First time to Halloweekends what to expect?

I have been visiting CP for all most 10 years now but all my trips have been late June, July and August but never in September for HW. My overall question is how different is the park this time of year then the rest of the year. Honestly I am just making the trip now because of such a busy summer and this was the only time I could go but I am look forward a little bit to see the park for HW as well. My priorities are to ride the coasters and rides first and then possibly go through some of the HW attractions. I will be at the park 9/13 and 9/14 and am staying in The Breakers. A couple quick questions I would like to know are.

I am staying at one of their hotels will I be able to go into the park an hour early on Friday (at 5pm) or just Saturday?

Will the restaurants around the park still be open and if so how late since the park closes at midnight? (like TGI Friday's or Famous Dave's)

Thanks for any help or advice.

You can use early entry both days. The restaurants maintain the same hours.

The biggest difference:
A) crowds are huge -- really really huge on Saturday.
B) Friday night is dead-- if there are 1000 people there it will be a record. Only coasters and a few select flats are open Friday night....most food stands and games are closed. No train runs on Friday nights. Is a great night for coaster riding.
C) crowds are huge on Saturdays...did I mention that?...like the busiest days of the entire year, worse the closer you get to Halloween -- plan your day wisely...do your coaster riding on Friday night. Use early entry. Get to the entry gates a good half hour before opening on Saturday.

My suggestion would be to hit the "big" rides and one or two of the indoor haunted houses or Cornstalkers on Friday night. The crowds are typically pretty manageable on Fridays, and the lines for the houses should be shorter than what you'll find on Saturday. On Saturday, plan to hit the less popular rides, maybe a show or two, the other two houses, and the outdoor zones without lines (Cornstalkers is the only outdoor area with a line). The crowds can be pretty weather dependent, so I'd say plan for a busy Saturday, then be pleasantly surprised if it turns out to not be that busy.

Ron exaggerated the Friday crowds a bit. Over the past few years Fridays have seen bigger crowds but nothing unmanageable.

He was spot on about the Saturday crowds.

Something not mentioned above, all food stands and sit down restaurants will have huge lines on Saturdays. I recommend bringing your own food and going back to your car or hotel to eat meals and bring your own snacks into the park (in your pockets). I would not risk going off site for meals because when you get back you could get stuck parking on the causeway.

I was specifically referring to the Friday of the September weekend the OP had inquired about

The absolutely best coaster riding nights of the entire year are the last Friday in August and the first two Fridays in September

This will be the first year I don't have kids playing in the band for football Friday. I'm sooooo looking forward to Halloweekend Fridays!

I knew what weekend you were referring to and "1000 people set a record" is a huge exaggeration unless you meant a record for fewest ever.

If that were a bonus weekend I would agree with you but it is not. It is the first Halloweekend.

Thanks so much for the advice and insight I did not now that just coasters and some flat rides would be open on Friday. I was anticipating Saturday to be a busy day based on what I have read from other threads about HW and especially since it will be PointFest.

RonAnnArbor said:

The absolutely best coaster riding nights of the entire year are the last Friday in August and the first two Fridays in September

RonAA-I knew about the 1st 2 Fridays in September being good riding days, but I wasn't aware that the last Friday in August was one of the best days to go. Is this usually the case? I might plan that day if this is the case.

I'm looking forward to all the HW Fridays, rain or shine.

Lots of good info, planning a potential trip myself and thanks for all the help.

Lots of info on Fridays and Saturdays....Im look at a Sunday. What are those like crowd and attraction/restaurant opening wise.

Everything is open on Saturdays and Sundays. Crowds on Sundays through September shouldn't be too bad (think on par with Sundays in May or June), but will get worse as October progresses if the weather is good. We generally only go on Friday nights in October, but if there was a chilly overcast Sunday I might go. I wouldn't even try to get near on a warm sunny late October Sunday.

As a family tradition, we go every year at the end of September. My family was not able to go last year, so I ended up going with a buddy.

We got the FastLane passes, and it was the best experience I have had at the park in a long time!

I only get to go to CP once a year now as I live about 9 hours away, so I will most certainly be using the passes again.

I would recommend that you try to get the Fastlane passes if you can afford it... Saturdays for Halloweekends are a BEAST... and they only seem to be getting busier.

I would also recommend trying to get to the gates a little before 5:00 on Friday night. In the past few years, there has been a pretty steady crowd of resort-guests already waiting before the park opens up.

I visited this past (Labor Day) weekend, and walked onto everything Friday night. Sat was a bit busier, but we only waited 10 mins to ride Gatekeeper-twice in a row! It was unbelievably slow for a holiday weekend but awesome for riding! Never been to a Halloweekend, though I'd love to, but I can attest that the final days of the regular season are a great time to go!

What do you all think the crowds will be like on opening night of HW? Friday the 13th? Think it will be insane? I plan on going to HW for the opening night.

Early evening shouldn't be too busy but will probably get busier as the night goes on. Do you have platinum passes or are you staying at the resorts,TrinDawg41? If so, you can get in at 5 instead of 6. This is usually a big deal. Weather can have an effect on the crowd also. Nice evening,busier. Rainy,maybe not so much. My husband and I are going this weekend regardless except maybe a downpour night. We are the fanny-pack people in gatekeeper line. Have fun on Friday the 13th!

julesgk said:
Early evening shouldn't be too busy but will probably get busier as the night goes on. Do you have platinum passes or are you staying at the resorts,TrinDawg41? If so, you can get in at 5 instead of 6. This is usually a big deal. Weather can have an effect on the crowd also. Nice evening,busier. Rainy,maybe not so much. My husband and I are going this weekend regardless except maybe a downpour night. We are the fanny-pack people in gatekeeper line. Have fun on Friday the 13th!

I have a platinum pass, and DO intend on going 1 hour early entry. Yeah, I think that's gonna help, BIG TIME!!

Coaster club members can get in at 4. Ert on Gatekeeper & MF. If you are a coaster club member, check it out. We are signed up and we'll be there early.