Touchdown

While KI may not have released their policy for this year, CP has and heres the link: http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/park/ride...cial_access.cfm Basically, you go get a booklet, when you want to ride a ride you take it to the Ride Op at the front of the line, they look at the wait and assign you a time to return, while you wait you are free to roam the park and when its your time, you and one other person can use the special access entrance and ride the ride immediately, everyone else in your party must wait in the normal line. This may or may not be the policy this year at KI, but since CP is a sister park it has a high likelihood of being the same.

To add some more fuel to the fire, topgun posted this on pointbuzz (dont know why he hasnt linked it here) but here is a video of Tony from CP at Winter Soar, while the first part is him talking about CP's new stuff this year (and Maxair) but at about the two min mark he starts taking questions, during which he again reiterates that Platinum Pass Benifits are given to all passholders at all parks (and he is even making a PDF.)

I really wish that CF would look to Busch on how to do food. The prices are as high, if not higher for their food, but the quality is fantastic. There are very few places Ive had better BBQ then BGE, the festhaus there has authentic (gasp) German food that is also great. Due to that, I would normally have a full meal, a lighter meal and a snack when Im at that park and not feel like I was being ripped off, as opposed to KI/CP where its a meal (La Rossa/TGI Fridays) and one snack (w/o a drink.) If the place had better quality I would defiantly spend more money. The only time I thought I wasnt getting ripped off was at KI was at the Fear Feast Buffet, now that was in line with my expectations based on the price, decent quality food (that was always hot) and a good quantity/selection.

I wish, because it truely is a great park. The year I was in DC I passed up a SP at SFA and KD to get one to HP (and had BGE pass) 2.5 hours away. However I cant afford anything more then day trips. Oh well, if I am only limited to two parks, at least those two are CP and KI.

^Dont say that . I would really like to use those fast lanes at KI this year with my CP pass (especially since everyone and their mother who had a non CP SP last year got let in during my Joe Cool ERT.)

Im from Wisconsin, and if you are going to the Dells here are some of my "must dos:" -Noah's Ark-Is the largest waterpark in the world, and is full of amazing water rides. They have not one, not two, but three family raft rides (a normal one, a speed slide one, and a dark tube one,) two wavepools plus an activity pool, a lazy and adventure river and tons of slides. There website is here:http://www.noahsarkwaterpark.com/. But I cant say enough about this place, personally I think it even beats the Disney Parks and goes down as my #3 favorite waterpark (behind Schiltterbahn and Water Country USA.) And as for the comparisons to Mt. Olympus's water park, well they have a decent array (now that they added new slides and that wavepool) but the vast majority of their slides are old, old, old. But then again, they do have the coasters and the go kart track as well. -The Original Wisconsin Ducks-Be careful there are two companies here, you want the Green and White Ducks (whos starting point is across the street from Mt. Olympus) because they are the first, and the only duck company who actually gives tours in the original Army ducks. Also they give you the best view of the Dells themselves, which is a good time. -If you are going to stay at an indoor waterpark, then there are three to consider: Kalahari, Great Wolf Lodge and Wilderness. They are the biggest and the best, Ive never stayed at the Wilderness so I cant comment much further on that one but, if you have younger kids you want Great Wolf, otherwise you want Kalahari in my opinion.

I have a quote, from the CP PR rep Tony. Heres the link: http://www.pointbuzz.com/Forums/Post.aspx?id=353178 (Page 3 Search for OnPointTony) but basically, everyone gets Platinum benefits at all parks.

Living in Toledo, I can assure you that CF has not cut off relations with Meijer, because up here Meijer sells CP passes and those are allready up (and this year even include a Season Pass, but not a PP.) Last summer, I was actually able to get KI passes for cheap at a grocery store as well: Kroger. I would check there because maybe CF is just trying to simply things for the areas where they market KI and CP.

The only thing that would keep me from going Opening Day is if Im too tired or I need to catch up on work because the 19th is Notre Dame's Blue and Gold Game (spring game) so in order to make both it would mean me getting up early on Saturday, spending the day outside and driving a 5 hour round trip and then waking up early and spending the day outside and driving a 6 hour round trip to go to KI. I might just wait a week...

The solution to never getting lost in the parking lot at an amusement park is simple, arrive early. That way you are always right near the gate.

CP is on a Great Lake, so having storms blow in and out is something you should really just expect every time its open. The only time you might be safe is late Oct, but usally the storms do just that, blow over. Duck and cover and within an hour you should be ok (unless a front is going through, which in that case you should watch the weather before you go up.) The best place Ive found to wait out the storm (if you cant duck into a show) is actually in line for DT. Its inside (yes AC) and they close it once it starts raining (thus its not crowded) once the idiots who leave the line to enjoy the rain leave you'll end up on the staircase which means you have somewhat comfy seats. The ride ops will also come over once the ride is down and converse with you, they also will tell you when the rain has passed so that you can then leave (DT takes forever to open after rain) and jump in line for a headliner before the waits build back up.

