Coaster Mania Suggestion

More
1 of 2
2

I did not go to Coaster Mania this year, but from reading other posts and reports on VirtualMidway, the park sure did screw it up royally this year.

I feel that the park should change the way it organizes and hosts the event. Here is what I think they should do:

--To start, the Day of Coaster Mania is way too long even for a die hard fan like myself. This years Coaster Mania started at 6:30 am and did not end until 1:00am that night. That makes almost 18+ hours non-stop at the park. I was at CM'02 for that length of time and that can be a real drag.

--Second, the morning ERT is interupted by the early entry by Joe Cool Club members and Resort Guests. If there is one day out of the entire operating season this should not be honored, this would be the day.

-Third, the ERT time usually only last about an 1-1/2 hours or so. That means only one, maybe if you are lucky, two, rides on the newer more popular coasters like MF or TTD. ERT means to the avarage coaster enthusiast lots of rides with little to no wait.

Heres how to change these things:

Start by changing the day that CM is hosted. Typically it is on the first Friday of June. This day the park is open from 10am to 10 pm and is swamped by kids who just got out of school for the summer. Move CM back a week or two to a day when the park is open from 10am-8pm. The general attendance is usually lighter because the kids are not out of school yet and the 8pm close can mean longer ERT.

By hosting CM on a 8pm day, they can cut out the morning ERT all together and have all the big ticket rides open for ERT from 8pm to 1am after the park is closed to the general public.This would give everybody more rides on the popular coasters with extended ERT. Plus, by not having a morning ERT, there would not be the closing of lines for Joe Cool and Resort guests. They would also have the luncheon and Q&A session as well durring the day as usual.

Finally, I feel that there is way too many people showing up for the event. Some of them are not even enthusiasts or CP fans, but park goers who are looking for shorter lines. The park needs to crack down on who it honors as an enthusiast organization. To lower the CM attendance they should only honor the traditional clubs such as ACE, GOCC, ECC, ect. Today, the park is recognizing online website clubs, and this is were I believe the non-enthusiasts are comming from.Don't honor the online clubs as official organizations. They also need to eliminate the "one guest per membership" rule and make it a requirement that ALL attendees have a membership.

------------------
2003 counts:
Millennium Force Laps: 3
Magnum Laps: 3
Raptor Laps: 2
Trips to CP: 4

First, how did any report on Virtual Midway lead you to believe the park screwed up royally? It was a great day with enthusiasts from all over the country enjoying another fantastic coaster event. You weren't even there - how can you make such a statement?
To start, the Day of Coaster Mania is way too long even for a die hard fan like myself.

Many enthusiasts find that is part of what makes CoasterMania so special. No one is making you stay the whole day. Go take a break during the afternoon.

Second, the morning ERT is interupted by the early entry by Joe Cool Club members and Resort Guests.

There was much in the way of ERT before the early entry - and on rides that were not available to early entry guests. After Joe Cool and resort guests were let in, they checked buttons on Power Tower and Blue Streak to make sure it was limited to enthusiasts. On the other side, enthusiasts were able to take advantage of early morning rides on Magnum.

You sound pretty upset for someone who wasn't even there. Cedar Point doesn't have to hold any event. But not only do they choose to do so, they choose to make it a fantastic day with ERT on numerous rides, free food, informative sessions, and lots of fun with other enthusiasts.

------------------
Walt Schmidt - Virtual Midway
"Okay, here we are, alt dot nerd dot obsessive." - Comic Book Guy
*** This post was edited by Gemini 6/7/2003 12:27:38 PM ***

First, how did any report on Virtual Midway lead you to believe the park screwed up royally? It was a great day with enthusiasts from all over the country enjoying another fantastic coaster event. You weren't even there - how can you make such a statement?

Virtual Midway reported that they put DT and Gemini in replacement of MF...that's the screw up. MF should have been operating both sessions to make up for TTD being down all day.

