Yearly trip with the daughter...

So Monday was the annual trip that I take my daughter to Cedar Point. First off, I take her only once a year because when I was a kid, that's all I got and it made it SO special, that lead to my love of the park.

So I grab the little monster with my cousin Alison in tow and we arrive to the park. Her being 6 and us going in the Magnum gate means only one thing. You guessed it.. Camp Snoopy.. Every ride in CS. Highlight, Alison got to ride Woodstock Express for the first time. Then to Frog Hopper and Bumbper Boats and Jr. Gemini (Yeah!! Coaster count up to 2!). After the boats.. she watches daddy ride that lumbering giant next to her known as Gemini, waving like crazy as daddy come screaming by the midway on red side seat 1-2.

Onwards to White Water Landing, a favorite of hers. Then Antique Cars, glad she doesn't ahve a license so far. A walk down the Frontier Trail and into the Garter for lunch and for her to watch the show (she knew just about EVERY song, which scared me, but thanks to the girls from Rock Pop and Soul for takign some time to talk to her).

Well, shows over and she's ready to graduate to real coasters (or as real as someone who is 47 1/2 inches tall, yes she was 1/2 inch short). Iron Dragon..

Needless to say.. she has a new favorite ride.. rode it 3 times during the day (thanks to Joanna and Jo and John from ID for making sure she had a great time).

Rest of the day was various places.. Matterhorn 2x.. Disaster Transport.. Kiddie Bumpber cars.. Swa*****en.. Splash 2001 (in the 4th row, setting Morgan and Alison up to get soaked, also glad to see it because it was their last day to perform).. Giant Wheel, Ocean Motion. Sky Ride..

Come to find out my daughter has a thing for shows.. After teh dive show and a few rides, we went back to Red Garter to catch the last Rock Pop and SOul show of the season, then ran to Centenial Theater to get teh last Horray for Hollywood (her singing to every song she knew once again, loved the Grease part). Also hit Troika on the way out..

Needless to say.. it was a short day but we had alot of fun.. Next year she'll be 48 inches and it's gonna have to be a 2-dayer to get her on everything.

I'd like to say a quick thankyou to all the employee's that I know who took time out of their day to talk to my daughter and make sure she was having a good time.. Rich from the Garter.. Joanna, Jo, and John on ID.. Nat over on MF.. all the girls at the Garter.. Missy at Troika.. Tek (from MF but working Peanuts Playgound because.. well we all know why).. The girls from Rock Pop and Soul.. Jennifer from Live E.. and Elizabeth and Todd (Silver Dollar and COuntry Show). Thanks a million guys...

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"Sorry but Millennium Force is currently DFD."
MF total - 393 laps
VertiGo Launches - 28
June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100

Glad to hear you both had a great time :) Did your daughter see her father ride the big bad VertiGo?

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http://coolforce.cjb.net The Most Important Internet Web Site.... EVER.
It was Nikki's B-Day and Millennium Force was broken down. Coincidence?

Nope... didn't have the time.. she has school this morning so I have to make sure she got home in time to get some sleep...

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"Sorry but Millennium Force is currently DFD."
MF total - 393 laps
VertiGo Launches - 28
June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100

That's a good strategy only taken her once a year Rob, It's the same way I got hooked. Up until Magnum opened we would only go once a year. I was soooo scared of Magnum and would not ride but my dad said I could o back again this year if I did. Back then I would never give up a second chance to visit Cedar Point!

Although I gather this is not a popular move here, I have to respectfully disagree with you about only taking your daughter once a year.

It all started last winter when my 6 year old son had the flu. In an attempt to cheer him up, I started talking about CP. I said, "I bet next year you'll be tall enough to ride most of the coasters." Even though he was quite ill, he immediately got out of bed and insisted on being measured. Once he was feeling better we began going to cedarpoint.com regularly. Then I had the bright idea to use my computer projector to project cedarpoint.com up onto our living room wall. Thus making it an 8' by 8' size. (BTW - This idea hit me during March Madness - my husband was thrilled to watch basketball games on our wall.) We would do the coaster video clips while sitting on the couch pretending we were on the ride. We would get soar throats from the screaming. (I have never told anyone this before…we don't even do this while my husband is home!!) :)

SO, next year, when she is over 48", she may have the following characteristics:
* The large CP map is posted on her bedroom door, and you talk about it every night before bed.
* After riding MF for the first time, without a scream or peep the whole time, she looks at you with eyes the size of ½ dollar and says, in all seriousness, "I have GOT to ride this thing again."
* She overhears a Raptor ride op say, "You have to be 54" tall to ride the Raptor and Mantis" and immediately looks at you and says, "SEE Dad, I CAN ride the Power Tower!!" (To which you respond, "No, you have to be 52" to ride the Power Tower---maybe next year.")
* She knows the entire layout of the Magnum, even before she's ridden it once. (Thanks to cedarpoint.com.)
* She looks forward to eating 2 footlong hot dogs for lunch at every trip, and wants to sit right under the Raptor while doing it.
* She gets off MF and wants to ride the Magnum next, you ask, "Do you know how to get there from here?" and she looks at you like you're crazy and says, "Of course."
* She doesn't want to get into the park by any other gate than the Marina Gate.
* While in line for MF she says things like, "I'm glad they are running the Judy K today."
* At age 6 she knows a bit about geometry because she understands what "80 degree angle" means. (And she DOESN'T understand why you don't know the angle of EVERY coaster at CP.)
* At age 6 she talks you into riding the first row of MF. (They didn't have the waiting policy in place in early June.)
* When talking about MF, she casually mentions the manufacturer, AND the country they are in.

With as often as you go to CP, how could you tell her, "Sorry, I want you to be able to enjoy Cedar Point when you're older, no you can't go with me this time either." ??

I am thankful to have a son who loves coasters as much as I do! I'm hoping my 4 year old will have the same passion. :)

*** This post was edited by CoasterMama on 9/5/2001. ***

She is pretty unaware as to how much her father goes.. hehehe She lives with her mother and as anyone who knows me can say.. daddy's weekends means don't plan on seeing RGR at the park.

She knows daddy goes alot and will now start to watch the calender as to when May comes around again so she can start to bug Dad about it.

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"Sorry but Millennium Force is currently DFD."
MF total - 393 laps
VertiGo Launches - 28
June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100

I appreciate your post, CoasterMama, because when I was a kid, I could relate to many of those characteristics. I know that growing up, my love for the park started because in part because we lived so close and we made regular visits throughout the season. I inherited a lot of that from my dad. I think if he had left me home, I probably would have resented him and had some deep psychological hatred towards the park - LOL :)

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VirtualMidway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

*** This post was edited by Gemini on 9/5/2001. ***

I hope she loves the coasters next year!! :) I've got to get my kids to a show - I hate to say it, but they've never seen one at CP!

Try this one
Last year when the parents went to their kids school guess who the COOLEST Mom out there was?
ME! Forget the lawyers, the full time Moms, the accountants-the coolest parent to them was the Mom who was a Raptor ride operator at Cedar Po!nt.
During the orientation this year my kid called me over to where she was sitting with some boys, said to me "tell them Mom that you run Raptor"
so I did-these kids was so siked it was great! Of course in true 12 year old style my kid said "ok Mom you can leave now" :)
My youngest is my hero, she can keep up with me at CP and even was one of the Gemini 100 Survivors!

Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
2001 Raptor Crew
Gemini 100 "Survivor"
Po!nter Girl-FOREVER! :)
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Welcome back Raptor riders-how was your flight??

I'm going to have to agree with Jo about her daughter Sam, she does in fact RULE!

And Rob, your kid is adorable, I don't see where she gets it. :oP

-Natalie

Who is quite disappointed that she never got to talk to Sam again after the Gemini 100!

Nat-for Sam meeting you was one of her highlights of this season, she just adored you! She still talks about you and always asks me if Ive seen you when I go!! :)
Hopefully I can get someone to take her up there when Im working so she can see you then.

Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
2001 Raptor Crew
Gemini 100 "Survivor"
Po!nter Girl-FOREVER! :)
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Welcome back Raptor riders-how was your flight??

Her mother is very beautifull Nat.. thats where it comes from. But thank god she gets her brains from her fathers end of the gene pool.. hehehehe

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"Sorry but Millennium Force is currently DFD."
MF total - 393 laps
VertiGo Launches - 28
June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100

It would have been nice to go every year growing up as a kid, but my parents only took us every 2 years. It left somewhat of an emptiness at the end of the off summers.

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MF count: 20

It was good to see you on Monday Rob, and meet your cousin and daughter, Glad to hear she had a good day. I mean parks are for kids aren't they?? lol :) (shudders at the thought)

Heck we all kids at heart aren't we? (i am anyway)

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MF Reaction::: F*****G Excellent.

I only went once a year from ages 2-11. Then it was twice, three times etc. Now that I can drive up there myself (and I can anytime next season) It'll be probably once a week, or as much as possible. Although I would have to agree that only going once a year did make it a bit more special...when your young that is.
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DT80: 30 and proud of it!
Member of the O.C.

Ohh quick note... she didn't really liek DT.. Actually.. she said it was kinda slow and asked if that's where the new ride is going next year because she won't miss it... God I love her..

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"Sorry but Millennium Force is currently DFD."
MF total - 393 laps
VertiGo Launches - 72
June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100