Of Coasters....

As much as I love CP, it strikes me as rather odd that they decided to build MF instead of a B&M steel twister or a launch coaster. I love the idea of MF, but it seems like every park is getting one of the aforementioned. I guess that is just what makes CP different from other parks...they even have a different way of thinking. (But I still hope they build a mega-looper or a S&S in the next couple years!)

give them time...have you ever been disappointed with CP yet??

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http://www.msu.edu/~armbrus9/cp.html

Jeffrey Spartan

Searching for the point... nah, can't find one. A non-descriptive topic title doesn't help either.

Still amazed that in light of the most fabulous coaster ever built, and honestly, how could it not be, people are already worried about what's next and why they didn't do something else.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point

ah, it's just human nature, Jeff...folks are NEVER happy with what they get and some are only happy if they're complaining... either that or in the words of P.T. Barnum..."you can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people none of the time..." (I THINK that's the quote...)

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"I think I scrambled my brain!!" *** This post was edited by servo on 1/14/00. ***

I didn't mean to sound ungrateful about MF. Quite to the contrary, MF will probably be another classic like Magnum...I've got all the respect in the world for CP...they know exactly what they're doing. I'm just CURIOUS as to why they made the decision they did to go with MF. I'd like to see the market research that pointed them in that direction. That's all.. :)

IMO, one of the reasons that they went with Millennium Force instead of a big B&Ms was aformentioned in the first post. Every park is getting them.
CP realized they needed something else, and not too many parks have an Intamin hypercoaster (which recieved reviews that are just as good as those B&Ms)
That's just my take on it.

I believe what Cedar Point is trying to do is make history twice. Like they said somewhere on CP's website "The Magnum made history in 1989 now Milliennium Force will make" history in 2000. I don't know the whole quote so...
I am soooooo sorry but I would rather have the Force than anything else right now. I need the G's!!!

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...We hope you have a great day here at Cedar Point America's Rockin' Roller Coast

It's no surprise that some people are worried about what's next and thinking why didn't they do something else besides MF. All of the polls, message boards, ect. the past year have been hyped up about B&M floorless coasters, and diving coasters, and have been expecting the parks to be building these, not a 300ft. hyper coaster. Floorless and diving coasters are still the new types of coasters in the market that large numbers of people have been expecting CP to build. MF is not revolutionary; floorless, and diving coasters are. And that my friends is what the GP is asking for. The only thing new (and I'm not going to use revolutionary in this phrase) about MF is an extra 100 feet of lift hill. You can't count in the over banked turns, on a B&M they are referred to as inversions, and can't count the "elevator lift system" either since it's just used to hoist the train to the top and not a part of the actual ride itself. To me, it seems as if CP is stuck in the past (like 1989) right now, and is trying to recreate the magic of that year.

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Vince "cpboy"Albertson
http://home.att.net/~vcalbertson/index.htm

That might be what coaster enthusiasts want, but the "general public" doesn't know a floorless coaster from a tricycle. Since The Park Formerly Known as Geauga Lake announced they were building a floorless, my family and coworkers keep asking me what it is. As for a dive machine, the "GP" has no idea what one is unless they live in the UK (and even then it's an "Oblivion").

There's nothing revolutionary about floorless coasters either. Frankly there's nothing incredibly different about any B&M train style. They're all basically the same bogey with different seats and floors.

MF raises the stakes in every way. That's not some BS marketing ploy, it's true regardless of what any coaster enthusiast says. How many coasters made CNN so far this year? Which coaster has made virtually every TV station and big city newspaper within a 300-mile radius? Which one has created the most excitement and obsession about what they can see?

What market research do you need? In order to create the biggest splash in an increasinly competitive market (last I heard there are at least 60 coasters being build this year world wide), you have to build the biggest coaster you can afford. And don't bring up that thing in Japan... MF will be first and people won't blow it off because of some coaster they'll never ride.

It has nothing to do with the manufacturer either. The public doesn't care who makes a coaster, and generally don't know a B&M from a CCI (even though it's obvious one is wood one and is steel to us).

