Park closes 3 hours early tonight.
I personally have nothing to complain about. However If I just cared about myself I would have little to complain about this year. I love this place :). I'm just concerned about the minority, in this case being represented by about 300 people (estimate) who paid $24 along with parking to get it.
The reason for the park closing early was due to "inclement weather." The funny thing is the park preaches there is so much to do even if it is raining. I doubt three hours was enough to go through all the fun, errr I mean "haunted" houses, see all the shows, ride all the flat rides, play games, eat food, go shopping, and even get to ride some of the major attractions that were open like power tower and Iron Draggin. (BTW, I have seen Raptor run in much worse conditions then tonight.) I was there late on a busy Saturday in July were it started raining nonstop later and they sure did not close the park due to "inclement weather."
From the park perspective it makes perfect sense. They are a business and if they were only going to loose money by keeping the park open. I can't argue with that but if I was one of the people who paid to for admission and parking I think I would a a little upset. From a customer service standpoint, I think it would have been nice to offer coupons or something that would not only make those people who were short changed in park hours happy, but would make them come back and spend more money! :) Just a thought.
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2001 Force- 259 Magnum-444
I rode Gemini more than once during a day.
*** This post was edited by Joe E. on 10/5/2001. ***
*** This post was edited by Joe E. on 10/5/2001. ***
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It's very hard to drink all day...
Unless you start first thing in the morning.
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-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew
Shady?? I thought the tree count at CP has gone down.. ;)
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Opps, can you get some napkins please???
MF total - 469 laps
VertiGo Launches - 79
June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
The thing is most people know there even is Gust Services and if they see the building they may not know what its for. One guy said "they can do anything they want and not give anything back to us." I only saw people leave maybe (p/o'd) and there was not exactly a mob outside of Guest Services.
I think a manager or somebody standing at the exit saying sorry and handing out coupons, tickets, ride agains, or whatever would have been really nice.
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2001 Force-259 Magnum-444
I rode Gemini more than once during a day.
This seems telling, coupled with the thread I read a few weeks back about the "sudden" implementation of a no re-ride policy during Millennium Mania. I don't know if that's a completely accurate story. But regardless, it sounds like the park's general management may be taking quite a turn for the worse. A shame for a park historically known for its class.
*** This post was edited by Western Cruiser on 10/6/2001. ***
We were not there when the decision was made, there may have been other factors that we don't know about.
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Opps, can you get some napkins please???
MF total - 469 laps
VertiGo Launches - 79
June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
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2001 Force- 259 Magnum-444
I rode Gemini more than once during a day.
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It rained from the late afternoon last night until well after midnight. And it wasn't just rain, it was cold rain. Honestly, what did you expect to do at the park? There was no chance ever that you were going to get to ride The Force, Magnum or Raptor, that's for sure.
I had enough common sense to stay home last night, and it's only the second Friday Halloweekend day I've missed in three years. What were you thinking?
Totally unacceptable my rumpshakah. Dozens of ride crews, sweeps and spooks standing around with their fingers up their nose because they can't do anything. Sounds like a big waste of money to me. Not only that, but who in their right mind was going to hang out there in that weather?
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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
Watch my grass grow: http://www.sillynonsense.com/subdivision/
Regardless of the close, people no matter how much "common sense" they lack still paid $24 to get in. There is more do to in the park than just Millie, Maggie, and Raptor and people were doing those other activities right up till close. People who paid were upset and I just think it would have been nice if the park offered something in return because of the early close. Even a simple "sorry" would have been nice enough.
I do not know how to run a park. From the guests standpoint, some were upset. The park should care that people were leaving upset and this is why there is guest feedback, in this case this it! If the park just ignored feedback, (like the people who run that little park in Aurora not noticing people complaining about capacity issue's) would we have a good park at all?
In my place of business If something goes wrong and people are upset, we try to offer our guest something to let them go away happy and return and spend more money! Even if it is just one, and in this case several 100 people that is one more dollar we could make. I guess Cedar Point does not share the same attitude as me.
BTW I do not regret my decision to go last night. I had a great time going through those house thingys while walking on Power Tower and Iron Draggin numerous times. The scariest part was not the "haunted" houses, but walking down empty dark oceana midway with just the sound of Space Needle's cable banging up against itself. Reminded me of Scooby Doo and the haunted amusement park . I had fun.
*** This post was edited by Joe E. on 10/7/2001. ***
*** This post was edited by Joe E. on 10/7/2001. ***
Jeff said:
Again we have members that seem to think they know more about running a park than the park itself.
