Photo TR: Two Days at Cedar Point.

[Gordon Bombay]

So as a graduation celebration, myself and 4 friends decided to take a trip to Cedar Point. We decided to visit two days (most of us having MAXX passes, and two buying two-day tickets), stay at the Breakers Express, and take the time to really enjoy ourselves. This was my second trip to Cedar Point ever and I must say it is one place that does not fail to dissapoint. You may have read my recent trip report about how dissapointed I was in Holiday World for not living up to the hype they create, well this report is certainly not of the same nature, this recent trip to the point was worth every penny!

We started out the day at 5 in the morning loading up a borrowed 1996 mini-van with our stuff. We hit the road early and started making great time, for an 11 year old car that just had its muffler replaced and begins to shake violently around 60 m.p.h. it really did well for us. We had no problems with traffic on I-275 or around Dayton and were on time to make it to Cedar Point before the park opened when on State Route 6, no more than 15 minutes from the Cedar Point causeway, I decided to pass two slower cars ahead of me on a double yellow road. I passed the first car legally and with no trouble as I passed the second car the driver became irritated, flipped me the bird, and tried to match my speed to keep me from passing, eventually my mini-van won and I passed him going 80 m.p.h. however the angry driver was not the only one who saw my victory. Just after making the pass, an Ohio state trooper using some snazzy rolling radar passed by on the left hand side. My friends said I was screwed and I remarked: "what is he going to do? Theres 2 cars behind me, hes not going to just pull his e-brake and flip around to come get me". Well, he sure put me in my place, because he did just that, no more than a minute later an Ohio state trooper was at my driver side window handing me a ticket, not for a fun day at Cedar Point, but for speeding. This got the morning off to a bad start as I soon found out the ticket would be costing me $125, but hey, it was my fault, regardless I was not in a good mood but the day looked promising.

The morning was gorgeous and warm, we parked close, and entered an empty park and within one hour were able to grab rides on Top Thrill Dragster, Millenium Force, Gemini, and Magnum. After we walked down Magnums exit path the sun dissapeared and we heard thunder. Seeking shelter undearneath a midway tree with a few other guests we soon found we could not avoid the impending storm. I have never seen a more weird storm. It poured for 15 minutes straight with violent lightning and thunder, there was no where to stay dry, and the midways began to flood. The gift shop underneath the sky ride had a small river running through it and most of the main midway was covered in an inch of water. Once the rain ceased we retreated to my 1996 Mazda MPV to change into dry clothes and jackets. The day was not going good; a speeding ticket, bad weather, and reports of even more rain coming our way. We decided to eat Panda Express while the second wave of violent rain fell. Panda Express' food was wonderful (although pricey, a meal found in your local mall for 5 bucks (with free refills) was about 14 bucks at Cedar Point). We encountered more frustration here as we noticed there was no room to sit so we stacked our trays on trash cans. A school group of 8th graders from a local sandusky school was using the panda express as their "check in point" and the kids, who were meeting to go to the picnic grove for lunch, were all camping out in the Panda Express, this was very aggrivating since we paid for our meal there and had to eat it on top of a trash can. Eventually we just asked the kids to move as did many other paying customers. Still annoyed at the speeding ticket and weather I started feeling really sick as well. I've been suffering from a really bad ear infection for about a week now so that just made things worse. Finnaly the weather broke and we were able to start riding again and the day would turn around:

We walked away from Panda Express and to the Mantiss queue:

The lagoon that Mantis sits on had become quite full with water.

Although they were letting us fill the queue lines we noticed they were only running one train.

While one train ran, the second one sat on the transfer track, while the third was in pieces under the station. Anyone know the reason for this?

They shut down again for about 15 minutes, but this time to add a train to the ride to bring it up to two train operation. This signifigantly sped up the line. We rode Mantis which as always was intense and I loved how close we came to the water and I love the layout of this ride over the lagoon. The trim break was off and the ride was great.

We then picked up one more ride on Dragster and checked on Maverick to find it was closed. We decided to leave and check into Breakers Express and come back later, still feeling sick and frustrated from the days events, I went through my camera bag looking for some advil and came across all my Holiday World receipts from last weeks trip and threw it all out, i found a CP two day ticket and thought nothing of it so it too went in the trash.

