What is a typical media day like?

[Jarrett]

Anybody who's seen my posts about Banshee media day in Trip Planning knows I'm pretty nervous yet excited to do it (I'm seeing it the same way most people see their first roller coaster, let's hope the outcome is the same as mine.) but I was thinking; I can't be the only one in this boat. And there are probably some out there who'll never get to even experience a media day. So I was wondering, what is a typical one like? What is the typical schedule throughout the day? What kind of food do they serve? What's the social structure like? Is it acceptable to put on a neon green spacesuit and ride your stick horse through the park reciting the Cyrillic alphabet backwards loudly?

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS:
*Do they typically serve food at media days?
*How do you typically check in?
*Once in, do you just break from the gate and go ride or do you have to go meet up with your club? (I understand this could vary by club, but if they all do one or the other I'd like to know which.)
*Do they normally have speakers at this? As in the "We're happy to officially open blahblahblah?" and then there's an explosion and confetti flies everywhere and streamers fly out from behind the signs and then Oprah comes out and gives everybody a free Banshee toilet paper holder? (Okay, maybe bar the Oprah part, but we all know what I mean...but I still want a free Banshee toilet paper holder )
*Do they normally have souvenir shops open? I'd love to add a Banshee hat to my different gooniform options!
*Please pretty pretty please with sprinkles and cherries and fluffy, fluffy kittens and more sprinkles on top can they open Diamondback too? :roll:
*Will the park be gated off in such a way that you won't be able to go anywhere that isn't Action Zone or will you be able to walk around, just not ride?

While I am looking for general information about just a typical media day, if they're all different, let's say it's like GateKeeper's.

Thanks in advance, finding out the answers to some of these questions should calm my nerves a bit.

 

[ECG]

Do they typically serve food at media days? - Only to members of the media, not the invited coaster group members.

How do you typically check in? - Front gate check in.

Once in, do you just break from the gate and go ride or do you have to go meet up with your club? (I understand this could vary by club, but if they all do one or the other I'd like to know which.) - Someone from the park escorts you to the ride location.

Do they normally have speakers at this? As in the "We're happy to officially open blahblahblah?" and then there's an explosion and confetti flies everywhere and streamers fly out from behind the signs and then Oprah comes out and gives everybody a free Banshee toilet paper holder? (Okay, maybe bar the Oprah part, but we all know what I mean...but I still want a free Banshee toilet paper holder ) - Yes

Do they normally have souvenir shops open? I'd love to add a Banshee hat to my different gooniform options! - Yes

Please pretty pretty please with sprinkles and cherries and fluffy, fluffy kittens and more sprinkles on top can they open Diamondback too? :roll: - Possible, but not likely.

Will the park be gated off in such a way that you won't be able to go anywhere that isn't Action Zone or will you be able to walk around, just not ride? - Gated off, Action Zone access only.

While I am looking for general information about just a typical media day, if they're all different, let's say it's like GateKeeper's. - It will be the same as Gatekeeper's media day except I think we should also have access to the Bat.

I'm surprised you're asking these questions here instead of on TPR since you're going a part of their group, but then if you did you might get banned for asking the wrong question.

 

[rtotheizzo17]

Media days, much like virgins, are VASTLY overrated.

Sometimes its not always best to get off (the ride) and shout first!

 

[Intricks]

If its similar to Gatekeepers, thdn I would expect a couple more coasters to open (albeit briefly) as Raptor opened around 2 and Millennium opened around 4 for either an hour a piece or a coupke hours each. Plus they offered food to the enthusiasts as well (since they did open it up to club members as well and not just those that were media related).

 

[Snoo]

Its more fun when its more exclusive. Massive media days are a glorified slow day later in the season with a much more annoying crowd.

 

[ECG]

Its more fun when its more exclusive. Massive media days are a glorified slow day later in the season with a much more annoying crowd.

QFT

 

[Jarrett]

Do they typically serve food at media days? - Only to members of the media, not the invited coaster group members.

How do you typically check in? - Front gate check in.

Once in, do you just break from the gate and go ride or do you have to go meet up with your club? (I understand this could vary by club, but if they all do one or the other I'd like to know which.) - Someone from the park escorts you to the ride location.

Do they normally have speakers at this? As in the "We're happy to officially open blahblahblah?" and then there's an explosion and confetti flies everywhere and streamers fly out from behind the signs and then Oprah comes out and gives everybody a free Banshee toilet paper holder? (Okay, maybe bar the Oprah part, but we all know what I mean...but I still want a free Banshee toilet paper holder ) - Yes

Do they normally have souvenir shops open? I'd love to add a Banshee hat to my different gooniform options! - Yes

Please pretty pretty please with sprinkles and cherries and fluffy, fluffy kittens and more sprinkles on top can they open Diamondback too? :roll: - Possible, but not likely.

Will the park be gated off in such a way that you won't be able to go anywhere that isn't Action Zone or will you be able to walk around, just not ride? - Gated off, Action Zone access only.

While I am looking for general information about just a typical media day, if they're all different, let's say it's like GateKeeper's. - It will be the same as Gatekeeper's media day except I think we should also have access to the Bat.

