Jr gemini derails. (also: Maverick restraint design)

Jump to Conclusions said:
Aside from err to the safe side, are you any different?

Chief Wahoo said:
Assuming or speculating that budget cuts led to THIS mechanical failure is a little premature given the fact that there are no facts out there to review.

That's all I have to say, without saying it.

mk522 said:
I don't care if you have inside access to the park or not, it doesn't matter.

You're the one who introduced that. I never said it. What in the world does that have to do with anything?

Its annoying to hear: "you don't know what you're talking about" because what, you know exactly what happened?

If I challenge and say, "you don't know," where is the implication, direct or otherwise, that it means, "and I do know?" You're spending a lot of time trying to make this about me, and not much time actually explaining why you think I'm wrong.

You don't need to know exactly what happened to challenge speculation that is emotional ... or to know that running any billion dollar company isn't as simple as 1+1=2. If I watch cable news and challenge something a pundit says, that doesn't mean I'm a political know-it-all with inside access to the White House or Congress.

People speculate and have their own opinions about what might have caused this or that.

And people can come back with a differing opinion and say, "your speculation makes no sense." We call that "discussion." Or am I to refrain from the discussion, lest I sound too much like the ultimate authority?

If you've got an opinion, back it up! Don't just come here and post the equivalent of "it happened because Cedar Point sux" and expect it to go unchecked.

CP's budget cuts do affect their rides in all aspects, and you don't have to be a VIP or past employee to know that.

If it's obvious to everyone that budget cuts affect all aspects of rides, which would include safety, are you saying that Cedar Point officials are knowingly putting money ahead of safety? Apparently, they're either compromising safety of their guests or they haven't figured out what you have.

For someone attacking me as coming across as an expert, you seem awfully knowledgeable about budget cuts and are pretty confident in your opinion. If anything, you sound like the expert and VIP. Maybe if I'm looking for inside info, I should ask you were you get yours.

On a side note, and an open question directed at no one in particular, why is it that everyone and their brother is a Cedar Point budget expert?

(Important disclaimer: To mk522, please note that I am not claiming to be a budget expert myself or that I am any kind of authority on this, or any other Cedar Point related topic. Please refrain from ignoring the point and then reading into this post as you did the others. I am simply wondering out loud if everyone has personal contact with Cedar Point's senior management, if merely reading gossip on the Interweb gives them such credentials, or somewhere in between. Your mileage may vary. This article does not reflect the thoughts or opinions of the ownership, staff, or management of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. All rights reserved. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is unintentional and purely coincidental. Do not remove this disclaimer under penalty of law. Article is provided "as is" without any warranties. Reader assumes full responsibility. Keep away from pets and small children.)

^ Post of the year. :)

::standing ovation::

To answer Walt's question:
Because the inability of our local politicians (namely Her Most Moley Highness and the Part Timers) to balance budgets has left all of us as having to learn how to fix the problem on our own. This of course has led us all to be expert speculatory budgeteers, at least up here in the north.

*** Edited 6/20/2007 9:01:42 PM UTC by JuggaLotus***

Walt said

On a side note, and an open question directed at no one in particular, why is it that everyone and their brother is a Cedar Point budget expert?

Because they have lots of posts.

I know that statistical anomalies can occur, but it seems that Cedar Fair has had an unusually large number if incidents on roller coasters the past few weeks.

As an update, Jr. Gemini was not running the past 3 days. So, it hasn't run for like a week. No activity what so ever on the platform. The train is parked in the station.

Anyone know how many coasters Cedar Fair now operates? That would be an interesting number.

I was at Six Flags G.A. on Monday. In the first quarter, they lost $162M. They stated in their 'earnings' or rather losses report that they would overcome this by making maintenance cuts. Makes you feel safe? Made me feel safe when my restaint on Medusa POPPED OPEN on the top of the lift in the front row. I quickly pulled it back down, it relatched. Ride OPS inspected it by pulling on the restraint and jiggling it in the station. Since it did not open then, they allowed the next rider to get in it. I feared Nitro after this as you rely on that restraint also and does not have the secondary seatbelt safety.

Also KK felt rough as hell. How has TTD been smooth wise? I cant wait for my trip to CP in the middle of august.

I can't find where Six Flags mentioned cutting maintenance, but cuts could mean a lot of things. It might mean they inspect rides weekly instead of daily. Or maybe it means they don't cut the grass as often or paint as many buildings.

It's not the first restraint that's ever popped. I'll defer to RideMan on the logistics and how normal it may or may not be. It certainly sounds like the Six Flags ride ops could have handled it better, but I don't see how it's directly or indirectly related to cuts by SFI.

tonymtdew said:
I was at Six Flags G.A. on Monday. In the first quarter, they lost $162M.

Newsflash... most of the parks weren't open in the first quarter. Cedar Fair took a loss too for the same reason.

So I measured it out in page-feet, and it's official: this thread is now longer than the actual Jr. Gemini. ;)

Its not much of a newsflash unless you enjoy being an ass...so of course, its stated in their earnings report.

Six flags is a company thats in trouble financially. $162M is much larger of a hit than the roughly $50M that Cedar Fair took and CF's includes all of the acquisitions that occurred since same quarter previous year.

Six Flag's stock is in the toilet, CF's is near the higher end over the 52 week history.

Six flags is shrinking, CF is growing.

SFGA was in the worst condition on Monday that I have ever seen it. It has been progressively getting worse every year it seems... the type of crowd, the lack of it being a family park, and the cleanliness of the park. The only nice thing that I really enjoyed past El Toro (which is a fantastic coaster!) is that as we were leaving, management was there to wave goodbye in a line and were thanking everyone.

In the last few trips that I have had to Cedar Point I have actually had a better experience than last year's trips. I have not had any experiences with line-cutting or smoking in line. There are now visible security rounds that include queue lines. The maintenence staff is quick to respond, and are efficient at what they do. (I was waiting in line during a break down on Wicked Twister and they changed a tire in less than a half hour.) Management have been on the midways (somewhat) interacting with guests. I believe that they are off to a good start this year.

Unfortunately accidents do happen. You cannot avoid them, and as the number of roller coasters at the park increases, and the age of the rides get older accidents will become more likely due to increased probability. I still feel more safe at Cedar Point than at any other park, because based on observation they handle every situation that comes up very well.

Chief Wahoo said:
Anyone know how many coasters Cedar Fair now operates? That would be an interesting number.

Including Son of Beast and Gilroy Gardens, 124. As far as I saw SOB was the only SBNO. Assuming Steel Venom will open next year, it will be at least 125. But there strong rumors that Canadas Wonderland will be getting a new coaster next year too.

*** Edited 6/21/2007 12:19:33 PM UTC by Jason Hammond***

I think that's a pretty safe rumor.

^I tend to agree with you Jeff, but I try not do be so definitive about things I don't actualy know, less I be crucified.

Delbert said:
In the last few trips that I have had to Cedar Point I have actually had a better experience than last year's trips. I have not had any experiences with line-cutting or smoking in line. There are now visible security rounds that include queue lines. The maintenence staff is quick to respond, and are efficient at what they do. I believe that they are off to a good start this year.

I definitely agree with Delbert on this, at least during the first two weeks of the season when I was last at the park. Whatever the reason may be for what seems like a larger than average number of unfortunate incidents, CF is certainly improving in all sorts of areas that affect guest experience. Whatever maintenance issues may or may not exist, I'm sure CF will do what they need to do to correct any problems and move on.

Back on topic,

Has Jr gemini re- open yet?