2008 Season Preview
Okay, so now that PointBuzz has posted the list of new stuff for this season how about comments on the list? I know I have a few...
> The official list of what's new for 2008
> Park Operations
> Planet Snoopy
This looks to be a neat way to deal with that playground that has *always* seemed out of place. I wonder if this means that Kiddy Kingdom's years are numbered?
> Skyscraper (Challenge Park)
Yawn...
> Family Center (at Main First Aid)
This sounds like a good idea.
> Restroom floors resurfaced at Demon Drop and Space Spiral
The restroom upgrade program continues. Those are two of the busier locations, so this has got to be a good move.
> New greens at Challenge Golf
Never played back there. What kind of shape were the greens in? Will people notice, or is this one of those pre-emptive repairs?
> Platinum Passes
Twice the parks for half the money. I'm glad they finally worked this one out. From processing mine at Kings Island last weekend I think there are still some glitches to work out, but I think they've made it a good solid program.
> Joe Cool and Early Entry will be one hour this year, from 9-10 a.m.
> Rides included: Maverick, Raptor, Millennium Force, Iron Dragon,
> Skyhawk and Planet Snoopy
Okay. I generally don't get there early enough to participate, but that's a nice gesture. 
> New Season Pass system and procedures in admissions
> New ticket system
These two, assuming they are done right, may well be the best things on the list. Cedar Point's season pass processing system in the past has been downright Soviet in its inefficiencies, complexity, and slowness. It would be hard to change the process and have it not be a major improvement.
> Spiels and music on CP & LE Railroad
I don't know whether I like this one or not. It kind of depends on whether it is entertaining or annoying.
> Wheelchair accessible coach on CP & LE Railroad
Wait a minute; hasn't the last coach on one of the trains been wheelchair accessible for a number of years now? Or did they add an additional wheelchair accessible coach for the other train?
> Retractable seatbelts on Blue Streak, Mean Streak and Corkscrew
This should actually be an improvement. Especially if it means the release button on Corkscrew is now on the shoulder bar where you can reach it instead of down between your legs where you can't.
> Seatbelts on Matterhorn and Troika
*sigh*. I really find myself asking, "why?". I don't really object, especially on Matterhorn with its non-latching lap bar, but it really isn't necessary. And I hope they didn't do anything stupid like Six Flags did to the lap bars on the Matterhorn at Geauga Lake.
> Safety straps on Giant Wheel doors and Tilt-a-Whirl lap bars
This is another major "what the..." item. I can't imagine what they are trying to accomplish here, especially on the Tilt.
> New lifeguard shirts with SPF
> Headsets at Mine Ride and Mean Streak
> Auto-spiel at Demon Drop
> Magnetic exit gates on Wave Swinger, Witches’ Wheel and Camp Snoopy
Four examples of looking out for the employees.
> New platform signs at Raptor, Magnum, Disaster Transport,
> Mean Streak, Iron Dragon and WildCat
I wonder what this means. Is it the (in some cases overdue) replacement of the old worn-out signs, or do we get more acres of useless weasel-words?
> Food Services
> Subway (former Surrey)
Subs are certainly healthier than Dippin' Dots, which is what was there before...
> Tomo Japanese restaurant (in Hotel Breakers)
> Joe Cool Café
> - Featuring fresh salad bar
> - Great new kid’s menu (adult menu also available)
> - Creamy milk shakes
> - Fresh baked dog bone cookies
> - All kid’s meals come with a great souvenir lunch box
Awww, I figured for this one they'd set it up so that the adults get the cool box with the toy.
> Toft’s Ice Cream Parlor
> - Featuring Toft’s premium ice cream
> - Home made waffle cones
Well covered on PointBuzz. It's kind of like when Six Flags tried to run a park in Northern Ohio and didn't understand that the Cedar Point brand name was a lot stronger than the Six Flags brand. In Sandusky, Toft's beats Ben & Jerry every time.
> All beef burger (gluten free)
Ahhh...er...I'm not sure I want to know what was in the burgers before!
> Cajun popcorn shrimp baskets
> Great new 40oz Maverick souvenir vessel (only available at Cedar Point)
I wonder if they got together with Operations this time. Remember the Dragster souvenir vessels that were refillable, but could not be taken on Dragster when empty and would not fit into any locker? I still think the Intamin coasters ought to be set up with cupholders...
> Chocolate covered jumbo pretzels
Chocolate covered pretzels are good, jumbo pretzels are good. But is it possible to have too much of a good thing?
> All kid’s meals will come with a sanitizing wipe
Makes up for the lack of hand sanitizers outside the restrooms?
> Icee mix it up program (kids can mix and match various flavors
> in a great new souvenir cup)
Adults too, if you're into that sort of thing. They have the same thing set up at Kings Island now; continuous freezers set up so you can pull your own.
> Fresh squeezed lemonade at Planet Snoopy
> Great new Prime Rib burger at Game Day Grill (made from choice
> chopped prime rib)
Hmmmmm....
> Games/Merchandise
> Planet Snoopy Games
> Corn Popper game
> Duck Pond
> Dan Austin, new Games Warehouse Manager
> Ryan Reeve, new merchandise area manager
I don't know either of these people (I'm not that much of a CP geek!) but certainly congratulations are always in order to people who receive promotions and new appointments.
> CP Odds & Ends, between Pagoda and Snoopy Boutique, is becoming
> a print your own t-shirt venue
I'm still trying to picture where this place is...
> Woodcarver’s (formerly Gavere on the Frontier Trail) is now
> “Frontier Heart & Home,” featuring affordable country Americana
> home décor and a country Christmas section. Paul the woodcarver
> will still be in front of the store.
Hey, as long as Paul is still there...
> Spooky Hollow is also receiving upgraded merchandise and a
> store fixture upgrade
> Cedar Creek will be adding a new Christmas section with a
> fully-decorated tree
Combine that with the (snowing!) Christmas tree in the Snoopy Boutique and does that mean there are now two Christmas trees on the Point?
> Pagoda is in the process of a total floor move with a new look
> The Glasshouse is upgrading with specialty glassware including
> a selection of collectable Blenko limited-edition glassware. All
> Blenko products are made in the USA by skilled glass workers.
> Snoopy Boutique has new merchandise and a store reorganization
> to showcase Peanuts character sections
Oh, maybe they don't have the Christmas tree anymore...
> Accommodations
> 2nd phase of renovations to Sandcastle Suites
And I hear said renovation was long overdue?
> Justin Brady has been promoted to General Manager at Castaway Bay
> Paul Mesenburg has been promoted to Manager of Breakers Express
Again, I don't know these people, but congratulations on promotions...
> Dominic’s in the Hotel Breakers is changing to Tomo, a Japanese
> hibachi restaurant
> Marketing
> New ticketing system
I think I commented on this one earlier. This is the real exciting bit.
> Position changes
> New VP of Marketing, Clark Culbertson
> New Website Manager, Tony Clark
Again, congratulations, etc. Except I did actually meet Tony once.
> Live Entertainment
> Snoopy’s Big Bow Wow (ice show)
> All Wheels Extreme (Extreme Sports Stadium)
> Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Centennial Theatre)
> Country Unleashed (Red Garter Saloon)
On the one hand, I'm glad to see they figured out how to put the stadium to good use. On the other hand, I'm kind of sorry the stadium isn't gone yet.
There, I started. Anyone else care to comment?
--Dave Althoff, Jr.