2009 Cedar Point Opening Day PTR & VTR

[gigacoaster2k]

So to tell the story of my plot with Dvo, we were both planning to get to the marina entrance painfully early to get on Millennium Force's first train of the year. I planned to get to the park around 7 am, so I set my alarm clock for 3 am. I woke up at 12:45 am, so excited that I couldn't get back to sleep. I left the house at 3:30 am.

I75 north isn't bad of a drive because there's plenty of places to stop and eat, get fuel, etc. Route 6 is another story.

Once I started to drive over the causeway, I realized that I wasn't slowing down enough to get a good picture of the new entrance sign. I failed at this photo because the massive strings of beads on my mirror obscured the rest of the sign.. guess I'll just have to go back.

Since there was no traffic on the causeway at 6:30 am, I stopped to take a couple of photos.

I wish the lot would have stayed this empty all day.. fat chance with it being a Saturday.

I chilled out for a little bit, and waited for David (Dvo) so we could walk to the marina gate. While we were walking back, I got a nice shot of Blue Streak's first drop.

David and I got to the marina entrance at 6:45 am to see only one other person there.

I had to use the restroom terribly by this time, so I went over to the marina restrooms. To my horror, they were password protected. This man exiting with his son was nice enough to enter his password for me so I could use the restroom.. driving 3 hours with only 1 restroom break tends to do a number on your bladder.

When I came out of the restroom, I looked over to my left and I had to grab my camera.

No photo will ever do justice to how big this monster really is. You have to be there to see how it towers over and dominates the entire skyline.

Walking back over to the marina gate, I saw these ride signs complete with height requirements, and the welcome sign for Magnum's birthday party.

David and I heard a "Hello!" and turned around to see Single Rider Bob and a few of his friends. He proceeded to tell us that he got 1,201 rides on Millennium Force last year, and started joking about how he was going to try to get 501 rides on the carousel. I told him that when he does, he should have a carousel put on his shirt, and he and I started arguing good-naturedly about who loves MF more.

"I'm not moving from this spot!!" (Photo courtesy of Dvo)

Millie testing. The train was choking on the hill quite a bit. It seemed to happen every time with the yellow train, not so much with the red train, and not at all with the blue train.

My friend James that works on Thunder Canyon and Maverick came to chat with me for a bit before he had to go to work. David looked back to see Derrick (Phantom Theater) behind us in the rapidly growing line at the marina gate.

Once the gates opened at 9 and my pass was scanned, I made a full run for it. I even took the shortcut behind the Dodgems. Trying to put my pass back in my pocket, I dropped it so I had to stop to pick it up and keep running. At that point, David ran full speed past me.. I couldn't keep up with him. I heard "YOU CAN DO IT ANGIE!" behind me, and looked behind me to see Single Rider Bob behind me, cheering me on.. I was beating him to MF!!

I caught up with David, and we managed to get the second to last seat on the FIRST TRAIN OF THE YEAR. I was in so much pain from running (apparently Giga is more out of shape than she thought), but it was totally worth it. I was ecstatic and screamed with the rest of the train as it sped out of the station.

I had forgotten how intense that first drop really is. Diamondback's first drop feels like a free fall, but Millie's first drop yanks your stomach into a knot against your spine and takes your breath away. I have yet to find a coaster whose first drop beats Millie's.

Our second ride, however, was on the yellow train. I took some photos of the blue train in the station while we waited.

As we were going up the hill on the yellow train.. it happened. The train ground to a halt.. sat there for several seconds, rolled back a few inches, made a loud metallic clattering noise, and then resumed going up the hill.

Derrick and I decided to head over to Magnum's party. On the way, I ran into my friends Bre and Bryan. I asked Bre if she'd seen the skydiver take the American flag down to the plaza, but she said she heard that they canceled it due to budget cuts or something. Derrick then informed me that there was Magnum cake in a tent off to the side. There wasn't just one, but two cakes.. even with the molly orange icing.

Time for the Ohio State marching band to play, complete with a male baton twirler. I wish I'd gotten a video of him twirling, he was actually really good. He'd throw the baton a good 10 feet in the air and catch it with his arm tucked under his leg.

I did, however, get a video of the band playing.

Tony Clark from the Cedar Point blog.. and Derrick in the way.

