What’s the cheapest admission to Cedar Point?
I know I can get $37 here - does anybody know of a better deal?
Also, any other advice about best times, or accomodations, or anything else, would be greatly appreciated.
Pepsi cans around the area feature a 10$ off “coupon”, so if you buy one locally you could get in for $33.95 at the gate. Accomodations in the area are steep. If you’re planning on going for more than a day you don’t have much choice, but I’d probably reccommend getting at least an hour away or so before you check in somewhere if at all possible.
Any other advice…
Take a cooler—even if you only stock it with bottled water and some PB&Js, it’s nice to know you don’t really have to shell out $5 for a bottle of pop if you don’t really want to.
Take sunscreen. Seems obvious, but you wouldn’t believe how many people you can see walking around at the end of the day beet red and looking miserable.
Days they are least busy are usually mid-week–like Tuesday/Wednesday. Avoid holiday weekends like the plague. If you get there right as they’re opening, don’t stop for the rides up front because they fill up the fastest. Make a beeline for the back of the park and you can hop on the Magnum or the MeanStreak without much wait at all. I’m not sure where they put the new one, so this may apply to that one too.
Renting lockers–they have lockers right at the front, but unless you want to walk all the way back up there every time you need something you’re better off walking in a bit and renting one of them back by Soak City.
Have fun! I can’t wait to get this baby out of my belly so I can go myself!
We have used the Pepsi cans before too, and our local credit union for some reason can give us good deals. It is expensive, and I second the idea of eating in the park as little as possible. Some hotels and campgrounds nearby will give you a package deal, but the prices might be higher to stay there to begin with.
Do not, repeat, not go on a holiday or weekend. You can spend the whole day in the park and ride about 5 things (not exaggerating). New rides are the worst, when Millenium Force came out we waited over 4 hours to get on it. (This actually happened on a July weekday for us).
While we can get down there as a day trip and have done it before, I don’t like to. The day is exhausting and the drive back is hell. It’s better to stay somewhere and go back the next day if you can.
After a few experiences I have decided never to go on a weekend or even during “prime” season again. I will only go when school is in session - May or end of August to September. The hours are sometimes shorter but you more than make up for it in time not spent in line. There are way too many cool rides there and I feel cheated if I don’t get to ride all the ones I want at least once. We went once in May and we got to ride all the big rides plus a whole bunch of smaller ones more than once, sometimes we were able to get on rides with no wait at all!
I love Cedar Point! Hopefully we will get down there ourselves this September.
Just don’t mix up the tube with the architectural plans with the tube with the cat poster!
Also, if you like to camp, the campground right next to the park gives you a deal where you get admitted an hour before the park opens. You can’t ride yet but it gives you a chance to get in line for a big ride and only wait that hour instead of 2 or 3 after the park opens.
If you want to stay cheaper you can get cheap rates by going 40 mins to an hour away from the park. Places that advertise how close they are to Cedar Point will probably cost you more.
if you’re a AAA member, they offer greatly reduced tickets at their offices: $32.50/ 1 day adult
Get there at the moment the park opens and dash to ride the 1 big huge ride you wanna ride immediately (Either the Top Thrill Dragster or the Millenium Force). From there spend the day riding the smaller (but still totally sweet) coasters like the Magnum, Mantis, Gemini, Blue Streak, Corkscrew, Wildcat, Log flume, etc. (longest lines at the first 2) and any carnival rides that don’t make you puke. 
Take a break at mid-day but not necessarily at noon. The little Museum of Cedar Point History – Town Hall I think they call it – is actually quite interesting (I love the scale models of the coasters from the design phase).
As the park starts to empty out (6-7ish) now is the time to ride the more popular rides you didn’t do first thing because the lines will be much shorter – The Raptor (incredibly smooth ride, really fun, take your shoes off and ride the front car… flying.), the Millenium Force and Top Thrill Dragster. Apparently riding the MF in the dark is extremely intense because the track isn’t lit: “like dropping into a bottomless pit of nothingness.”
I don’t recommend the Mean Streak, I’m only 25 and it hurts my back too much. Very Rough Ride.
The Tower of Power is just… lame. It’s just a free fall ride. The line is long because the ride has very low capacity, not because it’s awesome or anything.
