May Hours Change

I am sorry if this was already posted - I tried looking for it and did not find anything. What do you guys think about the new hours in May where the park is only open until 7pm as opposed to 8pm? I know that it is only one hour but I am really disapointed to see the change - I guess I always live by the rule that every minute counts when at Cedar Point (especially since I don't get down there as much as I would like to).

It was posted a while back, like in December.

I think it stinks. May is my favorite time in the park and now I drive 120 miles to be at CP for 9 hours instead of 10.

Oh well. Can't change it now.

I know I won't be making and weekday trips this year unless I take the day off, because I'm out at 5:00 and by the time I get up there, sit through traffic in Norwalk and park, it'll be like 6:30-6:45.

It'll save me mileage on my car, that's for sure.

When we first planned our May trip, the hours are why we planned for a weekend, rather than a week day. I much prefer the dead May week day's over the weekends, but like mentioned above- the time counts, and the more time you have, the more stuff you can do.

I wonder why Cedar Point did this, I assume it is a money thing (ie: One hour less means so many $ less in park operations) and the fact that there are not that many people whom actually attend in May, but I still wish they had not.

Im very disapointed they did this,that extra hour means a lot.

Well maybe they did it because every single ride is a walk-on during May on weekdays. You could ride MF 100 times during that time period. All that money they are saving is helping to build that new coaster you'll be riding.

Wow. That was hard.

http://pointbuzz.com/cpplace.aspx?mode=thread&TopicID=20010

EVERTHING in bussiness has to do with money. I don't fault the park for that,

MrScott

If your business is ONLY interested in making money, sure. If they care about things other than just how much profit they can pull in, money isn't always the determining factor.

120 miles to CP from Sylvania?

I'm pretty sure that money is the determining factor in the amusement business.

Depends on who you work for. That's not the number one determining factor in Disney's decisions. Sometimes it is, but lots of times its not. I was an Imagineer, so you can't really argue that fact with me because I was a part of the design process on MANY parks, attractions, resorts, and other projects.

I know thats true (about Disney) but then it makes me wonder what drives some of their decisions. Because some of them are just flat out idiotic.

Like putting a panda in the Old West.

:)

There's no hiding the fact that CP is going through many budget cuts. None of the cuts are very noticeable from an average person's point-of-view.

I would say at least 80% of those cuts are staffing related. CP has closed food stands, games, and other misc. attractions around the park before closing. It takes a lot of employees to keep the park running and during the low season (May-September) the park is very empty around closing. So CP's solution is to close an hour earlier.

Now comes the differences between a member on PointBuzz to an average guest in the park. We care about this, others don't; end of story.

Just be thankful that CP is open weekdays during May, most upper midwestern parks dont go daily until Memorial Day. Besides 8 is before sunset anyways, so moving back to 7 doesnt rob you of night time (if it wasnt true you would hear me complaining about this) and 7 hours with those crowds is plenty of time to enjoy the park.

Gomez said:
None of the cuts are very noticeable from an average person's point-of-view.

I'm not sure I agree with that. I've spoken with people who visit as little as once per year who have very much noticed some of the changes.

^Like what though?

The operating hour cutbacks, the fact that food venues and stores close significantly early, and evident staffing cutbacks (ie: rides, or how well a venue is staffed), even during peak season, have been some of the most noted things I've heard.