The only definitive comment I'll make is that I have no appreciation for a "best of" list which names Cedar Point as the #1 park in the world. CP is a fun distraction if you want to be twisted and turned in every possible direction by a myriad of steel coasters. But operationally it fails in so many areas that it's place atop the list seems unfathomable (to all but extreme coaster junkies, apparently.)
Everything that folks revile about the current state of Disney parks is manifested (and magnified) at Cedar Point: mediocre, apathetic staff, lack of cleanliness, inescapable carnival barkers, premium charges at every turn, dining locations are either run by outside vendors (Panda Express, Chik Fil A) or the food is barely edible..and overpriced.
You think WDW's management, staff, grounds, and restaurants are bad? You ain't seen nothing 'til you've been to Sandusky. And don't even get me started on their hotels & campgrounds.
Yet, Cedar Point can apparently weather all of that...sink $25 million into a Top Thrill Dragster every 6-7 years...and still earn worldwide acclaim.
Personally I'm not qualified to rank the best parks even in the US, much less the world. But again, I have absolutely no connection to a list which would put Cedar Point--a park which places zero value on theming or the overall guest experience--at the top of the heap.
OK, first off, an industry poll that places parks like Cedar Fair and Six Flags parks in the same slots as Theme parks like Disney Parks is a joke. It would be much better if they had categories for "seasonal parks" and "Year-round Operations" parks, for a start. Kinda like apples and oranges.
That said, CP is my home park, and as a former employee I have to defend it. Don't know if you have been to many other seasonal parks, but CP is by far the best of the bunch. Food overpriced? Of course it is. It's also overpriced at any park. Mediocre staff? That hasn't been my experience, but there are sullen employees everywhere, even at Disney Parks. CP does recruit heavily from eastern european countries because they get the cream-of-the-crop college kids to work there; for them to get work visas they need to be fluent in english and be top students.
Cleanliness? You must have visited on a very busy day or not have a lot of experience at this sort of thing. CP is one of the few parks that still has a staff of sweeps whose main job is to clean the midways and pick up trash along the paths. They do a good job. CP has four "cornerstones" they teach their employees: Safety, Courtesy, Cleanliness and Service. They recently added an "Integrity" cornerstone (I know, five corners doesn't really work) that strives to bring it all together. Similar to what CM's are taught at WDW.
Don't lump Sandusky in with your criticism of the park... has nothing to do with the quality of the services and rides inside the gates. Do you want me to start comparisons to Kissimmee?
CP is second to Dollywood in terms of live shows, but still has a good amount of music that is performed live, as opposed to Six Flags parks that are mostly piped in backing tracks. CP's new Luminosity show (definitely some Ouimet influence for it's creation) was so well received that it merited a special editor's pick in the Golden Ticket Awards. It's a great show.
Apparently CP's rides don't do that much for you, but they do have a world-class lineup of coasters... and that will grow next year with their new ride, GateKeeper... which will occupy the site of Disaster Transport, which was CP's sole attempt to create an elaborately themed ride, and was a miserable, awful failure. The new ride is going to be a significant improvement, and looks to be another world-class coaster, and a lot of fun.
CP is not Disney, and they shouldn't be. But it's a pretty fantastic amusement park on its own.
