First Time Cedar Pointer returns. Trip report now posted!

[Dormouse]

Hi. I will be going to Cedar Point for the first time on June 12-14. I have some questions concerning some things.

1. What is CoasterMania? I have heard some things about this but I don't know what it is. Will it be going on during our trip and could it affect the park attendance?

2. We are staying at Sandcastle Suites. How are these hotels? Any pointers in staying there? I understand that we get to enter the parks 1 hour early. How exactly does this work?

3. Are there any more tips from those who have been there that I should know? You know, tips from the insiders...

All tips/comments are appreciated! :D:up:

[fathorse]

1. I think it's an ACE event. Yes it will affect attendance.
2. Never stayed at the Sandcastle Suites before, but have stayed at the Breakers..... You'll get a pass you present at the gate to enter early.
3. Don't eat at the Game Day Grille, you have to leave a tip, but it's basically the same food you'll get at the outdoor stands, so unless you really like sports and can't live without watching Sportscenter, don't bother. Since you're arriving early go on Millennium and Maverick as soon as you can. Lines may be atrocious later in the day so at least you will have already ridden once and can choose if you want to wait 3 hours to do it again.

[Dormouse]

Thanks :up:

Okay I read a little about CoasterMania. It is on June 15.
So maybe it won't be that bad on the 12 & 13... hopefully.

[Hyde244]

1. It is an ACE event. The park is closed to ACErs only on this day.

2. The Sandcastle Suits have been newly remodeled in response to a mold problem they where having. When I got to see them over the off season, they were looking very nice, and are definitely on the high end of CP's hotels. It'll work out just fine for you.

With the early park entry, the people at the front desk will simply give you a receipt of sorts validating that your indeed a hotel guest. It's pretty simple and straight forward.

3. Now, since your a hotel guest, this will allow for you to knock Maverick out of the way early. Since your already at the tip of the peninsula - the back of the park, you'll be entering from the Magnum/Soak City entrance.

I'd highly recommend to enter the full hour early, and head straight to Maverick. Lines I would guess would be at max 30 minutes. Now, the lines aren't bad in normal operation (especially compared to TTD and MF when they first opened) usually with the wait being around 2 hours, but it helps to get on it quick.

Riding Maverick, I only have one tip of advice. Ride in the very back. You can thank me later.

Other than that, I'd advise to hit the back of the park (from MF over to Magnum) in the early morning as guests don't move to those parts until later in the afternoon. Everything has incredibly short, if not wlak on, lines.

Then come afternoon, move your way towards the front of the park.

[tycooner55]

If you arrive at the park early, begin riding rides towards the back off the park. On a busy day, we only waited 30-45min. or so for Millennium Force around 10:00am. By noon the line was already an hour and a half long. Saved us alot of time. Get to the back of the park early so you don't have to wait too long for Maverick.

[Harpo]

Personally, I like Game Day Grille. I think the "Sacrifice" is delicious, and you can't get that anywhere else in the park.

If you're hungry, Midway Market is the best food value in the park. It's all you can eat, including beverages.

The Hotel Breakers also has an all you can eat pizza buffet in the evenings, although I wasn't too impressed with it. The pizza at the Breakers is a bit too spicy for my tastes. My favorite Cedar Point pizza can be found at Macaroni's, which is inside the park.

If you'd like to catch some of the shows, get to the venues early -- they fill up fast. Personally, I think Cedar Point puts on some good shows. I saw this year's Rock 'n' Country at the Red Garter Saloon, and thought it was very enjoyable.

My personal opinion is that the front right seat on Raptor provides the single best roller coaster experience of any coaster I've been on, and I've been on quite a few!

If you'd like a very tasty meal and are willing to spend a few bucks, Bay Harbour Inn, next to the Marina, has excellent food. Out by Sandcastle Suites, you'll also find some very good food at the Breakwater Cafe.

