Mantis removal or transformation?

noggin said:

Am I understanding you correctly? You're suggesting the park mislead guests by, if I'm understanding your suggestion, deliberately avoiding any indication that this "new" "floorless" coaster is a 20 year old ride with new trains?

You're suggesting that the park, once guests enter the park and see the same old coaster in the same old space, take the position "We already have your money. Sorry. Enjoy the ride!"?

This does not seem like a winning business plan...

I don't even know where to begin to respond to this. First of all, I'm admitting that the general public would even notice that the ride is Mantis with new trains. Even then I am giving the GP too much credit. Most of you forget that the vast majority of people visiting the park don't even have the names of the roller coasters memorized like we do. Most people I travel with can't even tell the difference between Raptor and Mantis, its all the same to them- a roller coaster.

In no way would the park be "misleading" guests by advertising a transformed Mantis as new. Its called marketing. Why would the park need to say "this is Mantis with new trains!"??

Does SeaWorld say "come see our whale that kills people!!!!"?

You obviously have no experience in the business or marketing world. I can tell you that as a Floridian that a transformed Mantis would get me to book a flight to Cleveland and bring my family to stay three nights at Breakers. I'm the target demographic they're going for anyway. I'll spend more money in three days than most of you will in seventeen visits with your "platinum pass".

Oh, my.

You can go ahead and admit the general public wouldn't notice. I disagree. You have a considerably lower opinion of people than I do, apparently.

Iron Rattler, Hades 360, Phantom's Revenge, Wicked Cyclone... so many of the transformed coasters we have acknowledge the ride's history in the name of the ride. That doesn't seem to be what you're suggesting. What you suggested was that the park introduce "a brand new name and "floorless" coaster" -- not a transformed coaster.

And, really, what does it matter whether someone has "memorized" the name of a coaster? Why is that important?

Assuming everyone notices, which you are probably right there will be those that do, are you suggesting that there will be lines at Guest Relations?

"I want a refund!!! You lied to me!!! You said you had a new rolley coastey, and that's just Mantis with new seats!!!!!!&&**@@!!"

I just saw photos on Facebook of a big crane with people power washing and painting mantis. So i defiantly dont think they're scrapping it. I'm still on the side that they will convert it.

^What colors were they painting it?

Tilt-a-Whirl said:
Assuming everyone notices...

Not "everyone" in the park even rides any of the rides, so not "everyone" will notice.

...which you are probably right there will be those that do...

Plain ol' common sense tells me that if Cedar Point, per your suggestion, announced a "new" "floorless" coaster, a fair number of people would indeed notice that "new" "floorless" coaster looks exactly like that old stand-up coaster found in the exact same place as the "new" "floorless" coaster for 20 years.

...are you suggesting that there will be lines at Guest Relations? "I want a refund!!! You lied to me!!! You said you had a new rolley coastey, and that's just Mantis with new seats!!!!!!&&**@@!!"

Well, if Kings Island advertised their "exciting new for 2016 coaster, SuperAmazingBigFun Coaster", and I paid to get into the park only to discover that SuperAmazingBigFun Coaster was Beast with floorless trains, I'd be at guest relations asking for a refund. I don't understand your apparent willingness to dupe customers.

Well, like P.T. Barnum said, "There's a sucker born every minute."

True; but businesses that want to cater to repeat customers probably shouldn't use that as the basis for their marketing.

CoasterKyle1121 said:
I just saw photos on Facebook of a big crane with people power washing and painting mantis. So i defiantly dont think they're scrapping it. I'm still on the side that they will convert it.

Do you have a link for said pictures?

noggin said:
True; but businesses that want to cater to repeat customers probably shouldn't use that as the basis for their marketing.

They wouldn't be doing anything wrong. New trains on old track is still a NEW experience. They will and should advertise as such. Suggesting the park would be "duping" their customers is crazy. Some of you are just pissed the ride is staying and you can't face facts that your $50 million 500' coaster isn't taking Mantis' place.

UPDATE: the pics of Mantis getting power washed are on the "Cedar Point History" Facebook page.

So, which is it?

Earlier:

If you announce a brand new name and "floorless" coaster, and market it as such, 90% of people will have no idea it is just Mantis with different trains until they show up at the park.

...announcing a new name and "floorless," with no clarification to the public ("...90% will have no idea...").

Here, you're suggesting the park should advertise that it's new trains on old track.

Thanks for saying where the pictures of Mantis were at. Unfortunately they surely don't show anything other than a worker on a lift doing something. I am just wondering where the idea of they "were painting" Mantis came from. That could have been anything from a simple inspection, to making sure those new floorless trains will fit nicely on that section of track.

If anyone does get a picture of them painting that section of the track green and silver though...

Riding MF Friday 9/12 I noticed some tree clearing around ID/Mantis. Things are starting.

Yeah i didn't see paint or power washing either. Thats just what the caption said. I will need to see for myself to confirm if they're painting.

Noggin- I'm out for now. Let's continue the discussion in May when the park's marketing plan for 2015 is in full force.

Assuming Mantis is morphed into a floorless or standard sit-down coaster, I would hope to see some creative new elements to help enliven the ride. Maybe a tunnel or two on the low zones, perhaps even some special effects--say, along the lines of Maverick's water bombs or ID's fog machine.

Oh, and they should get the licensing rights to name it Space Ghost, 'cause nobody destroys a mantis better than the caped talk show host. Are you getting enough oxygen, riders? ;)

Wasn't the original design of Mantis (Banshee) suppose to be enclosed after the MCBR? Maybe that will finally happen :)

That could be most sweet.

That would fit with all those dark ride references from before.

You'd probably go deaf in the process. I suppose they could retrofit the ride with sand filling the supports and/or track, but I assume that's a no-go because it wasn't designed to support that kind of weight.