Fort Sandusky lookout?

Actually Ralph.. The control board was on ground level, not upstairs.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed Starlight not being as "spectacular" as last year.

No, it's definitely a step down from last year's display. There are whole banks of trees that aren't lit that were in 2009. I'm a bit disappointed, but I can't say I'm surprised.

So much for our wishes for it to expand throughout the park.

That's not the Cedar Fair we've come to know and love...

There's at least one other Cedar Fair park that sees the potential in a nighttime light show. Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular at Knott's Berry Farm is much more imaginative than Cedar Point's Starlight Experience. Granted there was a learning curve with SE being first but Knott's really took the idea and ran with it.

The entire show is synchronized to the musical score much like a Disney parade where there is an overarching piece of music with different counter-melodies and harmonies that fade in and out as you move through the various themed areas. It's a really clever effect that adds tremendously to the experience, so it's kind of like a nighttime parade that stands still while you walk by it at your own pace. So as you move from a scene of Lucy's dream of being a Hollywood star to camping with Snoopy (much of the show is in Camp Snoopy at Knott's) the music will shift appropriately and so on as you move to from scene to scene.

There are other little effects like the LEDs that can act as a video screen scrolling various Peanuts images across the trees and buildings. In the camping scene, just off in the bushes, there are little tent in a circle that are glowing from the inside as if Woodstock and his friends are out camping. Just outside you see the shadow silhouette of Snoopy telling ghost stories as little ghosts appear and disappear. In the Sally scene there's an oversized cell phone that "dials" the Peanuts theme as the buttons light up in time with the music. Loads of little details and neat ideas throughout.

Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular is really well done to be the point that it's hard to believe it is the same chain of parks. Perhaps they have more available talent for this sort of thing in Southern California. Hopefully someday some of that will rub off on Cedar Point's Starlight Experience.

Does anybody else wish they would use the lake and have a sweet night time show? Something Disney would do, but on a CP budget. Hot Summer Lights blows.

^I was thinking a water show of some sort on or close to the lake. Of course it wouldn't be like Disney's "World of Color", but they could totally do something to attract people to that area + stick with a water theme.

When the Laser Show was introduced in 1995, it was really awesome technology. Hot Summer Lights was a revamp to the 1995 show in 2006. It does have some really cool effects. However, it really is one of the most random night time productions I have seen (Kennywood having the most random and possibly worst night time show). One moment HSL is showing an american flag and the next minute we hear Camp Pop or High School Musical.

I found a great video of Hot Summer Lights. Here is a link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zZEmOBSfQU

Lance is very happily working for a park company in Orlando and really appreciated all your posts about his work here.

Ohh by the way Lance, since it's after midnight. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

That's great to hear that Lance is doing well and that he has been able to hear his work is appreciated.

Red Garter Rob said:
Actually Ralph.. The control board was on ground level, not upstairs.

Doh. Shows how much attention I paid when I was over there.

Lance was a great guy.

I had the chance to speak with him a few times.

I'd assume he still is a great guy. ;)

TimChat2 said:
There are other little effects like the LEDs that can act as a video screen scrolling various Peanuts images across the trees and buildings.

I believe that the lights covering the roof of the FT tunnel under MF are set up this way, although it hasn't been utilized this way yet.

^They are.

I've noticed the FT tunnel lights (I think the display LEDs are also on the chimney of the Glass Blower Shop), although I've only ever seen them scroll through colors and basic shapes. At Knott's they actually form the Peanuts characters and other animation. It's the same equipment at both parks but only one of them fully utilizes what the lights are capable of. For whatever reason Cedar Point doesn't want to "plus" their version this way.

TimChat2 said:
I've noticed the FT tunnel lights (I think the display LEDs are also on the chimney of the Glass Blower Shop), although I've only ever seen them scroll through colors and basic shapes. At Knott's they actually form the Peanuts characters and other animation. It's the same equipment at both parks but only one of them fully utilizes what the lights are capable of. For whatever reason Cedar Point doesn't want to "plus" their version this way.

I know that, unless you have an image converter, the programing of such effects is quite tedious. I remember hearing that the Display Matrix properties would be used during HalloWeekends, but I never saw it happen last season.

I'd imagine there is a fair amount of effort to program the LEDs. In Knott's case they felt it was worth the extra effort for the sake of a better overall show, whereas Cedar Point went for what was adequate or "good enough" for their show. The Starlight Experience is still neat for what it is despite some lack of upkeep, they've just chosen to have a show that's merely good instead of great.

I know that, unless you have an image converter, the programing of such effects is quite tedious. I remember hearing that the Display Matrix properties would be used during HalloWeekends, but I never saw it happen last season.

Image converter programs are very cheap. I have seen them free, to $50 as seen here....

http://www.google.com/search?q=image+converter&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7ADFA_en

The trick is trying to find someone that knows how to use them.

djDaemon said:
I'd assume he still is a great guy. ;)

Smart ass! Stop making sense all the time! ;)