During the speeches by the guest speakers, several of the Ohio State band members went for a spin on Witches Wheel.

New Magnum entrance sign. It's much bigger than it appeared in the post where I linked photos of it on the CP blog.. it dwarfs people and I think it looks fantastic.

We finally got to ride Magnum around 11 am. Great ride as always.. especially since they turned the trims off. It was flying through the pretzel and throwing us out of our seat on every hill. I can't get enough of Magnum.

I decided since I was back that way, that I would visit my friend Ben at Sweet Tooth on my way to Maverick. I grabbed some chocolate/vanilla Dippin Dots, and headed over to the 1.5 hour wait for Maverick. I was halfway through my ice cream when it dawned on me that I still had a half bag of M&Ms in my pocket, so I dumped them in there.

Want some?

The water in Maverick's queue does not look healthy.

I was going to take the SRL, but it was closed. This aggravated me, but not too much since they were running at almost full capacity and the line was moving faster than I expected. It had to be e-stopped before the launch on the hill. The ride op came out of the control booth, walked over to the e-stopped train, came back with a camera, and repeated the spiel about cameras and loose articles.. oh he was NOT happy.

I took some photos from the exit ramp after the ride was over.. check it out, 2 trains in one shot.

This one made me wish they had a photo contest.. I'm really proud of this photo.

After Maverick, I decided to see what Millie's wait was.. it was already at an hour and a half. I took this opportunity to take photos and video of my Millie.

I checked Mantis's wait because I wanted to say hi to my friend Tony that works the ride, but it was a 1 and a quarter hour wait.. I'm sorry, I'm not waiting that long for Mantis. So I decided to hit Blue Streak and say hi to my friend Scott (the one that worked on Wicked Twister last year). Derrick somehow caught up with me, so we waited the 45 minutes for Blue Streak. That sucker packs some airtime.

I really wanted a ride on Raptor, but the queue was completely full, so I headed for maXair, thinking the line wouldn't be long.. I was sadly mistaken. The queue was full and the line was out on the midway almost to Troika. I waited, because I know how amazing maXair is.

For anyone disappointed with Huss giant rides, I promise you, maXair will put that faith back. It blows Delirium out of the water.

CP's lovely Giant Wheel.

I got on maXair as it started sprinkling. With each perfectly smooth and exhilarating swing, the rain got harder and harder. By the time I exited the ride, Cedar Point was getting hit with a downpour. I was soaked, and realized with a start that my camera and my cell phone were probably going to get wet. I went to the gift shop by Dragster and they gave me a small plastic bag, and then it was off to the TPOL meetup.

I got there and was told by the leader of the meetup that 90 percent of the group left to get food while I was walking over from maXair. We decided to hit Magnum because it was down to a light sprinkle.

No sooner did we leave the station than the rain resumed. By the time we were halfway up the lift, it was back at a downpour, and it got colder.. and stayed that way throughout our entire (again trimless) ride. Talk about raindrops turning into bullets. My clothes were dripping wet.. I thought I was going to freeze to death. That was certainly a new experience.

I got fed up with being so cold and wet, and bought a poncho. Wouldn't you know as soon as I buy a poncho, the rain stops and out comes the sun. I decided to hit the red side of Power Tower to attempt to dry off.

Apprehensive riders on the red side.

And terrified screaming riders on the drop side.

Dragster still wasn't running, and I'd already ridden maXair, so I headed for Wicked Twister.. which had a 45 minute wait.

This is what you see from Cedar Point.

I decided to brave the huge line and hit Line Jumper's Paradise.. um, I mean Raptor. Totally worth the wait. I saw my friend Schuyler that works the ride, but he was extremely busy so I left him alone.

After I got off Raptor, my friend Katrina called me from the Wicked Twister queue. No sooner did she exit the ride than there was a failure with the LIMs. I waited for her, and we decided to hit Challenge Park and do Skyscraper and Ripcord because she had coupons.

The lady at the ticket booth very snottily told her that her coupons clearly read that they weren't valid on Saturday.. and we both about had a heart attack when we saw that ONE PERSON for Ripcord is now FORTY-FIVE DOLLARS. Besides that, Skyscraper was closed. We said forget it, let's go ride some coasters. We were going to hit Magnum but the queue was completely full.