If you stay at the Cedar Point hotels they have this arrangement where you can enter the park 1/2 hour before it officially opens. Sounds cool.
[nitpick]
Yogi Bear…and that’s only at King’s Island 
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I’ve only been once but I loved it. My only recommendation - ride the crazy Merry-Go-Round if it’s still there. It’s this carousel that goes extremely fast and you have to hang on like hell. One of the most fun rides I’ve ever been on and I still giggle about it.
Ava
It’s been a few years since I’ve been there, but I noticed two helpful things.
1- When I was there, they opened the gates about an hour before the rides started up. However, two of the big coasters were already fired up. Run for the coaster of your choice and you might get on before the other rides even open.
2- The park closed at 10:00 and we got in line for The Raptor at about 9:45. They do not kick you out of line, but keep the ride going until everyone gets a turn. We didn’t get on until after 11:00.
There’s a state park not too far away from the park. We camped there one time for only a few dollars. This was a long time ago, so I have no further info. Also, skip the Iron Dragon. That’s a major yawn.
Have fun!
Thanks for all the input, everyone!
Take a break at midday when it is hot, and go swimming. Go on all the coasters, which is what makes Cedar POint famous.
We got really cheap tickets on Ebay… I mean really cheap. Wear very comfortable shoes…
If it’s going to be a sweltering hot day out try to hit the water rides first. Thunder Canyon (It’s still there right?) and snake River Falls are a garunteed soaking. As stated, the earlier you get there the shorter the lines, and these rides seem to have the shortest no matter what time of day. (I guess most folks are there for the coasters.)
When the long lines get you down get on one of the slower rides with the shorter lines and enjoy the air and the view in relitive peace of mind. Unless of course the boat Captains are still telling the same lame jokes (Pardon me Roy, was that the cat who ate your new shoes?)
Have fun! From someone who can only tolerate 3 coaster rides before getting sick.
Oh–I forgot. If you’re getting superheated then head on over to Disaster Transport. It’s not one of the coolest coasters there (although it is in the dark, which is neat) but the lines are all indoors where it’s air-conditioned! Likewise for the space needle, the IMAX theatre, and a few of the saloons. Sometimes, you just need to plop down and rest your bones.
Also, depending on the group you go with be sure to establish an “If we get separated, let’s meet up here” spot. Cedar Point does NOT have an intercom system, and wandering the park alone and searching for your group sucks. I speak from experience, so trust me on this one.
The Tower of Power has two options–one is free fall (you go up to the top slow, then drop fast). The other is the opposite. You rocket unexpectedly to the top, then come down slowly. So there, Hello Again. sticks tongue out
They do have a deal where if you buy one ridiculously overpriced plastic sipper full of soda, you can have it refilled at any concession stand for free for the remainder of your stay. If it’s a hot day, this becomes a great deal. We were there for the whole weekend, and I got my money’s worth and then some. So consider that.
eBay - that’s brilliant.
My kid doesn’t know about the Top Thrill Dragster yet - but he’s been talking about the Millenium Force since we saw it on the Travel Channel.
Thanks for all the good tips.
Yeah, well, both options are basically lame Cranky and last 2 seconds on a 45 min-1 hour wait (you can ride the Gemini 5 times in that time). And, BTW the “Rocket up” version does free fall back to its cushion of pressurized air.
So there there.
Don’t forget the Gemini. Ever since they built the Magnum and especially since they built the Millennium Force, you can get on the Gemini in five minutes, and it’s a very fun coaster. (I seem to remember liking it more than the Mean Streak, although it’s been a long time since I’ve been.)
–Cliffy
Is that the Demon Drop?
I hope they didn’t change the name, buckling under the bible belt.
That would be almost as sad as the day they turned the dark ride at Indiana Beach into a shooting gallery.
No the Demon Drop remains untainted. They built Power Tower a few years ago–it’s similar to the Drop, but much taller and with a pair of towers surrounded on all four sides by seats and a choice between the “shoot 'em up” or “drop ya down” tower. I actually think it’s pretty fun, but then I love the Demon Drop too which a lot of people aren’t too keen on. It is a short ride though (obviously), so it’s best to try and catch it when the line isn’t too ungodly.