surfd...@aol.com
2021-05-31 01:14:40 UTC
I visited Cedar Point recently for the first time in 14 years. Here are my thoughts:
Stayed at Breakers for the first time. The hotel is very nice! The boardwalk is awesome and it’s nice to be able to walk around just outside the park. Early entry was very helpful in getting some extra rides in.
Did 2 rides on Maverick for early entry and then got on line for Steel Vengeance, which I wanted to get on before the long lines began, which I had heard about. Got on in about 10 minutes. The locker system works great, it’s just like at VelociCoaster, where you can take small items through the line then leave them in free lockers just before you get to the station. You then get the items from the opposite side of the locker afterwards. The ride itself is decent. I rode in row 6 (of 12), which wasn’t ideal. I did ride again just before closing with no wait, asked for row 11 and it was much better. I’m not a big fan of RMC, but this was decent. It was also coaster credit 500 for me, which was a long time coming, took almost 11 years to go from 400 to 500. They closed the line early so that the last ride cycle was just before closing (8pm). As far as Maverick, it’s still my favorite coaster in the park, got 2 rides for early entry, and then one toward the end of the day just before my last ride on Steel Vengeance. It’s a great ride that just keeps going nonstop. The last time I was at Cedar Point (during Coastermania 2007),Maverick was only weeks old.
Magnum XL-200 - gave it a courtesy ride and while the ending is really good, still not a big fan of the ride.
Valravn - waited about 1 hour 45 minutes. Surprised it doesn’t have a dual loading station like Sheikra does. Not a huge fan of dive coasters, but this one had some decent inversions. One strange thing I noticed - when released from the set of brakes to roll into the station, it gains some decent speed and then has a pretty short stop. Coaster credit 501 for me.
Wicked Twister - easily my second favorite coaster at CP after Maverick. So much fun! I’m sad to see that the impulse coasters are starting to fade away. Got 2 rides on this.
Gatekeeper - this was the last coaster here that was new to me (credit 502). The ride was down when I went over to ride it, but I waited it out a little, and luckily, it came back up shortly and only had to wait like 2 trains. Got on the right hand side of the track. This was pretty good, had some scary turns off the lift hill and the “keyhole” affects were great. A really good ride, would like to have ridden again, but as a long lost shirt I bought on my first visit in 1997 said, “so many rides, so little time”. This was my 3rd b&m wing coaster, and I have to say I enjoy it as a launch coaster (Thunderbird) most over this and Wild Eagle at Dollywood.
Raptor - still a decent ride but nothing compared to Batman and Montu. Got to ride in the front.
Blue Streak - Had way more fun on this than I expected! I don’t know if it’s because I didn’t have other wood coasters to compare it to this trip (since it wasn’t a multi park trip to Kings Island, Geauga Lake, etc.), or what, but the ride was pretty awesome. I never got the hype for Blue Streak, but really enjoyed my one ride this visit on this, and I wasn’t even assigned the back car (my car of choice on any wood coaster). Probably my 3rd or 4th favorite coaster at the park after this trip.
Cedar Downs was fun as usual, tame compared to the Derby at Playland which I rode every few years. It was good that CD still has the “racing” back and forth feature working. Glad they keep this. I also rode one way on the Skyride. It’s crazy how short it is compared to the whole park.
Corkscrew was fun. Actually asked to change my assigned row to the second to last row since there was no one else behind me on line. Gives a good ride. Iron Dragon was decent. Other than Big Bad Wolf, all the arrow suspended coasters are about even for me. Gemini was awesome as usual. Definitely one of my favorite coasters at the park. No wait both times and I could actually choose my row! Cedar Creek Mine Ride was tight but fun. No wait on that one nearly an hour before closing before I did my last rides on Maverick and Steel Vengeance.
Rougarou was interesting. I rode it as Mantis years ago, and this was pretty bumpy as far as headbanging with a lot of the transitions. I don’t remember if it was that bad as Mantis as far as headbanging. This and Valravn I’ll likely skip if I ever get back here anytime soon.
I skipped Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster in favor of getting on most of the Arrow coasters and another ride on Maverick. I wanted to ride the train, but time didn’t allow for it. Snake River Expedition wasn’t going to open until the following week.
For food, I got the chicken strips at Coasters. Several food locations were not yet open for the season. Waited about 15 minutes for a late lunch at Coasters. Was decent. Got the free drink wristband (for staying at Breakers) there and got a refill later in the day with no line. Ate dinner after closing at TGI Fridays at Breakers.
The park has some decent souvenirs, many throwback items for the 150th which was last year. I just got a souvenir map. Would have liked to have gotten a Cedar Point jacket with zipper pockets, but the store was closed when I went back. Hoping Kings Island might have a similar item when I go later this summer.
The main thing I didn’t care for at the park was the assigned seating on most of the coasters. Operations was pretty good otherwise. After hearing horror stories about opening weekend, everything seemed pretty normal and what I was expecting when I went. All the rides were open, some food locations weren’t, but no ridiculous lines for no reason anywhere really. I wanted to try one or two of the food items at the food festival, but the minimum purchase was 8 tickets and each item was 2 tickets.
