Is Cedar Fair done with intamin?

Raptor, in 1994, set the attendance record at 3.4 million, a number they haven't seen since.

That makes sense. I might be making this up, but I remember lines being 3.5-4 hours for Raptor and then Mantis, regularly during the first few years. Of course, this was when I was not even tall enough to ride them, so maybe the lines just seemed like they were that long while I waited with the non-rider! I guess there just are a lot more big rides to space out those lines now even if attendance is not that high.

MaverickLaunch said:
...a higher perceived ROI...

Not sure I understand. Either it is higher, or it's not. It can't be lower and just look higher.

I don't think CF is totally done with Intamin. B&M is more reliable but Intamin is more open to a lot more things (launch coasters especially). I feel Intamin is also a lot more architecturally creative than B&M, so if a park needs a good coaster in a tight squeezed area, Intamin would probably be the one to go to - even for structure-wise looking attractiveness.

CF would most likely be taking a lot more precaution with Intamin to make sure it is more reliable before production on a project. CF may be done with Intamin for now, but I'm sure they will pop up again down the road.

I think getting some new personnel to represent Intamin in the US would go a long way to restoring their damaged relationship with park chains. However, with the egos that I have heard about, I'm not sure if that will happen.

B&M does a pretty good job with engineering a coaster in smaller area. Gatekeeper is taller that Raptor and has fewer supports on its steeper incline lift hill.

GateKeeper is one of my favorite rides and has actually leaped above Maverick to my 2nd favorite in the park. The only thing about B&M is they only have a narrow selection of roller coasters that they design. Intamin, on the hand, will design anything you want them to. Atleast that's the perception I've noticed.

That's somewhat true. What I find interesting is how B&M has been taking business away from Intamin. Most of the hyper coasters built in the last 5 years have been B&M. Now it looks like B&M has taken over the giga coaster market as well.

Huh. Company that builds more reliable coasters ends up building more coasters. Never saw that coming. Why would amusement parks want to go with a company that builds more reliable coasters?

Although B&M coasters are more reliable and less maintenance, I was just thinking the other day how it's the Intamin rides that I like the best and seem more creative and thrilling, although I do like Raptor and Diamondback. Gatekeeper has yet to really thrill me but it sure looks pretty.

I've always felt that way about intamin. The thrill they produce is much more than that of B&M in my opinion. However, it's one of those things where I tend to get anxious to see if the ride will have any mechanical down time while I'm waiting in line, and trying to figure how long it'll take for the problem to be fixed. My favorite rides are Intamin, but B&M is more reliable like everybody has said, and in the general public's eye, a new coaster is a new coaster. I mean look how big of a hit Gatekeeper still is (granted it's only in it's second season)

I think one of the points you guys seem to overlook is that a great many of the B&M and Intamin rides in the building boom had their layouts designed by the same firm. Werner Stengel had his hand in so many rides from that era. Look at Raptor (B&M) and Tornado (Intamin) in Finland. Notice the similarities?

Serious question here...but why doesn't B&M experiment with launch coasters? Because they want to produce a more reliable ride? Or is it because of other reasons? I mean clearly they have been doing good so far without all of the high tech features you would find on an Intamin.

A quick Google search turned up that B&M did make a launch coaster at Universal, The Incredible Hulk. But it said the launch mechanism was subcontracted. But good question. It looks like Intamin is the main developer for doing alternative launch methods.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incredible_Hulk_Coaster

Jeff said:
I think one of the points you guys seem to overlook is that a great many of the B&M and Intamin rides in the building boom had their layouts designed by the same firm. Werner Stengel had his hand in so many rides from that era. Look at Raptor (B&M) and Tornado (Intamin) in Finland. Notice the similarities?

This is correct. Although the era of Stengel, Mollibard/Billard, Toomer is over now. It's officially the 21st century of coaster engineers, so we will expect a different breed of coasters now...we just need wise creators.

I'm sure it's just a strategic decision not to offer it, and frankly Premier Rides and others do a nice job with those rides.

One of the things about B&M is that they've built a "technology platform" of sorts over the years that has been extremely stable and reliable, with a lot of gradual refinements. The overall design of their vehicle bogies hasn't changed much at all, along side of the center beam linking. The Banshee trains are the most radical changes we've seen from them ever.

Jeff said:
No, the former boss just thought it was OK to be cheap. :)

Which is basically how STR became the nightmare that it is.

I was on Leviathan and Behemoth yesterday and both are outstanding rides. Especially Behemoth, with the very fun airtime hills. Those B&M rides take a back seat to nothing, including Intamin coasters.

I'm pretty sure B&M has stated that they are ready to build a launch coaster if a park wants one.

^ I've never heard of them saying that before. Not calling you a liar, but I find it interesting.