Europa-Park starts its “Magical Winter Weeks”, Why not CP or another CF Park?

I think they'd need to have some huge light show or something to draw people in. Sorta like Oglebay has. That could be really cool if they decorated all the rides with lights and stuff. Granted, I don't think the expense that would take would ever be seen in winter admission costs, but it would be a cool idea. Its a given that the coasters wouldn't be open in December, so I wonder if they could come up with enough other activities to make something like that possible?

Could the flats run in colder conditions though? How about DT? Maybe a 3D movie in the theater?

I think there would be plenty of indoor or possibly less fast rides that could be operated around the 50 degree mark.

This sort of idea could only appeal to the truly hard core fans of Cedar Point. For most of the general public, there are plenty of other things to do. Up here in Traverse City for example, the whole downtown area is transformed into a really nice Christmas wonderland...it's nice to just take a walk through there...

Cedar Point, as stated before, has a short offseason in comparison to the amount of work needed to prep for seasonal operation. This kind of event would only slow that process down even more.

Clearly, there are ways to get a Holiday Fest done right in this climate. See: The original Kings Island winterfest, which my parents weren't advised not to go into by the park employees because it was way overcrowded.

Granted last year was an exceptionally cold winter for us, which kept me and most of my friends from going.

It's not like they would have to open the entire park

I went to an audition at CP during the winter months...I nearly froze my &*@#! off. It would be fun for CP to have a winter season...but I think attendance would be really low.

They wouldn't have to have a whole lot open to attract enough folks to make money.

Start with a drive through light display, a la Oglebay as Tim suggested. This could be done along Perimeter Road (or at least when the route isn't torn up all winter for Maverick). Then open up just the main midway and the side spurs to WT and DT. Snoopy Playground could be turned into an outdoor Santa wonderland. A few holiday-themed characters wandering the park would add some cheer. Maybe a few rides that would be amenable to this type of thing...definitely Disaster Transport (can you imagine the inside decorated for Christmas? break out those 3-D glasses again!) Probably the Space Spiral if the motors could take the cold. I would say the Giant Wheel, but I don't think anybody would be that much of a masochist. Open a shop or two, or as Loopy said the theater, and maybe the buffet.

All of this would be better if they could erect some strategically placed windbreaks, maybe even run some heat to some buildings. That might be too cost prohibitive. Still, I think it has possibilities. Especially if global warming produces less frigid winters for the Great Lakes, as some models are projecting.

I think a heated Space Spiral cabin would make for a wonderful attraction. If they had a decent amount of lights around Perimeter Road, the view from the top would be quite amazing.

*** Edited 12/19/2006 1:45:02 AM UTC by TopThrill420120***

I guarantee you that if they thought they could make a buck and felt it was worth the aggravation, they would do it.

The full time staff at Cedar Point is abused as it is with the demanding schedule. Then, lest we forget the recruiting they do in the offseason. Give those folks a break for crying out loud.

Ya'll are nuts for wanting to be on that peninsula in the winter. Freaking nuts.

Okay, I admit I'm nuts.

That being said, if CP's full time staff is so abused, I truly pity the staff at parks that are open year round. Imagine how much worse that must be.

It's not the same thing. Year-round parks have a year-round staff to match.

Year-round park staff members get "weekends", or at least two consecutive days off during the year. They also get traditional vacations and are rarely limited as to when they can and cannot take them.

Seasonal parks...or at least Cedar Fair seasonal parks...work their full time staff a minimum of 6 days/week during the season which now runs 120+ days. And, most of the full time staff is relegated to taking vacations between November and March.

Are they abused? No. Are they taken advantage of? I would say yes. And, being a full time employee doesn't mean the same now as it did 15+ years ago. There used to be an "off-season". That "off" time has shrunk dramatically and I can almost assure you that salaries did not go up in proportion to the additional work. In fact, recruiting used to be a cakewalk. They used to have thousand of applications vying for hundreds of jobs and it is almost the opposite now. So much so that they have to travel around the world to recruit help.

I am of the opinion that Kinzel failed miserably when it came to employee development. The condition of the dorms, the long time period without a recreation center, the stagnant bonus program, etc. As visionary as he is in "things" he is the polar opposite when it comes to "people".

Likeable? Sure. Friendly? No doubt. But if he used half his vision on human resources as he has on rides and so forth the amusement industry would have been left standing in awe. And again, he has plenty of folks down on the ladder who have wonderful ideas about employee development...and those ideas are largely unwelcome. Admittedly, I haven't been on the inside in a while but I still see Cedars and Gold dorms "housing" staff, a ton of foreign workers who accept the wage, no change in the bonus program, etc.
*** Edited 12/19/2006 9:19:14 PM UTC by Chief Wahoo***

I hear ya! A person very close to me is going through the same! Time to form a Union I think! Oh no costs, skyrocketing costs! What about human dignity and getting a decent living wage for a hard day of work? I feel guilty about enjoying my cheap season pass at the expense of all the under paid CP workers. I'm sorry about this.

If they would pay you guys a decent wage and it was a win-win for all parties, I would truly enjoy a winterfest at CP. :) Otherwise, enjoy your off season CP employees!

Guess I learned something new. Love it when that happens. :)