NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIODS ENDED SEPTEMBER 25, 2011 AND SEPTEMBER 26, 2010

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared from the financial records of Cedar Fair, L.P. (the Partnership) without audit and reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly present the results of the interim periods covered in this report.

Due to the highly seasonal nature of the Partnership’s amusement and water park operations, the results for any interim period are not indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year. Accordingly, the Partnership has elected to present financial information regarding operations and cash flows for the preceding fiscal twelve-month periods ended September 25, 2011 and September 26, 2010 to accompany the quarterly results. Because amounts for the fiscal twelve months ended September 25, 2011 include actual 2010 season operating results, they may not be indicative of 2011 full calendar year operations.

(1) Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies:

The Partnership’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the periods ended September 25, 2011 and September 26, 2010 included in this Form 10-Q report have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2010 , which were included in the Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2011 . Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Form 10-K referred to above.

(2) Interim Reporting:

The Partnership owns and operates eleven amusement parks, six separately gated outdoor water parks, one indoor water park and five hotels. In order to better facilitate discussion of trends in attendance and guest per capita spending than would be possible on a consolidated basis, the Partnership's eleven amusement parks and six separately gated water parks have been grouped into regional designations. Parks in the Partnership’s northern region include Cedar Point and the adjacent Soak City water park in Sandusky, Ohio; Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio; Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto, Canada; Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom near Allentown, Pennsylvania; Valleyfair, near Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom near Cleveland, Ohio; and Michigan’s Adventure near Muskegon, Michigan. In the southern region are Kings Dominion near Richmond, Virginia; Carowinds near Charlotte, North Carolina; and Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri. The western region parks include Knott’s Berry Farm, near Los Angeles in Buena Park, California; California’s Great America located in Santa Clara, California; and three Knott’s Soak City water parks located in California. The Partnership also owns and operates the Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Resort in Sandusky, Ohio, and operates Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, California under a management contract. Virtually all of the Partnership’s revenues from its seasonal amusement parks, as well as its outdoor water parks and other seasonal resort facilities, are realized during a 130- to 140-day operating period beginning in early May, with the major portion concentrated in the third quarter during the peak vacation months of July and August.

To assure that these highly seasonal operations will not result in misleading comparisons of current and subsequent interim periods, the Partnership has adopted the following accounting and reporting procedures for its seasonal parks: (a) revenues on multi-day admission tickets are recognized over the estimated number of visits expected for each type of ticket and are adjusted periodically during the season, (b) depreciation, advertising and certain seasonal operating costs are expensed during each park’s operating season, including certain costs incurred prior to the season which are amortized over the season, and (c) all other costs are expensed as incurred or ratably over the entire year.

(3) Long-Lived Assets:

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment upon the occurrence of events or changes in circumstances that would indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. In order to determine if an asset has been impaired, assets are grouped and tested at the lowest level for which identifiable, independent cash flows are available. A significant amount of judgment is involved in determining if an indicator of impairment has occurred. Such indicators may include, among others: a significant decline in expected future cash flows; a sustained, significant decline in equity price and market capitalization; a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate; unanticipated competition; and slower growth rates. Any adverse change in these factors could have a significant impact on the recoverability of these assets and could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

The long-lived asset impairment test involves a two-step process. The first step is a comparison of each asset group's carrying value to its estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets, including disposition. Projected future cash flows reflect management's best estimates of economic and market conditions over the projected period, including growth rates in revenues and costs, estimates of future expected changes in operating margins and cash expenditures. Other significant estimates and assumptions include terminal value growth rates and future estimates of capital expenditures. If the carrying value of the asset group is higher than its undiscounted future cash flows, there is an indication that impairment exists and the second step must be performed to measure the amount of impairment loss. The amount of impairment is determined by comparing the implied fair value of the asset group to its carrying value in a manner consistent with the highest and best use of those assets. The Partnership estimates fair value using an income (discounted cash flows) approach, which uses an asset group's projection of estimated operating results and cash flows that is discounted using a weighted-average cost of capital reflective of current market conditions. If the implied fair value of the assets is less than their carrying value, an impairment charge is recorded for the difference.