There was much in the way of ERT before the early entry - and on rides that were not available to early entry guests. After Joe Cool and resort guests were let in, they checked buttons on Power Tower and Blue Streak to make sure it was limited to enthusiasts. On the other side, enthusiasts were able to take advantage of early morning rides on Magnum

Had TTD been running, the line would have closed for them.

__________________________________________

____________________________________________

I was there last year and gave the event an avarage reveiw at best due to high volume of so called "enthusiasts" that were there.The ERT last year did not seem very "E" to me. Talking with veterans of the event last year, they said that CM attendance is way up from years past. Yes, CP doesn't have to hold such an event, but remember who does a lot free publicity for them; enthusiasts. They could make the day a lot better.

------------------
2003 counts:
Millennium Force Laps: 3
Magnum Laps: 3
Raptor Laps: 2
Trips to CP: 4
*** This post was edited by Vince79 6/7/2003 1:04:02 PM ***

Cedar Point has been holding CoasterMania for 15 years. You go one time and you are an expert on what the park should and should not do? The park does the event right we get ERT hang out with friends and other enthusiasts who we become friends with and have a great time. As an enthusiasts , no one says that you have to give Cedar Point or any other park any "free publicity". I think that amusement parks can handle that on their own. It's people like you that give enthusiasts a bad name. If you do not like the event don't go but don't say bad things about it if you are not there.

------------------
MF Circuts=352 (03=36)
TTD Launches=12
Launch that sucker...Yeah!

I was there all day and the only "screw ups" to me where two things:

1) They ran 1 train (just the red side) and just 3 cars of that train on Gemini.

2) DT closed at like 11:30. Some ERT. People who were at Magnum and just heard about it never got the chance to get over there in time.

------------------
"I can't make a movie or write a song either, but that doesn't mean I'm not entitled to think they suck."
-Jeff

Dragster: 1 Force: 2 Twister: 3 Raptor: 3 Magnum: 4

They also need to eliminate the "one guest per membership" rule and make it a requirement that ALL attendees have a membership.

Ok, I can see how you said that because somepeople may not even like roller coasters, but I dissagree. I'm not old enough to drive, so when I wanted to go to CoasterMania, my dad had to drive me. And he's been going to CedarPoint longer than me and he had a great time.
------------------
Life is a rollercoaster... ride it.
~*kP

First time ACE member:)

A Coastermania suggestion? Keep that Disastor Transport ERT with the lights on every year! It was awesome! As Rider said, most of the people at Magnum did not even know about the DT ERT. I nearly ran to the front of the park when I heard the news. I only got two light rides in, I wish I could have gotten more. The things like this is what makes Coastermania great, haha, maybe next year we can have Paddlewheel Excursion ERT!?

------------------
"I can see Canadaaaaaaaaahhhh!" - Me atop of Magnum.
HTTP://community.webshots.com/user/glbubba

Yea, I didn't get any DT rides it though. I really wanted to see it. They closed that one so early.

------------------
"I can't make a movie or write a song either, but that doesn't mean I'm not entitled to think they suck."
-Jeff

Dragster: 1 Force: 5 Twister: 7 Raptor: 6 Magnum: 12

Virtual Midway reported that they put DT and Gemini in replacement of MF...that's the screw up. MF should have been operating both sessions to make up for TTD being down all day.

Please feel free to join the team next year and come work a 18 hour plus day to make your dream come true. The ride ops went beyond the call of duty yesterday pulling the hours that some of them did only to have to be in to open again today. Before you complain.. try adn do something about it.. Join up..

------------------
June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
VertiGo Rides - 82
Technical Services 2002-2003
Fright Zone Screamster 2002-2003

[sarcasm] Come on, Rob! Vince and other enthusiasts give the park a lot of free publicity. You owe them! [/sarcasm]

I'm still trying to figure out how you can screw up a gift.

The fine folks at Cedar Point went above and beyond the call of duty to make yesterday as good as they could. I talked to them - I know how disappointed they were that the day wasn't perfect. But they made the absolute best out of a situation that was pretty darn good to begin with. I saw a lot of happy enthusiasts yesterday.

