Platinum Early Entry... Sloppy?

Is it just me, or has the platinum entry gone down hill? I remember the first year or two, rides were READY at 9am... As soon as you got to the ride, you ran up the ramp and boarded the train. The last season or two, you hurry up and... wait.

Every single time this year I had gone for early entry, MF was late to open 20-30 minutes. Go over to Maverick, and it is just opening. Raptor seems to be the only reliable one open on time. People in line get quite angry, that their "perk" is worthless while the line attendant assures everybody it is "mechanical reasons". Right. Been there, done that. By the time they do open, you get off the train and it is 10am and you are lucky to get a lap or two before the park is loaded with running of the bull participants.

I understand this is not a required "perk" the park must offer to its guests, but if you advertise something you should damn well do what you can to make sure it happens on time, consistently. Make the employees arrive 20-30mins earlier if that is what is needed to make it right.

I just had to rant a bit about this... Why have they gotten so careless lately about getting the rides open on time? It is not like it has been cool this summer for testing with the consistent 90* evenings we have had and toasty mornings...

I've only spent 6 days at the park this year, and I went to Maverick first 2 mornings, and MF the other 4. Every day the rides were ready to start loading as soon as we got in line.

But 6 days can hardly be an indicator of the season as a whole.

I've been on three trips to CP, and I've run into that. The last time I went it was right in the peak season... the last Saturday in July. And Millennium didn't open until about 9:15.

It opened late on opening day as well, but hey.. that's opening day. Like Valleyfair said, I can hardly judge on the entire season based on the few days I've been at the Point.

The thing i really found annoying in years past was the fact they would run like 1 train on Millennium Force during ERT, and leave water dummies in the other 2, then stop to unload a train during the ERT time period. How hard is it to get 3 trains up and running?

I'm glad someone brought this up. I've been a lot this year, and it's been pretty spread out over the season. I 100% agree. All but one time (during CoasterMania!) MF was still testing and getting ready until about 9:15 - 9:20.

The 'E' in ERT must stand for Erratic...

Based on the evolution of the early entry concept at CP I no longer waste my time showing up to the park early like I used to. Joe Cool Club's early entry days was the friggin' bomb in '01 and '02 and made the $15 perk totally worth it. Based my one early entry experience this year I ended up waiting 45 minutes for Maverick to open and by the time I made it down to MF it already had an hour line since the park had already opened to the "disgusting, putrid GP." ;)

~Rob "Those were the days!"

I think sporadic would be the consensus for this year, but only for MF. Maverick and Raptor and Iron Dragon were consistently open on every ERT morning we were at the park. That said, MF being sporadic is sort of a big deal.

I only have the Platinum Pass for the early entry. It's an extra $100-$120 for two platinums vs two regulars. So even at 12 trips it's costing me $10 extra every trip for the privilege.

If it's still bad during Halloweekends I may change it up a little next year. I have to get my son a pass, and if he's not over 48" I may just get him the "cheap" platinum pass for free parking and get two regulars for my wife and I.

$99 + $99 + $92 = $289

$150 + $150 + $150 = $450

Sort of puts the value of the early entry in perspective once I look at it. I wouldn't have even thought to if the stupid ride would just open up at 9 like it's suppose to.

Kyle2154 said:
I only have the Platinum Pass for the early entry. It's an extra $100-$120 for two platinums vs two regulars. So even at 12 trips it's costing me $10 extra every trip for the privilege.

But isn't that 10 bucks you're saving by not paying for parking? So it's break even at this point (and this year). Make more than 12 and you're easily saving money even without the ERT perk.

I do see what you're saying about using your kids pass to get parking and saving the money on the adult passes. But I wonder how that works if you want to go take a trip without him? Will they confiscate his pass until he goes to park ops and presents valid ID to get it back?

Even if it didn't work with my kids pass, I could just buy one platinum pass for my wife or I, bumping the total to $339.

It still breaks down to whether or not I want to pay the extra $111. Which I would, hands down actually, except when every run in for early entry is caught up in "Aw man, you've gotta be kidding me, it's not open again?!"

With Halloweekends and early entry at 11 now, I'll get five or six more chances to see what it is like this year.

I think the early entry problems are greatly exaggerated. Sure, there are inevitably going to be issues getting the rides up & running on time, and yes, that shouldn't happen. But even when 1 ride isn't up on time for early entry, others are.

And really, one of my favorite parts of the day is taking a front row ride on Raptor while the "bulls" are still in their pen. :)

They are so jealous :). It's sad because half of them have no idea they can't get in with us, are just figuring it out, and they look up so envious.

Raptor, front row, outside seat... every time :)

To be fair tho, MF had a totally new crew this season. When Jon and the old crew were working it, it was ready to roll and already had 2 or 3 train loads out by the time I made it to the queue about 9.20. And it didn't open at all for early entry a couple days in mid June (the lat 2 days of my trip)

I don't think that's a good excuse. If you are taught how to operate a ride, you should be able to get it up and running by a specified hour...especially if you do so every day of the week.

I totally agree with you but it is what it is...it was a new crew. And its operation was shaky when I was there in June.

Not a good idea for the "number one steel coaster" on the planet, is it? Maybe for Gemini, but not MF. If the new crew can't get it up in the time, then the new crew needs to get to work an hour earlier so they can.

If you're a new projectionist at a movie theater, you don't start movies 20 minutes late just because you're new....you get there early.

King's Island also has this problem. Beast is usually open, but all 12 times this year that I have been there, Diamondback doesn't open till around 9:40. With DB's capacity it is still enough time to make 3 trips on it, but they still need to open on time.

The last couple times I went to CP, Maverick didn't open till 9:30. After that we went to Mille and at 10 it still wasn't open. Oh well.

We have been to ERT almost every Sunday since May, and I only recall one time that MF was down due to "mechanical reasons". From the sounds the trains or lift (not sure which it was) were making just before cresting the lift hill, there was no doubt there was some type of mechanical issue. Every other time we went, we were first or second train out and that wasn't any later than 9:10 or so. My biggest complaint about ERT is it's supposed to be an hour before the park opens, but they won't let you past the gate until 9:00. Why not let pass holders and resort guests who get the ERT in a few minutes earlier, so they can get to the line of their ride of choice and get the full hour out of it?

^ Easy, because the rides wont be ready until at least 9:30 :)

Honestly, I went over a dozen times this season, and I believe only ONCE was MF open by the time people got to the ride. Always opened at 9:20 to 9:30, if not later. Not acceptable IMO.

Then of course you have Dragster, which runs at 1/3 to 1/2 capacity for the first hour, for reasons I will never understand. And yes, I have read through the entire topic on this forum (with no offical answer in it). Some days, they have fully loaded trains within 20minutes of running. Other days, it takes a full hour. No rhyme or reasoning there, either.