At the end of the fourth quarter of 2010, the Partnership concluded based on 2010 operating results, as well as updated forecasts, that a review of the carrying value of long-lived assets at California's Great America was warranted. After performing its review, the Partnership determined that a portion of the park's fixed assets, the majority of which were originally recorded with the PPI acquisition, were impaired. As a result, the Partnership recognized $62.0 million of fixed-asset impairment during the fourth quarter of 2010 which is recorded in "Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net" on the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

(4) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets:

In accordance with the applicable accounting rules, goodwill is not amortized, but, along with indefinite-lived trade-names, is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. Historically, goodwill related to parks acquired prior to 2006 has been annually tested for impairment as of October 1, while goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangibles, including trade-name intangibles, related to the Paramount Parks (PPI) acquisition in 2006 have been annually tested for impairment as of April 1. Effective in December 2010, the Partnership changed the date of its annual goodwill impairment tests from April 1 and October 1 to December 31 to more closely align the impairment testing procedures with its long-range planning and forecasting process, which occurs in the fourth quarter each year. The Partnership believes the change is preferable since the long-term cash flow projections are a key component in performing its annual impairment tests of goodwill. In addition, the Partnership changed the date of its annual impairment test for other indefinite-lived intangibles from April 1 to December 31.

During 2010, the Partnership tested goodwill for impairment as of April 1, 2010 or October 1, 2010, as applicable, and again as of December 31, 2010. The tests indicated no impairment of goodwill as of any of those dates. During 2010, the Partnership tested other indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment as of April 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. After performing the April 1, 2010 impairment test, it was determined that a portion of trade-names at certain PPI parks were impaired as the carrying values of those trade-names exceeded their fair values. As a result the Partnership recognized $1.4 million of trade-name impairment during the second quarter of 2010. This impairment was driven mainly by an increase in the Partnership’s cost of capital in 2010 and lower projected growth rates for certain parks as of the test date. After performing the December 31, 2010 test of indefinite-lived intangibles, it was determined that a portion of the trade-names at California's Great America, originally recorded with the PPI acquisition, were impaired. As a result, the Partnership recognized $0.9 million of additional trade-name impairment during the fourth quarter of 2010 which is recorded in "Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles" on the consolidated statement of operations.

The change in accounting principle related to changing the annual goodwill impairment testing date did not delay, accelerate, avoid or cause an impairment charge. As it was impracticable to objectively determine operating and valuation estimates for periods prior to December 31, 2010, the Partnership has prospectively applied the change in the annual goodwill impairment testing date from December 31, 2010.

A summary of changes in the Partnership’s carrying value of goodwill for the nine months ended September 25, 2011 is as follows:

 

At September 25, 2011 , December 31, 2010, and September 26, 2010 the Partnership’s other intangible assets consisted of the following:

Amortization expense of other intangible assets for the nine months ended September 25, 2011 and September 26, 2010 was $49,000 and $53,000 , respectively. The estimated amortization expense for the remainder of 2011 is $9,000 . Estimated amortization expense is expected to total less than $100,000 in each year from 2012 through 2015.

(5) Long-Term Debt:

In July 2010, the Partnership issued $405 million of 9.125% senior unsecured notes, maturing in 2018 , in a private placement, including $5.6 million of Original Issue Discount to yield 9.375% . Concurrently with this offering, the Partnership entered into a new $1,435 million credit agreement (the "2010 Credit Agreement”), which included a new $1,175 million senior secured term loan facility and a new $260 million senior secured revolving credit facility. The net proceeds from the offering of the notes, along with proceeds from the 2010 Credit Agreement, were used to repay in full all amounts outstanding under our previous credit facilities.

Terms of the 2010 Credit Agreement included a reduction in the Partnership's previous $310 million revolving credit facilities to a combined $260 million facility. Under the 2010 Credit Agreement, the Canadian portion of the revolving credit facility has a limit of $15 million . U.S. denominated loans made under the revolving credit facility bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 400 basis points (bps) (with no LIBOR floor). Canadian denominated loans made under the Canadian portion of the facility also bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 400 bps (with no LIBOR floor). The revolving credit facility, which matures in July 2015 , also provides for the issuance of documentary and standby letters of credit.

