Mystery Construction

I really dont understand why its so hard to understand that at CP if you arent 48 inches it is not as much fun. No one likes to go to parks and be told on every single "big ride" they cant ride, nor do kids enjoy not being able to ride on most rides with mom and dad (and parents dont like it either.) CP has a sister park to the south that does a much better job at this, because there even though kids cant ride the "big rides" mom and dad can do more then half of the kid rides at Nick U with them, there is a waterpark included, a 4-D theatre, 3 water rides, just as many shows, a giant viewing tower, and close to every kind of flat CP has on the midway. IF I end up settling down here and have kids, my kid will not see Sandusky until he/she is 48" and wants to ride on coasters, until then we will be making the extra drive to KI, Holiday World, and Disney World. Going before that will just be too painful for me and (assuming my kid has an appetitie for coasters like everyone else in my family) them. Thankfully, Im a tall person, I know I grew pretty fast so I expect he wont have to wait too long.

I just compared prices of going to disney for a week, and going to cp for a week. I based it on a family of 4.

Disneyworld $1,557.31

This includes a room at the pop centurey resort and park tickets for the family all week. The tickets are good for all four theme parks and both water parks. You also get a one round of minni golf per person durring the trip. The rate for the room was $82 a night in may. When we went the last few times, they offer the free dinning plan as well. That was included in this price.This saves you hundreds of dollors. Me and my girlfriend went for 4 days a few years back, and spent nearly $400 just on food without the plan. Not complaining about the food prices, because the food was quite good. You also get transpertation to and from the airport, and from your hotel to the parks everyday.

Cedarpoint $1,198.00

This includes room and season passes(cheapest way of doing it). The average rate is $120 a night for hotel breakers.This does not include soak city or any of your food.Not sure if this includes parking or not. Now when you add in all the money your going to spend on food durring the week, your well over what it costs to go to disney.

Anyway, back on topic.

I can't wait to go to cp eather. I look forword to it every year, and the same goes for this year. This year is just not as exciting as they are not getting anything new.

What do you mean there is not enough for people under 48" to do???

You have all of camp snoopy, all of planet snoopy, gemini childrens area, the train, boat, sky ride, giant wheel, the large childrens area in the front of the park, several spinning rides, 4 or 5 live shows, a waterpark with lots of things for the kids. You even have a resaurant themed just for kids. Not to mention all the things they have for kids durring halloweekends.

Kevinj said:

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.

In the context of that particular comment, from people here and among enthusiasts. It's an anecdotal comment, but in response to yet another discussion here about the lack of family attractions.

But, that said, I'm sure there are plenty of people here who can share real examples of the family perception.

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 assure you that I'm out in the world beyond this web site. :) It's not just among enthusiasts. For many people, when they hear Cedar Point, they first think thrills and coasters. And I don't mean that they're saying it in a negative connotation. Do a search on Twitter or on BackType. You'll see lots of comments from non-enthusiasts who put coasters and Cedar Point in the same sentence.

Even Cedar Point's own marketing material acknowledges this:

Cedar Point is a 364-acre amusement park that is home to the most exhilarating collection of thrill rides and roller coasters on Earth.

While Cedar Point is known around the globe for its world-record-breaking roller coasters, the Sandusky, Ohio amusement park/resort’s impressive collection of rides is popular with guests of all ages.

We're pretty fortunate here at PointBuzz where we have a lot of Cedar Point fans who aren't of the "coaster-nerd" variety. Sometimes, I think Disney is more popular around here. :) But it does make for well-grounded discussion.

Touchdown said:
I really dont understand why its so hard to understand that at CP if you arent 48 inches it is not as much fun.

The last time I went through the ride lineup, a person under 48" could ride 66 of the park's 75 rides. In addition, there are at least 30 rides that an adult and child can ride together.

Throw in the resort/beach, kid friendly HalloWeekends, and everything else already mentioned .... and, well, I'm afraid I'm just going to need more proof as to why anyone outside of Disney is leaps and bounds ahead of Cedar Point in the family department. Hint: it has to be more than Park A has a flume ride and Cedar Point doesn't.

back on topic..... Wheres the crane behind Mantis? Is it gone already or am I blind?

