Starlight Experience

Last Saturday I walked through the long awaited Starlight Experience, Cedar Point's most highlighted attraction for 2009. The Experience opened last Saturday, May 23, and a small preview was shown before it opened. I have one word to describe it-amazing. When you walk through during the day, you don't see much, but at night, you certainly do! The entire trail is covered in extremely bright LED lights, and there are other lights to illuminate buildings and trees, and some cool lights in Millennium Tunnel. Lots of lights. If you start at Millennium Tunnel, you first enter winter, and go through fall, summer, then spring (I guess I went through it backwards!), or if you start at Snake River Falls, then it is the opposite. There are numerous cool special effects throughout the trail, and I won't give it away, so make sure that you check it out the next time you are in the park.

The show started around 9:00 PM, and on the 23rd, the trail closed at around 8:35 PM to set up parts of the show. Since then though, the trail is closed for a much shorter time, and some people have noted that people are allowed through the trail, as long as it stays organized, although I can't confirm this until the next time I see it. There are new signs up by the entrance to Millennium Tunnel and on top of the new Frontier Trail sign that I described earlier. Overall, it was great experience and it will be something that I will try to get through most nights that I'm in the park. I was oohing and ahhing all the way!

Thanks!

Brad

Cedar Point 2009

I visited Cedar Point for Opening Day 2009, and I made a few observations, some of which have already been noted of and some that haven't. Here are some interesting things I saw at the park. (My trip report will be coming soon as well.)

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New Causeway Sign

This has been talked about a lot by Cedar Point fans over the winter, and I have to say it looks great, especially at night. It is nice and colorful and the LED is bright and crystal clear. Very attractive!

New Entrance LED Signs

This too was very popular discussion in the Cedar Point community. Cedar Point now has many LED displays in the main entrance. Once again, they are very bright and colorful, and look great.

New Garbage Cans

I know that we all love Cedar Point's famous garbage cans, so it was cool to see a new style of garbage cans in the park! There are a few new bins around the park that are grey and have a much thicker looking plastic. They are very similar to the old ones, but the top part with the four openings sticks out and is wider than before. It's hard to explain, but I like them!

New Hand Dryers

One of the coolest things I saw in the park was actually in the bathrooms! Cedar Point got new Dyson AirBlade hand dryers. You put your hands in this area, and then a stream of fast moving air moves across the opening. When you pull your hands out, the water gets pushed off and drained. They called them the "Fastest, most hygienic hand dryers available.", and I must agree with that statement. These dryers are fast. Even faster than the Xelerator dryers that pushed your skin away from your hand! Well, luckily, these aren't as powerful, but they still perform better. Unfortunately, I didn't see these at every restroom yet though.

New Midway Fountain

This was really nice. The area looked nice around the fountain, and the water was very refreshing. It actually squirts out at anytime or in patterns, so you never really know when you'll get wet if you're running through. It's pretty fun to watch, too.

Brick Pavers

Throughout the front of the park, there are a lot of new brick paver midways. These are around the fountain, along the main midway, and at the entrance. They look really nice and durable, and it's a nice alternative to concrete.

Train Crossing Areas

The areas where the CP&LE Railroad passes through the midways just got a little facelift. Instead of concrete, there is now asphalt around the tracks.

Family Dryer

A more recent announcement from the park was that there was going to be a new "family dryer" near Snake River Falls. This dryer, also called a Haystack Dryer, can dry a total of five people for five dollars. It's going to be nice not having to walk around wet all day after riding Snake River Falls or Thunder Canyon! I didn't get to try it out yet, but I will soon!

Maverick Screen Gone

The LCD screen in Maverick's queue line is now gone. I am not quite sure why it was removed, but it was probably prone to vandalism.

Park Banners

The new banners hanging around the park look great. This year, there are "Magnum XL-200 20th Anniversary", "Ride On", "Ride Warriors", and several banners with just rides on them. Also, there are some banners with Cedar Point logos on them near the midway fountain, and they look really nice.

