What if...? (monorail and entertainment/retail district)

It's an interesting idea, but it would have to be seasonal and that would be the the death nail in the idea and they would never drop $100 million on a monorail. They could always tap back into the history of the park and run a ferry to and from the park.

I never stay at the parks hotels when I stay. The cost is insane for what you actually get. They are mostly dumpy hotels that are vastly overpriced. Why don't they upgrade them? Because they don't have to.

I rode the ferry to/from the park from Downtown Sandusky for years. It wasnt much more expensive than parking. I really like the idea/concept of Point Place and I have always agreed with Pete that CP needs that entertainment aspect outside the park that would no doubt increase the value of staying at the park and would grow out of park spending. I think a downsized version of Point Place would be doable and worth the capital investment. The monorail investment isnt likely in a seasonal park but the idea of running the train is intriguing.

We stay at Camper Village around once a month and there just isnt anything to do outside the park in the evening. .

This idea is a very interesting. If the plan was broken down in phases completed over a decade, this plan is possible.

They should just rip up the parking lot and build a second park there, a second "gate" if you will. That's never been done before!

Oh wait...

I like this idea. Obviously if anything like this happens it is many years away but I would defiantly stay the night if there was more. I've never stayed at any of the hotels. I live about 30 miles south of Cleveland so it's not that long of a drive but if there was more to do, I'd defiantly want to stay a night and not worry about driving home.

Wow. You sound really defiant.

I'm from Defiance.

Ohio.

Skippy, I think your idea is great! Cedar Point has brought in some people who have worked at Disney. So who knows maybe they are thinking about this. I think people would pay just to ride the monorail. They do in Vegas. Cedar Point just needs some ideas to become a year round destination. Maybe turn the park into an ice skating rink in the winter. :) How would you make Cedar Point a year round destination?

You move the entire peninsula south of Tennessee.

Add a dome...Duh

Kevinj said:
I'm from Defiance.

Aha! This explains why you're so into facing one's fear.

;)

I love the idea. I love nothing more than walking around night life places(i.e. Daytona's Ocean Walk, Downtown Disney, etc.). They really are my favorite part of vacation when in Florida, aside from the parks. In VA Beach even not having a place like those, the whole stretch of shops and a path along the whole beach make for a similar experience.

As someone has said, do it in phases. I think it would end up being a big hit. It would definitely provide a boost for everything in the area. It might even give me a reason to want to live in Ohio.

theleperfromwatts said:
I never stay at the parks hotels when I stay. The cost is insane for what you actually get. They are mostly dumpy hotels that are vastly overpriced. Why don't they upgrade them? Because they don't have to.

We just booked a trip for 4 staying at Hotel Breakers. $125 a person includes tickets for Fri night, Sat, and the stay from Fri-Sun. Pretty reasonable actually. Plus I like staying on the property and having a place to walk back to to relax from time to time.

I've long thought this type of development would be fun. Back in college, I did a graphic design project around Cedar Point Plaza with hotels, shopping and a second waterpark. Fun, but unlikely.

I don't see a monorail ever being built, for several reasons. The causeway, for several lengthy stretches, is not much wider than the road itself, and there are several bridges. Track for a monorail (or a train) would have to built largely over the water. The engineering challenges of that, the monorail going unused for a number of months out of each year, I think would make it economically unfeasible. Also, Cedar Fair would have to build a maintenance facility for the monorails, which would have to be a fairly large building, preferably not visible to the general public, and a spur track to the facility.

While there's plenty of land along the Chausee, I don't think the residents would be particularly interested in trackage running across their properties.

If an entertainment complex were to built, I'd think it's far more likely to happen in the current parking lot, with parking garages being built. It would require creating access along the beach for pedestrian and -- light rail? trams? -- to transport guests from the resorts to the complex without having to go all the way around the park on Perimeter Road.

We just booked a trip for 4 staying at Hotel Breakers. $125 a person includes tickets for Fri night, Sat, and the stay from Fri-Sun. Pretty reasonable actually. Plus I like staying on the property and having a place to walk back to to relax from time to time.

That does seem very reasonable as long as you need the tickets. In that case the room ends up costing $125-$75 = $50/person, or $100 per night total. But if you do not need the tickets you are paying $250/night total. Then I am with theleper - that is pretty high priced for what you get.

Shades, it is cheaper for the room only. Its part of a Halloweekends package. I'm not really sure where you got the "125-$75 = $50/person, or $100 per night total" numbers. I'm guessing off gate prices, but not many pay gate price to go to CP. Also, parking is free when you stay there as well. I know its not much, but it is something. There is also a return guest package in the spring that my wife and I used this year and we paid about $140 per person for tickets for two full days and two nights stay at Breakers. I know pass holders don't need a "ticket package" but I don't live close enough for a season pass so these work out rather well for us. We could spend less and stay off site but I guess I'm willing to spend a little for the convenience, but not everyone is in a position to do so.

Instead of all this, why not just completely upgrade the current resort properties into an actual resort instead of just cheap hotel rooms. Yes, some are a bit better than others, but upgrading and remodeling the current properties, and adding more of a plaza/entertainment there would make much more sense, seeing as how most of the infrastructure is already there. Perhaps expand it here and there in a few directions. Add some late-night/after hours fun...a new bar...more beach-front fun/dancing...an expanded boardwalk to enhance it...maybe even a pier?

That's about the extent of what I would consider being within the realm of reality.

I messed up my math. You are paying $1000 total for the room and tickets. Subtracting the $75 per person for tickets (using round number online pricing, $35 for Friday and $40 for Saturday) leaves you with $700 total for the room for two nights, or $87.50/person/night for the room. Getting the math right and now that seems like a lot of money. I guess it is not such a good deal.

I’d like to thank everyone for their replies. Some really good information here (like I said, I’m no expert, so it’s nice to see some opinions from those more versed).

davidw said:
Seems like a cool idea, but i could see them doing a tram or shuttle first before going to the expense of building the monorail.

I agree. I brought up a monorail simply because its the fastest and most efficient way of transportation, no other reason (well, their fun to ride lol). Monorails hold a lot of people, don’t have to stop for traffic or people crossing, and they have multiple sets of doors on both sides for speedy load/unload times. Expense really is the major downside of any monorail and the major reason we’ll never see one up north.

Jayme Criscione said:
How would you make Cedar Point a year round destination?

There’s a rumor that Busch Gardens Williamsburg is adding at least two more darkrides and a resort hotel with the intention of going into year round operations. A large collection of dark rides sounds like a good place to start. Unfortunately, Cedar Point doesn’t have a single dark ride, so they don’t even have a jumping off point for year round operation. I just doesn’t see this ever happening, at least not in my lifetime.

Shades said:
I messed up my math. You are paying $1000 total for the room and tickets. Subtracting the $75 per person for tickets (using round number online pricing, $35 for Friday and $40 for Saturday) leaves you with $700 total for the room for two nights, or $87.50/person/night for the room. Getting the math right and now that seems like a lot of money. I guess it is not such a good deal.

I had it right the first time. $125/person x 4 = $500 for the hotel and tickets. Subtract $300 for the tickets and you are at $200 for the hotel. That means you are only paying $25/person/night, or a total of $100/night. Now it is reasonable again:)