Giant Wheel Center Piece

Forgive me if this has been talked about previously, but I didn't find any similar topics during a search.

I really miss the former location of Giant Wheel. Millennium Force is absolutely amazing, but Giant Wheel did make a great center piece to the park (although this may rise some controversy as to the actual loaction of the center of CP). The way the train wrapped around the ride really set it off: http://www.virtualmidway.com/popup/ridepopup600.asp?image=giantwheel1.jpg&title=Giant%20Wheel

This really got defaced in 1995 with the installation of the laser show screen (if standing in front of the screen).

Today, Giant Wheel still has a charming appearence on the Oceana Midway. What do all of you think?

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http://www.youngstown2010.com

.. is it opening day yet??

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June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
VertiGo Rides - 82

Wow, I remember a scene like that. Personally I loved walking up that midway with the Giant Wheel there. It looked much more taller and more impressive there.

Of course now it has Wicked Twister behind it so it looks a lot smaller. I can only imagine if they had kept it in the former location and designed Millennium around it. Then the Wheel would probably look a little more smaller than it does now. It's amazing what perspective can do.

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- Chris -
Monster/WW ATL 02
Monster WW TL 03
Antiques/Swings TL 04
*** This post was edited by Flisk 3/30/2004 8:13:21 AM ***

The first time I rode Giant Wheel on the beach, all I thought was, "Giant Wheel is home where it should be."

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

I never saw the wheel in its' former location and I really couldn't imagine it anywhere else. (and believe me, I have imagined it being in a lot of places) It seems like it belongs there more than anywhere else in the park. Kinda gives that area of the park some life and with the placement of WT next to it, it just totally works.

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This ain't no book you you can close, when the big light hits your eyes. Cropduster-Riot Act-Pearl Jam

Yes, it proabably wouldn't look right with MF near by. Just a lot smaller, not as noticable, and congested. It still looks good even at the current location. Change is always good. :) Hard to believe it's been four years already.

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http://www.youngstown2010.com

I prefer it where it was by the train station....I'm not a huge fan of ferris wheels but have gone on the Big Wheel a couple times just because it was there as we walked through, now its kinda outta the way and I don't even notice it anymore. It's too bad because it gave a nice view of the park from where it was.

I like it on the beach. You can get some great views being right off the water and next to WT.

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2003 Season Visits: 42 Dragster: 27 Rollbacks:0

I never saw that view while at the park. By the time I knew enough to pay attention to the rides in the park, they had installed the laser ligth show screen. It really looks cool in that picture. The thing that struck me in that picture is the larger trees that were once in that area that are now gone.

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Everything that has a beginning has an end.

The Matrix Revolutions

I agree with kylepark. I preferred the old location of the Giant Wheel. It looked more dramatic there...maybe because Wicked Twister is so tall, that it minimizes the wheel now. But, hey, we got MF out of it, so it's worth the relocation in my book.

I just wish that instead of WT, that we would have got a classic boardwalk wooden coaster...that would have looked nice next to the wheel...more of a boardwalk theme. To me, WT was a waste with TTD coming the next year.

The Giant Wheel is placed perfectly, the area looks wonderful, and at night, when everything is lit up, it's quite nice to look at. It's a great spot to get a nice, 'quiet' view of the park, you can see a lot, and it's a unique view of the lake. I like it where it is!

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"Hmm. . .we don't have anything like that. . .but I can give you this comment card."

Plus, it's by Kiddy Kingdom, and that works well with the parents with youngins. ;)

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"Hmm. . .we don't have anything like that. . .but I can give you this comment card."

I remember distinctly the Giant Wheel in it's old location, before I liked roller coasters and heights and it just seemed HUGE! It was a great center piece for the park... but all good things must come to an end. Plus, Lance is totally right... the new location of the Giant Wheel is perfect. It's a pretty relaxing midway, very kid and family oriented w/Disaster Transport and Kiddie Kingdom, and of course Troika and Chaos. At night it's beautiful all lit up (if only they could replace all those dead bulbs I'd be happy) and the beach is not a bad worksite at all.

But, I do have a biased opinion... :)

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2003 - Giant Wheel Triangle
2004 - Giant Wheel TL

This is only speculation, and I am looking into a crystal ball here. If CP would make some kind of Boardwalk on the beach with some restaurants/ bars/ nightlife in the future, having the wheel where it is at is perfect. The wheel could be the centerpiece of a "boardwalk".

Also, CP moved the wheel for one of the best coasters ever, not some chump ride.

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Beer and golf Thursday thru Monday, Cedar Point & beer, Tuesday and Wednesday.

I think the wheel looks nice right where it is. It would look even nicer if there wasn't a big ugly box to the right of it.

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AKA Cobraroller on Cbuzz

We old timers have to speak up now and then, I guess. I miss the former location--the trees, the lagoon with the Western Cruise nearby (of course), and the view of the "back side" of the wheel at night when you came out of (the then larger) Frontier Trail.

The laser screen has got to go--I've said this every year. Personally, I think it's ugly, and the very attractive train station is hidden behind it.

Just my 2 cents. The new Wheel location is nice, too. It would be even better if they could somehow get lights on the beach side, too.
*** This post was edited by Western Cruiser 3/30/2004 9:06:07 PM ***

Picture a huge screen like CP's Laser Show right in front of the Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom. That's what it seemed like to me when that great view of the Giant Wheel was taken away from the former "Million Dollar Midway."

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http://www.youngstown2010.com

When it was purchased the Giant Wheel (also referred to as the Giant German Lemon by maintenance) was to be the big attraction for the Centenial in 1970. The story goes that George Roose forgot that the spectaculars required two years lead time. Ergo it was delivered in the spring of 1972 instead of 1970. The location was made for it by filling in part of the Lagoon and relocating part of the CP&LE.(The track originally ran up to where the Marina gate was.) It was the centerpiece of the park for a few years, being the second highest structure there. With the big expansinon push of the mid 1970's the sight lines to the Wheel were forever altered. It was weird not seeing it in the ususal place, but there is much less "clutter" around it now.

I just wish that when they re-did the lights on the wheel, they had duplicated the original, curved pattern instead of using only straight elements.

See, it used to be like the upper photos on this page while now it is more like the photo at the bottom of the page.

Better yet, this photo from Virtual Midway is actually Cedar Point's wheel, rather than one like it, with the old light scheme. :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I forgot, how many light bulbs are replaced on a weekly basis?

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http://www.youngstown2010.com