Mantis removal or transformation?

^ While I don't have the numbers, I do have common sense.

- Wood coasters (Mine Ride's support structure) cost much more to maintain than steel coasters.
- Though Mantis is an uncomfortable ride, B&M coasters are known for being relatively low maintenance machines. Again, I don't have the data, but there is no evidence to suggest that Mantis has been a nightmare as far as upkeep is concerned.
- Mine Ride is almost always a walk on and usually with one train operation. There is no doubt ridership is much lower on Mine Ride than Mantis- I don't need the data to know that.

I agree, however, that we will not simply see floorless trains slapped on the ride. I think we will see some layout changes.

Wood coasters cost more to maintain but Mine Ride is not a wood coaster. Maintenance on the Mine Ride's wood structure itself is not anywhere near the cost of maintaining wood coaster track, and Mine Ride's steel track is like any other steel coaster.

As far as not seeing footers at another park, Mantis construction at Cedar Point did not start until after the park closed. So, if another park starts doing site prep in October for Mantis, that will be time enough to build the ride

No matter what happens, I just hope they don't fill the rails with sand on Mantis. I love the loud roar as the train flies by. I honestly think Mantis is louder than Raptor. Who doesn't love a nice and loud B&M roar?

^ I am aware that Mine Ride is a steel coaster. But are you suggesting it is still cheaper to maintain than Mantis?

The structure still requires replacement of wood, etc. While not the same cost as Mean Streak, it certainly has higher costs associated with, if not just for the wood supports, for it's mere age. I am sure parts for Mine Ride's trains are harder to come by than parts for Mantis.

Again, all I am saying is if the ride is being removed for a future attraction, why Mantis? Why remove a reliable B&M coaster and not a 40 year old lackluster Mine Train?

I think Mantis is sinking. That is why it is being squashed.

TwistedWicker77 said:
No matter what happens, I just hope they don't fill the rails with sand on Mantis. I love the loud roar as the train flies by. I honestly think Mantis is louder than Raptor. Who doesn't love a nice and loud B&M roar?

Me, I hate the loud roar. Ruins the atmosphere. I wish both Raptor and Mantis had the sand filled track when they were built. Gatekeeper is how all B&Ms should be.

EDIT: Unrelated to Pete's response to me about the B&M roar, which is ludicrous :) ....

I have to throw this out there. The funny thing to me about the Mantis speculation is all of this time, people have been bashing others for even remotely suggesting that they could transform it from a stand up to a sit down coaster. Now all of a sudden, being converted to a sit down is a huge possibility in a lot of people's eyes. I don't know if it is because some of you are in denial of Mantis being removed, or you never knew what you were talking about before and really want to accept this possibility.

Pete said:

TwistedWicker77 said:
No matter what happens, I just hope they don't fill the rails with sand on Mantis. I love the loud roar as the train flies by. I honestly think Mantis is louder than Raptor. Who doesn't love a nice and loud B&M roar?

Me, I hate the loud roar. Ruins the atmosphere. I wish both Raptor and Mantis had the sand filled track when they were built. Gatekeeper is how all B&Ms should be.

Agreed, the noise is worse now than when the ride was built. It is so loud it startles my kids even when they see the train coming down the tracks. Raptor is starting to sound loud in a negative sense as well.

^ I think its the latter. Long time members here have almost been laughably certain that Mantis could and would never be changed-- and you are right, criticized those that did as wishful fanboys.

Now the game has changed. It is not a "ha ha, we were right!" moment (because we still don't know for sure). But it certainly is a lesson to all that when you really don't know what's happening-- just enjoy the fun of speculating instead of bashing what other people are discussing for fun-- its a part of being an enthusiast--- having lively discussion about possible new attractions.

I don't belive it's getting changed over, I believe it's getting removed, however is it possible to change the coaster? Oh yeah I'm sure it is. I mean put enough resources and money into it, sure it can happen, but will they do that to Mantis, who knows.

I'm skeptical that it will happen, but it is a possibility. To me though the possibility of it's removal is a higher expectation at the moment.

The thing is, converting it shouldn't be that big of a deal technically, especially if they put sit-down trains with floors on the ride instead of the floorless variety.

I don't see that happening at Cedar Point because in my opinion it would be a disappointment for a new attraction that won't really excite people that much. Mantis has been at CP for 18 years, millions have ridden it. Is it really that marketable to say that you can ride the same ride you've ridden all these years, you can just ride it sitting down now? Big deal, stand-up, sit-down, it's still the same layout. Make it sit-down and you of course lose the stand-up gimmick that I think adds a bit of a thrill.

