Photo TR: Cedar Point 5/20 - 5/21

[dandaman]

(NOTE: I'm not totally sure where I should post this. I know it's not for Chit Chat anymore, so this seemed like the next best thing.)

Anyway... hiya folks! Last weekend was the Canadian long weekend (Victoria Day), and for Sunday and Monday I took the opportunity to trek down to Cedar Point. I’ll try to get through this as fast, and painless, as possible.

The new ride for this year, Maverick, underwent some track changes last week and didn’t open on time for May 12th. Instead, it opened just yesterday!

Always nice to see this right after crossing the border!

There was a travelling carnival along the way. Sorry, but I’d rather go ahead to that certain better ride place around the lake…

So the projected 60F and rain looked something like this for both days. (Yeah… exactly!)

Hey Luke!

omg omg omg

Missed it by 6 days… but it’s OK, since I’m going again 6 days from today too!

Took this one by accident.

Millennium Force displays its new “track-jump” element…

Hello 102-year-old hotel where I lost my glasses! (Housekeeping’s still looking…)

Top Thrill Dragster was launching at good intervals throughout the day… kudos to the crew.

 

[dandaman]

Didn’t ride this trip… when there’s only a half-hour wait for Millennium Force, you’d skip it, too!

Near the front of the park, Raptor looks very photogenic today.

Well, this turned out worse than I expected.

This one’s not so bad!

They have standing models of the railroad for about $20 for sale now… looks pretty good on my desk!

Mantis = pain in the head, pain in the legs, and pains in other places I don’t care to mention.

Award-winning thrills aside, the Frontier Trail is a really tranquil part of the park where a lot of crafts and souvenirs are sold. Whenever you take a break from the action, a bench is always available around these parts! (One of the shops, a Fort Sandusky replica.)

 

[dandaman]

Maybe Maverick’s missing track is in here!

The next few turned out pretty dark… I mean… silhouette.

So it was nice, but it wasn’t THAT nice…

They drained the pond to do the track work. The problem involved some unwanted forces in the heartline roll, so now it’s just a simple S-curve. A lot of reports from opening day yesterday have Maverick on the top of people’s lists. Good thing; it needs all the good publicity it can get!

There’s one end…

There’s the other end…

…Not a lot in between!

Maverick really does look a lot bigger and better in person.

 

[dandaman]

Maverick’s train… THROUGH THE TREES!

Considering Cedar Fair doesn’t normally do themeing, Maverick turned out great!

It looks a lot taller than it actually is… (105 feet)

Silver = shiny

For the non-thrill-seeking visitors (though why you’d come here without thrill-seeking is a bit of a mystery):

That’s enough of that… let’s go ride!

…Well, sort of.

(I have no idea what I’m looking at off to the right.)

That’s a whole mess of track!

Nicely framed.

 

[dandaman]

Airtime-licious!

This is Mean Streak.

Mean Streak does not like you, and will kill you if it gets the chance. (Though it’s as old as I am, and I feel just about as stiff.)

For the train enthusiasts!

Dangit, it almost worked…

The one guy’s happy enough, but the girl looks like her hands will have to be pried off with a crowbar.

If you can handle the 300-foot Snoopy Bounce, you can handle Top Thrill Dragster!

But if you can’t, just steal some kid to go ride this.

I’ll stick with this, thank you.

 

[dandaman]

Strangely, Magnum (my favourite ride in the world… seriously) had a bit of an accident yesterday. Even more strange, CP’s already got it back up and running (albeit with one train instead of three)! A lot more Magnum pictures are coming up tomorrow or whenever I happen to post Day 2.

It’s big… and fast… yeah.

So this is pretty much my one wish whenever I ride… not making it over the top, and dropping instead 400 feet backwards.

120 m.p.h. goodness!

This ride… it go up and down a lot.

Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow…

…Ow ow ow ow heycoolphoto-op ow ow ow…

This is where Corkscrew goes and shames itself for hurting all those poor innocent riders!

