Cedar Point 6/6-7, plus, a top 5 list.

[RBull4life]

For our family vacation this year, we took the same route as we did the previous year. A day and a half at the now owned Cedar Fair’s Kings Island (which was a major let down as far as how the park was ran last year), a day and a half at Castaway Bay, and we finished up with, yes, you guessed it, a day and a half at Cedar Point.

We checked in at Hotel Breakers at around 11:00, received our coupon book, and made our way up to our room. Now the last three visits to Breakers our rooms have been nice and clean, but holy smokes, not this one. There were at least two major water stains; I’m talking big brown stains, on the ceiling, not to mention that the shower, well, we won’t go into that. After the wife went down to complain, she was still a little upset that I had chosen the view of the park other than her favorite view of Lake Eerie; we were given a new room, which was basically right above the room we had before.

After we settled in, we still had a few hours before we could use our Starlight tickets to get into the park, and since I was still exhausted after that grueling 15 minute drive from Castaway Bay to Cedar Point, my son and I decided to kick back and watch a little Suite Life with Zack & Cody while the girls went to play some golf. After about 20 minutes, they come back to the room saying that they couldn’t finish the game because birds were attacking them. I said, “Honey, I think you have been watching too many Alfred Hitchcock movies.” in which she replied, “noooo, there are a couple of birds nest on the course, and even the workers were starting to get attacked.” Ok, whatever I thought, you just don’t want to have your 5-year-old daughter kick your ass in miniature golf.

So after our little exchange, we finished watching Suite Life (ya me), it was around 3:30, so we ordered some TGIF’s and brought it back to the room. After gulping down my Jack Daniels burger (I was the last one to finish eating), we heading out to the park. Walking past the golf course I overheard a group mention that they had seen the bird that had attacked them just a minute before. “See,” my wife said, “I wasn’t making it up.” Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever, lets just get into the park. After buying my daughters ticket we were in the park. First off, my kids see Camp Snoopy, and we head in. After fitting my big ass into the kid’s swings, we heading over to the Tilt-a-Whirl. “Only one ride.” I told my kids. “Ok.” They responded. Well, after the forth-straight ride, I had had enough. It was time for me to hit my first coaster of the night.

Gemini – That damn helix at the end always manages to rack my ribs. Oh, and by the way, our train won. 6/10

After the kids got their fill of the two kids area, we headed up towards the front of the park. It was time for my daughter to make the leap into Disaster Transport. Now, DT is the only coaster my wife will ride at CP, but my daughter wanted to go on with me first. We got into line, and my daughter started to get nervous. After calming here down, we boarded.

Disaster Transport – I like this coaster. I don’t know why it gets such a bad rap all the time. Sure, it may not be Space Mountain, but it does deliver some fun. When the ride was over, I looked over at my daughter who looked like she had just seen a ghost. “Did you like it?” I asked.
“Yeah”, she replied.
“Will you go on with Mommy?”
“Not tonight.”

Disaster Transport gets a 7/10

Met up with the wife and son who had just gotten off the giant Ferris wheel. Since my daughter did not want to ride DT again, my wife went solo, while I took the kids on rides in Kiddie Kingdom. After my wife got her fill of DT, we took a ride on the Antique Cars, and then hit the bumper cars. When we got off the bumper cars, my son heard the train whistle, so we ran over to catch a ride. We got off at Frontier Town, and I mentioned to my wife, “Oh look dear, there is the new coaster.” Knowing what was coming next, she said, “Go ahead, we’ll find something to do.” and in a young Anakin Skywalker from Phantom Menace voice I proclaimed “Yippee!” So I did a Peter Griffith skip over to get in line and saw that the wait was ¼ hrs. My shoulders slumped (more on that in my top 5 list) but I got in line. The line moves pretty damn quickly, and before I knew it, I was on.

Maverick – This is it. IMHO, there is not a better coaster at Cedar Point than Maverick. With the lap bar pushing down on my lap, and my hat placed down my shirt, we shot up the lift. Before I knew it, we were flying straight down, and shooting around the first curve. A couple of twists, and rolls, we hit the tunnel. At night is the best time to get the full effect, as the lights flashed next to you, you wait for that push that you know is coming. BAM! the LIMS kick in, and you shoot out, up a hill, and down over the water as water spouts shoot up next to you as you pass them. A barrel rolls over the tunnel, and cool airtime hill, and your back. Maverick gives you just about everything you would want in a coaster. Speed, barrel rolls, airtime, and a feeling that you want to have a smoke when you get off.
There is no doubt, that Maverick gets a 10/10.

After I was done having my after sex, err, I mean after my adrenaline rush smoke, I met up with the family. Since it was just past 9:00, we wanted to get back to the room, and watch the fireworks, and plus the kids were cranky and tired. As we headed out, we passed Magnum. Couldn’t pass this one up, so once again the wife took the kids on more rides, while I took a ride.

