Media Day Trip Report

I'm going to try to keep this brief, because I've been up for 21 hours already, but wanted to get my thoughts down on paper before it all gets lost in the fog.

We left metro Detroit around 2:30, but didn't get to the park until 5:15 or so, thanks to the great state of Ohio failing to announce the detour on OH-2 Eastbound... it just said "Road Closed" and that's exactly what happened. Thankfully we were able to navigate around it, but not after spending 15 minutes helping a stranded trucker reverse out of the mess and head back West.

With our good deed for the day done, we got to the park and got in line for GK in time for a few totally dark rides before daybreak. It occurred to me, I may never have the opportunity to ride GK again pre-dawn, because even for CoasterMania the ERT doesn't start until after daybreak.

The crowds were light and enthusiastic. The ride was exactly what I expected after watching the POV animation many times and studying the layout. No surprises, having ridden X-Flight and other B&M rides I had a good idea what to expect, and GK delivered.

Breakfast at the Midway Market was great. I mean, not really, it was just good, but considering the price (FREE) it was awesome. CP really went above and beyond to create an amazing experience for us enthusiasts, and I really tried hard to thank everyone involved so they knew it was appreciated. Most everyone seemed courteous and followed instructions, which is good, because I'd hate for things like this to be discontinued by a few bad apples.

The opening ceremony and speeches were also good, and insightful. The park really outdid themselves in an effort to change the image of the park's entrance and integrate the ride into it, rather than just plop a ride somewhere like has been done so many times before. Bravo, on all fronts there.

I won't go into too many details on the ride itself here, in the interest of staying brief, but you can read a great many posts on the subject of seat choices, good/bad elements of the ride, etc elsewhere on these forums. I was able to manage 21 laps on the ride, certainly not a record among attendees but then that wasn't my goal either. The few rides on MF and Raptor were icing on the cake.

Lunch at Midway Market was much better than the breakfast, and again of course was free. I also couldn't help but eat some fresh cut fries. I really tried to pass right by the location but the guys working the window were yelling out "FREE FRIES" much of the early afternoon, and I couldn't resist. All attendees got a coupon for a free on-ride GK photo, although the rides cameras were malfunctioning for much of the day. Still, my group were able to get our pictures.

We also got a very nice GK messenger style bag as a souvenier. I don't know if it's just because it's early in the season, or because it was media day, or what the deal was, but there seemed to be a culture shift present in the attitudes of employees, all were very outgoing, polite, and helpful... even going so far as to ask if we were enjoying ourselves. I personally got this question several times. It remains to be seen if this was a one-time thing or if it lasts all season, but I am optimistic!

All in all, it was an amazing day to be at the point, a once-in-my-lifetime-so-far experience, not to be missed! The weather was perfect, the ride was great, the food and staff were great, and it was just fun to be in the virtually empty park seeing a lot of the behind-the-scenes scrambling that goes on the day before the park opens to the masses.

I agree with everything above. While in the MF station, I made the comment to my son, how great it is to have the park full of 'experienced' riders. Everyone knows how to buckle up. As fate would have it, while leaving the station, the woman behind us said her belt came undone. Yep, we were the ones stuck on the lift just out of the station.
They used the elevator cart, and she left the train in it. We did get a re-ride, and I think I cooked my head to a nice medium rare.

I was in line directly behind that lady, and we talked at length about the seat belts and how she never fits. The husband went on some rant blaming intamin. Anyway, I'm going to stop there before I say something mean. We got into the station and got right on the ride. She waited for the back. I rode, went back around for a re-ride and was to be on the next train (yellow) after her and saw the whole thing unfold. I didn't get to ride again (my third) because that whole thing took so long.

So, with the exception of that lady, yeah, it was all experienced riders. She had no business trying to squeeze on the ride, I don't think her seat belt was ever properly fastened in the first place, because she was waving her arms to stop before the train ever started moving.

MaverickLaunch said:
thanks to the great state of Ohio failing to announce the detour on OH-2 Eastbound... it just said "Road Closed" and that's exactly what happened.

Funny you should mention that. :) I was in Detroit last week for work and made the trip to Sandusky about 9 hours ahead of you. I remember seeing the sign warning that Rt. 2 was closed "14 miles west." Of course, it didn't matter to me. I always go I-280 to the Turnpike. I tend to opt for roads with medians to protect me from on-coming traffic, when available. :)

I didn't write that very coherently. What I meant was that, although they did post notice just west of the town of Oregon that OH-2 was "closed ahead", they did not provide any info on how to detour around it.

Coming from the East, the detour was clearly marked, two extra turns were required. From the west, it was like "Screw You, Buddy!"

Anyway, I hate the turnpike, as it adds time to my drive (except maybe this time) and I hate paying to drive down a road, not just for the cost, but the inconvenience.

Solid point about having a median as a buffer... I hadn't really ever looked at it that way! :)

To be fair, the detour coming from the west requires you to continue on 280 south to the next exit. Once you're already on Rt. 2 heading east, you've missed the detour. I believe there are a couple of other ways to get around it, but none of them are posted detours.

If you find yourself missing the detour, stay on 2 and turn south on Elliston Road before the Bono curve. You take this to SR 579 and turn left (east). This will end at SR 2 and you are back on track.

That's what I'm saying. It's a very simple detour. It's posted clearly coming Westbound. If you are Eastbound, the detour is equally simple, yet, not posted, unless you catch the sign way back on I-280.

Ohio sucks.

Just kidding. But that lack of signage and common sense on the part of DOT did, in fact, suck.

I'm headed back down tomorrow morning for a couple days. I will be sure to take the unmarked detour, and I'll probably speed, just to prove a point to the Ohio troopers, who will be nowhere around since there's no thru traffic on OH-2 right now! :)