ERT on Top Thrill Crapchute

So I took the day off work today to go to CP for a fun day including Platinum Pass holders ERT on Dragster. I got to the park with my friend around 12:30 and walked onto 2-1 of Magnum. After that we went to see the birthday girl Gemini and rode in the back seat on the red side and lost the race but had a good ride. We went over to Maverick and waited an hour for the front and had a great ride. Next we went to Mean Streak and had a good ride in the second seat with a few minute wait. Next time I ride I'd like to go in the back. After that we went to Skyhawk and waited one cycle and had a good ride.

We took a quick ride on Wave Swinger and headed up to Millennium Force, but not before grabbing some frozen custard at the Engine Company 3 Custard stand. My first custard of the season was very tasty. At Millennium we waited an hour to get to the station and opted to wait the extra time to ride in the front seat because it had been a while for both of us. After an hour and a half total we got on and had a great ride. After that we stopped by and grabbed a quick walk on to Iron Dragon and then headed back to Skyscraper. On the way we stopped at Corkscrew but it broke down as we were about to board.

We went and rode Skyscraper around 6. I had rode it once a few weeks ago solo because another friend of mine chickened out. This time I rode with my friend and the ride is much better with two people because the added weight really gets the car spinning. Skyscraper is an excellent ride, a nice addition to Challenge Park. After our ride we sat in the car for a bit and drank some Redbull to get us through the rest of the evening.

Getting back into the park we wanted to grab some dinner but first we chose to ride maXair. We waited once cycle and had a good long lasting ride. After that we went to Johnny Rockets. This was our first time eating there. I had a burger. The burger was much better that burgers I've had at Coasters in past seasons. I must say though, you guys in the US with your tomato problems need to get that worked out. My burger wasn't the same without a nice slice of tomato and neither was my chicken sandwich at McDonalds after the park.

After Johnny Rocket's we went over to Blue Streak which broke down right as we were about to board. We got out of line and went and rode Turnpike Cars. When we got off we noticed Blue Streak was back up and running so we went back. Again as we were about to board it broke down. I will say though the Blue Streak crew is probably the most unprofessional crew I've ever seen. The first time we tried to ride as soon as the ride went down one op went to the train waiting outside the station to talk to them. As he started walking to them an op in the station started screaming, and I mean screaming at him because she wanted someone to go change the sign at the entrance. When we went to ride the second time the same two ops got in an arguement and the female started screaming again. Probably the most unprofessional thing I've ever seen any employees do at the park. As we left Blue Streak I noticed that the old Pirate Ride building was closed off and there was a dumpster out front, it looks like some old decor from the ride has been torn off the walls, I wonder what's going on there.

We went and rode Disaster Transport after that and waited about 10 minutes. After a good ride inside I saw Blue Streak again so I gave it one more chance. I finally boarded the train in the back and had a great ride. After that we started to head back towards the back of the park. We took another ride on Magnum in the back car, which was a walk on. Next we went back to Maverick for another ride. We got in line at 9:45 and boarded the train at 10:15. After that we headed up to Dragster for some quality ERT.

Getting in line I was very surprised to see that the line for ERT was longer than I'd seen it on my previous two visits to the park. When we finally got into the back station we decided to wait for the front. When we were two trains away from riding the ride went down. Maintenance was on the scene right away and got to work. After half an hour they launched one train, and the the ride went down again. It was around 11:40 and Tony announced that the ride would unfortunately not reopen and that the ERT would be rescheduled for the same time next Tuesday. They was some cheering but there was booing too (from me mainly). Next Tuesday I will be working, as I do every Tuesday. I took today off specially for this ERT. I left the park pretty disappointed. We held off riding TTD all day because of ERT. Oh well, what can you do. The rest of the day was great and now it's time for bed because I work in six hours. It was good to see you Mark and Adam, hope you had a good drive home.

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**Edited to add pictures of Pirate Ride area.

Sounds like you had a great time! :) How does MF differ from riding it in the middle, to the fronte seat? One time I rode Magnum fronte seat, and all of the wind in my face made me feel a bit sick. I would really like to ride MF fronte seat, but I do not want the same thing to happen. Is it a lot different from riding it anywhere else on the train?

You can't beat the front. Having the full view of the track on the first drop and having the wind in your face is a feeling like no other. The only other thing that beats Millennium in the front would be Dragster. But if the wind in the front of Magnum made you sick then you may want to steer clear of the front seat on MF.

Nice to see you too Vince. At least you were there for most of the day and got other rides in.

I came up after work, got to the park around 6:30, so only managed a ride on MF, and a couple on Magnum. I'm glad we got in line for Dragster before the park closed. Managed to get one ride in then, and one during ERT, then it went down.

I was really surprised by the huge turnout though.

I have noticed TTD is not exactly running at its best this year.

TTD has a good chance of breaking down while in line it. If not breaking down all day.

