Top Thrill STILL closed

Every year some park build a new ride then people flock to ride it in the first month of operation, and frequently disappointed when it's not running or not running at full capacity. I don't know... that's not something I would do. Disney, being year-round, is on to something in that they have a "soft opening" for new rides that lasts three or four months before the ride is officially "open." Good plan, but sadly CP is seasonal.

My last visit I didn't ride Dragster, and it was open all day. I had a damn good time on nearly every other ride, most of which I had little to no wait.

If you're a mechanical engineer, then surely you're familiar with the "bathtub curve" mentioned in other threads. If something is going to fail, it'll happen either early in its service life or much later. In this case, it was early.

And truth be told, this ride is remarkably more available than its Xcelerator counterpart at Knott's, probably because they learned a lot from that ride. Hour for hour, there's no question in my mind that Dragster's uptime has been significantly higher.

The suggestion that they should post on their site the daily availability of rides (which at 96%, including weather and puke clean up, is so high that it's rare for any ride to be closed all day), is ridiculous.

You started out by saying you used this site as a source for info. Knowing Tuesday the cable had broken, why did you go so soon after?

Ask Nasai when he gets back to Seattle if he had a good time at the park on Wednesday. I think he'll tell you he was bummed not to ride Dragster, but had a good time anyway.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

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Jeff said:

You started out by saying you used this site as a source for info. Knowing Tuesday the cable had broken, why did you go so soon after?

Ask Nasai when he gets back to Seattle if he had a good time at the park on Wednesday. I think he'll tell you he was bummed not to ride Dragster, but had a good time anyway.

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I was outvoted by my 3 companions..we pretty much had to go that day. :-(

I still had a good time. I was able to get on most of the rides I wanted and if you were brave enough to hit the water park like we were (it was a little cold out of the water) you found absolutely NO line anywhere. So that was nice. But thats a different story b/c its separate from CP entirely.
*** This post was edited by ShaneM 5/29/2003 10:15:20 AM ***

"I still had a good time. I was able to get on most of the rides I wanted"

Sounds like money well spent.

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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com
*** This post was edited by Gemini 5/29/2003 10:16:57 AM ***

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ShaneM said:

But regardless, all I'm saying is a little better customer relations is what I'm looking for all-around.

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They opened the ride 30 min. before closing, ran it, and were still trying to fix a problem 2.5 hrs. after closing so that people can ride. Then, when it looked like it wasn't going to happen, they gave you a front of the line pass. I don't see how you can expect more effort than that. It seems like EXCELLENT customer relations to me.

After all that, if you write your letter crying about wasting your $45 dollars, you still might get some free tickets to come back.

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Florida may have Disney World and Key West,
but Ohio has Cedar Point and Put-In-Bay.
It's great to live in Ohio!
*** This post was edited by Pete 5/29/2003 10:20:16 AM ***

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ShaneM said:

And before I get reamed here, YES I KNEW TTD WAS DOWN. I'm not necessarily arguing all this for myself.

Ok, so lets get this straight. You knew TTD would be down most of the day, but yet, you are complaining because things didn't go your way?

First of all, why plan your trip upon *1* coaster and a newly opening coaster at that, is beyond me. Also, because those *4* attractions that you mention were down, you couldn't have fun with the numerous other rollercoasters/attractions there?

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Gemini said:

They can control mechanical problems?

You said you were "pretty pissed at Cedar Point today" in your original post. Now you're fighting for the people?

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No they can't control mechanical problems. But they are the people running the park, they are the people taking the money. The buck stops with them. It is ultimately THEIR responsibility to ensure that the rides are up and the paying public is happy with their purchase. It IS a business, after all. Sure there are downtimes...there always are. But when it happens, at least tell people first off. And if it happens to an excessive degree, make some legitimate ammends, not some card that saves you an hour of waiting and is no skin off their back at all.

And yeah, I was pretty pissed. Seems simple to me. I can't feel miffed for myself and the general population as well? I feel I got a little screwed yesterday, but I feel most people at the park got more screwed as I at least knew there was a problem with one of the rides to begin with. Taking people's money and then telling them, "Hey..by the way, the newest roller coaster, the one you're MOST excited about riding...yeah its down. When will it be up? Maybe today." Sorry, but thats just bull**** in my opinion.

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ShaneM said:

Hardly worth the time spent waiting in line, and more importantly, the $50 I spent almost entirely to ride TTD.

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I would never, ever, spend $50 to ride one ride. Down here in Florida the Dania Beach Hurricane costs $10 to ride all day and I have only done it once.

People automatically assume that the only example of good customer service is being given a refund if you are not happy. I disagree with that notion all together. They can provide good customer service without giving away the farm.

You are basically fried that 4 attractions were closed, only one of which was closed for the entire day. Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for you and if I were the park managers I wouldn't give you a refund either.

Sounds like money well spent.

Your opinion and you're entitled to it.

So, Basically you never had fun at CP before TTD was built. If you did go to CP before TTD was built, Did you always complain that you didnt get enough for your money? CP doesnt owe you anything, If maybe ALL the rides were down at the same time then maybe yea they should give you a refund.

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- Dennis
When I die, They'll read this And say a genius wrote it.
http://drinkduff.com/

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Chief Wahoo said:

People automatically assume that the only example of good customer service is being given a refund if you are not happy. I disagree with that notion all together. ...Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for you and if I were the park managers I wouldn't give you a refund either.

