Mystery Construction

The only other Topple Tower in North America is at Marineland in Niagara Falls. It really looks like a fun ride, but I have yet to hear anything good about the ride experience or maintenance. In regards to the space in question, I don't think CP would have cleared that many trees out in favor of a sitting area (or start this early for 2010). There's really nothing left on that part of the island, which makes a ride the logical choice.

I agree CP is overdue for a family coaster, the likes of the ones Knotts has installed recently. If this is the path, I just hope CP increases the ride duration. These rides are really short (though that might have something to do with the tight layout at Knotts).

Wasn't Maverick supposed to be a family coaster?;)

With CCMR, Wildcat, Iron Dragon, DT, Jr. Gemini, Woodstock Express and Blue Streak, is CP hurting for family coasters? That's almost half. Plus 2 kiddie areas, loads of family flats (bumper cars, scrambler, matterhorn, two tracked car rides, calypso, sky ride) live shows, and a Snoopy on Ice show.

^ you know, I was thinkin' the same thing...

It's the truth man. Disney is known for world class resorts, that doesn't make it not a kids park because kids can't book hotel rooms. Having outstanding coasters doesn't make CP not a kids park because kids can't ride 7 of them until they're what, 11 or 12 years old? Not even, Magnum opened when I was 8 and I was on it, along with Gemini. I'll give you the other thrill rides, that's maybe a dozen that aren't family friendly out of 75.

^ i totally agree. A new coaster would bring in more revenue than a family coaster/ride would.

I've been on the marineland topple tower. Its really boring. It doesn't spin fast or topple fast enough to be of any entertainment. A topple tower would be a waste.

They should move Ripcord into the park and put it on the island. Swinging that close to a rollercoaster would be awesome.

You guys are tunnel visioned when it comes to "family". I have used this example before:

I have a six year old (under 48") and a 3 year old. When I go to the Magic Kingdom there are only a handful of rides/attractions that we cannot all do together. Space Mountain, Big Thunder, Splash, etc.

When I go to Cedar Point there are a handful of rides that we CAN do together (all of us...including the 3 year old). The train, paddlewheel, some car rides, etc.

I'm not saying that Cedar Point needs to build a Haunted Mansion but many of their newer attractions (Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Monster's Inc Laugh Floor, Aladdin's Magic Carpets, etc) are attractions the entire family can do.

I'm not advocating Cedar Point try to become the Magic Kingdom...but they could stand to reach out more to the family demographic.

CPRush...I'd like to hear you explain how a new coaster will bring in more revenue than a family ride. Who do you think spends more money in the park on a given day: 4 teenagers or a family of 4 with a couple of kids under 10? Having been a teenager and now being the HOH of a family of four, the answer is clear as day to me.

I don't think its tunnel vision at all. I think its realism. Heres the thing, Cedar Point has a LOT for kids to do, and not just rides either. When you consider that Cedar Point has more thrills for the young adults and older, I think they've really gone out of their way to accomodate little ones. You need to keep in mind that no matter what, there is only so much a three year old and younger can do anyways...and yes, in fact, I think if people are demanding more "family" stuff, they shouldn't be looking to Cedar Point to provide an entire fun-filled day of adventure for their kids like Disney.

You've got shows, two big kids areas, not to mention the smaller spinners and the train, sky ride, giant wheel, honestly, I think there's going to come a point where, what more do you want?

I do agree that a general ride would be a nice installation, but I don't think it should be built just on the premise of, especially after Planet Snoopy, "we need to cater to families and kids".

Who else pulls this off besides Disney? Cedar Point takes a lot of grief for hating families, but it seems that of everyone who is not Disney, they're doing as well as anyone in this area.

Now, don't get me wrong. I would love to see some of those types of attractions at Cedar Point. And there are many ways the park can, should, and must continue to grow and change its offerings to appeal to more of the masses. And the park should never settle for being merely as good as anyone else. But, if Cedar Point lacks in this area, it's a problem shared by the entire non-Disney industry. Unfortunately, Cedar Point seems to get the label exclusively because of the perception it's for thrill seekers only. That's too bad, because outside of Disney, Cedar Point is a lot stronger here than many other parks.

Not always true.

I go to a park with my girlfriend when a new coaster is built, we usaly buy a t-shirt and other coaster related items. I am also going to spend money on fast pass if avalable.Plus we are more likely to go to a park if there is a new thrilling coaster built.

Do you think that planet snoopy brought more people thrue the gates than if they were to build a new major coaster last year? The several times that we were in the park this past summer, most of the rides in planet snoopy and camp snoopy were walk on's.

