1st Cedar Point Trip

[bscott400800]

Recently just got back from my first trip to Cedar Point. I've had a Kings Island season pass for 2 years and was glad to finally go to Sandusky for my past due trip to Cedar Point. I went with my 2 brothers (one of them TheKidd33), TheKidd's girlfriend and one more of my friends.

The weather was always an issue beginning with the car ride there. We knew it was supposed to rain/storm and Mother Nature didn't disappoint. We drove through some of the heaviest rain I've ever driven through, making me have to slow down on the highways. This significantly added to our drive time. From Indianapolis, a normally 4 hr and 20 min drive was lengthened to a little over 5 hours with one stop.

We finally got to the park and checked into our room at Hotel Breakers. The hotel seemed pretty nice...our room was on the 9th floor in the newer part and it was a fine room...good views of Dragster from the window. We were surprised to see how many seagull nests were loaded on the roofs of all the buildings around us! We counted nine just on the top of our hotel alone. (They gave my car a nice poop-shower too...)

After quickly dropping off our stuff and getting settled, we met the girls and headed straight for the park. The rain had backed off and skies looked relatively clear so we knew we'd have an hour or so to ride. Because my friend was getting re-acquainted to coasters, we started small and went to Cedar Creek Mine Ride. It felt good to finally be on a CP coaster and CCMR wasn't terrible. I wasn't expecting much and was mostly just wanting to compare it to Ad.Express. The water, and a couple decent drops landed it at #36 in my rankings, one notch above Ad. Express.

Next we headed to Mean Streak. Last year my brothers took a trip with their GFs and reported that Mean Streak was incredible jerky and not enjoyable....(I've always found I have a higher tolerance for jerky rides than them, so I entered with an open mind). Mean Streak was pretty good too...I really didn't notice jerkiness at all aside from the normal Woodie jerks and found it to be a nice ride. The first drop was a little disappointing because they breaked us almost as we were going down, so it took away from some speed, but overall was a nice ride. It came in at #21 in my rankings (one behind Cornball Express at Indiana Beach, and just ahead of Gemini at CP).

Finally, we headed to Millennium Force to check the line length. We knew rain was headed our way and wanted to get in a big one before weather shut rides down. We got in line and waited probably 15-20 minutes, then boarded our train. I was in the middle, slightly more towards the back. Force was about what I expected...fast...tall...and fun. I'm a hardcore Diamondbacker and was glad to see that D-Back had many thrills that Force couldn't touch...most importantly airtime. I don't know if it's the car design or track layout, but I didn't get much airtime at all on Force. That being said, it was a great ride and that first drop was definitely something special. M Force came in at #5 in my rankings just behind Rock n Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios in Florida.

After Force, we went to get in line for Mantis. None of us had ever done a Stand-Upper and wanted to experience it...however...we didn't. A storm rolled in and they evacuated our line. Storm clouds certainly looked menacing...they were about as black as the blacktop there and were rolling in FAST. We jogged through the panicking people back to our hotel before the storm hit and ate dinner at TGI Friday's in our hotel. Not a huge Friday's fan and our waitress sucked. Also, just as we were tabulating our tips, the massive amount of rain starting leaking through the roof right down on our table! It was kind of a bizarre dinner experience, but fun nonetheless.

The next morning we woke up to and got in line to enter the park at 9:00 with the other hotel guests and gold-passers. According to a sign, M-Force, Maverick, Iron Dragon, and Raptor were supposed to be open at 9:00. Hearing rave reviews for Maverick, we headed there first only to find it closed. Then we went over to Force again...closed at well (they were still testing...it opened up shortly after.) Starting to get a little frustrated, we walked on to Iron Dragon and were able to ride back to back times because there wasn't any line. ID definitely is no Flight Deck, but was an enjoyable ride through the scenery. I put it at 35 in my rankings, just behind Invertigo.

Raptor was next. We had a station wait and got on towards the middle. I really liked Raptor a lot. I haven't ridden many legit inverts and Raptor was very fun. The twists were unexpected and the loops were fun. I ranked it at #9 just behind The Beast.

After Raptor, we headed towards Dragster so we could have a decently short wait as it opened at 10:00. We waited probably 20 minutes for Dragster and were seated towards the middle of the train again. (The girls didn't want to ride this, so it was just us three guys). This was the only one that I was somewhat nervous for (which honestly came as a relief for me....I was starting to think no rides could intimidate me anymore...lol). Dragster however was AWESOME. It truly lived up to it's name....TOP THRILL Dragster. The launch was incredible. The climb--awesome. And the decent--indescribable. It was a thrill that I'd never experienced before. Even though it was the most thrilling, adrenaline-inducing ride I've ever ridden, I notched it at #3 in the rankings....I couldn't bring myself to put a 17 second ride at #1.

