Mean Streak- Redone

If you want to try a good wooden coaster, try Shivering Timbers at Michigan Adventure. If you do, you will be very disappointed with MS.

Jeremiah said:
TRY to be more realistic... how big is your group? 5? 10? Your random sample group speaks for everyone I guess

Well with a walk on each and every single time I have been there recently for MS with Maverick right next to it with a wait between 1-2 hours, draw your own conclusions. I highly doubt my insignificant group that does not want to ride MS is that far off from the droves of people that steer clear of it also.

I feel safe in saying that when Cedar Fair executives are considering improvements to their parks, what coaster enthusiasts think, feel, believe or want ranks approximately last on their list.

Since Mean Streak continues to run at the park, it seems apparent that the decision makers feel the ride is worth keeping around.

clevelander said:

Well with a walk on each and every single time I have been there recently for MS with Maverick right next to it with a wait between 1-2 hours, draw your own conclusions.

That's how it was every time I went this year, except for Tuesday. I actually had to wait about 10 minutes to get on it. But, that was most likely because Maverick was down all day Tuesday. When they saw Maverick was closed, they went to Mean Streak.

^Clevelander: Or maybe a ride over twenty years old doesn't draw the crowds that a newer coaster does, but does efficiently handle capacity.

So, when they show all of these roller coaster shows on Discovery or Travel Channels or when new rides are introduced on news shows, do you really think the big wigs don't care what the enthusiasts are saying about their parks on them? Why does CF even bother having these roller coaster enthusiast days at their parks if they don't even care what we think?

I am just saying each time I have been there were pretty busy days. Also the last time I rode Meanstreak, Maverick had a 2 hour posted wait time and I had a total of 6 people on my train myself included. Total walk on at 2pm followed by a still rather bumpy and boring ride with a crew that was about to fall alseep.

Mean Streak, the past several times I have been there, has only needed 2 trains on the track with many seats roped off. That is not efficiency, that is lack of interest of a ride. All while Maverick, in it's 7th season, still draws people to wait over an hour for it, right next door. the only thing efficient about MS now is the fact that they installed retractable seatbelts that they no longer need to buckle for all of the empty seats,

Zoug68 said:
...do you really think the big wigs don't care what the enthusiasts are saying about their parks on them? Why does CF even bother having these roller coaster enthusiast days at their parks if they don't even care what we think?

I expect the big wigs not only don't care, but don't know that they have coasters on cable tv shows. That's why they have a public relations staff.

They host enthusiast events for largely the same reason they host family reunions, corporate outings and so on: they make a profit by doing so.

I am new to CP and these forums. In fact I am new to coasters in general. MS and Mantis seem to get a lot of hatred and discussion through various forums and social media.

There really isn't too much I can add to it that hasn't been beaten to a fine point. As much as I would love to rip down MS and build a GCI or Gravity Group woodie, I often wonder would that ride become another Magnum or Blue Streak after a year or two? Those are rides I love and enjoy but it is generally not as popular and considered too rough by a section of the population?

If MS is replaced by an RMC does it appeal to the general population or enthusiasts? Are RMC coasters a novelty that will wear off or is it something that will be popular 10-years from now?

The Voyage is considered to be the best (or at least one of the best) wooden coaster in the country yet even this year a number of enthusiast say it is too rough. So it makes me wonder how difficult it is to make enthusiast happy?

Who knows if the "big wigs" do care or not, because Mean Streak is still there. But I think at some point, especially with all these amazing woodies being built at either independent parks or chains and drawing the crowds, they will have to take notice if they want to remain at the top of the heap.

As far as roughness goes, Mean Streak notwithstanding, I theorize it's people too used to steel.

Zoug, length of the lines really means nothing in your argument. Maverick has a much lower capacity than Mean Streak and it also sees a lot more down time. Both of those are reasons why Maverick has such a long wait. Like Daemon said, its not RCT. Cedar Point can't just tear down Mean Streak and build a kick ass new ride in its place. If it was a good decision to remove Mean Streak, then they certainly would have by now. I hope you realize CP knows what they are doing and ultimately there are more reasons to having a ride in the park then to please enthusiasts.

clevelander said:
Mean Streak needs the New Texas Giant treatment ASAP that ride is an embarrasment.

It is not an embarrassment just because you do not like the ride. Some people still enjoy it, and besides it is a very visually pleasing ride.

clevelander said:
it NEVER tops anyones "must ride" list

I love Mean Streak and I always make sure to ride it. I go once or twice a year and this week when I was there, Mean Streak was my favorite ride of the day despite riding every roller coaster there. Sorry you don't like it but other people do

^ I agree with Everything you said about Mean Streak. I think another reason that they haven't removed Mean Streak is because they just spent 2-3 years retracking the ride. In my opinion, it's a much better ride then what it used to be. Yes it doesn't get the crowd that it should with Maverick, but people do come over to Mean Streak. I'm sure Cedar Point watches the amount of people that come through every day. By the way, does anyone know if they'll be getting rid of the camera booth for next season? It's been closed all season.

i think the mean streak will get redone. then cedar point can make a rmc or intamin wood coaster were the turn pike cars and cadilac cars are and it can have a small tight layout like the new goaloth at six flags great america after they revamp mean streak. mean streak could be a great rmc hybrid coaster because of its length its over 5,000 feet long. i think its worth it because the new texas giant was voted the 5th best steel coaster last year and that was only its second season.

I'm glad you bring that up Anthony. I was just thinking at work today of how Mean Streak would be if Intamin were to get involved. What would Mean Streak be like If Intamin did an El Toro work it? I think it would be a kick butt roller coaster. The layout could be altered with some really wicked turns like Maverick.

I experimented riding Mean Streak over the last month or so and have to say that I've figured out a way to enjoy riding it. I have to sit in the VERY front and then just lean/pull myself forward. Simple as that. That gets rid of a multitude of past issues and now I can concentrate on the ride. The first hill is now fun. There is a HINT of airtime on an outside hill about 2/3rds through the ride. So anyway, it's not the Phoenix or Ravine Flyer 2, but it can be ridable, even a LITTLE enjoyable!!

I would not like to see Mean Streak turn into a hybrid, instead they can do some reprofiling to make it more exciting and install RMC Topper Track. The Topper Track would really smooth out the ride while reducing maintenance and still allow the ride to remain a traditional wood coaster.

Pete said:
The Topper Track would really smooth out the ride while reducing maintenance and still allow the ride to remain a traditional wood coaster.

I like your Idea more than mine. :)

More than that, I wish they could figure out how to get rid of the trim breaks on that first hill, it's a real bummer. I think something is wrong with the stability of the structure itself if it's called for.

Honestly I think the trim breaks are the problem. I've gotten a few trimless rides this year and it's not even the same coaster. That coaster was amazing when it was new. We regularly waited in long lines to ride it and it was worth it at the time. If they could at least move the trims so that you could free fall the first hill before getting slowed down that would be an improvement.