Opening Weekend Trip Report: Long Lines, Then No Lines

I am not going to give a play by play here, there are too many of those types of trip reports out there already and this is going to be long enough as it is, but I am going to hit up a few things.

Started out a 9:00am entered at the front gate (happened to get a parking spot up really close) the new season pass system seems to be working really well. Had no trouble getting in other than waiting in the line (I really miss the season pass only line). Entered and turned left to go past the blue gates for early entry, but was told that I had to go all the way down to Johnny Rockets and enter there. Upon arriving I found one person trying to check passes, tell the people who just bought tickets that they have to wait till 10, and beat back all the people pushing against the gate. Lets just say that that did not seem to work too well.

Got on Raptor first then headed down to Maverick. Getting in line the sign said 45 minuets but ended up waiting close to 4 hours because it kept breaking down. Found out later that it was doing that pretty much all day before finally going down for good. But we did get to ride in the front row, and front row on Maverick is the best place to be at Cedar Point!

By this point the lines were getting really long, I am spoiled by living so close and being able to go to the park when they are not busy and having walk on rides, so spent a lot of time just walking around, and hitting some of the flats. Planet Snoopy looks great, very bright and colorful, saw a bunch of kids and everyone seemed to really enjoy it. They opened up the path ways into Snoopy Boutique and into the arcade, and I think that makes a lot of sense. I know during the off season there was a lot of speculation on how they were going to have CarnEvil with all the entrances, but after looking at it in person I really don't see what the problem would be. They could easily close off the entrances that lead onto the midway the similar to the way they hid it before, with the cameo netting and temp fences, and leave plenty of ways in and out of the area without having to go through CarnEvil. I would probably move the entrance back behind Joe Cool Cafe, but I expect them to keep the Kreepy Kooky Cafe this year so not much point.

We did ride the train and the music was actually a nice touch, but the spiels did not work out all that well. First off the person doing the spiels is in the back of the train so their timing was off for those in the front (us). Also they were not speaking correctly into the mic and it was very hard to hear what they were saying, especially when the whistle was blowing. I actually wish they would make it an auto spiel and just have it play with a voice over of the music.

After all this we went to the front of the park to get some Cheese on a Stick. First went to the Corral, which is supposed to have it, but all they had were the corn dogs. So we went to Spiral and got some there. Mine was fully melted but my friends was not, not just hard but still cold in the middle. We went ahead and ate them but came back later to get another and they had to make them up while we waited. I specifically said that they better make sure they were cooked all the way through. Of course they were not so I took it back and asked for another one, they ended up burning it trying to get it cooked. If they are waiting under the warmer the warmer will melt the cheese on the inside all the way through, but if they are having to make them up and send them out right away they need to turn the heat down and cook them a bit longer so that the cheese in the middle melts without burning the outside.

By 5 we were feeling a bit sunburned and tired so decided to call it a day. I ended up returning on Sunday but this time I was out by myself. I ended up arriving at the park around 4 so this was a short day. I was planning on making this trip just to see the new Red Garter Show, Country Unleashed, but with the rain there was no one there so I also ended up riding a few rides. I made a trip to Maverick, got in line, and it only broke down twice before I got on lol. Did the single rider line and got on pretty fast, total I think was about 15 or 20 minuets. Went to Skyhawk and rode it twice because of no line, they were only loading one arm, but were running both which I found a little strange.

I did get to see the Country Unleashed show today, it is a good show, a lot smaller cast that previous ones in the Red Garter Theater. There were only 2 singers with the band singing backup as well as playing, the band did have one song that was just them with the lead guitarist singing the vocals. The songs were pretty good but again all country with no rock songs. Now I like country (I am from the south) but I also like a little rock. I really don't have a set list, I will end up getting one eventually, but I thought it was a very good show, even though I liked last years show better. Here is a listing of the cast for this year.

Jana DeBusk (Vocal)
Frank Thompson (Vocal)
Paul Erdman (Guitar/Vocals)
David Lux (Guitar/Keys)
Jay Jackson (Drums)
Kevin Johnson (Bass)
Jim Lyons (Stage Manager)

I am pretty sure the entire cast was there last year, I know that Jana, Frank, David, Jay, and Paul were there last year, and I think they were all in the Red Garter show also. Again a very good show, cast was great I just wish they would have thrown a little rock into it.

On my way out of the park at 6:30 I stopped at Raptor, walked right on and rode the last ride of the day since the park closed at 7. Overall a decent weekend.

A few highlights:
Food prices are WAY to high.
Rides down way to much during the day, but it is opening day.
Amazing how from one day to the next the crowds can change so much.
Really liked Country Unleashed but liked Rock n Country better.
They need to learn how to cook Cheese on a Stick.
Customer service was great, everyone was very upbeat, even on Sunday with the rain and low crowds.

I think there were a lot of schools and different youth groups at the park on Saturday and part of Sunday.

After the rains though on Sunday the park was dead and it was 5 hours of walk-on rides, and even in the rain if the rides were running....they were running with no wait times.

Sunday was awesome if you could bare it. We went to thirsty pony and half way through dinner we noticed it had stopped raining. So we rush back to the park and ride TTD since its rain policy is tough.

Magnum and Millennium Force is insanely funny when you go with rain ponchos on. Those things add a fourth dimension to the ride.

Since we frequent the park so much we don't eat food at the park really. Famous Daves is good, but we avoid the park prices all together with food because it is honestly food we try and avoid. Subway is healthy but I think those prices are absurd.

We will try Tomo's or go to Famous Daves if we get rained out ever again.

Rain can be a good thing, it can cool the day down, shed the crowds, and give you time to eat lunch and not feel bad about missing rides. (Well until Magnum, MF, Mantis, and other rides started staying open in rain).

My pants we're soaked until probably 3 PM.

The rain was a pain, but once it cleared, it was a great day of riding. We actually went to Meijer on Sunday morning and bought rain suits... We may have looked like fishermen , but it saved us from having soggy clothes, and it made for some funny moments :)

Morte615, you forgot about Kevin returning for Country Unleashed. He was only in Rock 'n Country last year. Also yesterday I saw that show and it is a great show.

Ah see he was the one I was not sure about. I thought I recognized him but was not sure. So that means that the entire cast are Cedar Point regulars.