Breakers Express was very nice and very clean. We each slept for awhile and watched some tv while the rain still came down. Still feeling sick and frustrated from the days events I woke up to find my friend Kevin (who is a very understanding individual and plays guitar with me in Combat Stupendous) looking for his two-day ticket when I realized I had thrown it out. He didn't seem mad and said he would just buy a new one, but myself feeling incredibly stupid and even more frustrated went down to the hotel desk and purchased him a new ticket for tommorow, luckily it only cost 32 bucks as opposed to front gate admission of 45.

we then went to T.G.I. Fridays for dinner which had slow service but provided excellent food. While dining the sun came out and I started to feel better about the trip. I no longer felt sick and was excited to get back into the park. As the sun started to set around 8 o clock we headed back into Cedar Point, this is when things started going right for a change and it became a truly great trip:

Raptor had a 5 minute wait, we rode in the very back. This is one amazing coaster and it really put me in a good mood. No headbanging, very intense, long, smooth, and all around very intense. One of the best coasters at Cedar Point! A truly great ride.

The picnic grove still flooded from the days rain.

Next we hit up Wicked Twister which is yet another awesome coaster at the point! While here I saw my friend and fellow KICentral member: "Reclaimer" working on the crew. We spoke for a few minutes and there was no wait for this great ride. This ride I feel is very under-rated, it may have a short cycle, but it is a darn good ride.

We passed up a 15 minute wait on Dragster hoping the signs of a low line here would reveal a small wait back at another Intamin ride in Fronteir Town...

As we came to the back on Fronteir Town this was all we were able to see of Maverick, which had just a half an hour wait! I had read many reports about this new coaster but they in no way do it justice, it needs to be experienced to be belived. Last week the Voyage at Holiday World had become my favorite coaster, and one week later it was trumped by Maverick! As you wait in the queue the awesome western music really sets the theme and mood for this ride and gets you very, very excited. After hearing the "the good, the bad, and the ugly" theme song it was our turn to board. Myself and my friend (KICentral member: erACER) were permitted to sit in the front seat of our train after asking the ride operator at the seperating position. The crew was incredibly fast and friendly, making sure every ride cheered and was pumped to ride. The intamin restraints on this ride are MUCH more accomidating than TTD or MF. Overall the ride is a 9/10 and has become my favorite rollercoaster! There is a twist and turn constantly, the theming is actually great, and the tunnel surprise although lame is a good launch. The ride is a perfect plend of MF and TTD while featuring Raptor's intense inversions. After the amazing Maverick we picked up 3 rides on skyhawk and headed back towards the front parking lot to leave. While leaving we stopped to catch the end of "Hot Summer Lights" which was actually VERY good, eventhough I've heard countless people criticize it. I found it to be much more inspiring and exciting than KI's current fireworks, particuarly the patriotic ending.

After the light show we left the park, unlike KI's parking lot, the CP lot is well marked and easy to get out of, and didn't feature a long linge of congested traffic when leaving. Picked up a maverick shot glass on the way out and we retired to our hotel for the night.

Day 2:

Woke up to find that the Continental Breakfast at the Breaker's Express is not complimentary much to our dissapointment. We checked out and headed to the park in the dreary, drizzling, over cast weather. Using your KI Maxx pass was pretty easy, we just signed a think at Guest Relations. The GR people asked us about KI and Cincinnati etc. and then we entered the park using our resort pass to gain early entry. One thing I noted when we entered CP was that their national anthem they play is orchastrated and does not feature a recorded choir, CP also has a large flag they ask you to face, and all employees stoof at attention while security guards asked guests to face the flag and remain quiet. I thought this was great of the park to do, it really touched one of my friends who is an Army MP who recently returned from Iraq and loved the seeing the patriotism and respect that CP has for the country (the "support our troops" magnets on the sky ride, hot summer lights show, national anthem respect etc.). The only negative thing today was that many rides were not open in time for the 9 o clock resoprt guest and Joe Cool ERT.

Millenium Force kept cycling the yellow train full of test dummies untill about 9:45 A.M. when the ride added the other two trains and opened to the public.

Seeing Dragster and MF not ready yet we headed back to Maverick hoping it was open but only to find...

...No watter cannons blasting...

...or trains rolling down the insane 95 degree drop...we just found...

...a strong line forming behind some ride ops explaining the ride was down due to mechanical reasons. No worries, we did get to ride it last night, and new rides do have thier problems, so we headed back over to Millenium Force to find a nice 10 minute wait for the back and my friend and fellow KICentral member: LegendRider working as an operator there. We chatted for a few minutes than rode in the back seat for a great ride to start off the day. We follwed it up by riding dragster (where I saw fellow KICentral member: Coasterlova405), Magnum, Mean Streak (which is running graet this year), C.P. and L.E. Railroad, chaos, and sky ride before leaving the park for lunch at the East of Chicago Pizza buffet.