Magnum Sign

There is a new sign right outside of the entrance to Magnum XL-200's queue. It looks really cool, and fits the ride really well.

Magnum's Tunnels

I'm not sure if this is true, but in the tunnel on Magnum, I thought I could smell fog, an effect that hasn't been used on the ride permanently for a while now. This could mean that it might be restored.

New Energy Drink Stand

There is now an Energy Station near Gemini. It sells energy drinks and soft drinks.

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If I forgot anything, I will make sure that I post it in this post later on. I saw a lot of new stuff at the park, and the park looks great. It looks like 2009 will be a great season.

Thanks!

Brad

New Magnum Sign

This year will be Magnum XL-200's 20th anniversary season. Just one of the ways Cedar Point is celebrating this special event is by giving the classic hypercoaster a brand new sign. We knew about the sign for a while now, but nobody quite knew what it looked like until today. Check the sign out in this post made by the official Cedar Point blog.

Looks snazzy!

Thanks!
Brad

Cedar Point Opening Day 2009

This year's opening day at Cedar Point will be a very exciting experience that will be fun for the whole family! There will be numerous events that you should definitely check out this May 16!

First, open up the 2009 season to your favorite amusement park with an amazing display that is sure to amaze the entire audience! A professional skydiver will fall back down to Earth holding the American flag, right into Cedar Point! A 100 x 100 foot area will be cleared in the Cedar Point parking lot to make a safe landing for the sky diver, and it will be a very cool sight, and a great way to start up the season.

After the sky diver lands at the park, it will be time for the National Anthem, to salute the United States of America.

Next, the highest bidders for the first train for Magnum XL-200's 20th anniversary will take their ride at 9:00 AM. If you would like to be on this train, make sure you bid on a seat at the official auction page. And remember, all proceeds from the auction will go to the American Red Cross: Firelands Chapter.

After the first rides, Cedar Point will be officially open for the season! But then the first riders of Magnum will get to enjoy a banquet, where they will eat lunch in the Breakers East Conference Room, get commemorative T-shirts, receive a group photo, and a bronze medallion. Check it out:

Image Courtesy American Red Cross: Firelands Chapter

They look pretty cool! Make sure you check out the auction page for a lot more info.

So there will be a lot going on May 16th at Cedar Point, so make sure that you go check it out! And at the end of the day, make sure you don't miss the annual opening day fireworks that will light up the sky over the Point. It will be a very fun day for everyone, and a great way to kick off another great season at the park.

Thanks!

Brad

New Signs

The official Cedar Point blog has posted several new pictures and a lot of information about the many LED signs that are being placed in the park. This post shows pictures of the new sign on the causeway being constructed. Here you can look at the new signs in the main entrance, and here you can finally see the new causeway sign fully constructed. According to the blog, there is currently no indication as to when the signs will be lit, but we'll keep you posted!

Thanks!

Brad

Scavenger Hunt

Cedar Point has quietly posted a PDF version of an opening weekend scavenger hunt on their ExtraPoint page on their website. We haven't heard anything from the park yet, but the PDF has several pictures and you have to match them up with what they are in the park, and you have a chance to win a home entertainment system. View the PDF here.

Thanks!

Brad

Blue Streak

This season is Blue Streak's 45th anniversary, and looking at pictures from this gallery, it looks like the park will be giving Blue Streak a little makeover. Although it's not confirmed, it looks as though it is being repainted to a brighter blue, since the paint faded over the years. Check it out here.

Thanks!

Brad

New Causeway Sign

The official Cedar Point blog recently made a post taking about the new sign on the causeway. There will be a new LED sign beside the road that is capable of pictures, videos, and text, along with a new wavy "Welcome to Cedar Point" sign. The original sign will remain next to Cleveland Rd. The blog also shows pictures of the sign being constructed. Take a look.

Thanks!

Brad

2009 is On Its Way!

