Starlight Experience

Did anyone experience Starlight last weekend? I had planned to, but we decided to leave before twilight. Wondering if there were any changes or new surprises for this year?

I read somewhere (maybe on Coasterbuzz or a trip report here, I don't remember) that there was some different music this year, but that's all I've heard.

It seemed like it was downsized this year, but maybe that's just my imagination. It's still fun to walk through.

Near as I could tell the music is still all from the movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.

The only major change I could see would probably be to the summer/4th of July section with the addition of more red, white, and blue lights and possibly the loss of the "fireworks" up in the trees (perhaps they just weren't on when we were there).

Tim

Or they removed the branches that held the fireworks. Just a thought.

Ah, good call. That's a distinct possibility. Some of the fireworks trees were just around the STR entrance path from the Trail too, so perhaps some of those trees also went.

Like I said, I love walking through this at night, but I think it would be nice if some canopy's of lights were added, like twinkling white lights way above the trail...to kind of top off everything.

Never have seen starlight experience, except just now in an online image, but I have a strong opinion. Save the stringed lights for Christmas, and do colored spotlighting and waterfalls (like Cedar Fair Kings Island); in warmer months, you cannot beat the gentle sound of flowing water with the ambience of a light show / colored spot lights.

Kings Island added a Starlight this year...Its called Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular They added lights to the tower and the midway around it.

I still say it would be a wonderful addition to the Paddle boats to turn that ride into a starlight attraction. It would be amazing to take a boat journey with the lighting, mood music and enhancements to the sets.

I walked through Starlight on Saturday evening. It's still nice, although it seemed like there were fewer lights than last year. I suspect part of that has to do with the large number of trees taken out around STR. I spent a bit of time playing in the fog by the Frontier Trail sign. :)

I still haven't seen this year's version at Cedar Point, but I've seen the version at Kings Island.

I think what they ought to do is gradually expand the lighting...not necessarily the programmed show, but the elaborate lighting packages...throughout the park. Ultimately make the whole park really stunningly spectacular at night. Then extend the nighttime hours and run special promotions to emphasize how special it is to be in the park at night. And of course, promote the hotels so that people can stay late...maybe even offer special late check-out options.

The point is, make it as spectacular as Dreamland was back in the day, then promote the heck out of it.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

That would be sweet.

I like Rideman's and Mattd's ideas. he train could be cool too, but I'd much rather see that turned into some kind of Halloweekends attraction.

I could not agree more! I am hoping that one day we will have a Haunted train ride during Halloweekends. I know Dorney uses their train for a haunted attraction.

The lights from Starlight do look really nice when you pass through while on the train.

I did see the fireworks trees have been trimmed back, that is sad, those were a nice effect.

I am nervous for Starlight this year. It was so nice last year, seems like it might be a bit less this impressive this year :( (I am sure it is still great though.)

I thought the same thing until I walked through it on Friday night. Though some of the fireworks are gone, It looks almost as good as last year. And even better in some spots. It seems to me that more lights were added in the Mardi Gras section. Can anyone else confirm this?

I'm now thinking that they left the tree trunks up for this reason. There are lots of lights attached to them and removing the trunks would have severely detracted from SE.

The overall experience is more or less the same, although none of the flood lights in the autumn section have been on during the multiple nights I've visited. I don't know if that perhaps has anything to do with the STR work in that area.

The best addition to SE this year are the tiny LED "fireflies" in the bushes by the ramp to Thunder Canyon's observation desk. It's a remarkably neat and subtle touch, the kind of thing you don't usually associate with Cedar Point.

Glad to hear it's not a let down!

The LED fireflies sound cool! Thanks for the heads up on that, I will def be looking for those :)

The Starlight Experience works best when it's mellow and atmospheric, particularly with things like the fireflies. It's less successful when it tries to be "exciting" and the lights start flashing (I realize they are trying to synchronize them to the music but that isn't always evident). The biggest offenders on this count are the new fairly spastic red-white-blue lights in the summer section. The "dancing" lights can come off as sloppy and break the mood a bit. However, when things are just chill in between the dancing that you really do have something special to experience on the Trail.

Hopefully they'll continue to refine the whole experience in the years to come. The Knott's version looks particularly impressive with lots of little scenes and vignettes featuring the Peanuts characters. They really took the idea and ran with it.

On Sunday most of the lights were not working in the Easter section.