Memorial Day @ CP

Although Ian has been to the point twice since opening, he wanted to go on Memorial Day, his birthday, with his girlfriend Donna. I, of course, was happy to go along. Even better, TheRealCP, Catherine, was able to go as well.

The 60% chance of thundershowers turned into clear blue skies with temps around 70 degrees. Crowds were low enough to provide short lines for most everything except for MF, TTD and maXair. I noticed later in the day that Wicked Twister had a bit of a line, but certainly under a 30 minute wait.

TTD was down for Joe Cool, but they had the Freeway booth open so we got stamps for the 5-6 pm hour and went to MF. Although the line was only to the bottom of the ramp, there were enough larger people straining to get seatbelts fastened that it took longer than it should have to get our first ride. TheRealCP, although close to fitting via the test seat, opted out.

Since Mantis wasn't accepting riders yet, we moved to the front of the park to ride maXair. Unbeknownst to me, Donna had awakened feeling nauseous, so a ride on MF and maXair had her feeling queasy enough to bow out of Wicked Twister, but she rode Disaster Transport, Blue Streak and Power Tower drop side before sitting out while TheRealCP and I rode the space shot side. I'm proud to say I've graduated to sitting on an outside seat on PT. Now I just need to get used to riding Drop Zone at PKI.

We rode the CP&LE to Frontier Town, but Donna sat out while we rode Mean Streak. I said hello and introduced myself to Tyler and asked for a trim free ride that made him chuckle. It wasn't trim free, but MS is still running better than it was last year.

Donna was looking pretty green around the gills, so I suggested eating something. We chose Game Day Grille, but they said their credit card authorizing machine was down, so we sat down to regroup, and poor Donna got sick.

That meant a trip to first aid, where they were very accomodating and told her she could lay down and stay as long as needed. I offered to stay, but she shooed me out so I left her with my cell phone and Ian, TheRealCP and I spent the next couple of hours riding.

Ian pointed out something I'd never noticed before. The seats on Frog Hopper are actually frogs with opened mouths. I didn't realize it until Ian made a comment about the position of the frog's tongue. I'll never look at that kiddie ride with the same eyes again!!

We caught rides on Magnum, Gemini, and CCMR with a brief stop for cheese fries at the Happy Friar and a phone call to Donna to check in on her. After Corkscrew and Scrambler, Donna called saying she was feeling much better so me made the short hop to First Aid to get her. She had color in her cheeks again and her smile was genuine.

Not wanting to push it, we did Iron Dragon then worked up to Blue Streak. Raptor was literally a walk on, so we had one ride with the four of us, then Donna and Ian sat out while TheRealCP and I caught a second flight.

We checked back with the Game Day Grille to discover they were accepting credit cards again. Our waitress, Nikki, was from Westland, a local girl to us. That was cool. I thought the prices were reasonable, and I'd go back again simply for the lobster/shrimp bisque. YUM!!!!

Although Donna ate light, she didn't want to push her luck so we chilled out on the Giant Wheel before making our 5-6 pm freeway ride on Dragster. If she got sick again after Dragster, we'd just head home as she'd at least have the ride in.

We were in line 10 minutes when they announced it was down mechnical. We lost around 30 people from the queue, moving us up a bit, and 10 minutes later TTD was running again. We had two trains of people ahead of us when they called for a single rider, so I jumped ahead (much to Ian's disgust) and got a ride with a TTD newbie whose two daughters were in the seats behind us. I enjoyed telling him about rollbacks, but to make up for it, I also warned him about the train backing up slightly as the catch-car engages for the impending launch. We were in the green train that ever so slowly crested the top and the subsequent spinning drop had my riding partner screaming. He loved TTD and he and his girls went running for the photo booth, and I called TheRealCP to let her know Ian and Donna would be launching soon and to arrange to meet up again.

TheRealCP passed on Dragster and instead rode Magnum, Gemini, CCMR and was in line for Mean Streak when I rang her cell phone. We met at Gemini for another ride, then went back to Mean Streak.

Donna was feeling much better, even after a Mean Streak ride, and feeling hungry again, but not really wanting anything greasy, so we decided to call it a day and make a stop at Dianne's on 250 for some dinner. They have such a huge variety of food on the menu, everyone can get something they like for very reasonable prices. It's become are new favorite place, especially considering they are open 24 hours.

We were back on the road by 8:30 pm, and had a mostly uneventful ride home...except for some a$$hole in a burgundy car with Michigan plates passing everyone in sight on Route 2. Honestly, the speed limit is 55, I was going a bit over 60 and this guy was right on my bumper until he made the move to pass me and the 4 cars in front of me. I was sooooo hoping the lunatic would get himself caught by the cops on 280 because I have no doubt he was flying through the construction too. I have to admit, although the early morning drives to CP on Route 2 are pretty much traffic free, the drives home can be hellacious with all the crazies who don't understand what a speed limit is.

Sounds like you had a pretty cool trip. I definitely want to go to CP on Memorial Day (when I can drive) next year. :)

Your TTD experience sounds a lot like mine (same train, too)... only, I'm the newbie. :)

I was there yesterday. Got my first rollback. Crowds werernt bad at all.

Nice trip report! I think I'm going to like reading these threads the best! (yes I'm a newb on the boards not a recycled goober with a new name) It is interesting to see CP through other people's eyes. I've never lived more than 90 mins from CP, so I always kind of take it for granted. Some of the pictures from your website sure brought back some memories! I'm going to dig through the photo albums at my Mom's next time I'm there. We used to have lots of pics from the 70's. If so I'll maybe get some scanned in and post them!

During WDW's 25th anniversary we took some copies of pictures with us from our first trip there when I was a kid. It was the opening year for WDW and they (WDW) actually asked if they could keep the pictures. We got some kinda neato nametags with the year we first visited, and they gave us some really nice lithographs of the anniversary logos and what not. Thank goodness my parrents were picture takers! It was a really fun trip.

CPLurker

"Bring back the Penguins!"
*** Edited 5/31/2005 11:31:43 PM UTC by CPLurker***

OldCPer, I too have noticed those frogs tongues. it has been a joke for years and I wonder who was the bright person that designed that ride that way. Luckily kids dont have minds like us! lol

Great trip report! Sounds like I missed out on a great day to go.

CPLurker, I'd love to see some of the photos from the 70's! I don't have many, although I haven't gone through my mom's photos to see if she has any.

Cedar Point and my family goes way back. My grandmother used to take a ferry from Detroit to Sandusky to spend weekends at the Point when it was little more than a beach resort with a few rides.

OldCPer said:
We were back on the road by 8:30 pm, and had a mostly uneventful ride home...except for some a$$hole in a burgundy car with Michigan plates passing everyone in sight on Route 2. Honestly, the speed limit is 55, I was going a bit over 60 and this guy was right on my bumper until he made the move to pass me and the 4 cars in front of me. I was sooooo hoping the lunatic would get himself caught by the cops on 280 because I have no doubt he was flying through the construction too. I have to admit, although the early morning drives to CP on Route 2 are pretty much traffic free, the drives home can be hellacious with all the crazies who don't understand what a speed limit is.

The general consensus around Michigan is that everyone else (especially in Ohio) drives too slowly, so at least it's just a different point of view and not actually unfair prejudice. :-)

Your speed limit is 55? up north? Wow that's slow. Sounds like you had a fun time. Ours are 70. They were thinking of raising it to 80 though.