’s closure seemed to be permanent. So, we got in line FOR A HAND-STAMP at Millennium Force. We wait for 30 minutes, get to the front of the HAND STAMP line HOPING that we can ride in the 10pm-11pm slot, only to have the jerk employees smirk at us with, “Sorry, we just gave out the last hand stamps.” Now, I can’t blame them for bad luck – but two things really angered me: 1) The employees acted like they were surprised that we would be upset at this and 2) Couldn’t CP have found a way to tell us that the people in front of us were last to get a stamp so we wouldn’t waste time in line? After this, we decided to just get in line…and then a voice announced: “Millennium Force will be down….” Yet another roller coaster down… niiiiice. Our goal was to hit all of the roller coasters at CP, and we could have done it except that we then found “Blue Streak” (which the Sandusky HIGH SCHOOL is named for) was down, as well as the Cedar Creek Mine ride or whatever. So finally, they actually got the Top Thrill Junker up and working. Amazing. Gee, and only a three-to-four hour wait, which we couldn’t do because we had to catch a flight. While WATCHING this roller coaster, it was down no fewer than FIVE times in two hours, only to have it resume running in 5-10 minutes. Sounds like a great ride. Thank you Cedar Point.

What you've written accounts for only a small part of your two day adventure. What happened the rest of the time? I mean, you wouldn't write a completely negative trip report just for the sake of being negative, would you? And with your (gasp!) first post?

------------------
Walt Schmidt
Virtual Midway
*** This post was edited by Gemini 8/11/2003 10:25:49 PM ***

wow, looks like you had a bad time. sounds like you really spent your time well when watching "top thrill junker" for 2 hours. and wow, the signs of it being closed seem to stay there. jeez. doesnt it just make you wish that they didnt put up those signs so they would piss you off even more? and yeah, cedar point will tell you if you are the first people to not get freeway stamps, you know, they even look at the people hopping in line at random so that everyone is accounted for!

wow, i could diss you for days, especially the way that in your trip report you said you rode every big ride but two, and in those two you didnt mention ttd. looks like ttd was open. ah. sounds like you didnt really want to sit in a 3 hour line, but you did want to sit around on your ass for 2 hours doing nothing but watch the ride. seems like that 3 hour line really seperate you from what seems like the whole point of you going to the point.

sorry, i just added even more even though i intended of ending. but now i am done. and good first post too. sounds like you really belong here after reading that!

------------------
Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription... is more cowbell!

eh forget about these guys davejeep2001. most of them live within 2 hours of the park, have season passes and are able to go to the park whenever they feel like it. Its hard for them to realize that some people do in fact plan their vaction around Top Thrill Dragster. And its also even harder for them to understand why people would be upset over the fact that Dragster wasnt working on the day they went there, even though thats basically the only reason why some people made the trip to CP this year. and of course their argument to that is "planning a trip around one coaster is stupid" but see my first argument.

I also had a friend fly in from Colorado to ride Dragster and it too was down the week he was visiting and he was madder than hell about it, as im sure you are. again, its just hard for people here to understand how anyone could be mad at Cedar Point, some people here think Cedar point is higher than God and that it can do NO wrong. Well guys yes it can, yes it can.

Oh, please. Here we go again with this "you guys don't realize what it's like to live far away" nonsense.

Raptor1116, explain to me why it's perfectly rational to plan an entire trip around a single coaster. I don't understand why one would do it. Though I'm a season-pass holder, I go with occasional (once every year or two) parkgoers. They were disappointed that the ride is down, but enjoyed their day nonetheless. So please, enlighten me with the argument as to why it would make sense to be angry at the park for a ride closure.

Look, I understand people being disappointed over Dragster's troubles. But this trip report is just sad, because it's nothing but a bitter rant. I mean, it complains about other people waiting in line for a closed coaster. It also complains about it being closed, then open. And about there being a limited number of Freeway passes to hand out, and not a way for people to find out about it.

It sounds like you were looking for things to complain about. Why? It's a vacation. Enjoy what you can and move on with your life. (or don't, because frankly I don't care).

That has to really suck ass for you. Bad luck strikes anytime. This is one of those times. For those of you who don't believe in luck, do yourself a favor and believe in it. Bad luck has hit me more times than I can count, but luckily good luck hit me when I was at CP just under two months ago and rode TTD. Yay for me.

---

davejeep2001 said:
I’m pretty sure that when Japan opened up their big roller coasters in the last three years, they didn’t have this many problems or delays.

---

I didn't know Japan was an amusement park. Have I been clueless all these years?

------------------
I'd rather be in my boat with a drink on the rocks,
than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.