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I never said the word "refund" from what I can remember. And I don't plan on asking for one either. Know why? Cause I don't deserve one. I obviously got some entertainment yesterday and I don't expect to get (all or most) of my money back. I'm just saying, something. A friggin' coupon, I don't know. But a front-of-the-line pass means absolutely nothing to them. NOTHING. They know that no matter what happens they can give away these little cards that people just go nuts over. But if you think about it, all they're doing is saving you an hour the next time you drop $50 on them. Sure its better than nothing but it certainly doesn't qualify for optimal customer satisfaction in my book. But thats just me.
*** This post was edited by ShaneM 5/29/2003 10:29:32 AM ***

Try to go to SFWOA and see if every ride is going, fat chance that would be. I went there the day before coastermania last year and they only had three coasters open. BNF, RWB's, and The big Dipper!

Grrr...I can't reply to all these posts. Besides, I'm supposed to be working now. All I'm trying to do is TELL people its not open. If someone had done it before me I wouldn't even have posted b/c it would not have been worth my time.

So consider yourself informed. That is all, good day.

Shane, I understand your hard feelings. I to would be upset if TTD wasn't open May 4th when I went. However you MUST understand that this isn't a perfect world.

One would be foolish to think ALL rides will be open (with no downtime) all day every day. It just doesn't happen.

By the way, TTD is NOT CLOSED. it may or may not be open to the public yet, but she operational. Mad props to all who were involved in repairing the cable system in such a timely fashion.

"In other news, Top Thrill Dragster is now certified to operate six trains, bringing the ride to full capacity."
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The B E S T SEVENTEEN s-e-c-o-n-d-s of SHEER >>InSaNitY<< I've E V E R experienced!

What I can't get over is the fact that you are forgetting that you have more coasters in this park than in ANY OTHER park. I have been going to CP for a long time (looking at some B-Days on here, since before a lot of you were born), and I assume that something, at some point, will be down.

No matter how well you take care of your cars, can you tell me that you have never had a problem with any of them? I can understand being upset, but be upset at circumstances, not CP. And I have to tell you, I was a customer service manager for one of the largest companies in the US, and CP doesn't owe you anything. They mak it quite clear in literature and signage that certain attractions may not be operational during your visit. I think that front of line passes were generous, as was the fact that they attempted to at least get a few people a ride before closing time.

I will be going to CP next Tuesday. If TTD is open, great. I certainly hope so. If not, and even if some other rides are closed at other points during the day, I will find enough to do, considering they have more rides than any other park.

(By the way, I hope you didn't pay $50 for tickets. Try AAA or your city hall - I paid $31).

Yes it is their responsibility to ensure that the rides are up and running - - to an extenet. Now if the Maintenance people were no where in sight, making absolutely no attempts to fix a ride (i.e - calling Intamin, B&M S&S)Repairing the ride, etc, then I might be slightly upset too. But understand this - Cedar Point does not pay these people what it does to just let them slack. I am sick of the whining where out one side of your mouth you said you had a good time and out the other side you throw a temper tantrum because some of the rides were having difficulties. Let me tell you this, I am going down in Mid-July. I live in Michigan, about 3 1/2 Hours away. I have Hotel Expenses plus my tickets will be more because I am getting the ride and slide passes. Here's how I see it. I am not going to be pissed, bummed, frustrated, etc. if T.T.D is not up and running. Why? Because I had fun before top thrill was put in. I had fun before I was brave enough to go on raptor. I had fun before Mantis opened. I had fun even when I didn't ride Millenium Force. The point is it is still a good park.... I have been there before all the the hype. I will still enjoy myself and you can bet I proably won't even accept a shortcut pass from the ride op if something does happen to dragster while I am waiting.

____ *****Did I mention SHANEM is a newbie...just joned to complain I guess....WELCOME to the BOARD

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If you're scared of heights, you won't be after Cedar Point

I think a front-of-the-line pass would be great. But if it isn't, and you don't expect a refund, what exactly would make you happy Shane? Do you want Mr. Kinzel himself to come out and give you a big hug and apologize to you?

JoshBrown is right, at least there was an effort to fix the problems. I know a few parks that will just close a ride when it breaks down, no matter what, and wait till the next day...or the next SEASON...to fix the problem.

"Absolutely no skin off their back"

"But a front-of-the-line pass means absolutely nothing to them. NOTHING."

Sounds like you're upset because the compensation you were given did not affect the park financially.

OK, so you're not happy with the line pass. But through all the complaining, you haven't said what you wanted. What would have made you happy?

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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

Shane, I understand your frustration although with Astroworld as my home park it's tough to have too much sympathy. The bugs are still being worked out on the ride, if you visit CPplace, where we are getting almost an hour by hour report on the ride, the fact that there is a lot of downtime is obvious. I won't be up there until mid June, and I may very well wait until next year to ride if it looks like waits are long due to maintaince breaks.

Speaking of bugs, looking at the webcam, no wonder TTD is having trouble, it is being attacked by giant muffleheads.

It's the same in any business. You can't please all of the people all of the time. There will always be people that have to piss and moan about something. I'm sure if Dragster was running he would find something else to whine about. As I've said before, I have no sympathy when people cry about things beyond their control. Stay home and yell at the TV.

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tambo

What I like is when people get really pissed that the rides are down due to mechanical reasons. People get so mad, especially in the queue, that I feel like turning to them and saying, "hey, things happen. They are, after all, just machines."

-Mikey

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Drag Races: 5