Looking ahead 10 years

SteveH said:
On the latest CF conference call Matt O. was quoted saying...

Increased earnings were partially due to "broad improvements in our food and beverage offerings this past year. We look forward to maintaining this momentum and building on these initiatives as we head into 2014"

Seriously? And he said this with a straight face? Now we really have something to look forward to in the next 10 years.

I think some if the parks really did have nicely upgraded food offerings. Some of the new items last year at Knott's, as displayed on the website, looked really good. By saying he hopes to build on that momentum, hopefully that means CP will see some of those upgrades.

Maybe that new restaurant on the Gemini Midway will be something worthwhile.

If I'm not mistaken, the monorail at WDW is not cost effective, or they would have expanded it instead of continuing to use buses for most of their shuttling.

I do miss the old shuttles at CP and KI to go from the entrance to our parking rows. Not that I don't need the exercise but it was a nicety.

Cedar Point is a big enough park to walk as it is. Unless you're imagining out and back coasters taking over the front parking lot with their entrances originating at Cedar Point proper.

This isn't going to happen.

I know people on this site truly love this park (so do I), but this is a business. CP is not in a growing market. Its located between two stagnant cities, Cleveland and Toledo, and if it weren't for CP then Sandusky wouldn't be anywhere close to what it is today. Expanded parking and expanding the park are not really optional from a business stand point (attendance doesn't demand it). That is why a lot of the old Paramount parks are getting a lot of attention, they are in growing markets.

I would rather see CP focus on improving Quality. Round out the rides (add a dark ride for god sake). Improve the ascetics of Kiddy kingdom, and the blue streak midway. They look like glorified state fairs.

The new management is doing great. They are making improvements to the atmosphere of the park, food, and lodging. You used to be able to find better hotel amenities at a two star hotel in Sandusky than at the breakers.

I like rcoaster's picture of doing up the beach/boardwalk over by Wicked Twister/Windseeker. That could be something special.

WDW's monorail system was expanded when Epcot (or EPCOT Center, as it was known back then) opened.

But the monorails are expensive to construct -- apparently around $50 million for each mile of track these days.

There's no reason to extend the monorail to Studios, since it's easy to reach from Epcot by boat or by walking; and Animal Kingdom is likely too far away to justify the cost of construction.