Cedar Point 2010 Changes

[Hank]

I've said it before...people in this country are getting bigger. If the parks want to attract and keep customers, they're gonna have to do something about the seating arrangements, and this includes CP & KI. If safety is the problem, tell everyone ahead of time and they won't bother coming. If it gets to be too big of a problem for the parks, arrangements with the ride manufacturers will need to be made for design of products with the capability of accommodating larger riders. Until then, I will not be visiting parks as it is a waste of money for me - and for god's sake, please don't tell me how to diet or any other crap like that - I am simply too tall in the torso to fit on most rides (and I KNOW I am not the only one with this "problem") Furthermore, just because a person is overweight or has big boobs shouldn't prevent them from enjoying an amusement ride. I don't give a darn what excuse is used to prevent said people from riding - when the MAJORITY of the country gets larger, I guess that reason will be used to explain why a park has to close.

[gigacoaster2k]

I, for one, think the new pizza served elsewhere in the park is simply dreadful. Perhaps the worst theme park pizza I have ever had, bar none.

Agreed. The pizza at Burger Patio by Raptor was like they glued a photo of a pizza onto a piece of cardboard and then cut it into pizza-shaped slices. The mini corn dogs from there are great, though.

As far as the whole big people thing, I can understand if someone is large in certain areas of the body and can't help it.

But if you're too large to fit on the coasters, refuse to diet and exercise, and then get angry at the park when you can't fit.. ?

I have met people from other forums that exercised all winter and dropped a significant amount of weight just so they could ride their favorite rides again. One member titled his post "CP is weight loss motivation." He lost over 60 pounds and was thrilled that he was not only able to ride everything at CP the next year, he was healthier as a result.

I have a small figure, but I run/do situps/lift heavy things/etc to stay in shape, and watch the amount of fast food I consume. People think it's so easy being skinny.. you have no idea what it takes to keep it that way.. one week of eating fast food every day will cause the scale's numbers to go up much farther than I expected.

[PhantomTheater]

The question is not 2010 changes, but 2011 changes. Demon Drop is gone and Chaos is being removed.... This could be HUGE!

Do you have an backing to this Chaos theory (go for it terpy)or just a comment on how the cars were not on in time for opening day.

[The Interpreter]

I will not be making any comments about entropy or random disorder.

I will note, however, that the motivation behind my significant change in overall body mass had NOTHING to do with coasters, though I was denied entry to Six Flags Over Georgia's Superman (on media day on the first train while on CNN, no less) and V2 at Six Flags Great America. The day was coming when I would have no longer fit Beast or Racer.

To this day, I am stunned when I sit in a coaster car. Especially Firehawk. Remembering the days I barely managed two clicks on X Flight at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure, on my first trip to KI this year, I managed SIX.

That all being said, parks DO need to take into account their customers, and rides should accommodate far more patrons than they do. The maximum height restrictions on some adult rides (like Flying Ace and Drop Tower), in particular, are, to my mind, simply inexcusable.

[Coney Islander]

^

Hear! Hear!

There's a good chance that I'll be too tall to ride the stuff with over the shoulder restraints. For most rides you can slouch a ton in order to fit, but it really takes away from the ride experience... And Vortex hurts like heck if you're 6' 9'' and still manage to fit.

My father has this problem with height. My grandfather and uncle are even taller. I'm going to have to ride all the rides I can ride before I turn 18.

[CedarPointer]

Not only were the belts shortened on Millennium Force, they were also shortened on Top Thrill Dragster. I'm 6 feet 3 inches tall and weigh 160 pounds, so I'm not what most people would consider a big person. When I got on Dragster I had my hoodie tied around my waist. I had a tough time getting the seat belt to click when it was over my hoodie. That should tell you how short the belts are this season. I repositioned the belt around my waist and didn't have a problem, but I can only imagine how tight of a fit Dragster and Millie will be for some people this season.

I REALLY hope this was some sort of mistake... :/ I mean really, what was wrong with them before?

[The Interpreter]

Why would you think it is some sort of mistake? Over the years, the length of the seat belts on these particular rides has been changed several times. Each time, to my memory, they have become shorter. As I lost weight over the years, for many years, I BARELY fit Dragster and Millennium Force. So far, I've stayed ahead of the great seat belt shortening...

[windshawne]

I've said it before...people in this country are getting bigger. If the parks want to attract and keep customers, they're gonna have to do something about the seating arrangements, and this includes CP & KI. If safety is the problem, tell everyone ahead of time and they won't bother coming. If it gets to be too big of a problem for the parks, arrangements with the ride manufacturers will need to be made for design of products with the capability of accommodating larger riders. Until then, I will not be visiting parks as it is a waste of money for me - and for god's sake, please don't tell me how to diet or any other crap like that - I am simply too tall in the torso to fit on most rides (and I KNOW I am not the only one with this "problem") Furthermore, just because a person is overweight or has big boobs shouldn't prevent them from enjoying an amusement ride. I don't give a darn what excuse is used to prevent said people from riding - when the MAJORITY of the country gets larger, I guess that reason will be used to explain why a park has to close.

