Cedar Point June 17th & 18th (Part I, long)

Me and my girl decided that a trip out to Cedar Point on the 17th would be a perfect opprotunity to cash in on our Platinum Passes, as this will be the first ERT session for Platinum Passer's that we could make it to. We booked our hotel and decided to hit the park on the 18th too, and head home from the park early that night, and just relax and enjoy the two days and not rush. Great plan...

We left Edinboro (20 miles south of Erie, PA) at around 8am, and made it to the park around 11am (after stopping at our Hotel and getting settled in). Immediately after stepping through the gates we headed over to maXair.

maXair -- 15 minute wait -- Rating: 8/10.

As we approached the queue, we realized that the lines weren't too horendous, and figured as much as the day was fairly cool (not hitting 70 degrees for most of the day) along with overcast skies. We waited out turn, eventually around 3 runs. It was good to see the ride back up and running after it being down on our first trip up on Opening Week. Hell, it was good to see most rides open unlike Opening Week ;).

After we left maXair, rather than heading back to the main midway like we normally do to catch Raptor, we decided to head back and hit up Wicked Twister while we were in the Marina side of the park already (deciding to pass up Disaster Transport, because I really don't care to ride it, although front is still fun).

Wicked Twister -- 5 minute wait -- Rating: 8/10.

We noticed walking over that as usual, the line wasn't even into the actual queue, but just station waiting. So we headed in, and immediately went for the back of the train... We decided to pass up the 4 circuits more of a wait for back seat for the second to back seat. I love the twisting feeling you get in the back of the train... Still a really fun coaster for me, even though many people down talk it.

After we exited from Wicked Twister, we decided to wander back towards the middle of the park, walking back through Planet Snoopy and checking out some of the new rides and updates in that part of the park. As we headed back towards Mantis and Millennium Force, we did notice that Wildcat is still down, with only one train on the tracks still. Covered in cobwebs and not even close to running again. Who knows.

We decided to hit Mantis while we were back here. I have not ridden the ride since probably 2004, and for good reason. I am pretty sure that I waddled most of 2005 from this ride.

We got on the ride, and I know from previous experience that the front seat towards the middle two seats is the smoothest ride. So we got in line and waited.

Mantis -- 30 minute wait -- Rating: 7/10.

We got in the front row line, which almost doubled the wait time previously. We got on the train and I used my techniques to get the seat lower, but in the process, as we were going up the lift my OTSR clicked one too many times and I rode hunched over the entire ride. Uncomfortable, but no head banging. I still like the ride, although I think that some of the banking switches are a little intense, but still a good ride.

We got off of Mantis and decided to pass up Millennium Force and come back later on. We walked through Frontier Town, checking out some shops and stopping to feed the geese and stop at the Petting Zoo. After which we meandered back towards Maverick. As we were passing the swings I got tugged on the arm by the girl because she loves swings.

Wave Swinger -- No wait -- Rating: 6/10.

We got directly on and the ride started. The ride cycle is actually pretty short, but still pretty fun, and it brought a smile to my girls face, so that is all that matters. After that, we headed back, and took a look at Mavericks line. The sign said 45 minutes, but the line was at a stand still and trains were in all three blocks, usually meaning short breakdown, so we skipped for now. We headed back to Mean Streak.

Mean Streak -- 4 train wait for Front Seat -- Rating: 6/10.

The only way to ride Mean Streak is front seat, and if it wasn't for those damn trims it would still be a fun ride. I did laugh throughout the ride but the trims kill the pacing. I still like the ride, but only in the front. It is like legalized murder in the back.

After that, we looked at the On-Ride Photo and had ourselves a chuckle, as I posed, and she didn't. We headed out from there and straight over to the train, and our epic journey through BoneVille!

CP&LE Railroad -- No wait -- Rating: N/A.

The train was as always, relaxing. Kind of just sit back and enjoy the extremely funny attempt at theming. As we arrived back at the Millennium Force station of the train, we headed out, and she wanted to ride Power Tower, so off we headed.

Power Tower (Turbo Drop South) -- One ride wait -- Rating: 9/10.

As we got in line I almost had to pull my girl into the green line as she hates the slow ride to the top and waiting to drop, but she went along with it. The ride is always good and I cannot get over the great views it gives. Drop is amazing, and cannot get enough.

After getting off of that, we headed over to Magnum, passing up a broken down Corkscrew.

