Sunday, 10/24

Overall, yesterday at the Point was a very enjoyable day! Weather was 60-ish, partly cloudy and partly sunny. As you all know, it was the second to last weekend the park is open. Got to the park at 10:30AM, parked in the Soak City lot, then headed right over to Millie, which had a 20 minute wait. Not bad. I was a little nervous getting into the station due to this being my first visit to the Point since the seatbelt policy was implemented, and I wasn’t sure I’d fit. For reference, I’m 6’9”, 270 lbs, 42” waist (and growing). Sure enough, it was VERY close – so close, the ride ops had to stretch the belt taut and buckle the belt for me, and then had to tug on the tightening loop to get the required 1” of black belt. Whew, thanks ride op. Disaster averted. Mental note to self: lay off the carbs. Of course, had a great ride; seems Millie is aging well, as rides now are just as smooth and fast as ever.

To make things better, I got a FreeWay stamp as I got off, which turned out to be important, as Millie’s lines later in the day stretched to 45 min – 1 hour. Speaking of FreeWay, gotta love it. I wish I had three hands so I could get an extra stamp.

Next, went over to Maggie (5 min wait), and I can’t say I enjoyed the ride all that much. I wanted to enjoy it (heard that seat 1-3 was the best, gave it a shot), but it seemed just too jerky and bumpy. I think my rides on Maggie are going to be decreased in the future, which is sad, because I can remember back to the days of smooth speed. I don’t mind the first half of the ride, but it’s the damn “airtime” hills that kill me. It might be more enjoyable if someone just smacked me in the thighs with a pipe. Maybe it’s my body style. Maybe it’s my seat choice. Whatever it is, I don’t like it and it doesn’t like me.

Rode another winner next, Weak Streak (walk on, thank God). Hate to repeat what everyone says, but my God, painful ride. The impression I had of MS from previous years was that the trains had a complete inability to track around a curve. Of course, still true, but the train bouncing around during down a non-curved drop was also horrible. I could be done with this coaster, which is also sad because it was fantastic at one point. As I walked off MS, it occurred to me that the rumors MUST be true, whatever is new for CP in 2005 or 2006 must be put in the back of the park to rejuvenate that section. The back of the park had 90% fewer people than anywhere in the front – I felt like I was the only one back there.

Rode MF via Freeway on the way to one of the highlights of my day: lunch at Famous Dave’s. My wife and I got there around 2PM, and it was nearly empty. I would suspect that like most, I’m not a huge fan of the quality, price, and service of the food within the park, so I was anxious to give it a try. Let me tell you, it was a little slice of Heaven for an hour and a half: quiet, good service, cold beer, and good food. We sat and relaxed for a while and just enjoyed.

Later in the day, rode Raptor a couple of times (early afternoon was a solid 25 minute wait, around 4PM was a 5 minute wait). Of course: wow, wow, wow. How old is this thing? Rides are every bit as fast and smooth as it’s opening day. Maybe the best ride in the park.

Rode WT and a couple of other rides on the way to the last ride of the day: Dragster (wait: 1 hour). First of all, I was extremely impressed with the launch intervals they were achieving. Seemed to be around 60 seconds per launch (could have been slightly more though), and I didn’t see much, if any downtime all day. Kudos. It was a great ride, but I suspect I think of this ride like some others: 17 seconds is just not enough time of thrill to justify an hour. I would say that if the line were shorter, I could ride this thing A LOT.

After Dragster, my wife told me she couldn’t take anymore, so we headed home. Great day at the Point!

**edit: somehow lost paragraphs. reinserted. ** *** Edited 10/25/2004 2:51:27 PM UTC by Doug Rowe***

Great TR! I was there this past Friday, Saturday & Sunday (left the park at 2pm) and also had a great time. I also was VERY impressed with Famous Dave's. There were 5 of us with 5 different orders...so a lot of sharing went on. The catfish was excellent (and I'm not a big fish fan), the ribs were excellent, fries were upper scale and I had one of the best pork BBQ's that I have ever had. Gotta love their spicey sauce!