I agree completely. Everyone knows how short I am and I am the same height as my father. (Well, now with aging he may be an inch taller than me) Point being, people are getting wider, but they are also getting taller. There are more nutrients in food, and its more widely available than when I was young. My father survived on beans and cornbread six days a week, which probably has a lot to do with his short stature. No matter what you do, some folks will not lose the weight, period-thyroid, genetics or lack of exercise. Even now all you can get are desk jobs for a decent wage, and that contributes to weight. Remember the days when Beast had no seat dividers? Personally, I think they need to go. It serves absolutely no good purpose. I often wonder what one of my coworkers does-at 6"10", I wonder if he fits on rides at all. I could just imagine the hell of leg room on Vortex and such.

I am tired of the weight loss discussion too. Perhaps people should look at the chemicals and preservatives in food that is contributing to the inability to lose. Exercise builds muscle, it doesn't always help with weight loss. Plus a 20 something is going to lose it quicker than a 40 something like myself-I have to do double what a 20 something does for any progress.

[ChazyG]

While i have never had to take the "Walk of Shame" I have come close with 2 employees pushing down on lap bars for me. While on vacation last year in Williamsburg i found it nice that on alpengeist and i think Griffen there were "Special" restraints near the middle of the trains for guests of larger sizes. while i did fit in the regular seats with some help I was able to fit in the "special" seats under my own locking power. It was kinda nice really!

I hope the same is tru when i visit Busch Gardens Tampa in about a month! Luckily I have dropped about 30 lbs since last year so I shouldn't have any problems this year.

would be nice if more parks would get the "Special" restraints/Seats

[windshawne]

Since I'm on a roll today, I may as well go a little further . Look at pics of people from the early 1900's to now. They were shorter and lighter than today. Marilyn Monroe, for example, was a size 12 but everyone in the business talks about how attractive she was and all. Today's models are expected to be size 4 and near death to be attractive. The clothing industry has not modified their template to fit people of today's size. I buy xlg shirts (not plus) and a lot of times they are too small. Go figure.

I refuse to feel bad for what size I am, so tough. I do think trains and such need to be modified to today's population.

[StalkerChick]

And after sitting on the brake run for Maverick for nearly 30 minutes, the ride ops wordlessly got us out...and sent us on our way...just as wordlessly. Not once during our wait was any explanation offered...nor did anyone even come out on the run to say what was going on.

Customer service.

Something Cedar Fair used to excel at, pre-2006...

Now see, I sat on maverick's brake run for at least 20 minutes if not longer, idk the time flew by. and no sooner had we "parked" there and the train behind us, there was a ride op running to the spiral staircase and one walking out to us. They didn't tell us more than "theres a mechanical issue and maintenance has been called" but they were there and 5 or so minutes later they were back out again just to say they were on their way. Not much of an update, but at least they were doing something. And Andrew our ride op was hilarious and joking with us for the few minutes he was out there. It was nice that they just talked to us rather than at TTD later that night when it was over a half hour and they said NOTHING!!! not one word to us. And I know later at Maverick, Tracy had a rollback, and before they even parked back to launch position a ride op was under the track talking to them letting them know what was up, and everyone was safe, and what was going on. I loved it!

I had a rollback on dragster around 7 pm and loved it but I thought the girl next to me was going to need medical attention. I LOVED IT.

I hate you I was totally on the ride platform during that time were you the 1st or 2nd train in a row that had the rollback

What are the four corner stones that Cedar Fair wants to instill in its employees? Isn`t customer service one of them? It sure sounds like it is not a top priority.

http://web.archive.o...its.cfm?et_id=1

It is important that Kings Island hires employees with specific character traits that mirror our operating philosophy of the four cornerstones of Safety, Courtesy, Service and Cleanliness, all bound by INTEGRITY.

The kind of integrity that would sell out unit holders for $11.50 per unit while collecting multi-millions for oneself? Or the kind of integrity that cuts out benefit after benefit for lower paid employees while enhancing one's own golden parachute? Or the type of integrity that claims food prices went up by a nickel or so, when reality was more like 7 percent or more? Or the type of integrity that, with a straight face, claims the best qualified candidate to be the general manager of Carowinds is the CEO's son?

Is that what we are talking about? I, for one, think those are darn good Q's.

*STANDS UP AND APPLAUDS* have i told you i <3 you lately *giggles*

^

Hear! Hear!