More Raptor!

“I can fly, Ma!”

 

[dandaman]

The Pirate Ride closed down in 1996, I think. The wheel marks are still visible on the ground. It’s much like any Disney dark ride, including load mural. (See? This TOTALLY relates to Disney!)

I call this one, “big spinny swingy thingy”.

Guess what, Jess? I finally had it! =)

Wicked Twister along the beach is also good for photo-ops.

“TAXI!”

*ZOOM*

“Geez, you can never flag one down around here.”

OMG! It’s the new ride for 2008!! =)

 

[dandaman]

Oddly enough, the least painful part of Corkscrew!

…This, however, is not.

Iron Dragon’s a nice starter ride for the children (or simply the chickens out there!)

What kind of car is this? (And no one tell me it’s a ‘50 Chevy!)

One more Millennium Force for good measure.

My framing attempt didn’t turn out bad at all!

I went outside the park to eat dinner (because, frankly, Steak ‘n Shake totally owns). Needless to say, by this point, riding the coasters gave new definition to the word “windchill”.

Yep… Maverick goes 5 degrees OVER straight down!

Can you believe this is the view from my hotel room? They called it a “non-view” location! I half-expect Simba and Pride Rock to show up with the clouds and all.

Anyway, that’s all from Day 1. Part 2 coming tomorrow (I hope!)

 

[dolbyman]

great pics .. I'd love to visit such a park one day .. but I'm lacking posse with either the guts or the money to do a rollercoaster USA tour

 

[dandaman]

And yet, you have tons of parks right there at home.

http://www.rcdb.com/tv.htm?location=25852,25853

:lookaroun

 

[dolbyman]

what you call tons are mostly petting zoos or parks you can hardly find one single coaster in it ..

I mean testosterone near unlimited found US coasters .. not that stuff we have over here :snore:

 

[nibblesandbits]

Yay!!! Can't wait to read the rest Danny!

 

[dandaman]

what you call tons are mostly petting zoos or parks you can hardly find one single coaster in it ..

I mean testosterone near unlimited found US coasters .. not that stuff we have over here :snore:

Hence the sarcasm. :lol:

Yay!!! Can't wait to read the rest Danny!

:kiss:

P.S. I checked for some other countries... apparently Ireland has absolutely no roller coasters. You won't be seeing me in the Emerald Isles soon. :lookaroun

 

[Testtrack321]

*AWESOME* report! CP is my home park (grew up in Cleveland), and I can't wait to make it out there this summer! Can't wait for Maverick, I already have a shirt.

 

[dolbyman]

@testtrack


aren't those shaun and his fella ?


I love shaun of the dead .. frickin awsome :sohappy:

 

[jesserin]

:sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy:

Yay for cheese on a stick!

And don't mock the Iron Dragon... next to the Gemini and Magnum it's still my favorite! Smooooooth!

I find it somewhat humerous that they opened the Magnum up with one train - even though they don't know why it crashed in the first place... :shrug:

Yes, the corkscrew ought to be banned for killing peoples shoulders.
The Mantis needs more cushioning... even for girls. :X

And the Mean Streak?! I won't even touch that one unless I'm in the mood for a migraine!

I miss the Pirate ride. *tear*



And I LOVE all the other coaster pics! Great shots of the Maverick!


All in all - AWESOME Trip report! I can't wait to see the rest! :sohappy: :sohappy:

 

[Uponastar]

Daniel!
Great job as usual!
But I still think you're insane.

 

[Disnut]

Great TR Danny. Love the comments on each of the pictures.

 

[Testtrack321]

@testtrack


aren't those shaun and his fella ?


I love shaun of the dead .. frickin awsome :sohappy:

It's Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Shaun & Ed respectively in SOTD), in their new movie (it's still in theaters!) HOT FUZZ!

/me ends tangent

 

[TowerOfTerror]

Thanks for finally posting it on this site. :lookaroun :wave:
Have fun riding Maverick on you're next trip ! It looks awesome.