Magnum XL-200 -- 5 minute wait -- Rating: 8/10.

We got in line for Car-3, Row 2. The second row is the only way to go, unless it is front seat. The ride has either progressively gotten better since I was younger, or I am beggining to appreciate older rides more. The airtime on the backend was amazing, and I didn't want to get off. A great ride, again.

After Magnum, we headed over to the Birthday Coaster, Gemini. We were greeted in the queue entrance by ride ops wearing 30th Anniversary tee's, and blasting 70's music. As we entered the station disco balls hung from the outer edges of the roof and a huge disco ball hung in the middle ceiling.

Gemini -- 2 train wait. -- Rating: 6/10.

Bad decision making. Last car, last row, painful. I love this ride and how smooth it normally is, but it just plain hurt my back in the backseat, which is why I didn't want to originally ride there, but oh well. At least I can say I was there on it's 30th Anniversary. After we exited, we were greated by 3 huge signature banners signifying the 30th Anniversary, which we both signed.

Next up: Skyhawk, my girls second favorite flat ride in the park.

Skyhawk -- 10 minute wait -- 7/10.

Surprising how much this ride lacked a line today, we got in line. The cycles for this ride are too short, that is my only complaint. I love the ride itself, but lengthen the cycles, please!

At this time, it was getting to around 5pm, and my girlfriend started feeling a combination of tired and sick, so we decided to head out back to the hotel to take a little break. On the way out of the park we noticed the extremely short line on Raptor, so we went after it.

Raptor -- 10 minute wait -- 8/10.

The ride seemed smoother now than previously... maybe because I am starting to expect worse from coasters that way I am never disappointed. This was still my first ever major coaster, and I still love it to this day. After our quick fly through, we headed out of the park. We grabbed some food and headed back, so she could take a nap while I showered and relaxed.

We returned to the park around 7:15pm-ish. The first ride my girl wanted to ride was maXair, again.

maXair -- 10 minute wait -- 8/10.

Same basic ride as before, except that dispatching was quicker with a new shift of operators. Again we headed out and skipped Disaster Transport which showed at 45 minute wait on the sign. Definately not worth it. So we headed back over to Wicked Twister.

Wicked Twister -- 2 circuit wait -- 8/10.

Waited for the second to front this time. Both the front and back are fun, but the back is still the best. We just wanted a quick switch up. Great ride again... After this we headed back to the Power Tower area to catch some quick rides.

Iron Dragon -- Walk-on to trains -- 6/10.

Slow coaster, but fun to relax and enjoy. Biggest item I noticed on the ride. The second the trains pulled into the stations, the restraints were up, we got in, they went down, checked and out the door, literally in under a minute. It was the quickest dispatching I have ever seen on a coaster at Cedar Point. It was quite impressive. Through the ride, we noticed that

Top Thrill Dragster had practically no line, so as soon as we got off we headed over to get on.

Top Thrill Dragster -- 20 minute wait -- 9/10.

That line is insanely decieving, especially with poor station management. The person who was letting riders into the station was overloading it. To the point where I felt like every movement was hitting a different person. Not very fun. After the wait, we headed out into launch position, and woosh, we were gone. I love this ride, it is just a shame that it isn't longer.

After exiting and laughing at our photos, we meandered towards Corkscrew.

Corkscrew -- Walk-on to trains -- 6/10.

Not a bad ride, but not good either. It does produce some airtime, but is also still a head banger. I have had worse, but I have definately had better also. After getting off we headed back over towards Magnum for another run.

Magnum XL-200 -- Walk-on to trains -- 9/10.

I love night rides on Magnum. That is the only factor that can make Magnum better than it already is. Whizzing through the course in blackness, along with the out of control feeling in the pretzel, I love it.

After that, it was almost 10pm, closing time. We noticed a line outside of Top Thrill Dragster for ERT. As we got in the line, we noticed that people were still going into line normally.

We decided it was completely pointless to wait in line to wait longer, so we just ran into the line again.

Top Thrill Dragster -- 20 minute wait. -- 9/10.

Last seat of the second train in the station. I have never ridden in the back before, but I thought we were going to rollback. I was utterly disappointed when I felt the jerk of the front of the train getting pulled over the top. Oh well. Great night ride on Top Thrill Dragster.