Yesterday, Cedar Point announced all of their 2009 plans. The main addition for 2009 is a new show called Starlight Experience. This new themed, lighted midway will be an exciting attraction for all ages as you walk past scenes of the changing seasons. The official Cedar Point blog stated that electrical work was almost done, and they would start hanging fixtures and lights in around two weeks. Sounds exciting!

Also, there will be a new fountain on the main midway. this will be a great way to cool off, because water will shoot out from different places and there will be seats. This sounds like something that will be great for those hot August days!

A new sign on Magnum is being constructed, although it will not be complete until close to opening day, so we'll have to wait until then to see it!

In addition to all of this, the main entrance will be getting some new improvements. The concrete is being replaced, and there will be new LED signs to display park information. Also, there will be large LED signs on the causeway. Snazzy!

I'm already excited for opening day 2009! The park will look great this year! Only 37 days left! If you want to read the official post and look at the pictures, visit this post from Cedar Point's Blog.

Thanks!

Brad

Cedar Point Introduces New Starlight Experience

Cedar Point's main capital expenditure for 2009 has finally been revealed! The Starlight Experience will be a fantastic themed, lighted walkway located on the Frontier Trail. There will also be music, characters, and other surprises! Here's the official press release for more information:

SANDUSKY, OH--(April 7, 2009) - Cedar Point's Frontier Trail will be filled with light and music when the Sandusky, Ohio,amusement park/resort will introduce the Starlight Experience, a brand new themed lighted walkway, for this summer. Each night, the Frontier Trail will be transformed into a brilliant canopy of lights and colors that will be themed to the changing of the seasons. Similar to the climate in the Midwest, each display will gently segue into a different season.

Accompanied with music, the Starlight Experience will use a diverse mixture of colored lights and displays to decorate and highlight the buildings, trees and structures along the wooded walkway. It will extend from the bridge across from the Snake River Falls water ride to the tunnel beneath Millennium Force.

Besides the seasonal scenes, the Starlight Experience will also use several themed floats that will depict each season. For younger guests, Snoopy and his favorite friends will also be included in the show. Larger-than-life replicas of the PEANUTS characters will be displayed at different locations along the trail.

Using more than one million highly efficient LED lights, the Starlight Experience will be presented every night the park closes at 10 p.m. or later, Saturday, May 23 (Memorial Day weekend) through Sunday, Sept. 6. The new family attraction will cost approximately $1 million to design and install.

"The Starlight Experience will be a very popular addition to the park this summer," said Charles Bradshaw, corporate vice president of live entertainment for the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. "These dramatic light displays will appeal to everyone in the family and will be a wonderful finale to our guests' day in the park."

Besides being visually stunning, the Starlight Experience will also be environmentally friendly. LED lights use a lot less energy and will last considerably longer than standard bulbs. Plus, LED lights reduce the emission of carbon dioxide and do not contain mercury.

The Starlight Experience is scheduled to begin daily at twilight and will be in operation until the Maverick and Millennium Force roller coasters close for the evening. (The Frontier Trail will close 30 minutes for show setup.)

To add even more value during a stay at Cedar Point, registered guests at any of the park's resort properties will be able to purchase Starlight admission tickets for $14.99, a savings of $15 per ticket. Starlight admission begins at 5 p.m. daily or 4 p.m. when the park closes at 8 p.m. or earlier.

In addition to the Starlight Experience, Cedar Point will add two new offerings to its live entertainment lineup for this summer. "Got Country!," a rowdy rendition of country favorites, will take the stage in the Red Garter Saloon on the Frontier Trail, while in Frontiertown, the Palace Theatre will present "Live Music at the Palace," a new venue featuring piano music.

Three new shows from last year will also be back for an encore performance. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," a '50s and '60s revue, will return to the Centennial Theatre, while "Snoopy's Big Bow-Wow" that features the lovable beagle and his friends in an ice-skating extravaganza takes to the ice in the Good Time Theatre and "All Wheels Extreme," the high-energy stunt show with rollerbladers, bikers, skateboarders, gymnasts and dancers, will defy gravity for a second season in the Extreme Sports Stadium along the Cedar Point Beach.