So we (me, Katrina, Rachel and Amy) all headed for Cedar Creek Mine Ride. We screamed our heads off on the whole ride trying to act like we were scared, but we were laughing too hard. We really got the people on the train cracking up at us, and even joining in.

Katrina seemed to think (or want to think) that Dragster would be up and running soon (it hadn't been running all day except for test runs). So we waited.. and lo and behold, it "started up." This meant loading 4 people onto a train, and it rolling back over and over and over and over and over, with the queue not moving so much as an inch.

I told Katrina that I really didn't feel like waiting for this, and ducked out of the queue. I did get a photo of the new banners in the process of leaving (she didn't mind).

I headed to my car to get my hoodie, and was ecstatic about hopefully getting some laps on Millie before I left, like I always do. I re-entered the park around 8:15 pm, and saw to my horror that there was an empty yellow train stuck on the hill. I walked to the ride entrance to see the ride closed sign up, and the ride op told me it had a mechanical failure. I felt tears sting the back of my eyes as I walked away.. yes I know that sounds silly, but I don't care. Millie is my ride, and ending the night with my favorite coaster is special to me.

I chose to end the night with laps on Magnum instead. I did 2 laps before I met up with my friend James again, and we got in 2 more laps before the queue closed. ALL trimless.

I left the park around 10:30 pm, and got home around 2 am.

Ride count:

Magnum - 6 (every ride was trimless!)

Millie - 2

Raptor - 1

Blue Streak - 1

maXair - 1

Maverick - 1

Wicked Twister - 1

Power Tower - 1

Cedar Creek Mine Ride - 1

[skaterboy22101]

45 dollers for Rip-Cord?!?!?!?!?! WOW!

[kiruler102]

It sounds like you had a GREAT time. But surprised you didnt stay for today as well lol.

[specialk141]

out of curiosity, "scanned your pass"

does this mean tha even with a platinum pass, i no longer have to go to the front entrance to sign a sheet, and all that junk i had to do last summer at guest services? will my platinum pass, purchased at ki work at the gates at cp?

i'm headin up this weekend, so i'm wondering... thinkin i might use the marina gate entrance to get to millie quicker as well....

[StalkerChick]

I75 north isn't bad of a drive because there's plenty of places to stop and eat, get fuel, etc.

Time for the Ohio State marching band to play, complete with a male baton twirler. I wish I'd gotten a video of him twirling, he was actually really good. He'd throw the baton a good 10 feet in the air and catch it with his arm tucked under his leg.

This is what you see from Cedar Point.

I decided to brave the huge line and hit Line Jumper's Paradise.. um, I mean Raptor. Totally worth the wait.

do we drive the same stretch of 75?!?! once you get past Lima (which is where i get on 75 at) there is nothing!!

He's not a baton twirler!!! He's a Drum Major! lol don't emasculate the poot boy but those guys are amazing. I've watched them spin it into the ground and like a yo-yo it bounces right back to their hand. And i love the Witches Wheel

hmm... that view looks very familiar i think some chick randomly texted it to me as she was bragging to me about getting to ride my favorite sexy green hunk of inversionised steel <3

okits officially not going to CP is uncalled for... lol i must go! who's coming with me?! half those rides i haven't ridden (ala WT and maverick), and the other half i've ridden only once (check millie and TTD) my goodness and to think i used to call CP my home park! see what college does to you?!?!

[PhantomTheater]

out of curiosity, "scanned your pass"

does this mean tha even with a platinum pass, i no longer have to go to the front entrance to sign a sheet, and all that junk i had to do last summer at guest services? will my platinum pass, purchased at ki work at the gates at cp?

i'm headin up this weekend, so i'm wondering... thinkin i might use the marina gate entrance to get to millie quicker as well....

I used my KI Platinum Pass at Marina and got through with no problem, my picture even came up on screen.

[Tom76257]

Sounds like you had a great time (except for all the Intamin breakdowns). I feel sorry for you with the whole Millie situation, but hey, trimless rides on Magnum?! I wish they would do that for The Beast and Diamondback at Kings Island!

[Jasper]

Forty-Five dollars!?!?! That is insane, i love XSF, but there is no way i would pay that much to ride it.