^ well i think i see it. look next to the mantis lift support, follow it down, it looks like a crane to the left of it... not that this has ANYTHING to do with the MF island clearing

Gone

oh i guess i don't see it then haha

Walt its not about quantity as much about quality, some of those rides adults "can do" I cant because Im tall, you will never, ever see me fit in those Woodstalk Spinners at Planet Snoopy. Also, even though I agree the kids cant tell, I can and there are a bunch of rides that are exactly the same in PS and CS. Its not just a flume, its also that KI has a dark ride, the sweet monorail ride, a much better raft ride, more coasters that I can ride on with him, more kid flats I can ride on, 4-D movie, a much better water park, and better shows. There is a reason that I go to KI quite a bit, its because even without a kid I crave those rides and cant get them at CP. Also have you seen KI's kid's halloween event, it blows the water out of CP's offering not to mention its easy to explain to a kid how "the Haunt" is different then the day festivities at "Howl-O-Fest" then explaining why we cant stick around for Halloweekends at night (but dad its the same name...)

Also, crazy, there is no way I would ever spend an entire week at CP, its not comparable. Also, odds are I would probably add 1 or 2 days to the Disney trip especially if I was with a kid (to allow more rest/nap time.) Youre trying to compare the experience at 4 parks, 2 waterparks and an entertainment district to 1 park and a water park. I just added DW in there because my kid will go to Disney World before he is 48".

The crane could have been putting the trains back on Mantis.

Touchdown said:
Also, even though I agree the kids cant tell, I can and there are a bunch of rides that are exactly the same in PS and CS.

And yet we're the ones with tunnel vision...if your kids can't tell what the heck is the big deal? Sounds to me like the parents are more concerned with having their own fun then enjoying their time with their kids regardless of what freakin' ride it is, how similiar it might be to another one, and how many times you ride it.

Honestly, if you want the kind of experience that you and several others have constantly bitched that Cedar Point has apparently very little or not enough or none of or whatever, then find another park to take your kids to. No kid on earth, at the age level we're talking about is going to be so picky that he or she is going to voice the complaints that so many of the adults have.

To those who complain that Cedar Point lacks family rides:
Keep in mind that not all families have kids that can't ride all of the rides. A lot of families have kids that can ride all the rides. My family for example ranges from 11 to 43. We can ride everything together. Same with most families I know. Even if they aren't tall enough to ride, how many rides are there that 4 year olds and 70 year olds can ride together? Not a lot, but the ones they can ride together are the train, Merry-Go-Round, and another handful of rides. So when you claim that Cedar Point doesn't cater to families, you have so called "tunnel vision."

Just to simplify everything, most families I know can ride all the rides and coasters together.

^^Thats my exact point mk, read my posts. If/when I have kids and live near here, my kid isnt going to CP with me until he is north of 48," until then he and I can have a whole lot more fun at another park near by, once he hits 48" Sandusky, here we come!

Personally, I really don't think kids mind. When I was young I was happy riding the merry go round and every other kiddie ride and when I got to the age that I wanted more, I was tall enough to ride whatever.

Well I specifically remember hating if I couldnt ride because of height limits, at my then local park the Yankee Cannonball did not have a height limit the summer I turned 3, but then did the next. That upset me to no end, thankfully I was over the limit the next summer.

Also, its not just about the kids, I want to have fun with them. At CP I will be a bystander more then Im riding with them, I dont want that.

assure you that I'm out in the world beyond this web site. It's not just among enthusiasts. For many people, when they hear Cedar Point, they first think thrills and coasters.
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I see what you're saying here; and I think the point that I was driving home was that I think that image is a false one.

Hense, the new commercials with the entire family smiling and strolling through the park as opposed to a group of teenagers screaming in fright on "Demon Drop Demon Drop Demon Drop..."

It's funny that someone above mentioned King's Island...when I was young (1980s) that park was the "scary park" with the crazy coasters while CP's image was more tame.

I really dont understand why its so hard to understand that at CP if you arent 48 inches it is not as much fun.

I really disagree with you on this, and hope that if you have kids you give them a chance to decide for themselves. I have nothing but very fond and fun memories of Cedar Point before I was ever able to ride any of the coasters (outside Jr Gemini)...and today there is basically 3 times more to do than there was when I was that young.

nor do kids enjoy not being able to ride on most rides with mom and dad (and parents dont like it either.)

I thought you said you dont have any kids?

I feel like a commercial here, but am I the only one who had an absolute blast at CP even before I was able to ride coasters? This is where the addiction started...the shows...Jr Gemini...Kid Arthurs Court...the cars that go in a circle...

?

I guess I just dont understand the "CP isnt fun for tiny tots" argument at all. I see lots of smiles on the 3 year olds at CP.