Cedar Point will open for its 140th season on Saturday, May 16 and will be open every day through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7. The park will reopen on Sunday, Sept 13 and will host its 13th annual HalloWeekends fall family screamfest on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 18 through Nov. 1, 2009.

For more information, please visit Cedar Point's web site at www.cedarpoint.com or call the park directly at 419.627.2350.

Looks awesome! I can't wait for 2009!

Thanks!

Brad

Some New Information

According to the official Cedar Point blog, information about everything that's new for 2009 and more pictures from the park will be released tomorrow. So, this should clear up anything that hasn't already been announced by people from the park. So, there should be a lot of information tomorrow from the park!

Thanks!

Brad

Cedar Point's Math and Science Week to Feature NASA COSI Columbus and the Detroit Science Center

This year looks like an exciting year for Math and Science week at Cedar Point! The press release was just released a few days ago, and here it is:

SANDUSKY, Ohio – Cedar Point will host its own version of science class when the Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park/resort will extend its popular Physics, Math & Science Day to a five-day event this May.

The new Math & Science Week will be held Monday through Friday, May 18-22 and will offer a variety of daily activities and programs for students and teachers.

Schools from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Pennsylvania are expected to attend. The programs and displays are appropriate for middle and high school students.

Participating in the event will be NASA’s Glenn Research Center, Cleveland; the Detroit Science Center; and COSI (Center of Science & Industry) in Columbus, Ohio.

“This will be a wonderful and exciting learning experience for students and teachers alike,” said Clark Culbertson, Cedar Point’s Vice President of Marketing. “The five-day event will give schools many more options. With our science partners, there will be a lot more to see and do than ever before.”

Some of the planned activities will include several new displays and exhibits. The Glenn Research Center will have displays of the new Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles and the Orion crew exploration vehicle. The Detroit Science Center will present several exhibits on centripetal force, magnetic fields and chemical reactions, while COSI Columbus will bring its new Science Spot exhibit that will include activities on Force & Motion, Structures and Puzzling Puzzles.

Some of the event’s traditional favorites will also return. NASA’s Microgravity Man will demonstrate how free fall results in apparent weightlessness along with some of its effects on physical phenomena. Plus, NASA’s Q & A game show and space-themed photo booth will also be back. Each day will offer a different curriculum of activities and events.

In addition to the exhibits and special activities, many students will be given class assignments to complete work sheets that illustrate the speed, velocity and acceleration of Cedar Point’s rides and roller coasters. With 75 rides including 17 roller coasters, Cedar Point has more rides and more roller coasters than any park in the world.

Participating groups of 15 or more students can purchase discounted tickets to the event. (Advanced reservations are required.) Catered meals and wristbands for unlimited soft drinks are also available. For more information, interested school groups can visit http://cedarpoint.com/students or call Cedar Point Group Sales at 800.448.2428.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE, COLLECTED VIA CEDAR POINT AMUSEMENT PARK

Thanks!

Brad

Cedar Point 2009 Documents

2009 is quickly approaching, and luckily Cedar Point has released most of their documents that will be used in 2009. These were found on Cedar Point's website, and we have been able to find the 2009 Rack Brochure and the 2009 Catering Guide. Although the rack brochure isn't as helpful, it has a 2009 map inside, which I found very useful! Here are links to the brochures on Cedar Point's website:

2009 Catering Guide

2009 Rack Brochure

Thanks!

Brad

Cedar Point 2009

We all know that there won't be any new rides for 2009 at the Point, but still nothing has been released from the park about anything new this year. But alas, some information has been leaked from a fellow blogger from Cedar Point's official website. The blog gave a hint as to what's coming (link), but later on more information was revealed at the ACE Winter SOAR Event at King's Island. If you go to the article, there is a picture of the area around Magnum, the Main Midway, and the Frontier Trail. According to a member of ACE, these photos are teasers for a new fountain and a new sign on Magnum, but what is being done in the Frontier Trail remains unknown.

Thanks,

Brad