Sandusky Journals

Hot Tips for Cedar Point

Best of IgoUgo

A May 2006 trip to Sandusky by Howdymike

Cedar Point Sunset Photo - Sandusky, Ohio

Quote: The best Amusement park in the world, featuring 16 roller coasters.

32 Photos

Hot Tips for Cedar Point

Overview

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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...Read More

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. Read Less

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Millennium Force

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Almost Straight Down! Photo - Sandusky, Ohio

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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...Read More

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Top Thrill Dragster

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Amazing Roller Coaster Photo - Sandusky, Ohio

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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 ...Read More

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Wicked Twister

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80 Foot High Dive and 215 Foot Coaster Photo - Sandusky, Ohio

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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 ...Read More

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Magnum XL-200

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Another view of the lift hill Photo - Sandusky, Ohio

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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, espec...Read More

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Cedar Creek Mine Ride

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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 r...Read More

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Gemini

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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...Read More

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Raptor

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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 afterno...Read More

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Mantis

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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...Read More

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Blue Streak

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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 y...Read More