I'm not trying to be a CP hater when I bring up the family stuff. It is an area that I see a great deficiency in a park that I love.

Walt (I think) came up with a count of 30 rides the whole family (with kids under 6 let's say) can ride together. I'll buy that number. Of those, 3 are likely the car rides. Not great variety but...3 separate rides to be sure. You've got the train and the skyride, plus the tower ride. So, now you are left with 24 rides. Of those 24, how many are different variations on the spin and puke? A good number of them.

Planet Snoopy and Camp Snoopy are great for the kids. I won't deny it. And, I've spent a LOT of time in both areas. But, inevitably, I strike up conversations with other parents and you know what comes up almost every single time? "I wish there was more here the entire family could do together." Because, the older kids are off riding coasters with mom or dad while the other is sitting in Camp Snoopy.

People are saying it is unfair for me to compare Disney with Cedar Point. Who else, it is asked, is better at providing more "family" rides? Well, that isn't the point. Cedar Point is trying to fill hotel rooms and a campground with families. Yes, lots of families have kids 7, 8 and older who can appreciate the thrill rides. But, you are leaving out a lot of families with younger kids.

And, just a couple of years ago Cedar Point management itself said they were missing the boat on drawing families to the park. Their response? They yanked out the log ride, built Planet Snoopy, and built the family "Maverick" rollercoaster that had to be tamed down before it opened because people might have passed out while riding it.

Are there any correlations here? I can't say for certain but it makes me think so.

I'm still hoping this mystery construction is for a log flume. Having the entrance across from the petting zoo would be a great placement in relation to Thunder Canyon and Snake River falls. I really think this is what CP is missing as far as their lineup goes.

Still... I wouldn't be disappointed in another coaster to ride either.

I think there is enough to do for the whole family once you factor in Live-E in addition to the kids areas and the milder rides. I think the sentiment some of us carry is that we miss out on the "old school" attractions that CP once had (Pirate Ride, Earthquake, Sky Slide, WWL, Mill Race, Jungle Larry's, etc.) that allowed the whole family to enjoy it together, yet they really didn't have a replacement.

With that said, I still enjoy the park with my 3-year-old and I'm sure my now 7-month-old will feel the same way once he gets big enough for little rides. We found enough to do during Holloweekends last year even when that 7-month-old was only 6 weeks.

~Rob

That second to last statement is exactly the problem. Sure, they have 3 different versions of the same spin-n-puke rides in the different kids areas, and yeah, the kids don't care. But what about things like Pirate Ride, WWL, and others where not only the kids had fun, but they were also genuinely fun rides for the adults? They took them out and left that gap unfilled. There are no unique attractions left for parents and children to enjoy together, and that's where we see the park lacking. I worked in Planet Snoopy for all of about two weeks total last summer, and even in that short time, I had families walk away from a ride because the parent couldn't ride with their kid, or if the kid did ride alone, the parent usually had a bored look for a moment or two while the kid(s) weren't paying attention. Every now and then I would get a remark along the lines of "There's pretty much nothing I can ride with my kids here anymore, especially after they took out that one water ride a few years ago." That is the issue, the lack of unique family experiences. You can ride a ferris wheel or carousel at any other park or large fair, so those are not on my "uniquely fun" list. Yes, a lot of other parks have flumes, or dark rides, but they don't have to be the same, and they shouldn't, which is why I consider them "unique" family rides. With the spinners, all you can do is slap a different color scheme on them and apply a different theme. The ride experience is still the same at CP as it is on the ride at Magic Mountain, Worlds of Fun, or SF Over Texas. Give the park back a true family ride with a fun experience for the 1 yr. olds and the 70 yr. olds, and even the 14 yr. olds.

I have to chime in here, how can anyone say any park is or isn't family friendly.

My family (4) four people won't ride every single ride at Cedar Point, or Disney, or Kings Island, or Geauga Lake, or Carowinds (all the parks I have been to)

Me and my son will ride everything- spinning rides, roller coasters, watch shows, drop toweres, anything you can throw at us.

My wife will only ride matterhorn, scrambler, disaster transport, train, watch shows, and Mine ride. That's it. Sky ride is too much for her.

My daughter, up to millenium force, but not mantis, TTD, loves raptor, and maverick. Some Spinning rides, but not Chaos

Everyone has different opinions of what they like. Cedar Point offers that.

There are rides at disney my wife and daughter won't ride. Mission Space, any water ride, Space mountain.

But put them on Soarin' and man are they happy!

So there you have it. :)