What's the latest a coaster has operated for the GP?

I've glanced at the main midway cam a few times late at night and noticed quite a few people still meandering off the midway. It's more people than just the late night workers (I think) and they seem to be in groups most of the time. This leads me to the question, what is the latest you have seen or been on a coaster at CP? What were the special circumstances?

Well the rule stands that if you're in the line when the park closes you'll be allowed to ride. That being said, I think the latest I've ever been in line was around 1am or 1:30, while waiting for Millennium Force.

I've ridden Dragster about 1:30 am. That was on a midnight close with a long breakdown.

Don't forget the migration of peoples between Gold and Cedars Dorms. Had to dodge a few groups of them hauling trash at night.

During my first visit to CP I got in line for MF at midnight, done at 2am. That was a summer when they closed at midnight alot.

I've been there till around 1 30 am before when Dragster breaks and then we sit for 2 hours on the platform.

Ahh yes, the excellent breakdowns of TTD which have you waiting till the next morning. I would probably say that I have been in line for TTD until about 2 a.m.

The latest I've been in line for a roller coaster is about 'till 1:00-1:30 for Top Thrill Dragster in 03'. I've seen the rides going till about 2:30 ish on emplyoee ride nights from my Hotel Breakers window, and in the parking lot of Hotel Breakers though. That'd be fun to ride the rides that late/early (however you look at it).

I do beleive there might be a maintenance curfew for the rides. I'm not sure if it is 2 or 2:30. Though I'm sure maintainance can do something else to allow the then less than 15 minutes of line to clear.
Though I don't know, I've never worked a coaster that late to know.

I do see a problem if there needs to be major work done on a ride before opening though. That would be an interesting situation...

"We are terribly sorry and apologize for this inconvenience, we know we promised a ride if you entered the line. The ride is still operational but we need to close it because maintenance needs to do some major work on it tonight. Thank you for visiting Cedar Point, and have a safe drive home. Again we apologize for this inconvenience.

On a side note, don't the cams time out at like 7?

I've gotten off of Dragster at around 2ish. Millennium, usually we wait for the last ride so we've gotten off of that at midnight-ish several times.

Maintenance does need time to give their inspection and clearence on a ride before the TL's and ATL's do their morning test, but they do that stuff between the hours of like 4-7. Sometimes though, I'd come to work and they are still inspecting rides. Depends on what preventive work needs to be done. But yeah, the rule is, if your in line you can ride, unless its a breakdown that can't be fixed in a timely manner.

I believe the first rides to open are, quite obviously, the first ones to be inspected. Everytime I've been at the park past closing this year, by the time I come around Perimeter Road, if the line is empty, both Millennium Force and Raptor are getting their inspections.

I made a small goof in my original post. The main midway cam does indeed quit for the night at 11:00pm. The Skyhawk cam stops at 7:30pm although the website claims 8:00pm. So I guess I was probably looking at an image from 11:00 on the main midway, that would explain the larger crowds.

Still, the answers here seem to suggest that at some times there has been a small but significant band of people still riding 2 hours after close.

I can't imagine that despite a major breakdown that any line would fail to be completely cycled. For a midnight closing time, a line that is 2 hours would be done at 2am (duh). Even rides like Dragster and Millennium don't see that kind of action late at night very often.

I remember back in 2003 when Top Thrill first opened and we stayed in Breakers I heard them still launching trains at close to 3 in the morning.

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Cory Marshall

I know MF and TTD can have very long lines around closing. Days like yesterday 12am closing can see rides operating very late.

During their opening years, TTD and MF saw 6+ hour lines on a couple of occasions. Sadly TTD rarly could cycle through the entire line though.

I think the latest i've been at CP because of a coaster was about 12:30 or 1, for I believe ppl to get off MF.

my first ride on Millennium Force was at 1:30 and there was still a good 2 hours behind us, and the park closed at 10:00 that night

What time does CoasterMania end?

Just remember, we're all GP.

I've been in the park as early as 7 am and as late as 3 am when I worked there.

As a guest it wasn't much past 1 am.

I loved the 2am-10am shift when I worked it. One of the coolest memories I have from working there is watering plants on the boardwalk and watching a sunrise - from complete dark, to the earliest trace of light, to the sun coming up over the horizon.