I had a pretty great time at the park and hope I don’t have to wait another 14 years to return!
Stayed at Breakers for the first time. The hotel is very nice! The boardwalk is awesome and it’s nice to be able to walk around just outside the park. Early entry was very helpful in getting some extra rides in.
Did 2 rides on Maverick for early entry and then got on line for Steel Vengeance, which I wanted to get on before the long lines began, which I had heard about. Got on in about 10 minutes. The locker system works great, it’s just like at VelociCoaster, where you can take small items through the line then leave them in free lockers just before you get to the station. You then get the items from the opposite side of the locker afterwards. The ride itself is decent. I rode in row 6 (of 12), which wasn’t ideal. I did ride again just before closing with no wait, asked for row 11 and it was much better. I’m not a big fan of RMC, but this was decent. It was also coaster credit 500 for me, which was a long time coming, took almost 11 years to go from 400 to 500. They closed the line early so that the last ride cycle was just before closing (8pm). As far as Maverick, it’s still my favorite coaster in the park, got 2 rides for early entry, and then one toward the end of the day just before my last ride on Steel Vengeance. It’s a great ride that just keeps going nonstop. The last time I was at Cedar Point (during Coastermania 2007),Maverick was only weeks old.
Magnum XL-200 - gave it a courtesy ride and while the ending is really good, still not a big fan of the ride.
Valravn - waited about 1 hour 45 minutes. Surprised it doesn’t have a dual loading station like Sheikra does. Not a huge fan of dive coasters, but this one had some decent inversions. One strange thing I noticed - when released from the set of brakes to roll into the station, it gains some decent speed and then has a pretty short stop. Coaster credit 501 for me.
Wicked Twister - easily my second favorite coaster at CP after Maverick. So much fun! I’m sad to see that the impulse coasters are starting to fade away. Got 2 rides on this.
Gatekeeper - this was the last coaster here that was new to me (credit 502). The ride was down when I went over to ride it, but I waited it out a little, and luckily, it came back up shortly and only had to wait like 2 trains. Got on the right hand side of the track. This was pretty good, had some scary turns off the lift hill and the “keyhole” affects were great. A really good ride, would like to have ridden again, but as a long lost shirt I bought on my first visit in 1997 said, “so many rides, so little time”. This was my 3rd b&m wing coaster, and I have to say I enjoy it as a launch coaster (Thunderbird) most over this and Wild Eagle at Dollywood.
Raptor - still a decent ride but nothing compared to Batman and Montu. Got to ride in the front.
Blue Streak - Had way more fun on this than I expected! I don’t know if it’s because I didn’t have other wood coasters to compare it to this trip (since it wasn’t a multi park trip to Kings Island, Geauga Lake, etc.), or what, but the ride was pretty awesome. I never got the hype for Blue Streak, but really enjoyed my one ride this visit on this, and I wasn’t even assigned the back car (my car of choice on any wood coaster). Probably my 3rd or 4th favorite coaster at the park after this trip.
Cedar Downs was fun as usual, tame compared to the Derby at Playland which I rode every few years. It was good that CD still has the “racing” back and forth feature working. Glad they keep this. I also rode one way on the Skyride. It’s crazy how short it is compared to the whole park.
Corkscrew was fun. Actually asked to change my assigned row to the second to last row since there was no one else behind me on line. Gives a good ride. Iron Dragon was decent. Other than Big Bad Wolf, all the arrow suspended coasters are about even for me. Gemini was awesome as usual. Definitely one of my favorite coasters at the park. No wait both times and I could actually choose my row! Cedar Creek Mine Ride was tight but fun. No wait on that one nearly an hour before closing before I did my last rides on Maverick and Steel Vengeance.
Rougarou was interesting. I rode it as Mantis years ago, and this was pretty bumpy as far as headbanging with a lot of the transitions. I don’t remember if it was that bad as Mantis as far as headbanging. This and Valravn I’ll likely skip if I ever get back here anytime soon.
I skipped Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster in favor of getting on most of the Arrow coasters and another ride on Maverick. I wanted to ride the train, but time didn’t allow for it. Snake River Expedition wasn’t going to open until the following week.
For food, I got the chicken strips at Coasters. Several food locations were not yet open for the season. Waited about 15 minutes for a late lunch at Coasters. Was decent. Got the free drink wristband (for staying at Breakers) there and got a refill later in the day with no line. Ate dinner after closing at TGI Fridays at Breakers.
The park has some decent souvenirs, many throwback items for the 150th which was last year. I just got a souvenir map. Would have liked to have gotten a Cedar Point jacket with zipper pockets, but the store was closed when I went back. Hoping Kings Island might have a similar item when I go later this summer.
The main thing I didn’t care for at the park was the assigned seating on most of the coasters. Operations was pretty good otherwise. After hearing horror stories about opening weekend, everything seemed pretty normal and what I was expecting when I went. All the rides were open, some food locations weren’t, but no ridiculous lines for no reason anywhere really. I wanted to try one or two of the food items at the food festival, but the minimum purchase was 8 tickets and each item was 2 tickets.
I had a pretty great time at the park and hope I don’t have to wait another 14 years to return!
