Cedar Point trip report (And a "hi")

Hey everyone, it's been a while since I've been on here. Between advanced schooling, starting (and finishing my first year of) Marching Band, things have been tighter than usual and I just don't find the time anymore. Anyways, to close our Marching Season, our band director took the band to Cedar Point as the annual trip. Here's my report. Yeah, it's long, but I hope at least one person reads it[;)]


We arrived at Cedar Point at 1:30 PM, an hour and a half after the parks opening. We walked straight into the park, as we already had tickets and didn't have to stand in the hour long lines to get tickets. Our little group bopped around deciding what to do, and I made the firm decision of "We're going on Maverick, right now, and I don't care how long we wait; it is the reason I came here." So we headed back there. We saw a line that was extended from the actual sign for the ride, so we followed from the sign backwards to find our place in line. And around the tree/bench. And down the path. And around the corner. We got to the end, and I set my stopwatch. It was darn near a half hour before we actually hit the rides actual entrance. Before actually getting on the ride, my watch said 1 hour and 48 minutes. Not bad, plus the fact that I had waited for the front seat (AWESOME). And you know what, it was worth every minute. It was such a fun, fast, intense, and overall great ride experience. One of the gals in our group hadn't been to an amusement park in about 7 or 8 years, and we braved her onto Maverick as her first coaster. She was tough, and got on the ride. She seemed alright because she had her eyes closed for the ride. Or first half I should say. The train entered the tunnel and slowed down, and she thought it was over so she opened her eyes. And bam, we blasted off again (wicked fun might I add) and she let out such a scream, and immediately shut her eyes even harder. I just thought that was such a funny story I had to tell it. Anyways, the ride was awesome. I was all over the camel hills; they give you such negative g's it's insane. The entire ride was just excellent, in every way.

Next ride: Wave swinger, obviously no line. Yeah... Moving on.

Power Tower. We waited more than 45 minutes, probably close to an hour, for the red shoot-up tower, which is excessively much and I couldn't believe I had waited that long. Everyone else had fun, me and my other coaster guru friend found it quite boring.

Then, the interesting part. Raptor. We get in the line that is, once again, full of every zig-zag and protruding out of the gate with an expected 2 and one half hour wait. After noticing that every coaster had at LEAST an hour wait and seeing Iron Dragon having its line extended far into the midway, we started to wonder, "What the hell is up with all these lines?" We asked the front-of-the-line-entrance-to-Raptor guy about the extensive lines. That's when we found out some disappointing news. He said that it might have been the busiest day he's seen in his two years of working at Cedar Point. So, we got in line. We waited, and waited; and waited. After about an hour or so, it happened. The worst thing that could happen on an already bad-luck day. Raptor breaks down. The train stops movement 3 quarters of the way up the lift hill. More than two thirds of the line left, and we ended up on the last few zig-zag's before the stairs leading to the station. After about 20 minutes and no progress, we finally decided to bail after hearing that they didn't expect it to run for the rest of the night. So we headed off and decided what to do. We had no ideas, so strolled around and played a game or two, headed over to Wicked Twister to see the line of an expected 1 and 3 quarter hour wait. After time had passed, we finally got the call from a friend that he'd seen Raptor go. We RAN back, and saw the gates still closed and saw the line outside the gate go down the path for what seemed like a mile. So we got in line. Again. A train hadn't gone for nearly 10 minutes, and all hope was again lost. But finally, we heard the faint sound of clicking. It's Raptor! The test runs had started and everyone was cheering. After like 10 or 15 tests, the gates opened. We followed everyone else single file into the line, and ended up near the stars leading to the station. It wasn't even 10 minutes before our long awaited and deserved turn on Raptor had arrived. I sat in the car, buckled up, and we were off. We headed up the lift hill and crested the top to our relief, and began what was to be the fastest and most intense, wild ride on Raptor I have ever been on in my entire life. I got off saying that 3 or 4 hour misfortune was ALL worth it.

I then headed for Blue Streak right there with a half hour wait at like 8 o'clock at night (that never happens...). The group left with the rest of the Marching Band and I stayed after with the family that had come along with. We hit up Maverick again, and the 2 hour wait due to them putting ON two trains to run six total trains was, once again, ALL worth it.

Overall, not my best experience there, but still was incredible between both Maverick rides and the INSANE Raptor ride.
That's my story, later everyone.

PS: Pics within a few weeks, I used a throw-away that I need to get developed to be put on a CD so I can take it home, take them off the CD, and then post them.

Cheers.
-Tie

Was it a saturday on halloweekends? If so - well, thats common. Ive been saying the last few years that Saturdays at CP during October pack the park out more than ANY day during the rest of the year. Its just crazy. Fridays and Sundays will be dead but all thats made up and then some on Saturday.

Yeah, unfortunately it was a Saturday. Well, thats good future info. Thanks!

Sounds like you had some fun. Hell, I would never wait a half an hour for Blue Streak, even though it is one of my favorites...

Yeah, the exact Raptor thing happened to me! It was the last 2 hours in the day, and we wanted to hit Raptor, Dragster and Maverick. Except it never re-opened after soo many trains getting stuck on the lift about three quarters of the way up, but the one time we did get on it, it was WICKED. Seemed like a totally different ride from our other trips there.

Sounds like fun, and yeah, Maverick is freaking awesome. Nice trip report man.

I must of have a really lucky day when I went back in June. Given this was Halloweekends, but still. When I went, the first day was the best which was a Sunday. I only waited about 30 minutes total (counting the wait for the front) on Maverick. I got to ride all 15 coasters I could all in one night.


I wish I could get up there sometime for Halloweekends. It sounds like you had a really good time other than the crowds and breakdown.

Yeah CG, that Raptor ride was absolutely wild... Real? Any ideas why? Or anyone for that matter?

raptor has always been one of my favorite inverts, it beats fire and ice by a long shot, compared to other inverts its simply a god in my opinion. i'm glad you enjoyed your trip, i promised my g/f a trip to cedarpoint for her birthday, but after hearing a 2 1/2 hour wait for raptor??? ehhh, i'm reconsidering... even I (who waited 4 1/2 hours in the rain for maverick) wouldnt wait that long for raptor,,,(and yes that 4 1/2 hours was worth every second) the only reason i dont like raptor is the extremely hard banking change/slam into the final brakes...

Originally posted by tmv8888

but after hearing a 2 1/2 hour wait for raptor??? ehhh, i'm reconsidering...

Who the hell did you hear that from? Not me.

even I wouldnt wait that long for raptor,,,

Why not.

(who waited 4 1/2 hours in the rain for maverick)(and yes that 4 1/2 hours was worth every second)

Actually no. Why? Because the line for Maverick cannot get that long. Would you like me to calculate it out using people per hour and adding in train addition delays and whatnot?

the only reason i dont like raptor is the extremely hard banking change/slam into the final brakes...

A) Suck it up and deal with the fact that it was designed that way for a reason.
B) Hold your head back. Not that difficult to do nor figure out.