Ride On_17

I also find it interesting how next year CF is trying out several new indoor motion simulator-esque dark rides. It seems as though they're starting to branch their new dark into two different directions. Maybe in the coming years, could parks see both types of dark rides? Or are they seeing which is the most popular? Or will future installations be a cross between both types? Regardless, I'm sure CF will look at what guests enjoy the most and will do their best to keep newer additions as high-tech and improved as possible. The next few years will be fun to watch and see what happens!

When OSU's Theme Park Engineering Group is planning an off-season construction tour of Valravn.

Just now heard about this addition and I'm actually really excited to see what Universal does with it. As a big Jimmy Fallon fan, I'll be highly anticipating this new ride. Sounds like Universal is planning on adding some other solid new attractions too. Definitely beats Disney in terms of thrilling, unique rides.

Honestly, I'm don't think most of the general public cares whether they see an ad or banner on a fence inside a park. The times I've gone to parks with non-enthusiasts, they never seem to mention anything about it and instead only focus on the rides, even ad-heavy Six Flags parks. I feel like it's just enthusiasts who always complain about them, specifically with SF parks. However, I do think think they detract from the "magical" experience of being inside an amusement park. But hey, obviously it's working for SF (or at least something is with their strategy if they keep setting records).

It's far from perfect, but I think that overall food service at CP has made drastic improvements over the past few years. KI's seems to be pretty solid too.

I do have to give credit to Intamin for being industry innovators. No, their rides may not have perfect reliability, but I admire their willingness to take risks when it comes to developing unique and groundbreaking rides. I personally think this is a really cool concept, especially with how non-riders and riders alike can be impressed with it. While I doubt it will be Cedar Fair, I do hope a park installs one of these in the near future.

I know it's over a month late, but better late then never! On Sunday, May 10th, I went to Cedar Point for a post prom celebration. Check out the full report and pictures! https://handsuprideon.wordpress.com/2015/06/15/post-prom-paradise-get-to-the-point-51015/

I decided to create one thread where I can post any reports and pictures I may have, since I usually end up writing a lot of trip reports in a given year. This way they will all be contained in one spot. Plus since I'm starting to write most of mine on a separate blog, this will be a good way to give out the link for each new one instead of bogging down the forums with tons of new threads that only contain a link and a few sentences. I hope you all enjoy following along with my amusement park adventures! I plan on using this thread each year from here on out. I'll go ahead and give out the link to my first trip report of the year again to be sure all of my reports starting this year and into the future end up here. Here's my photo trip report of my first amusement park trip of the season to Cedar Point for Passholder Preview Night! https://handsuprideon.wordpress.com/2015/05/09/rougalicious-preview-night/

I was actually across the street from the park at KeyLime Cove Sunday night as my Science Olympiad team was coming back from Nebraska. It was torture seeing the park and not getting to go. Originally we were planning on going the next day on Monday but of course it was the one day of the week the park was closed so we had to make other plans. Hopefully I'll make it back this summer, since it sounds like an amazing park with a fun ride lineup. Thanks for the report and pictures!

Actually, on Sunday Rougarou was down for a few hours, surprisingly. But thankfully they eventually got that running. I hope to get another trip report up for that day too.

The off-season is finally over! This year I decided to create a blog specifically for my trip reports, so check out my first one of the year about Cedar Point's Passholder Preview Night! https://handsuprideon.wordpress.com/2015/05/09/rougalicious-preview-night/

I still have yet to be on a flying eagles ride (GASP), not even Lake Erie Eagles. I will definitely ride LEE in May and if I like them, which I'm sure I will, I'll have to ride Woodstock Gliders whenever I make it to KI this summer too! I think I just haven't been on them since spinny rides usually don't get along with me too well, but these don't seem too bad.