------------------
Walt Schmidt - Virtual Midway
"Okay, here we are, alt dot nerd dot obsessive." - Comic Book Guy
*** This post was edited by Gemini 6/7/2003 3:38:28 PM ***

First, I must admit that I wasn't there yesterday either. (CoasterMania always falls on the last day of exams...)

My philosophy has always been that my worst day at Cedar Point is better than a good day at school. There you have it! I went on Media Day and, while the weather finally worked out, I was not planning on waiting 3.5 hours for my first ride on Media Day. Nor was I planning on waiting another 4 hours only to have it break down when I was in the station. Things happen!

I stood in line a total of 7.5 hours that day and I don't regret a minute of it! I got to chat with some fellow GOCC members, I got to ride TTD, and I got a great view of Iron Dragon testing. Sit back, relax, enjoy your company and enjoy your view. There's no need to complain. Kudos to Cedar Point for everything they do for us coaster nuts!

I really hate lecturing posts, and I realize that I've just written one. It just irks me sometimes though... In any case, I hope no one feels like I'm picking on them. Just offering my two cents! In conclusion: Just sit back and relax at the park! It's such a great place!

JayDubs

------------------
Striker, Coco, Misty, and Breeze - Gone, but not forgotten...

Vince79 said:

Funny....I think that an 18+ day at Cedar Point is great! Did you say that you're a "die hard fan?" Not if you can't appreciate and take advantage of 18+ hours in a park the size of Cedar Point.

I think that they did a fantastic job!
------------------
20 year member of ACE. Time flies when you're having fun =)

--Second, the morning ERT is interupted by the early entry by Joe Cool Club members and Resort Guests. If there is one day out of the entire operating season this should not be honored, this would be the day
Why should they stop this on this day? You know they have other guest to take care of too. We all pay our hard earned money to either stay at a CP resort or to buy Cool Joe Club. You weren't even there so why are you complaining? I think CP did a out standing job.

"the morning ERT is interupted by the early entry by Joe Cool Club members and Resort Guests. If there is one day out of the entire operating season this should not be honored, this would be the day."

Sorry, that's nuts. Some guy is paying $235 for a night at Breakers so he should get shafted just so a season pass holder can get free ERT? That makes no business sense. The park did it right. TTD (i.e. MF) ERT from 6:30 until the queue closed at 8am. Resort guests and Joe Cool were let in at 9am while the CoasterMania crowd had ERT at THREE different rides.

"Heres how to change these things"

See, with every passing year bringing growing crowds, one would think that you shouldn't fix what isn't broken.

"Yes, CP doesn't have to hold such an event, but remember who does a lot free publicity for them; enthusiasts."

Do you define an "enthusiast" as a member of a coaster club or as someone who is enthusiastic enough to influence the opinion of others? Have you seen the diehard enthusiasts? They're a pretty wacky lot (and I don't mean that in a bad way) but I think there is more value in bringing a guest who may possibly have more to offer in terms of potential future revenue to the park and in social graces to influence beyond the core of enthusiasts who are already sold on the park.

I don't think CoasterMania is perfect. I don't see the logic in having a 2-3:30pm lunch for folks who got to the park at 5am. I think that Plan B for the evening ERT should have been communicated better. Dragster was down for most of Wednesday and all of Thursday. The replacement rides and times should have been announced in the morning and then every half-hour during the lunch.

As for crowd control, the policy already went from 3 guests per club member to just one. If the crowds keep coming the park can either play to it and just open up more rides during the ERT sessions (at the very least run all four towers) and let the crowd numbers continue to build or it can just raise the price.

Why should a season pass holder get in for free for 7 extra hours of park time and a free meal? Why should a day guest CoasterMania enthusiast pay $12 less than the GP?

It's because this is such a good deal that thousands come.

I also feel things were handled just fine given the circumstances, and I thank the crews for coming in and giving us the ERT that we received. I could tell some of them were pushing themselves to be there... it's not fun at all, as I know too well. But without them to check restraints, or to push the dispatch buttons, or etc etc etc, then there's no ERT.

This was my first CoasterMania, and I was NOT disappointed.

