What is the best game plan for visiting Cedar Point?
Thank you, again, to everyone who is participating in these threads. Today's park to plan for is Cedar Point.
Is rope-dropping necessary, or even advisable for Cedar Point? If so, when do you need to get to the causeway for an effective rope drop?
When are the best dates to visit? Are there any special events at the park are worth visiting, and how do they affect the game plan?
Is Fast Lane a good buy? If sometimes, when? In what order should you visit the rides here if you do not buy the Fast Lane?
What are your picks for food at Cedar Point? Finally, at what point do you call it a day - when have you done enough that sticking around is no longer worth the time and effort?
Replies (2)
Thank you! Great stuff.
I am not going to give an itinerary but have been to CP many times and will say a few things:
-If you go in the spring (particularly when they first open) expect the place to have major staffing issues. Its an a huge property with no nearby urban employment base, its an hour away from Cleveland and two hours away from Detroit, and there isn't anything around Sandusky, so while school is in session they have a very hard time staffing the place. CP is largely staffed with international employees and they don't seem to be there in the spring either. This will impact your visit if you go before memorial weekend as there may be closed rides/staggered openings/long lines for food. During the summer they adequately staffed and its not an issue. I'm not sure if this is a big issue during fall as many of those international employees may stay on. They do give free housing for their employees in the spring/fall.
-CP is the only park I would highly recommend the all day dining deal. Leaving the park to eat can be precarious because of how big it, how long it takes to leave and come back, and how much there is to do at the park. For only $35 you can get a meal every 90 minutes and the park has tons of food options. TBH i'm surprised they still offer this at this price considering how much food you can get. If you go at opening and stay to close you can have like 7 full on meals (i'm sure there are a small subset of people who are going to get a meal every 90 minutes compared to those that don't...but when I buy something I want to get my moneys worth lol).
-CP has a lot of family rides and is actually a great park for people with kids. I highly recommend everyone ride the really great railroad they have, skyride, giant Ferris Wheel, Carousel, Antique cars, they have a really rare horse racing ride named Cedar Downs which is unique (although that specifically is not for little kids and does have a high height requirement). There's also tons of low to mid thrill flats as well as a few high intensity flats. And there are also two Peanuts themed areas, Camp Snoopy and Planet Snoopy, and another kids area (Kiddy Kingdom) that is kind of old and outdated but TBH if you have a 4-5 year old they don't care about that they will probably enjoy it.
-Magnum, Corkscrew, and Rougaru are easily the worst coasters in the park and i'd save them until last so that way if you get a headache it doesn't ruin your whole day. Iron Dragon isn't great either, but that's not really because its rough, more because it doesn't really do anything. Personally i'm not much of a Gemini fan anymore and it can be rough as well...but the racing does make it a unique experience.
-Expect Top Thrill 2 and Maverick to be constantly going down over and over every day you are there. That is normal.
-Cedar Point is an awesome park, it really is one of the best in the world with an amazing rides collection and unique atmosphere, but its also one where you have to pack your patience because it draws big crowds. Maverick, Steel Vengeance, Millennium Force, and probably Siren's Curse all regularly get 60+ minute waits and even get Fastlane waits (I personally have never purchased it, but have noticed those rides have Fastlane wait times signs posted at the entrances and those rides regularly get 10-30 minute waits with Fastlane).