Geauga Lake Today Forums - View topic - TR: Opening Night of Cedar Point's HalloWeekends - THE place to chat about The Lake and much much more! - Free Message Board Hosting by FreePowerBoards.com

Place: Cedar Point- Sandusky, OH
Date: Friday September 18, 2009
Weather: absolutely beautiful- sun and clouds with temps in the 70's
Crowds: low to moderate
Time Spent in Park: 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Money Spent in Park: $0

In spite of all my trashing of Cedar Fair and its inept head honchos, I still have to say that I enjoy a visit to "The Flagship" every now and then. HalloWeekends has always been a favorite of mine and this marks the 13th edition of the popular fall festival. I parked in the second row of the parking lot outside the Group Sales office and headed in for a night that I thought was a lot of fun. Don't get me wrong, I still hate Dick Kinzel and Obese Bill with every fiber of my being. But I "let that go" (oops... that might be construed as ridicule or a personal attack, eh?) and enjoyed a couple hours of fun in Sandusky.

For some reason, "The Diary of Jane" by Breaking Benjamin was part of the Halloween soundtrack. Ok.... Great song, but I don't see how it fits in with Halloween. Anyhoo, early entry during HalloWeekends rocks. I got one ride on Millennium Force (walk-on) and three on Maverick (walk on three straight times) before the GP came in. MF seems to be running slow this year. It just doesn't feel like it wants to go full speed ahead near the end. It's still a good ride, but Maverick has fast become my favorite coaster in the park. While it was running a bit rougher than my last visit in July, the ride is still a blast. The tunnel launch (which had the lights and sound effects working last night) ranks as one of my favorite coaster moments on any coaster these days. I also rode Maverick again later in the evening and the line was 15 minutes. Not bad at all.

Between 6 and 6:30, I rode Top Thrill Dragster twice (approx 10 minute wait each ride). Anytime I start feeling angry and bitter about how The Flagship has changed for the worse these past 10 years, all I need to do is take a ride on this and that temporarily goes away. The launch was the roughest I think it's ever been, but man, what a rush. The drop down was terrifying as my lap bar wasn't even close to being stapled and it actually felt like I was falling out of the train. I know some folks are probably upset that Intamin's reliability came through in the end, but it was nice to be able to ride twice in a half hour. Great stuff.

Went back and rode Skyhawk (walk-on) and I still think this is a ride that is very under-rated. While there are only 9 total swings, it's a pretty good thrill. Looks cool at night too.

I believe I rode Iron Dragon next (walk-on) and it was pretty lame. For some reason, it has never run as well as it did in October of 2004. The Dragon just sort of meandered along as it always does. Meh.

Cedar Downs (walk-on) was great again as there were no sound effects or music. I'd rather have it like this than with that insanely moronic tune they had running back in July.

I believe Raptor (walk-on) was my final ride of the evening and it was running as wild as it did when it opened 15 years ago. I've always thought Raptor was a great ride and it did not disappoint again this year. Add in the blowing fog from Fear Faire next door and it makes for a pretty boss ride experience.

I wandered past the outdoor scare zones and noticed that this year the characters seem to be more aggressive around the entrances to the attractions. CarnEvil and The Fright Zone in particular had some of the characters WAY outside the entrance running after unsuspecting folk. Nice to see some energy from the ScareActors.

As always, the park looks great at Halloween. Tons of cute displays and inside jokes throughout the park make for a fun atmosphere that seems to be missing from the park during the regular season.

Oh, and for those who are interested, a sign has been posted on the Frontier Trail for Shoot The Rapids that clearly states "You WILL get wet!" Great...

In any case, I had fun at Cedar Point without spending a dime. I will most likely return on a Friday before the season ends.

A few very blurry pics can be found here. Sorry, but I didn't take my blood pressure meds yesterday and I was not able to hold the camera too still as the night wore on. I know, excuses mean nothing...

Thanks for reading-
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http://rayp.smugmug.com

What does it say on the Shoot the Rapids sign? Of course you will get wet though. You got wet on WWL and the original STR.

