We flew from NC for our second trip to CP, first rides on MF. Lowell(13), Zemo(36), and Dave(28) were riders, Donna(chicken) and Lauren(pregnant) were observers. First of all, CP folks are so nice--we left our camera in a seat on Magnum, and it got mailed back to us at CP's expense! Everything was really great. We stayed at the Breakers, which was expensive but worth it for us, since we only come to CP occasionally. Our room was "non-view", but we had a PERFECT view of MF and Power Tower. Lowell could watch the maintenance car travel up the track each morning at the crack of dawn. There aren't very many MF souvenirs, and the MF t-shirts are not very good. We did get a MF beanie bear, but there weren't even any postcards with MF on them! More Stuff!
Arrived around 3:00, checked in, and used our Starlight passes. Sunday night was just wonderful--completely dead in the park. 10-15 minute waits for front cars in Magnum, Mantis, Raptor. About 30-40 minutes for MF--once in the light and once in the dark, but our riders definitely preferred the daytime ride on MF because you could see what was happening. Power Tower line was very short, maybe 15 minutes, and we definitely preferred the red one. Then we rode the coasters that Donna would ride (Iron Dragon, Blue Streak, Gemini, Mine Train), all walk-ons, and the guys rode Raptor a couple of times (what a great coaster), then got a last ride on MF with about 45 minutes wait at 10:00. Our guys definitely prefer the back 3-4 cars of the train--lots more air time. I definitely recommend Sunday nights this early in the season. It was just like having your own personal amusement park!
My 13-year-old was just mezmerized by MF--he absolutely loved it. Each time he came out of the exit, he couldn't stop jumping up and down. It's now his favorite coaster, over Hulk (IOA) and Raptor and Montu (BGT), his previous favorites. He even bought his ride photo, he was so happy. Zemo(36) still prefers Raptor, and said he almost blacked out on that first hill of MF. But he still rode MF 5 times.
Pouring rain and lightning on Monday, so we waited until about 11:00 to go in. Lots of school groups. MF line was 2 hours, Raptor was 1 hour, everything else was less than 20 minutes. Rode Mean Streak in the pelting rain, and it hurt! Mean Streak is also awesome. Took a break for dinner from 5:00 to 6:30, then the crowds died down a little. MF was down for a while from about 8:30 to 9:30, then the guys got in line for a late night ride at 9:55.
Tuesday, again, lots of school groups who all seem to stop at Raptor, so that line was long all day. Our guys went in at 9:30, got in the MF line and got on the yellow train about 10:15. Why did they wait to add the red train until after the park opened? Our guys were first in line when they decided to add the red train, so that added to their wait. The riders on the first train told me they arrived around 8:45. When they got off the train, the line had already filled the queues and was down into Frontier Town. Raptor line was long as usual, but everything else was 20 minutes or less, even for front car.
Heard a cool story in line for the Mine Train about a bird landing on the MF track on Monday, getting smushed and decapitated, and bird blood and bird guts flying all over a man and his son. He did not get a free pass, he told us, but they did give him some paper towels. They should put some bird-away on the track, since the birds probably don't know what it is! Another park employee said that a bird flew into the wheels of a train on Monday, causing the computer to stop the ride, but we didn't observe either event. Dangerous for our feathered friends!
Since we had so many rides on Sunday night, we all bid farewell Tuesday afternoon with a last spin around the go-kart track and left around 4:30 to take Zemo and Lauren back to the Cleveland Airport. Donna and Lowell proceeded to SFO, which was a BIG MISTAKE. First, they have no Starlight admission, so I was thankful that we had some $10 coupons. Second, their admission is $33 and parking was $7--what a ripoff! CP is only $38 with about 3X as many rides, and parking is only $6. Third, they closed the big rides at 9:30! I mean, it was dead in the park, but we had paid $45! Lowell got one ride on each of the three new coasters, which were all pretty good rides (especially the Batman floorless--it has a really nice twisty section). Front car line was about 20 minutes. The Superman LIM coaster was cool but a very short ride--luckily it was a walk-on for front car. The fake woodie (wooden track, metal support structure) was pretty good, too. Lowell especially likes the puky rides there--Texas Twister and Time Warp. The old steel coasters--Double Loop and something that was painted red and green--as well as the Wolf Bobs were very head-bangy and not much fun. The very old woodie, Big Dipper, was very nice. Over all, we felt ripped off, definitely, but maybe if you live nearby and can buy a season pass so you can use the water park too, it would be worth it. We won't be returning, though.
We LOVE CP, and we are sorry to live so far away from it. Other parks just pale in comparison. We had recently been to IOA, which is about the most beautiful park in the world (Donna wants to move to Seuss Landing) and has the absolutely wonderful Spiderman and Hulk, but for rides and fun, nothing compares to CP. We'll be back when they build another new coaster!
"Fake woodie"? Bite your tongue! :)
SFO? Bite your tongue!LOL!:)
Having trouble talking today with my bitten tongue.
That was a wonderful trip report. Well written! Makes me want to go back today. If only (sniff)...
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Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.