New for 2014

45Wheelgun said:
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.

Is that the same coaster type as whatever the spinning coaster at Waldameer is (The one with iron or steel in its name)? That is a sweet ride!

It is very similar to the Steel Dragon at Waldameer. Basically the same ride, but the cars are configured differently. The seats on Spinning Dragons face inward towards each other (two per side) and on the Steel Dragon the seats face outwards with their backs towards each other. In both cases the cars spin from gravity independent from the track.

Loads of fun in a small package, very family friendly and the Spinning Dragons gets up to 30 mph which is pretty fast for a family ride.

I know this isn't Cedar Point news but looks like Kings Island is getting a new inverted for 2014. Looks pretty sweet. Got Mantis old name as well. Looks like I'll have to keep an eye our for media day announcements next year.

Banshee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OuW3fGuRZE

djDaemon said:

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

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

Yes, my 4 year old nephew just begs to go see luminosity. :)

It depends, of course, on the type of live entertainment.

So what about the family they are looking for to announce the next thing at CP? Also heard that 'Amusement Dark' was recently trademarked.

The chosen family will film the announcement sometime before 21-August, so any announcement about 2014 plans isn't due for a while yet.

i think the announcement will be on labor day weekend or the weekend after.

Mike Jenkins said:
Also heard that 'Amusement Dark' was recently trademarked.

Per article here, it was filed for on March 22nd for the typical. Goods Service:Souvenir sport bottles sold empty, beverageware; shot glasses; cups Clothing, namely shoes; t-shirts, shorts, sweat shirts, sweat pants, sweat shorts; and headwear, namely hats and caps Amusement park services.

I am surprised there is not more "buzz" around this latest development. With the recent statement from Matt, it looks like we are 99.9% getting an amazing dark ride next year! Whose excited?? I AM!! Where do y'all think it'll go?

Well I am, because I have a 1 and 5 year old. I've been wishing for a dark ride for a decade, so you'll have to excuse my muffled enthusiasm at this point.

Let me put it this way. I'm excited to see what Ouimet does differently, because Cedar Point's latest attempt at a family ride was Shoot the Rapids.

What I don't want to see is something like "Boo Blasters" or whatever Kings Island is calling that ride these days (the old Scooby Doo shoot-em-up dark ride).

My day dream is a ride a la Pirates of the Caribbean.

Saying this ride will set a "new industry standard" is quite a statement, as I would argue the bar for dark rides is fairly high.

What I'm scared of is the word interactive. The bar for the interactive dark rides, at least in my opinion, is not really set that high.

I'd rather have "immersive" over "interactive"...but as long as it's something of high quality that I can actually ride and enjoy with my kids, I'll be pleased.

What I am supremely confident in is that the park is headed in the right direction. Everything I have heard from everyone I have talked to does nothing but bolster this opinion.

Aha! So we know for sure despite no official announcement that a dark ride is coming to Cedar Point next year.

Yes, I know my home park (KI) just announced Banshee, but I have wanted a good dark ride at a park as well. Hopefully something good like this is coming to CP. I am sure many will be happy.

Tony, will there be any teasers or clues about the ride before it is announced? Whatever it is (if it's a dark ride, which I think it is), I can't wait!

Mike Jenkins said:
Also heard that 'Amusement Dark' was recently trademarked.

Could they get any more generic with the name? Makes me wonder what kind of theme would revolve around "Amusement Dark" and that they can sell t-shirts, etc.

Kevinj, I hear ya. I'm hoping for immersive over interactive as well. Just recently experienced KI's Boo Blasters. Not impressed, couldn't tell you what I was looking at either when you're looking for targets. I'm hoping for a ramped up Pirate Ride, too, but I'm afraid it will be a Peanuts theme.

I'm just going to say Peanuts is just way overdone. My boys wanted a Cedar Point t-shirt and they are really hard to find if at all. Actually, my 11 year old wanted a Top Thrill Dragster shirt and my 8 year old wanted a Maverick, their favorite rides. Nothing for kids, was told for youth shirts to go to Snoopy's Boutique and it sure was nothing but Snoopy. Browsed online recently, choices are dismal. I'm just really surprised. And as far as something that says Cedar Point, only found a white t-shirt that says Cedar Point but not even in their logo font.

tommyh88 said:
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.
You can listen to the call on Cedar Fair's website.

Is there a way I can hear/read this? Do I need certain credentials or can anyone get access to these "conference calls" you're talking about? I tried looking on Cedar Fair's website, and I found some stuff, but not one posted recently or having to do with 2014.

I've seen this discussed on KIC, but could "Amusement Dark" be used for a retheme of the Action Zone area at Kings Island? With Banshee coming next year and the rumor that Flight Deck will be renamed the Bat, could this area be revamped to a more spooky theme? Maybe Action Zone would get renamed to Amusement Dark. This is the only other thing I can think of. If this is the name of the dark ride, then I have absolutely no clue what its theme would be.

Maybe Amusement Dark has to do with Halloween weekends at one of the parks. I sure hope so, otherwise...the nicest way I can put it is that it falls very flat.

! said:

tommyh88 said:
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.
You can listen to the call on Cedar Fair's website.

Is there a way I can hear/read this? Do I need certain credentials or can anyone get access to these "conference calls" you're talking about? I tried looking on Cedar Fair's website, and I found some stuff, but not one posted recently or having to do with 2014.

You can access the transcript here (this does require a free subscription to view in full, but as I said, lots of juicy details in each transcript):

http://seekingalpha.com/article/1620642-cedar-fairs-ceo-discusses-q...transcript

Or you can listen to the webcast via cedarfair.com:

http://cedarfair.com/ir/conference_call/index.cfm

The 2014 mentions come after Matt's opening remarks and after Brian Witherow's financial remarks. Matt then goes into Halloween and what is expected in 2014. NewsPlusNotes actually pointed out the same thing I did yesterday:

http://newsplusnotes.blogspot.com/2013/08/cedar-fair-posts-solid-ea...-2014.html

I think we are selling Cedar Fair/Cedar Point short (especially given the creativity with the new management team) regarding the "Amusement Dark" trademark. I highly doubt we would see that used as a new attraction or area name, but perhaps as part of a marketing initiative advertising longer stays/nighttime offerings. In that aspect, I don't see it as a negative.

I'm hoping for a good shooting ride. People that aren't impressed with interactive rides, probably haven't been on Toy Story Mania which is one of the best rides around.

^^ I was thinking the same thing about the "Amusement Dark" trademark, that it might be used as a margeting campaign. I guess we will see though!