I understand youre upset, but you just seem to be throwing out flames EVERYWHERE and making arguments out of anything possible. Just take it easy for a bit...

S*** happens, all you can do is learn from it and move on. Maybe next time dont wait for so long for something, or for the other rides, wait longer. Those 200 "stupid" people, Im betting some of US were among them, and KNOW that the ride goes up and down, so they knew that at anytime it could just pop-up and start working, thats why they were there.

Well, there are some people that just have to complain about everything...he manages to bring up the Sandusky Blue Streaks in some sort of mis-directed rant which has no point. The coaster is named after the high school, not the other way around. I still don't understand the point.

What else did you do? You were there 2 days yet you've only posted negative things. The place has 15 other coasters...sure some may have been down, but certainly not for the whole two days you were there.

I guess you have to complain and be bitter about something in your life, and I feel sorry that you live your life that way. Try CP again, and have a positive outlook, but don't think the park is going to serve you and wipe your butt either...you're only setting yourself up for dissapointment.

-seth

------------------
--Seth

Maybe you should have Called Cedar Point and told them you were coming! I'm sure they would have spread rose petals along the midway for you to walk on. I'd imagine you did some planning for your trip here! You probably also knew the pattern for TTD this year, it has had the reputation for breaking down a lot. In fact, sometimes 2 or 3 days at a time. Maybe you should have waited til next year to come to CP, I would call that "smart planning." The usual announcement CP makes when a ride goes down says something to the effect of, "The ride is down, you may exit if you wish." Don't be pissed that you are too impatient to wait an extra few minutes. And the freeway thing just makes you sound really stupid. Have you ever gone to a store to buy an item and find they have run out? Do you stand there and throw a tantrum? CP has a specific number of stamps to give out. When they are gone, they are gone. Just like at a store. How was the weather on your trip? I bet if it rained, you would complain about that too. Hope you had a nice vacation. You sound too bitter to make the best of it. Next year, don't make your plans around something that may not be open when you get there! Try Niagara Falls! I hear they are pretty reliable!

I go to CP every year for coastermania and I allways enjoy it. Last year WT opened, but it wasn't opened for coastermania. This year TTD opened, but not for coastermania, but I got to ride WT atleast 6 times which made up for lasr year. Hopefually next year I will get to ride TTD at least once. I still enjoy my trips every year to coastermania, because there alot more to do and ride becides the new ride that just opened. I can't count how many times I rode Raptor, Magnum, Mantis, Blue Streak, Mean Streak, Gemeni, WT, Iron Dragon, Corkscrew, Disastor Transport, Mine Ride, MF, Wildcat,

You know, last time I went to Orlando there were a lot of rides I didn't get to do at Disney and Universal. You know what? They're still the best theme parks in the world and I'm not gonna diss them just because I traveled "all that way."

------------------
Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for this guy - He had a chance to ride Top Thrill Dragster, he just didn't want to wait in line. If you planned your vacation on ridding ONE RIDE, don't complain when you dont want to wait in line for it. Also, get in the freeway line earlier and you won't have to worry about them running out of stamps.

Magnum and other rides go down occasionally from time to time. You have to be patient. Usually its something that can be fixed in a few minutes and no longer than 15.

despite what you guys have stated about me, no, i do not live close to cedar point. if i am lucky my parents will drive 5 hours to cedar point just to please me about once or twice a year. i never get mad, because cedar point is an amazing place. ttd was down when i went there and i was so excited to ride it and was talking about it the whole way there. but guess what. i still had a great time.

------------------
Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription... is more cowbell!

Well I havn't been to the park in two years, and I live probably like 5-6 hours away from the park. I mean I guess I would be a little dissapointed if I don't get a ride on TTD on my trip this Sunday and Monday, but the way I look at it is, even if TTD wasn't built, I would still go to Cedar Point if I could. Even if I don't ride TTD, I am expecting a great trip none the less. Some of you, who let one coaster being down ruin trip really need to grow up. I am sure it's a lot more frustrating for the park then it is for you.
------------------
TTD Launches - 0, Unless you count the POV, then I have 7.

Hey everyone, thanks for reading my post.

villiageidiot , mk468zz , Seth Oakley ,johnz others:

“GuideToThePoint” is a great web site, and I gained a lot of valuable info from it before my trip to CP. Now, all the “posts” on there are so happy, and everything seems great. I read NOTHING about things going wrong at CP, and this is a lie that is covered up nicely by people like you.

I was not complaining about other people waiting in line for a close coaster, nor did I call them "stupid" (Draken_LC ) I just thought it was a shame that the engineers at CP really have no idea when TTD is going to be up or down, and those poor people just stand in line in the humidity and heat while there are PLENTY of other cool rides going.