Regarding CoasterMania, it actually is a Cedar Point event, not an ACE event, taking place on June 15th. The park is not closed to the public. You can find out quite a bit more about it on Cedar Point's website. The flyer about CoasterMania is here: http://www.cedarpoint.com/_upload/pdf/2007_coastermania.pdf

There's exclusive ride time for members of any amusement park industry club or roller coaster club for certain rides from 6 AM to 8:30 AM (before the park opens to the general public), and again from 10:30 PM until 12:30 AM (after the park closes to the general public).

[Dormouse]

Thanks that is really helpful! :D

[LightGrenades]

Lucky you get to go to CP :mad:

[disneyfreek]

i want to go!

[Dormouse]

Yep... I got to pick where we were going on vacation for part of my graduation gift. :)

[disneyfreek]

LUCKY

[Hemmy]

I just got back and you will love it.

I should have bucked up the extra money to get the ERT because I didn't get a lot of rides in, but they were fun.

Don't even bother riding Mean Streak is my advice, it is that bad. I had heard a lot of bad about it but until I rode it I had no idea a ride could be that rough.(2nd car)

[Dormouse]

Yea that's what most of the reviews say... It really sucks that bad? I've been on some extremely rough wooden coasters and found them moderately fun.

I love wooden coasters and Mean Streak looks really cool... but the reviews have been less than for it.

[coasterfreak044]

Don't mess with Mean Streak! Honestly i don't get how people can think it's too rough, i rode it fine no prob. The roughness is the purpose of a wood coaster, to feel like your out of control. if you don't like it then ride somthing else, but don't diss on it. it's just a regular wooden coaster, acctually, i really like Mean Streak its one of my favorites. You should give it a ride Dormouse, it's the only way to tell if you will like it. (the short wait for such a long ride also helps!)

[Dormouse]

Thanks!

Oh by the way, I'll be sure to give a trip report when I get back. :D Complete with reviews of all the rides...

[SnooSnoo]

You'll like it.. I do very much. Just remember to enjoy the hell out of it, because you never know when you'll be back.

In my case, i'll be there for 2 days next week... :)

[Dormouse]

Are you a Cedar Point employee? You always seem to be going there...

...Now that's lucky...

[tycooner55]

Couple suggestions for where to sit on some rides.

- Try to sit towards the front on Mantis. The back makes the already unavoidable headbanging much worse.

- Sit as far back as possible on Wicked Twister. I have yet to, but I've heard from many people that the back gives an awsome view on the back tower.

I don't know why people complain about Mean Streak so much. I'll agree, it's rough, but there are many wooden coasters that give a much rougher ride. IMO, Blue Streak is much more painful.

[disneyfreek]

my friend got to go to CARIOWINDS! he lost his voice on BORG! LOL.

[SnooSnoo]

Are you a Cedar Point employee? You always seem to be going there...

...Now that's lucky...

Nope. Just a huge fanboy who goes a lot.

[disneyfreek]

YAYAYAYAYAY for fanboys! LOL

[SnooSnoo]

^Maybe a compliment??

Well, you should be more jealous, because im going to SFGAdv, Holiday World, SFNE, SFA, BGE and BGA later this year too. ;)

[disneyfreek]

:eek2: :hitting-self:

[-NGS-]

I was literallly quite close to tears there...:(

[tycooner55]

^Maybe a compliment??

Well, you should be more jealous, because im going to SFGAdv, Holiday World, SFNE, SFA, BGE and BGA later this year too. ;)

:grrrrr:

I do get to go to Geauga Lake on June 11th. That'll be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm gonna make it to the Point this year. Next year for sure though. I'm anxious to ride Maverick. So I've heard, it's a ton of fun.

[Dormouse]

Well we are stopping at Silver Dollar City on the way... they have some good coasters but nothing compared to some other parks...

[The Ghost]

Couple suggestions for where to sit on some rides.

- Try to sit towards the front on Mantis. The back makes the already unavoidable headbanging much worse.

- Sit as far back as possible on Wicked Twister. I have yet to, but I've heard from many people that the back gives an awsome view on the back tower.

I don't know why people complain about Mean Streak so much. I'll agree, it's rough, but there are many wooden coasters that give a much rougher ride. IMO, Blue Streak is much more painful.

Out and back wood coasters usually are never rough. That usually happens on wooden twisters.