Just for fun speculation and enjoyment, I created a new 5 year plan I would implement if I was the CEO. All of these major additions so close together might not be the most realistic, but I tried to balance them out. For 2016: Throughout this upcoming summer, we start seeing footers pop up in the former GTT area as well as signs of other development. Late summer, a few support pieces and track even start appearing and the park announces their big 2016 plans: The world's tallest and fastest Dive Coaster that pretty much follows suit with the Sandusky Register's apparent "leaked" memo. The park also announces that this new coaster will be a part of an entire new park expansion project also set to open for 2016. It would include a new midway that connects Blue Streak to Celebration Plaza, the Marina Entrance is moved to Calypso's former location, and a new food stand, retail building, and shaded seating area like near GK will be by the entrance plaza to the new coaster which will be along this new midway. In addition, the park announces that the old Pirate Ride Building will be demolished to make room for either a Vekoma Madhouse or a Mack Revolving House. These rides are unique and guests really enjoy them, so it would set Cedar Point apart from most other parks. This would also be a much needed dark ride, even though it's not necessarily a traditional one. In result with this change, Blue Streak's entrance will be more visually appealing and will have a better flow (signage will be better and guests will know how to get to the entrance). For 2017: This year will focus on kids and families. Kiddie Kingdom will get an entire refresh and a new name. Most if not all of the existing rides will be removed to make way for several new kids and family rides that are more modern and thrilling. The star of this new area will be a B&M family inverted coaster. The park also surprises people by announcing a themed playground in the concrete pad between Millennium's queue and final overbank. Currently it is wasted space, and there is also nothing really for kids to do if they are waiting with another adult for family members to ride Millennium and/or Rougarou. This immersive area will be the perfect solution, since playgrounds can entertain kids for a long time, and the adults supervising them will be thankful for the kids to have something to do instead of just sitting around. Lastly, the park announces a refresh of the front of the park. Point Pavilion will be demolished since the new Lakeside Pavilions have basically made PP redundant. The park announces that a new interactive dark ride will be located in its place. It will also include Garner Holt animatronics that Matt Ouimet recently referred to in future dark ride installations. A new dining/food complex similar to Harmony Hall at Carowinds will replace the existing picnic shelters. People would still be allowed to picnic inside, but it would offer an air-conditioned, indoor facility to eat and relax as well as purchase food if so desired. This will also lead to the removal of Hurricane Hanna's and this entire front corner of the park would be opened up and beautified. No longer will it feel closed in and outdated. This year is all about kids and families, and several areas of the park are improved and better utilized. For 2018: For this year's announcement (halfway between the major 2016 expansion and the big 150th anniversary in 2020), the park says that Mean Streak will get a Rocky Mountain Construction revamp along with a refreshed entrance plaza. This will please thrill seekers and (like the Mantis-Rougarou transformation) will convert a ride with relatively low ridership and guest satisfaction into a crowd pleaser that would be one of the best coasters in the world. For 2019: During the 2018 season, a new dorm is constructed off the peninsula which leads to speculation that involves the demise of Cedars Dorms. In the late summer, it is officially released that Cedars will be removed during the upcoming off season and Perimeter Road will be rerouted slightly to go around this area. It is also announced that Challenge Park will be closing and that RipCord and SkyScraper will be moving to Cedars’ old location while Challenge Golf and Challenge Racing will be removed completely. RipCord and SkyScraper will become a part of the park instead of being separate like in Challenge Park. A Wild Mouse coaster will also fit in this space, a ride that will appeal to all ages and is relatively cheap for the park to install to go along with these other changes. For 2020: During the summer of 2019, the park starts hyping for its 150th anniversary and many clues and teasers are released. There is major speculation but nothing definitive can be figured out except for the location. For the past year, the former location of Challenge Park has been vacant, but noticeable construction has been going on all season. Finally, just before Labor Day, the park has a huge announcement. The former Challenge Park area will be home to 2 separate projects for 2020. First, Soak City will be expanded in the area formerly occupied by RipCord and Challenge racing. A "toilet bowl" slide and a Snake Pit slide complex would both be added here. The second half of the announcement, the main part of it, is a brand new, massive roller coaster. I'm not really sure I want to put a type or list any stats about it, but it would be like what Magnum and Millennium were for the park at those times. Something new, innovative, and perfect for the Roller Coaster Capital of the World's 150th anniversary. The new section of the park as well as where the coaster's entrance plaza and station would be is where Challenge Golfing was located. The lift hill would cross over Magnum's and go back behind Gemini. From there the layout could have several options, but keep in mind this coaster would likely go over the Soak City parking lot and possibly over Soak City itself. Especially if this is a hyper/giga-esque coaster, it could travel over a large area with only minimally invasive supports if designed creatively. A turnaround could even be done back by Camper Village, a little before reaching Sandcastle Suites. The park would emphasize multi-day stays on its hotels and resorts for its milestone 150th season, hence both the Soak City expansion and ground breaking roller coaster. This would likely attract more overnight visitors, since this would allow them to spend a whole day at Soak City, plus at least another whole day in the actual park. With the coaster as the star attraction, the park will have a very successful and memorable anniversary year.