As much as I love amusment parks, I never want to get married in one (however, it will be up to the future Mrs. more then likely.) But if I have any say, I want it in a church. I would not be opposed to finishing the honeymoon (after a nice Caribbean location) at Disney World for a few days.

Maverick was anything but hidden and was nearly completely erected by the time CP finally announced the thing in the fall. Dont expect an official anouncement, do expect to see the thing getting built, and sneaky, witty coming soon signs on a themed construction wall. CF has learned that sites like this pay much more attention to and hype up park construction more when we don't know the details.

The longest I have ever been stuck on a coaster was on SFGAm's B:TR in 93, 45 min at the end block break due to a computer glitch (it was still a new ride.) Ive also been stuck on Magnum for a few times >15 min and a bunch of coasters Ive had <15 min delays. This summer I even got evaced off of Space Mountain, but got 5 use anywhere anytime Flash Passes for the trouble. As for getting stuck in non coasters I once got stuck right before the final lift up to the drop of Splash Mountain @ WDW (right by the vultures) for 45 min (years ago) and I got stuck on ToT right before the drop for about 15 min (and then got an an immediate re-ride which was great because it was after park closing already.)

Benny, I would really reconsider your decision then, no matter how much you hold your head in place, you still experience G-forces, which may cause your shunt to slip out of place. You shunt is quite literally in the middle of your brain, and if it were to slip out of position you would experience a massive headache and loss of consciousness. If it were to be violently moved (and damage your brain, or worse a blood vessel) you could quite literally kill yourself (because blood moving into your ventricles would bring white blood cells, which would cause inflammation, which would cause the eating away of brain tissue and the blood would clot causing even more problems.) Is riding a roller coaster really worth that?

Actually gamesguy the indoor haunts are open at CP on Sunday. Unlike KI, CP's indoors open well before dark (early afternoon.)

Darn it I knew I forgot one!

Magnum is a park landmark, still one of the most popular coasters there, the CEO's favorite ride, and oh yeah just got painted and had some of the trains "refurbished." Basically, its not going anywhere anytime soon. Gemini and CCMR have just completed (or will complete this off season) a major replacement of all their wood supports, something no park would do to a ride it plans on taking down in the coming years. Widcat just got a brand new operating system, and was recently painted as well Iron Dragon besides the new paint, is a very popular ride for youngins, and sends out full trains pretty much the entire day, its also not going anywhere. It goes without saying that TTD, MF, Woodstalk, Raptor are all too new, and/or too popular to be at risk. WT and Mantis are not as popular, but they are still quite new, I dont think they are going anywhere. That leaves: -Corkscrew -Disaster Transport -Jr. Gemini Like I said before a Jr. Gemini/BCMT switch (in old aquatic stadium space, expanding the "Planet Snoopy" they are working on redoing this year) is the most likely choice for me, however I can see DT going too. As for Corkscrew, thanks to its footprint (small) and its visibility (over the midway) I think that one is relativly safe as well.

So CP has announced their calendar for 2008, and they open later then KI does, so when can we expect KI to announce their 2008 schedule?

Lake, Ive been at Halloweekends on a Sat when the high was 25, low 5, and there was supposed to be snow (there wasn't.) The place was still packed (3+ hour headliners and Halloween lines, 2+ hour major coaster lines.) Halloweekends is a license to print money for CP.

^DT mainly uses gravity to coast down a series of hills on wheels, and has sudden changes in direction creating G-forces. It is also made of steel, how is it not a coaster? I bet though that its Jr. Gemini with the old BCMT from GL taking its place in the count (but not necessarily the location.)

See, I disagree to me: Hyper: Any Coaster >200ft Giga: Any Coaster >300ft Strata: Any Coaster >400ft Thus every Strata is a Giga and a Hyper and every Giga is a Hyper.

I "rode" it via World's Greatest Roller Coaters VHS. It looks like it is really long, and frankly a lot of fun (assuming that the Arrow Headbanging is kept to a minimum.)

Thats right an Im an Irish Fan (and thankfully this year a Packer Fan too, cant wait for tomorrow) and Toledo is perfectly situated so that I am a day trip away from CP, KI and South Bend. And dont worry, we will be back to being a ranked team starting next year. A perfect storm of a poor recruiting classes by our former coach leading to us fielding a super young team, injury to our QB1 and our coach learning that college football is not always like the NFL (ie you have to teach underclassmen fundamentals) resulted in the CF that was this season. Yet still we have the #1 recruiting class coming in next year .

Well for me, as a poor student, I just ask that my platinum pass be a big part of my Christmas (obviously bought in Oct for the best deal though.) As for saving for the other costs (gas, food, etc) I simply hunker down in the winter and spring (stay at home, dont spend too much money) so that I can go have fun in the summer and especially the fall (ND football games as well as the parks.)