I don't think we have that at all. I think we have people who voice their opinions fairly and don't necessairly make any claim to being the exclusive "correct" people. Nobody said "If I were running the park..." or "No way in heck should the park have closed." People did say that they *should* have had some sort of guest services rep. at the exit either offering alternatives to the rest of the evening, or providing some sort of refund, even if normally "refunds and rainchecks are not given once you enter the park." The park doesn't normally close 3 hours early either. It just makes sense to do that. People DO plan weekend trips, even late in the season. It's not just season pass holders that go to Halloweekends. There are people that actually do lose out if they're at the park and get booted.
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Coasterr said:
My question is...who would want to be at the park on Friday night when it was raining all day and temps in the 40's and dropping?
ME!
I went because there was nothing to do around here and a buddy of mine wanted to go. I thought "what's the worst that can happen, its cold and it rains." , and it did. I knew that and was not expecting to ride MF or Magnum and even left my counter tally's at home. I was bundled up and prepared. I've played football in worse weather. It was nice out .
I was shocked that they opened PT and Iron Draggin (which was running more like an Iron Dragon!) for some ERT on each. CCMR was probably open too and I was going to go back there to see Undertaker U but they closed. It honestly was not raining that hard up there and virtually stopped several times compared to when I left Cleveland in midst of a deluge.
Please don't say I lack good judgment for going. If you weren't there then you do not know what it was like. I knew what to expect and had fun. I just think you are all jealous of me . Yeah, I know I am crazy, but I like rain!
And Hey, this was NOTHING compared to the one Friday last year were it was snowing! There were even more people just as crazy as me.
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2001 Force- 259 Magnum-444 Iron Dragon-12
I rode Gemini more than once during a day.
*** This post was edited by Joe E. on 10/7/2001. ***
Oh and since they always have their little sign out that states what time they're closing for that particular day, followed by these two words; as advertised , they should honor that. That's just good business, period! And just for the record, I could run the park. ;)
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I was super before Superstew was cool!
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- VertiCord Crew 2001
Sorry, this is a long post, but I just had to say this.
Cedar Point probably did have the "legal" right to close the park three hours early, but was it a good thing to do? I would have to say no. Even if the park was going to lose some money that evening, they had some customers there who were obviously staying and sticking out the weather. They could have posted signs that said the rides would be closed for the rest of the evening and sent home the ride employees. They could have sent some other employees home that weren't needed because of the inclement weather. But they should have kept the haunted attractions opened since this is "after all" a special Halloween event.
If the park is going to stay opened into October and reap the benefits of Halloweekends, they should also be aware that they are taking an increased risk of inclement weather. Some nights might be money losing nights, but some nights might also be great such as Saturday October 14, 2000 which happened to be my only trip to the park for the season that year.
If the park did decide to close even considering those things, then at the very least there should have (as suggested above) been somebody at the gates offering the guests something for their inconenience. Handing out some free passes or other type of consolation for the people who paid money to enter the park and were forced to leave three hours early would be smart. In contrast, if the park had stayed open and many guests had left due to the weather, this would not be necessary.
This past summer, I worked at a restaraunt waiting tables. A few nights were slow with only 1 or 2 customers (a very boring July 4 comes to mind) but the restaraunt did not close early because the four people that were eating had a right to finish their meals. Do you suppose that we should have kicked them out before they were finished? Maybe we should have just told them that they had already had enough to eat and drink and sent them on their way. Instead the restaraunt stayed open, sent home employees who didn't have anything to do, and most likely lost some money that night. If a small business run by two good friends can afford to do that , then Cedar Point certainly can also.
Next weekend, I am driving all the way from Cheboygan, Michigan to Sandusky, Ohio for my only trip of the year to Cedar Point. My family and another family have reservations for two camping places for Friday and Saturday night. We will be going to the park all day Saturday, and I will be upset if the park closes early without offering us any type of consolation. My family is spending money on gas, lodging, food, and admission tickets for this trip. We should be allowed to enjoy our day in the park even if the weather is not perfect. If we are not allowed to do this, we might decide to make a trip to Cincinatti for Kings Island next year instead of visiting the Point.
*** This post was edited by Natas on 10/7/2001. ***
*** This post was edited by Natas on 10/7/2001. ***
Joe E wrote:"I just think you are all jealous of me"
Why on earth would we be jealous of you. I was in my house safe and warm from the rain/cold.
*** This post was edited by Coasterr on 10/7/2001. ***
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