Geauga Lake 8/27 (CP Appreciation Days)

First timer’s trip report, Geauga Lake during Cedar Point Appreciation Days 8/27/06

We arrived at the park around 10:00. Parked by the water park entrance so that we would have easy access to the car for when we wanted to change into swim gear. The lot was practically empty- maybe 30 cars. We walked to the ticket booths, and were greeted with giant signs instructing the Cedar Point season pass holders and their friends to come to a certain booth…where there was no attendant. After inquiring at the other ticket booth about our tickets, we were told that the person who knew about the CP appreciation days protocol was not there yet, and she didn’t know when they would arrive. We would have to wait.

After 15 minutes or so, the person with the CP season pass ticket authority arrived, and we were given our tickets. This was my first time at GL, so I was pretty excited. We walked through the water park which wasn’t open yet, and it looked great. Not a lot of slides, but everything was colorful, and the areas were nicely themed with tropical netting and the like. It looked a lot better than CP’s Soak City.

After crossing the floating bridge to the ride section, we started wandering around. I didn’t record our step-by-step progress, so I will just go over the highlights of the day.

The park was not crowded at all! Our first ride of the day was Dominator, and the station was empty, except for the line for the front row. We waited two trains for front, and the four of us got on. I REALLY enjoyed the ride. It was my first floorless, and I thought it was quite fun. Not as good as Raptor, but definitely a lot better than Mantis. It really felt open and free. Dominator was my favorite coaster ride of the day.

Thunderhawk was down in the morning, so we rode it later in the afternoon. We rode last train, and it was okay. I thought it was a little rough, and that the transitions were a little too fast and knocked my head around, but maybe that was from riding in the back. Usually I like to ride in the front.

We also rode the Villain, which was absolutely terrifying for me. It was the roughest, most uncomfortable ride I have ever been on. I literally thought the train was going to rip off of the track. There were times when it felt like there was at least a couple inches of room between the bottom wheels and the track…it was just terrifying. Mean Streak felt like Millennium Force compared to the Villain. I did not care for this ride at all.

X-Flight was down in the morning, but opened at some point in the afternoon. I had never been on a flyer before, and really did not care for the sensation at all. The pressure of the restraint on my stomach really made me feel like I was going to lose my lunch. It was an okay ride, but I probably wouldn’t ride it again. We waited the longest for this coaster, probably close to 45 minutes. They were only running one train, and it was probably six minutes between dispatches. It took forever to get on, and when we did, the ride-ops were not exactly friendly or helpful. They had the front row roped off as well, so that did not help capacity.

The other people in my group also rode Head Spin, but I sat out, since Corkscrew usually gives me a headache from the head banging, so I didn’t really think that this ride would be that much smoother. Everyone else said it was fun though, and they really enjoyed not knowing exactly when the train was going to be released.

I had read on here that Raging Wolf Bobs is really good since being retracked, so we went on that on our way over to the water park. After the Villain, some people in our group were a little apprehensive about riding, but we all did, and I thought it was a lot of fun. A LOT smoother than the Villain, and a lot of sharp turns and dips.

We also rode the 4D Dinosaur motion simulator ride, which was a lot of fun. The only other place I have been on one of those was Orlando, so it was kind of neat. The 3D robot movie was neat too. Being sprayed with the water was surprising.

The water park area was fun. We went around Riptide Run a few times, tried Liquid Lightning, and then sat in the area with the foam turtles and snake for awhile. It was raining/misting off and on all day, so we decided to leave a little early. Overall, it was a good day.

Some general impressions of the park:

It was really weird to see how little the queue lines were compared to Cedar Point. Some coasters did not even have the “back and forth” parts with the silver rails, just a path with wooden hand rails that led to the ride.

The workers in general did not look like they were having very much fun. Some looked downright irritated when a guest would come up to a ride. At least at Cedar Point, they pretend to be happy.

The layout of the park was kind of confusing, with lots of nooks and crannies. Also, one of the eateries listed on the park map was nowhere to be found. We asked an employee, and they were baffled. Lesson learned: there is no hot dog stand near Texas Twister, despite what the park map says.

I probably would not go back, unless someone else really wanted to go. I really prefer the atmosphere of Cedar Point. Or, maybe I am just a lot more comfortable with Cedar Point since I know where everything is, and I can spend more time enjoying myself and less time figuring out how to get places.

Well, that concludes my first trip report, hope you all enjoyed it.

Excellent trip report. I swear I'm going to get to Geauga Lake one of these days, I just don't know when yet.

Hey what day did you go? I went on Sunday and it was a perfect day, it drizzled when we were in the Waterpark but thats fine because we were already wet. But there was no lines for everything, got walk-ons for X-Flight and same with every other ride to besides the water rides. It said it was supposed to rain all day that day but we went anyways because of getting in for free and we only live 30 Min. away. It was a fine trip.

Ohh nevermind I didn't see the 8/27/06.

We must have caught X-flight at a bad time, because we waited FOREVER. Not worth it at all. We waited longer for X-flight than we did for front seat Millennium Force yesterday.

Did you get a chance to ride Big Dipper?

No, and now that I am reading about it's historical significance, I wish I would have. :(

You should've. Its a really good coaster. Very smooth for its age.

I was there on saturday. Here's a quickie.

Dominitor-great ride, love the speed turn after loop 1. 5 minute wait.

Villian- 1 car operation. hardly a line, but the only 2 ride ops didnt care how slow they were loading. 20 minutes starting in the station. Don't care though because this ride still kicks butt....very rough at the bottom of the first hill.....this ride just owns you from start to finish.

Xflight- One car operation- other train was being worked on- 35 minute wait and boring. I like this ride a lot though... the loop is unlike anything and is a total trip.....great ride and a gem for our neck of the woods

Water Park

I went last year and didnt really like it---it was a packed day though---I went this year and I loved it. their adventure river is more fun than soak citys--I think that their tree tower play area is bigger and taller too. I blasted a lot of people a little kids:great anger management. The wave pool is a fantastic addition to that place and helps eat up some of the crowd

laura2000, cheer up. Now you have a reason to go back! :)

I dont know if anyone else noticed in the wave pool they moved the ropes father up so you can't go as far as you could earlier in the year. You used to be able to go aboout 2 feet away from the wall now its like 10 feet. Just wanted to say this and see if anyone else noticed.

I am a CP Season pass holder and go arount 7 times each year. I went to GL on Sunday as well and having been to GL 3 times this year I can tell you, it is exactly what you said as far as knowing your way around helping you feel more comfortable and relaxed. This being my third time, I was able to move around easily (for the most part, there are still a few non-cf walkways, etc)

Go back, it will get better every time. Just dont ride Villain, and you also missed out on Steel Venom and the Big Dipper!

Yeah, I think I might get that Maxx Pass thing I read about, so that I can go to all the CF parks. If there is just an additional charge upagrade thing for GL like this year, I probably won't buy it though. It was a fun little park, but I liked it mostly for the water park and Dominator. MiA is alot closer to me, and the water park area is bigger, so I go there usually.