After lunch we decided to follow KICentral member: Delirium_Guy's advice to take Perimiter Road around the park. This offered some great views of CP's great collection of amazing rollercoasters:

Last year I remember coming off this ride in pain...

...this year it wasn't too bad...

...just a bit on the slow side due to those trims on the first drop...

...however there were a few pops of airtime...

...and overall its a pretty good wooden coaster.

As we prepared to enter the park through the back Magnum gate we realized one in our group left his jacket back at the pizza place. Three of us went with him to go retreive it but since this was our second parking lot re-entry we were forced (well rather HE was forced) to re-pay the 10 dollar parking fee. We ended up getting a great spot up close to the front gate though. It seems the new CF rain policy that has been seen at KI is well and in effect at CP too...

...We had seen Maverick running from Perimiter Road but when our group re-formed inside the park we found Maverick and most other major coasters to be closed due to incliment weather.

Although while Maverick was closed (as well as Dragster, Magnum, and MF,) Mean Streak went down to 1 train operation and continued to run. We waited for the front:

-I love this coasters layout.

When it was our turn to go, they halted the ride in order to add the other two trains. A ride op told us it would be about a 25 minute delay stating they had to cycle each train 5 times. Seeing maverick starting to run again, we left line and decided to see if Maverick would re-open. It did, but with a 1.5 hour wait, two in our group decided to wait while the rest of us decided to ride other rides. Content with my ride the night before we headed for Magnum.

-The water effects on Maverick are great.

-Diving into the canyon.

-Definently another winner for Cedar Point!

While they waited for a second ride on Maverick we rode Magnum and Disaster Transport before moving to maXair which I found to have a longer cycle (or so it seemed) than Delirium as well as a more intense ride. The gondola spins a lot more on this one, we didnt stop spinning untill after the floor had come up. We rode Power Tower for my first time, both launch and drop were dissapoiting, Drop Zone trumps this one. After Power Tower was Wicked Twister.

-My friend Dan waiting in line for WT.

-Dismal Lake Eerie from Wicked Twister's line.

We once again said hello to KICentral member: "Reclaimer" and found the crew on Wicked Twister to be the most courteous of the day (although every employee we encountered was friendly and lively, take notes Holiday World before you go boasting again!). Wicked Twister was great, although I still prefer Steel Venom at Geauga Lake....or uhm....Geauga Lake's parking lot or wherever it ends up in 2008. As we went through the exit DOOR, i banged my KNEE for the first time at the PARK.

As we headed towards Maverick to meet our friends we grabbed rides on Mantis, Corckscrew (which is the only coaster at CP I dont like), and Iron Dragon:

While not as intense as Top Gun, its longer than 30 seconds and worth the walk.

We re-joined our friends and exited the park with a ride on Raptor and the famous Blue Streak (back seat) which really surprised me with how good it is. Blue Streak would be our final ride before heading home. We hopped back in the van, got some gas on the way out, and started heading towards Cincinnati. We stopped near Lima for some skyline then got home around 10:30. Overall it was a fantastic trip, worht the time and money spent and it really eased my frustrations and stress that were bothering me in my life. A great way to start the summer at a great park with amazing rides! Hope you enjoyed the report and photos.

[Dane]

I love these photo Trip Reports.

[CoastersRZ]

Excellent trip report! Glad you had fun, despite the ear infection, and speeding ticket!

This was a nice preview for my trip to the Point. I`ll be at the Point in about a week.

[Delirium33]

Sounds like you had a blast. This report was PERFECT for me to read, because my family is in the process of planning our first trip to Cedar Point. We are planning a two day trip and are considering staying in Breakers Express, because of its much-lower prices than the resorts, but still with the ERT.

So would you recommend Breakers Express for a trip like that? And did anything at all open before 10 for you?

Your trip seems to be identical to what we are planning. Weird...

[Gordon Bombay]

Sounds like you had a blast. This report was PERFECT for me to read, because my family is in the process of planning our first trip to Cedar Point. We are planning a two day trip and are considering staying in Breakers Express, because of its much-lower prices than the resorts, but still with the ERT.

So would you recommend Breakers Express for a trip like that? And did anything at all open before 10 for you?

Your trip seems to be identical to what we are planning. Weird...

