My 11-year-old-coaster-enthusiast son and I will be driving from the 'Burgh early one morning this summer to Sandusky, with the goal of hitting all of the important rides (if not every coaster) in one day. He has all but convinced me that we need to purchase the “Fast Lane Plus” upgrade for $80. I’ve perused some of the old threads here for tips, but as the park changes each year, I’m hoping some SMDBers have updated strategies…any coaster fans been there recently?
Quick update after checking…admission + fast lane plus tix online are $115 each.
ACE, Coaster Zombie and GOCC member here. Most parks I don’t suggest the “Fast Pass” options but for Cedar Point I would almost call it a must unless you want to drive up the day before and stay to the day after (so you have every moment possible in the park) or risk adding a second day when you blow it getting on half the rides during the first day. CP has great rides but that can mean long lines; an hour or more per. Plus with the new and newer coasters the word on the enthusiasts boards is that they are getting big crowds. Yeah – its expensive. But so is wasting the trip and riding back to here (I’m on the North Side) disappointed.
PS – my best days at the Point have been during light steady drizzles. Almost everything still runs and the amateurs stay home. 
Note: if you are not familar with driving in Ohio, the state troopers are infamous for enforcing the speed limit, particularly on the Ohio turnpike. I strongly recommend you not speed, not even the usual “5mph over the posted limit is OK” because you have a definite chance to be pulled over and ticketed for just a couple miles over.
Other than that - have fun!
Hmm, I’ve never experienced that on the Ohio Turnpike. I almost always go 9MPH over. Between Pittsburgh and a few stops west of Akron, at least.
I’ll be going this summer as well, two weeks from now actually. I’ll be there on a Thursday. Will there be huge lines during the week when I would assume most kids are still in school? I thought about getting the Fast Pass, but not sure I want to pay the extra money if the lines might not be that big. I’m also staying at one of the park’s hotels so I’m supposed to be able to get in an hour early.
You can get tickets to both Cedar Point and Kings Island for $70. That’s what I’ve done as I’ll be going to Kings Island that weekend. The ticket is good all summer long though.
Been driving the Ohio turnpike since 1971. Always drive 5 mph over the limit. Never flagged.
I think you’ll be OK two weeks from now on a Thursday. And, with the “hour early” freebie from staying there, I wouldn’t pay the extra.
I’ve been to Cedar Point many times. I have nothing to add except to second that if you plan on only doing one day, the Fast lane plus, would be good for getting on rides faster.
I haven’t been to America’s Roller Coast in the last 4 years :(, but consider this approach. If your schedule allows more than one day, look into staying at a Cedar Point property for one nighthttps://www.cedarpoint.com/places-to-stay/hotel-specials Breakers Express is the lowest price - think Holiday Inn Express. There are also campsites, but I don’t know how those are.
You can get an evening pass for 5PM to closing, with somewhat lighter crowds, so you can get on a number of good coasters. The next morning, you get early entrance (9AM - not all rides open early but many of the most popular do). Then you have all day to catch the rest and repeat the best.
Another money saver - you can bring food and drinks into the park; there are picnic pavilions, just inside the main entrance and to the left. Great for catching your breath and having a picnic lunch/dinner.
Also - you can go to any drink stand and get ice water for free. This can be a day-saver if it’s really hot.
All that together might save you a little over the “Fast Pass” option, or maybe just make your stay a little less frantic.
That’s what I was hoping to hear. Thanks.
I’m staying at the Breakers Express, much cheaper then a lot of the other hotels. Plus they say I can get in an hour early, but they don’t say if I need to buy the tickets from them or not.
The park website says you can’t bring in food or drinks though. You can take in unopened water which is what I intend to do.
Could be they’re more likely to pull over out of state drivers. The strict enforcement may be more concentrated in areas like Cedar Point.
I do know many, many people who wound up paying for tickets for doing 2-5 mph over the limit in Ohio.
Definitely a case where YMMV.
More likely they have selective memories and were going faster than they said.
And now that the commentary on driving in Ohio has been shared, let’s return to the actual question asked in the OP. Thanks.
I’ve stayed at the campsites and it was my only time camping in an RV campground so I don’t know what to compare it to. My campsite was in sight and hearing distance of one of the roller coasters, which could be a bonus or detriment if you end your day early and either enjoy or are annoyed by the sound.
[Separate thread for state police and tickets]
My favorite, esp. if your group is big, is the Thunder Canyon one. You’ll need bathing suits or other waterproof clothing; the fun comes when one person can come out almost completely dry, while others get completely drenched by the waterfalls.
If it’s the one I can remember – the one where you enter in the middle of a slowly revolving platform – it reminds me in that way of Splash Mountain in Disney where there is a very skinny waterfall that will hit one person but maybe not another.
I’ll basically agree but if you can afford the cost ------------- I wouldn’t rule it out either. CP is sometimes a crap shoot because of how many people come from out of state/area; it makes the size of the crowd hard to judge both early and late season.
If you have the time and the weather totally sucks or you just want to see something else, don’t forget Ghostly Manor
It isn’t as good now as say during October but its worth the stop and price of admission. As haunts go its pretty well executed and professionally run.
Thanks, Asimovian…
Does anyone have a rec for maximizing quality riding time, primarily on coasters, with a fast pass?
I’ve been there a few times, the best was on one of the last weekends the park was open. It was a little chilly but there were almost no lines. Get off the best rides and go right back on! It was cool as hell riding the big coaster on a crystal clear autumn evening, seemed like you could see forever from the summit.