Mantis removal or transformation?

CoasterKyle, I thought that reaper looked familiar!
At the end of GateKeeper's announcement, the reaper said "Wait, we're not the whole story". This is the other side of the story.

It's just a reaper costume..nothing special.

Ride removed, teaser video on the Youtube page & over to Twitter. People get all worked up and expect more/want more, including the press. Now you have a last ride date, and maybe a future plans date to go along with it, or before/after. Now is when you watch what happens. They're obviously gearing up for an announcement on the point.

Just think..y'all gave them hits all over their Twitter, Youtube, etc. and now the news is everywhere too thinking a big story, but have this major news release, and now a second article later on for more '15 plans. Then fans and whatnot get a last ride on the coaster if they wish to make a memory, and gets everyone onboard and excited to see what '15 brings after Mantis is taken out.

Mission accomplished.

Perpetual Obsession said:
How fitting would that be if they made further announcements on September/October 12?

Not very, I think, since they'll have plenty of local media at the park on 19th October to cover the end (?) of Mantis. Why dilute the coverage?

Because even w/ DT's last ride, the announcement date was later

Ok, Cedar point never used any language confirming that the ride would be dismantled. Just that it would be it's "last stand." Plus we have the test paint still.

I'm still thinking new paint scheme, floorless trains, and an altered course (starting before the current MCBR).

Okay. But if you're going to have local media at the park, why not take advantage of it?

They're bringing local media in for Mantis' last day of operation? I missed that.

I'm thinking it's going to get a new paint job and name, as well as go floorless. I really hope it's not completely removed, it's one of my favorite there!

Because all of the local media will be back for whenever the announcement is creating...wait for it...two days of widespread media exposure.

cpfourlife1 said:
Plus we have the test paint still.

Say, does anyone know if the test paint is still there? I can't seem to find it in the bottom live cam view of Mantis.

noggin said:
Okay. But if you're going to have local media at the park, why not take advantage of it?

Look at it this way:

Todays announcement of the ride closure, gets a buzz from the community & media

News will probably cover the last ride day, and speculate

Announcement of '15 plans at a date after that

Three articles, all three generating buzz for the park. They're playing their cards right..Instead of just boom, here's '15. They're being cryptic and making us all talk about it just like we are now, and media trying to get every detail they can, even see how they're responding to the media. It's all smart marketing.

Anyone else think that it's possible that the Mantis location may not be the spot for the 2015 ride? It could be located elsewhere and then the Mantis location could be used for a 2016 coaster location.

IMO, today's "major" announcement was kind of a let down. I was expecting plans for a new ride. I think Mantis is being converted into Rougarou. Possible retracking at the end of the ride but I don't think it's going anywhere. They never mentioned anything about it being taken down. Anyways I'm excited for what's coming.

cpfourlife1 said:
Plus we have the test paint still.

The test paint is irrelevant. It could have been there for a Mantis reconfiguration, or as a test to see colors for a new coaster etc... A couple hundred dollars of paint and labor on a 2' section of track does not mean that the track will stay as is...

Perpetual Obsession said:
Say, does anyone know if the test paint is still there? I can't seem to find it in the bottom live cam view of Mantis.

Yes it is still there, where would it have gone? The track is the farthest from the camera and closest to the ground just after the mid brake run.

CPboy77 said:
Anyone else think that it's possible that the Mantis location may not be the spot for the 2015 ride? It could be located elsewhere and then the Mantis location could be used for a 2016 coaster location.

Kind of like how White Water Landing was removed at the end of 2005, yet Maverick didn't come along until 2007.

In the meantime, there could be another flat ride on the way to "distract" us (like Skyhawk in 2006).

Soooo...

Anyone else find it odd that Mantis is being removed the same time the stand-up at Canada's Wonderland is?

Someone at Cedar Fair must have had their privates crushed one too many times...

Seriously, what's with ripping out / transforming all the stand-ups?

Been a reader of this forum since the TTD speculation days. Had a couple different screen names, none of which are still associated with a active email account, so here I am, all brand spankin new!

I'm in the camp that says Mantis is getting transformed into a different experience. It's too large and relatively new - also a well-built B&M coaster - to be taken out completely, I think. I heard of the conversion in June when I visited and spoke with a former coworker who is now in a supervisory position. I'll admit that I was skeptical at first, but then all the signs started pointing to it actually happening. This person said it would be a floorless conversion. I'm thinking that we'll see a somewhat newly-desigend train - almost guaranteed to be the new B&M vest restraints, but who knows, we may see B&M's first lapbar-style restraints on a looping coaster. Basically every other manufacturer has done it, and we know B&M are traditionally a little late to the party when it comes to stuff like that. Also excited to see if the layout gets changed at all. I think that Mantis has an awesome, aesthetically-pleasing, old school B&M layout, it's just the post-midcourse that sucks bigtime. Yank out everything after the midcourse, make that part a more modern experience, leave all the brake runs where they are, and bam, you have a brand freakin new ride . Super excited to get more information on this!

djDaemon said:
They're bringing local media in for Mantis' last day of operation?.

Well, it seems a no-brainer to me. If you're WKYC or WTOL or what-have-you, and the "local" park is taking down or out a near-20 year old ride, you send a truck and a producer. Maybe even a reporter if it's a slow news day. The park expects that and takes advantage of it.

The video with the reaper kinda reminds me of the same reaper that was on the building to announce GateKeeper. And if I remember correctly, the audio said "Wait we aren't telling the whole story, there's more" or something like that. I feel since the reaper made another appearance in the video, it coincides with the "wait there's more part". It's like everytime a ride is removed for another at CP, that reaper guy shows up. Just a thought.

I have a buddy who's home park is Canada's Wonderland. The rumor up there is that their stand-up is being removed to make a water park expansion.

Here's my prediction...

Rip Cord and Skyscraper will get moved where Mantis is. The go karts and the mini golf will get ripped out. Soak City will get a MASSIVE expansion to compete with Kalahari.

Seriously... Anyone besides me think it's weird that half the mini golf course has been closed for like... Two years?