In February 2011 , the Partnership amended its 2010 Credit Agreement (as so amended, the “Amended 2010 Credit Agreement”) including to extend the maturity date of the U.S. term loan portion of the credit facilities by one year. The extended U.S. term loan, which amortizes at $11.8 million per year beginning in 2011, matures in December 2017 and bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 300 bps, with a LIBOR floor of 100 bps. As the result of an optional $18.0 million debt prepayment made in August 2011, the Partnership has no term-debt principal payments due within the next twelve months.

The Partnership's $405 million of senior unsecured notes pay interest semi-annually in February and August, with the principal due in full on August 1, 2018 . The notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time prior to August 1, 2014 at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus a “make-whole” premium together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. Thereafter, the notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at various prices depending on the date redeemed. Prior to August 1, 2013 , up to 35% of the notes may be redeemed with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings at 109.125% .

The Amended 2010 Credit Agreement requires the Partnership to maintain specified financial ratios, which if breached for any reason, including a decline in operating results, could result in an event of default under the agreement. The most critical of these ratios is the Consolidated Leverage Ratio which is measured on a trailing-twelve month quarterly basis. Since the third quarter of 2010, this ratio has been set at 6.25 x consolidated total debt (excluding the revolving debt)-to-Consolidated EBITDA. Beginning with the fourth quarter of 2011, this ratio will decrease to 6.0 x consolidated total debt (excluding the revolving debt)-to-Consolidated EBITDA, and the ratio will decrease further each fourth quarter beginning with the fourth quarter of 2013. As of September 25, 2011 , the Partnership’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio was 4.25 x, providing $117.4 million of consolidated EBITDA cushion on the ratio as of the end of the third quarter. The Partnership was in compliance with all other covenants as of September 25, 2011 .

The Amended 2010 Credit Agreement also includes provisions that allow the Partnership to make restricted payments of up to $60 million in 2011 and a minimum of $20 million annually thereafter (plus the Available Amount of Excess Cash Flow as defined in the Amended 2010 Credit Agreement), at the discretion of the Board of Directors, so long as no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing. These restricted payments are not subject to any specific covenants. Beginning in 2012, additional restricted payments are allowed to be made based on an Excess-Cash-Flow formula, should the Partnership’s pro-forma Consolidated Leverage Ratio be less than or equal to 4.50 x. Per the terms of the indenture governing the Partnership's notes, the ability to make restricted payments in 2011 and beyond is permitted should the Partnership's trailing-twelve-month Total-Indebtedness-to-Consolidated-Cash-Flow Ratio be less than or equal to 4.75 x, measured on a quarterly basis.

In addition to the above, among other covenants and provisions, the Amended 2010 Credit Agreement contains an initial three-year requirement (from July 2010) that at least 50% of our aggregate term debt and senior notes be subject to either a fixed interest rate or interest rate protection.

 

(6) Derivative Financial Instruments:

Derivative financial instruments are only used within the Partnership’s overall risk management program to manage certain interest rate and foreign currency risks from time to time. The Partnership does not use derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

The Partnership has effectively converted a total of $1.0 billion of its variable-rate debt to fixed rates through the use of several interest rate swap agreements. Cash flows related to these interest rate swap agreements are included in interest expense over the term of the agreements. These interest rate swap agreements are set to expire in October 2011 . The Partnership has designated all of these interest rate swap agreements and hedging relationships as cash flow hedges. The fair market value of these agreements at September 25, 2011 was recorded as a liability of $4.8 million in “Current derivative liability” on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. As a part of the regular quarterly regression analysis testing of the effectiveness of these cash flow swaps, these swaps were deemed to be ineffective as of October 2009 and continued to be ineffective through September 25, 2011 . As a result of this ineffectiveness, losses recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” (AOCI) are being amortized through October 2011 (the original hedge period). The amount recorded in AOCI to be amortized was $91.8 million at the time of ineffectiveness, and was fully amortized as of September 25, 2011 .

