Cedar Point PTR July 5, 2009

[gigacoaster2k]

I left my house for Cedar Point around 5:30 am, hoping to get to the park by 8:30. What was really weird was that my iPod kept shuffling to songs in my CP playlist on the way there.

By the way, the road closed signs on Route 6 are now gone. No more detours!

I got to the park around 8:30 am, fearing for the worst since some had told me that there would be leftover crowds from the 4th. I couldn't have been more wrong. There were maybe 10 cars in the GP lot. The guy directing traffic pointed me to the left after I showed my pass at the parking tolls. Very odd, since he pretty much pointed me to the road that goes around the causeway.. I'd planned on driving around to the Soak City lot anyway.

It was a warm, sunny, beautiful morning. Crystal blue sky and brilliant sunshine.

I parked in the Gemini lot, and walked to the gate by Magnum. There were maybe 30 people there, and even less behind me as 9 am drew closer. They opened the gates and started scanning passes at 8:50. When the rope dropped, I didn't run, but jogged. I made it to Maverick at exactly 9 am, and the line wasn't even to the bottom of the stairs. I rode in the very front seat.

I ran back for 2 more rides, took advantage of the SRL (which was open!) and both times I was assigned to seat 5 (6 is the very rear). WOW! Maverick in the rear seats is pretty intense. I saw white dots in front of my eyes after the first drop!

It was only 9:45, and I'd gotten 3 rides on Maverick. I headed for Millie.

The ride was a walk on. By this, I mean I ran all the way to the station. I was sitting in my seat when they called out for a single rider.. and I saw a familiar face coming toward the empty seat in a bright yellow shirt! I got to ride with Single Rider Bob on my first MF ride of the day! I asked him what his total MF ride count was, and he said it was almost 3,000.

I got 1 more ride in before the 10 am rope drop in the very rear seat. On one of these rides, I almost completely grayed out from the first drop all the way to the first airtime hill. I realized I was sweating, so I grabbed a free ice water to remedy that. I looked at my phone, saw that it was 10:04, squeezed in another ride in the very second seat, and then I figured the rest of the day would be horribly packed.

I decided to make my way to the front of the park because I wanted my buy one get one Skyscraper ride coupons from Guest Relations (you can only get these with a CF platinum pass). I hit the Space Shot side of Power Tower, which had no wait whatsoever.

I was getting hungry, but I wanted a ride on Dragster. I didn't wait long at all. The line was barely past the bottom of the ramp. I rode in the very rear seat for maximum launch power.. whoa. If you really want that launch to punch you in the stomach, ride in the rear seat! Good stuff.

It was about this time that I decided I needed to eat. I grabbed some mini corn dogs from some place in front of Raptor. They made them fresh for me, and they were delicious. I think that I brainwashed myself by sitting at a table facing Raptor while I ate. The deafening, monstrous roar that thing makes when it flies down the first hill and glides through the loop gives me goosebumps every time. I was mesmerized by it.

I went to Guest Relations, showed them my platinum pass, and they gave me a full sheet of coupons including the one I wanted. They were very kind to me, and even the person that was helping someone else told me to have a great day.

I was craving some Raptor, and wanted to see my friend Schuyler, so I headed over there. I feared for a 2 hour wait.. not even close. I waited all of 20 minutes. I saw my friend but he was very busy.. that crew is hellbent on getting out trains as fast as they can, they do a fantastic job!

I rode in the very rear seat, of course. For anyone who likes being thrown around when it comes to rides, I insist you try the very rear seat of Raptor.. wow.

Since I was over that way, I crossed over to maXair and rode that. I waited all of 10 minutes to ride. It was only 1 pm and I had been on 10 rides in 4 hours. Around this time, it got a little busier, but it wasn't bad.

Giant Wheel from maXair's queue.

I headed over to Wicked Twister, which had about a 20 minute wait. We heard loud music and cheers from the Extreme Sports Stadium, and I looked over to see people doing inline skate and BMX tricks on a half pipe, complete with some pretty nice looking cheerleaders, haha (sorry, no pic of those!).

Here is a view from Wicked Twister's queue. I noticed that all but one of the jet skis were gone. The water was really busy with parasailers, jet skis, pontoon boats, motor boats and big elaborate sailboats.

Look at that beautiful blue sky!

I rode in the "cool seat" (still don't know which seat number that is after all this time). On our ride, the ride op said you are launching in "3..2.. dippin dots" and launched us.

I then decided I would work my way to the back of the park and get one of my Skyscraper rides in. I hit Space Shot again on the way, still no wait whatsoever. Walked all the way to an open seat. What's funny is that it was seat 7, which I had the last time. The ride op said "I think that seat was meant for you!" LOL!

I was feeling pretty brave and confident by this time of the day. Lines were short if nonexistent, I was totally getting my way with every ride, and the weather was just glorious.

So I decided to see if I could handle Witches Wheel (the vertical spinning ride by Magnum's exit). It was a walk on too.

There is nothing but gravitational force holding you in your seat. That was weird, but fun. I stepped off the ride, and I wasn't dizzy at all! So there's another spinning ride I can do! I was so happy!

