Opening Day 2004 was similar to the Opening Days of 1999 and 2001 in that it did not feature a blockbuster ride premiere. However, Cedar Point kept up its tradition of improving the park during the off-years by adding a few new food venues and souvenir stores, painting Iron Dragon, expanding the Lighthouse Point campground, and making various other small, but well-thought changes. Below, our review of Cedar Point Opening Day 2004 goes into detail on the many changes made at Cedar Point during the 2003-2004 off-season. Click any photo to enlarge.

 

Food
The new Game Day Grill, replacing the Silver Dollar Cafe, features huge screens carrying the day's sporting events in a fun, themed environment. Game Day Grill staff add to the fun by wearing referee uniforms. Game Day Grill is located next to Blue Streak, just off of the main midway.

Donut Time, Cedar Point's new breakfast food store, is located just inside the park gates next to the Park Plaza gift shop. Donut Time serves "just-off-the-conveyor-belt" donuts and a wide variety of Tazo teas and Starbucks coffees. Donut Time opens for breakfast before the park officially opens, so guests can now have some breakfast before their morning Millennium Force lap.

 

Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que construction has also started. It is located at the old Boathouse restaurant, which was torn out over winter. Also, a new roof was put on the building housing Famous Dave's to match the new decoration of the restaurant.

Stores

A Wild Republic General Store replaces the Shooting Gallery in Frontiertown. Wild Republic features a wide variety of animal related gifts and souvenirs.

Replacing the Craft Bazaar on the Frontier Trail is the new Candy Shoppe. The small store carries Harry London chocolates, taffy, and fun, mixable "sour powders" for the kids.

Iron Dragon
Cedar Point's suspended coaster, Iron Dragon, underwent a color change during the off-season. Iron Dragon now features a red and orange color scheme, replacing its former gray and red color scheme. Iron Dragon's trains and station were not changed.
 

Lighthouse Point Expansion
Cedar Point's popular Lighthouse Point camping/cabin facility added several new full-service camping spaces and cabins. The cabins, situated around a quaint new bubbling brook, are basically identical to those put in for the original Lighthouse Point development in 2001.

Other Interesting Changes



Soak City's new Splash Zone play area is almost complete.





Raptor's entrance now faces a different direction.





Sky Ride received a coat of blue paint to replace its old brown paint.




A stroller area and gates were added to the outside of the Good Time Theatre, home of Snoopy ROCKS on Ice.




Half Court Hoops was moved near Millennium Force's entrance.





New cabanas are available for rent at Soak City.






Dodgem, Cedar Point's bumper cars ride, received a new sign.





No sign of the Swan Boats: now happily floating at Michigan's Adventure.
 

 

 

 

 

 

New Vending machines offer Doritos and Hershey's candy instead of M&M's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directional  Signs help guests staying overnight where their accommodation is.