13 replies to this topic

[TexasCyclone]

I've been thinking about this for quite awhile and finally decided to make a post about it. I'm going to be frank here; Cedar Point is on track to get left behind. It's got its "coaster record" but big whoop. The park hasn't opened a coaster for five years and Cedar Fair is obviously shifting their attention to other parks like Canada's Wonderland (hint hint Leviathan) and Kings Dominion (Intimidator 305 anyone?). Cedar Point is old and even right now it's a disappointment of a park. The rides have no theming and the park is a let down. You can have tons of coasters but with quantity is not always quality. While other parks use new ride technology Cedar Point thought it could tag along and add "WindSeeker" but how special is that when it was added to a bunch of other parks too. When it comes to big additions, Cedar Point is short on space while Cedar Fair's other parks have great potential. It all adds up and I think Cedar Fair is best just to sell the park before maintaining the 17 aging coasters becomes to much to bear. Cedar Fair has other premier parks with bright futures and Cedar Point is not one of them. Discussion is welcome here but y'all know that I'm right.

EDIT: April Fools ! I actually believe Cedar Point is a thriving park and it currently is my favorite amusement park I've ever been to.

Edited by TexasCyclone96, 01 April 2012 - 10:48 PM.

[The BeastFan]

While I would say that the chain as a whole seems to be lack luster in its additions lately, singling out Cedar Point and saying they'll be left in the dust is going a bit far.

Cedar Point has the popularity and longevity to last through a long coaster drought as we're seeing with this 5 year span so far. With 17 coasters as well as a TON of flat rides and water rides, they have a diverse enough ride collection to cater to many demographics. The rest of the resort does wonderfully in adding to the experience. Just because Cedar Point doesn't have a few of the trendy rides doesn't mean anything close to what you're suggesting. Heck, look at Maverick. If you haven't ridden it, you could say it was a pretty mediocre addition to Cedar Point. As we know, the ride proved to be a blockbuster, but that just goes to show that Cedar Point doesn't always have to follow conventionality in order to keep guests coming in the gates. Heck, Corkscrew was their only looping coaster for nearly 2 decades during a time when looping coasters were all the rage. Even without a new coaster in this recent 5 year span, Cedar Point still has one of the higher attendances among chain owned parks (excluding Disney and Universal parks and the like). Also, a lot of that had to do with the overall park experience which Cedar Point does well. Sure Six Flags Magic Mountain's additions have been pretty extreme and following the trends, but outside that, they aren't that great a park. You don't hear SFMM being brought up for anything outside their coaster collection. Cedar Point goes beyond the ride collection in providing excellent service, food, landscaping, and all the other amenities that go into a great park, and thus helping in getting people to return. I know we as enthusiasts scoff at rankings, but Cedar Point has been mentioned time and time again as being one of the best run parks out there.

[MontagnaMagica]

I agree with TexasCyclone. Although, I wouldn't say it's a "disappointment of a park". There are still 17 roller coasters including several record-breakers. They're just at the point where they need to start removing the old coasters to put in new ones. Rather than doing that, however, the park's focus seems to have shifted to offering other gimmicks like Dinosaurs Alive or Luminosity; not coasters.

Edited by MontagnaMagica, 01 April 2012 - 05:21 PM.

[The BeastFan]

^I'll give you the dinosaurs. I'm still skeptical about that working at Cedar Point. However, Cedar Point really hasn't had any family oriented additions lately, at least in the last decade. I will give Cedar Point Shoot the Rapids, but Planet Snoopy was hardly something to write home about, and the rest of the additions were targeted to thrill seekers. They do have a decent family ride selection as is including a few of their coasters oriented as such (Iron Dragon, Wildcat, Blue Streak, Disaster Transport to name a few). However, I think its time CP got something new in that department. I do believe they will be getting a B&M in 2013 though as most rumors have indicated. I'm also very excited as to what Matt Ouimet will bring to the chain and in particular Cedar Point.

In terms of getting rid of coasters, all of them seem pretty good as is. Mean Streak's GCI refurbishments has given it new life, and Disaster Transport is a bit underrated IMO. I could make a argument to get rid of Wildcat though. Corkscrew would also be in that argument as well.