Now, I've ridden the Wildcat at Hersheypark before, and I gotta tell you, that is the roughest coaster I've ever been on. Now, I don't know about Mean Streak, but if it's rougher than that, forget it! But since it's mostly an out and back, it shouldn't be that rough, so give it a try. You can never know unless you experience it.

[tycooner55]

Out and back wood coasters usually are never rough. That usually happens on wooden twisters.

Now, I've ridden the Wildcat at Hersheypark before, and I gotta tell you, that is the roughest coaster I've ever been on. .

Go try out the Villain at Geauga lake. The Villain (pics Here (http://www.rcdb.com/ig633.htm)) is a double out and back hybrid, and is the only coaster I have every skipped riding. It gave me the worst head and backache of any coaster. I plan to try it again when I go in about a week since they did a little retracking.

I have ridden the Wildcat at Hershey park. It's nothing compared to the Villain.

[Hemmy]

As far as Wildcat and Villain go, the new Millennium Flyer trains on Wildcat supposedly have made that ride much better, even though I thought it was pretty good with the old ones.

Also, the Villain trick track is gone, and some re-tracking has taken place which from what I have heard has made it much more ridable.

[SnooSnoo]

^Its not. I rode it last week.. and it still sucks.. lol

[tycooner55]

^Its not. I rode it last week.. and it still sucks.. lol

That's not what I was hoping for, but I'm not suprised either. Those stupid Gerstlauer trains give a terrible ride. I'll still give it a try, and bring my the pain medicine :haha: :rolleyes:.

[Dormouse]

What about Disaster Transport? Is it really as bad as people make it out to be and is it worth the ride?

[fathorse]

Disaster Transport? Well if there's no line, sure why not. It's not as great as it was in 1990, and it wasn't that great then.

[Hemmy]

Disaster Transport is much better than people make it out to be.

Everyone seems to hate on it because Cedar Point did a poor mans job of adding a theme to the ride, but the ride its self is very fun, and worth the ride.

[Dormouse]

Woops I meant Disaster Transport... Disaster Report is a video game that I've been playing.

[SnooSnoo]

DT is horrible, you stop your lies. :)

[Dormouse]

It must be worth one ride though huh?
I doubt I'll be going to Cedar Point for a long time and I want to experience everything I can...

[fathorse]

It's worth one ride, but don't buy the glasses, most of the 3-D stuff is gone so it's a waste of a dollar.

[Harpo]

Personally, I like Mean Streak when riding in the very front seat. Once in a rare while, I'll get on it when they have the trim brakes turned off -- at that time, Mean Streak is awesome. The trim brakes really detract from the ride, but they make it more rideable for a larger number of people.

Without a doubt, Son of Beast is the roughest wood coaster I've been on. It makes Mean Streak look remarkably smooth, in comparison! (I don't know how SoB will be with the new trains and all the work that was done this winter, so that analysis is based on riding it last year and previous years.)

Very back seat of Wicked Twister does provide a neat ride, and a view of the opposite tower. That's where I usually sit on that ride.

Best thing about Disaster Transport: the queue is air conditioned. The ride is very tame. Since it only has a 46" height restriction, while most coasters are 48" or higher, it's a good coaster for younger coaster riders, but it is quite tame for hard-core coaster riders. I still always ride it, but it's low on my priority list.

If you like really wicked air time, go for the 3rd row on Magnum. You might want to put your hand under the bar before it gets to the bunny hills, however, or you might actually bruise your thighs! Personally, I love the Magnum air time, but it's too intense for some people. If you're concerned about its intensity, you might want to consider trying a spot other than the 3rd row first, then, if you're up to more violent air time, try the 3rd row.

[SnooSnoo]

I diagree with the SoB thingy tho.. as The Villian is BY FAR the roughest woodie i've been on. I refuse to ride it anymore.. ever. Mean Streak also fits that category.. as I'll only ride it if someone makes me.

And Magnum 3rd row is quite insane.. but i'm more of a fan of the middle seat in the back car.. as its not as painful and you definitely get as much airtime, if not more in some cases.

[cchiic]

I am going in July so these tip are pretty helpful to me. I cant wait!!!

