Cedar Point - Oct 20-21 - LONG

[CoastersNSich]

FRIDAY

Last weekend, I took my second and last trip to Cedar Point for 2006. I left Friday morning at 7:30, and arrived in Columbus just before 10:00 am. Our stop was at the Easton Town Center, since my friend had a meeting at a nearby hotel. I spent the next couple hours alone at this beautiful urban-style town center, went in a couple stores, like Barnes & Noble and Apple, and saw Man of the Year, starring Robin Williams at the AMC 30 theatres. Being a comedy lover, and interested in politics, I thought this film would be entertaining – it also ended up having a great story attached with it. After our “commitments†were over, my friend and I ate at the pizza place in the main Easton Station building, then headed north on I-71 towards Sandusky.

Of course, since I-71 ended in Cleveland, and not Sandusky, we took Rt. 13 through Mansfield, where we also stopped. Downtown Mansfield is home of the Richland Carrousel Park, and the indoor carrousel was running, and my friend took a spin, while I took some photos. We next went into a shop that builds wooden carrousel horses, and he got into a good talk with the shop-keeper – but not way too long. We then got moving further north, when I notice my iPod nano is locked up – and will only stay locked up. This meant that the small, compact nano would stay out of commission.* At least while I had my 40GB 4th Generation iPod, I’d have to lug this one around Cedar Point if I wanted to listen to my music.

Rt. 13 soon became Rt. 250, and we were heading towards Sandusky, though my hotel would actually be in Huron, just to the east. I would be sharing a room for the night with another friend at the Microtel, and my share would just be $25. Before heading to the pool/spa there, I tried to solve/diagnose my iPod nano’s problem with the internet, but still had no success. Not long after, we made our way towards Cedar Point via the long yet beautiful Chausee, passing some wonderful houses that ranged in size and architectural style. Eventually, we finally hit the toll booth (my friend had a parking pass), and drove around the park via the Perimeter Road. This allowed us not only to drive next to Blue Streak, WildCat, Millennium Force, or Mean Streak, but also Maverick, which the track had just been completed hours ago. Since I was riding in the passenger seat, I grabbed several photos. We parked in the Gemini lot, and made our way to the gate next to the Magnum and Soak City. Having season passes with the Joe Cool Club, we were able to skip the long line of people with day-tickets (who were staying at the on-Point resorts.

Entering the gate at 5:30, we not only noticed that Top Thrill Dragster was testing, but that the entrance had already opened, so we made our way in, and headed directly for the mini-queue for the front seat on the front half of the platform, which was only about 4 trains long. Our launch was 123 MPH, and maybe I forgot to add – it was COLD! The 420’ ascent was just heavenly, and the twisted descent was just as thrilling! As it was not yet 6 PM, we made our way quickly to Millennium Force, where its wait was only to the ramp. We rode in seat 2-1 – and while I admit it’s not my favorite coaster in the park, it’s something I still can’t miss on a CP trip. 6 PM soon arrived, and after the Force was done, it was time for the much more tame yet class mini-steel WildCat. Unlike some of the mini-steels in other parks, this Schwarzkopf still is very smooth. Being just across the midway, Iron Dragon followed, and while it’s not as fast as the (Top Gun) Arrow suspended at (Paramount’s) Kings Island, it’s longer and still a lot of fun to ride, especially through the fog over the water.

7 PM is getting closer, and I’m getting hungrier. The friends I tagged along with wanted to hit Blue Streak and Raptor, but I just couldn’t wait, so we went to Midway Market for their pizza buffet, which was only $8.95 + tax. Having Joe Cool cards, we got $1 off, making it an even better value, as we stuffed up on salad, several varieties of pizza, and desserts. An hour later, I find myself in the Coliseum bathroom – WHERE’s THE HEAT?!

After clearing up, we made our way up to Magnum XL-200 for wonderful out-and-back-and-air goodness, then went back down to hit the Blue Streak twice, including once in the front. This woodie ran extremely well!! I’m hopeful that The Racer at KI will eventually get this treatment.**

I also need to add that I’m wearing my Cardinals jacket – I’m waiting in line for cider/donut and this one person in the line in front gets snippy with me, as the Tigers from nearby Detroit, are in the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. I don’t know who’s worse – bandwagon Tigers fans at Cedar Point, or bandwagon Bengals fans at Kings Island (I like the Colts).

I let go of my frustration by walking around a bit, including past the 3-Point Challenge, just like the one that was recently installed at Kings Island. There’s no players there, just staff. Then I head over to the Raptor for a ride, since the wait is only on the stairway. I wait a couple trains, for the back seat. The Raptor at night is just tons of fun – “it’s Cedar-Fairtastic!†as the ride host says over the microphone. Looks like my friend who works at The Beast can alter that dumb Comcastic slogan he used…

11:00 pm is nearing, and we’re getting tired, yet wanting more. So, we head to the back for a few more air-filled Magnum rides. We join up with my ride from Cincinnati and his friend from Philadelphia. I ride in the back car with the Philly guy, and I think this is the best CP coaster – besides the one that’s closed on Friday night that races.

Just before park close, at midnight, we head out the Magnum gate, around the park, and back to the Microtel, with my iPod going along with the park scenery, as well as the scenery on the way back. As I don’t tend to get to sleep quickly, I tune the TV quietly for some late night shows, including Conan O’Brien. Joe Buck, who’s broadcasting the World Series on Fox, as well as a St. Louis native, is Conan’s second guest.