Now, move the ride to another park and convert it to a sit-down and you have a highly marketable new attraction for that park that most guests have not ridden before. Much better use of the ride in my opinion. And, CP will replace the ride with something great that is truly new and marketable.

I think the ride is closing early to allow time for disassembly so it can be shipped to a new park in time to complete construction by spring of 2015.

I believe a transformation is still possible. The only reason I ever said (and I'll admit I said it) that it probably wouldn't be done is because of the money needing to be spent to make sure it ran right while sitting down (or floorless, the floor dropping etc...). I just didn't believe the park would want to spend the money on that when they could get a new coaster or dark ride (depending on the size) with some of that money.

I'll admit that I am very intrigued as to what will happen to Mantis. A B&M has never went to the scrapyard. So I think this will live on in some different form at the park (sit-down being the easiest conversion), or it will be moved to another park.

converting the train is possible (I think), I mean, in a simple form, all you have to do is make sure the train weighs about the same, and it will blast thru the course without much issue. But like Pete said, "Why" I mean, it was top of it's class when it was first built, but now, its just another coaster, like any other.. mehh.. I think it would be simple as heck to move, I mean they moved the Demon Drop, another simple example, its just bolts, take them apart, but new footings at a new place, and boom!

Am I correct in saying that CP gets a new Big coaster about every other year? Eagles and Pipe screem was something that Cedar Fair did all over, so I don't count those as anything "big"

Again, as the Mantis stands, (no pun) It has been pretty reliable, I have almost never seen it down, and it runs in cruddy weather too, so I am going to assume it's not a maintenance issue. I just think it's just not as special of a coaster and CP just said, lets get rid of it for something even cooler!

I miss DT, but GK was a great concept, not just that it's winged, but that it does show the epicness of what you are going to get at CP when you come in!

and Millennium was trumped by a taller coaster of its kinda right? hopefully we can beat that! haha.

on a foot note, I want a coaster that zips between another coaster! intertwined! , but I can't see CP doing that! or one that really goes over a midway like corkscrew does! (PS, i don't see CS gone for some time, just because it has a super small footprint)

E.b.

CCMR will never be removed. It is a fantastic "first coaster ride." I will never forget how awesome it was of my coaster-vet friends to take me on CCMR as my first coaster. After I got my feet wet......it was on to Gemini! (The "Big" coaster at that time)

Looking at the layout on an aerial, I see at least a few spots where a change in the track might make for an interesting "new" ride. It would definitely be cool to see it expand on to Millennium island. From an engineering standpoint I don't know if it's really all that feasible but it might be one way to modify it so that people get a new experience (other than sitting).

I personally love the first hill but usually after the loop my body starts to feel uncomfortable and then the headbanging begins. At that point I'm ready for it to be over.

Interning with B&M I know more than the average person, guest, and employee. Mantis is being removed and will be giving it's final rides on October 19th. The track is being redone COMPLETELY, repainted, retracked, and new trains will be put in place. New station, new entrance, new exit, new queues everything is new. It is becoming a floorless coaster and it will have a new layout. I cannot say anything else.

Chelsie Paige said:
Interning with B&M I know more than the average person, guest, and employee. Mantis is being removed and will be giving it's final rides on October 19th. The track is being redone COMPLETELY, repainted, retracked, and new trains will be put in place. New station, new entrance, new exit, new queues everything is new. It is becoming a floorless coaster and it will have a new layout. I cannot say anything else.

Provided you're not a troll you just said enough to get fired.

Ok, so new trains and a new layout, meaning new track pieces which of course are needed to change the layout, new station and new everything. Isn't that a new coaster and not Mantis?

If there is any truth in you interning at B&M (highly skeptical), you've disclosed enough to make both B&M and CP very unhappy.

Didn't Mantis just recently get its station painted? Wonder if this is a recent decision. Matt seems to like to pull out the coasters (Disaster Transport, Wildcat...) losing popularity rather quickly which surely isn't a bad thing!

Pete said:
If there is any truth in you interning at B&M (highly skeptical), you've disclosed enough to make both B&M and CP very unhappy.

Whew! It's a good thing Tony doesn't read this forum....er....wait.....

Hope she enjoyed her Internship while it lasted!