One Smokin' Iced Tea about put me under the table. WOW!

Dragster ran well all weekend. I was on the first train out Saturday morning on MF...BRRR! Got a trimless Maggie ride. The Haunted Houses were very good, for the most part. Werewolf Canyon was a disappointment and we missed CarnEviel, due to a little rain Saturday night.

I have now stayed in both the cottages and cabins at Lighthouse Point. Which do I like better? I dunno. Each has it's own advantages. Cottages have the great lake view and the cabins are cozy (and warmer, this time of year). Either one is a sure winner.

MrScott

If you're lookin to go to FD's again MrScott, there is one on 44th by Lowe's in Grandville. I highly recommend slathering everything in Devils Spit BBQ Sauce. That stuff is unbelievably tasty.

Maybe you would have had more respect for Magnum if you rode it before Mille. Just a thought. The smoothness of Mille really makes Magnum seem very rough.

I here there is a new FD's in Muskegon, Jugga. That would be closer for me. If I could just skip El Camino's Tacos...

MrScott

I did not know about that new FD's....the one on 44th is about 5 minutes from my house so I've been there....just stop at the FD's on your way to El Camino's to get some Devil Spit for your tacos then you get the best of both

I was at the point on Saterday. Werewolf Canyon was a dissappointment, only for the fact that it never opened on Saterday, because of the rain or some stupid reason like that. Fright Zone almost suffered the same fate as it didn't even open until 930 that night. Some park opps said that it wasn't even opening that night cause of the rain. Very impressed with CarnEVIL and Lair of the Vampire. I got one questoin though. I was in line for Magnum at around 1155 and they started testing Dragster. My friends and I got off Magnum at around 1205 and decided to head over to Dragster just to see what was up. They were letting people in. I got on Dragster at 1230. Anyone know why Dragster started operating past closing time? No complaints here though.

Because everyone who is in line gets a ride. A very impressive policy. We heard Dragster start up again near midnight from the cabin and I couldn't believe it. Hours after the park closed! How you got in line after park closing, I don't know.

MrScott

MrScott said:
Great TR! I was there this past Friday, Saturday & Sunday (left the park at 2pm) and also had a great time. MrScott

MrScott, Were you in your "Pointbuzz" t-shirt on Sunday?

Yes, I was.

MrScott

I spotted a PB shirt a few times on Sunday, that must've been you.

It very well may have been. The shirt generated many comments that I heard, and probably more that I didn't. Employees, mainly. But there were a couple of guys in the Mean Streak station that took notice.

T-Shirts in October can be a bit refreshing hundreds of feet in the air going 74 (or more) MPH!

MrScott

I dont know. After midnight, the park ops were letting anyone and everyone that wanted to ride Dragster in. A manager was even at the enterence and I asked him if they were still letting people in. He said they were. They let people in line to ride Dragster well past 1215 sat night.

Odd.

MrScott

I was right behind you coming off of Gemini, but could not catch up with you to ask who you were. Saturday, the rain was sure pesky. Not enough to do much damage, but enough to close most of the coasters. I must add, that it is certainly interesting riding WT in the rain (one that was still open during the on and off rain). I closed out my 2004 season with front seat rides on MF and TTD. It was a good year CP!! See you next season!!!!!

I went on Saturday and I thought CarnEvil wasn't bad. The fog didn't stay down as much as the frightzone. However it was just as much fun seeing the different characters. I especially liked the guy with his hair sticking straight up and to the sides. He had a great laugh. The trio of terror was awesome. Yet again they never fail to impress me, great job on the Raven, David. Very cool to see you as a different character. If you haven't seen it, I recommend you do. I was also bummed about Werewolf Canyon, I still have yet to see it! Argh! The haunted houses were ok, by far the best is Undertaker U, and the worst is probably Pharoah's secret, it had to much lighting. Overall through the rain and all it was fun. I didn't eat at FD's, I did earlier in the year and I think it is one of the better values in the park. You get a lot of food. I got an appetizer, and I couldn't even finish it! I needed my friends to help.

-----VOTE 4 THE TOLEDO ZOO-----