How did you become an enthusiast?

With the off season upon us, this forum is getting deader by the second. So I thought I would ask a question I have wanted to ask for a while now. But never did, because there was too much other stuff going on.

How did you all become enthusiasts? When I went on a class trip to Cedar Point in 9th grade, I became obsessed. I thought I was the only one, until I found Guide To The Point. And the rest is history.

What is everyone elses story? Are you just a Cedar Point enthusiast, or a coaster enthusiast all together? While I love to ride all coasters, I think my obsession is mainly centered around Cedar Point. I havn't been to a lot of other amusment parks though. So that may change some day.

My earliest memory from Cedar Point was in 1969 when I was 7 years old. I went to Cedar Point every year since. I missed 1991 when my son was born. I have introduced my kids to the park, like my parents did for me. I am a enthusiast of all parks, though I have never been to a Six Flags park. My favorite is and always will be Cedar Point.

I got into flat rides when I was really young. Always looked forward to fairs, etc. When I was a little older my Dad took me to Wonderland a few times and then there were the class trips. It was my favorite thing.

I discovered Cedar Point after moving to Windsor for university in the late 1990's. I loved it but only went a couple times. Last year I had a really crappy year and a friend took me to cheer me up. I was hooked and now I consider it a hobby. I only went once every couple of years until last year when I went 3 and this year looks like 15 this year plus my trips to Wonderland and Kings Island.

I think you know you are an enthusiast when it still looks appealing after your teens or twenties and you aren't going just to take your kids.

For me it was the first trip i took to the point in 1995 when i was 11. That is when i became a major fan of the point. Ive been every year except 2001. Im definetely a enthusiast of all over parks and coasters but no park can compare to Cedar point.

I was the age of ten when i had my first rollercoaster ride. My mom

rode the racer with me at king's island and i was hooked ever since.

Now at the age of 45, i ride everything and plan on doing so until

my last day. Then i will join the other ghost's at cedar point and continue having a great time.

I grew up in Cincinnati, and going to Kings Island was pretty much the best thing in the world. That is, until I went to CP in 1992. I missed it in 1993, but I've been every year since 1994. Still, I spent many, many days at KI.

I guess my love for coasters was just natural. I love being scared and thrilled, and nothing does it quite like a good coaster for me.

I needed a job for the summer, and the rest is history.

I don't remember exactly when I became an enthusiast, but I know that I have a passion for the parks! I always tell peopleI don't drink smoke do drugs or gamble, but I live for the thrill of the coasters! I know that in the last few years I have tried many coasters I thought I would never and I found that to ride a coaster takes away the stress in my life! When the parks are closed for the season, I count the days till I can be back. My dad who is my oringinal coaster buddy is a coaster freak! He is now 81 and he still talks about his days at Euclid Beach where he grew up 1 mile away. I have spent most of my life at Geauga Lake because it was closer to my house, but now that it is gone, I am making the longer trip to Cedar point and this year was the first year we had passes to all the CF parks. I must say that I have had a blast this year! I know it is not the same as Geauga Lake, but I do love my Ohio parks! My favorite ride this year is the Maverick!

McCain Who?

rollercoasterlover said:
I was the age of ten when i had my first rollercoaster ride. My mom

rode the racer with me at king's island and i was hooked ever since.

Now at the age of 45, i ride everything and plan on doing so until

my last day. Then i will join the other ghost's at cedar point and continue having a great time.

I will meet up with you there

I heard my cousins talk about Cedar Point for years when we were kids and I remember them telling me about Millennium Force in 2000 and I swore I would never ride something like that. I went to Wonderland a couple times as a kid and rode everything. Finally in 2003 when I was 15 I went to Cedar Point for two days in August and loved everything. We stayed at Lighthouse Point. For the weeks leading up to the trip I researched the park and looked at a lot of pictures of Dragster construction.

In 2004 there was a high school trip in May for Victoria Day so me and friends went. In October there was a bus trip for a Halloweekends Saturday and after that I was completely hooked. In 2005 I went on the high school trip and Halloweekends trip again, and also in August with family. In 2006 I got my licence and bought a car. I went a few times that summer along with Closing Weekend. For 2007 I bought a Cedar Point pass and went about 10 times. In February 3 friends and I drove to Florida for a week and went to Busch Gardens Tampa twice. What a beautiful park with great rides, and we got to see STYX.

This year I got a Platinum Pass and branched out a little bit. I went to Kings Island, Michigans Adventure, and Wonderland along with Cedar Point. Working in the kitchen of a banquet hall takes up 50-60 hours a week in the summer, including weekends so finding time to make the trips got tough but I did it. I already have my 2009 Platinum Pass and am looking forward to spending next weekend at the park.