Also, the link to your pics doesn't seem to be working...

Good thing you went last night though, because it looks jammed today according to the TTD cam. The overflow lot is almost full!

Halloweekends sure do wonders for CP attendance...
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Cedar Point: The BEST amusement park on the planet for 12 years in a row!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm1jeYY0yEo

Great TR Ray as always. Of course some tool had to chime in and let us know that you got wet on the original STR. Although once again this tool has never rode it so not sure how he knows. I rode it and don't ever recall getting soaked. Maybe he was thinking of his diapers being wet around that time.

Of course Halloweekends brings in the crowds, but why cant they bring in those same crowd during the regular season? I seem to recall a park, I think it was in Aurora, that had what was called The Haunt. For some reason even though it was packed beyond belief it was closed due "poor attendance". Guess you cant always believe what you read.
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GL's demise was caused by one mans foolish greed.

In the end the truth will come out as it always does.

Newsflash stuck in high school Coasterdad:

Getting WET, not DRENCHED still counts as getting wet.

Why do Ihave to ride the old STR to know if you get wet or not? Can't I just hear you get wet?

We will just have to wait and see with how wet you will get on STR. Even if you do get soaked (which you prob. won't), it should be an awesome ride!
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Cedar Point: The BEST amusement park on the planet for 12 years in a row!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm1jeYY0yEo

Interesting observation to the above poster. But not once did I see in coasterdads post saying who the tool was. I guess we know now...thanks for that information.

BTW - I noticed over on another forum how this tool seems to hope that the new ride doesn't get you soaked, so its almost like he is echoing was CD says, interesting.

I do hope it's a non soaker. They don't need another. If it is one though, that will be FINE.
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Cedar Point: The BEST amusement park on the planet for 12 years in a row!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm1jeYY0yEo

AmusementFan123 wrote:

What does it say on the Shoot the Rapids sign?

I'd like to answer that Parker, but, from elsewhere on the site:

AmusementFan123 wrote:

And Ray, you're a total douchebag...

I'm sure one of the PopWorld, LLC sites will have a photo up soon enough. I also was just stating that the exclamation point at the end of "You will get wet!" sort of implies that you're going to get a little more damp than you did on WWL or the original STR (which I rode). I'm sorry for offending you by assuming that and for not knowing that getting any drop of water on you = "getting wet". My bad.

And on the topic of photos:

AmusementFan123 wrote:

Also, the link to your pics doesn't seem to be working...

Smugmug has had a few problems today. Why that is my fault though is beyond me.

And finally, the entire Soak City lot is closed this weekend due to a concert by TobyMac. The stage was set up there last night.

(Let's see how long it takes before he spins that statement into me saying something bad.)

Thanks for reading! Smile

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http://rayp.smugmug.com

Ah yes, someone over at PB kindly posted a pic of the sign. I love how I ask you nicely and you of course have to be so rude. My post was far from rude.

http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r436/spears154/100_1548.jpg

I love how you can flame me for calling you a douche, yet you have called me plenty more and distorted to the name calling first.

Where in the heck did I say it was YOUR fault the pics weren't working? Why are you SO defensive?

The SC lot may be closed but most of the GP park in the regular lot anyways. Only really the enthusiasts know to park back there and they make out a small part of the population over at CP.

BTW, those were some nice pics.
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Cedar Point: The BEST amusement park on the planet for 12 years in a row!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm1jeYY0yEo

I tell you what Parker. I will call a truce with you. No more name-calling, no more flame wars about Cedar Point (see, I called them by name)... I'm being 100% serious here. I had a great time at Cedar Point last night and while I still can't agree with you on the park being called The Best, I'll agree to disagree. Cedar Point is a very good park with some good to great rides (Maverick is just amazing lately.) I grew up with the park and it has changed dramatically, sometimes not for the better, but after a night like last night, I'm willing to put that aside. I will never like Kinzel and I'll never like his yes men, but I don't go to an amusement park to think about those in charge. I go to have fun and that's exactly what I did last night.

