Hot Tips for Cedar Point

Cedar Point, also known as "America's Rockin' Roller Coast", is a destination Amusement Park Resort. Featuring 68 rides including 16 roller coasters (with a new one currently under construction for 2007) people travel from all over America, and even from overseas to go there. There are two on-ground hotels, a camping ground, and a number of small cottages for rent. Also, right outside the park there are two other hotels, one with an indoor waterpark. The park is also known for its numerous live shows and performances.

Because the park sits on a peninsula on Lake Erie, there is also a large marina on one side, and a sandy beach on the other. Leasing is available from the marina, and the beach is accessible to hotel guests. Adjacent to the park is Soak City, a large waterpark with a separate admission.

Quick Tips:

Cedar Point is open every day from early May until Early September, and is then open every weekend until Halloween. I highly recommend going early in the season or late in the season and avoid weekends if possible. If you go on a weekend from mid-June to August, you will most likely need at least two days to fully experience the park (and the hotels make that convenient!).

Admission is , but there is a AAA discount available as well is discounts on Pepsi cans and special offers from the website. Two day passes and "Ride-n-Slide" (Amusement Park and Water Park admission) are discounted by the park as well. There is also usually a college student discount with coupon.

Best Way To Get Around:

Driving to the park is by far the best way, but parking for a day costs a hefty . Non-affiliated hotels also offer shuttle buses to and from the park.

The best way to get around, literally, in the park is naturally walking, but the skyride on the main midway is a good way to relax and get an above ground view of the park and its patrons. The train ride is also relaxing and enjoyable.

Voted #1 roller coaster in the world, and for good reason. At 310 feet tall, this relentless ride drops you nearly straight down to a speed of 93 mph and takes you through a course of over-banked turns and airtime-filled hills.

When you first arrive at the park (as long as it isn't too late in the day) definitely head straight to either this or Top Thrill Dragster because the lines for these two rides can get unbearably long (up to 2 1/2 hours). You'll notice that a lot of other people will be doing the same thing, but those crowds would not compare to a fuller park later in the day.

As most coasters are, the very front and the back of the trains are the best places to ride, with a tamer experience in the middle rows--tame is a relative word, mind you. The front provides great views and a wonderful feeling of speed, but the back has more powerful airtime and a greater sense of that out-of-control feeling.

There is an on-ride photo in the middle of the second tunnel, so you know when to say CHEESE! Those photos can be purchased at a stand right at the exit and t-shirts and other souvenirs are available at gift shops all around the park.

Intamin AG, the company that created this ride, used wonderful open and comfortable trains, and the height restriction is only 48 inches so younger children can experience this #1 ride.

IMPORTANT: This coaster is a must ride! You cannot leave the park without riding this at least once!

Built in 2003, Top Thrill Dragster is Cedar Point's most recent coaster. It is currently the world's second tallest and fastest roller coaster at 420 feet tall at 120 mph. Despite being a mere 17 seconds long, this thing packs a punch! Going from 0 to 120 mph in less than four seconds is pure bliss, and then going straight up only to plummet straight back down is a non-stop adrenaline rush.

You should head to either this or Millennium Force first if you arrive in the morning, because once the park gets fuller the line gets very long! Also, if you are willing to stay late, you can get in line for this right as the park closes and get a late night ride.

The front seat of this ride is incredible, but it usually means an extra half hour to forty-five minute wait. If you have the time to spare it is definitely worth it, if not, every seat is just about the same great experience. It is a dual station, but my experience is that the lines for each are generally similar, so either one is fine.

There are two on-ride photos, one during the launch, and one on the brake section side, and both will most likely make you look like an unrecognizable rodent (no offense). Similar to Millennium Force, there are souvenirs available at pretty much every gift shop in the park.

This is another coaster you shouldn't leave the park without riding. It is truly an awesome experience you won't forget!

Wicked Twister is a launched 'Impulse Coaster', which means it is not a complete circuit, but just goes back and forth five times up two vertical twisting spikes. It reaches a speed of 70 mph, but only on its second backwards acceleration; the initial launch is only 55 mph (still awesome, though)! Oh yeah, and this is all done with you hanging below the track and your feet dangling!

You can get in line for this at any point in the day without it being too incredibly long, but during the late afternoon, the line will be shorter due its location near the front of the park, and most people are towards the back of the park by that point. If you get to the park at opening, it might be wise to ride this first, as it will be a walk-on, and then head to Millennium Force or Dragster.

The back seat is the most intense seat on this ride, going up the highest on the back spike, but the front also takes you up pretty far on the front spike as well as cool views. If you're looking for a milder experience, the middle rows, as they always are, are the place to be.

The coaster has a cool location, literally on the beach parallel to the Lake Erie shore. The entire midway in that section of that park is also quite new with a lot of games and fun atmosphere.

Though there are coasters like this at other parks, this is still a great ride and I highly recommend it!

When it debuted in 1989, it was the tallest and fastest coaster in existence and it was nothing like anything seen before. It started the new generation of 'Hyper Coasters', and started it off with a bang, too--no other hypers compare. It is currently the #3 coaster in the world and is one of my favorites as well. The main appeal of Magnum is all the bunny hills and the loads of airtime they produce.

The line for this is fairly short for the first couple hours after opening, but then in the early afternoon it will get more crowded and generally stay that way until close. I'd recommend riding it after Millennium Force or Dragster in the morning.