In 2007, the Partnership entered into two cross-currency swap agreements, which effectively converted $268.7 million of term debt at the time, and the associated interest payments, related to its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary from variable U.S. dollar denominated debt to fixed-rate Canadian dollar denominated debt. The Partnership originally designated these cross-currency swaps as foreign currency cash flow hedges. Cash flows related to these swap agreements, which expire in February 2012 , are included in interest expense over the term of the agreement. The fair market value of the cross-currency swaps was a liability of $37.7 million at September 25, 2011 , which was recorded in “Current derivative liability” on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. As a result of paying down underlying Canadian term debt with net proceeds from the sale of surplus land near Canada’s Wonderland in August 2009, the notional amounts of the underlying debt and the cross currency swaps no longer match. Because of the mismatch of the notional amounts, the Partnership determined the swaps were no longer highly effective, resulting in the de-designation of the swaps as of the end of August 2009. As a result of this de-designation, losses recorded in AOCI are being amortized through February 2012 (the original hedge period). The amount recorded in AOCI to be amortized was $15.1 million at the time of de-designation, of which approximately $125,000 still remained to be amortized in AOCI as of September 25, 2011 .

In May 2011, the Partnership entered into several foreign currency swap agreements to fix the exchange rate on approximately 50% of the termination payment associated with the cross-currency swap agreements due in February 2012 and in July 2011 the Partnership entered into another foreign currency swap agreement to fix the exchange rate on an additional 25% of the termination payment. The fair market value of these foreign currency swap agreements was a liability of $16.8 million at September 25, 2011 , which was recorded in "Current derivative liability" on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Partnership did not seek hedge accounting treatment on these foreign currency swaps, and as such, changes in fair value of the swaps flow directly through earnings along with changes in fair value on the related, de-designated cross-currency swaps.

In order to maintain fixed interest costs on a portion of its domestic term debt beyond the expiration of the swaps entered into in 2006 and 2007, in September 2010 the Partnership entered into several forward-starting swap agreements ("September 2010 swaps") to effectively convert a total of $600 million of variable-rate debt to fixed rates beginning in October 2011. As a result of the February 2011 amendment to the 2010 Credit Agreement, the LIBOR floor on the term loan portion of its credit facilities decreased to 100 bps from 150 bps, causing a mismatch in critical terms of the September 2010 swaps and the underlying debt. Because of the mismatch of critical terms, the Partnership determined the September 2010 swaps, which were originally designated as cash flow hedges, were no longer highly effective, resulting in the de-designation of the swaps as of the end of February 2011. As a result of this ineffectiveness, gains of $7.2 million recorded in AOCI through the date of de-designation are being amortized through December 2015, $6.4 million of which remained to be amortized in AOCI as of September 25, 2011 .

On March 15, 2011, the Partnership entered into several additional forward-starting basis-rate swap agreements ("March 2011 swaps") that, when combined with the September 2010 swaps, will effectively convert $600 million of variable-rate debt to fixed rates beginning in October 2011. The September 2010 swaps and the March 2011 swaps, which have been jointly designated as cash flow hedges, mature in December 2015 and fix LIBOR at a weighted average rate of 2.46% . For the period that the September 2010 swaps were de-designated, their fair value decreased by $3.3 million , the offset of which was recognized as a direct charge to the Partnership's earnings and recorded to “Net effect of swaps” on the consolidated statement of operations along with the regular amortization of “Other comprehensive income (loss)” balances related to these swaps. No other ineffectiveness related to these swaps was recorded in any period presented.

On May 2, 2011, the Partnership entered into four additional forward-starting basis-rate swap agreements ("May 2011 forward-starting swaps") that effectively convert another $200 million of variable-rate debt to fixed rates beginning in October 2011. These swaps, which were designated as cash flow hedges, mature in December 2015 and fix LIBOR at a weighted average rate of 2.54% .

The fair market value of the September 2010 swaps, the March 2011 swaps, and the May 2011 forward-starting swaps at September 25, 2011 was a liability of $33.8 million , which was recorded in “Derivative Liability” on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments in Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet:

 

The following table presents our existing fixed-rate swaps, which mature October 1, 2011, along with their notional amounts and their fixed interest rates, which compare to 30-day LIBOR of 0.25% as of September 25, 2011 . The table also presents our cross-currency swaps and their notional amounts and interest rates as of September 25, 2011 .