(bholcomb ) If you read everything I said, you would have tead that I would have waited in line for TTD, but I had a plane to catch. Maybe you should READ EVERYTHING before opening your big mouth. Some of us aren't "privledged" enough to live in the parking lot of Cedar Point.

I thought the HS name based on a roller coaster was unique. Boy, a few negative comments and some of you people get all uptight and freak out that someone didn't just fall all over themselves at CP.

Thanks Raptor - you hit it right on. People like me who live in Denver have to endure crappy theme parks like "Six Flags Elitch Gardens" where "Wicked Twister" would be the best ride if it were here. My main reason for coming to CP was to ride the tallest and fasetest....I couldn't because whoever designed it didn't do a very good job. Engineering that is this bad is a shame for our country - like I said, THEME PARKS (Pete ) in Japan that had their new coasters open up and didn't have this many problems.

And finally, to all those who said "sh** happens." Yeah, you're right - that's true. But you are the same people who have very low expectations in life. Excuse me if all I wanted was for a great roller coaster that cost over 25 million dollars to work most of the time. Is that too much to ask?????

---

Now, all the “posts” on there are so happy, and everything seems great. I read NOTHING about things going wrong at CP

---

Nothing negative around here? Either you haven't been reading very long or you're reading a different "GuideToThePoint" than everyone else.

---

and this is a lie that is covered up nicely by people like you.

---

There is no conspiracy.

<whisper>Can someone tell me when the secret meeting for the you-know-what (wink wink) is? I forgot to mark it down.</whisper>

---

have no idea when TTD is going to be up or down, and those poor people just stand in line in the humidity and heat while there are PLENTY of other cool rides going.

---

I missed something. Who forced them to stand in line?

And Cedar Point has plenty of other cool rides? I thought people went for only one. Certainly it is impossible to have fun at Cedar Point unless you ride Top Thrill Dragster, as you have demonstrated in your trip report.

---

people get all uptight and freak out that someone didn't just fall all over themselves at CP.

---

I think people are freaking out because you come off as being negative for the sake of being negative. It's as if you wrote the trip report knowing you would get this type of reaction. I can almost imagine you thinking to yourself "I'll show these stupid fanboys ..."

You only gave a partial trip report that accounted for just a small portion of your trip. What happened the rest of the time? Did you even smile once or did you walk around the park with a gloomy expression?

---

My main reason for coming to CP was to ride the tallest and fasetest

---

Well, what did you ride? Raptor, Magnum, Millennium Force, Gemini, Blue Streak, Mean Streak, Wicked Twister, WildCat, Iron Dragon, Mine Ride, Disaster Transport, Mantis, and Corkscrew were all closed the entire length of your trip?

---

....I couldn't because whoever designed it didn't do a very good job ... Engineering that is this bad is a shame for our country

---

First you blame the manufacturer, based in a foreign land, and then you say the engineering is a shame for our country. Wouldn't it be Switzerland's shame?

------------------
Walt Schmidt
Virtual Midway
*** This post was edited by Gemini 8/12/2003 12:48:36 PM ***

Mr. Jeep, You are really making a fool of yourself. How could you say that you've seen no comments about problems at CP on GTTP? This is the place that I go to see in depth discussions about the health of the TTD. It's like a freakin' soap opera. And I love it! You obliviously have not spent a lot of time in these newsgroups. One would think that you must be a coaster enthusiast if you planned a trip to Ohio solely to ride TTD. But surely if that were the case, you had to have known there have been many problems. Your comment about Wicked Twister being the best ride at SFEG (if it were there).... What are you talking about? WT is a great ride! Take a look at the WT groups; I know that many of us agree. And your comment: "Engineering that is this bad is a shame for our country." An American company did not design TTD. (20 minutes later…) While composing this post, I see that Walt has beaten me to it. Oh heck, I’ll post it anyway. And if you don’t know who Walt is, you really don’t know anything about CP! BTW, johnz, I finally figured out your sig line. HA!!!

Steel Dragon 2000 in Japan was designed by Mogran...based in AMERICA. So what else happened on your trip?

------------------
--Seth

okay. now that you have e-mailed me saying you were right, i will use quotes. you may have just stated it wrong, but here is my backup since you say things didnt happen the way you stated before. you claim you didnt watch ttd for 2 hours. this says otherwise:

While WATCHING this roller coaster, it was down no fewer than FIVE times in two hours, only to have it resume running in 5-10 minutes. Sounds like a great ride.

you know what? it does sound like a good ride. i cant wait to ride it and i bet you cant wait either because all things people who have been on it have said, and they've said it is a good ride.

im sorry for sounding like i have a huge ego or whatever, but that's how i feel.

------------------
Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription... is more cowbell!