Next major ride

In my opinion never :P I'll take a 1K drop anyday haha

However, I know I'm not the GP..I think 500/600 over the next ten years will probably be the cap unfortunately. My biggest thing is waiting to see that next big, destroys basically every other ride experience @ CP..Last time that happened was Maverick, I'm still waiting to see something top it on the point.

While I agree that we are beginning to come close to the limits on forces for the avg. human body. I think the factor that will limit size/height/speed first is cost of construction. As for CP specifically pact of space becomes third behind the human body. I personally have no desire for another one trick quick ride. I would like more coasters like MF over another Dragster. At this point height and speed to me are a small impact on overall ride experience.

Those guys in the YouTube video from Italy didn't get that airtime from their girth, it was more likely due to the aerodynamics of rider #2's swimsuit.
The partial wedgie extraction at the end of the video was totally unnecessary, and there should be a disclaimer posted because young children might watch it and be scarred for life.

I'd like to see coasters built more creatively like Maverick (and dare I say theming) instead of trying to achieve new records. The second launch really makes it special. Coasters that have underground tunnels and unexpected turns, lots of airtime, etc., things that put the fun in coasters and not just an adrenalin fix. I still don't know the layout of Maverick well enough but even if I was familiar I don't see myself getting tired of it either.

Yes, more coasters like Maverick would be great. It shows what can be done with coasters without setting any records. I think another coaster like that could be built when the Dinosaurs Alive deal expires.

I'd really like them to do something really special and integrate the environment of the island into the attraction instead of using the land as just a base for a roller coaster or even a dark ride. I think that would be a waste. Now what that would be, I'm not so sure.

Anyone have a time machine to make that deal expire...say maybe tomorrow? After seeing Dollywood's new family coaster I would think something similar would be a nice fit for the park. We don't have the terrain, but a station in the current dinostore/former paddle wheel station with the ride through the woods on Millennium Island(will never call it by its new name) would be cool. With some sort of water feature that doesn't get you wet in the Shoot the Rapids pond. But a Chance style coaster similar to the new coaster at Kentucky Kingdom in the same spot could be interesting as well wrapping through MF would be cool too.

Not to be too off subject but I am really a fan of the new improvements to current areas at Knotts by CF. We could use more of that throughout the park.

If I had a time machine, I would go back and stop the deal from ever happening.

Does anyone know what happened to all the paddle wheel boats? I know one is a prop for halloweekends, but I have seen some parts for sale as well.

Or an intamin mega-lite coaster would be interesting. I've ridden expaditon gforce and personally, I think it's the best roller coaster. I would love if cedar point builds a mega-lite similar to it.

I would love to see Cedar Point break the loop record with a coaster like the Smiler. It is a ride that takes up very little room and could fit in either where turnpike cars is, or where SRF is. I think that would be sweet!

What sense does it make to remove an attraction that provides variety (Dinos Alive), only to install yet another coaster?

^ one reason would be that dinosaurs alive is an up charge and because it is an up charge it limits the amount of consumers it appeals to. By putting something else in its place it could broaden the appeal of that area of the park. Granted this will only make economical sense once guest attendance falls on the attraction. Also dinosaurs alive itself does not draw that many people to the park as there are similar options closer to costumers and cheaper. If i coaster was added it would draw more people there for the first several years. In conclusion it does make sense, but the question is does it make sense now, or is it still several more years until it makes sense.

So, which is it? Is Dinosaurs an upcharge attraction with limited appeal that fails to draw people to the park given the availability of similar options, or a profit center for the park whose removal would only make sense when attendance (and income) falls?

djDaemon said:
What sense does it make to remove an attraction that provides variety (Dinos Alive), only to install yet another coaster?

It makes sense to add an attraction that draws additional people to pay for an admission ticket for the whole park. That "attraction" is a waste of space that has little to no lasting appeal for the vast majority of guests. It's far from unique and will not be a long tenure in the park. How many times have you paid to go through this "attraction. " vs how many times you have visited the park?

noggin said:
So, which is it? Is Dinosaurs an upcharge attraction with limited appeal that fails to draw people to the park given the availability of similar options, or a profit center for the park whose removal would only make sense when attendance (and income) falls?

As of right now i would say it is both. It is not an attraction that draws people to the park, but some people in the park do pay to enjoy the attraction. It does have limited appeal as it is directed at kids and families willing to pay extra for additional attractions. Also the attraction is more male friendly as young boys tend to enjoy dinosaurs more than young girls. Every attraction in the park is a profit center, if the economics doesn't make sense then it will go away (paddle wheel, wild cat, disaster transport, space spiral).

True enough. As long as Dinosaurs generates the rate of return Cedar Fair wants, then Dinosaurs will continue to "roam" the island.

Therealmaverick -- upcharge attractions can build traffic, whether you're talking about go karts at amusement parks, "special" exhibits at museums, or what have you. The amount of repeat business Dinosaurs gets doesn't really matter as long as it is generating profits.

Dead Sexeh said:
^ one reason would be that dinosaurs alive is an up charge and because it is an up charge it limits the amount of consumers it appeals to. By putting something else in its place it could broaden the appeal of that area of the park.

But would another coaster in place of DA broaden the appeal of the park in general? Doesn't seem logical that it would.

Also dinosaurs alive itself does not draw that many people to the park...

First of all, how do you come to this conclusion?

Secondly, the point of new attractions isn't necessarily to draw people to the park. In a broader sense, new attractions are put in to make more money. By all accounts, DA makes the park a lot of money.

TheRealMaverick said:
That "attraction" is a waste of space...

How do you figure? People pay an up-charge to visit a part of the park that was previously inaccessible. I can't see how anyone could see that as a waste of space. Quite the opposite, actually - they turned unused real estate into something that generates significant revenue.

...has little to no lasting appeal for the vast majority of guests.

According to who?

Time will tell, not going to argue with you over it. It actually eliminated an attraction that had a much broader appeal. The space was also used for a very popular attraction during Halloweekends. You never answered my question...how many times have you paid for the up charge attraction vs how many times you have visited the park? It's a one trick pony and was a short term investment for the park, they may move it to another park in the long run.

I agree that it eliminated a broadly-appealing attraction, and replacing it with an up-charge attraction is a minus. But you're suggesting replacing it with another coaster. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense if the goal is to broaden the park's appeal.

And how often I've visited DA is absolutely irrelevant. Revenue generated and more importantly the impact of the attraction on the appeal of the park to families are among the most important qualities. While we don't have the data in front of us, CF's use of the attraction at multiple parks strongly implies that there are big upsides to the DA exhibit.