There's a good chance that I'll be too tall to ride the stuff with over the shoulder restraints. For most rides you can slouch a ton in order to fit, but it really takes away from the ride experience... And Vortex hurts like heck if you're 6' 9'' and still manage to fit.

My father has this problem with height. My grandfather and uncle are even taller. I'm going to have to ride all the rides I can ride before I turn 18.

I'm all of 5' 7" maybe 8" on a good day depending on the shoes, and Corkscrew hurt the he** out of my shoulders and back. i was slouched down basically sittin on my tailbone. My boyfriends 6' 6" and has to ride a few of the rides by himself so he can turn his legs to fit in or try to slouch. He has to do the walk of shame on the mine ride for crying out loud, because of his stature, not his weight. Even Magnum was a hard fit not in a front seat. The whole seatbelt issue is just stupid. They've obviously worked just fine before, with no one dying b/c of a seatbelt. so theres no excuse why in the heck they would have to shorten them. When an average sized woman who has hips like 75% of other ppl has a slight issue with them, good lord...

oh and don't ride red train if you have issues. most of them are the shorter ones.

[sheikra_rocks]

While i have never had to take the "Walk of Shame" I have come close with 2 employees pushing down on lap bars for me. While on vacation last year in Williamsburg i found it nice that on alpengeist and i think Griffen there were "Special" restraints near the middle of the trains for guests of larger sizes. while i did fit in the regular seats with some help I was able to fit in the "special" seats under my own locking power. It was kinda nice really!

I hope the same is tru when i visit Busch Gardens Tampa in about a month! Luckily I have dropped about 30 lbs since last year so I shouldn't have any problems this year.

would be nice if more parks would get the "Special" restraints/Seats

I would be the one you should ask about this.... My former home park is BGT. YES! They do have the "BIG BOY" seats on all three B&M's. Kumba and Montu is rows 3 and 5. SheiKra is on Every row toward the center I believe.

Same with Hulk and Dragons Formerly Known as Dueling at IOA, even Kraken at Sea World.

What I don't understand though, is why B&M have started making their seats smaller.... example: Apollo's Chariot seats vs. Diamondback. Apollo's seats are huge compared to Diamondback.

[AgentSoB]

My rollback that Rachel was talking about was quite odd... It was weird hearing a voice... it was like magical we couldn't figure out where it was coming from until the ride op said she was underneath us. The launch the second time is quite nice because it's out of no where. She stayed there until we were relaunched and even counted down for us. I was pleased with the situation.

As far as B&M seats go it seems to me they are even going the way of Intamin. They just keep getting smaller.

[HTCO]

I've said it before...people in this country are getting bigger. If the parks want to attract and keep customers, they're gonna have to do something about the seating arrangements, and this includes CP & KI. If safety is the problem, tell everyone ahead of time and they won't bother coming. If it gets to be too big of a problem for the parks, arrangements with the ride manufacturers will need to be made for design of products with the capability of accommodating larger riders. Until then, I will not be visiting parks as it is a waste of money for me - and for god's sake, please don't tell me how to diet or any other crap like that - I am simply too tall in the torso to fit on most rides (and I KNOW I am not the only one with this "problem") Furthermore, just because a person is overweight or has big boobs shouldn't prevent them from enjoying an amusement ride. I don't give a darn what excuse is used to prevent said people from riding - when the MAJORITY of the country gets larger, I guess that reason will be used to explain why a park has to close.

Not to sound like a D-Bag. But if roller coaster company's start doing this, it might seem like there telling people its ok to be overweight...

Why do I feel like I'm going to be totally attacked for saying that? Oh well. Just an opinion.

[Guest Millennium]

I hope I'm not alone on this..but when you have to take a "walk of shame" off a roller coaster ( because of weight of course) I think it's time you notice you should hit a treadmill. I personally think it is ridiculous to see that some of you think we need to make seats bigger so "the average american" can ride. For people who are obese, it should motivate them to lose weight. I'm tired of people complaining about seat size when we all can change our diet..

Sorry if that sounded overly rude.

[Guest Millennium]

I think it's good seats are getting smaller even though I doubt that is true, because we should not be promoting obesity in our country.

[Diamondback96]

I think it's good seats are getting smaller even though I doubt that is true, because we should not be promoting obesity in our country.

The only problem is that many OTSRs are too small for people above a certain height, so those people end up having to take the "Walk of Shame" too.

And some people just can't help their obesity, you know.

[Guest Millennium]

I think it's good seats are getting smaller even though I doubt that is true, because we should not be promoting obesity in our country.

The only problem is that many OTSRs are too small for people above a certain height, so those people end up having to take the "Walk of Shame" too.

And some people just can't help their obesity, you know.

I'm talking about weight...and are you telling me that if they exercise every day and eat healthier..they will stay obese? I don't think that's right.

