Worst CP trip Ever..... 8/3/2006

DorneyParkFan said:
I somewhat agree that the Raptor crew was off while I was there on the 2nd and 3rd (the ride being closed for around 3/4 of the day on the 2nd which made NO sense when Millennium Force and everything else except for Dragster were running)

Um, yea. I'm pretty sure it was pouring down rain on and off all day that day. THAT is why the ride was closed. Raptor can not run in the rain, and hasn't ran in the rain the last two seasons. As far as your comparison of Millennium being open, please understand that EVERY ride is different when it comes to weather. Just because one coaster may be running, does not mean a different one will be. Also, the winds were extremely high that day, and because of that we had to find employees to fill the trains before we could test them once the rain stopped, because we also can not send empty trains during high winds. Trust me, there are PLENTY of things that happen behind the scenes that you don't know about. Cedar Point doesn't just randomly decide to close down rides for any old reason. And also, quick question, why does a ride being down (for any reason) make you think the crew is "off"? That doesn't make sense to me. Please help clarify. Thank you!

I know that the weather factors into a ride A LOT... I'm not stupid and I know that every ride is different, but from around noon until 8:00 P.M. Raptor was closed and ran occassionally off and on, but only took V.I.P. people. The rain stopped around 2:00 P.M., but the winds were still strong. I've been on plenty of B&M inverts in high winds, and I know that they all can operate in the rain as well. Also, every time I walked by on a day when there were very few people in the park, the line for Raptor was around 2 hours, which is horrid and is a direct reflection of the speed of the crew around 90% of the time. Also, when Raptor was supposed to re-open around 5:00-6:00, many people started forming a line, but instead of allowing those people in first who had been waiting hours, they took all V.I.P. people and such first, which I thought was a bad move.

I don't really mind seeing as I only decided to ride Raptor once in the 2 days I was there since the line was finally reasonable, around 15 minutes, and I've ridden many B&M inverts and I didn't really see anything all that incredibly special about Raptor that would warrant a re-ride, especially in a 2 hour line. I like Raptor, don't get me wrong, but when I'm at Cedar Point, B&M coasters are towards the middle/bottom of things to do, seeing as they're so common anymore.

Anyway, I'm not exactly sure if Raptor can valley out seeing as it was one of the first B&Ms and all the kinks weren't worked out then, but I've been on much larger B&M inverts in the rain and much stronger winds and keeping that in mind, I somewhat feel like the ride pride people that were just thrown onto the ride for the weekend didn't feel like doing anything so they used the rain as an excuse to do nothing.

NO. RAPTOR DOES NOT RUN IN RAIN. I don't know how many people (who know) have to tell you how many different ways that RAPTOR DOES NOT RUN IN RAIN. Want to know why? Because the track rusts and in the rain it will drip on you. And CP is tired of paying for drycleaning. Therefore, even if it is the slightest drizzle, RAPTOR DOES NOT RUN IN RAIN. And the crew does not make this decision. There's not even much of a decision to make: if it's raining, they do not run. Also. They did not let VIP people on. If anything, if they were running for the first time of the day and it was cold and windy and rainy, they were probably doing loaded test runs, because they can't send empty trains. So those were probably (almost certainly) unlucky employees yanked out of the break area and put on the ride to make sure it doesn't roll back in the cobra roll.

If you don't know what you're talking about, don't tell people how to do their job, please.

I know what I'm talking about, and it wasn't raining for a large part of the day as previously stated many times. I think you just want to yell at me to in turn make yourself look cooler and more important and whatnot. Anyway, any B&M invert can run in the rain, just that what normally happens is that the front row is closed off until the ride stops. I've seen this at numerous parks including Cedar Point even. No, it cannot run in a complete downpour or lightning, but if there is a slight drizzle as it was on saturday when I was there, then the ride can be run. And I'm positive that it was not employees on the ride and was in fact V.I.P. people who paid the $300 a person to ride all of the rides and somehow got onto the ride. Well, if anyone actually wants to read what I'm saying instead of just attacking me, that'd be greatly appreciated.

MDOmnis said:
Stacking all three trains on Raptor or stacking two trains on Gemini used to happen a couple times a day. Now it's not uncommon for it to happen multiple times in a row.

Umm.. Gemini couldn't stack two trains this season. They only had 2 trains running per track. (4 total) The other 2 trains have been in pieces all summer in the Maintenance Shop....

Perhaps I should have said "WITH two trains." I know they only have two trains per side.

And they stack with only two way too much considering not too long ago, they ran three per side and didn't stack.

Hmm worst trip "EVER"? I'd have to say it's a toss up between the one I took around July 30th'ish in 2004 "or" Gay Day 2006.

In 2004, the day began beautifully with 75 degree weather and a light breeze.

At approx. 3pm..I was riding Iron Dragon and noticed oil dripping from the track above "as" I was riding. I got off the ride with my new shorts covered in black oil that would NOT come off. The staff was gracious and even went so far as escorting me to the Ride Op building to file the information.

Both the receptionist "and" the manager on duty could have cared less and were nothing short of rude and immature.

By then...the clouds were darkening (4pm'ish) and all of a sudden there was a torrential downpour of rain mixed with fog. Intense, hurricane style rain. We rushed to the Centennial Theater to dry out. No such luck. There was a leak in the ceiling during the show. We then headed to Donut Time for coffee and donuts. There was a 20 minute wait outside the door just to get in.

We stood underneath a building to wait out the storm as it were...but the rains did not let up. To top it off...the temperature took a turn for the worse and dropped a good 10 to 15 degrees. Rides were shut down and restaurants were packed to capacity.

We decided to call it a day and head back to Toledo. Not a wise choice, as we were heading back home on the Turnpike..there was a complete wash-out and the car did a 360 and we sat on the side of the road for another half hour or so before the rain let up.

I called "AND" e-mailed the park regarding the incident on Iron Dragon and was told that there was no record of the incident on file, but that they would "look into it". I followed up and still no response/conclusion. So that was that.

THEN...flash forward to Gay Day 2006. My roommate and I were anticipating a great day with our friends when suddenly the night before I felt sort of queasy...but chalked it up to indigestion.

I woke up THAT morning and could not lift my head off the pillow. With prodding from the roomie, and several TUMS, Excedrin, and Pepto Bismol...we trudged along Route 2 to the park, while I slept the entire way.

How did I start my day at "The Amazement Park"? By puking in a garbage can next to Cedar Downs. The roommate's cure was plenty of liquids and a shady resting area. So for the remainder of the day, I drank approximately 8 jumbo juices, waters, etc., etc. and lie under a tree with the exception of my adventures on the CP&LE Railroad and Paddlewheel Excursions, along with a few mild mannered rides. Of course..."when" did I start to feel 100% cured? By nighttime at around 7 or 8pm. 14 hours into my day and "now" I felt fine? Oy vey. At this point, I didn't even want to go to Club X for the big celebratory 'eve. Give me a bed at the Rodeway Inn and let me relax!!

I have to say...that as horrible as these 2 trips were...the numerous fantastic trips I've experienced (plus my tenure working there) WELL make up for it!

DorneyParkFan said:
I know what I'm talking about

Sorry to reply to a message months old... but clearly, you don't know what you're talking about. Raptor has not ran in rain for at least 3 seasons, and that will continue to be that way until the ride stops spitting rust on people. Take it from people who work at the park everyday during the summer, rain, sleet, or shine... It doesn't run in rain.