SATURDAY

Because the park would not open to Joe Cool/resort guests until 11:00 am, we had some time to sleep in, check the internet, shower, eat breakfast, and just relax. But soon, 10:30 was there, and we got to the Magnum gate right at 11:00. Because we didn’t ride Skyhawk last night, and it was only running on one arm, we decided to go on it twice during exclusive time. This is an excellent ride that Cedar Fair should add to more of its parks, IMO. However, since it’s not noon yet, we take the Frontier Trail to Millennium Force, where we have a wait of a half-hour or less, a good strategy. Not long after my ride, I go on Mantis, since the others in my gang don’t like it much. My wait was only around 15 minutes, and I rode in the 4th row in an inner seat. Since I won’t be visiting SFKK this fall, I’d might as well get in my B&M standup craving at CP.

Noon had already come and passed, and I decided to hit Corkscrew before its line got too slow and long. Corkscrew used to be a quick coaster fix, but now with the seatbelts (yes, seat belts on an Arrow looper!) capacity has taken a serious hit. Still, it’s running all three trains, and I get in line for the front seat. A few trains later, it’s finally time to get in, when the ride host announces “Due to guest illness, we need everyone to step back into the gates.†D’OH! I thought cleaning out vomit out of a ride took a while at Kings Island. Now, I get to wait even longer at Cedar Point – especially when it’s a coaster that goes upside down – OVER THE MIDWAY! About 15 minutes later, I’m finally able to ride, and get my combo of air and loops.

Still on my own, I go on the Magnum XL-200, and wait a few trains for the seat in 2-1. A different feel when compared to at night, but still a scenic coaster with some of the best air anywhere! I then notice the park getting busier and busier, and see Gemini already running both sides in race mode. The wait is just around 15 minutes or so, and I ride in the blue train. It’s an excellent ride, as I get a few passes by the red train. After getting off, I call my friends, who have planned eating at the Midway Market, and want to eat at 2 pm, before they raise the price by $3. So, I head into Frontiertown, and get some photos of Maverick, before boarding the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad. Good for me, is that CPLE is running both trains today. I don’t have too much to walk from the Main Midway/Wildcat station, as the Sky Ride is running with not much of a line. Sky Ride, as there aren’t many of these left in parks, is also a must-do for me at Cedar Point.

As I get off at the eastern Sky Ride station, my friends are already waiting for me, and we promptly pay for our meal, and get seated. Good timing, as not only does the price go up when we’re in there, the line just multiplies! With a full buffet, I decided to literally have a Gravy Buffet, as a pour chicken gravy over all of my food on my first trip. Sure, some people were looking at me, but I was giggling like a school girl – I just didn’t care! What better place to have a gravy buffet than Cedar Point?!

About an hour later, my friends and I concede the fact that Cedar Point is simply put – packed and stacked! Again, I split off, and do a few of my things – take some photos, go on the Space Spiral, and then head back to Frontiertown on the CP&LE. On this trip, I get some more, up-close Maverick photos. While Maverick isn’t very tall, it’s very twisted, and it looks insane and exciting! When I’m in Frontiertown, I concede that the lines for Mean Streak and the Mine Ride are pretty long.

So, I decided to hang around Gemini – it’s got a full queue, and the line is out onto the midway. However, since Gemini’s got great capacity, I decided to do it. And since I’ve got a couple hours, and I love Gemini so much, I decided to do it FOUR times! With my regular iPod handy, two hours of great entertainment are ahead. Yes, there’s lots of Tigers fans in the line, but a few Cardinals backers, and lots of Michigan Wolverines fans too, and I still feel pretty good. It sure beats any supermarket or DMV line! But waiting for an excellent ride with air-time, an enthusiastic crew, pumped up guests, intense finale helices, and that beautiful 70s-modern station – there’s few better places to be!

Because Cedar Point was so packed and busy, and we had a four-plus hour drive ahead of us, my good friend and I decided to head out just before 6:30. This also meant the chance to see the World Series on the big-screen between Wildcat and Iron Dragon, but I got to listen to it on the radio on the way back. I wouldn’t get to see any of it live, but the runs that the Cardinals were scoring sure made the drive home feel better.

While there will be some things to look forward to over the winter, such as sports, and the possible make-over of Kings Island, the chance to go back to Cedar Point, and ride Maverick for the first time will be high on the list. Still, I won’t forget the six fun days I spent this year at America’s Roller Coast!

*I did get my iPod nano “repaired†on Monday, so that debacle is over.

** The Gemini crew will hopefully become inspiration to the 2007 Racer crew. Remember, there’s a reason why there’s two coasters side-by side!

[Gordon Bombay]

Great TR tom, I'm glad to see your nano is back in proper operating fashion. I went to CP for the first time this year with UncleHenry and fell in love with the place, its rides atleast, I didnt care for its guest relations employees. Its quite an excellent park.

[UncleHenry]

Great TR tom, I'm glad to see your nano is back in proper operating fashion. I went to CP for the first time this year with UncleHenry and fell in love with the place, its rides atleast, I didnt care for its guest relations employees. Its quite an excellent park.

The trip was awesome indeed. Front seat on Dragster... fantastic!

[PhantomTheater]

The CPLE always runs 2 train on the weekends. Gemini remebers its a racing coaster, unlike The Racer. One thing that I think helps Gemini out is that it has one undivided platform unlike The Racer.

[MrPKI]

Nice TR. I was at CP on Saturday as well for Coasterbuzz's Boobuzz event. And I have to agree it was super crowded! I only tried one major (as in it had a long line) coaster after 2 pm and that was Raptor. But we did have some pretty awesome morning ERT on MF and TTD. I finally got to ride that thing! But I still think MF is better.

[CoastersNSich]

I would have gone to BooBuzz myself, had I renewed my membership in enough time. I bummed because of the missed ERT, as well as the fact that TTD had a rollback during ERT! I still had a memorable time there, though. And there's nothing like having a real gravy buffet in an amusement park!