Magnum can be a little rough, especially in the very back, and though it is still fun in the back, I would recommend any seat in the first car most. There are 3 rows of seats in each car, and the smoothest ride will be in the middle seat, where it is not sitting on the wheels. My favorite seat is the third row of the first car as for some reason it seems to provide the most intense airtime.

The restraints can get uncomfortable on your legs or thighs during the ride, but if you keep yourself from putting your hands up and hold onto your restraint you may find it to be a more comfortable ride.

Magnum is certainly a must ride at Cedar Point, and I guarantee you'll enjoy the views on the first couple hills looking out at Lake Erie!

Built in 1969, Cedar Creek Mine Ride is a steel coaster themed around a mine train in the Frontier Town section of the park. I surely hope they weren't theming it after a runaway mine train, because this coaster really has no fast or interesting elements. If you're into gentle, borderline relaxing coasters, this is for you! The final helix before the brakes is probably the best part, but still not too intense.

The best seat on this ride is the front, because at least you get some views. Besides the front every other seat is pretty much the same and gives a similar experience. If the very back has the same line as the middle, then go for the back as it may be a bit better.

This ride has a very short line early in the day, and usually doesn't get too long of lines throughout the day as most people wouldn't re-ride it or even ride it at all. So, any time during the day is fine for this, but especially in the morning if you want to get it out of the way.

If the line is short and you have time, you may as well give it a shot. Younger children would also enjoy this ride, and the height requirement is only 48 inches, so bring the kids along!

Similar to three other coasters at Cedar Point, Gemini was at one point the tallest and fastest coaster on earth. Now that was way back in 1979, but it is still a very fun coaster. It is a steel racing coaster with a wooden structure, so it is often misperceived as a wooden coaster. It is not an extremely intense ride, but there some pops of airtime and it is always fun to have a race with the other train!

Because it usually has two trains running on each side (2x2=4) the line is never too long and it goes very quickly, so anytime during the day is a fine time to ride. Since it is in the back of the park, the line is a lot shorter in the mornings though.

The very front seat is my favorite spot on this ride because it gives the best airtime, and you can see the track and the other train in front of you which is always fun (unless you're winning, of course). It is hard to tell which side will win because the ride operators will also let one of the trains leave the station a little early, so it's all up to luck if you want to win!

The height requirement is only 48 inches, and this is definitely a coaster a child would enjoy. Oh, and don't forget to notice the very '80s looking logo!

When Bolliger & Mabillard designed and created the first inverted coaster, Batman: The Ride at Six Flags Great America, they hit the nail right on the head. Batman is a great ride, but with their second go at an inverted roller coaster in 1994, Raptor, they took another great leap forward. Out of the many inverted coasters I've been on, Raptor is still my favorite. It is the first coaster you see when you walk into the park, and at 137 feet tall with six inversions it certainly stands out.

Because of its location right at the front of the park, many guests immediately queue up for this at the beginning of the day. Though you may be tempted, if you can hold out riding it until late afternoon (after four) the line will be much shorter. Raptor's line is always fast moving as well, so even on the busiest of days, a long line can move very quickly.

Waiting for the front is only an extra five or 10 minutes, so I highly recommend waiting; it is well worth it! Otherwise every other seat is basically a similar great experience. The back is a bit more forceful and usually causes me to grey-out a bit on the pullout of the first loop into the second zero-g roll inversion.

The on-ride photo is taken during the final helix so make sure you're smiling! :) The height restriction is 54 inches, and it is also quite accomodating for larger guests.

This is a must ride! Do not leave the park without kicking the sky on Raptor!

Mantis, which opened in 1996, is a stand-up coaster built by the same company that built Raptor two years early, Bolliger and Mabillard. Usually their roller coasters are quite smooth, but Mantis is a bit rough and hard to re-ride. It is 145 feet tall with four inversions, including the first inclined loop ever built. The first half of the ride is smooth and very fun, but the second half after the breaks can get a little uncomfortable, so brace yourself!

I always ride the front row of this ride as I feel that any other seat isn't worth riding at all. Because you're standing up it is an interesting perspective seeing the track in front of you. The front takes no more than 10 extra minutes and I think it's worth it.

The line is shortest for this at the beginning and end of the day. Because it isn't worth an incredibly long line, try either of those times. From noon until 5 or 6 the line will be the longest. I'd also recommend not riding this after a meal.

The height for Mantis, as with most coasters with inversions, is a little taller at 56 inches. If you are also an extremely tall person you might run into some issues as well. This is not a must-ride, but it is a different experience than most coasters. If the line is short, give it a try!

Blue Streak is Cedar Point's oldest roller coaster, and one of two wodden coasters at the park. It is not incredibly tall, fast, or long, but it is a fun little ride that is also great for kids. It is tucked away to the left of Raptor at the front of the park, and its entrance is not clearly visible from the mian midway, so it is sort of a forgotten coaster. Wooden coasters are supposed to give a more out-of-control feeling, and Blue Streak accomplishes that.

Any time of day is a fine time to ride this, but during the late afternoon the line dies out quite a bit. Most of what makes up the line is kids riding it over and over again because they're not quite tall enough for the steel ones yet.

The front and back rows of Blue Streak are the best seats for airtime, while the middle doesn't deliver nearly as much. Personally I think the front is the best seat in the house, but the back works, especially if the line is longer for the front.

It is good to get a ride on this coaster to change things up a little bit, seeing as 14/16 coasters at Cedar Point are steel. Its a fun little ride, and the kiddies are able to ride as well!