In the interest of ride time though I am one of the people who always hit up the front 2-3 rows. Front row riders get all the bugs at night, and you wait sometimes up to 30 minutes.

In fact we've been able to get on TTD and run from exit to onramps and load and see the same people in the front row line even.

I've ridden in MF front seat, and yeah talk about an unbelievable ride. First drop takes the cake on that, and with the wind in your face.

The last time I was at the park we ate at Coaster Dinner In, and for the price the burger wasn't that great.

To me the beat seat (besides the front or back) is dead middle, 5-1 the floating feeling you get is just unbelievable. You put your arms out in front of you going over the 3rd hill, and they just float. :)

Dude screw park food. Go to TGI Fridays and have yourself cheeseburger and fries with unlimited refills on drinks (non-alcoholic) for $9.59 + 2.59 for a drink. Yes you have to tip, but you also get the beach, sit down quiet time away from the park. We sit outside and just love it.

Will there be an official announcement of the reschedule? We will luck out if that is how it works because that is the week of our trip (and we were not going to get an ERT night orginally).

Just came out in an email:

Due to a delay during last night's Top Thrill Dragster Ride Night for Platinum Passholders, we have rescheduled another Ride Night at Top Thrill Dragster for Tuesday, June 24. We'll open the ride shortly after park closing and ride time will last for one hour. You must present your Platinum Pass for entry. We apologize for any inconvenience last night's delay may have caused.

Thanks!!! (Just checked and I got the email too.)

WOO-HOO!!

I'm a little disappointed how they handled it. I planned this trip as soon as the ERT's were announced. There's no way I can get back up there next Tuesday. I know all other rides were already shut down when TTD went down, but couldn't they have given us morning ERT on TTD today? I'm sure 80% of the people that showed won't be back for ERT next week. But I bet alot of people that were there last night went back today. IMO, they should have offered us ERT this morning on TTD for Platinum Pass holders, and possibly reschedule like they did. I'm not mad or bitter, just disappointed.

Morning ERT would not draw nearly the crowd as the evening ERT did. People, like me for instance, came to the park, and drove home that night. I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to ride TTD more, but things like this happen. The park could not control or predict that the ride would go down, and I think it is great of them that they are rescheduling it at all. I also won't be able to go back next week for the rescheduled time, as the drive from South Bend is starting to get to me ;) However, I'm just glad I was able to get one more ride than the general public was. That's a perk if you ask me.

As season passholders, enthusiasts, and fanboys alike, I think we all need to remember that a perk is above and beyond what a regular guest is given. I will admit that there have been times I have grumbled when an event, or ERT doesn't go as I had hoped, but I try to be quick to remember that the park has no obligation to do these things at all, and we really should think twice before ranting and raving about it.

I'm Josh M. and I approve this message...

Not to mention that while the day ended poorly, it was otherwise a fantastic day at Cedar Point. The longest I waited for was Maverick for an hour, and MF and TTD had 45 min waits. Everything else was <30 min and the weather couldnt have been better either. I dont blame the park, except for their choice in 2000ish to buy that POS ride that breaks down all the time ;). I also blame myself for causing this by choosing not to ride it enough during CM because I knew I would be back, next week Ill be half way across the country. Thats ok though, as I said, I had a fantastic day, and there was nothing they could really do to fix the situation.

I still blame Tony. Whether he's in PR still or not, I still blame him for doing such a great job in promoting the ride night. While he gets the praise for promoting it, he has to take the blame for it breaking down too! ;)

Adam, I hope you enjoyed my little note! :)

Guys,

I'm really sorry, but I broke Dragster by simply showing up. I didn't plan on coming and made a last minute decision to go. When I planned to go out to Dragster's ride night last year they ended up moving it over to MF. So I figured if I didn't "plan" on going that Dragster wouldn't notice me around. However, once I got my front seat ride that's when everything went to crap.

Sorry.

~Rob Willi

^It made me laugh that's for sure.:)

Dispite my favorite ride being down for its ERT, some guy getting up in my face over the obnoxious crap that was put on Gemini's banner, a not so great dinner at Game Day Grill, and a near melt down about my stimulus tax, I had a pretty nice day. Being on the first train out on Dragster in front row was the highlight, as was 2 wonderful rides on Skyscraper.

As always, it was great to see the gang again. And next time, I'll make sure to do it live. ;)

Glad you still had a good day! The Skyscraper rides were fantastic...

My avatar is in honor of Mr O'Reilly and our excessive, yet appropriate quoting of the video yesterday...

"What does that mean, to play us out?... Go Go..."

That man has unwittingly brought joy to millions.:)

It was nice to meet some of you that night. It sucks that it broke down though.

I was in Mark and Adam's group. Wearing the coastermania hoodie, for those (which is mainly all of you) who don't know who I am.

For those of you that can go next week, see ya there!

As for the old Pirate ride... there is now a sign (The next day actually) that says "Pardon our mess. New location of Haunted Manor on Boo Hill," so the construction is for Halloweekends.