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Cedar Fair is “Coasting For Kids”

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Cedar Fair Press Release

SANDUSKY, Ohio – The thrill of a roller coaster ride will have a whole lot more meaning on Thursday, July 29 when Cedar Fair Entertainment Company’s (NYSE: FUN) eleven amusement parks host “Coasting For Kids 2010” to raise money for Give Kids The World Village, the nonprofit organization that provides weeklong vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

The fun-filled event is a company-wide effort. Park fans and coaster enthusiasts alike will enjoy a day filled with riding the coolest roller coasters at their favorite park over and over again. Featured rides include Gemini at Cedar Point, Shivering Timbers at Michigan’s Adventure, Jaguar at Knott’s Berry Farm and the Racer at Kings Island, with rides at the other seven parks to be announced soon. All participants are encouraged to raise at least $50 for Give Kids The World to take part – with prizes going to the top three fundraisers at each park.

All participants will receive complimentary admission to the park of their choice, a “Coasting For Kids” t-shirt and unlimited rides on the event’s featured attraction. Each participating park will also offer additional event perks unique to their location.

“Cedar Fair has been proud to partner with Give Kids The World for many years,” said Lee Ann Alexakos, Vice President Marketing and Advertising, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. “’Coasting For Kids’ is the perfect way for our guests to enjoy our parks – and help children with life-threatening illnesses.”

“We are so excited to work with Cedar Fair,” echoed Give Kids The World President, Pamela Landwirth. “We had such fun at the inaugural event at Cedar Point last year, and are looking forward to this nationwide coaster marathon at all eleven locations this year. This tremendous support for Give Kids The World will help us continue to make dreams come true for children who need it most.”

“Coasting For Kids” will take place at Cedar Point, OH; Kings Island, OH; Canada’s Wonderland, Ontario, Canada; Dorney Park, PA; Valleyfair, MN; Michigan’s Adventure, MI; Kings Dominion, VA; Carowinds, NC; Worlds of Fun, MO; Knott’s Berry Farm CA; and California’s Great America, CA. Anyone who is interested in participating can go to www.firstgiving.com/gktw, click “register for an event” and pick the park they wish to attend and take part at. All participants must raise at least $50 by Wednesday, July 28 to take part in the event on July 29. Space at each park is limited. To learn more, interested participants can call Give Kids The World at 407.396.1114 ext. 4504 or email dream@gktw.org or log on to www.gktw.org.

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: “FUN”) is a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. The Company, which owns and operates 11 amusement parks, six outdoor water parks, one indoor water park and five hotels, is one of the largest regional amusement park operators in the world. Its parks are located in Ohio, California, North Carolina, Virginia / District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, and Toronto, Ontario. Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, California under a management contract. Cedar Fair’s flagship park, Cedar Point, has been consistently voted the “Best Amusement Park in the World” in a prestigious annual poll conducted by Amusement Today newspaper.

Give Kids The World

Give Kids The World Village (GKTW) is a 70-acre, nonprofit resort in Central Florida that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. GKTW provides accommodations at its whimsical resort, donated attractions tickets, meals and more for a weeklong, cost-free fantasy vacation. With the help of many generous individuals, corporations and partnering wish-granting organizations, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 101,000 families from all 50 states and 72 countries.

News and Updates, News Stories, Ride Watch, Rides

Web update: New Cedar Point thrill ride

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From the Sandusky Register…

SANDUSKY

Cedar Point’s new thrill ride for 2011 will be announced in mid-August — a relatively early announcement compared to previous ride announcements.

Cedar Fair’s chairman and CEO, Dick Kinzel, dropped a hint about what’s coming. “It’s going to bring back a lot of memories for people that follow Cedar Point,” he said.

Events, News and Updates, News Stories, Rides, Water Rides

Cedar Point’s Shoot the Rapids finally makes a splash

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From the Sandusky Register…

SANDUSKY

The first splash came at 10:40 a.m.

The new Shoot the Rapids water ride finally began, after several weeks of delay while Cedar Point officials fixed the ride’s problems.

The first riders were 24 people who bid in a Red Cross charity auction for the privilege.

When that was completed — that first group actually got two rides apiece — it was opened up to the general public.

Cedar Point spokesman Robin Innes estimated that about 8,000 people would ride it on the first day.

Jeff Harper, 43, a Southfield, Mich., resident who bid $105 to be one of the first riders, said that although the ride is aimed at the entire family, its two hills make it substantial enough to please coaster fans.

“I think a lot of the coaster fans will really enjoy those drops,” Harper said. “Those are good drops.”

Harper can draw on plenty of experience when discussing Shoot the Rapids. He has been on 682 roller coasters in 191 amusement parks.

“Cedar Point is my favorite in all those parks,” he said.

