New this year

I really like the new park banners! The Mantis one is really cool! I wish I could get one :-)

I don't know if you guys read the special events link. If you did than you saw that Magnum is getting a new sign this year! Hopefully people won't walk right past it anymore.

Ryan

^Umm, hopefully they will so I can keep getting those 5 minute waits for it :)

TTD 120mph said:
They should have taken my advice and put a bronze CP logo in the center of the area. :)

I've been saying that they should have done what they did with the entrance area of Wicked Twister for about a year now. Stop stealing my ideas! ;)

I will happily take a bare paver covered entrance to that ugly eyesore that was the merch stand any day (it also got in the way of several pictures I wanted to take).

Does anyone else think CP could have easily opened this weekend? I mean they opened May 10th last year, what's wrong with May 9th this year? I guess opening day seems somewhat late this year...

It may have to do with employment. I don't know when schools are getting out this year but I'm sure most should be out by next weekend.

BlueStreak64 said:I've been saying that they should have done what they did with the entrance area of Wicked Twister for about a year now. Stop stealing my ideas! ;)

Wait.....I'm recalling such claims right now! You're right, you have been saying this for a while (or at least I can remember the most recent mention). I apologize, it was your idea.:)

Haha no harm done, I just couldn't let that go. :)

I have to say, the new banners and pavers look really nice! :) Great job to all.

CPboy77 said:
Does anyone else think CP could have easily opened this weekend? I mean they opened May 10th last year, what's wrong with May 9th this year?

Considering that most college kids are taking their finals this week, and processing in to work this weekend, I'm not sure who would have been around to run the place if it opened any earlier. With the way the holidays fell, college exam week was a week earlier last year.

I do think the opening weekend events are pretty cool. I like the flag being delivered by the skydiver on opening day. That should be cool to see. I have no idea who the Carter Twins are, but I suppose they could draw a decent crowd for people who are into that sort of music.

That never stopped the park from opening earlier in other seasons. Not to mention that given current economic conditions, their labor force ought to be highly motivated this year to work when required.

Not to mention the practice of running the rides.

I think Ensign brought up a really good point. With more people trying to hold onto the jobs they have, and some feeling fairly lucky to have snageed even a seasonal job, it is possible that we could see a welcomed increase in motivation, overall attitude, and customer service this season.

Keep in mind that with the season ending as late as it does now, and with more attractions than ever, the time and resources required for off-season maintenance has soared. I suspect staffing the park a few weeks earlier, especially in this economy, would be easy. Having everything ready to go, not so much.

Remember people, a few rides passed inspection from the state of Ohio the morning of opening day last year. They don't have time to open this weekend.

Used to be a regular poster here, but went into casual read mode for several years...

Anyway, I was reading through the first several pages of this thread and seeing lots of people debating back and forth how CP needs LCD monitors around the park to broadcast wait times, ride closures, etc., which I agree would make the park more cohesive and balanced.

However, the first thought that popped into my head was, "Why invest money in that when we almost all have cell phones?"

A simple, low-cost solution for guests that wanted that information would be a mobile web CP page with status information for mobile-web-capable / smart phones....or a simple texting system for all other phones. Nothing extravagant needed...maybe quick status info. for top 10 rides when desired.

That'd be kind of cool, because I have noticed imbalance in wait times over the years, or what I call the "sheep effect." Most people enter at the front of the park, so they swamp Raptor and slowly work their way back through the park. Thus, by late afternoon/early evening, Maverick is packed, and you can catch 15 min waits on Raptor on even busy days. The uninformed sheep follow the herd the whole day, so they whine and groan about the long 2-hour waits the whole day, when they don't realize it's a product of them attacking the park as everyone else does. Increased communication throughout the park would likely balance the load better...

They do/did have a mobile website. Tony let Pointbuzz try it out first I believe. I do not know if it is still in use or what. He said if everything went ok they might try wait times on the mobile site.

I think it would be easier to have a Twitter type system for every coaster and major flat ride at the park. The times could be sent to the suscribers every 1/2 hour or so.

It really does not even have to be a sophisticated computer system. I would be perfectly happy with a board in Frontiertown, by Coasters and at the Main Entrance that was operated by one person who would radio in to the big rides every 30 minutes or so ask how long the wait was and then write it on a big blackboard.

Also, I hate using my cell phone when Im at a park, and personally I dont ever use it to access the internet so that idea would not work for me.

Also dont pull the you must be old and out of touch card, Im 25 and the internet on my phone is too slow, expensive and not worth the hassle.

Sounds like it's time to upgrade and get with this century.

It's just unfortunate that at&t doesn't have 3G service in Sandusky.

The old school Edge is adequate there. I've never had a problem getting weather maps and what not.