Cedar Point Tuesday, 6/25/13 PTR and Put-in-Bay

[Fire-Beast-OF FEAR]

To put this out of the way, in the five-plus years I've been on the site I have never posted a PTR. So I might as well start with a big one. This will basically be in two parts. The PTR, a ride by ride analysis. I apologize in advance if I sound dumb but It's only my second time at the Point and the first was in 2009.

Part I. Photo Trip Report

The group consisted of Me(F-B-OF), My friend better known as Chewie, My sister Maggy, her friend Ella, and a few others including my Mummy. We started our day off by taking the Miller Ferry from South Bass Island to Catawba Island.

From there we drove from Catawba port to the entrance of Cedar Point and by the time we got out and entered the park it was 10:45.

The entrance was bigger than expected and so was GK. I was ready. The group unanimously decided to go to TTD first.

Being a smart enthusiast I convinced the group not to go to Raptor or Gatekeeper first but taking a shot or two didn't hurt.

After waiting a surprisingly short wait of 15 minutes for TTD we got in our seat but it turned out that Chewie was unable to ride but mainly due to a ride-op that just sat and watched him struggle. But more on that fiasco later. The ride was awesome but was not as fun without him. Exiting we headed over to Millennium Force.

In a 20 minute wait we entered a walk on station to a safe 6-2. Last time I rode MF I was slightly disappointed and I was curious to see if it was better now than was in 2009. Also I was concerned that Chewie might not fit into the the very similar to TTD Intamin trains. I was wrong on both. It topped my Coaster list as we entered that brake run and thanks to the awesome MF crew(that I will discuss below) Chewie could also enjoy this awesome coaster too.

Chewie approves of MF.

After a nice shady walk with an awesome view of Millennium Force through the Frontier trail we had a good lunch at Chuck Wagon. Maverick was a 45 minute wait so we went to Mean Streak.

After a walk-on MS was as mediocre and rough as usual. To me that's a shame, both the ride and structure where beautiful and a fast paced, friendly crew on top of that. Gemini here we go!

Our collective reaction to MS.

Gemini with both sides working was a walk on. And after every time I ride It it delivers plenty of air and fun. And like The Racer Blue is the best! Magnum was next!

A nice station wait for the second to last seat on the train. Being an expert of Arrow three bench trains(not) I figured It would be the seat with the most airtime but not on an axial similar to The Racer. The Ride was awesome but still had that Arrow mine train style roughness where the restraint hurt.

The group reformed and after a quick water break Gatekeeper was next.

After 10 minutes of waiting a large thunderstorm rolled in and we took refuge in the new Coke freestyle cafe' and moved into the coliseum arcade when it let up a little. After a few rounds of Skeeball Kiddy kingdom started to open up and we rode to Kiddy Kingdom Carousel. To our dismay we got on the only horses that didn't move and moped our way to Cedar Downs and had an Interesting ride on turnpike cars. Then a ride on Raptor.

A 20 minute wait preceded the ride which was pretty good but gave Chewie a stomach ache. As the flies started to drop around 5 we tried GK again but a 45 minute wait awaited us so Wicked Twister was next.

At a surprisingly short 10 minute wait and a fast high capacity crew the ride was equally surprising and wild riding in the back seat facing the ground 206 feet in the air.

It was 5:30 and we were almost done with the humidity so one last time on TTD with my mom and a sky ride trip completed the day.

Group Pic! All and all an awesome day but without riding a few rides such as Maverick, Mantis, and especially Gatekeeper along with smaller rides and attractions plus the rain and brutal humidity it did make a slight dent. Even that wasn't so bad because I got a solo visit coming this Friday and Saturday.

So here are some Miscellaneous shots and some area PIB attractions.

Hi there Sponge Bob!

Part II. Ride By Ride analysis.

Top Thrill Dragster- To get this out of the way. TTD over KK all the way, now that's done what surprises you when you get to the ride is the amount of theming put into the ride. The best part is the quickness of the launch and just how fast you go compared to other rides. Also the ride up is something else too that is often left unmentioned. the view ain't bad too. Despite the ride being awesome the crew was pretty disappointing. The separator lets way too many people into the station at a time so it is often crowded, claustrophobic, and hard to line up your group to get on the same train. also as explained in the PTR the ride-op on the back unload just watched Chewie struggle where if he helped he could easily fit onto the ride.-8.75/10

Millennium Force- In recent years this ride has been criticized for being tamer than its 1 and 2 spot rival Bizarro. Part of this is probably due to the park also under criticism for being overly coaster oriented so looking at its flagship coaster in the same manor is also apart of the criticism. Another part is also Bizarro pulls off a better POV compared to MF. If you look at a Bizarro POV and have never ridden either you will see better airtime and forces compared to a mostly conservative MF layout. Also a mentality that if the Force tops the AT 50, A list that is highly disregarded, the Force is not legitimately the best. As said before I was also disappointed in the ride at first but I rode it late in the season when it was cold so it was most likely much slower than a warm day in late June. On top of the best first drop ever I got ejector airtime on all four hills and heavy g-forces on all turnarounds and the pullouts. Also to compliment this awesome ride an awesome crew was there to treat working at the most iconic coaster in the world with seriousness. the greeter was there smiling, being attentive to the test seat, Fast Lane, and the wait time sign. And both separators were trying as hard as they could to keep the station from crowding without resorting to seat assignments. Also as an operational foot note I like how CP has their dual start from the back and go to the front and then press the button to see all of the station as apposed to none at KI. And unlike TTD's crew this crew was willing to help Chewie get into the seat without resorting to stapling. The crew was super efficient and never saw a single stacked train or just stood in line for very long. Although there have been coasters built after this one and many great one too. This is the coaster to end all coasters.- 9.75/10