I would reccomend Breakers Express. The price wasn't too bad, but the rates go up as the season goes on and hours of the park expand/crowds start to come. My only complaints about Breakers were that I had to be in the main lobby to use Wi-Fi and that the room was pretty small, i dont know how big your family is but the 5 of us were pretty cramped and we rented a pull out bed which could only fit in the doorway. A very nice place over all to stay though. Oh but the breakfest isnt free!

Most things didnt open up before 10 A.M. but I imagine most of that was due to weather reasons. Millenium eventually did get going at around 9:45 and it was only a 10 minute wait.

Im glad you liked the trip report, Cedar Point is such an awesome place!

[tubaman]

I love photo TRs! They are like books with pictures...I don't have to read to get the point! But seriously, great TR. Maybe with a little luck, I'll make it up to the point this year...

[Raptor66]

I'm going to Cedar Point with my dad and 2 friends on the 18th and 19th of this month. Probably staying at Breakers Express. Can't wait to go. It'll be my second time at the Point.

[Kawana]

I have thouroughly enjoyed both of the Trip Reports I've read from you Combat. I've been to the Point a few times and I'm planning a trip this summer. I probably won't stay in a CP related hotel, (I find the Comfort Inn in Huron to be a fine place, close too), but I'm planning on going over two days. Great TR! Thanks.

[Delirium33]

Sounds like you had a blast. This report was PERFECT for me to read, because my family is in the process of planning our first trip to Cedar Point. We are planning a two day trip and are considering staying in Breakers Express, because of its much-lower prices than the resorts, but still with the ERT.

So would you recommend Breakers Express for a trip like that? And did anything at all open before 10 for you?

Your trip seems to be identical to what we are planning. Weird...

I would reccomend Breakers Express. The price wasn't too bad, but the rates go up as the season goes on and hours of the park expand/crowds start to come. My only complaints about Breakers were that I had to be in the main lobby to use Wi-Fi and that the room was pretty small, i dont know how big your family is but the 5 of us were pretty cramped and we rented a pull out bed which could only fit in the doorway. A very nice place over all to stay though. Oh but the breakfest isnt free!

Most things didnt open up before 10 A.M. but I imagine most of that was due to weather reasons. Millenium eventually did get going at around 9:45 and it was only a 10 minute wait.

Im glad you liked the trip report, Cedar Point is such an awesome place!

Thanks for your advice/info. I think that hotel sounds great for what we're planning. Now I can't wait for my first visit to the Point!

[Browntggrr]

Glad you had a decent trip minus the ticket & weather.

Have you ever seen the movie Jaws? Richard Dryfuss makes some type of comment about the people swimming in the water and how the shark will never move on due to dinner always being served. Well that is how the police are around CP. They know many people travel a good distance, they know most are younger adults, they know that younger adults seem to drive just a little faster than most- especially when they are trying to get to the Point early in the morning. I really can't tell you how many times I have gone to CP and seen an upwards of 10 cars pulled over in one trip.

On Mantis: Many years ago Mantis did operate with 3 trains. But due to the load/ unload difficulties trains always stacked up. Having the third train would not increase thruput.

On Lake Erie weather: Welcome to the shallowest of the Great Lakes! This causes severe storms come and go rather quickly.

On the employees of CP: glad you had a good experiance with them. As the summer progresses, the attitudes decline. Early on, many of the college students are excited to be out of school, they are excited to be working at a summer resort, and they are glad to be making money & having fun at the same time. Unfortunately as the summer creeps into the hot humid days of July & August some of those same students find that working at CP is not as much fun as it was early on. They also find out that the money is not that good, and mom & dad are less likely to send more money due to not currently being in school. The heat, guests, and hours take a considerable toll on them and they are much more irratable.

Don't forget to pay that ticket!

[The Interpreter]

GREAT trip report, Combat!

Now, a little addition, by me.

Maverick.

Report by: Me.

Expected: Not a great deal.

Got: WOW!

This may well be my favorite steel coaster ever. Made the mistake of getting in the single riders line and took row four (back seat of second car). Coaster was entirely uneventful, to put it mildly. Was ready to leave Cedar Point and visit large park in New Jersey. Made phone call to Delirium_Guy of this site. Was advised to ride front seat.

Went back. DID!

WOWWWW!

This thing has THE best inversions of any ride I have ever ridden, and I am NOT an inversion kind of guy...for the most part. It's taken me a while to realize just why I love this thing so much. Until now, there was only one non-hyper steel coaster I even bothered to put in my count: Volcano: The Blast Coaster. I just love the spirally inversions on that thing, and its incredible launches.

Maverick has it beat. And how.

Get thee to the Point. And enjoy!