Ride On_17

If I can convince my parents to let me skip school...Which means that we'd also probably get to go for opening day...But then I'd also have to convince them that we'd still be able to set up and get things ready for Easter dinner at our house in time for Sunday... It would all be worth it. I hope I can go!

Today the date and details of PointBuzz's 2014 off season tour was announced. It will be on Saturday, February 22nd at a cost of $40 per person but all the proceeds go to Give Kids the World, just like last year. There will be a walking tour focused on the Gemini Midway area and a Q&A and lunch at Castaway Bay. A shirt will also be given out for each participant. Tickets go on sale Monday at 10 am. http://www.eventbrite.com/e/cedar-point-winter-chill-out-tickets-5787840587 I have been looking forward to going to this year's tour ever since last year's, and I'm really disappointed that I won't be able to go. I have Science Olympiad regionals the same day and I can't miss it. It sucks but it can't be helped. Everyone else better take lots of pictures and videos. This is an awesome event and I'd recommend that everyone who is able to go, do it.

If I lived closer I'd definitely be there. But since I'm over 4 hours away and we'd have to get a hotel room Friday night, that would mean coming home the day before Easter. That won't happen, especially since we're hosting the family over at our house on Easter and we will need to get things ready. I guess I just have to be patient. I'll get there soon enough. Everyone who goes better take lots of pictures and write awesome trip reports!

People who stay at Disney resorts don't complain about having to take a bus or other form of transportation (like the monorai). As long as the park would offer a bus service to the airport if the campgrounds were to be placed there, I think it would be a great decision. Imagine the amazing sunset views out over the lake and of the view of CP. That plot of land has some serious potential for a campsite. I would go for the view alone.

^I didn't think about that side of it too. Unless Cedar Fair plans on closing WWK sometime in the near future. I'm not counting on this to happen at all, but you can't rule it out completely. Or maybe they would even sell it off...I'm glad we have some fun speculation to talk about. Granted, it's not for KI and it's not anything terribly major, but it's better than normal offseasons where there's really nothing to speculate and guess about.

That would also make sense. I never really thought about that option before but it's definitely a good possibility. So it wouldn't be closing permanently...as in being removed...but rather just temporarily as this area is revamped.

So as I'm sure some of you know, it appears as if the Camper Village circle may be removed for next season. Over on PB I have seen various people say that their reservations and plans have had to be altered after being told the circle will be closed. Plus Tony has tweeted several interesting things, such as, "Excited to announce some major new "things" at @aceonlineorg's #NoCoasterCon this coming weekend! (Working on it right now.)" and this mysterious picture: https://twitter.com/TonyClarkCP/status/421710242121281536/photo/1 It sounds like something's in the works, whether it's for a resort or for a Soak City expansion, or anything else. I would definitely be happy with anything, but I'm very interested in the possiblity of this being related to Soak City. The CV circle takes up a decent plot of land, and a water coaster, bowl slide, and maybe several other new attractions could be added. Currently I have no desire to spend a day at SC rather than riding coasters, but if its rides lineup is improved I'd definitely consider it and might try it out. Whetever this turns out to be, it will be a nice mid-winter surprise. Also if I'm not mistaken this isn't the first time the CV circle has been looked at for removal for future expansion. I posted this on PB but haven't had any responses yet so I'll post it here, and hopefully someone can clarify and help me out with the details. I think I remember reading somewhere on the PB forums a while ago (maybe even several years ago) that the park had proposed a coaster that would run back along Soak City and into the area occupied by the CV circle. The circle would be removed in place of the coaster, but this coaster ended up transforming into what became Maverick and never came to be. I know I read something about this at one point. Can anyone help me out here or support this? I think this discussion started after someone posted a video about Cedar Fair's planning process for future rides, and at one point the camera showed various blueprints and one of them was for this alleged coaster.

Without the terrain, woods, and tunnel, it would not be nearly as good. Pretend there was room at CP and it was built there. It would not get nearly as many great reviews and as much love as it does in its current settings at KI. I agree that its layout is nothing special. It's everything but the layout that makes that ride awesome.

I've been very lucky. I realize that I've been able to do things that many people haven't and I take non of it for granted. You definitely need to make a trip there. Next time I go I definitely want to go to Sea World too. I've always wanted to go so it was hard when we drove right past the entrance.