[RCT Enthusiast]

Can you take me with you? I've never been there!

[cdp123]

DT is ok...its a bit underrated..but Disney could tear this theme up (but what else is new), it was pretty poorly themed, and ok ride, I dont have a problem with it, only ridden it twice in all the times ive been to the Point, it didnt excite me too much. The CEO of Cedar Fair said he thought DT was the worst business descision ever.

[disneyfreek]

report yet? Dormouse?

[SnooSnoo]

DT is ok...its a bit underrated..but Disney could tear this theme up (but what else is new), it was pretty poorly themed, and ok ride, I dont have a problem with it, only ridden it twice in all the times ive been to the Point, it didnt excite me too much. The CEO of Cedar Fair said he thought DT was the worst business descision ever.

He actually thought TTD was his worst decision... from what I could remember.

[fathorse]

report yet? Dormouse?

Since his trip isn't until the 12th-14th it would be mighty hard to write a report on the trip without his trusty DeLorean by his side wouldn't it?

[ziggles]

lol^^

[disneyfreek]

oops!

[Dormouse]

ROFLFAT :haha:


He actually thought TTD was his worst decision... from what I could remember.

No I think he said Disaster Transport was his number one worst.
TTD was number two due to it's low reliability.

He said Magnum was his best decision.

[cdp123]

Yeah, it was Disaster Transport as the worst, and XL as his best.

EDIT: And Harpo, I def. agree with you SoB is a very rough, intense ride, but that's why it's my favorite woodie :-D

[SnooSnoo]

ROFLFAT :haha:


No I think he said Disaster Transport was his number one worst.
TTD was number two due to it's low reliability.

He said Magnum was his best decision.


Well excuse me. Thats why I wasn't certain.. but I remembered that somewhere.

And of course Maggy was his best.. its just.. the sex. :)

[Harpo]

Yes, I heard his interview where he said Disaster Transport was his worst decision.

If I had a vote, I'd say short-lived VertiGo would be in the running for worst decision!

[Cedar Point]

1. It is an ACE event. The park is closed to ACErs only on this day.
Not true. Cedar Point is open to the public on that day, but ACErs get ERT on certain coasters. It is possible to go to the park on that day if you're not an ACEr, but it will be packed to the brim.

[Dormouse]

Okay I'm back people!
Sandcastle Suites is okay... our room smelled odd and it is out-dated but I think it's an okay hotel. The pool is nice how it's right there on the beach and the distance to the park is really short.

Here is my review of the rides I rode, in order of how much I liked them:

Maverick So awesome! I rode it twice both times in the front seat. I can't think of anything to say about it that hasn't already been said. The first drop and the launch in the tunnel are my favorite parts. The wait was insane but it was worth it.

Magnum XL-200 I loved it! I rode it 3 times twice in the front seat and once in the 3rd from front. The air-time is great on those bunny hills. My favorite part was the second hill facing Lake Erie.

Millenium Force Loved this one! Rode it twice both times in the front seat. The wait was sort of long but not too bad. That first drop is crazy. Plus it provided an interesting ride experience the first time I rode it:

There were these long Mosquito like insects that would swarm at night. Waiting in line by the unloading station of MF, I heard a girl in the front seat scream "OH MAH GAWD!!!" as she looked down to see splattered bugs all over her chest. The guy behind her yelled "MMM THEM BUGS TASTED GOOD!!!" Let's just say that riding MF at 9:30pm in the front seat is not the wisest thing to do if you're concerned about bugs... Keep your mouth closed!

Top Thrill Dragster I think this was the first time since I was a little kid that I was actually nervous about riding a roller coaster. Just waiting for that launch is scary... But the ride itself is so awesome. That view from the top is great and the speed is really intense. Too short, but it gives the greatest punch out of all the rides.

Raptor It's definetely an awesome ride! The wait was really bad at all hours of the park... and I only got 1 ride in. I think it is because it's the first big ride when you walk into the main entrance and so everyone heads straight for it. The front seat is really cool though.

Wildcat This ride surprised me. I was expecting a mild little ride but it was actually really fun and fast. That last helix is great.