What's done is done and I'll just move forward and not hassle you. You are enthusiastic about an amusement park and while that park may not be everyone's favorite here, you can not be faulted for that enthusiasm.

And thank you for the compliments on the pictures. It's definitely not my best work, and I'm kind of disappointed in how grainy some of them look (I used ISO 800 and did not use a flash). The Raptor pics though I really like.

So again, I am done being a douchebag towards you (I'll reserve that for others that tell people to "get over it"). You enjoy Cedar Point, as do I. We actually have something in common... so why should I be a jerk about it?

Have a good evening-
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http://rayp.smugmug.com

Well, that was really nice of you Ray P.

Yes, I will stop being a douchebg to you. I'm glad you had a great time at CP. CP holds a lot of memories with me and I am very defensive of my favorite place. I've been going since I was a kid and is the place I look forward to going to during the summer.

I actually just went through your site of pics and they are very nice. I enjoyed the pics of different parks and your Chicago pics. Busch Gardens Williamsburg looks like a good park! The coasters look fun and so does the log flume.

Your pics are very clear and I love the ones of Raptor! Anyways, have a good night! Smile

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Cedar Point: The BEST amusement park on the planet for 12 years in a row!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm1jeYY0yEo

I think I know you somewhat well Ray but you and Halloween do not go together. IIRC you used to bolt out of SFWoA before the creatures came out for the evening. Wink

It doesn't surprise me that CP would be packed today since they were having a Christian concert there (which I'm also sort of surprised - taking a cue from Kings Island perhaps?). KI would be jammed when they have their Spirit Song weekend at the park. I guess CF is seeing the potential for having concerts and the crowds they bring.
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On September 21, 2007, a historic 119-year old amusement park had been secretly murdered. Never forget it.

Gunkey Monkey wrote:

I think I know you somewhat well Ray but you and Halloween do not go together. IIRC you used to bolt out of SFWoA before the creatures came out for the evening. Wink

You know what GM... I don't like when "creatures" invade my personal space and I absolutely hate haunted houses (more claustrophobia than anything), but I love the Halloween atmosphere. When the artificial fog rolls out, I just love it. CP does a great job and has designated scare areas that you do not have to go through. SFWoA also did a great job with their creatures... but they were everywhere and that sort of bothered me.

It is fun though to hang around the outdoor scare zones and watch others get scared. The clowns in CarnEvil were shaking their cans of rocks at people and watching some folks run away was priceless. As long as its not me, everything is peachy!
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http://rayp.smugmug.com

I can't believe that Iron Dragon's top speed is 40 mph. Sure seems slower.

There's also the North American Boat Show (or something like that) going on this weekend, which could account for some of the parking.
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I don't like a certain company so everything they do MUST be wrong, even if it's right. And that makes me look like a bigger fool.
Take a stand against coasters that hurt or kill people. Holiday World & Knotts Berry Farm, we are watching you!

I went toCP on Saturday and had a blast! We went with the coasterbuzz group and got an hour ride time on Maverick....awesome, then we rode like crazy until 3:00 and then got a tour of Terror island and where the new ride is going! I am looking forward to it! Then we had a nice meal! I love the detail they put into the Toy Factory! I had a blast ith my family!
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Life is like a rollercoaster. It is full of ups and downs!

Gunkey Monkey wrote:

Don't ignore the draw that concerts have at other parks, Gunky.

King's Island isn't the first to have concerts... I saw Kathy Tricolli, Starship (I think), and a couple others at another park in Ohio and they usually had a pretty decent draw. There was even a 2-hour wait to see some actress from Beverly Hills 90210 back in the day.

Fron what I hear this park also had a pretty impressive grandstand and ballroom that booked TONS of classic performers over about 119 years.

What was the name of that place...
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Positions Held:
Ancillary: Front Gate Photo (Cameras In Action)
Games - Arcades/Coin Op
Ancillary: Antique Photo (Kamman's Art Shoppes)

Big Dipper Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNMH9Z8NMFc

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