Focus of 2017?

I know people hate seeing threads about speculating what the park's plans are for years ahead (but technically it is only 1 year away!), I was just wondering what or where anyone thought the park will focus on in 2017. We have a big year in 2016 with another new coaster, so I'm thinking for sure another coaster is out of the picture until at least 2020.

With that being said, I have noticed many of the other Cedar Fair parks have significantly updated their water parks. I feel like 2017 will definitely be a year where the Cedar Point updates Soak City. Most likely removing challenge park, this will provide more space to build additional water attractions. I believe if Soak City is updated with newer and better water attractions (a water coaster?), the water attractions inside the actual park (Snake River Falls, The beloved Shoot The Rapids, and Thunder Canyon) won't be necessary. Seeing as though all these water rides are in the same general area, perhaps they can remove those and focus on new attraction(s) in that area in the coming years.

What are your thoughts? Where or what should CP focus on for 2017? In my opinion, Soak City/Challenge park is the biggest area that needs updating.

2017: Be profitable

CoasterGuy15 said:

... the water attractions inside the actual park (Snake River Falls, The beloved Shoot The Rapids, and Thunder Canyon) won't be necessary.

Why not? I enjoy a ride on a flume or rapids ride, but I don't enjoy water parks. Water attractions in the ride park are a nice part of the overall ride package.

Yeah, I don't understand that logic. Considering the large population of guests only visiting the park once a year for the day, and don't even step foot inside Soak City.

By the logic of removing water rides in the park due to a larger soak city, there would be nearly no water rides in cedar fair parks... Kings Island wouldn't have any of their 3 water rides, Carowinds wouldn't have any of theirs. Yet they're all still there.

I could honestly see Soak City not being around come 2020, or shortly after. Soak City is honestly in pretty rough shape and needs a lot of work to bring it back to a quality water park. I'd say they could easily sink $10M+, maybe more, into it to bring it back to life. Sandusky is a poor market for an outdoor water park, the operating season is so short. And, I've never seen Soak City that busy. Geauga Lake/WWK is in better shape, is a far more enjoyable water park, and actually draws in crowds. I could see Cedar Point eventually eliminating Soak City and Challenge Park altogether in favor of expanding the park. I feel they'd get a better return on investment from putting $10M-$20M into expanding the park. Not sure if I'm crazy, or if Soak City is actually worth keeping around.

I think you are way off base. Soak City is the 20th most popular water park in the U.S. with an attendance of about 375,000 guests according to the Themed Entertainment Association. WWK is smaller with fewer attractions and doesn't make the top 20 list. Soak City isn't going anywhere and I can see it being expanded.

The thing I could see disappearing in the future is Challenge Park. I wonder what the profitability of it has been in recent years.

Does anyone think they'll get an early start on it by eliminating the Go-carts? I would hate to see it go, but understand If it's not profiting, time to get rid of it.

Just fix the damn mini golf course. It's hacked up to make one usable ADA compliant course, and it looks terrible.

^only half of that course was even ADA accessible. If we got some in a wheelchair or whatever, and they wanted to do 16 holes, they had to do the first 8 holes twice.

That was my point.

I can remember the original miniature golf course in the Planet Snoopy area.

That was actually the second mini golf course. The first one was located where the trucks in Kiddie Kingdom are now.

Soak City is a length of stay play for the resorts. Many people probably stay an extra day because it's there and just that alone makes it worth having. I do agree Soak City is not up to Cedar Point standards and could stand some upgrades.

If I were a betting man, I'd go with a dark ride and some sort of Soak City upgrade for 2017.

MichaelB said:

I could honestly see Soak City not being around come 2020, or shortly after. Soak City is honestly in pretty rough shape and needs a lot of work to bring it back to a quality water park. I'd say they could easily sink $10M+, maybe more, into it to bring it back to life. Sandusky is a poor market for an outdoor water park, the operating season is so short. And, I've never seen Soak City that busy. Geauga Lake/WWK is in better shape, is a far more enjoyable water park, and actually draws in crowds. I could see Cedar Point eventually eliminating Soak City and Challenge Park altogether in favor of expanding the park. I feel they'd get a better return on investment from putting $10M-$20M into expanding the park. Not sure if I'm crazy, or if Soak City is actually worth keeping around.

Why I would second the notion of getting rid of Soak City, (Just not a fan of water parks... eww) SC is pretty popular. Maybe if they added a watercoaster (like Divertical) it would make me like the concept.

Yea, they really need another STR to worry about. ;)

I have a strong feeling that 2017 will have a focus on Soak City. Mini golf and the go karts will be removed. Once Dinos Alive contract is up, I believe they will utilize Millennium Island for an up charge attraction as well.

Can someone answer why the Go-carts aren't popular anymore? Do people find them boring now and days?