Why I'm Mad At Cedar Point

Add me to the list of people who can't ride their favorite coaster anymore. I'm a woman who wears a size 16 jeans. I'm 5'7".

I don't blame CP for following Intamins rules. And I understand that Intamin rides are unsafe if you're even slightly overweight. But I DO blame CP for how they handled it.

On May 15, before my first of 3 annual CP trips, I checked their website, to see if there was anything I needed to know. No mention of the new seatbelt policy. At that time, the website still gave the old definition of what a person of exceptional size was. I was nowhere close to it.

So I take 2 days off from work, book 2 hotel stays, drive 8 hours to get there, pay lots of money to park my car and get into the park. Ok, at the entrance to the ride, I'm informed of the new policy. Well excuse me, it's too late now! I only come to CP for 2 rides - MF and the Dragster. I'm happy if others are content riding other rides, but that is what I spent all that time and money to ride. I was in and out of the park in an hour. It was already too late to cancel the hotel room.

I feel CP owes me a refund for my park admission, or at the least, a pass to come back once I can change my body to suit Intamin's definition of normal. I wrote them a calm, rational letter explaining my situation. Of course, I got back the same canned response everyone else did. The only enlightening part of the letter was the long list of the other rides and coasters they feel I am too fat to ride.

My main point is that since they did not inform me of the new policy BEFORE I got up to the cue line, they at least owe me a raincheck. But as I'm assuming CP management is not going to reconsider, I for one, will not go back, even when I'm thin. My new favorite park will be Holiday World. They know how to treat their customers!

I have to say that you are in a very small group of people who come to CP to only ride two rides.

I really don't think CP owes you anything, with the wide variety of entertainment that they have, I don't blame them for feeling that guests can have a good time without riding MF. And, a policy of refunding admission for not riding MF can lead to lots of guests abusing that policy, wanting refunds even if they had a great time at the park, just to get something for free. I doubt that even Holiday World would refund your money if you were too big to ride ONE of their rides.

The number one issue is safety. Cedar Point is doing what they have to do to ensure the safety of their guests on all their rides... if that means someone doesn't "safely" fit in a ride, then they can't ride, it's that simple. They don't "owe" you anything other than a chance to enjoy the 300+ other ride & entertainment options. Sorry to hear you won't be back even when you're thin, you'll be the only who misses out.

How do you prove to them that you are going for only two rides and thus deserve a refund. Did you go to Cedar Point before the year 200 when neither were there.

I know this is frustrating, I haven't been there yet but MF is my favorite and it's doubtful I'll be able to ride I am 6'4", 245lbs. Diet won't reduce height. My only hope is no butt.

I have lost my favoirte spots at Cedar Point throughout the years (Mill Race, Monorail, Surf Lounge, dry side at Bubbles) from as a kid till now but I still go.

In response to "Pete" - I appreciate the fact that you like to ride other rides. Good for you. I think you should respect the fact that I didn't spend a few hundred dollars to ride a scenic train. Regardless of what you think or approve of, I come to ride MF and Dragster. I am a coaster enthusiast, not an amusement park enthusiast. I don't inflict my tastes on you, please give me the same courtesy.

Even if that were not the case, according to CPs canned letter, I could not ride MF, Raptor, Mantis, Mind Ride, Blue Streak, Power Tower, Monster, Wave Swinger, Disaster Transport, Chaos, Corskscrew, Monster, Wicked Twister, Wildcat, Mean Streak and Dragster. I would expect that if I weighed 250 or 300 lbs. But need I remind you that I wear a sz. 16. No, that's not thin, but it's not dangerously large either.

And if you re-read my post, you will see that I am not questioning the safety issue. Let me repeat that. I am not questioning the safety issue. If Intamin rides only accomodate thin riders, so be it. But CP didn't tell me that before I shelled out all that money. And since I've been riding MF since it opened, I had no reason to suspect I suddenly wouldn't fit. I'm the same size I always was.

I think CP had the responsibility for posting this information outside the ticket booths. That is my point.

PS: Before MF I was addicted to Magnum. Since MF, I found it too tame for my tastes.
*** Edited 6/8/2004 7:35:55 PM UTC by Ladybug On Speed*** *** Edited 6/8/2004 7:40:01 PM UTC by Ladybug On Speed***

CPFAN420 - I'll assume you're just a troll and ignore you.

Why assume?

---

Pete said:
I have to say that you are in a very small group of people who come to CP to only ride two rides.

---

I guess I'am in that minority as well because those two rides are the only reason I go back to Cedar Point. I like Magnum also but I can get better airtime and ride much closer at Michigan Adventure. So its MF and Dragster that make it worth the 4 hour drive for me and I think there are alot more people that feel that way than you think. Especially those that have travel over 2 to 3 hours to get there.

I sympathise Ladybug but I dont think a refund is coming. There is no way CP could refund everyone that was unhappy with their experience there. Discount passes or maybe exit passes to another ride are about as extreme as it would get and CP is usually pretty good about those type of things. I would be upset also, but you were already there, you should just try to make the best out of a bad situation. I was extremely disappointed last year when Dragster wasnt running. It was my main reason for going last year. But fortunately I could ride MF and the other coasters and CP gave me an exit pass for Dragster. So it wasnt my greatest day at CP but it was OK. Unfortunately now I may not be able to ride either. So I wont be back until the seatbelt issue on MF is changed (I may fit, but I dont think some of my friends will) OR they build a new coaster that I know I can fit on. *** Edited 6/8/2004 8:29:16 PM UTC by CPTwister***

I have to say those two rides are the main reason I drive 8 hours to CP but last year when Dragster was down I still had a good time. I was really disappointed the year the cable broke on MF since it was the first and last time of bringing my dad there but we still had fun. I was a little concerned this year with the new seatbelt policies because I am also a size 16 but only 5 feet tall, which probably helped me. My friend is a size 18-20 and she fit on MF so I really don't think they can specifically set a size or weight on women since it seems to vary more with women than with men. They do need to get this seatbelt thing worked out with Intamin though cause I love the smoothness of their rides and there are alot of people that fit into the same size clothing as us that can't enjoy the ride anymore and there has to be a safe way to accomodate the so-called larger riders (which I really think is more of an average size). I didn't see a whole lot of people my age at the park that were size 8 and 110 pounds!