After we got off the ride, we headed back around, and was greated by OnPoint! Tony who checked out Platinum Passes and wished us a fun ride... we wish. We headed through and my girl promised to wait for front seat with me. 45 minutes later, we were 4 riders (2 circuits) away from the front seat, when the second train rolled into launch position. Rev, rev, rev, rev. No launch. All of a sudden, Red blinking light begins flashing on all control panels. 4 maintenance men rush out of the control room and down to the middle of the launch track.

Tony makes an announcement about the ride being down, and that the ERT was extended to 11:45pm, due to it. Everyone cheers.

The maintenance men come back, after all the trains were manually released of the riders, and the trains were moved in manual back into the blocks. Then Tony announces for the first train to load. The riders get in, and the train rolls forward towards launch, but not before one man in the train starts getting uber-psyched for a rollback "I smell a rollback! Oh man! I CAN TASTE IT! Can you? OH YEAH!" The revs start, the lights go, the train launches, and creeps over the top of the tower and into the brakes. As soon as the next trains roll into the station to load, the red lights blink again. Tony then announces that the ERT has been canceled for the night and that it will be rescheduled for the following Tuesday.

While I give CP credit for not canceling it all together, along with extending it, I can't help but be disappointed because I will not be able to make it back. Oh well. We then take the long quiet walk out of the park, to our car, and back to the hotel to rest up for day two.

Part two to come...

Sounds like you had fun. :) DT isn't even worth riding unless you do it fronte seat. ;)

I like Disaster Transport. More than most people do actually, but the ride isn't worth anything more than a 10 minute wait, at most.

What exactly is so funny about the theming on CP&LE Railroad? I love Boneville.

What isn't funny about it? I am not saying I don't like it, I am just saying it cracks me up. I love it too, otherwise I wouldn't have ridden the train 3 times.

Yeah the characters on the train ride are laugh out loud funny but I was thankful for some theming. The fire was pretty decent.

^ When we rode the train there was no theming at all. :( Do you have to sit in a certain car for the theming?

Try riding from Frontier town back up to MF, that may help.

You pass through Boneville on the trip from the Frontier Town station to the Main Midway station. If you ride from the Main Midway to Frontier Town there is no theming, except the great views of Millennium Force and Maverick.

Nice wait times especially for visiting the park so "late". Aka no ERT or at the gate at 10:00 A.M.

I am a habitual "keep the crap the in the car, lets check in to the hotel after the park closes" kind of guy.

I guess that is why there wasn't any theming, because we took the train from MF to FT. It was pretty cool though, because we wanted to go to FT and the train was just about to leave. No wait for us. :)

"We got off of Mantis and decided to pass up Millennium Force and come back later on. We walked through Frontier Town, checking out some shops and stopping to feed the geese and stop at the Petting Zoo."-CoasterLine

Nice Trip Report.

There's a petting zoo @ Cedar Point. I would assume they have a couple small animals. That's awesome.

^ I don't get it...

^ I was just suprized to hear that Cedar Point has a petting zoo according to CoasterLine. Have you ever been to thier petting zoo?

It's along the Frontier Trail after the first drop on Millennium Force near the turn. There's a big red barn with the Ohio Bicentennial painting on one side. There are goats and cows, along with geese and ducks.

http://www.pointbuzz.com/Photos/Gallery.aspx?id=163

^^I have. I just couldn't comprehend your post...

I was surpriZed there was a petting zoo too. lol. A combo of my 2 favorite things in one place. :)

^ I'll break it down for you by sentence.

There's a petting zoo @ Cedar Point. I would assume they have a couple small animals. That's awesome.-I said earlier

1. There's a petting zoo at cedar point. --This means wow there is a petting zoo at cedar point.

2. I would assume they have a couple small animals.-- This means, being that cedar point is not a zoo, I would not think they would have lions, tigers, or bears.

3. That's awsome.--I am pleased that Cedar Point has a petting zoo.

Thanks for the pics Vince982.

^Let me break it down for you too.

I have. --This means, I have been to the petting zoo before. Multiple times since I was about 3 years old.

I just couldn't comprehend your post... --This means, learn to proof read your post. Spell out words. Say "at" instead of "@". We are not on instant messenger, we are on Pointbuzz, a place for literate people to talk about CP...

-Ashley

Being a animal lover, i stopped at the petting zoo after riding the

millennium force. This was very enjoyable and was just part of

my great day at cedar point.