Being a father with a child under 10, I always bring snacks and food into the park for my daughter when we bring her to save money and I notice a lot of other familys doing the same thing. We very rarley eat in a park(specialy at cp because of price and quality of food). I would actualy think that a lot of familys with kids are not going to spend as much money at the parks as a married couple without kids will these days(not as much disposable income). It seems that we are more cautious with our money when we bring the little one with us.This is not always the case, but it is more common these days.

On a side note, I think it was a year or 2 ago that we compared the cost for a family of 4 to spend a week at cedarpoint and a week at disneyworld. It was actualy cheaper to do a week at disneyworld compared to a trip to cp. We based it on tickets, hotel and food.

It came out to be around $1200 for disneyworld, and was much more for cp.

A television advertisement for a 500 ft coaster with 160 inversions going 200mph (sartcastic example) would catch my attention and make me want to go to the park more than if I had a family and they advertised a new family ride. Yes, family rides are incentives, but kids grow up. Also, if big coasters didn't bring in more revenue than family rides then I'm sure the smart business approach would be to make the whole park a family park.

i for some reason, find that hard to believe. do you have the number you came up with for cp? that would be quite beneficial. you need to be a little more specific when it comes to what kind of hotel, what kind of food and tickets. there is no way tickets at disney were cheaper then cp.

Chief Wahoo said:
When I go to Cedar Point there are a handful of rides that we CAN do together (all of us...including the 3 year old). The train, paddlewheel, some car rides, etc.

Aren't most rides at CP, outside of the coasters, able to accommodate small children if they ride with a responsible person? The coasters are out, but I think most of the spinning rides and scenic rides are open to all ages provided they ride with an adult. I don't see where the preception comes in that families can't ride together. Even two of the kids areas, (Camp Snoopy and Planet Snoopy) allow adults on the rides with the kids.

One thing CP could do to bring families in is to add some modern attractions to Soak City. Water parks are huge with families, and for some reason CP is not investing in it. Not sure if they feel they are competing with themselves because of Wildwater Kingdom or Castaway Bay, but water attractions are affordable compared to thrill coasters. However, I do agree that nothing brings in the crowds like a new thrill coaster.

I have to agree a new coaster would catch my eye and probably a lot of other people. Look at Maverick, so it didn't break any records of park attendence but it was very benifical to the park. I'm asuming that merchandise sales grew. I know that when I go each year I buy a new T-shirt but that year I bought a lot of other stuff too. And they must make a bundle on Ride photos ($9-20).

CP does offer a lot for the children. Lets face it CP is not Disney, CF does not have 65million dollars just laying around to spend on a new interactive experience. The kids at CP look just as happy to be on Jr. Gemini than the children on multi-million dollar rides at disney.

Does anyone else notice a large crane behind Mantis in the Pagoda Cam?

I see it!!! And i think some of you are missing something, Cedar Point is an amusement park, not a theme park... just saying... :)

Cedar Point is not DISNEY and never will be... Just because CP don't have a million family rides and children rides don't mean its not family orientated. They have plenty for everyone. I took my two youngsters to Cedar Point this past summer (5 and 3 year old's) We spent the entire day at the park and spent a little at soak city. There is plenty for family. If you want to ride roller coaster and thrill rides you go to cedar point if you don't then you fly your @$$ to Florida to disney.

YOU GET YOUR @$$ OUT THERE, AND YOU FIND THE F***ING MOUSE! :)

When I was 5, I couldn't wait until the day we got to go to Cedar Point.

When I was 12, I couldn't wait until the day we got to go to Cedar Point.

Repeat for ages 18, 25, and now 32, with a daughter.

How is it not a "family park" when everyone in the family can't wait to go? Am I missing something? For the past few years, so many people (on here, basically, not in the outside world containing 99.99% of the population) keep arguing for this family demographic...which has never left. There is a crap-load of things for someone of every age to do at Cedar Point, and a lot of rides, shows, attractions, etc for everyone in the family to do together.

I've just never understood this supposed "missing link" that CP needs to strive for.

Cedar Point takes a lot of grief for hating families

From who, exactly? I have never in my life heard a disparaging remark from anyone about Cedar Point and families. I see a lot of happy families at CP every time we go.

And there are many ways the park can, should, and must continue to grow and change its offerings to appeal to more of the masses.

This I agree with...and I think CP has done that for about 100 or so years now.

Unfortunately, Cedar Point seems to get the label exclusively because of the perception it's for thrill seekers only.

Again, I really think this is just in people's heads. Outside of this website and a few other "coaster-nerd" websites (yes, I am one), I have never heard that from a real, live, walking person.

I just find the whole argument rather strange.