[The Interpreter]

...I headed to my car to get my hoodie, and was ecstatic about hopefully getting some laps on Millie before I left, like I always do. I re-entered the park around 8:15 pm, and saw to my horror that there was an empty yellow train stuck on the hill. I walked to the ride entrance to see the ride closed sign up, and the ride op told me it had a mechanical failure. I felt tears sting the back of my eyes as I walked away.. yes I know that sounds silly, but I don't care. Millie is my ride, and ending the night with my favorite coaster is special to me....

I so understand. More than once I have nearly cried not to get to ride Blue Streak in all of its awesomeness and glory at Conneaut Lake Park...from the times it has broken down to the times it ran as a mere shadow of what it once was and could be to the now when it may never run again. And I have literally bawled like a baby, as a member here could attest, at what Conneaut later became in its fading days. I love parks...like Conneaut, that place in New Jersey, the one in Mason, Ohio, a place in Austell, a beach boardwalk or two, a golf place in Wisconsin, and on and on...and yes, even the Point...Yes, I know the feeling. And well.

You go, girl!

Terpy, who appreciates the fact you adore Cedar Point so much, and understands...oh, so well...

[markr]

No Gemini? Nothing beats a ride where the trains are going just at about equal speed so everyone can high-five each other.

[Go Browns]

Cool PTR, looks like a lot of fun and wow you have a lot of friends that work at CP!

Stalkerchick I can completely relate. When I lived up there I would go to CP 20 time a summer. Then I moved to Columbus to go to OSU and still live here. I usually go once in the summer and once for Halloweekends, but last year for the first time in my life I didn't make it even once. I'm so ashamed...

[BavarianBeatle]

Glad you had a good time! Today was miserable with downtime on virtually every major ride in the park (except Magnum!) And our passes didn't work. Guest Services was a zoo with all of the people with KI passes trying to get in. Fortunately, I keep my passes in the wallet with my badge and a very nice (and attractive LOL!!!) supervisor named Nicole and a security person told us to "just go"..... The kids and I enjoyed being together, but the downtime got really old after awhile.

--Beatle, who was glad you weren't there today to see your beloved Millie barely run at all and a line out of the que almost to the Red Garter when it did......

[indianapolisman]

So glad to see you had a safe fun trip. Also looked as the weather held out all day.

The photo of Blue Streak with the maint. man inspecting the track is really neat. I'd like to copy it with your perm.

Hope they get all those bugs worked out soon, sorry you didn't get that night ride on MF.

Edit: The Beast B-Day cake was much cooler.

[gigacoaster2k]

Beatle, who was glad you weren't there today to see your beloved Millie barely run at all and a line out of the queue almost to the Red Garter when it did

NOOOO

Terpy, I'm glad you understand. I have so many people laugh at me and call me weird because I'll do whatever it takes to get on my favorite coaster. I'm so sad and sometimes even angry when my Millie breaks down.

I didn't go today because I had to work 3 pm - 11 pm.

I don't ride Gemini because every time, the sudden helix has aggravated an old neck injury from a car accident.

The way I take to CP is I75 north to Route 6 east, and Route 6 takes you all the way into Sandusky, right to the CP causeway. Rachel, did you forget about a city called Findlay? J/K, I luvs u.

indianapolisman, feel free to use my photo. I'm glad you like it!

[BavarianBeatle]

It was almost a stampede to get in line when Millie finally opened this afternoon!! That yellow train sat there for a long time this morning, then it was a madhouse.... I pulled the kids out of that and we went and rode Gemini, which was a walk on when we got there because everyone! was going the other way.

Edit: Including many young teenagers running at us while we left the area!!!!

[gigacoaster2k]

It was almost a stampede to get in line when Millie finally opened this afternoon!! That yellow train sat there for a long time this morning, then it was a madhouse.

Can't say I blame them. It's great that in its 10th season, Millie still draws in crowds like it just made its debut yesterday.

[BavarianBeatle]

It was almost a stampede to get in line when Millie finally opened this afternoon!! That yellow train sat there for a long time this morning, then it was a madhouse.

Can't say I blame them. It's great that in its 10th season, Millie still draws in crowds like it just made its debut yesterday.

