Thursday ride nights. Are they a good idea?

I went on Sunday and waited about 45 minutes for Maverick at ERT. I understand both points of view. Maybe they could let the Platinum passholders in a half hour before the resort guests, but still give them ERT also.

During the busy weeks, I usually ride Raptor during ERT and then with a few minutes to spare I get in line for either MF or mav

Even on crowded days, provided everything opens on time, I can get a ride on Maverick, MF and then be in line for TTD prior to opening during the morning.

I disagree about extra time for PP holders, look at the money people pay to stay at the resorts. I have a PP pass and i also stay at the resorts every time we visit, we live 3 1/2 hours away with 2yr old twins. You would think that they would give the resort guests the extra time over the PP holders, who is gonna spend or has already spent more money at the park?

^No that would piss PP (haha) holders who spend money in the park at least a couple of times a year. Plus they might buy it year after year.

djDaemon said:
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.

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).

Hold on!
Im asking to much to let Platinum Pass holders in a half hour to an hour before resort guest? I don't think that is much at all... I would even settle if they still let us in at 9 and let the resort guest in at 9:30. That to me is even more reasonable.

Also please show me where in my post did i say that a Platinum Pass was not a value.
I actually think that a Platinum Pass is more then a value.

Well, lets switch that around, let the resort guests in at 9 and the pass holders in at 930, how would that go over with the pass holders? The same way it would go over with the resort guests. Especially when there is a huge line of resort guests waiting to get in, while people, that most likely get to go in the park whenever they want on any given day, get to enter the park earlier than the people that only visit possibly once a year paying all that extra money to stay at one of CP hotels. The ERT perk should be to the people dumping the money at the resorts before the pass holder, and remember, I AM a platinum pass holder!

Basically, if you want the "E" of the ERT, visit on the months that typically have the lower crowds. I've witnessed insanely huge crowds for ERT mornings and wondered myself if they let everyone in the park without checking for resort cards, but what can you do.

All of you have made convincing arguments. But lost in all of this is the fact that Cedar Point is under no obligation to provide ERT at any time to any of us. It is a privilege, not a right. And if it causes enough grief for park management, it can be taken away. I am a Platinum Passholder, and appreciate the courtesy that Cedar Point extends to me to enter their park early. And I take advantage of that whenever I can. I have also stayed at Hotel Breakers occasionally with non-passholder family and friends. And I appreciated the ERT that was extended by the park to my group because we were all resort guests. I believe the system is fairest just as it is. And while it's true that sometimes the crowds are so big that it hardly feels like ERT, there are also plenty of opportunities during the less busy times to enjoy true ERT. My son and I were at Cedar Point for closing weekend last year, and on that Friday evening from 5-6, my son amd I enjoyed 9 rides on Millennium Force. Thank you, Cedar Point.

^If Cedar Point decides to take something away because it causes grief for management, then management needs to be sacked and replaced with a team that will respond to their consumers. What a terrible business model you have there.

I have no beef with early ERT for the park guests. That is a great perk for those who spend time at the park once a year and pay the amounts they pay to stay at a Cedar Point resort.

My concern is with the Thursday nights. Its not really a perk when you can't go. I don't live close enough to be home at an hour that allows me to get enough sleep before work the next day. Friday's or Saturdays seem like a better night to have an ERT. If the purpose of ERT is to get more people into the park, I bet dollars to donuts you would have more riders on a Friday or Saturday as opposed to Sunday-Thursday.

Except from the park perspective they do those ERT nights to get butts into the park, and hopefully spending some $$$. There is no need to get extra people in through the gate on a Friday or Saturday night. I personally do not go to the final Centenial Theatre show of the night because Im off riding rides, so thus I miss the PP preseating. Do you hear me compaling about not getting to use that perk? No. Just because a perk is offered does not mean that it becomes a PP right.

If you cant go on Thursdays then too bad, enough people can that the park can justify the expense of an extra hour or running a ride (or two.) Imagine how unfun it would be if every PP holder was able to come for those, you would be lucky to get more then one ride in.

ERT originated with the Breakers guests getting in 1 hour early for as long as I can remember, and that has been a long time. It is a resort perk that was offered when Platinum Pass came about. As a family full of Platinum pass holders I wish it would go back to a Resort only perk in the mornings, that way my family and I staying on property for a premium price would not have long lines to deal with.

Just because you stay at the resort doesn't mean a one time visit. My family and friends stay at the Breakers 3 trips or more a year for 3 days a trip, so all of those passes at morning ERT accumulate way more people in front of us.

Platinum Pass ERT should be after hours at closing.

And they hold ERT on Thur. to get me and those like me to come and stay that extra night instead of just the weekend.

Regardless of who spends more or deserves it more, both groups should just be thankful for the extra hour in the park.

I don't believe I ever said anything about my "rights" as a Platinum Pass holder. Don't be so damn dramatic. Touchdown, you're comparing something you choose to miss out on vs. something I can't go to. Not the same thing. You choosing to pass on pre-seating is not the same as me having to go to work in the morning and not making it feasible for me to make the 4 hr. round trip drive.

Part of CP advertising for the Platinum Pass states

It also includes special discounts, exclusive ride nights and more.

