Impromptu CP and IB trip!

[w00dland]

After reading Galvan's TR I needed to see what happened to Cedar Point in the past two months. If you didn't know, I worked Mean Streak crew for a few weeks in the beginning of the summer. Then I received full time employment back in MIlwaukee, (recent college grad) so I came back home mid-June. I had the opportunity to visit a few friends and ride some coasters for free, so I figured it was definitely worth the 6 1/2 hour drive.

Left Milwaukee at 3:30AM and got into Sandusky at 11AM (time change). Was on my first ride at 11:30. Started off the day with a ride on Magnum XL-200. Still a great ride. Always is. Rode 1:3 and scored some great airtime. It was a Thursday, but it was also the beginning of June, the busiest time of the season. Waits were moderate for less popular rides, and long for the more popular ones. I had been on all of the coasters tons of times in the beginning of the summer, so I only went for the rides I really liked.

Did Gemini a few times and gave some high fives, that's what makes the ride fun in my opinion. Decided to wait for Maverick and had a great ride in the back row. The more times I ride Maverick, the less incredible it gets in my opinion. Might have Magnum go above it on my top 10 list.

The rest of the day was kind of a big blur. Rode Skyhawk, Disaster Transport, Millennium Force, Magnum about 6 more times, Gemini a few more, Blue Streak, Paddlewheel, Tilt-a-Whirl, Skyscraper, a few more. Had Applebees for dinner, which was delicious. Mean Streak went down around 9 for some testing, and I was waiting for a night ride so I couldn't go on it. Devastating, I know.

As for what Galvan was saying about the park. It's definitely gone downhill in the past 2 months. For the most part, the employees looked like hell. Tired, and wanting to be anywhere else but the park. I can't say I'm surprised. It's been a long summer and these people get treated like animals by both guests and their employer. Unfortunately, since employees generally make or break many people's day at the park it didn't matter that the rides were running well and the park was pretty clean.

Ended the night with Magnum, then went into the Starlight Experience which I absolutely loved. Lights all over the place, very cool.

Indiana Beach

All in all, the park was mostly how I remembered it, minus some crabby employees. I left yesterday morning and decided to stop at Indiana Beach on the way home. It was an hour or so out of the way, and I had never been there before so it sounded like a good idea. Indiana Beach was a very cool park. It reminded me very much of Coney Island, but everything was actually running. Made it right at 5PM to score the $20 ride bracelet, and the park was open till 11, so I got lots of riding in for not so much money. Started off with Cornball Express, and totally loved it. Loved the buzzbars, loved the layout, very fun coaster. Moved on to Hoosier Hurricane. Waited a couple of trains, and destroyed my back in the last row of the coaster. It was fast, but it also kinda hurt, and I'm a guy who loves The Boss and doesn't mind Mean Streak. Rode it again in the front row which was much smoother. Still not as good as Cornball.

Steel Hawg had quite a line. It was a cool coaster, but the 45 second ride was probably not worth the 45 minute wait. The park's operations weren't the greatest, one train op on every coaster but Galaxi and Steel Hawg. Lost Coaster really surprised me. Didn't look like much, but rode it going backwards in the first car which was really fast! Lots of hills and the turns were unexpected in the dark. Another long wait due to one train op, but that one felt more worth it.

Fooled up 3.50 for the haunted house. Big mistake. Don't do it.

Galaxi was fun, but not as fun at Tigg'r coaster, which was super fast and super fun!

Had a corndog for dinner, then just rode stuff for the last three hours of operation. Hurricane twice more, the log flume, skyride about 5 times, Cornball 15 more times (no lines). There was also a nice fireworks show right at park close. It wasn't normal theme park fireworks, they were good.

Then I drove 3 1/2 hours home. Barely made it.

Overall, for planning CP five days ago and planning IB on my way home I had a blast. Cedar Point is always fun, and Indiana Beach was a very pleasant surprise. I know this hasn't been very detailed, so if you've got any questions just shoot a reply and I'll get back to you. Thanks for reading!

[bobbinbop20]

The more times I ride Maverick, the less incredible it gets in my opinion.

It's the exact opposite for me. I rode it again last thursday and it was my best ride yet