CP 2010 - Year in Review

Hmmm. Interesting. If that's the case, then why do so many of the rides at KI have turnstiles? Not calling you out, just curious.

As many times as I have been there, I still have not seen the singing dancing guy in MF's line yet. Does he often go there on weekends, or during the week?

BTW, we should have a discussion about what haunted house/walkthrough was the best and worst, for 2010:

Best indoor attraction- Dr. D. Mented's asylum. First, I love anything with asylums/creepy hospitals and such. The acting was awesome and the effects were hilarious! Being a crazy person seemed fun when they jumped out at you, and wore straight jackets.....

Worst indoor one- Eerie estates- Decorations were neat, but too few actors and they never really jumped out and it was too quiet walking through it. There were so many times where you were waiting for someone to come out, and us and other people ended up standing around chatting.

Best walkthrough- Still terror island for me. Nothing beats creepy pirates in the woods on a real island with MF's track being so low above your head! Plus, I loved the bungee dude springing out!

Worst walkthrough- Well, they are all good for what they are, can't decide on this one! :)

I saw the dancing guy there a couple of times during Halloweekends, he is still there, doing his same old routine.

My year in review of Cedar Point comes from a different perspective, as this year, I went to three new (for me) parks in addition to having a platinum pass. My girlfriend and I went to Holiday World; I went with a group to Waldameer, and I met up with some friends at Kennywood.

Honestly, the visits to those park threw CP in a more critical light. Like many of you, I've become accustomed to going hungry in the park, and eating at my car or somewhere else either before or after my visit. But I found that when I went to someplace like Holiday World, I gladly paid for food there because it didn't come with the stinging reminder that I was being bent over. They were reasonable to the point that I would feel bad if I ate at the car or sneaked a bunch of food in, because I felt they were being square with me.

In marked contrast, the quality of food and its prices at CP makes it pretty guilt-free for me to toss snacks in my pockets. It's not that I get some illicit thrill from sneaking food, but it seems a no-brainer in the face of prices that are just insulting.

I had fun at CP this year, but honestly it was all about the rides (and in the fall, the haunts). The overall feeling of the park is kind of stale, and it's just not someplace that I feel is conducive to relaxing and taking it easy. Conversely, when I went to the three smaller parks, I was having fun the moment I parked my car, because there was no 'people gotta eat' mentality that pervaded everything; I felt that the connection between the park and its guests was something into which great effort went. As a result, in addition to hitting all the rides, my visits to those parks were more relaxed, and filled with appreciation of the smaller things the place had to offer.

I know that the small-park model doesn't just easily transfer to a huge place like CP, but there are lessons to be learned, that's for sure. Since I spent the better park of this past decade only going to KI and CP, I was kind of blind to their problems. This summer opened my eyes a bit, and if financially it came down to a choice between a platinum pass or a return visit to Santa Claus, I'll just have to extend my sympathies to Mr. Kinzel and crew.

I have to say jumping in an empty seat is a ballsy move, I'm sure if i tried I would not get away with it. Thought the second or third weekend on halloweekends I was able to ride raptor 5 times with out getting off. They actually told me I could just stay in my seat. It was before the park opened to everyone and all the season pass holders wanted on the front, so I was able to sit in the middle till the line got full... was a great way to start my day :)

Ensign Smith said:
Hmmm. Interesting. If that's the case, then why do so many of the rides at KI have turnstiles? Not calling you out, just curious.

Actually, compared to Cedar Point, there are quite a few rides that don't have turnstiles, specifically coasters. The way I understand it is that some rides rely on turnstiles (ie: KI&MV RR), while others, specifically coasters, rely on the ride cycle minus empty seat method. Vortex, for example, does not have a turnstile. The control panel counts ride cycles and the controls person counts empty seats, which is then used to calculate ridership. I'm fairly certain the same method is used on Beast. At Diamondback, the controls person literally taps a button on the control panel once for each empty seat, which subtracts it from the running total being calculated by the ride. For this reason, re-rides don't matter at these locations, as they will always be counted.

What's the reasoning of one method over the other? Just a matter of preference by the park, I would assume. Having the ridership numbers right in front of you seems a lot more convenient to me than having it at the front of a ride platform, entrance, exit, etc.

Okay, you've just piqued my curiosity. Now I have to wait six months before I can go back to the park and see exactly which rides have turnstiles and which don't. Very interesting. Thanks for the education.

I rather enjoyed this turbulent year. I definitely didn't go as many times as I would have liked due to money issues, but I'm pleased with the year overall. Food obviously still in desperate need of major improvement. And despite a major STR delayed opening, the park really came though in many aspects.
As always, being with good friends is the key highlight to any CP season. There's nothing in this world that I'd trade for this passion and I couldn't ask for better people to hang out with and to know the people here on Pointbuzz(even if not personally). You guys are great peoples. :)
So I'll break my year down with the best and worst moment. And finish with a special message.

