Ride Renovations ala Six Flags

Do you think Cedar Point will ever consider renovating a current roller coaster with music, lights, flame throwers etc.. to create a "multi-sensory ride experience". This seams to be the new trend over at Six Flags starting with transforming X to X2, then announcing changes to Superman ROS, and now Medusa .

Who has ridden X2 or any other coasters with the built in speakers like Led Zepplin or Hollywood Dream? Did you like the extras and what rides at CP would you like to see renovated?

Personally I've never ridden one of these but having music playing and flame throwers while riding does not really appeal to me. I already consider coasters at CP to be multi-sensory. Also I don't think it seems like something that CP is capable of maintaining over a long period of time.

You answered your own question with the last sentence of your post. I'm pretty sure the theming horse has had a thorough beating to the point it's unrecognizable now.

On-board audio = the future of coasters

Rockin' Roller Coaster, Led Zeppelin, Max RPM!, Eagles Life in the Fast Lane, and Mummy would not be the same without their onboard soundtracks.

When I got off of Maverick in August after spending three and a half months at HRP I determined that onboard audio would make that coaster AMAZING- it's already a great ride, but throw in a soundtrack and you have an experience. I have a feeling that most coasters in the future (at least at destination parks) will have onboard audio as a significant part of their themeing.

Cedar Point already made a attempt at renovating a coaster, and ended up with Disaster Transport.

I think that adding audio can freshen up an existing ride. Space Mountain in CA originally had no audio in the cars. They added a robust system (precursor to the excellent audio on Rock N Roller Coaster) that changed the experience and made it all that more popular.

Not sure how effective it would be unless you are sitting down into the car, like you do on Space Mountain and RNR Coaster. So, don't think Maverick trains would be a great choice. Maybe Gemini, since it also runs fairly quietly on the tubular track. Adrenaline rides like Millenium and Top Thrill don't need it.

But, a valid question was raised - would CP maintain it properly?

I'd rather see them keep up the theming on the rides they already have than to add more to rides that they aren't going to upkeep. I'm thinking that next year will be the last year for the water cannon effect on Maverick before they stop taking care of it.

If Six Flags can handle these little theming elements than CP can definately.

Your mom is to fat to ride TTD. said:
If Six Flags can handle these little theming elements than CP can definately.

I completley agree with that.

Your mom is to fat to ride TTD. said:
If Six Flags can handle these little theming elements than CP can definately.

That remains to be seen... I hate to mess with a legend but I wonder if they are considering doing something like this to Magnum as part of a 20th anniversary. I mean they have to be considering new coaster at 20 mil or save money and throw a couple mil at an existing ride.

Except that most of those "theming" elements have only been put in over the last 2 years. Wait another 5 to see if Six Flags actually keeps up on them. Disaster Transports effects were awesome its first couple years too, but we can all see where that's gone.

Is renovating or adding theming elements to a current coaster the best use of capital dollars? Also, is there a return on that investment? I would guess that Cedar Fair will take a watch and see approach with the Six Flags work to see if its a worthwhile investment. I dont know if you can compare Disaster Transport with what Six Flags is doing because Avalanche Run was a bad coaster to start with. Just enclosing it in a garage and adding some lights didnt do anything to improve the actual ride.

realmadrid311 said:

That remains to be seen... I hate to mess with a legend but I wonder if they are considering doing something like this to Magnum as part of a 20th anniversary. I mean they have to be considering new coaster at 20 mil or save money and throw a couple mil at an existing ride.

I hope they don't mess with Magnum. Because as you had said, it is a legend. It is perfect the way it is.

I always thought Raptor would be cool with some on ride audio. Rock music would fit it pretty good.

ACDC on Raptor would be sweet. But I would hope that they wouldn't touch Magum. Its perfect the way it is.

The best thing Cedar Point could do right now would be to add a log flume/dark ride combinition with multi-sensory elements. The second best thing Cedar Point could do right now is renovate/reprofile Mean Streak.

Well, I personally would absolutely HATE to have audio blasting in my ear as I'm riding the coasters of CP. It's okay maybe for like certain coasters if that's their theme, but riding the coaster itself and talking during it and the mechanical adrenaline is what it's all about. And yeah, let's see how well SF keeps up those fireball machines and if they actually get a ROI after the first few years. But CP does need to do a better job at keeping up their rides.

I'd take a new woodie (either a replacement or a new one elsewhere in the park) before a reprofiled Mean Streak.

And here goes the Mean Streak/new woodie talk again. . . . Soon to be a political thread. . .

Okay then to get back on track (no pun intended), the idea of having a coaster with music sounds cool if it is built that way but I'm not sure how I would feel about seeing an existing coaster having it added.

sarah1 said:
Cedar Point already made a attempt at renovating a coaster, and ended up with Disaster Transport.

That pretty much hits the nail right on the head.

Life in the Fast Lane at Hard Rock Park isn't much of a ride at all, but the soundtrack and effects make it fun. The line for the Led Zeppelin coaster is cool with the exception that you have to sit through a 5 min movie every damn time you ride it, and they show you a POV about 3 times. Can't figure out why you'd want to watch the ride when there's only about 8 feet and a door keeping you off of it. After the lift hill though, you don't really notice the soundtrack because it's a pretty solid coaster. When that park grows up a little it's going to be pretty sweet. I agree that CP doesn't have to rely on theming for the most part, but it'd be nice if they'd commit to it when they put in, like we all complain about. Either maintain it or take it out completely, don't leave me staring at a pile of crap that used to be operational theming.