“It was great. The first splashdown was the best. Really good stuff,” said Andy Rybarczyk, 28, of Chicago, who drove four and a half hours to get to Sandusky.

Rybarczyk had spent the whole winter watching the construction of Shoot the Rapids on a Cedar Point webcam and decided he’d be one of the first riders. He bid $125.

Cedar Point is marketing the ride as suitable for all ages. The youngest first rider Saturday was Abe Haprian, 8, of Wadsworth, Ohio. The oldest was his grandmother, Meredith Hickey, 70, Huron.

Cedar Point officials had not been completely sure the ride would launch on Saturday. It flunked a Thursday night state inspection, but inspectors from the Department of Agriculture returned Saturday morning to complete the licensing process.

Innes did not specify what the last-minute mechanical hitches were, but said Cedar Point and the state inspectors agreed to raise the height requirement for Shoot the Rapids. It had been 42 inches. That was raised to 46 inches for a person accompanied by an older adult, and 48 inches for a person riding by himself.

Shoot the Rapids originally had been supposed to open on May 15. That was delayed to May 29, and then was delayed further. Although other rides have launched behind schedule, the six-week delay for Shoot the Rapids was the longest ever logged for a Cedar Point ride, at least within recent memory, Innes said.

The Firelands Chapter of the American Red Cross has been having auctions for first riders since 1994, and has raised $150,500 with those auctions, said Judy Kinzel, who is active in the local chapter. Shoot the Rapids raised $7,000.

Not everyone could attend Saturday’s debut on short notice — the ride’s launch was announced Thursday — so a few of the people claiming the first 30 seats will come later.

Each rider who won a spot in the auction received the first two official rides on Shoot the Rapids and all-day admission to the park. They also got yellow Shoot the Rapids rain slickers, a Cedar Point mug, a Cedar Point beach towel, a Cedar Point T-shirt, a commemorative medallion and a certificate.

The highest bidder was Jeffrey Brashares of Columbus who bid a total of $2,400, or $800 apiece, to put himself and two family members on the ride. As the top bidder, Brashares got the first pick of available seats.

News and Updates, News Stories, Rides, Water Rides

Cedar Point’s New Shoot the Rapids Water Ride Opens For The Summer

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Cedar Point Press Release

SANDUSKY, Ohio — Cedar Point’s Shoot the Rapids water ride is now open!

The newest ride at the Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park/resort, Shoot the Rapids, opened for the season earlier today, Saturday, June 26.

“The first hill rocks,” said Jeff Braschares, from Delaware, Ohio, who rode the new water ride with his wife and 9-year-old daughter.  “You get super wet at the bottom of the first hill!”

Located on the Frontier Trail, Shoot the Rapids is Cedar Point’s third water ride.  The new family thrill ride features two hills and two splash landings.  The first hill is 85 feet-tall, one of the tallest water ride hills in the world, while the second hill crests 49 feet above the ground.  At the bottom of the first hill, boats are traveling nearly 50 mph!  To ride Shoot the Rapids, guests must be at least 48 inches tall or 46 inches tall and accompanied by a responsible adult.

Shoot the Rapids uses more than 730,000 gallons of water.  The 2,100-foot journey carries riders through a dark mist-filled tunnel and in between canyon walls with spraying water before sending the boats skimming across churning rapids at the bottom of the ride’s second hill.

Non-riders can also join in the fun.  Eight water geysers are located along the ride’s meandering course.  For only 25 cents, guests who want to stay dry can launch bursts of water at unsuspecting riders from an observation deck located near the bottom the ride’s grand finale!

Eight-year-old Abe Haprian of Wadsworth, Ohio, described the park’s newest ride in one word:  “Awesome!”  The first hill was cool and the geysers are really neat.  Everybody gets wet!”

With the opening of Shoot the Rapids, Cedar Point now has 75 rides, including 17 roller coasters, more rides and more coasters than any park in the world.

In addition to Shoot the Rapids, the park has introduced five new shows to its entertainment package.  This summer’s new shows range from country classics and a real-life version of MTV’s Rock Band video game to a high-energy ice skating show featuring Snoopy and the PEANUTS characters.

For more information, visit cedarpoint.com or call the park’s General Information Line at 419.627.2350.

Events, News and Updates, News Stories, Rides, Water Rides

Shoot the Rapids gets green light and splash down

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From the Sandusky Register…

SANDUSKY

It’s finally here!

UPDATE: 10:40 a.m.

Inspectors and Cedar Point officials smoothed out last-minute snags and 24 Red Cross highest bidders took the inaugural ride today.

The ride is expected to be open through the weekend, barring any other problems.

Cedar Point official expect 8,000 people will ride the new offering on Saturday alone.