Questions about Cedar Point

[♫musicman♫]

My brother has been promising to take me to Cedar Point. And we finally have a date. Oct. 11.

Questions:

If you stay at the park's hotel, do they let you in early?

Is Cleaveland Hopkins the only airport to get there?

Any ways to save $$$?

Any horrible rides no worth my time?

Please, anything that can help me make this a sucessful trip.

Have a Nice Day!:noob:

[SnooSnoo]

1. Yes
2. Detroit and Toledo are the closest airports, outside of Cleveland Hopkins.

But, CLEHop has the most choices, cheapest prices, and is really the only and best option.

3. Yeah, don't stay in a CP Hotel, but an off-site one.
4. Mantis, Mean Streak, Wildcat, and Disaster Transport.

If you've never been, ride them all.. just to see how they all are. CP does have quite the diverse selection.

[northpaw]

Yeah, they do have like a million. But IMO there are only several that are really worth riding... when you have 17 coasters, quality gets sacrificed somewhere.

[~LoveTulie]

To save money, don't buy a lot at the park. The food is over-expensive. Go there in the morning, maybe go to the TGI Friday's at Hotel Breakers, have a big meal there, then you won't have to eat for the rest of the day. Or go to Mcdonalds, which is 2 seconds away from the park.

Although if you want to go buy food at the park, I highly recommend buying gourmet pretzles, near the skyride station, near the scramble. They are best pretzles ever!

[♫musicman♫]

Wow, thanks a lot you guys.:up:

[Sno]

^ Also, be prepared, if your staying at Hotel Breakers, to put a pillow above your head so you can sleep. :)

[ytivarg]

My brother has been promising to take me to Cedar Point. And we finally have a date. Oct. 11.

Questions:

If you stay at the park's hotel, do they let you in early?

You get in one hour before the public when you stay at a CP resort.

Is Cleaveland Hopkins the only airport to get there?

You could also use Akron/Canton... it's about 45 minutes drive to the park.

Any ways to save $$$?

Drink ice water, free at any food location. Just ask for a cup. Otherwise it's $3.00 for a 20oz. of soda.

Need aspirin/heartburn relief/etc? Don't buy it, go to First Aid and it's free. Just ask.

Any horrible rides no worth my time?

Mean Streak isn't worth the wait, if it has one. If it doesn't, go ahead, but be prepared to be in pain for a while afterwards. Skyhawk is fun, but the fun ends all too quickly. You spend more time loading and waiting for the ride to stop than you actually spend riding the thing. It's fun, but only as a walk-on ride. I wouldn't wait for it.

DO wait for Maverick... and DO ask the ride host at the turnstile in the station if you can wait for the front seat. I haven't ridden anywhere but the front seat on Maverick. I can't tear myself away from the front!

DO wait for Millennium Force, and ride as far back in the train as you can.

DO ride in an odd numbered row on Wicked Twister (ie: station queues 1,3,5...) Even numbered rows are attached to the odd number in front of them, and you will be staring at the seat in front of you the entire trip. Odd numbered rows will spiral out of the way giving you views up and down the towers. Best seats are the front row, either seat... or row 15, right hand side.

Please, anything that can help me make this a sucessful trip.

I'd honestly suggest you ignore the Halloweekends festivities and spend time riding the rides. You can get these cheezy scares anywhere during Halloween. While some of it is done very well, it's time better spent waiting for an amazing ride, while the rest of the crowd goes and fills up the queues for the haunted attractions.

Dress in layers. It usually feels about 10 degrees colder out on the peninsula than it does on the mainland... and the temperature this time of year can be extremely finicky. One hour you'll be sweating in the sun, and the next a group of clouds rolls in and you're freezing. Be prepared for it.

Enjoy yourself, as much as you can... Saturday Halloweekends are notoriously busy the past few years... and seem to be getting more crazy every year. You might not be able to ride everything in one day, especially the date you have chosen. If you can extend, or change, your stay to include Sunday the 12th, that would be even wiser. Shorter hours, and no haunted attractions on Sundays, leave the majority of the crowds at bay.... you'll get a lot more riding done.

Have fun!

[CedarFreak]

ride the dragster, force, and maverick, all at least once. do not ride disaster transport, it always has about a 45 minute wait. mean streak never has a line, and the mantis is fun, but ride it if it has a short line. A good line for millenium and dragster are about 45 to an hour, so if you get that wait through it, milleniums line moves really quickly.