Best Moment- Winning the coastermania film fest AND the RockBand Live contest in one day. Not to mention that it was all during Coastermania. That was, by far, the BEST day I've ever had.....ever....period. I cant wait to start next year with a winter tour of the park also courtesy of my epic movie. ;)

Worst Moment- Leaving work at 5 to go to Dragsters Platinum Pass ride night even though my conscience said not to (cause you all know me and Dragster), getting to the park at 8:50 pm, getting in a RIDICULOUSLY long line, getting up to the station, waiting 30 minutes before being escorted to Maverick cause karma apparently saw it funny to shut down Dragster after a fine day of running AND after I drove to the park with no preplanned hotel room.

So after that, I drove to *DISCLOSED* hotel parking lot to have the WORST 3 hours of "sleep" I've ever had, almost getting caught for soliciting. After the night from hades, I ended up getting to the Marina gates at 7:30 (ended up not being necessary). ALL of this just to be among the first riders (after red cross) on STR's opening day.
Was I? Yes! Did I stay at the park after riding 6 times on STR? *%$#@ NO! I drove 2 hrs back home and slept the whole day.

Now on to the special message.

As some....or most of you know, I am Dragster incarnate. My room is (for better use of words) a shrine to my favorite coaster in the world. Well as of recently, I've decided that I'm 21, I'm more mature and the room I created in my early teens needs to change before I move out. It will be getting a major re haul and everything (minus a few sentimental items) will go into storage. I know this is a shock to some of you but it needs to get done. So 2010 will see the departure of the nerdiest coaster bedroom there is. Don't worry though, my fandom will never leave me as a whole. You can always count on me to be "that" guy when it comes to Dragster. :)

Here's to great friends, a great year and a (hopefully) short offseason.

Our little Adam's growing up! *blows nose* ;)

Do you have pictures of this sweet room? I would be interested to see.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs042.snc3/12937_116854...0141_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs042.snc3/12937_116854...5728_n.jpg

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I love how Kings Island doesn't make you get off when nobody is behind you. This summer my friend and I rode Beast 23 times without getting off. I was so sore the next day but it was worth it! It was also at night. :)

This year was a "meh" year for me.

There were a few improvments, but the bad outweighed the good. The crowds this year were a lot bigger also. Then there was the whole shoot the rapids mess.

The starlight walk was a joke as half the lights were burnt out or were not even on. The online blog was axed. The prices in the park are out of control.

The one time I went to get food in the park this year was a joke. I was in the park with a few friends waiting in line for the $5 jhonsonville deal. Well, as soon as I got to the front of the line, they ran out. The worker just then put more on the grill. Good thing they ran out, because the brats my friends got were dried out and burnt. He knew there were only a few left, but did not put more on the grill or tell the 15 or so people in line that they only had 2 left.

So I decided since we were going to ride disaster transport that I would get a cheese on a stick right at the exit of the ride. As soon as I got off the ride, I headed to the cheese on a stick stand only to find it closed. That's where I found the $5.99 sodas on the menu.

Ok....So now I am 0 for 2.

So I get in line at the taffy/ sweet stand by disaster to get a cut up caramal(sp) apple. Stood in line for 15 min only to find out that this location does not sell the apples anymore. THEN WHY IS IT ON THE MENU??? Seriously, how much energy does it take to remove it from the menu if it is no longer sold at this location?

At this point, I just gave up and went to taco bell.

The only "good" things I have seen at the park this year was this....

1. I actually saw an employee enforce the no smoking rule.

2. They re-did U.R.Dade

3. The shoot the rapids area looks really nice.

coolkid said:
I truly don't see a problem with anyone re riding if there is no one waiting. Our group got to re ride 2 weeks ago on CCMR.

I think CP allows rerides now. I had about an hour of rerides on Magnum this year. The let you move to an empty seat if someone was waiting for your seat. I was lucky that the middle of the train was chained off from the queues but they didn't mind that I got in one of those seats to reride. Obviously, no one ever waited for that seat, so I just kept going lap after lap. The ride host had people raise their hands if they were reriding so he could take a count on a hand held clicker device.

^ I have gotten the "we're out of that" or "we dont sell this here anymore" bit many times this year also.

I still think it's kinda cute when a female employee who is about 4 feet tall stands at the window and tells you that, in a sweet little girly voice...... :) They also look so sad and innocent, too.

Also, for UR dade, mental hospitals are better than mortuary schools :)