Theme Park Insider

Cedar Point reviews

Written by
Posted: May 15, 2009

Location: Cedar Point is located on the shore of Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, about an hour west of Cleveland. You can get driving directions by clicking the Cedar Point link on Theme Park Insider's Google map of U.S. theme parks.

History: Cedar Point opened as a lakeshore park in 1870. Rides were added in the early 1900's, with rapid development of the park beginning in the 1960s.

Hours: http://www.cedarpoint.com. Cedar Point is open from early May through Halloween.

Tickets: Buy and print online. Always try to buy your tickets in advance, to save time when you get to the park.

Strategy: Since wait times on the park's roller coasters can exceed two hours even on slower days, arriving before the park opens at 10 a.m. is a must. Ride some of the major rides like Top Thrill Dragster or Maverick. try not to head to Raptor right when you enter the park due to the crowds, come back mid-day for a shorter wait. Then work your way around the park to the other coasters. Cedar Point's non-coaster rides usually do not have very long waits, except on the busiest days, so you can visit those of your choosing at your convenience.

If you have young kids:

Camp Snoopy offers the park's largest collection of rides for children. In addition, county fair-style kiddie flat rides are available in the Gemini Jr. Play Area, next to Camp Snoopy, and the Kiddie Kingdom, off the Main Midway. Kids might also enjoy Planet Snoopy which was added in 2008 and features rides from Geauga Lake, located between the Main and Wicked Twister Midways - behind the Coliseum, as well as classic amusement rides like the Carousel, Railroad, Giant Wheel and Space Spiral.

Kids of different ages will enjoy the Snoopy on Ice show near the Marina entrance and the Wildcat coaster. It's a nice cool place to escape the heat of the day.

Another method is to utilize the north entrance to the park and start from the back, working your way towards the front. The majority of guests start their day in the front of the park, and you are likely to sneak in a few quick rides in the back. By the time you get to the front, the crowd has spread out.

[Update this description]

Photo of Cedar Point

See all photos | Submit Photo

Readers' Tips for Visiting Cedar Point

[1003 + / 95 -] Don't skip the park's smaller coasters. A few of them are actually pretty good rides.

[256 + / 10 -] If you get in line for a ride just before park close, they will keep running the ride till the entire line is cleared before closing the ride for the day. Its a Great way to ensure that you get to ride the Maverick, or the Dragster.

[217 + / 19 -] Make sure you visit on a weekday early or late in the summer to avoid hour-plus waits for all the good rides.

Where to stay at Cedar Point

Readers' reviews:

Attractions
Camp Snoopy(Rating)(Height)
Camp Bus7
Woodstock Express6
Balloon Race6
Peanuts 5006
Lolli Swing5
Tilt A Whirl4
Red Baron442
Frontier Trail(Rating)(Height)
Millennium Force948
Thunder Canyon746
Mantis654
Shoot the Rapids542
Frontiertown(Rating)(Height)
Maverick952
Skyhawk848
Antique Cars7
Wave Swinger648
Cedar Creek Mine Ride648
Snake River Falls648
Mean Streak548
Jr. Gemini Children's Area(Rating)(Height)
Frog Hopper736
Jr. Gemini5
Rock, Spin & Turn2
Space Age2
Kiddy Kingdom(Rating)(Height)
Old Timers7
Carousel7
Dune Buggies6
Helicopters6
Sir Rub-A-Dub's Tubs6
Motorcycles636
Hot Rods5
Police Cars4
Roto Whip3
Sky Fighters3
Mustangs3
4x4s2
Main Midway(Rating)(Height)
Raptor954
Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad8
Cedar Downs Racing Derby848
Blue Streak748
Wildcat748
Sky Ride7
Midway Carousel7
Calypso6
Dodgem6
Scrambler6
Turnpike Cars6
Iron Dragon646
Top Thrill Dragster Midway(Rating)(Height)
Top Thrill Dragster952
Magnum XL-200948
Paddlewheel Excursions8
Gemini848
Power Tower852
Witches' Wheel748
Matterhorn7
Super Himilaya6
Corkscrew648
Monster536
Wicked Twister Midway(Rating)(Height)
Windseeker1048
MaxAir952
Chaos848
Wicked Twister852
Giant Wheel7
Space Spiral7
Ocean Motion6
Disaster Transport546
Troika5

[Add a missing attraction]

Dining
Camp Snoopy(Rating)
Charlie Brown’s Cookout8
Frontier Trail(Rating)
Panda Express
Gristmill Refreshments
Frontiertown(Rating)
Chuck Wagon Inn9
Chick-Fil-A7
Hotel Breakers(Rating)
Perkins9
TOMO5
TGI Friday's4
Main Midway(Rating)
Kiddieland Refreshments8
Midway Market7
Coasters7
Game Day Grille6
Johnny Rockets5
Burger Patio5
Subway - Main Midway2
Hurricane Hannah's
Marina(Rating)
Famous Dave's8
Bay Harbor8
Top Thrill Dragster Midway(Rating)
Happy Friar 8
Grand Stand Foods2
Wicked Twister Midway(Rating)
Joe Cool Cafe6

[Add a missing restaurant]

"A must read for any Disney fan!" Stories from a Theme Park Insider
"Stories from a Theme Park Insider" includes 40 stories about life working at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, in a feel-good book any theme park fan will love. Download a sample from Amazon.com or Apple's iBooks today!

Search Theme Park Insider

News, Video and Live Updates

Facebook YouTube Twitter RSS Newsfeed E-mail Newsletter Google Plus

Reader Reviews, by Theme Park

United States Top 10 *

International parks

Readers' Top Themed Rides

Top Roller Coasters

Top Live Shows

Top Movies/Animated Shows

Theme Park Reviews, Features, Advice

Theme Park News Archive

2012

Jan. Feb.

2011

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2010

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2009

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2008

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2007

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2006

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2005

Dec.

2004-2005

Staff column archive