Top Thrill Dragster 2022 Status

Just got back from the park, and at least re: Dragster, I've gotta give them credit for both getting a wall up that looks like it's been there for far longer than it has, and for covering nearly every potential sightline into the Dragster plot. Really the only other decent vantage point is looking from the Snake River Expedition dock area.

Either way, doesn't seem like much has visibly changed. The tower still looks untouched, but it's also hard to say if they've been waiting for the season to be over before continuing further. Guess we'll find out.

Also, it's probably been reported, but TTD merch (and only TTD merch) being very conspicuously 50% off, definitely supports a renaming at a minimum.

I was at the park the first few days of closing weekend and Power Tower gives you a great view of the entire Dragster plot hidden by the wall, including the loading platform, which is nothing more than a cement slab now. Of course, you have to be on the correct side while riding to see it.

A timely tip.

Jeff:

The removal of any ride will not materially affect Cedar Point's attendance. Wicked Twister, Space Spiral, Shoot The Rapids, Snoopy Bounce... folks are still going to show up in the same numbers that they did before.

Your examples are the worst examples of all time. When did Space spiral, shoot the rapids, and Snoopy Bounce EVER pull anyone to the park? Wicked twister has been waning in popularity for years. It had an incredibly low ridership. 3 of your 4 examples were not headline attractions.

Here is I think a better well-rounded argument for what is going on. Top Thrill Dragster added a unique ride experience to the park's ride lineup. Arguably, the ride is "iconic" to the park. For many guests, Cedar point is the only place where they have ridden an attraction like it. In replacing the ride, Cedar point is looking to replace it with a similar ride experience in order to maintain its current attraction lineup. It wouldn't make sense to replace dragster with sir rub a dubs tubs.

Cedar Point is looking to maintain it's unique ride offerings.

Is it just a flip to LSM or are they going to add more to the ride experience, only time will tell.

I think some of you are having a really hard time separating reality from your enthusiast perception. The reality is that TTD open or closed has had little to zero effect on attendance. The parks attendance this year was in fact record breaking once again and that was without both Wicked Twister and TTD.

Why? Because the general public doesn’t care. There’s enough diversity in attractions and experience at the park that the general public could care less about TTD being closed. Additionally, look at literally any new attraction added to the park in the past ten years and you’ll be astonished to know that attendance barely changed. Today’s general public park visitor doesn’t need TTD or Wicked Twister or heck even Steel Vengeance to want to visit Cedar Point.

The enthusiast community continues to amaze me at how often they become so invested in the idea and perception that Cedar Point needs rides like TTD for (insert reason). When it reopens, whenever that will be, I promise you attendance won’t magically skyrocket.

I stopped going to the park when they tore out snoopy bounce.

Cedar Point used to advertise being the Roller Coaster Capital of the World. I know they've shifted away from that a little bit but trying to become well rounded and cater to families. But I think they can continue to do both. You can have a Wild Mouse coaster that's great for younger riders and families, all while having an elite coaster like Steel Vengeance and hopefully whatever reimagining Top Thrill Dragster becomes.

If the park decides to change the layout of TTD, it could become one of the best coasters on earth. Instead of paying full price for an entire new coaster, you could use that money and invest into improving what's already there. Imagine how much it'd cost to build TTD from scratch in today's economy. It would be a lot, I'd assume. So to have the 400ft structure already in place, and to add onto the rest, make it safer, and more reliable would be a huge win for the park

Cedar Pointer:

...when they tore out snoopy bounce.

This isn't necessarily directed at you alone, because several people are guilty of this, but one of the things that is irritating regarding the "if only they enacted my RCT fever dream it would be a huge win for the company" suggests that the people in charge don't know what they're doing. Which is, of course, ridiculous on top of being insulting.

They have the data. They've done the math. The people suggesting grand changes to TTD's layout don't and haven't.

Re: data and math, I'm very curious if there are some Sabermetrics-like statistics for each individual ride in regards to calculating popularity and capacity vs upkeep and return on investment and such.

Most apropos statistic I can think of would be if there was some analogue to Wins Above Replacement, in terms of attempting to quantify each ride's contribution to the park as a single number.

The enthusiast community continues to amaze me at how often they become so invested in the idea and perception that Cedar Point needs rides like TTD for (insert reason). When it reopens, whenever that will be, I promise you attendance won’t magically skyrocket.

IMO this type of reasoning we have been hearing from many is correct in the short term but wrong in the long term. Let's say CP takes a new approach and adds very few rides in the next 10 years and the rides they add are mediocre (nothing cutting edge, no record breakers, nothing very special). Are we saying this will NOT impact attendance at all over the next ten years? Of course it would. Even if it is every 4-5 years or so, CP needs to add premier thrill rides to their lineup to maintain their reputation, excitement levels and future attendance.

Are we saying this will NOT impact attendance at all over the next ten years?

Yes. You're hung up on rides when the management is correctly focusing on making sure people have a good time. Good enough that they want to come back next year. That's why Magic Kingdom could go decades with a couple of mediocre roller coasters and still be the trip that families aspire to.

Frog Hopper King:

When did Space spiral, shoot the rapids, and Snoopy Bounce EVER pull anyone to the park?

Subtle humor is obviously not your thing.

mgou58:
There’s enough diversity in attractions and experience at the park that the general public could care less about TTD being closed.

This is what paying attention looks like.

Anybody see that video on youtube of Top Thrill Dragster with a traditional lift chain? Pretty cool idea. Click, Click, Click your way up the 90 degree incline for 3-4 minutes would be quite traumatic for even the most enthusiastic coaster enthusiast! I think we'd have to put a Depends vending machine at the line queue entrance :) I hope its in the reimagination budget!

Jeff:

Frog Hopper King:

When did Space spiral, shoot the rapids, and Snoopy Bounce EVER pull anyone to the park?

Subtle humor is obviously not your thing.

"Subtle humor" in a form like this doesn't work. So hilarious. Rotfl.

Only if you don't get the joke.

"Anybody see that video on youtube of Top Thrill Dragster with a traditional lift chain? "

Oh! The capacity!!!

Master D is absolutely correct. For the long term success of the park, I think I needs to maintain it's reputation. If they turn TTD into an elite coaster, that solidifies themselves as one of the top parks in the world. That keeps people coming back!

MrJohnJLewis:

Master D is absolutely correct. For the long term success of the park, I think I needs to maintain it's reputation.

And whether or not a retrofitted Dragster reopens or they turn that area into yet another BBQish restaurant, they will still be one of the "top parks in the world" that will satisfy whichever superlative you feel is critical for their success.

Taken from the Sandcastle Suites thread:

Joe E:

Walking around LHP midday I always see a decent portion of folks a just relaxing at their sites. Some are there all day it seemed enjoying the weather and the views. My guess is they are staying there longer and don't feel the need to be at the park all day and every day.

Another example why the park doesn't need to focus on building thrill rides. It's not just the park, but the entire property as a well-rounded resort.

DaveDzRochNY:

Oh! The capacity!!!

Didn't think I'd get to use this twice in one week, but here we go (now with grain and vignetting):