I'm surprised you're asking these questions here instead of on TPR since you're going a part of their group.

I'll just bulleted list this.

*So you go to the front gate like you're entering the park and they have a table set up? And do you just show them your membership card?
*Sounds similar to what we did when we went to Kings Dominion where you all group at a path junction and they unchain it and walk you back to the ride area (in that case it was I-305).
*Okay. Does that happen before or after we get to ride? I don't think they'll want to talk at 6 in the morning but I could be wrong.

And will Oprah be there?

*Yay! I shall add a Banshee hat to the gooniform options!
*Well we can only hope! Having Bat and Banshee open is enough for me, personally, but I wouldn't mind Diamondback or The Beast opening later...
*Sounds good! Action Zone it is!
*I heard nothing but good things about GateKeeper's, so this should be a fun day!
*The reasons I'm asking here are A. I was looking for just general structures of these events and wanted to get perspectives from members of other clubs instead of just Club TPR (I've gotten some good information from them, though) and B. I'm worried that if I post more over there people won't like me and I'll have made a negative impression and nobody there will want anything to do with me once they find out who I am. Trying to be somewhat low key right now. They all seem like nice people, though, I doubt I could mess much up.

Media days, much like virgins, are VASTLY overrated.

Sometimes its not always best to get off (the ride) and shout first!

I probably won't be the first one on, though.

If its similar to Gatekeepers, thdn I would expect a couple more coasters to open (albeit briefly) as Raptor opened around 2 and Millennium opened around 4 for either an hour a piece or a coupke hours each. Plus they offered food to the enthusiasts as well (since they did open it up to club members as well and not just those that were media related).

Okay, thanks. Was the food free or did they charge for it? And was it normal park food or not?

Its more fun when its more exclusive. Massive media days are a glorified slow day later in the season with a much more annoying crowd.

Sounds good, slow days are the best days in my book!

 

[Hyde]

If its similar to Gatekeepers, thdn I would expect a couple more coasters to open (albeit briefly) as Raptor opened around 2 and Millennium opened around 4 for either an hour a piece or a coupke hours each. Plus they offered food to the enthusiasts as well (since they did open it up to club members as well and not just those that were media related).

Gatekeeper was a great Media Day, and I hope Cedar Fair uses it as a model going forward.

In general Jarrett, the park will make everything idiot proof (they did invite coaster geeks after all, right? :roll: ) and you'll be able to ride as many times as your heart desires.

 

[Intricks]

I found it hilarious that we all were given free photo cards to use, and we couldnt redeem them that day cause Alvey broke the camera (I am dead serious. The train he was on went through and it froze the system or something).

I believe it is all park food (breakfast MIGHT have been brought in from outside as it was a bunch of fresh fruit and donuts), but they are only open for so long.

As Hyde says, pretty idiot proof and just a whole lot of fun.

 

[Jarrett]

If its similar to Gatekeepers, thdn I would expect a couple more coasters to open (albeit briefly) as Raptor opened around 2 and Millennium opened around 4 for either an hour a piece or a coupke hours each. Plus they offered food to the enthusiasts as well (since they did open it up to club members as well and not just those that were media related).

Gatekeeper was a great Media Day, and I hope Cedar Fair uses it as a model going forward.

In general Jarrett, the park will make everything idiot proof (they did invite coaster geeks after all, right? :roll: ) and you'll be able to ride as many times as your heart desires.

Sounds good! Can't wait to just get on this thing and ride it as I please!

I found it hilarious that we all were given free photo cards to use, and we couldnt redeem them that day cause Alvey broke the camera (I am dead serious. The train he was on went through and it froze the system or something).

I believe it is all park food (breakfast MIGHT have been brought in from outside as it was a bunch of fresh fruit and donuts), but they are only open for so long.

As Hyde says, pretty idiot proof and just a whole lot of fun.

I bet it wasn't Robb that broke the camera, but I LOLed reading that. XD From what you (and others) are saying it sounds like the VIP open house I did for my dad's work. If they run it like the morning Diamondback ERT we got I've got this!

 

[coaster addict]

I know this is a little late... Banshee was our first Media Day (we were not able to get Dollywood for their fun). Of course, we are already planning to attend Carowinds' 2015 Media Day lol! We were bummed to miss Gatekeeper's; it was quite nice from what we heard, and it seems like Banshee's Media Day was in line with what Gatekeeper's was! BTW, that ice cream was great.

BTW, do most media day events allow riding right at the beginning and then break for the statements and presentations? That strategy seems to draw more excitement during the speeches since the guests have ridden it!

 

[ECG]

Media days vary greatly from one event to the next. I've been to some where I've ridden the new coaster for an entire day before any type of presentation or even before other media participated. Others have a ceremony first before anyone is permitted to ride. I wouldn't say one draws more excitement than another. Everybody's always pretty pumped and willing to show it no matter what.

 

[coaster addict]

Hey, ECG... so, which is the best and worst media day you've ever gone to? Don't worry... I won't tell anybody! ;-)

 

[ECG]

Outlaw Run's media days were by far the best and I've yet to go to a bad one, so no need to comment on which was the worse. :wink: