Character Ride Signs

Hi guys I'm new to this deal on this name (I used to be raineydayrider, I've been reading since like forever :)) I was just wondering, what's up with the character ride signs being taken out? I just hope that they will be replaced with new ones. Anyways, do you know if they will ever make these signs avaible on ebay or anything? It would be awesome to own one of those!
Thanks,
Mary

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Yeah Log Ride!

Like, all of them have been taken out? What do they have (if anything) at the entrances to the rides to serve as height warnings?

I feel like I'm missing out on so much!

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PO!NT OF VIEW - A Different Look at Roller Coasters
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/

They have rectangular signs at each entrance, I can't really describe them exactly but they are mostly text, and overall, pretty plain and boring...

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STEUKS!! *** This post was edited by Majin Heero on 5/12/2001. ***

Anybody know for sure, I really am going to miss those signs if they're gone for good! Maybe they're just being refurbished or something....
Do the rectangular signs look temporary or did a lot of work go into them indicating they'll be there for a while?

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Trim brakes-a necessity???
Can't wait till my June 16-18 trip!

They are very official. It would take a while just to read all the fine print on the darn things.

One thing I have noticed is they also rate the intensity of each ride, 5 being extreme thrill and 1 being the lowest.

They're very official, appear very permanent, and are also very BORING and "corporate-looking". This is, IMHO, yet another initiative by park brass that was successful in removing even more character and ambiance from the park. Though I really didn't care for a few of them ("Jocko" from Cedar Downs being a prime example), they were something unique to the park that helped contribute to its overall atmosphere.

Putting a stinking FRANCHISED RESTAURANT in what was formerly the crown jewel of the Games Area at the front of the park was awful enough. I'm personally appalled that they did something like this as well.

Additionally, whoever came up with these ride intensity ratings is whacked. 1-5 is not nearly a broad enough scale, and many rides (again strictly IMHO) are "over-intensified" by that scale. MF? Sure--that's a 5. But to then say that the Mine Ride is also a 5 makes it appear that the rides would be equally intense, which they clearly are not. I recall noting on Wednesday that even the Dodgems had an intensity rating of 4 (All of these numbers are strictly by recollection--I don't know for certain that's what they were given). 4?? Hello??

John

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FASCINATION (1955-2000): It was the game--the *only* game--I came to Cedar Point to play.

Well said. Can we blame all of this On Dan K too!
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Bring back Don M.

If they want to put these info signs, that's fine. I just don't see why they couldn't be next to the character signs.

"they were something unique to the park that helped contribute to its overall atmosphere."

AMEN! In the face of progress, however, that usually doesn't matter.

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VirtualMidway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

That's what I was wondering, Gemini. Why not have one sign on the left and one sign on the right?

While I can agree with some of the previous comments I have to chime in with a differing opinion.
First, let's NOT single out any one person, ie Dan K. I am sure this was not his decision alone. While most of us are familiar with "The Buck Stops Here", yes it happened on Dan's watch but I am sure there is much more to it.
Second, part of this may have to do with eliminating "arguments" with the ride hosts...Guest: "We just measured Johnny/Jane at the sign out front of the ride what do you mean he/she is too short."
With no candy cane sign out front you don't have guests taking it upon themselves to measure their children. Remember, leave the measuring to the professionals!!!
It will be /would be nice when/if some sort of character signage reappears, it does add some flavor to the midway.

They don't even have the candy canes or any height measuring device any more!? CP is usually pretty good about having a ride-op out in front to measure people, but in the rare occurrance that there isn't someone there, they should at least have something so the people can check themselves. I thought the character signs added a bit of fun and humor to a park that really doesn't have much at all in the way of theming. Bring back the old signs!!! :) Even if there has to be extra info added to them, they are still cool!

-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

I think the new signs make the park look more professional. Which is good and bad.

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MF Count: 12
First CP Rollercoaster: Corkscrew

Here is a picture of the new sign:
http://www.experiencethepoint.com/newsignf.jpg
Please pardon the quality.

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Andrew
http://www.experiencethepoint.com

Well, the new signs do add a measure of continuity so that you know exactly what to look for no matter what ride you're considering. I do agree that there ought to be some sort of candy cane attached to it -- yes, leave the measuring to the ride ops, but I've witnessed tons of parents getting a quick check to know if their child is anywhere close.

Another thought - could this be something to the effect of removing other cartoony characters since Snoopy et. al. have become part of the scene? Perhaps we will see new signs, with Snoopy and friends in different getups depending on the ride. While I don't much like that idea because I like how those areas of the park are more or less contained, it would make sense. Any thoughts?

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PO!NT OF VIEW - A Different Look at Roller Coasters
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/

The new signs look like something a lawyer came up with. NOBODY is going to read all that text. Each ride now has a steel official height checker platform at the entrance, and the queue attendants still have their candycanes. Remember that Millennium Force got one of these new style signs last season, and Challenge Park has been using these signs for ages. That said, there is now nothing in front of the ride that tells you at a glance what the height requirement is...it's buried in the fine print on the sign, and in order to check a kid with the height-checker platform, the kid has to stand ON the platform.

I say, bring back the candycane signs. Or better yet, bring back the kid-on-a-tree-stump signs, maybe color coding his shirt or something.
(Jerry the Magnum Man has a photo on his web site someplace showing the *old* height checker sign)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I wonder if Soak City will be affected. The candy cane signs are in use there.

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http://www.thepointol.com

I want my storm trooper outside magnum again dammit!

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Magnumdan
Magnum Count 1401
911 is not an option

Believe it or not, fighting with people and their damn short kids is how I got my kicks on the long, hot summer days of the Gemini. If not for that much, I would have fallen asleep. The minor fights caused from the candy canes at entrance provided enough rough interest for me to not lose my sanity while doing one of the less than stellar parts of my job, such as a crowd position. Bring back the old signs!

You never know Dan, maybe you could get ahold of it...that would be so cool.

I say bring back the signs. They help set the park apart from other parks plus they added a little fun. The new signs feel very corporate. They almost remind me of something you would find in RCT.

Well that's my 2 cents on the issue at hand. See ya on the midway!!