[Cedar Point]

Yeah, they do have like a million. But IMO there are only several that are really worth riding... when you have 17 coasters, quality gets sacrificed somewhere.
They don't design the coasters..

I'm sure that the manufacturers/designers aren't slacking on quality because CP has a lot of coasters...:weird:

[SnooSnoo]

^But that doesn't cut away from the point that they DO lack quality.

The only problem is CP, unlike some other parks, kept their older rides.. Corkscrew, Gemini, Blue Streak.. while you find other mega parks (SFGAdv and SFMM) sacrificed for new technology.

But.. I do find it nice to ride something a bit older rather then be anal raped with new stuff. Definitely helps CP keep that atmosphere.

You could also use Akron/Canton... it's about 45 minutes drive to the park.

How fast are you driving on the Turnpike for THAT to happen? A/C is longer then that. :P

[ytivarg]

How fast are you driving on the Turnpike for THAT to happen? A/C is longer then that. :P

Okay, 45 to an hour... zoom-zoom.

[tycooner55]

But.. I do find it nice to ride something a bit older rather then be anal raped with new stuff.

:bulb:..............I beg for you to explain this.

DO ride in an odd numbered row on Wicked Twister (ie: station queues 1,3,5...) Even numbered rows are attached to the odd number in front of them, and you will be staring at the seat in front of you the entire trip. Odd numbered rows will spiral out of the way giving you views up and down the towers.

Very interesting. I never thought about that. I'll have to pay attention next time I go, but I'll most likely be wanting to get a ride in the back first ;)

[ytivarg]

Very interesting. I never thought about that. I'll have to pay attention next time I go, but I'll most likely be wanting to get a ride in the back first ;)

The back row is an even row. Row 15, the row in front of the back seat, is where you want to be. Right hand seat. When you go up the back tower, the car spirals out of the way, and in the right hand seat, you get a view straight down the tower.

[-Skully-]

The back row is an even row. Row 15, the row in front of the back seat, is where you want to be. Right hand seat. When you go up the back tower, the car spirals out of the way, and in the right hand seat, you get a view straight down the tower.

Ah, I never realized that. I do remember going in the second-last seat of the train once, and it was a spectacular ride. I pretty much ALWAYS go in the right-side of the car.. because before I read what you said, I knew that it spirals out more than the left side. Thanks for the info though, I never really knew that. Sad thing, I'm usually riding in the 3rd-last car, which is even.

Just wondering, have you ever ridden in the front? I have ridden in the second seat, but I didn't find it that excited, due to the fact you're not that high while facing down-wards. the only time i'll wait for the front is if I'm in the very front seat.. well, that is, if the view is good.

[deadstar]

Why is Disaster Transport so bad?! Have I missed something or??

[Harpo]

If you're hungry, you can save a few bucks by eating at Midway Market, which is an all-you-can-eat buffet. This year, for the first time, it is being themed for HalloWeekends, so I'm not sure if it will still be an all-you-can-eat buffet, but I suspect it will be.

Also, Game Day Grille has some really good food with large portions.

If you want the benefit of the early entry that comes from staying at a Cedar Point Resort, but you want a lower price, look into Breakers Express. The downside is that you have to drive across the Causeway to get to the park, rather than just walking into the park, but it is the least expensive Cedar Point resort, and is actually quite reasonable compared to other area hotels. Best of all, being that it is a Cedar Point resort, you still are entitled to the early entry.

[CedarFreak]

Why is Disaster Transport so bad?! Have I missed something or??

It's because you wait in line for over a half hour shortest for a ride that takes like 30 seconds. and it is really slow, and not very exciting, unless you scream the entire ride. Then it is funny:p:haha:

[~LoveTulie]

If you're hungry, you can save a few bucks by eating at Midway Market, which is an all-you-can-eat buffet. This year, for the first time, it is being themed for HalloWeekends, so I'm not sure if it will still be an all-you-can-eat buffet, but I suspect it will be..

Hmm.. last time I went to Midway, it sucked. The only real food they had was meatloaf, mashed potatoes (those are great!) and chicken. not many selections to choose from.. aside from the nachos/cheese.

Well, there was other food. I just remember it being a lot better the years before... maybe it was because i went in during lunch?

[Cedar Point]

I <3 Midway Market. Eggrolls=pwn.

[SnooSnoo]

..............I beg for you to explain this.

Don't worry. ;)


ps: DT sucks.

[Harpo]

It's because you wait in line for over a half hour shortest for a ride that takes like 30 seconds. and it is really slow, and not very exciting, unless you scream the entire ride. Then it is funny:p:haha:

Well, actually, the ride's about 2:30. However, it is a rather tame ride that isn't worth a long wait.

