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My mom and I have been making the trip to Sandusky, Ohio every summer for over 20 years. The promise of coasters and beach time gets us through those long, harsh Cleveland winters and boring, monotonous days at the office during the rest of the year.
Through the years, we've tweaked our itinerary to get the most bang for our buck, riding the best rides and eating the best food. This year, we agreed that the best part of Cedar Point is just being there! Here's a little guide of must-ride rides, and some tips to beat the summer heat!
Best Coaster: Millennium Force
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| Photo by andrewb94 on Flickr |
Millennium Force is by far the best ride in the park. You get a little bit of everything with the super-tall first hill, lengthy track, and bunny hills at the end. The record-setting first hill is over 300 feet tall, and my favorite part is that the lift takes you up at 15 mph, unlike the traditional lift slowly clicking up the hill. My biggest fear is getting stuck at the top of the hill and having to climb out, so the quicker we get that part over with, the better! The ride is among the longest in the park, with 2:20 of ride time, hitting speeds of 93 mph.
The worst part of the ride is the end of the wait. Even if you have a Fast Lane Pass (yes, you should splurge and get one), you still have to do the last stretch of ramp out in the blazing sun. The rest of the line is covered, so overall, it's not the most agonizing wait in the park.
Since Millennium is positioned in the middle of the park not really near any entrances, it's a good idea to make this your first ride of the day to avoid the lines. You'll wait an extra half hour or so once you get into the station if you want to ride in the front seat, but it is absolutely worth it! Make sure to head back to Millennium before you leave at night. You get some incredible views of the lake and park with everything lit up.
Tip: Fast Lane Plus Passes
Yes, they're expensive, and I completely understand skipping these if you're a family of 3 or more. But for just my mom and I, the Fast Lane Plus wristbands are a must. A standard wait for most popular coasters (Millennium, Dragster, Valravn, Maverick, Gatekeeper) is at least an hour during a standard summer weekday, and on a 90+ degree day with no cloud cover, it's brutal. With a Fast Lane Plus pass, we've never waited any longer than 15 minutes for any ride, any time of day. They do have a less expensive Fast Lane pass, but they don't include some of the more popular rides. Check out the details here to see if it looks like it would be worth it for you!
Hidden Gem: Beach Access
Cedar Point has always had a beautiful beach that guests of Hotel Breakers had at their disposal. Since I was little, they've offered parasailing and jet ski rentals over by the beach entrance to the park. With the recent Hotel Breakers renovation, Cedar Point has amped up their beach activities with things like kayak and paddleboard rentals, and they even have lawn games like cornhole set up all the time. At dusk, Cedar Point Nights includes live music, food, and fireworks. Head back toward Windseeker and the beach entrance is directly to the left. Be sure to get your hand stamped for re-entry to the park.
Our two-day trip now includes one full day of beach time. They provide a select amount of padded, covered lounge chairs that you can use for free, and you have direct access to everything inside Hotel Breakers including Starbucks, T.G.I. Friday's, Tomo Japanese Steakhouse, Perkins, and an ice cream shoppe, not to mention restrooms right by the beach and pool and gift shops if you need any essentials.
Tip: Overnight Stay
Speaking of Hotel Breakers, their renovation was completed a few years ago and is absolutely stunning. Every room is upgraded and includes a mini fridge and microwave, and you get extra benefits like free parking and early access to the park as an overnight guest. By staying at Hotel Breakers, you are literally steps away from the park, with an entrance on either side of the hotel. We like to get there early the first morning and register at the front desk, where you can buy your tickets if you haven't yet and give them your number to receive a text when your room is ready (4 pm at the latest).
It is expensive for one night, but we save money by going to the park only one day instead of two and spending the second day at the beach. We also pack a picnic lunch the first day, which we eat out on the Hotel Breakers rotunda patio overlooking the beach. By pinching pennies on certain things, we're able to splurge on the hotel room and Fast Lane Plus passes to make our perfect trip!
Beyond Rides: Special Attractions
Cedar Point has a variety of shows and non-ride activities for everyone. Our must-see show every year is the one at Jack Aldrich Theater. It's usually a show choir style, 25 minute singing and dancing show with popular songs from movies and Broadway. A unique option is the All Wheels Extreme show, where a combination of BMX riders, rollerbladers and acrobats put on an awe-inspiring show to pop-rock music overlooking the beach. They also have a couple other shows catering to country fans and kids.
Over on Frontier Trail, you'll find little specialty shops like handmade candles, candy, glassblowing (with live demonstrations!), and woodworking. The historical buildings and shady tree canopy are a welcome break in the action. They also have a petting zoo with llamas, camels, goats, even pigs!
Best Food: Famous Dave's BBQ Shack
At the end of Frontier Trail right across from Thunder Canyon sits Famous Dave's BBQ Shack. They offer quick service at the walk-up counter and options like chopped pork and beef brisket sandwiches with your choice of fries or traditional barbecue sides like cole slaw and potato salad. We ordered one of each sandwich and split them. The pork had an authentic smoked flavor and complemented the sauce perfectly, and the brisket was super tender and flavorful. I recommend doing the same with whoever you're at the park with so you can try both! I can't vouch for the sides because we chose to get our fries separately from another stand.