Had I been alone or with another adult, I would have been a willing part that mess. But I think it scared the kids a little, because they both held my hands until we were out of it.

[Hoeter]

Nice PTR/VTR Angie! I've never been to Cedar Point and I'll definately have to check it out when I get the chance.

[TheCryptRaider]

This made me even more anxious to get out there this summer! Great PTR, Angie!

[Kawana]

out of curiosity, "scanned your pass"

does this mean tha even with a platinum pass, i no longer have to go to the front entrance to sign a sheet, and all that junk i had to do last summer at guest services? will my platinum pass, purchased at ki work at the gates at cp?

i'm headin up this weekend, so i'm wondering... thinkin i might use the marina gate entrance to get to millie quicker as well....

Add this to the inconsistency of CF. Last year when I went with my KI purchased Platinum pass, we had no problems whatsoever entering early for the morning ERT. What gives?

Thanks for the TR. Glad you had a little fun at least.

[DaveStroem]

We had zero problems yesterday using our KI platinum passes at CP Soak City entrance. They just scanned the bar codes and away we went.

[gigacoaster2k]

My KI platinum pass worked fine at the marina entrance Saturday.

It worked fine at the parking tolls, the main entrance, and the Soak City entrance all last year too. IMO they really should not have any issues, it is an all-inclusive CF pass. I can see if once or twice you had to sign a sheet due to computer problems, but you should not get a runaround at the tolls or the gates EVERY TIME you go to Cedar Point. That pass is expensive and the drive isn't exactly short. They should be able to just scan it and let you in. I'd definitely be telling people at guest services how I feel about that one.

I really need to get back up there. I am not happy with the fact that I only have two rides on my precious MF, even though I did successfully get on the first train of the year.

[DaveStroem]

Talked to my wife and think we may be going back up to CP on the 31st of this month I know you won't be there since you will be at HW. I love that park but it is a haul from the house (just north of Columbus)

This time I think we can hone in our list of must do rides and which ones we will skip. Hopefully by then Millie will be open for the ERT. I still think we will hit Maverick first though.

[TheCryptRaider]

It was almost a stampede to get in line when Millie finally opened this afternoon!! That yellow train sat there for a long time this morning, then it was a madhouse.

Can't say I blame them. It's great that in its 10th season, Millie still draws in crowds like it just made its debut yesterday.

You do mean 20th. Just correcting that.

[DaveStroem]

It was almost a stampede to get in line when Millie finally opened this afternoon!! That yellow train sat there for a long time this morning, then it was a madhouse.

Can't say I blame them. It's great that in its 10th season, Millie still draws in crowds like it just made its debut yesterday.

You do mean 20th. Just correcting that.

Maggie is 20 not Millie. Just correcting that.

[goofywdw]

I enjoyed reading your report! Having not been to the park in 9 years I really don't know what it is like any more. Since I can get into Cedar Point for free this year I really need to plan a trip up there this summer. Thanks for getting me excited! I hope I like Millie (almost) as much as you.

[gigacoaster2k]

My must-ride coasters: Millennium Force, Magnum, Maverick, Raptor, and Blue Streak. Dragster and Wicked Twister are OK, but I prefer a longer ride.

My must-ride flats: Skyscraper (paid attraction) and maXair.

I also really like the Giant Wheel. It's a great way to see the park, and it's so photogenic.

[kjkjkj]

Sounds like you had a great time at The Point! I wanna go back so bad, but we'll probably have to wait until next year Oh well. Have you ever been on Chaos? That is one of my favorite flat rides, even Ashley (who hates "spinning rides", including The Carousel because they make her sick) enjoyed this ride! Sadly we didn't get to ride MaxAir when we went, we'll have to try it out! I am sure you'll get plenty of rides on Millie this season, so don't worry too much

[DaveStroem]

Come on Angie, I was wondering about you opinion on Chaos too. I think it one of the most extreme flats I have ever been on. My wife just looked at us like we were crazy for riding it.

[gigacoaster2k]

Come on Angie, I was wondering about you opinion on Chaos too. I think it one of the most extreme flats I have ever been on. My wife just looked at us like we were crazy for riding it.

I don't ride things like that. I'd rather not have my face turn green and be stuck on a bench all day with an upset stomach.