Thursday ride nights. Are they a good idea?

I'm a platinum pass holder as is my girlfriend. We go to Cedar Point roughly 30 times a year. However, I can't go to Thursday ride nights. Why? Because like anyone who lives on their own and has to pay the rent, I work on weekdays. So I essentially lose out on Cedar Points definition of "value" and "perk" for purchasing a platinum pass. It sucks enough I miss out on getting a deal on a room (those are for the ticket package purchasers only) and ride nights are always on Thursdays.

Is it really that big of a deal to hold them on Fridays?

I agree, sorta. Being a PP holder (*giggle*), we're able to show up to the park more or less on a whim (i.e. when weather is favorable for low crowds, etc.), and we're able to take advantage of ERT. And ERT in June & September can sometimes get us more rides on the big coasters than the GP can get in their entire day.

Hell, we often get so much riding done early in the day that we're leaving the park before dinner!

ADDED:
I agree, though, that having some ride nights on Friday would be nice, though I imagine its easier for them to manage said events with the lower crowds during the week, but I could be wrong about that.

I totaly agree that thrs is a silly day to have it on but......

On weekeds, the park is open later and the crews are working longer hours as it is. Some crews don't get out of work till 1am on some nights.

Crazy horse. I see your point, but the park is now open until 10 as opposed to 11 like in July. Maybe during the summer months they can do Thursday and switch over to Fridays when the park resumes closing at 10.

I know I know.. I get free parking etc... But I can't take advantage of a ride night designed for platinum holders when I have to remain responsible.

And there's your answer - be irresponsible! ;)

I wish, I'm busting my ass not knowing if I have a job each day when I get to work and am pushing the biggest car launch in 100 years of the automobile. Gotta stay on top of things and where else can I look at pointbuzz all day. Certainly not from home during my free time. :)

I hear ya there. Y'all need to hurry up with that car already, and make sure we win the bid for it! :)

And lop a 0 off the price.

I agree. This is my first year with a platinum pass and I work every thursday night :(

They call it a perk, and it is. But. it's also a way to get more people in the park on a day when it wouldn't normally be crowded. They don't need bigger cruds on the weekends.

Jugga, anything you have read about the price is pure speculation. We will let you know as soon as its announced.

On the subject at hand, has anyone been to an ERT Thursday? How many people would you estimate are there?

It's hard to say. My son and I were at the Magnum-Dragster ERT on July 16 and managed 2 quick rides on Magnum when ERT began on it. Then, we went over to Dragster and got 4 rides in an hour. Not too bad. If I were to guess, I would say a couple hundred passholders tops. I live 200 miles from the park, so I have to take vacation time to enjoy the park. I wish I lived in Sandusky. Then I could put in a hard day at work, come home for a bite to eat, and then head over to the park this evening for some ERT on Maverick. Oh well. Maybe someday.

My guess is that they are hoping that the passholders will come to the park on Thursday and just stay for the whole weekend.

My various Ride Night Experiences:

Magnum 07: 10 rides

TTD 08: Fail, no rides due to the ride breaking down

Maverick 09: 5 rides

Magnum/Dragster 09: 10 rides on Magnum, 1 on TTD

Except for TTD 08 I have found those nights to be a blast (especially the Magnum ones that involved multiple laps without getting off) and well worth the trip, when I know Im not working the next day.

Last night was a blast! And I would say only about a 100 people were there. As the hour went on it dropped.

I was there last night as well. and yes only about 100 people rode for ride night, but i am guessing that is because it raind in the early evening hours and most people packed up and went home.

Now I have a little itch that i need to get rid of.
What is the point of ERT in the morning anymore.
Its kinda getting out of control. When they first came out with the Platinum pass last year i thought it was a great idea that PP holders got ERT in the mornings. But they also give it to all the resort guest as well, yesterday morning for example me and my buddy went and we waited 45 min for one ride on Millinnum Force. When we finished we headed to Maverick and there was another 45 min wait! this was all for ERT before the general public entered.

I wish they would let the Platinum Pass holders in at 8 and give us an Hour before the Resort guest come. So give the Platinum Pass holders a total of 2 hrs and resort guest an hour. Or continue to let PP holders in at 9 and let the Resort guest in at 9:30.

It just seems dumb for me to go in to the park an hour early then only get only two rides in.

Its unreasonable to expect what you're asking. You're complaining about it being busy during one of the busiest months of the season. Think about that for a second.

I know when I visit in May, June & September, morning ERT can range anywhere from "meh" all the way up to joygasmic.

And the bottom line - if you no longer feel the Platinum Pass is a value, speak with your wallet! Or maybe save some cash and go with the regular pass, if you don't visit more than 5 times in a season (the break-even point with free parking).

Not to mention that early entry is one of the biggest perks for getting people to stay on site.

It is rough when you only get 2 rides in morning ERT, but I have also gotten some morning where I get more rides in that hour than I would in a whole day.

I've never been to a ride night, but sometimes I have been there on Thursdays, depending on when my friend who works there gets off and we go hang there, But I heard they're too short (1 hour) to actually enjoy riding, because pass holders come alot and the lines still can be long, like an hour. So I never been to one.