Tip: Fresh Cut Legendary Fries
Throughout the park, look for signs that say Fresh Cut Legendary Fries, and if you're in the mood for fries, order from there. The fries they offer at other stands alongside burgers and sandwiches are basic and bland, but the fresh cut fries are so SO good. They're thick cut and fried to order, and you can choose extra toppings like chili, cheese, or garlic parmesan. We like to order ours from the stand across from the Extreme Sports Stadium and either take them in and watch All Wheels Extreme or take them over by the 3-Point Challenge and watch an endless stream of people try their hand at the NBA All Star Game classic. You may even get lucky and see LeBron swing by!
Must-Ride Coasters
Millennium Force: No excuses. If you're at Cedar Point, you must ride this.
Top Thrill Dragster: Speed? Check. Height? Check. The wait is never too long since the whole ride takes about 30 seconds, and the launch at the beginning is indescribable.
GateKeeper: Worth the extra wait for the front. Since the seats hang out to the side of the track, you'll feel like you're flying!
Valravn: Cedar Point's newest coaster. The first hill is a 90 degree drop, and they dangle you straight down for a few seconds before dropping you!
Must-Ride Rides
Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad: This is a great way to get from Frontier Town (close to Maverick, Gemini, and Skyhawk) to Celebration Plaza (by Millennium Force, Iron Dragon, and Valravn). One leg of the ride features a Wild West theme and the other half has beautiful views of the lake and wooded area. Each way gives you a behind-the-scenes look at everything Cedar Point has to offer.
Power Tower: There is rarely any wait to get on, and again, this ride gives you incredible views of Cedar Point. The "up" side is much tamer, shooting you up 240 ft. vs. the "down" side, slowly taking you up those same 240 ft., locking you in at the top for about 15 seconds, and then dropping you down.
Giant Wheel: I can't believe I'm recommending this because I really hate ferris wheels, and so we never go on this. But, if you're a first timer or if you don't mind heights, the Giant Wheel is a must-do. It's situated right next to the beach for more of those out-of-this-world views.
Skyhawk: If you're a thrill-seeker, this is your ride. Skyhawk takes you up 125 ft. at speeds up to 65 mph, swinging back and forth several times over the trees one way and staring straight down at the pavement the other.
Honorable Mentions
Snake River Falls: This is a good people-watching ride. Stand at the walkway overlooking the bridge to watch people get completely blasted when the boat comes down the hill!
Rougarou: The old stand-up trains of the Mantis were replaced a few years ago with standard floorless trains, turning this into a much more accessible coaster for everyone.
Mine Ride: An easy little coaster to add to your list of rides for the day.
Maverick: The reason this coaster didn't make the must-ride list is because of the horrible wait and the fact that it breaks down frequently. If you have Fast Lane Plus passes and can avoid the line, this is a really fun coaster.
Iron Dragon: Another easy coaster. This one swoops through the trees and ends with a cool mist after diving down toward the water. Some nights, they even have VR headsets you can use while you ride!
Wicked Twister: Go on this one at night when everyone is in the middle of the park at Luminocity to avoid the line. Sit at the very front or back if you're brave!
Rides to Avoid
Magnum: I know, it looks fun. But watch the people in the trains going over the bunny hills. More specifically, watch their necks as they get jerked around. If you must ride, go with the second or third seat from the front to try and avoid the whiplash.
MaxAir: I can't even tell you how many upset-stomach stories I've heard from people after riding this, and I can tell you firsthand that I've been on the edge myself after riding. Ride at your own risk!
Blue Streak: The little hills at the end are pretty fun, but yikes. You'll need a chiropractor after riding. It is the last real wooden coaster remaining at Cedar Point, but that's probably for a reason.
Corkscrew: I think they only keep this coaster in there for the picture-perfect way it loops over the midway, and to add a tally to the number of coasters in the park!
Bonus Tips
- Bring a jacket or sweatshirt and keep it in the car just in case for cool nights. Ohio weather can be unpredictable, especially by the lake.
- Load up on sunscreen on all exposed skin including the tops of your ears and your hair part. No matter how good you think your base tan is, that summer sun can be brutal. Keep extra in the car just in case you start to feel like you're getting sunbeat.
- If you're a contacts wearer or if you have sensitive eyes, Cedar Point allows you to wear sunglasses on coasters if you have a strap on them.
- Keep your phone, keys, and money safe in a runner's belt or fanny pack (you'd be surprised how many of these you'll see around the park!). They let you wear them on any ride as long as they don't get in the way of the lapbar or seatbelt. Some coasters like Millennium and Dragster don't let you take loose items like backpacks and bags into the line since you load and unload at different stations, so they make you rent a locker. I have seen people allowed on with small crossbody bags in recent years, but wear at your own risk.
- Bring your swimsuit and towel and cool off during those brutal afternoon hours at Cedar Point Shores waterpark. Our favorite place is the wave pool, but they also have two lazy rivers and countless waterslides, not to mention areas specifically for the kiddos (and a swim-up bar for adults)!
- Wear comfortable shoes. There is more walking involved than you think, and by the end of the day, I feel so bad for the people struggling by in their flip flops! If you really must wear flip flops, bring a pair of shoes and socks and keep them in the car with your jacket just in case.
- Take a load off with a sit-down meal in the air conditioned Breakwater Cafe or Midway Market, or T.G.I. Friday's is a short scenic walk down the boardwalk inside Hotel Breakers.
- There is no amusement park in the world quite like Cedar Point with its peninsula location, so be sure to look around and appreciate the lake views from all angles while you're hundreds of feet in the air.
- Mix it up. Go to a show or two, check out the shops, and take a walk on the beach. Yes, the coasters are awesome, but the in-between times are where you'll create your memories!
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