Hi there.
I've never done a trip report, and since probably nobody will read it, I'm not too nervous. So I'll start out by saying that this was Tuesday, May 29th and my first trip to Cedar Point for the year. I live about 3+ hours away. So I don't make it up much, but when I do, it's special. Also, I was with my friend,Pat, for the trip.
We get to Sandusky around 9:15 and begin a long unfruitful search for Pepsi cans with the $13 discount. We go to about 4 places in town and find that Pepsi needs to make more. So we get to the Park at about 9:45 and while in the long line for tickets, Pat finds a can on the ground. I start peddling for extra cans from people and finally a man gives me one because they had 1 extra. Cha-ching!
I guess my first complaint is with the new opening time. I wish they'd open the gates at 9 again to keep the crowds moving. The hour later thing made a huge crowd of people swarm around the entrance and was just really annoying. I thought we were going to have The Who concert happen again with people getting trampled on the way in. It took about 5 minutes to find an actual "line" to get through the gates, and another 5 minutes to wait through the ever shifting "line".
Once in, we were greeted with a high school marching band marching along. The bands that were there took turns marching all morning. Kinda neat.
We started with Milly, which was a 15 minute wait. Very nice. I couldn't help but notice it really squealing during some turns. Especially the turn over the queue to the station was very noticeable and something I didn't hear last year. Overall still a beautiful ride.
Then we headed to the Mean Streak. Ouch. No matter how much you read about how bad it is getting, you don't really know until you ride it. The trim on the drop, the squealing rough turns, and the slow speed just did nothing for me. It's a shame.
Then we hit Cedar Creek. I was looking for Natalie because I knew she worked there and that she was going to do the Gemini 100, so I wanted to meet her. Guess she was off at the time. Had a nice ride all the same.
Then we hit my baby, Gemini, and on with my second complaint. They need to open the line to the front of the station. They are unnecessarily clogging up that station by forcing everyone through the back. I hope they can clear the line to the front when we do the 100 or we're going to have a heck of a time getting 50 rides in one day. Overall, the ride seemed to jolt me a lot more than in the past. That leads me to believe that I'm going to be very very sore after riding it 100 times. It's still a great great coaster even with all the people who don't smack your hands. I only got 3 smacks all day. I cried myself to sleep that night. :(
The most important thing that happened to me that day was next. I won a huge "mail man" Curious George monkey at one of the games near the Gemini. Only $2 too!!! I am a monkey freak and he just made my day. A guy offered me $40 for it on my way back to the car, but I had to turn him down. I love that thing!! :)
So after the monkey, our coaster plan was screwed up since we had to walk all the way back to the parking lot. So we ate at the Midway Market. Great food, and the server "Adam" was the best I've had there. If you're ever eating there and you see Adam, ask to be sat in his area. He was very nice and courteous, and even told me a secret to winning one of the Midway Games which helped out later.
Then we went to the Raptor which looks beautiful with the paint job. It rides sooooo fast now. Or maybe it always did. But it seemed sooooo fast! :) I liked it!
Next we hit Blue Streak which gave the best ride I'd ever had on it. It was very smooth and gave lots of air. I had never really liked it before, but it is a must now when we want a quick ride.
Disaster Transport was next. Eh. It's decent for what it is. I like the pitch black opening the most.
Then we hit Magnum, ejector seat. Man that baby flew. Very smooth and the air was in full abundance. It took top honors that day over Milly for the rides I got.
Corkscrew, Wildcat, and Iron Dragon were next. I don't get anything special from any of these, but they are all 3 fun. We did get stuck on the Iron dragon's 2nd hill for a few minutes because someone puked on the train in front of ours and they had to clean it. That was kinda sick.
Then we went and rode Gemini a couple more times and met up with Joe E. We rode the Gemini, then hit Magnum, where I had my best ride ever in the ejector seat (even though the lady really stamped me...like...really). Then we did Dodgem and headed over to the Mantis. Pat and I needed Mantis to finish all the coasters, but Joe didn't want to wait the estimated 1 hour wait, so we were going to meet back there in an hour.
We got done riding after only 30 minutes and went and played some more Midway games and arcade games to waste time. I won a stuffed dog and Pat won an elephant using Adam's "secret throw". We kinda lost track of time, and got back to the Mantis 15 minutes late. Joe wasn't there, so we figured we missed him. (Sorry joe!!)
Then we hit Milly for the last ride of the night. Ended the night perfectly. I forgot to add my 3rd complaint. I don't like the new ride signs either. There, that's it.
Overall, I had a great day, especially with my frickin' huge Curious George. It was nice meeting my first GTTPer. This was a great day to ride all the rides so I'm not missing out on anything during the Gemini 100. I can't wait to meet everyone there. It's going to be fun. Well, there's nothing more to say, I guess...
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Question: How do you explain the actions of millions of people who wait hours upon hours to be dropped down a hill?
Answer: You don't...
Right, Darn the Mantis Sign!
Arrival 2PM,
Weather-65 with variable cloudiness
I was shocked at how "crowded" the park was. I guess I'm too used to having the park all to myself. Anyway laughing at the one hour wait for Raptor, thinking to myself that I walked on the thing at least 10 times already this year, I decided I would try and pay attention to the little guys. I hit Corkscrew which was great as always, just a tad to short for my liking.
I then Moved over to Magnum for about a 15 minute wait for the ejector seat. I clicked the bar down only 1 notch and I was on my way to an air filled ride :). After that I hit Gemini quick and walked to Millennium Force where I passed up an hour and 15 minute wait. On my way back to Gemini I rode Mine Ride, which again was startling that I actually had to wait five minutes. I am so spoiled.
I headed back to Gemini for some Gemini 100 testing. Today's crowd may be a mirror of June 11th, and they had a 2 side/train operation going. 8 laps in 1 hour I think will push us over the top as long as both sides are running all day.
After my 8th I met Gemini Hand Smacker and his friend and we did one more lap on Gemini. Horrible handsmacking, the worst EVER! All three of us were lines on the right side of car 3 of read train and got ZERO smacks :(. I hate HOLD ON with a passion now.
We moved back to Magnum were we waited about 25 minutes. They got the ejector seat but this time the Lap Bar Nazi's were out. I think my ride in 2-1 was far less painful, but certainly not as fun :).
We moved over to Dogem's were we ganged up on some poor Kid. Thend moved over to Mantis were our "meeting" went aerie. The sign said an hour wait and I was not about to wait an hour for Mantis, so I said I would meat them back here in 45 minutes or so, I Figured I would Go hop on some Mine Trains but low and behold Millennium Force had only a 45 minute wait.
I got up to the station and there were 2 seats left for the next train. I figured I would just fill one of those two seats but one Member of the now very nice Force Crew made 2 peeps behind me go ahead so I was set for the front, yellow train staple free(MF crew = good:) ).
I got off and was back at Mantis in 45 minutes, figuring they would be coming out of line soon. I looked at the line and said "that line is not an hour," not outloud of course. It at the most was 30 Minutes. Since they don't get to go as much as me, I'm glad they left to get more coaster's (or winning games :))in and not wait for my lucky font seatness. :)
I contemplated what to do next after waiting a minute for my front seat buzz to wear off. I rode Draggin Iron and almost fell asleep literally. I was quite tired and as I was rocking on the run I thought this would be a nice place to conk out. The Train Moved again And I was jolted up.
It was near closing time so I headed for the exit for a few laps on "Blue Stack," and a very intense ride in 8-4 on Raptor. All an all a good day. :)
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2001 Force Count-31