Going to the park alone

I would love to go to Cedar Point several times this year; the only problem is that nearly all of my friends do not have the same passion for the park. Since I only get to the park a couple of times a year (if I am lucky), I always try to ride as many coasters as I can. My friends like riding a few coasters but they soon get tired and would rather play video games. Personally, I think playing the popular video games at the park is a waste of time because you could play them at the local arcade any day of the year.

I am curious how others handle, or would handle this situation. I would love to go to the park by myself, but it really isn’t cost efficient (1200km return, overnight accommodations) and I think I would be lonely and a bit bored not talking with anyone else.

I’ve read about other people going to the park by themselves, how do you handle it?

I know what you mean about friends not sharing passion for the park I have the same problem. When I get my own car i don't care if my friends don't want to go, I will drive myself up to CP anyway. There are also benifits to going alone. the ops look for single riders to fill in the gaps (especially on B&Ms). If you want to save money bring your own food cooler and go to a cheap gas station.:)

Usually if I am anywhere by my self then I usually meet someone who is also alone. It doesn't work for everyone

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Millennium Force Ride Count:0

Last year was really the first time I even considered going to the park by myself. At first I was a little hesitant about the idea, but when I saw Dan going there a lot by himself to raise his Magnum count I thought it might be a cool thing to try. As luck would have it, every time that I was going to go to CP by myself one of my friends would always call, and see if I wanted to go to the park. So I never have actually gone by myself yet.

From what I can see, if you were to do this you really would not be alone. I mean there will always be someone you know there whether it is someone from this discussion group, someone you have met through someone else, or even employees that you might know. If those options fail, then I am sure that you can strike up a conversation with just about anyone you want while you are waiting in line.


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Brandon Sorc
www.spiritofthepoint.com

I went alone last year some of the times as most of my friends are coaster shy. One advantage of going alone is you can ride coasters all day without having someone say I want to stop (like the time I rode raptor non-stop till closing. However it also has its disadvantages you have no one to ride with. No one to talk to (although I usually meet someone there in the lines). And no one there to remember funny things you see. look for me there mostly on nights. but I can't wait to see all you other members there hopefully with your GTTP T-shirt so I know who you are.

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Welcome back Millennium Force riders...We all want to know how was your RIDE!!!!!

Whenever I'm in a line alone, I just talk to the people around me. I ask them where they're from, how old they are, you know small talk. And with luck, you could walk around with them the rest of the day.

I'm having no trouble finding someone to go with. I go to Waite High (GO INDIANS!!!!), and we have alot of coaster fans, infact people said that if they were going to CP they were gonna call me to get me to go with them.

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"Got a green light, got a green light...but your going nowhere" Filter-The Best Things

I tried the solo thing last year while on a business trip to Conneaut, Ohio. It was still a bit of a trip to CP from there, but it was a lot closer than here in Harrisburg, PA.

At any rate, I only stayed for a couple of hours, and found that I really was kind of bored standing in line alone. If I were going to do it again, I think I'd first try to see if anyone from here on the board might be up for a trip.


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Duane Cahill
Coming soon to a park near you.

I guess it depends when you go and how often you go. I went alone enough times that I usually ran in to employees or other regulars. Heck, Haverlock was always there! ;)

If you go alone weekdays in May, you can have a nice time and get right on stuff. Raptor and Mantis front seats are always shorter lines for single riders because of the groups of three.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
"And he says 'I'm goin' crazy up there at the lake...'"

I go alone a lot. I would never let the fact that no one wants to go with me on some particular day keep me from heading to CP.

Jeff is right about May. If you go some weekdays in May you will be too busy riding to care that you are by yourself. It is always a good way to get a solid fix in for other times later in the season when you can't do only what you want. By the end of May I will have had enough riding in that I won't mind taking 50 high and middle school kids there in June and spending the whole day messing with tickets, picnic, etc.

Besides you can always post here and see if any CP Placers might want to meet you on some day.

I head out to the park by myself a lot also. When I want to go, well, I want to go! It also allows me to do what I want, when I want it, and I certainly always have a nice time. I'd say the split is about 60% alone and 40% with company.

I never went to CP solo, but have considered it, (living in Pittsburgh, it was a bit of a drive) I have planned a trip up to CP for Coastermania, but I also wanted to go up during the first week of operation (albeit, I want to ride MF NOW!!) So I scheduled myself off for May 17 to go up for the day by myself, much to my surprise, my mother expressed an interest in going...

I think that maybe it would be a good idea, that if you do want to go to CP, and have no one to go with, post over in the meetings/gatherings section, and see if anyone responds!

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Neil
By popular vote, the official start of the
millennium has been moved to
May 13, 2000

Hey I love going to the park solo. Like mentioned before I can do what I want, when I want. If I want to ride Magnum 20 straight times, then heck I'm going to do it. Then again I know so many ride ops, and meet so many interesting people when I go there, there is never a dull moment.

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daniel j. haverlock
'99 Magnum Count: 801
www.spiritofthepoint.com

i also like going by myself once and a while-im a hardcore rollercoaster rider andjump from coaster to coaster,if im by myself i dont have to stop after every ride for people whining about being hungry or having to go to the bathroom every 5 min.the only drawback is staying overnight-it costs you more and it gets kinda lonly not being able to talk to anyone.

I haven't gone to CP solo, but recently went to a park in Southern VA alone. Like everyone has said, it has its advantages and disadvantages. I LOVED being able to ride (and ride and ride) without having to please a whole group of people, because that's just nearly impossible, especially if you're with non-coaster-freaks. I'm somewhat shy so I wasn't all that comfortable screaming my lungs out next to a total stranger, but after a while i got used to it. However, I'll definitely need somebody with me to hold onto when I drive over the causeway in month or so and see that blue monster - i'm already hyperventilating.

I think it depends a lot on how long the lines are. I've never been to CP alone, but I have gone to other parks when I was out of town by myself. If the park isn't busy it's great fun to do as many laps as you want without worrying about someone else's equilibrium. But, even if it is busy and you get tired of standing in line, people watching is fun too. The bottom line, though, is that if you're really into coasters and the people you're with are not, you'll probably have more fun by yourself.

Dave McWilliams

P.S. Hi to all you folks I've missed for the last couple months. I've been really busy, but only away in body. Hope you didn't miss me too much. :)

Just had this idea since I am a first time platinum pass holder. I have not been able to go yet this season since everyone has been busy. I want to go a lot before the crowds start getting heavier for the summer. I never really thought about this until now, because I don't want my pass to go to waste. I live about an hour away so its not that big of a deal of I get bored and want to go home, right? What are other people's opinions?

I drove out there for 4th of July fireworks in 2003, rode MF, drove home. (90 miles each way)

Hey CP Maverick, do you see many people go to the movies alone? I have done it several times, mostly before I was married, but would still do it now if the wife didn't want to see a movie I really wanted to see on the big screen.. Same thing with a park. Why the hell not? Life is to dang short not get to enjoy it. I see lots of people at the park that appear to be alone.

Cargo Shorts said:

Hey CP Maverick, do you see many people go to the movies alone? I have done it several times, mostly before I was married, but would still do it now if the wife didn't want to see a movie I really wanted to see on the big screen.. Same thing with a park. Why the hell not? Life is to dang short not get to enjoy it. I see lots of people at the park that appear to be alone.

Exactly...Life's too short. (and I'm 60 so it is getting shorter!) I'm usually alone at the parks since most of my family doesn't do coasters. I go by myself and think nothing of it.