New for 2014

Haha thanks for clearing that up. Sounds like an interesting person.

And if there is ever a film festival at Coastermania again, I think I know what it'll be about. ;)

This might be a good alternative for a family type coaster to replace the Good Time theater someday. It has a small footprint, kinda boring imo, but something the little ones and parents could all go on (besides Woodstock Express). Knott's has one called a Coast Rider (see link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfS7-KzNHXw

On another note, just getting back from Kennywood park (PA) this past weekend (whose Potato Patch fries w/cheese & bacon were the best amusement park fries I've tasted BTW,sorry...) I would love to see a new modern Kangaroo ride manufactured (like CP's old Flying coaster). That ride was fun! Or one of these behind the Arcade to tie together Kiddie Kingdom and Planet Snoopy once and for all, this was also fun and a smaller alternative to Maxair for families. I rode this "cosmic Chaos" 3x, it was neat.
Check it out:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7rGmwzGoVs

Sorry didn't mean to make this a "wishlist", just thinking down the road for the future.

That second one kind of reminds me of this Surf Dog I saw at Kings Island.

http://youtu.be/rYj_DvAUoA8

It's in the kid section but it's a family ride.

Ride On_17 said:
^I personally think it would be the opposite. Maybe a dark ride in the old Pirate Ride building for 2014, with a major overhaul of the area in 2015. I don't see the park tackling 2 major projects in consecutive years but I could be wrong.

You read my mind, I'm expecting something similar to 'boo blasters' at KI & KD (possibly pirate themed so there wouldn't have to be much done to the building) and maybe another 1 or 2 small children rides in that area. I also think the whole family thing will also be used to promote the updated hotel. Just my 2 cents

Yeah, the new versions of the wild mouse concept are pretty cool. The different spinning versions have more variety than the standard. And the Zamperla family rides like the disk-o and rockin' tug are great additions to parks.

i've ridden coast rider and its actuly a lot of fun. I hope cedar point gets a wild mouse coaster in the future.

CPfan1976 said:
This might be a good alternative for a family type coaster to replace the Good Time theater someday.

Why should they replace a live entertainment venue with a coaster? Seems they have plenty of coasters already.

^ I agree with you on the amount of coasters but the park seems to think this (building new ones) is what drives revenues. I'm pretty sure the next major area we're going to see tackled is the Blue Streak area (sorely needed, its a dead end cul de sac)and the theater or Turnpike cars area is the most likely spot where a new one will be built.
On the GTT note, I was going to this place right after it was built in 1975(when the Imax theater screen was there), and trust me this place is a shell of its former self. Not only is the beginning staging area gone and walled in (where they used to pump up the crowd with live acts before the movie started) but I feel that the ice skating shows at amusement parks have outlived their usefulness, they'll go the way of the Model T. Just my 2c.

We've watched the ice show once when the kids were little and never bothered since. We used to watch the Imax movie every year.

CPfan1976 said:
^ I agree with you on the amount of coasters but the park seems to think this (building new ones) is what drives revenues.

Absolutely false. People in the industry have long known, and Ouimet has stated in several interview since taking the CF helm, that families drive revenue, not thrill-seeking teenagers flocking to the latest coaster.

I'm pretty sure the next major area we're going to see tackled is the Blue Streak area (sorely needed, its a dead end cul de sac)and the theater or Turnpike cars area is the most likely spot where a new one will be built.

While I agree that the BS midway is the likeliest candidate for renovation, there's absolutely no indication that a new coaster would go there (nor is there a gaping hole in the park's coaster lineup). The most likely thing you'll see is simply connecting that midway to Celebration Plaza.

...I feel that the ice skating shows at amusement parks have outlived their usefulness...

Seeing as how live entertainment drives family visits, and families spend the most money, park management may disagree. That's not to say the ice show will always exist, but it would be stupid to replace a live entertainment venue with yet another coaster.

While having a variety of entertainments is important for a park that wants to appeal to the whole family, I don't see how live entertainment drives family visits. Mechanical rides are still the big draw for the majority of park goers of all ages. Shows are more of the break from all the running around the park to catch a breather. That's why spreading the theaters throughout the park is important.

The removal of both Wildcat and Disaster Transport did leave a hole in the park's lineup of coasters, not a gaping one maybe, but a Wild Mouse-sized one. How big of a hole does that leave? I'd say big enough for Ouimet to be looking into that type of coaster within the next 5 years.

Coming from Disney, I'd really be disappointed if Ouimet didn't have a darkride PLANNED within the next 5 years also, hopefully coming either next year or 2015.

StLCPfan said:
...I don't see how live entertainment drives family visits.

What's the height requirement for live entertainment? :)

...a Wild Mouse-sized one.

It's true that the park could use a wild mouse. It's also true that when they install one, lots of people will bitch and moan that it's not bigger or faster or whatever. Though I suppose the same is true to some extent no matter what they install.

And I'd also be surprised if we don't see a dark ride debut by May 2015 at the latest.

I would like to see a smaller size (footprint), lower height required coaster, maybe something similar to "Spinning Dragons" at Worlds of Fun. (https://www.worldsoffun.com/rides/Thrill-Rides/Spinning-Dragons)

My entire family really enjoyed that ride this summer. Surprising how fun it was with a minimum height of 43" with adult, 48" alone.

Small footprint and a fun ride. Bet it wasn't that expensive either.

Given the fact that Tony is recruiting a family to play an important part in announcing the 2014 capital improvement plans, I think it is pretty safe to say that the park has turned a corner and is getting ready to make a big push to change the public's thinking from "coaster park" to "family amusement park".

I think some enthusiasts need to change their thinking also. Just because it is a family attraction does not mean it can't be FUN. After all, the goal is to have something to entertain the entire family, from the thrill seeking teenager to grandparents all riding together. If it is entertaining to the entire family, you don't actually need a family to find the ride entertaining. Just because it doesn't accelerate to 120mph doesn't mean it can't be a lot of fun in a different way. I'd be willing to bet a paycheck that whatever is announced will NOT be a family coaster.

What was that ride that Michigan Adventure received this year? That was a family ride. Makes me think Ointment will bring something like that into Cedar Point sometime soon.

^lakeside gliders. knotts berry farm also got that ride this year for there new boardwalk.

I don't know if anyone listens to, or reads the transcripts of, the Cedar Fair Quarterly Earnings conference calls, such as the one that occurred today. I listen to them out of interest, and because there is almost ALWAYS juicy information that is discussed, and today was no different.

In Matt Ouimet's prepared remarks, he talked about how parks would be announcing new capital in these last few months of the season. He mentioned Kings Island, then went on to say that parks would be seeing expanded family rides, water park expansions, revamping of classic attractions (Knott's Mine Ride),and an "interactive, innovative dark ride that would set a new industry standard."

You can listen to the call on Cedar Fair's website.

Hmm. I think that gives even more support to the theory that we'll get a dark ride next year.

Well that pretty much states that were getting an "interactive, innovative dark ride that would set a new industry standard."