Honest Geauga Lake review

crazy horse said:

So now on top of the $40 for a campsite, you still have to pay $9 to park.

Just a slight correction, guests staying at the campground and hotel at Geauga Lake recieve free parking.

I will be visiting Geauga Lake and Cedar Point next week. We purchased a Michigan's Adventure Season's Pass to get into both parks while on vacation.

My question is this. While at Michigan's Adventure, we got to the water park at around 12:30 (it opened at Noon.) When we got there all the "free" tubes were gone and no one would give them up at the Lazy River.

The signs posted said you had to have a tube to go in the Lazy River and various Slides. Ok. Fine.

So we rented 3 tubes. $15, and rented a small locker $4(which didn't even fit two purses, and 3 pairs of shoes).

My gripe is this. Why is there even tubes for rent? Two parks for the Price of One is the slogan at Michigans Adventure. Not really. They would have plenty of free tubes if they didn't rent out 75% of them. That is just not fair.

Does Geauga Lake feature this same free tubes scenerio? If so, how much go they charge for renting a tube?

I just don't understand that whole renting a tube deal?

...Of course, I don't understand the whole "you must have a tube for the lazy river" thing, either. Personally, I think what they need for lazy rivers is some kind of 'tube alternative' that lets you actually get *into* the water...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Who *swims* in Canoochee Creek at Wyandot Lake...

More to the point, why the hell would you rent tubes for rides that require them? That's completely asinine. The "free" water park isn't fee at all then.

If I encounter that when I go on Wednesday, you can bet I'll be super pissed (especially after dropping that $9 for the parking).

I didn't have any problem with tubes when I went.

Here's the policy with tubes in Riptide Run:

First of all, you do NOT need a tube to enjoy the river, it's optional. Several hundred free tubes are available for use on the river. They must be given up after one circuit if all the tubes are used up and there are patrons wanting the ride. The most important thing is that there is a lifeguard or two making sure this policy is upheld.

Tube rentals do exist, but I have never had any problem getting a tube in the past. Especially with low-to-mid-range crowds...

Also, as far as the $9 parking argument goes, I find myself agreeing with the rest of you, except that my situation is the opposite of most of yours. I have a GL parking pass and end up dropping $9 for Cedar Point. You can't go about arguing parking is high in one place without acknowledging the other. I see the parking as a turn off as much to go to CP as others see it to visit GL. I would love a "CF Parking Pass", but don't see it happening. The interesting thing is that parking is INCLUDED with the season pass at Dorney Park. Why not jack up the pass price a bit more and include parking everywhere. CF will get the money, but you won't feel that you got ripped off... *** Edited 7/18/2005 6:10:33 PM UTC by SFWoARules!***

Parking has just become another gate. And I don't like it. (Who does?)

MrScott

This is one of the first positive things I've heard about the park since it's acquisition by Six Flags way back when. Granted I don't go out of my way to keep up on the goings on at the park, but this news cure is reassuring, especially with phase 2 coming next year.

I've never been to the park so I have no real way of gauging the magnitude of this expansion. Does anyone know how large (in acreage) their water park is over there. How much bigger will it be next year? How large is it in comparison to Soak City?

The waterpark is supposedly going to be 20 acres when it is complete. Currently, taking a stab in the dark I'd say 8 acres are developed. I'm not familiar enough with Soak City to give you an acurate estimate in size. I guess the current 'depth' of the waterpark could be imagined as the length of the TTD launch track from station to hill. Imagine a 100 foot water slide complex by the station and a AquaPlay RainFortress (same as can be found at Soak City) where the TTD 'hill' would be. In between would be a lazy river and a ProSlide Tornado. I'm bad at estimates, but say the waterpark is 250 feet wide or so...

Last Sundays Columbus Dispatch had an insert in it for Geauga lake. The back of it had a coupon good for free parking. I gathered a couple of these for future trips pending my 1st trip this Sunday is a good one.

I've been to GL twice this season so far. Since my feelings on the parking have already been covered by just about everyone else, I'll just say "ditto".

I have huge second thoughts about going to Wildwater after having some not pleasant experiences on the lazy river. I've been pushed out of the way of swimmers, been bumped around by people swimming around and UNDER my tube leading to several not fun bruises, and been glared at because I was in their way while minding my own business floating on my tube. I much prefer the lazy river at SC. I still get bumped around a bit, but I've never left feeling so aggrivated & frustrated.

My first impressions of WWK were hugely favorable. I thought it would be a perfect alternative to driving to Sandusky when it's hot. I love the atmosphere of the park, the tornado slide rocks (although I think it needs some serious upping of capacity), and I otherwise enjoyed my first trip. Trip number two was the one that made me rethink going back.

I too think GL is heading in the right direction, but I do question whether or not CF is really interested in the opinions given on comment cards, etc. I get great responses when I give positive comments. But if I make a comment with some honest, constructive criticism, I find a form letter with a "thanks but no thanks" or "this is the policy, deal with it" tone in the mailbox. That doesn't make me real inclined to keep returning.
*** Edited 8/6/2005 6:38:23 PM UTC by raptorgrl***

Trust me, management listens to guest feedback, good and bad. Working in rides, I know this from personal experience.

-Sam

Actually Sam you are correct GL (unlike some other parks) actually listen to their guests feedback. From my experiance anyway.