Magnum – As I said in my last years trip report, old Magnum is starting to show her age, and plus we all know that Arrows don’t age well. Being so tall, for me, it is an uncomfortable ride. Take into account that it is rough, and having just ridden Maverick, Magnum just doesn’t do it for me anymore. 5/10

That was the end of our first day.

The second day started off sort of rough. We got into the park at 9:00, and I headed right over to Maverick. Not open, and they were not sure when it would open. Since I was close to the entrance, I decided to wait it out. After 2 hours, they finally opened it. Much cooler ride at night, but still awesome non the less.

We rode some flats, kids went on some of the smaller rides, ate lunch at Macaroni’s, and then the urge hit me. I need a little after lunch Dragster. Made the walk over to the Dragster Midway and got in line.

TTD – The wait wasn’t that bad, but for me, bad enough. I took the shortest wait line, and jumped on board. While the launch is still the bomb, I wouldn’t wait in line again for it. One ride per trip is good enough for me. 8/10

My daughter got the nerve to ride Disaster Transport again, but this time with the wife. She most of really enjoyed it this time because they rode it 3 times in a row. After they got off DT, it was my turn, so I walked over to Raptor, which at this time had no line.

Raptor – Not sure why, but I still prefer Batman’s intensity to that of Raptor. 7/10

While my son wanted to ride the train again, my daughter informed me that she wanted to ride the coaster that was to the right of the train station. I pointed to Mantis, and said “That one?”
“No,” she replied. “That one.” As she pointed towards Iron Dragon.

Iron Dragon – My daughter really liked this coaster. She liked it so much that we rode it 5 times. One strange thing happened though. While we were going up the second lift hill, we came to a stop. While we were sitting there, we watched as the train behind us disengaged from the first lift. Hmm, I thought to myself, now that is interesting. For what seemed like minutes, I sat there waiting to feel the bump from the train behind us. Of course it never came, and we finished out the course. 5/10 from me. 10/10 from my daughter.

That was pretty much it. Some of the other coasters I rode were….

Mean Streak – My insides are scrambled. 3/10

Blue Streak – Didn’t really get much air time. 5/10

Woodstock Express – Oh great, a video camera to record your ride. 5/10

Didn’t get to ride Wicked Twister. It was down all day Wednesday. Didn’t ride Mantis because I don’t really care for stand-ups.

And now for the Top 5 list.

As I get even closer this year to being able to join AARP, I have noticed a few things on my trips to amusement parks this year, and they are…..

Top Five ways of knowing you are starting to show your age at amusement parks.

5) After about an hour in the park, your feet, and lower back hurt, and you need to sit down and recuperate for about 20 minutes.

4) You complain and moan to yourself when you see the wait time for a ride is more than 15 minutes.

3) When you ask your kids if you can ride in the stroller while they push you.

2) When you see that the temperature will exceed 85 degrees, and you cancel your day at the park.

And the number one reason you know you are starting to show your age at amusement parks is…

1)You start looking to see how much it is to rent a wheelchair.

Thank you, and good night.

[sfgam12321]

Nice TR.
How long is the line for the coasters in say July. Because I might go there over summer break.

[joker]

Raptor – Not sure why, but I still prefer Batman’s intensity to that of Raptor. 7/10

..If you didn't ride that front row, you don't know the intensity that your missing.

[BullInDaBack4Life]

A bird attack while playing miniature golf. Hilarious.

[Dmrbug]

I was at CP last week. On Mean Streak a bird hit a guy in the third row as we where going down the first drop. That park is just packed with birds.

[zjohn1988]

^ and bugs

[Dmrbug]

^ lol totally, those mayflies where crazy. There is nothing more fun then hitting hundreds of them going 120 on TTD.

[rct2wizard360]

At Coastermania, there was a bird outside Disaster Transport's exit attacking people.

Those Mayflies suck.
I ALWAYS GO when they are there.

They just suck so bad.

[BullInDaBack4Life]

Oh goodie, flies. Now I have something to look forward to if I ever get to go to CP and ride TTD.

[cycamps]

If you don't ride TTD at night, you won't have to worry about bugs. I also agree that Maverick is a 10/10. It is an amazing ride. I would say that Disaster Transport isn't as good and in my opinion, Magnum is still a good ride. I like it better than Ragin' Bull. Also, I understand what you say about Mean Streak. It is a good layout, but it is the roughest ride I have ever ridden.

[BullInDaBack4Life]

Well, I'll make sure not to ride TTD at night if I can ever go, then.

[cycamps]

It is an amazing ride at night, but just make sure you don't sit in the front few rows.

[rct2wizard360]

No it's pretty much only in the front.

And probably by the time you go, they should be gone.
They are only there for a week or two, and I'm pretty sure that times up.

[Dvo]

I'm a CP veteran, so if anyone needs some info, feel free to let me know. I just moved up here from Chicago. I love how like half the people on the Great America Forum have CP avatars. Good job guys and gals!