When going at the right times of day, I've often found the wait to be under 5 minutes. On hot days, it is not uncommon for the wait to be 45 minutes or more due to the queue being air conditioned!

[CedarPointer]

DT was my first CP coaster. Why? I heard it was so bad, I just had to ride it and see for myself! (What do handprints on a wall have to do with anything?!)

[fathorse]

Hmm.. last time I went to Midway, it sucked. The only real food they had was meatloaf, mashed potatoes (those are great!) and chicken. not many selections to choose from.. aside from the nachos/cheese.

Well, there was other food. I just remember it being a lot better the years before... maybe it was because i went in during lunch?

Last year there was only pizza when I went, which was weekend of Sept. 7 or so. Lots of pizza. It was pretty good.

[Harpo]

DT was my first CP coaster. Why? I heard it was so bad, I just had to ride it and see for myself! (What do handprints on a wall have to do with anything?!)

The handprints on the wall are actually from the Pharaoh's Tomb HalloWeekends haunted house. The three rooms (now two rooms) of the Disaster Transport queue looked significantly different when they first opened in 1990.

[CoasterJoe]

I when back and found this list that I made a little bit ago. This list has come from years of going to CP. Added some stuff to it:


Blue Streak: Good Woody, but short for wait time.
Cedar Creek Mine Ride: Very smooth to me for its age.
Corkscrew: Hate it
Disaster Transport: Hate it, not even worth a 10 minute wait, like my firend said.
Gemini: I like it, but it isn't a true wodden coaster.
Iron Dragon: Kiddy Ride, boring
Jr. Gemini: Kiddy Ride, very boring
Magnum XL-200: Good in front, Bad in back, rough over the last two little hills.
Mantis: One coaster to ride before your legs hurt. I didn't like it.
Maverick: One of my favorite. (HINT: For anyone that goes on it, lean with the turns so you don't get banged around.)
Mean Streak: Wow, this coaster lives up to its name. It is mean. Ture Woody though.
Millennium Force: The first drop is the best. Don't ride it right as the train is going pass the coaster though, my brothers got soot in their eyes.
Raptor: With Maverick, one of my favorite rides. I love having my feet dangle.
Top Thrill Dragster: FAST, but not worth a 2 hour wait. I will only go on it if it is 1 hour wait or less.
Wicked Twister: The back of this coaster is the best, better than the front I think. (HINT: For anyone that goes on this coaster, you will want the restraints as tight as possible though.)
Wildcat: I didn't really like this one. Bounces you around alot.
Woodstock Express: A Kiddy ride to me. Boring.


~Joe

[cpkidOH]

If the airfares are expensive for CLE and DTW, try Akron/Canton or Columbus, even though it will be a longer drive from these cities.

I would see if you can rework it so you can go on the 12th instead. October 11 will probably be one of the busiest days of the year, if you coming from far enough that you have to fly, you should go on a day when you'll be able to ride without huge waits.

Food, as Tulie mentioned above, is overpriced. The best food deal is from the Johnsonville Brat Cart, which they seem to rotate between Frontiertown and the Main Midway. For $4.99 you get a brat, chips and soda. Otherwise, a meal (drink included) from one of the quick service places will usually come to about $11. I wouldn't eat at Midway Market. I think they only have pizza during Holloweekends. For a cheap drink, buy some apple cider- only $0.85!

Don't bother with the Holloweekends stuff since this is your only trip there this season.

Have fun:)!

[Hyde244]

IDon't bother with the Holloweekends stuff since this is your only trip there this season. If you do want to get your Halloweekends fill but indeed are pressed for time, I recommend taking the Frontier Trail when getting back to Maverick or slipping through Camp Snoopy on your way to Gemini/Magnum.

Both of these path ways feature free walking scare zones (Fright Zone and CarnEvil), essentially a haunted pathway.

So you can be getting to your desired ride AND crap scared out of you all at the same time! :rolleyes:

[♫musicman♫]

wow, thanks so much you guys!

I am leaving for the trip on friday(the tenth) and I will be returning monday(the thirteenth).

We did some guestimating and the rough price is about $1000!


airfare: $875 -
car rental: $100 -
hotel: $385 -
parking: $40 -
admission: $200 -
food + souvenirs: $300 ($150/each)

I have to pay exactly half of what we spend. :(
But turn that frown upside-down! I'm so excited! :D