[TombRaiderFTW]

^ To be fair, I think you have to consider diseases such as diabetes, where certain nutrition is required to stay healthy. Said nutrition, combined with the disease, does not exactly make it as easy as "hitting the treadmill"...

-The nephew of an aunt with diabetes, just saying.

[vortexfan]

I think it's very interesting to hear that Cedar Point has yet again shortened the belts, because I can't help but wonder how many Cedar Fair higher-ups can't even fit on their own rides.

[Beast1979]

There is a small percentage of people who can't help it, like TombRaider said with Diabetes. But I don't see why manufacturers should change for the ones who can help it. And by the way, what's up with Cedar Point SHORTENING seatbelts? That's the opposite of helping.....

[sheikra_rocks]

You have to remember, working out my increase body weight as well. Muscle weighs more than fat.

When I was in Florida from February to April this year, I swam a lot. I even ate healthy, and took a diet pill to help burn fat. I noticed that while I lost an inch on my waist, I gained 10 lbs.

I think it is ok to have a few seats that larger people can fit in, much like B&M seats.

It is discrimination, pain and simple.

Rosa Parks didn't get out of her seat, and neither will I!

[Guest Millennium]

You have to remember, working out my increase body weight as well. Muscle weighs more than fat.

When I was in Florida from February to April this year, I swam a lot. I even ate healthy, and took a diet pill to help burn fat. I noticed that while I lost an inch on my waist, I gained 10 lbs.

I think it is ok to have a few seats that larger people can fit in, much like B&M seats.

It is discrimination, pain and simple.

Rosa Parks didn't get out of her seat, and neither will I!

Except Rosa Parks didn't have control of what she did, and you do! That is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard. Comparing what African Americans went through to having too big of a stomach to fit on a roller coaster.

And you just corrected yourself..you said you lost an inch on your waist...yet you want bigger seats?? If you lost an inch on your waist it would be EASIER to get in a seat. Not discrimination. At all.

[CedarPointer]

I think it's good seats are getting smaller even though I doubt that is true, because we should not be promoting obesity in our country.

Because it's a freaking AMUSEMENT PARK, not a health class! What's next, are you going to whine that the park serves *gasp* SODA instead of just water?

[windshawne]

You have to remember, working out my increase body weight as well. Muscle weighs more than fat.

When I was in Florida from February to April this year, I swam a lot. I even ate healthy, and took a diet pill to help burn fat. I noticed that while I lost an inch on my waist, I gained 10 lbs.

I think it is ok to have a few seats that larger people can fit in, much like B&M seats.

It is discrimination, pain and simple.

Rosa Parks didn't get out of her seat, and neither will I!

Except Rosa Parks didn't have control of what she did, and you do! That is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard. Comparing what African Americans went through to having too big of a stomach to fit on a roller coaster.

And you just corrected yourself..you said you lost an inch on your waist...yet you want bigger seats?? If you lost an inch on your waist it would be EASIER to get in a seat. Not discrimination. At all.

This is out of hand. Here is a pic of an average size person approx. 1910. This was taken by my ancestor in Alaska.

Take note-the dogs have not grown taller, but people have. This man is probably as tall as I am, approx. 5'2".

This is partial proof people are bigger now than 100 years ago, and manufacturers have not kept up with the changes.

[Guest Millennium]

Yeah, cuz you have no control of your weight. Organic places like Whole Foods, fast food places that promote health like Panera Bread don't exist. And we all are forced to eat at Taco Bell and McDonalds every meal. Outrageous.

We have control over what we eat, and the fact that you all are saying that man "changed" from 100 years ago is laughable. Unless you have a disease, cut the crap and start eating healthier...I'm sorry just a bit annoyed at all this. Comparing obesity to evolution and racism...wow.

Moving on, I really wish CP would have good customer service. Other than the MF crew! Luv yall!

[Guest Millennium]

I think it's good seats are getting smaller even though I doubt that is true, because we should not be promoting obesity in our country.

Because it's a freaking AMUSEMENT PARK, not a health class! What's next, are you going to whine that the park serves *gasp* SODA instead of just water?

Um, no. I'm responding to the people here saying they need to widen their seats. Not a health class, but when you can't fit in a seat because of your stomach, it's time to take note you're getting hefty..

[coaster_junky]

^you only keep referring to obesity, there are other things that cause people to take the "walk of shame" one of them is height.

eating certain foods are not going to make a person's bones shrink, this isn't wonderland.

[Guest Millennium]

So height has to do with how wide you are?

[coaster_junky]

no, height has to do with the ability, or inability, to close an over the shoulder harness/lap bar, due to high shoulders, or long legs.

both can cause riders to have to take "the walk of shame" and it's a reason that ride manufacturers should take into consideration when creating new train designs, not because riders are obese.