Opening Day Observations

I don't have time to do a full trip report, but I figured I'd talk about a few things I noticed on opening day. A couple of them are somewhat negative and maybe even nit-picky, but Cedar Point is the best amusement park in the world and didn't get there without a little constructive criticism. I still had a great time and can't wait to work there again and visit the park more when I'm not working! :)

Landscaping: I'd been to the park on opening day before and things were pretty bare then so I wasn't expecting the flower gardens to be there yet, but the ongoing butchering of trees and shrubs around the park is getting on my nerves more and more each year. The trees by Magnum's entrance have been trimmed back alot and they've put mulch down instead of the rocks that used to be there and it looks kind of nice and those trees there are still of respectable size, so they'll look okay once the leaves grow. But what in the world did they do to the shrubs around the gardens on the main midway? They butchered them down to less than 1 foot each! It looks terrible. Are they planning on removing them, because I don't see any good looking growth coming out of what's left at least this year. Also, people might just walk right across the gardens if that 2-3 foot row of shrubs isn't there to stop them. Looks nasty!

The Top Thrill Dragster queue wall: What were they thinking with this thing? Not only does it look crappy, but it completely blocks the most exciting part of the ride from the people in the queue. If they're trying to hide the transfer tracks, why not build one on the other side too? They'd have to build a roof too because it'll all still be visible from the grandstands. Some of the black "Cedar Fair" fencing with the theming signs mounted to that would be so much better than this nasty wooden wall.

Dragster queue needs more trash cans: I realize this problem was compounded by a very slow moving line, but by the end of the night, there were literally piles of trash in the queues. There is at least one spot (by the misters in between two of the blocks) where two more cans could go. They're currently just around the edges of the blocks and since the blocks were taking over half an hour each to get through, people were throwing stuff on the ground.

I didn't notice the other new Freeway implementations, but at Magnum, they need to put a sign out by the midway next to the freeway entrance so people know what the heck it is. They have a sign at the merge point, but I saw a bunch of people coming up and getting turned back because they didn't have stamps. Having an extra person there at the merge point will work out really good because they'll be able to keep an eye on the line which can be somewhat difficult from turnstyles. There will be no cutting through the bushes into the Magnum queue with a person standing right there. And smoking in line might be reduced as well, so that is definitely a good thing.

Merchandise in TTD Store: This store is really nice inside! The merchandise is a huge improvement over some of CP's past offerings and I suspect they'll sell a ton of it. Everything from polo shirts, t-shirts, cups, shot glasses, park maps, Cedar Point-opoly were all there and all of it looks really nice! I didn't notice if they had them in this store, but I'm glad to see the pins too. I plan on getting one of the Magnum ones for myself! :)

Gemini Trains: I didn't ride Gemini because it wasn't racing, but the trains look really shiny and must've been painted during the offseason.

Feel free to agree or disagree - just a few things I noticed.

-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew
2003 Magnum Crew

I thought the park although a little bare looked great! I can't wait to see what else they are doing this week to finish up the odds and ends of the park!

------------------
Besides the great rides and being the best of everything, the best part about Cedar Point is that it isn't Six Flags! YAY!

Any thoughts about Parking and Traffic?

John

I have one ... not a complaint or a comment, but rather an observation. I can't remember ever parking so far back in the main lot. We were there at 8 AM for the opening ceremony. We left around noon to pick up my son and his grandma. When we got back, the best I could do was 28D ... which, for those who don't know, is over half way back. Normally, there are spaces near the Space Spiral that are open, but I drove around for 10 minutes before giving up, parking a mile away, and walking.

------------------
Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

Space Spiral parking is for employees. If you have a bad experience with a ride operator it's probably cause they are mad that the person who was supposed to relieve them is late for work because guests parked in the employee spaces.

------------------
ONE freeway stamp a day... ONE

Parking is parking. The average guest wouldn't know that area as one where employees can park, because it is not marked as such. Guests can and do park there. It's hardly an excuse for having a bad experience with any employee.

------------------
Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com
*** This post was edited by Gemini 5/6/2003 7:21:04 PM ***

I liked the new mat on WT. It made it easier to jump up onto the train, and made the fall from the seat a lot more easy on the feet and knees.

Demon Drop is still my baby!

A few comments from a landscape designer from toledo
:::The privet hedges around the gardens that were cut down did look bad and will likely need replaced.........I've seen them cut back those cyress trees at the magnum entrance before and they always come back just fine....they can't do that forever though....As for annual flowers in the midway gardens, people usually wait till mothers day to plant those to be sure that the weather is frost free.

Aside from that, I thought everything looked decent.
Dragster is my new #1!
------------------
"Coming soon to a park near you"

We park by the Space Spiral. Always have and always will because it's close and easy for us.

------------------
Eric Morrison (Coast)
Drag Races: 6.5
Point Hype
http://www.pointhype.com