Last year I bought a regular pass and my girlfriend got the Platinum to take care of parking. This year I bought the Platinum Pass based on ERT and since they are on Thursday, I'm kind of s-o-l. I guess next year one of us will just get a regular pass while the other gets the Platinum to soak up parking. No big loss to Cedar Point, right? I just tell my friends to buy one Platinum and and the rest of the family can get a regular pass because ERT is on a weeknight and won't really hold any benefits for them except parking.

Airtime, let say you stay at Breakers Express. The least expensive CP property. You're going to spend $102 (average cost) for 1 extra night hour of ERT?

MaVeRiCk 'n MaGnUm XL said:

Hold on!
Im asking to much to let Platinum Pass holders in a half hour to an hour before resort guest? I don't think that is much at all... I would even settle if they still let us in at 9 and let the resort guest in at 9:30. That to me is even more reasonable.

As has been pointed out, you spend a pittance compared to what resort guests and families spend in the park. Morning ERT is for resort guests, and being a PP holder simply gives you access to that perk - not the other way around.

But the main point I was making was that you're going during the peak season! You cannot go see a popular movie on opening night and expect to be in an empty theater. That would be unreasonable.

Also please show me where in my post did i say that a Platinum Pass was not a value.
I actually think that a Platinum Pass is more then a value.

You implied it. If your main motivation for purchasing a PP is to get ERT. If you're not getting enough ERT to make your purchase worthwhile, you're not finding value in it. And as I said, if you don't think its a good value, don't buy it.

For what it's worth, getting into the park an hour early is technically called "Early Entry," while the Thursday night deals are "Exclusive Ride Time." I view Early Entry as a chance to get one of the more popular rides, such as MilF or Maverick, out of the way before General Public and his legion of plebes marches in. :) I don't expect to hit all four coasters in that hour, or even ride any of them more than twice.

I'm just glad CP offers early entry every day. At Canada's Wonderland they only offer it eight days a year, on a Thursday or Friday, and on that selected day they only have one section of the park open early, which is sometimes one of the kids' areas. To me, this hardly seems like a "perk."

The only Thursday ERT I've been to was for MilF on July 2nd, because I had July 3rd off work (what with the 4th being on a Saturday). I got home at 1 a.m., so not really so great if it had been a work night.

Coastern3rd, That is my point, that is 102$ that CF would not get from me and many others with out Thur. night ERT.
There were many of us there, the line waiting for ERT to start was backed up from entrance to exit at Milly July 2nd.
It was well worth the extra 7 rides that night, not to mention the walk around the park after it is closed. That is one of my favorite perks about staying on point at Breakers not Breakers Express. Being able to sit down and watch everyone leave, then walk around the silent park, seeing it lit up in beautiful lites, the park winding down before walking back to the Hotel.

Perfect day; 9am Morning ERT followed by a beautiful sunny day, to a night time 11pm ERT on any Cp extreme coaster, and a slow walk through the park back along the beach to your room. What a Thursday.

djDaemon said:

As has been pointed out, you spend a pittance compared to what resort guests and families spend in the park. Morning ERT is for resort guests, and being a PP holder simply gives you access to that perk - not the other way around.

But the main point I was making was that you're going during the peak season! You cannot go see a popular movie on opening night and expect to be in an empty theater. That would be unreasonable.

You implied it. If your main motivation for purchasing a PP is to get ERT. If you're not getting enough ERT to make your purchase worthwhile, you're not finding value in it. And as I said, if you don't think its a good value, don't buy it.

Once again I never said that it was not a value. I said that if ERT is a perk for a PP holder it would be nice to be able to get more then two rides is.

I will agree it is selfish of me to ask for only PP holders to receive the perk.

I am VERY thank full that ERT is given to us PP holders.
I thank Cedar Point for everything that they do for us.

Sorry for stirring the pot here.

Thanks for opening my eyes! BUT I will not give in to say i said that it was no value because i never said that....

Relax, man. In your original post, you said:

What is the point of ERT in the morning anymore. Itskinda getting out of control. When they first came out with thePlatinum pass last year i thought it was a great idea that PP holdersgot ERT in the mornings.

It seemed as though you were questioning whether the service, early entry, was worth the cost of your Platinum Pass.

value
An amount, as of goods, services, or money, considered to be afair and suitable equivalent for something else; a fair price or return.

I'm not trying to put words in your mouth, but it sure seemed as though you were questioning the value of your purchase.

:)

I was questioning not the value but the point of the morning ERT. Only because it seemed every time that I have gone I have only been able to do two rides weather it be one on Millie and one on Maverick or two on ether of them. I understand that yes this is the busiest time of the year. But I was only getting 2 rides in early in the season as well.

But hey I am def getting a platinum pass from now on because of the value not just because of ERT.

The value is great
Free parking at all cedar fair parks,
Admission to all cedar fair Amusement parks and out door water parks,
Discounts on merchandise and food.
And ERT is just one of the perks....

But hey were cool! no hard feelings i understand where your coming from as well.. :-)

Dont think of it as getting "only" 2 rides in one hour, look at it from a point of how much time you just saved. You managed to get on two rides that will command 1+ hour waits the rest of the day, and probably got in line for another ride like it, and in the end you get on 3 rides in 1.5 hours when anytime else during the day youll be lucky to get all three of them in in double that time.