If you could improve each coaster...

Disaster Transport - Remove it, pleaseMaverick - Remove the obnoxious OTSR. Then I will ride it again.

Wait, what's blasphemy about the Phoenix comment? I was just joking. But seriously, I hope Mean Streak either is burned and another beautiful and quality wooden coaster is put in its place or its completely retracked with new trains.

My response was also light-hearted. It was a reference to a certain other coaster a few hundred miles to the east of Mean Streak. One well known to enthusiasts and generally beloved, and that would never be mistaken for MS.

fastdawg07 said:
^ Are you joking? Why would you get rid of the, as you so gracefully put it, #$%! rider storage bins? How does that make any sense? Do you really want to pay for a locker every single time you want to ride? In fact, I wish that it was somehow configured that TTD and MF had the storage bins too. It would make things so much easier and cheaper.

Wouldn't it just be easier to not bring along items you need to put in a storage bin? I have yet to use a storage bin that I can remember in years. If it doesn't fit in my pocket, it doesn't come with me. Cargo shorts are a must, but really I only ever bring a wallet and cellphone with me into the park anymore and maybe a pocket camera.

I have always hated that people need to take so much stuff into park with them. But, in the past couple of years, we have used the bins when we take our Autistic son to the park. Their are a few things we need to have with us so we don't have to go back out to car.

Our daughter takes her bag/purse with her wherever she goes. We had some issues at SFOStL this weekend. I wanted to tell her that we going to an amusement park to ride. So taking it with her is a dumb idea and should invest in a waistpack if she wants to have things with her. But saying that would have been throwing gasoline on fire. So I bit my tongue.

I don't like having shorts with pockets crammed with things. So a waistpack is the best thing for me.

The only issue I see with the bins are with Magnum since there is a limited time to get people loaded & dispatched before it sets up.

bholcomb said:

Wouldn't it just be easier to not bring along items you need to put in a storage bin?

My thoughts exactly. I don't understand why people think they need to carry so much crap with them. I'd find it cumbersome to carry that stuff everywhere.

They're called cargo pants, people. Learn it. Know it. Live it...

Ensign, yeah I figured. I know the coaster you're talking about. I've never been on it, but I've heard of it.

Concerning the bins, I always wear cargo shorts when I go to the park, but I also bring a backpack. This is for jackets, cameras, other things we might possibly need. If those bins were gone, I'd have to pay through the nose to be able to carry it around. And I understand that I could just leave it in the car, but again, its super inconvenient.

And trust me, I know the need for these bins. I worked at maXair last summer and people were frequently using them/needed to use them. You don't know the amount of crap that was blown into the pit down below and we had to take the ride down to go get them. Point is, people are stupid and need those bins. If not, it makes a clear hassle for the guests and is inconvenient for ride hosts.

But seriously, burn down Mean Streak. Cedar Point could hold another record! lol

fastdawg07 said:
Concerning the bins, I always wear cargo shorts when I go to the park, but I also bring a backpack. This is for jackets, cameras, other things we might possibly need. If those bins were gone, I'd have to pay through the nose to be able to carry it around.

There's no need for a backpack. My Wife and I are guilty of carrying way too much stuff with us - camera, medicine, antacid, Dramamine, wallets, cell phones, sunglasses, sunscreen and so on. All of that fits neatly in a fanny pack (that I make my wife wear - her idea to bring most of that stuff :)).

Why would anyone need a jacket? I mean, I understand that between 3:00PM and 11:00PM the temperature might change by 10 degrees or so, but that's also a span of 8 hours. Get a locker, or just head to your car sometime throughout the day. It's not like you're going to need to change clothes between each ride, so utilizing a locker need not be expensive.

And I understand that I could just leave it in the car, but again, its super inconvenient.

What may be "super convenient" for you is super inconvenient for others who are forced to wait while you pass through the train, wait for the unloading passengers to get out of your way, put your stuff in the bin before finally making your way back to your seat.

I bring a drawstring bag and then hide it in an unpaid for locker before I ride something.

djDaemon said:

Why would anyone need a jacket? I mean, I understand that between 3:00PM and 11:00PM the temperature might change by 10 degrees or so, but that's also a span of 8 hours.

Actually it can be 80 in the morning and snow at night. It's Ohio afterall. :) But I agree. I used to just tie a jacket around my waist in case I needed it later.

Ok, so the jacket was a bad example, but I mean, when its raining you're gonna need it. But the point still stands. Those bins are extremely helpful. Guests, not enthusiasts mind you, bring crap or buy crap at the park all the time and it is convenient to have them not only for the guests, but for the ride hosts who have to make sure that nothing is blocking the ride area.

I must be in the minority here, but I honestly don't think they are that annoying. But that's just me.

I don't mind them as long as they're out of the way. I think the Raptor storage bins (mind you it's been since 2004, yes I'm a slacker and I'll try to go this season) that were way too close to the exit ramps. People were lined up to get their stuff and taking their merry ol' time.

All I say is be considerate. Courtesy is severely lacking in today's society!

It seems like the only rides that the bins really work well on are maXair and Skyhawk. Maybe if there were smaller, individual bins toward the roller coasters, it would work. The only rides that truly need bins are Power Tower, Raptor, Windseeker, Snake River Falls, Shoot the Rapids, and Skyhawk. These rides will either damage loose articles or potential fall from the ride.

^ And don't forget maXair. We had several iPhones and Androids smashed to pieces that were returned to us. Maxi doesn't like loose articles. The problem with those bins, however, are that they are circular. If they had bins similar to Skyhawk, then nothing would fall out of them, and that pit wouldn't be so daunting.

Anyway, back on topic. Does anyone else think that Magnum's station and graphics need a redesign? I mean, they need to either never flood the station or put in more direct queues in order for there to be more organization.

I honestly believe that if the signage for most of the rides were updated by 21st century graphic design teams, the direction could be more clear and it would help to update the park.

We-o-we-oooo said:
Gemini: Bring back the dual entrances. I'm pro choice.

When did they remove the dual entrances? I haven't ridden Gemini in 6+ yrs.

Gemini lost its downtrack entrance the same year that it lost two trains. Two or three years ago. I remember noticing that one of the entrance turnstiles got moved over to Mine Ride for a while.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.