It's often easy to overlook the perception of parks outside of our own, which as an enthusiast is far too in-the-know. The reason for MF is simple: It's bigger, faster and larger than anything anyone has ever seen. It's not rocket science.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point

Well heres my two cents.....The main reason I like Cedar Point is because it sets its self apart from other parks and doesn't follow the trends. If I wanted to ride a B&M floorless I'm sure I'll be able to find one at any SF park with in the next 3-4 years. Cedar Point didn't build their reputation as "Americas Rollercoast" by building "Medusa" clones, "Batman or Superman" or "Boomerang" clones. They went out and always brought something to the park that no one else has or no one else has done. I'm sure whatever next big planned coaster project they work on will be something that will set itself away from other parks.
But right now a 300 ft coaster with some good air time will keep me happy for another decade like its 200 ft little brother Magnum. I guess thats the pleasure of going to the Point once or twice a year, these rides always seem new and I never exactly remember every little element of them.

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"And now for something completely different" MPFC

well said jeff

I can't believe there is an argument about MF. Come on what is the main reason Magnum was so popular... because of its first drop (and bunny hops). This is a huge 310ft drop. Cedar Point once again is making history and people are complaining that they are not going with the Floorless coaster. I am soooo sure that Cedar Point will build one sometime in the Next Millennium (2001 is when the new one starts). I would hate for Cedar Point to have 4 roller coasters. We would have to hear more complaining. Here they have the most Rides and Roller Coasters in the world and people are still crabbing. People will never be happy with what they have

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...We hope you have a great day here at Cedar Point America's Rockin' Roller Coast

I said in a past post that someone's innocent opinion may be interpreted as a complaint. I don't think "bravery" was complaining at all. I think he appreciates MF, but, even our poll showed that we really want a floorless or a huge looper. We want MF, but what is wrong with looking in the future (say 2002) and wanting a coaster like a floorless. I never understood why many of you argue this. It's just a want, a wish, a hope. And I don't think it is hard to visualize what a floorless would be like to ride, knowing B&M technology. So instead of telling "bravery" to be happy already, just calm down. Everyone is looking forward to MF, but it is a long winter. Remember, we are all CP diehards and want the best for CP. What's so wrong with looking a year or two down the road, even if it is just our imagination talking? Ask and you might receive.

*** This post was edited by net on 1/15/00. ***

When Kings Island built the King Cobra, I remember thinking that Cedar Point should get a stand up coaster. It took forever for them to get one, but they finally did, and when they got it, it was much better than King Cobra ever dreamed of being. I also remember thinking that Cedar Point needed a ride like the giant flumes that some other parks had. Well they came along eventually and built Snake River Falls, bigger than the rest.

My point is that even though Cedar Point may not have gotten the ride right away, it eventually did and when it did, it was bigger than the others. I'm sure that if floorless coasters turn out to be popular, the same will happen some day.

For now, I'm sure that we are all happy to be getting the world's tallest roller coaster. No, not a floorless that every Six Flags park seems to be putting in now, but a ride that nobody else has. I personally can't wait to plummet three hundred feet to the ground.

Minnesota's more than 300 miles away and it was in the paper here...

I commend (and appreciate) CP in the building of MF-agree with all that "defend" them for this "move" instead of following every other parks lead.
I am the general public-and can honestly say that even if CP didnt add something new every year (basically for '99 there wasnt anything new for us big people) I would go anyway--I dont decide on my CP trips based on what they have built.
MF will again put CP in the record books-
this park doesnt consistantly win for best amusement park in the world for no reason!!!
MF will rock
let other parks envy us and if the GP doesnt like it-stay away from CP--less wait time for us!!!
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Welcome back Raptor riders-how was your flight??

A little comment about floorless coasters:

I was on Medusa this past spring at Great Adventure and while I enjoyed the ride, I don't think the floorless concept really added a whole lot. The only time I even noticed the floor was missing was watching the floor drop away in the loading statoin. Medusa is a great ride, smooth and flawless (aren't all B&Ms?) but the floorless concept seems to me to be just a gimmick. I can imagine that being 300feet in the air on a roller coaster will provide much more of a thrill then a missing floor. *** This post was edited by millrace on 1/16/00. ***

Most people will think this is a stupid question but what exactly is a floorless coaster? you guys are the only ones i know that i can ask....thanks

Essentialy it is a normal B+M sitdown coaster (Hulk, Dragon Kahn, Kumba)except that there is no floor. In other words there is nothing between your feet and the track. If you still don't understand go to this site:
http://www.joyrides.com/sfgad/full/medusa1.htm
Hope this cleared that up.

Thanks for the help JeremyG!