Edited by Mike Strobel, 01 April 2012 - 05:12 PM.

[MontagnaMagica]

Also, a lot of that had to do with the overall park experience which Cedar Point does well. Sure Six Flags Magic Mountain's additions have been pretty extreme and following the trends, but outside that, they aren't that great a park.

You're forgetting the fact that Magic Mountain's landscaping is superb! The food, as far as I've heard, is about the same as Cedar Point's.

[Thunderhead]

How many people go to a park because it has "superb landscaping?" I'm not sure about you guys, but Cedar Point is fine. People are still packing it year in and year out. I've heard a couple people around here say they want to go. They have 17 coasters, that's enough to draw people in. It's fine. If you ask me, they'll have a new coaster within 2 years.

[MorganFan]

I think you all need to rethink this. Cedar Point has been the main focus of CF for years against the coaster count with SFMM. CF simply needs time away from Cedar Point, let it mature, and focus on the parks they own that have been neglected for so long, such as Michigan's Adventure, Valleyfair, etc. CF has just recently gotten back to its more successful parks like Carowinds and KD, and they feel likethey need to pay it forward. Valleyfair got it's newest big coaster five years ago and before that, it was all clones that it got (exception of Wild Thing). We can see that CF definitely doesn't want to neglect Valleyfair,since they have just put in a new kiddie coaster and repainted corkscrew. I'm saying that CF needs t be fair and equal to its other parks before it focuses on the park that has been its focus for the past twenty years.

[TexasCyclone]

Alright I think all of y'all should do yourselves a favor and check the date...

APRIL FOOLS!

Edited by TexasCyclone96, 01 April 2012 - 10:41 PM.

[Thunderhead]

To be honest, your logic is actually understandable. Which is why I discussed.

[CoasterBGW]

This article is a worthwhile read for everyone:
http://www.toledobla...ook-on-fun.html

Expect the Cedar Fair chain to become more family oriented.

[TexasCyclone]

To be honest, your logic is actually understandable. Which is why I discussed.

That was pretty much my goal. To take somewhat real points and blow them out of proportion.

[steel-Rock]

I understand the April 1st joke, but to a small extent you have a valid point. There is very little space left.
For there to be a new coaster, something older and less popular like Cedar Creek Mine Ride, Corkscrew,
Disaster Transport, Iron Dragon, Mean Streak, or Wildcat may have to go. (An Arrow, Dinn, or Schwarzkopf
may go away anyway.) Even though there are some "lands", there is very little theming within the rides
themselves. That is the case however with all the Cedar Fair parks. The flat rides, water rides, and kids' areas
make CP much more balanced than SFGAV or SFMM. All and all, for me Cedar Point falls behind BGE, Hershey,
and KD. Yet with Millennium Force, Gemini, Top Thrill Dragster, Wicked Twister, Maverick, Skyhawk, and
WindSeeker I love this park.
Each member of each chain have parks that I like a lot. CP, KD, KI, Dorney, Valleyfair, and WOF are worth
going to again. All Six Flags were pretty good but SFGAV, SFFT, SFGAM, SFOT, and SFOG stand out.
Only the smaller less developed parks like Wild Adventures, Beech Bend, Mt. Olympus, and Indiana Beach
would fall into the area of a ""disappointment". With others like Fun Spot USA, Old Town, Timber Falls Adventure,
or Legoland Florida I wasn't expecting much so I didn't get a let down.

[CoasterBGW]

CoasterBuzz posted a nice interview with the new CEO... I think this guy will take the chain far

[steel-Rock]

Breaking News from screamscape!:
Cedar Point shocked their fans earlier today with the official announcement that Wildcat would be retired from service, scrapped and removed from the park all before the opening day of the 2012 season. With Wildcat out of the way, the new Celebration Plaza project will be expanded as well. This drops Cedar Point’s coaster count down to 16, putting The Point in a tie for second place for “Most Coasters” with sister park, Canada’s Wonderland. Six Flags Magic Mountain now holds the crown with 17 coasters, and have already announced their 18th to come in 2013.