Magnum XL-200 was next. We had a station wait for that and I was seated in the front row. I don't know if it was because I had just gotten off of Dragster, but Magnum kind of disappointed me. I think being seated in the front took away from some airtime on the bunny hills on the way back.

After Magnum we knocked out some of the littler ones...Gemini came in at 22 just ahead of Racer. Corkscrew at 38 behind Ad. Express. Wildcat at 41 behind T'ger at Indiana Beach. Finally got on Mantis as well which I put at 28, just ahead of Wolverine Wildcat at Michigan's Adventure.

At this point, TheKidd's gf was feeling pretty sick and they took off for home. The three of us left however got some good rides in. We did Force and Raptor again. Hopped on Blue Streak which was surprisingly fun (#31 just behind Wicked Twister). Twister was pretty intense as well and came in a #30. Disaster Transport was enjoyable and was notched at #27 behind Flight Deck. I really like the dark indoor rides a lot.

Finally, it was about 3:00 by now and we were starting to get pretty tired. Knowing we had a long drive back home to Indy, we decided to check if Maverick had opened up yet, then leave. Maverick, which hadn't been open in two whole days was testing empty cars when we walked up. A pretty sizeable line had formed outside the queue area and we decided to gamble and get in line, hoping it would open soon. We waited about 25 minutes before they opened up the queue and opened the ride. Just when we were celebrating our decision to wait it out...the ride op came over the PA and said they were having more mechanical problems and didn't know how long it would be before they fixed it. We again, vowed to wait it out as we were almost to the station anyway. We waited about 15 more minutes before it was fixed and finally got on Maverick. Maverick was incredible. The first drop was awesome, the turns were unpredictable and the twists were great as well. The re-launch was awesome too. I landed Maverick at #2 in my rankings only behind Diamondback.

Overall it was a very fun trip! With the Platinum Pass, and splitting the cost of the hotel rooms 5 ways, it was also relatively cheap for a 2 day trip from Indy. Although KI will always be my #1 park, Cedar Point was a great experience and I'll surely be returning next summer.

[KI FANATIC 37]

It sounds like you had fun! I love Cedar Point. Sorry to hear about the rain, but glad you had fun!

[PhantomTheater]

We were surprised to see how many seagull nests were loaded on the roofs of all the buildings around us! We counted nine just on the top of our hotel alone. (They gave my car a nice poop-shower too...)

Ride Sky Ride and take a look at the Coliseum and Raptor, there is a lot of white there for things that are not.

Next we headed to Mean Streak. Last year my brothers took a trip with their GFs and reported that Mean Streak was incredible jerky and not enjoyable....(I've always found I have a higher tolerance for jerky rides than them, so I entered with an open mind). Mean Streak was pretty good too...I really didn't notice jerkiness at all aside from the normal Woodie jerks and found it to be a nice ride. The first drop was a little disappointing because they breaked us almost as we were going down, so it took away from some speed, but overall was a nice ride. It came in at #21 in my rankings (one behind Cornball Express at Indiana Beach, and just ahead of Gemini at CP).

Although some people think Mean Streak may have broken them, they get off in one piece. However The first drop does brake you. (PT contacting his inner Terpy).

Also MS had major track work over the off season making it a lot smoother this season.

After Force, we went to get in line for Mantis. None of us had ever done a Stand-Upper and wanted to experience it...however...we didn't. A storm rolled in and they evacuated our line. Storm clouds certainly looked menacing...they were about as black as the blacktop there and were rolling in FAST. We jogged through the panicking people back to our hotel before the storm hit and ate dinner at TGI Friday's in our hotel. Not a huge Friday's fan and our waitress sucked. Also, just as we were tabulating our tips, the massive amount of rain starting leaking through the roof right down on our table! It was kind of a bizarre dinner experience, but fun nonetheless.

At CP, Storms like that are common.

Magnum XL-200 was next. We had a station wait for that and I was seated in the front row. I don't know if it was because I had just gotten off of Dragster, but Magnum kind of disappointed me. I think being seated in the front took away from some airtime on the bunny hills on the way back.

Sit in 1-3, or car 6 for an excellent Maggie experience.

At this point, TheKidd's gf was feeling pretty sick and they took off for home. The three of us left however got some good rides in. We did Force and Raptor again. Hopped on Blue Streak which was surprisingly fun (#31 just behind Wicked Twister). Twister was pretty intense as well and came in a #30. Disaster Transport was enjoyable and was notched at #27 behind Flight Deck. I really like the dark indoor rides a lot.

You are now DISpatch mASTER TRANSPORT's #1 fan.