Honestly, I had good times at the park even though Dragster never seemed to be open, but it is a little different in that I can go any time.

Everyone has different expectations, and regardless of what the park says, I still don't think they've handled this well. I keep hearing that behind the scenes they're trying to make things right, but this will get worse if they don't do so before July.

Agreed there Jeff. I don't blame Cedar Point for what they are doing about it, but they're taking it the wrong way and breaking it to people the wrong way, the only time I saw them checking before you got in line was June 4th. I personally really don't see this whole seat belt thing lasting but I could be wrong, and I probably am but I do hope for the sake of the people that could them last year & can't this year they do change it.

OK. ladybug, i'd like to say i'm sorry you were to fat to ride force, but you could of rode raptor or mantis, if could barely not fit into force, you could of fit into the other wonderful coasters i just mentioned. Your not entitled for a refund b/c you went into the park, you only diverse a refund in a park if they false advertise or you get injured on a ride. In some ways your right, some people just go to CP to ride force and top thrill, i'm kinda one of them, next sunday me (14) and my dad (45) are going to drive 11 hours to try out top thrill and twister for the first time!!!!!! Any ways, its your fault your fat and your anowing

PS: Rossi, I don't think anybody came to CP before 200:)

please excuse CP for not wanting you fall 420 feet to your death. maybe you should be mad at yourself for your own weight.

How do I say this tastefully? My Sister in law is rather big. More so in the area of the bottom. Not huge on top, very big bottom, very big thighs. She is probably 5'4"-5'5".

After following this issue early on, I feared she would not be able to ride MF, in Mid-May.

She WAS able to ride. She said the belt was tight, but she got it fastened. Heck, the belt was tight on me! (6'1", M, 195lbs wearing a shirt, sweatshirt, AND partial jean coat).

Bottom line is (and in more ways than one), this needs to get resoved--and soon. The park is headed into capacity crowds with one of it's star attactions having issues. I've seen the stacking (while in-cue, I remarked to my brother that they must be only running one train, only to see a different color pass 10 minutes later...).

If upper management doesn't address this issue before July, and fix it better, maybe they should spend several hours a day (just for a week) running the ride and see what is happening. It's not that hard of a job running a coaster, is it?

MrScott *** Edited 6/8/2004 10:45:06 PM UTC by MrScott***

Wow, we have a lot of sensitive folks in here...

Yes, this whole situation has destroyed the ride's capacity. A 30-35 minute wait last year turning into an 1 1/2 hour wait this year...just unacceptable.

I tried to be sensitive! Come on, if you are big, you know that. I just put out some stats on someone that was able to ride.

The fact remains. CP needs to fix this better, SOON! The big crowds are coming. Need I say more? Need anyone?

MrScott

Forgive me if i'm wrong, but the new seatbelt policy was on the NEWS and in the newspapers before they opened for the season. And I swear i seen something on the site before opening day.

---

armsdownheadbackandholdon said:
Forgive me if i'm wrong, but the new seatbelt policy was on the NEWS and in the newspapers before they opened for the season. And I swear i seen something on the site before opening day.

---

May have been on the news where you live but Ladybug said she lives 8 hours away. Doubdt it made the news where she lives. Certainly wasnt on the news in Michigan where I live and I'am 4 hours away. The new info on the size requirements didnt become more prominant on the CP site until ALOT of people started complaining either and its not like its posted on the first page in bold print either. Most people that go to CP dont check out this site. Most people going this year that could ride last year assume they will be able to again. I dont know why its difficult to understand for some of you how they wouldnt know about this ahead of time or be extremely upset when they cant ride now and could before.

MrScott, your post was very tactful compared to the two before you. I'am glad one of them at least posted their age. Explains the post. Fact is, many people that would not be considered "fat" or even overweight cant ride now because of the slack rule. For the genius who stated falling 420 feet to your death would be better, please explain to me how the 1" slack rule is making anything safer? Its simple, if you can buckle the belt, you should be able to ride.

You know they just added new restraints on the superman ride where the person died and there big enough to accomadate larger guests. But they have ankle braces that hold your feet to the floor. Even though that the ride will probably suck IF CP puts those restraints on, at least bigger people will be able to ride. So there won't be anymore complaining. Well actually i'm wrong there to. If CP did do that there would be another 7 threads about how the restraints are stupid. The general public will never be happy. *** Edited 6/9/2004 2:19:36 AM UTC by raptorman95***

I just rode SMROS at SFDL the other day I am 6'2" tall and weigh 240 lbs. with a 42 to 44 waist and I had to empty my pockets to get the Tbar belt fastened after about 4 trys. I didn't have any problem with the lap bar, it's like a car seat belt no slack required. The ride op told me that he couldn't help me fasten the T bar belt but I finally got it fastened. I did notice that the ride ops didn't have any problem helping the prety girls with there seat belts and T bar belts though. I guess I was a victom of profilling.