Iron Dragon A smooth little ride. The drop over the lagoon is mildly thrilling. It was good for a break and there was really no wait.

Wicked Twister Nothing special really except the launch is great and the beach setting adds a lot.

Gemini There were some fun parts, but the operators couldn't get the trains to run at the same time when I rode it. The first drop is fun and the helix at the end is okay.

Disaster Transport I found it a tiny bit enjoying actually. There wasn't a long wait at all so I guess that added to it. I think if they fixed the scenery, and made it longer with some faster parts then it wouldn't be as bad as it is...

Blue Streak It was an okay ride. A better wooden coaster than Mean Streak at least. There was some good air time on some of those hills.

Corkscrew Yawn... Too short. Nice air-time on that little hill after the drop though. And the midway corkscrews were cool.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride Bor-ing! There was nothing special about it except the drop over the lake.

Mantis I think that this ride won my award for most painful and it ties with Mean Streak for my least favorite coaster. During the first drop and the giant loop I was thinking "Hey this is fun..." but after that, due to the way it forces your legs down I was just waiting for it to be over.

Mean Streak I didn't think it was as rough as people made it out to be, but it was probably the most boring ride out of all of them. It's so slow and those breaks at the top of the first hill are ridiculous. Luckily there wasn't much of a wait for it.

As for the CoasterMania thing I don't think it affected much attendance until the day before we left because I saw a lot of coaster geeks (Groups of older men with glasses who all wear T-shirts with coasters from other parks) checking into our hotel and walking around in the park.

Overall I really loved Cedar Point! The setting is perfect and the weather was ideal the entire time. They have great flat rides. Skyhawk and MaXair are fun. The food is the best out of every place I've been in terms of amusement parks. Midway Market was really good and so was Panda Express. The waits for some of the rides were pretty long and the early entry for resort guests didn't really seem to help... but a great park! Can't wait to see what they come up with next.

[fathorse]

There were these long Mosquito like insects that would swarm at night.

Those would probably be the fish flies. They're harmless, but disgusting. They swarm the point from May til late June and cover every available surface. Pretty much all the lakes have them.

[supermarioman]

Man, this just makes me want to go to CP even more.....:(

[Dormouse]

Those would probably be the fish flies. They're harmless, but disgusting. They swarm the point from May til late June and cover every available surface. Pretty much all the lakes have them.
When we first arrived late on the 11th there was this lady crouching in a corner with bug spray and a towel over her mouth spraying madly. As if she was going to defeat all of the bugs with one can of bug spray... :haha:

[LightGrenades]

I envy you. I really do.:mad:

[Dormouse]

It's okay... I'll bring all of you with me next time I go :D

[LightGrenades]

My parents were actually talking about going to CP sometime in the near future, but we have a problem: We would have to stay overnight (obviously) and we have 4 dogs that cannot be alone in the house for that long, so we would have to board them somewhere, which gets really expensive..:(

Anyway, Hershey to look forward to on Sunday!:D

[Dormouse]

I think they have some sort of kennel at CP... don't know if it's overnight but I remember seeing it on the map.

[LightGrenades]

Try getting 4 dogs, along with 6 people in a car to drive like 1,000 miles, then drive back.

Flying wouldn't be an option for the same reason, it would be mad expensive.

[Dormouse]

True... though it's only 500 miles from New Jersey to Sandusky, but I get your point.

[LightGrenades]

Oh well, I kinda meant there and back, but, doesn't matter.

[~LoveTulie]

My parents were actually talking about going to CP sometime in the near future, but we have a problem: We would have to stay overnight (obviously) and we have 4 dogs that cannot be alone in the house for that long, so we would have to board them somewhere, which gets really expensive..:(

Anyway, Hershey to look forward to on Sunday!:D

Lucky. I went there like 2 times.

But Cedar Point has this little area where you can keep you pets at the park all day and pick them up when you are leaving the park.

[Harpo]

FYI: The kennel does not take overnight guests. The CP hotels do not allow pets, but Camper Village does allow pets. (Pets are not supposed to be left in the campers during the day, however.)