I'd love to work at Disney, even if just for for a little while. And even though my dream job is to design coasters, I would definitely let my career take me to Disney. We actually have a family friend who works for Disney. I'm not sure exactly what he does but I think part of his job involves being part of the planning/design for future attractions. Right now he's at Disney in Tokyo and he loves it. If anyone could be able to help me know ways to get into the industry it would be him. I would definitely be happy with a job like his.

The best and worst things of being a Disney cast member: http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20130901/14030/5-best-and-worst-things-about-being-disney-cast-member

^Ah, I guess you're right. They're just cool.

I love foodtrucks and hope amusement parks start using them. I know Cedar Point has had one and it serves Lake Erie perch sandwiches. I would rather stop by a food truck while I'm walking to a ride than go out of my way to walk into a restaurant and order. In no way am I lazy and there are cirumstances where I'd prefer the latter, but most of the time I don't want to spend a large amount of time eating a meal when I'm at a park. I'd rather get something quickly and then move on to the next ride or attraction I want to hit. I could really see foodtrucks' popularities expand in parks if they were advertised throughout the park and they offered more selections. I think it would be a great idea.

That's interesting. It makes sense though. I guess the saying's true that you learn something new every day!

The top 5 things Disney cast memebers can't do: http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20140105/15604/top-5-things-disney-cast-members-are-not-allowed-do I think 1-4 are pretty obvious and are pretty much common sense, but I was surprised by #5. I never realized this before.

You definitely have to go. I'm even ready to go back already. There is still so much more to do and several other parks that I didn't get to experience. I love Universal for the thrills and innovative dark rides, but the WDW parks just have something special about them. The whole atmosphere can't be topped anywhere else.

The biggest issue I have with opening days of any park is that rides and staff aren't to their full potential yet. It is probably that you will experience downtime, maintenance issues, staff still trying to figure out what they're doing...Just be prepared to be patient if you go on opening day, no matter where it is.

If a moderator reads this, unless you think it's fine, feel free to move this thread to a different section if you want to. I didn't mean to have it in the KI Poll section.

Which you do prefer: Busch Gardens Tampa or Busch Gardens Willamsburg? I've been to neither park but have heard they are both great places. Just based on what I have heard, BGT sounds like it has an edge over BGW but I'll refrain from taking the poll since I can't fairly vote. Let the battle begin!

I'm looking forward to trying out Racer again this summer since I had a terrible experience on it last year. As of now, that has been the roughest ride I've ever had on a coaster. It was just painful the entire time.

I have seen people get pretty furious at ride hosts and employees before when they tell them they have to get a locker. I understand why lockers are necessary, but again, if they were made free (or at least hidden in admission costs where most people wouldn't realize it), I don't think people would give as big as a fuss as many currently do. I'd rather have prices increase by 5 or 10 bucks if it meant not having to pay for lockers once in the park. This would result in happier people, happier employees, and happier FUN days.

I actually don't mind wearing them. It wasn't that bad. Do you know if your band will also go to Universal, or what the Disney parks are that you will go to?

A big pain are cameras. My family is a roller coaster family--that's the main reason we go to parks. But my family also loves to take pictures (mainly my mom and I) and we have a nice camera that we like to use rather than low quality cell phone images. The only problem is that if we want to take our nice camera to a park, we have to buy lockers. This is really the only instance when I'd actually depend on lockers, but with having to pay for them it can definitely be an inconvenience.

So it sounds like Tatsu is a better overall ride, but Manta has incredible theming. I now want to try out Manta at SeaWorld too. So many parks, so little time. #coasterenthusiastproblems

Even when I was a little kid my family didn't like bringing lots of stuff to the park. I do remember one time I got a souvenir cup st CP and we ended up hiding it in bushed whenever we went on rides. I know that's not the most secure way of storing a loose article...but heck, it was just a plastic cup. I'd never leave anything valuable behind in a bush. Really, unless you have a baby or small toddler with you, I don't see why you need so much stuff. Me: Cargo shorts, water bottle (refill it throughout the day--never need to buy drinks), wallet, keys, phone. The water bottle's a little lumpy but it still fits. I have all the essentials and I don't have to worry about loose articles. If I want a souvenir? I wait until the end of the night and buy something on my way out of the park.