^I never ever knew that book existed! I want to read it now. Always did enjoy R.L. Stine as a kid. As for these future additions, I'm surprised Ouimet is giving out information so freely. I guess it's nice to know, though. I also did not see every park in the chain getting a dark ride, but again, this is a very pleasant surprise. The part about Garner Holt also gives me hope that the future installments will be millions times better than what WMG looks like.

Mystery solved. Red track, looks like it can be for a wing rider, and would also explain why track is showing up now.

"Ain't it Fun" - Paramore is another.

My favorites (part 2): Behemoth (also Nitro, Impulse Talon among others): I love the contrast between orange and blue. It just stands out so much. -Can't forget about the new pain on Scream too! I love it. I love the inverted blue/yellow on Impulse too. Medusa: Purple against yellow looks so sharp, and I love it. There are many more interesting color combos I love, but I'll stop or else I'll be posting for a long time Anyways, I find it interesting how all my tops are B&Ms. They truly have the most beautiful and aesthetically pleasing coasters.

Some of my favorites (part 1): Fury 325: WOWZA. What more can I say. Probably THE most beautiful coaster, in my opinion. The bright green on the back of the track spine really does it for me. Shambhala: dark, sleek supports--not your typical gray/silver--as well as track with a contrasting white a cool shade of blue on the rails. And since it's in the picture, I'll give an honorable mention to Dragon Khan--I know it has red track but it looks great with the pastel blue supports. Banshee: While it would have been even cooler with the original shades of colors seen in the renderings, the final product still turned out amazing. So unique and visually stunning. Gatekeeper: This coaster provides such a statement along the front of the park and the beach of Cedar Point. In my opinion, it's the best looking coaster at the park. I love the crisp white supports and the two toned blue track, as well as the sleek shiny, golden trains soaring along. For me, the colors all mimic the beach and the sky. The gold trains like the golden sand, the white like the clouds, and the various colors of blue like the lake and the sky on a sunny day. All images from rcdb.com

Is it just me or does anyone else love watching reverse POVs too? It's so funny seeing everyone's reactions. The guy in the red is really funny in this one, especially at the end once the ride is over. Watching these reverse POVs also give a good indication of the forces during the ride. Just from watching it, I can tell there are definitely some strong lateral and negative gs. I really need to get down to Charlotte this summer...

Something caught my attention on the webcam currently facing the construction/dorms area. I circled in red the area of notice. https://www.cedarpoint.com/online-fun/live-video-cam/camera-1 Do I see a footer and several footer holes or...? It also looks like there are little white markings spread out...Future footer locations???

Everyone has their own opinions and that is completely acceptable. However, just to chime in, I'd have to say that Cedar Point is the better park. Having grown up with it, I can't even begin to list the amazing memories I've made with friends, family, and progressions through the thrill rides and coasters as I got older. Personally, wearing sunglasses at night and covering my face when the muffleheads are out and laughing the whole ride are memories I'll never forget, and have actually make Cedar Point even better for me. The location on the lake, the sound of the seagulls, the beauty of the park, everything about Cedar Point is perfect. However, if I would have grown up with Kings Island, it's quite possible that it would have been my favorite park instead. I'm a pretty sentimental person, so I cherish experiences and memories from the past in addition to my current ones. Henceforth for me, Cedar Point wins, just because I am so familiar and sentimental with the park. I could go on and on about how much I love it. But again, it is nice to live in country where we are all able to freely express out opinions, and it makes for good discussion on amusement park fansites

Definitely sounds like it will be a launching coaster, and probably something more thrilling than Firechaser. As for the type, I have no idea yet. I guess I'll wait until more clues/teasers pop up.

Banshee for sure. I rode it 9 times on our trip last year and I can't wait to get back on it.