Mean Streak- I like most everything about this ride but the ride. The Station, queue, logo, setting, view, and structure are the most beautiful in the park. The crew was awesome and the trains and layout aren't bad. If the trims would let it go fast airtime could happen and you get some good G's even in its current state. I feel that with the new CEO in charge a RMC topper track renovation will grace this ride before a new coaster or that dark ride and new observation tower that's on our CP wishlist. If MS was a good ride CP would have that modern wooden coaster that could complete CP's coaster collection.-6.25/10 ( Everything including the ride),-8.5/10(everything but the ride),-4.25/10(just the ride)

Gemini- Before I start this one. What's with CP and sci-fi? It seems that every major coaster addition from Corkscrew through Raptor and Millennium Force except Iron Dragon and Mean Streak has a sci-fi theme in the station even on rides that aren't even closely sci-fi like Raptor. If anyone can explain this that would be awesome. This ride with it's space age theme is incredibly unique with its mine train like trains and track, wood coaster layout, and Arrow hyper like airtime is like nothing else in the park or anywhere else. It has a pretty uneventful first half other than the initial first drop but after the second turnaround airtime picks up and speed kicks in and turns into a pretty awesome and thrilling ride. What really surprised me was the largeness of the structure and the height of the turnarounds. -7.5/10

Magnum XL 200- Also one of CP's sci-fi rides and the very first hyper coaster is still one of the best. Like Mean Streak it has a beautiful structure and view from the top but unlike MS it has an awesome airtime filled layout that still can compete with the newer coasters in the park and the world. What I really enjoy about this ride is looking for things that can tell you that It's a bridge between the old coasters of the 70's and 80's to the modern coasters of the 90's and this century. It almost has a feel that it's too big for it's type with having the same trains as mine train coasters and parts and systems of rides 125 feet shorter. This is also one on its problems because the restraints hurt like crazy going over airtime hills at 70 mph.-8.5/10

Raptor- Continuing the sci-fi thing the queue winded up to the really high up station which was surprisingly shorter than most stations I have encountered. This was the first coaster I rode after the rain so I was ready for this to be awesome. The first half was standard but good and the second half was phenomenal! The helix was incredibly intense along with two tight corkscrews. But when it was all over It made my stomach upset and it shut down Chewie for the better part of the rest of the day. I would want a coaster like this in the future at KI but not in 2014.-7.5/10

Wicked Twister- I've never been on and Intamin Inverted Impulse coaster before so I was very curious on what It was like. For a one train ride it was relatively high in capacity along with a beautiful view from the queue. I grabbed a seat in the back row and experienced a feeling that I seldom feel on any coaster ever, being pulled down. It has that frightening feeling of being in a murky lake and you can't see the bottom and thinking you are going to be pulled by a monster but that monster is two 215 feet towers and a set of LIMs and the surface of the lake is facing straight to the ground higher than Magnum.-8/10

Small rides- Sadly I did get in line for Gatekeeper but did not ride. However the line gave a bad impression by lack of shade structures and no misters. Turnpike cars was Interesting to say the least. Just picture a ride that's meant for two kids or one small kid and their parent. Now picture the same ride but two sixteen year old guys, one 6'2" 135 lbs. and another 5'11" 210 lbs trying to contort their bodies to steer and press the gas. It does make me want a car-like ride at KI again. Kiddy Kingdom Carousel, Cedar Downs and Skyride were nothing to really speak of but my irrational fear of ski lifts made Skyride interesting.

By far the best amusement park I've been to but KI will always be my home park and have the best fansite!

My next CP trip will be this Friday night and Saturday morning with PP ERT. If anyone could help me with the plan of attack that would be awesome! Also I'll be attending Coastermainia in 2014 and planing a week stay in June 2015.

[CP&LERR Fan]

I like how you got some shots of the train, haven't seen any footage of the CP&LE RR this year.

[Ride On_17]

Great trip report.

CP&LERR Fan, have you seen this blog/video?: https://www.cedarpoint.com/blog-article/online-fun/Toot-toot

[CP&LERR Fan]

Great trip report.

CP&LERR Fan, have you seen this blog/video?: https://www.cedarpoint.com/blog-article/online-fun/Toot-toot

Yep and the video is on my favorites on youtube. Whish I could of been there for the event.

[Joncars05]

Great trip report. Ill have my report about my experience with coastermania coming up whenever I get some free time to write it. Its going to be long like yours because I'll have a breakdown of my experience on each ride as well.

As for a plan of attack for ERT, it depends on what you want to do.

I believe GK, Maverick, and MF are on the ERT list. If you are there for two days plan on doing GK one day and then Maverick and MF the other. When I was at CP for ERT my wife and I did MF and Maverick for one day then got atleast one if not 2 rides in on GK before the general public was let in.

[TheBEASTunchained]

Nice trip report! Lots of good pictures, Thanks for sharing!

[Fire-Beast-OF FEAR]

Great trip report. Ill have my report about my experience with coastermania coming up whenever I get some free time to write it. Its going to be long like yours because I'll have a breakdown of my experience on each ride as well.

As for a plan of attack for ERT, it depends on what you want to do.

I believe GK, Maverick, and MF are on the ERT list. If you are there for two days plan on doing GK one day and then Maverick and MF the other. When I was at CP for ERT my wife and I did MF and Maverick for one day then got atleast one if not 2 rides in on GK before the general public was let in.

Thanks for the advice! can't wait for your CM PTR.