Roller Coaster History Timeline Added to Construction Fence

It is indeed very hard for me to believe that all of the signs for each coaster at the park were not printed at the same time. It is also hard for me to believe that the last sign installed on this fence would not be a description of what is to occupy the land the fence surrounds.

I don't find it hard to believe the signs may not have been printed at the same time. I worked in a print shop (we did a lot of signs); when appropriate we'd prioritize multiple-sign projects based on the need-bys for the individual signs and not for the first signs the client would want delivered.

^^I completely agree JUnderhill. Also, I've noticed that Noggin generally is against anything most of us agree with, but I saw her signature and thought, "Noggin isnt stirring the pot, she's just against everything."

Perpetual Obsession said:

Scottyf said:

They put up Corkscrew and Gemini today.

Probably a bit too soon to ask this, but does anyone happen to have any pictures?

Yes, but this site doesn't allow just attaching an image (that I'm aware of). Sorry.

Wrong gender, Final Force, unless you're using "her" as one gay man to another (and that's actually a courtesy I only extend to friends, anyhow).

Scottyf said:
Yes, but this site doesn't allow just attaching an image (that I'm aware of). Sorry.

There are 1.2 trillion places (I counted) to quickly and easily share a photo. It's fairly painless.

http://dumpyourphoto.com

http://img42.com

http://pasteboard.co

http://www.imgnow.net

http://picload.org

http://photobucket.com

http://imgur.com

http://tinypic.com

http://postimage.org

Final Force thought Witchiepoo was a glamour shot of you, noggin...

But here's what I don't get. And I should start by saying whether the signs were printed yesterday or not, I really do think it's a lead in to an announcement. When I first heard tell of these signs, two at a time, it was my immediate thought. At the end when the last sign is scheduled they'll hold a press conference and reveal the new ride.

But is it a smart gimmick? Most Cedar Point visitors are "once a year day" customers. So, last week's visitors saw two coaster represented. Did they stop to ask themselves why only two? Or why there were signs all the way down at the end of the fence and not, say, in the middle somewhere? Probably not. And then this week's visitors get four. Same thing. And so on.

The visitors at the end, and only they, will get the best part of this promotion. They'll see all the coasters laid out in front of them with a huge sign at the end detailing the new ride to come. Part of me says it's genius. Another part of me asks who they're playing to? Just us? Maybe, by mere virtue of the fact we visit more often or at least pay attention to these things?

Advertisers have used teasers, or "to be continued" promotions for a long time, but usually along the way it's all out there for everyone to see and it's clear that eventually there will be a reveal. If I were designing this timeline, I'd put dotted lines or a ghost shape for the future signs with ? marks in them. At the end I'd put one up in the size and shape of the final sign, or the one that announces, and put a really big ? mark in it. At least it would indicate to early-season visitors that more is coming, and really tease the announcement, encouraging them somehow to keep an eye on that spot.

So why, then, do I think this is the start of a campaign? I dunno, I just have a sneaky feeling that it just has to be it, as weird as it may seem.

I don't know why it would seem weird, this is definitely the start of the "campaign", if you want to call it that. It's more of a "hey, we're building a new coaster" signal sent loud and clear.

I doubt the vast majority of visitors (especially the once-a-year kind) have any idea anything has been cleared or is being planned. Those who are "in the know" are the Twitter followers, the Pointbuzzers, the Coasterbuzzers, the Facebook followers, etc. Most guests are concerened with one thing and one thing only; making the most of the day they have at the park, not what's coming next year. That luxury is left to those of us who frolic in our over-analysis of every minuscule change.

All that said, I think even an infrequent guest could put two and two together here (assuming they actually care enough to ponder it, which I doubt most do). The only way they could make it more obvious would be to put a banner that reads "This construction site will soon result in a new coaster". If anything, people stop by, learn something about whatever has been posted to date, and carry on with what's most important to them, which would be riding everything they possibly can (especially those once-a-year guests).

Have campaigns for new rides at any amusement park really ever catered to anyone outside of die-hard enthusiasts?

Take even Disney, for example. What percentage of people know about a third Soarin' theater being built or a new Frozen attraction on the way in Norway? It's not headline news, it's insider news...or news to anyone currently doing "research" on the park for some reason.

But "we" do a lot of free advertising for the park. I told my wife about this campaign, who told some of her clients who visited the park who were totally clueless. I keep students clued in about all the changes, they tell their roommates, and so on, and they will tell friends, etc...and before you know it, there's a real-life "PointBuzz" out there about some new ride about to be built at Cedar Point.

RCMAC said:

Final Force thought Witchiepoo was a glamour shot of you, noggin...

Is it not?

I was unsure of Noggin's gender but for some reason I still said "her". My mistake. Although I'm still confused. Oh well. I voted you up anyway ;)

I should be so lucky that Witchiepoo is a glamour shot of me :-)

At least it's not H.R. Puff N stuff.

The last sign will say "Use Brylcream, A little dab will do Ya ".

I'm confused by the walls of text which I'm far too lazy to read. Are there actually people here who don't think this fence will eventually list every current coaster, ending with an announcement of a new coaster?

Does anyone think the new coaster won't come till 2017? It seems too late to start construction

Gatekeeper's construction started in August or September of 2012 and opened for the 2013 season.

B&Ms go up fairly quickly.

Especially when ground was cleared months earlier

Yeah, but they still have to tear down employee housing to make room for the giant 164 foot Immelmann. . .oops I've said too much ;)

I hope at the end, it says in big letters:

If it did, then we would say this: