Chat with John Hildebrandt about the new ride

I cornered our favorite general manager after the announcement to chat, and was all ready to record the interview when a Toledo news crew cut in and asked if they could go first to meet deadline. Naturally, I didn't care, and let them go. Unfortunately, once I did get back to John, I made a recording error and did not capture the interview. Bonehead, amateur move on my part, and I don't have any excuse except to say that I don't have a good rhythm for this newer camera yet.

In any case, there were a few things I remember worth repeating...

I asked John about the process of announcing a big ride like this, compared to even ten years ago. He said it was crazy to think about the old days of mailing video tapes, and later DVD's, with a small army of people stuffing the media kits and getting them in the mail at exactly the right time. Now you push a button, and it's all online, sometimes not intentionally. ("But people are talking about it, so that's OK.")

He jokingly said to me at the Disaster Transport fundraiser that people were going to start calling him "Hildebrandt the Destroyer," with the rides removed this year. He said that he probably gets more sentimental than most about older rides, but it's hard to hang on to the past as some rides become more and more expensive to maintain. He quoted Ouimet's previous comments about honoring the past without being bound to it.

John is really happy to work with B&M again, indicating that, "Walter and his group really make sure they get everything just right before they start delivering."

He mentioned that they will retain two of the Disaster Transport cars, as well as a section of track, since it's so unique. No idea yet what they'll do with it.

Again, sorry about the recording failure. I will have the announcement and Q&A video up tonight (it's uploading now).

What he meant to say about B&M was "Thankfully it wasn't Intamin"

...and then he told me the twist that I have heard about before...

This is where you start, Jeff. ;)

Try forgetting to hit record when you've got a tornado next to you. It sucks.

Sounds like they didn't care so much things leaked out Saturday? I still don't understand why they keep things so secretive. If you're spray painting lines or fencing areas off you've obviously gotten to the point of finalization of the ride and being able to announce it.

I don't get what advantage Maverick had for example to keep it quiet all summer. There was obviously construction going on, and White Water Landing had closed the previous fall for good. Are you trying to build hype with people in hopes they return next year? Obviously the amusement park industry is small enough that the plans are likely already in the hands of your 'competitors'. I guess I don't understand it.

You keep things secretive to avoid hurting this year's sales. Now that CP's summer season is practically over and most people have already made their 2012 CP trips, they can start to get people amped up about returning next year.

If they had announced GateKeeper in May for example, there would be a number of people that would skip CP this year and plan to return for the new coaster in 2013. Then, these people might turn to a competing park for 2012, and Cedar Fair loses that business.

Ever notice how insanely secretive Apple is about their future models and products? Same logic...they don't want to kill sales of existing product.

Doesn't seem like a fair comparison considering its the difference between an experience and a product. I wouldn't buy a phone that I plan to keep for 2 years if I can wait 2 months and get a better one - that makes sense. I don't put off enjoying an experience an entire year so I can ride a new coaster next year. That doesn't make any sense unless you live >300 miles away from the park, and I imagine those cases are fringe anyway.

I can't imagine the cost of keeping things under wraps is that significant. On the other hand, even if 3% of people end up delaying their trip by a year, that's still probably over 75,000 guests. At a $40 per-cap, that's $3 million in revenue.

Granted, that $3 million is less than 0.3% of CF's 2011 revenue, but if the cost of keeping a new attraction secret is less than $3 million, it's still profitable to keep things secret. And profit is cool.

3 million in revenue to keep things secret? I don't know about that.

If it's purely a dollar and cents thing I can understand that. I don't really think it is though.

No, I'm saying that the cost of keeping a new ride under wraps is insignificant, while the potential loss of revenue is not, by comparison.

Hence, it makes fiscal sense to delay the new ride announcement until late in the season.

Can you seriously say people you know would put off a trip to Cedar Point for a whole year to ride a new coaster? You're making an assumption they will either visit 1 time instead of 2 times or that they'd go visit a competitor instead. I don't really think either is true, but hey maybe I live in some fantasy land?

I think it's safe to say that some people would choose to do other vacations this year if they're in the planning stages, and know a new attraction they'll want to experience is coming next year.

The number may not be significant - even if 99.5% of people don't delay their trip, the park is still losing out on $500,000 by not delaying the announcement. And again, the cost to delay is virtually nothing.

That's essentially free money. Why would any business leave free money on the table?

Exactly. I know delaying a trip for a new ride can be hard for an enthusiast to understand, as we expect to see CP every year, often multiple times.

But, I have plenty of friends that like CP in a very casual way. They'll want to go every few years, asking me questions like, "So, what's new at Cedar Point since Maverick?"

These are the type people most likely to delay if the cards are shown too early. Maybe they make a comparable cost trip to Put-In-Bay instead, saving CP for next year. Had they not known about the new big coaster, it's possible they would have gone this year, followed by a return trip next year for GateKeeper.

^^^I had a trip planned with family for Sept and they called last night and said they want to wait until spring. Now I'll still go in Sept but this group changed their mind was 12 deep so yeah, I can totally see this happenning, especially if the announcement was earlier.

Anecdotal, but ok if people really say that happens.

It just is hard for me to believe someone would, after hearing a new ride announcement, give up their plans of going to a park for the summer to return next year but would have otherwise gone twice if they had waited to announce.

Again, I'm not saying the number of people who do that is remotely large. But still, even if it's a fraction of a percentage, it makes fiscal sense. And that's the bottom line for a business.

Not because of the announcement, but because Disaster Transport was announced to be removed.. I am the only one getting a platinum pass next year. My wife said to save us money and don't bother getting her one next year. There is nothing left for her to do there.... She may go one time next year, but not for the new ride....

(P.S. I may get her a season pass next year, whether she likes it or not) :)

I know a section of track and cars at going to the NRCMA (National Roller Coaster Museum Association). I wonder if that's what he's talking about of if they've saved an additional section and cars for themselves.

Yes, the two are going to the museum (or the warehouse, as it were), but they're keeping a few as well. I say put it in the queue for the new ride!

I like that idea. Pay homage to the former attraction, like Mr. Toad handing over the deed to Owl on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Now if ever there was a ride that should be burned down and replaced with it's predecessor.