Thank you Cedar Point for a great time! And thank you again employees for staying up so long just to give us some 'bonus time.'

[Edit...

And yes, I would have liked ERT on Millennium Force at night instead of during the morning, and a small part of me wishes it was open during night ERT. I was looking forward to riding it in the dark. But I also understand that there's only so much energy a person can excert before they collapse from being overworked and extremely tired. By being open early in the morning, I'm absolutely not mad at all for MF being closed at night. They deserve some rest. It's well deserved!

And I hope CP does something nice for those that serve us during ERT besides the extra hours. Trying to please a group of people that want that extra space in their lap bar, or no trims, isn't exactly that fun to do. They're following protocol, which is for the safety of all involved. As much as I would have liked no trims before the pretzil on Magnum, they're there for a reason, and if they need to be on, then they're on. If they don't need to be on, they're off.

And just because they were on doesn't ruin the ERT. The ride is still a blast... and that can be verified in the fact that Magnum was the ONLY ride I went on during night ERT.

Oh, and I almost forgot to thank the food services crew for providing us with our meal. I was surprised at how much there was to choose from, and it was still nice to see they went above and beyond just preparing the 'main course.' And they even came around to clear off things as we finished them, which helped me keep eating my ice cream, as I didn't have to focus on keeping things from blowing away while I stuffed my face since I hadn't eaten yet at all that day.

The whole day was great. And when I go in to work on Monday and receive a write-up for missing a mandatory meeting, I will smile right at them and tell them that it's well worth it.

As I said on the Magnum at midnight, riding it for maybe the 13th time, "I've died and gone to heaven." I didn't want to get off the thing. If I were given the chance, I'd ride that, or Millennium Force, for days. Wish I could do that... heck, make it into a charity event. But since I'll never get that lucky...

... oh how I miss it already.

End edit.]

------------------
18 straight years of real thrills and counting...
*** This post was edited by TekGuy 6/8/2003 1:20:13 AM ***

first off I don't post very often but it really gets under my skin the way people pick at every wrong thing Cp does. I came all the way from Atlanta, got 3 hours of sleep the night before the event and being so tired I still had the best time ever. Cedar Point should be proud that they did such a great job with such a big event. I know some people got angry because TTD wasn't open but it's not CPs fault. They went for the world record and everyone knows that when you go for something that big that some problems will come up. All the ERTs were great! Yes even DT. :) I want to think CP for such a great day. I will be there again next year.

Vince79- if 18 hours is too long for you,go take a nap.Many CMers take a break during the day. It's not like you are required to stay in the park all day. To many of us, CM has become more than just a day to ride coasters, it's a time to get together with friends and have a wonderful day, be it on coasters, spin-n-pukes, or just walking around.
I don't go expecting to get lots of rides on the coasters and I have learned that you don't expect a new coaster to be running perfectly for CM. If it's up and running-Hey special treat! WT was down last year, MF was down some in 2000. No big deal. Get over it for life goes on

The only thing I think CP should do for Coastermania is this. Open all the coasters for ERT! CP is the "Roller Coaster Capital of the World" right? Well then their coaster event should be just that, an "event". Opening all the coasters would spread out the crowds with even the largest crowds.

------------------
tambo

Solution:

No more enthusiast events.

Vince79 said:

The park needs to crack down on who it honors as an enthusiast organization. To lower the CM attendance they should only honor the traditional clubs such as ACE, GOCC, ECC, ect. Today, the park is recognizing online website clubs, and this is were I believe the non-enthusiasts are comming from.

How can you say someone is a non-enthusiast because he is a member of a website club? What do you consider an enthusiast? The Coasterbuzz club I belong to is every bit as legitimate as ACE, GOCC, etc. in my book. It meets my needs better than ACE, that's why I joined it. Not only that, but there is much less of an "enthusiass" factor in that club, which is a definite bonus.

------------------
Florida may have Disney World and Key West,
but Ohio has Cedar Point and Put-In-Bay.
It's great to live in Ohio!

More
1 of 2
2

You must be logged in to post