Cedar Point 2022 Operating Calendar Posted Through Labor Day

https://www.cedarpoint.com/calendar-and-hours

Opening Day is May 7th.

Looks like an awesome schedule. I am probably sure that it’s based on staffing, but why are they showing closed on Tuesdays & Wednesdays after opening day, also noticed a lot of 8 pm closes in later May & early June.

Again just so we’re all on the same page, I'm definitely not complaining, just not sure why they’re planning it that way if attendance was up this past year, aside from staffing.

Because of staffing.

Assuming school trips still aren't a thing like they were pre-COVID, they really don't need to be open May weekdays before Memorial Day. That they are opening Mondays and Thursdays is better than I thought they'd do.

I also see everyone on social media is happy they are opening the first week of May. Never once has that gone well, but the amnesia of that experience has faded until everyone will need to be made whole in May.

Shane Denmark said:

Because of staffing.

I figured, but just wanted to be sure.

I know totally different topic, but who else is looking forward to Winterfest at KI?

TimChat2 said:

https://www.cedarpoint.com/calendar-and-hours

Opening Day is May 7th.

Yay, how many more days until May?…

To many, lol 😂

I do like the 11pm closings every weekend in july/august!

PhilJ2020 said:

I do like the 11pm closings every weekend in july/august!

Me too, lots more time for rides😃

Jake10 said:

PhilJ2020 said:

I do like the 11pm closings every weekend in july/august!

Me too, lots more time for rides😃

And if all goes well, more time for me to operate them!

[IMG]The 2022 calendar in the way/format CP used to do them.

I’m not a fan of 8pm close for CoasterMania… Several hours of ERT in the dark was awesome.

Honestly if the crowds are at the levels they were for this year's event, there's plenty of time to get plenty of night rides. SV had a 15-minute wait at most, and that was with TTD not operational for just about the whole night session. And it was nice getting out at 11:00 and get ready for the next day, rather than 1 am.

Shane Denmark said:

I’m not a fan of 8pm close for CoasterMania… Several hours of ERT in the dark was awesome.

Why do you relate a public closing of 8pm to when Coastermania would end. The two never coincided.

I believe traditionally Coastermania always goes three hours after park close. 8pm park close = 11pm Coastermania ending. 10pm park close = 1am Coastermania ending.

Dennis Urban- Because late ERT starts after the park closes? In early June it’s not even dark till almost 9pm. So yeah, you would have a whole lot more rides in the dark if ERT starts after 10pm.

Or what Cartwright said.

I'm new here so don't benefit from all the historical insight. Curious, what are some examples of what goes wrong in early May? Weather? Staffing? Rides not working? Knowing this might help me plan better for early visits. Looking forward to the new season!

^Yes to all of that. In recent years the temperatures have been moderate enough, so the only weather risk is spring rain. But staffing has historically been a challenge in the early weeks of the season, and the rides are extremely temperamental for the first week or so. I recommend skipping opening weekend unless you're local and plan to go multiple times through the season.

Back in the 1970's the weather in early to mid May was definitely on the chilly side. Most of the staffing that early in the season came from a couple of colleges in Michigan and WVU, which were done for year in the middle of May. Opening day was the Saturday before Memorial Day. We had a preview night that was hosted by CKLW on the Friday before Memorial Day. It wasn't unusual to loose a lot of first timers after that weekend, twelve to fourteen hour days were the norm for most of June with no scheduled days off until the rest of the seasonals came on. Frankly, I have questioned the wisdom of opening that early in season, especially now when the park is now open through October. Severely cuts into maintenance time. Previously there were two bonus weekends after Labor Day, and that was it.

Staffing, ride and food/beverage availability. It's never a full ride offering (thinking no TTD for sure this year), staffing isn't high enough to staff many food and drink locations and all the major coasters risk downtime. Opening Saturday guests almost always experience the park at or near it's worst. Stay away is my recommendation.

It's been essentially no TTD on opening weekend since 2003.