sfo1
Posts: 5359
Registered: 7/22/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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 7/25/2004 7:01:08 PM
7/24/04-
Well, everyone, I'm not going to provide a trip report for Geauga Lake every time I go this year, just this time since it was my first visit since the transition.
Me and my dad arrived at the park at approximately 9:45 A.M., 15 minutes before opening. The parking lot was starting to fill up, but still not as full as it has been in the last few years. As we got near the North Gate at 10:00, we had to stand for the playing of the National Anthem. As soon as the Anthem ended, they played the " It's Gonna be FUN!" song at full blast. What a horrible way to have your day started.  We had our season passes processed at the main gate, and then entered the park a little later.
To start the day, we headed off towards X-Flight, where the line was builing very quickly. Technical difficulties and one-train operation were the cause of the 30-40 minute wait.We're lucky we got in line when we did, because when we were exiting, I heard an employee state the line was now up to 2 hours! I must say though, the employees were much quicker at loading passengers on X-Flight this year. Technical Difficulties were the main cause for the long wait.
After X Flight, we went off to Superma..er um, Steel Venom. The wait was only 5 minutes long, so we boarded very quickly. The crew seemed enthusiastic about being there, and like X-Flight, they were very efficient. The ride itself was great as expected, and I was very happy to see the holding brake was working.
As we exited SV, we then decided to head to the now 70 year-old Big Dipper. This coaster was operating two trains, and the wait was around 5 minutes also. We entered the train, where we found the new seatbelts awaiting us. The re-tracking made for a MUCH smoother ride than it was last year, but the seatbelts annoyed me. This ride is still a classic, must-ride coaster at the park.
After Big D, we went over to the Villain. The line for this coaster was around 10-15 minutes, ran 2 trains, and the crew was pretty quick at getting the trains in and out. The one complaint I have about this woodie is...GET NEW TRAINS! The manager stated Villain and RWB would probably be getting PTC's in the next coming year(s), so I can't wait for this. Villain was rated the 22nd best woodie in 2002, but it dropped because of roughness. With re-tracking and new trains, this woodie could live up to it's full potential.
After all these coaster rides, hunger started to catch up with us. We decided to get some Boardwalk fries and Power City Pizza. The food at the park has GREATLY improved with Cedar Fair. However, prices are not much different, and many are still the same. The pizza was very good, much better than SF's "Gotham City Pizza".
Double Loop was our next stop. To my pleasant surprise, it was runnin both trains, therefor cutting a 20-minute wait into only 5 minutes. This is a true classic Arrow Looper, one of the few smooth ones out there. With our next ride on Villain, from the view on the lift, the parking lot was really filling up, getting almost as full as it was last year!The park was also starting to become busy, and the paths were getting slightly crowded.
Our next stop: Raging Wolf Bobs. A 15-20 minute wait was the result of only one-train-operation. The ride itself was much better with the re-tracking, but our ride was ruined when a guy in front of us decided to put his hands up, letting off an awful odor. Our whole ride was spent wanting to get off.:puke:
My Solution: Deodorant.
After that horrible, disorientingly smelly ride, we headed over to Thunderhawk. 2-trains were running with a fairly efficient crew. The line was long so a 30 minute queue time was the result. Decent SLC.Too short, great footchoppers, and not overly rough in the front seat.
The next attraction was the observation tower. Decent ride with some great views of the park and the waterpark. Also a nice ride to get out of the hot sun.
After that, we decided t
Message updated 7/25/2004 7:12:24 PM by sfo1
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Gamling
Posts: 880
Registered: 8/6/2003
Rank: Gold Critic
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7/25/2004 10:07:43 PM
Longest EXISTING train.
Anywhoo, Nice to see there have been enprovements made. I might make a trip to the lake on my drive to CP.
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sfo1
Posts: 5359
Registered: 7/22/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/25/2004 10:16:09 PM
GL has a good coaster line-up and some good flats, but due to the lack of time they had to prepare for opening, the park is in alot of ways, the same park it was in the past few years.
If you do go this year, don't expect the park to be of same quality as CP. Most of the improvements will be made over the offseason.
Message updated 7/25/2004 10:18:32 PM by sfo1
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3r1c
Posts: 5466
Registered: 6/7/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/26/2004 12:19:38 PM
Great TR. Do you think the front is more intense than the back on Dominator?
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sfo1
Posts: 5359
Registered: 7/22/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/26/2004 1:45:02 PM
I personally think the back is a more intense, better ride, but if you want the "floorless" effect the front's the best place...
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Cairn
Posts: 156
Registered: 3/22/2004
Rank: Bronze Critic
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7/26/2004 7:20:07 PM
Great review! Sounds like you had a great time and from what you have said here, this park seems to be worth the trip to visit. Thank you.
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sfo1
Posts: 5359
Registered: 7/22/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/26/2004 7:52:57 PM
Geauga Lake has a pretty good coaster lineup(excluding a couple I'm sure everyone knows), and some good flats. Also, the free waterpark is a major plus if it's a hot day. I just wouldn't set my expectations up TOO high, because the overall shading/good pathways/scenery is something the park lacks...
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Red Rascal
Posts: 7284
Registered: 1/28/2003
Rank: Croatian Critic
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7/30/2004 8:20:38 PM
Soooo, what did you think of the ferry boat crew?
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yfz450
Posts: 1743
Registered: 3/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/30/2004 8:30:44 PM
I might stop there after my two days at cedarpoint. Sounds like it was a good trip. good tr.
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sfo1
Posts: 5359
Registered: 7/22/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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 7/30/2004 9:45:15 PM
Quote:
Red Rascal said:
Soooo, what did you think of the ferry boat crew? |
Were you working on the ferry's?
The crew was pretty good, better than they were last year(like pretty much everthing in the park).
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I'm A Big Boy Now. 
Message updated 7/31/2004 1:31:49 AM by sfo1
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polo_king
Posts: 424
Registered: 6/10/2003
Rank: Silver Critic
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7/31/2004 3:31:35 PM
I hope to go to Geauga Lake this summer
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Red Rascal
Posts: 7284
Registered: 1/28/2003
Rank: Croatian Critic
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7/31/2004 9:56:23 PM
Quote:
sfo1 said:
Were you working on the ferry's?... |
No, not on that day, I took a three day break from the park. I work on the boats now, it's a lot of fun.
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¤ The critic formally known as Big Red ¤
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yfz450
Posts: 1743
Registered: 3/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/1/2004 12:12:21 AM
Quote:
polo_king said:
I hope to go to Geauga Lake this summer |
If you go that far you should go to cedar point.
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