I went to Magnum, which had maybe a 10 minute wait. The ride ops were hilarious, joking with each other about the craziest things. I joined in and they loved it. I rode in the second seat from the back.. oh how I love Magnum.

It was time for my ride on Skyscraper. I exited and got my wrist stamp, and went to the ticket booth. I presented my coupon and they handed it back to me.. wow. So I can use it next time! $10 for 2 Skyscraper rides, YES!

Sorry for the fisheye. My phone's camera sucks.

I rode, and WOW. I love intense rides, definitely still a big favorite. The ride ops told me not to flip the cage, but I did it anyway and they didn't even notice.

I walked over to my car to apply more sunscreen, and re-entered the park. I figured I might as well ride Magnum while I was there.. STILL a walk on.

Tom said I should ride Skyhawk for him, so I walked over to Frontiertown and checked the line. I waited one ride cycle and got on. I couldn't resist a second ride with that short of a wait time, so I rode again. On the second ride, someone peed their pants on the swing opposite the one I was on.

I wanted another ride on Millie, so I headed that way. The line was around 20 minutes to half an hour. Still not bad. I saw my friend Jon that works the ride.

When I got to the station, they were assigning seats! I did not understand this. The ride ops were not very nice about it either, shouting at and pointing at the guests in the station. I didn't wait for someone to yell at me, because I'm the type to yell back. I walked to the very back of the train without being called out. That was my only complaint for the day.

I hit Space Shot again on my way to the front of the park.. still walk on. I was thirsty and felt myself yawning, and I caved and bought a bottle of Mountain Dew. Yes, it was $3, but it was freezing cold, and it tasted glorious.

I went over to Blue Streak (by this time it was about 4:30 pm), and chatted with my friend Scott. Old Blue was a walk on..

but the sign at the front read 1 hour. I told him, and he wasn't happy about that.. apparently some park guests have figured out how to adjust those signs. I rode in the very back on the right.. that lap bar gives a little more than the one on the left.. hee hee.

I headed over to Raptor, and finally caught Schuyler when he wasn't crazy busy. I rode twice in the very back seat, only having waited 1 train each time. After that, I decided I needed to chill out for a while. I had done an awful lot of riding, and was at a point where I didn't know what to do next, I'd made several circles around the park and every ride had a welcoming empty queue.

I exited the park, and walked out to the beach by the water. I sat down in the sand and just chilled out, listening to the gulls' cries, the waves hitting the shore, and the distant screams of riders.

I let myself recharge, and went back to the park. I headed back to Blue so I could visit Scott and pick on him some more, he's really funny. He wasn't working, but I rode in the same seat. This time I took a brutal punch to the head from the head rest on the brake run.

I went back over to Raptor, which had gone down to a station wait. It was here that I realized I'd barely paid any attention to Millie today. I was all about Raptor and wanted to just keep riding it and riding it. Rode in the very front, about a 2 train wait.

Back over to Blue I went, which was STILL a walk on. I was 1 of maybe 7 people on the train.. that's IT. I love Old Blue.. it has some nice air. Throws you around a little, which I like.

I headed over to maXair, which had about a 15 minute wait. That thing packs some serious air when it swings to its apex, and really plasters you to your seat on the down swings! I love it.

I headed over to Space Spiral to take a shot of the parking lot to show you guys what I was talking about. Look at how packed the main lot is.

I tried to get a shot of the Soak City lot, but I was too far away to get a good pic.

Full parking lots, fantastic weather, crowded midways.. yet everything was walk on or had a very short wait.

Very odd, but I was definitely not complaining. I wondered at one point if I was dreaming, or if you all would even believe this trip report when you read it.

Decided I wanted my other ride on Skyscraper, so I started to make my way back to the rear of the park. Hit Space Shot again on my way back, still no line whatsoever. I passed up Magnum on the way to Challenge Park because I really wanted that Skyscraper ride again. I think the ride ops like my enthusiasm. They spun my seat before they started my ride, gave a me a ride almost twice as long as my last one, and cranked that bad boy up to Mach 4. I could hear the tower whirring through the air as I flipped and spun. I left Challenge Park very happy.

Off to Magnum I went, and it was a station wait. I waited one train for seat 1:3.. which hurts much more than I remembered. On the first bunny hill coming back, the lap bar slammed down on my thighs and I was thrown violently against the back of the seat as my butt came up and slammed down on the hard seat. I yelled a few expletives. That was NOT fun.

Checked the wait for Dragster on the way back, and it was posted at half an hour. I passed on that.

I wasn't leaving the park without a funnel cake, so I got one. After destroying that, I went straight to Raptor.. it was a station wait. I decided at this point that I was going to lap Raptor for the last hour. Tom texted me and said I should end my night with Millie. After 3 rides on the rear seat of Raptor, which had no wait at all for that seat, I caved and headed for Millie. It was about a 20 minute wait. I decided I'd ride that once and then go back to Raptor. While in the station, I saw people in the front row on the train coming back, spitting, gagging and wiping their shirts (that is exactly why I do not ride front row on Millie at night.. bugs, bugs, and more bugs!).