Well, I grew up in Pittsburgh with Kennywood and Idlewild to look forward to every summer. We started going to CP when I was maybe 5-6 years old and went every other year or so. It took until I was maybe 12 before I rode everything. After H.S. we made it a tradition to go every year in May and camp out. Now we just plan a trip whenever I'm in town, and I'm planning my bachelor party there.

Astroworld was what got me into coasters and amusement parks in general. Then I heard about Cedar Point and got a plane ticket from Houston to Cleveland and the rest is history. :)

When I was 13 months old my mom took me on a similar ride to Ocean Motion at the county fair. Mom says I cried my eyes out.

When I was 5 grandma took me on Adventure Express at Kings Island and I'v been hooked ever since. Now I'm pulling the cord on Ripcord every time I go to the park and want to find even more exciting, scary, insane things for me to do. I can't wait till I'm old enough to go sky diving. Then what is there to do? :)

I went skydiving earlier this year. It was fun but I think bungee jumping would be much scarier.

I've always wanted to try skydiving. I think I'm gonna find a legit place around here and give it a go. :)

I really became interested in Cedar Point when Millenium Force was being built. And it took me nearly 5 years before I even attempted to ride MF. (I was scared) :)

I started going to Cedar Point in 1982 (never been to another park until 2000). One visit every two years was more than enough Amusement park for me...

But then you have children, and you want them to see things you saw as you grew up. My son was about 8 to 10 years old when we really started getting into Cedar Point.

I would get him on things that were maybe a little too much for him, but eventually he really loved riding coasters, or just being at Cedar Point.

Soon, he was the person pushing me on rides such as Millenium Force, or Wicked Twisted, and Finally Top Thrill Dragster...(I have now been to Geauga Lake 3 times, Walt Disney World 3 times, Kings Island - 1 time, and even Carowinds in South Carolina 1 time)

We sort of grew up together (my son and I) at Cedar Point. Now we can't wait to get season passes for 2009. (he went two times this year)

(I never was able to go) :(

I am afraid however, that soon, 2 more years, when he turns 18, that my days of visiting Cedar Point for thrills may come to an end.. :(

I grew up in Buffalo, NY. There was an amusement park in Ontario, Canada called "Crystal Beach." It was small, but had some of the best rides I can remember as a kid. It was the home of the world famous Comet. Once a year, always on a Wednesday in August, was Crystal Beach Day in my neighborhood. My parents would take me, along with a friend to keep me company, and it was so fun because you ran into people you knew all day long. My dad would go on the rides with me if I didn't have a friend.

We also used to go to a place nearby called Fantasy Island. Also, a place called "Fun 'n' Games," (which was actually a bunch of rides in a large parking lot), a tiny place called Glen Park, and I looked forward to going to the Erie County Fair in Hamburg, NY (still the 2nd largest county fair in the US!!!!!) with my dad for a whole day when it came to town. I still love my Fair!!!!

My parents took me to Cedar Point when I was 15. The big ride then was the Gemini. I remember being terrified--since it was the tallest in the world (I think) at the time. It wasn't until 1989 that I returned to the Point (the year of the Magnum), and I've come back every year since then. My daughter is now 15, and it's been fun to share the park with her all these years.

When I see older people in line for the coasters, I think to myself, that will be me one day. I've entertained the idea of going to Canada's Wonderland (the last time I was there was 1994), but never seem to get around to it, although it's only 2 hours away. Although I wish Crystal Beach was still around for sentimental reasons, Cedar Point holds a very special place in my heart. I can't imagine a summer or fall without a visit to the Point. So I guess I owe my obsession with Cedar Point to my mom and dad for taking me to amusement parks all those years ago.

Mine started on my senior trip May 21, 2006. My school forgot to hire the bus to take us so me and my friends were stuck, so my mom and dad drove my friends and me. When we drove past Breakers Express and seen the parts for Maverick I didn't know what to expect. Went straight to Raptor (my first cp ride ever) and now can't get an enough.

Growing up my Aunt & Uncle would take us to KI and Cedar Point. I remember my first ride being Gemini around 8. My husband and I went in 2000 and I was terrified to ride any of the big rides. We went with a group of people and everyone wanted to ride Millennium so I decided I would just wait in line and than walk off, but my friends wouldn't let me, so I rode. It was fun but terrifying. My being an enthusiast didn't really start until 2006, this was the first year we got passes and had the opportunity to ride everything multiple times so I got over being scared. Now I love to ride roller coasters every opportunity I get, anywhere I can, and I really hate the off season.