I should have listened to Tom. I walked all the way to Raptor from Millie, to see the coaster dark and quiet. Horrified that I hadn't been paying attention to the time, I looked at my phone to see that it was 9:52! I booked it back to Millie and waited for last train, only to see all the Raptor employees waiting at the back of the station. I gave up on getting last ride, and jumped on the next empty seat I saw. When my ride was over, I kissed my hand and slapped it on the train as I left the station.

I realized that on my way to the SC lot, I got to walk through Starlight Experience. It's pretty cool how it takes you through all four seasons.. but I got chomped by quite a few mosquitoes on the way through.

I still cannot believe this day was so wonderful and amazing. I felt like the park had been waiting for me all day.

Drumroll, please.. here is my ride count for 13.5 hours at the park.

Raptor - 7

Millennium Force - 6

Space Shot - 4

Maverick - 3

Blue Streak - 3

Magnum - 3

Skyscraper - 2

maXair - 2

Skyhawk - 2

Dragster - 1

Wicked Twister - 1

Witches Wheel - 1

Space Spiral - 1

THIRTY-SIX RIDES even with stopping to eat twice, going to the car, and chilling on the beach.. I told you I was a ride warrior.

[MarketingExpress]

Wow! Sounds like you had a great and successful day at CP. I would definately consider you a ride warrior after 36 rides in a day.

[Dvo]

55 rides on Coastermania saturday.. beat that

[gigacoaster2k]

I am so happy that I can ride Witches Wheel with no problem. I have never done well with spinning flat "carnival" rides. So many of my friends like them, and I hate having to sit out while they have fun.

But after careful experimentation, I have found that the ones that make me nauseous are the ones where the seats spin separately from the arms of the ride. Aside from Zephyr, there are no spinning rides at KI that I might be able to ride without feeling severely ill afterward. And forget pretty much every spinning ride at CP besides Super Himalaya and Witches Wheel, and maybe Wave Swinger.

I'm not sure about the swings. I might give that a whirl next time I'm at KI. Just please don't ask me to ride a spinning ride twice in a row.. once is enough for my stomach.

[DropZone99]

Nice photos, you got a whole lot of rides in!

[Beast79]

Very nice PTR like always. Glad to see you can ride witches wheel, I think we talked about that last time while at ki.

[goofywdw]

Very detailed and sounds like you had an amazing day. Hopefully I can see those crowds when I am up there July 23!

[gigacoaster2k]

Very nice PTR like always. Glad to see you can ride witches wheel, I think we talked about that last time while at ki.

Thanks! I try to detail my TRs so people feel like they are there. What's the point otherwise?

I'm fine on giant spinning rides like maXair, Delirium, Crypt (when it was good LOL), Skyscraper, and Slingshot. The spin on those kind of rides is more like a toss or an intense flip. It's the smaller ones I have to watch out for.. that central spin can really get intense and dizzying.

[dare-to-fly]

Giga, we have got to figure out how to get a ride on Skyscraper together. I've been wanting to ride it, and I think you'd be the perfect person to ride with!

[gigacoaster2k]

Giga, we have got to figure out how to get a ride on Skyscraper together. I've been wanting to ride it, and I think you'd be the perfect person to ride with!

I have a reusable buy 1 get 1 free coupon. 1 ticket is $10. So you'd only owe me $5.

Warning: I will tell the ride ops to crank it to Mach 4, and I will flip the cage.. it's not worth it unless you get the most out of your ride experience.

[The Interpreter]

I love it when people love parks. And giga loves Cedar Point. And does it ever show!

I'm also very glad you had a great day at America's Roller Coast.

[dare-to-fly]

Giga, we have got to figure out how to get a ride on Skyscraper together. I've been wanting to ride it, and I think you'd be the perfect person to ride with!

I have a reusable buy 1 get 1 free coupon. 1 ticket is $10. So you'd only owe me $5.

Warning: I will tell the ride ops to crank it to Mach 4, and I will flip the cage.. it's not worth it unless you get the most out of your ride experience.

Sweet! Sounds good to me!

[The Beast Rider]

Giga, we have got to figure out how to get a ride on Skyscraper together. I've been wanting to ride it, and I think you'd be the perfect person to ride with!

I have a reusable buy 1 get 1 free coupon. 1 ticket is $10. So you'd only owe me $5.

Warning: I will tell the ride ops to crank it to Mach 4, and I will flip the cage.. it's not worth it unless you get the most out of your ride experience.

Sweet! Sounds good to me!

I'd love to watch that! This coming from the person that had a "hissy-fit" because I turned the cage over on the Rock-O-Plane!!!

[PKIVortex]

WOW I was at The Point as well on Sunday, July 5th. And I was also told that the crowds was going to be insane, but I was glad they weren't.

[Ki Man]

Nice. Impressive. I hope that Wednesday won't be bad. I've never done a one day trip...

[markhudson17]

I wanna try skyscraper sometime while I'm up there. But no one I go with will ride and I don't really want to do it alone.