First Timer to CP in 2007. Tips Please!

You really should stay at least 2 full days. Your first day will stun you. There is so much to take in, that you almost get lost in the moment. Everywhere you look, you will see a coaster. It's like being a kid in a candy store where everything is FREE!! So do yourself a favor and stay a few days.

Stay on point; you will thank yourself. We do it every time we go. (Stay on point that is.) We also drive 13 hrs from MPLS.; so it helps to be close to the park. If we get tired of the crowds, or just want to get away, our room is close by.

PS: The rush will start once your on the causeway and see all the coasters. Have a great first time.

Brock said:
One thing you must do is ride Top Thrill Dragster. Even though it is not my favorite coaster at the park, it is truly the most amazing feeling that can be felt. Almost better than sex, almost.

Lol. Thats a VERY VERY close almost, but not quite better.

Here's a tip or two from somebody who got know the midways pretty well.

If you're looking for some shade or a place to catch your breath, walk down Frontir Trail. "Millie" runs right over it, and there's some cool craft down there, especially the wood carver.

If it's hot, Snake River Falls & Thunder Canyon will be mobbed. I did garbage in the park, and we called that section the "Bikini Run" for obvious reasons.

As for what to wear: your MOST COMFORABLE SHOES are a MUST. The park is a mile from Main Gate to Mean Streak, so you'll probably end up walking at least 5 or more miles. A light jacket is a good idea too. Those winds can really rip of Lake Erie.

If you want to do something unqiue that's NOT a coaster, hit the Cedar Downs Carusel. It's one of 6 left in the world.

As for food, look outside the park for some good eats. Check out Chet & Matt's Pizza (look it up in the phone book or ask any CPer). The other is Toft's Dairy in US 6. It's on the other side of Sandusky, but for under $3 you can get a SMALL cone that's bigger than most other places large. It's one of those hidden gems in the area. Toft's provides most of the dairy products for the park.

Another tip is that you can pack a picnic lunch and use the picnic shelters at no charge. Some have carcoal grills available.

If you're visiting for more than one day, make sure to go see the promenade along the beach (in front of Breakers). You have to exit the park and re-enter to do so, but it's quite pretty and a nice change of pace from the noise and crowds.

halltd said:
Don't forget about the free tap water if you ask for it. My entire party used that last summer and we were VERY happy about it. Saved a TON of money, and felt better too because we only drank water instead of soda.

Not familiar with that. Do you just go to any food booth and ask for a glass of water?

Yep.

I drive 9 hours 3 times a year to visit the greatest place on Earth. Staying at least 2 days is a must. If you don't get a CP season pass with Joe cool, you have to stay in a CP hotel to get the Early Ride Time (ERT). Breakers Express is nice and very affordable.
As for other things to visit in the area, I have no idea. A co-worker of mine tells me there are TONS of things to do out there I just have never been able to take myself out of the park. It really is the GREATEST PLACE ON EARTH!!

I ADMIRE YOUR ENTHUSIASM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cedar Downs is one of 6? I thought there were only three....

Cedar Point

Rye Playground

and Blackpool.

Where are the others?

Oh. i might be wrong. Either way, Cedar Downs is a RARE beast.

As for other things to do in the area, there's the Carusel Museam downtown. If you want to drive a little ways, the Thomas Edison birthplace is down the road (south on US 250) in Milan, OH. If you go OH-2, you can get to the Marblehad Lighthouse, which is DIRECTLY across the bay from CP and has a great view of the park.

There's another little gem of a resturant on the water downtown. It's called the Sandusky Fish Co. It's a little hole in the wall, but you can get the BEST perch sanwich out there. You can get a pop, sandwich and fries for about $6.

Another fun thing to do is visit some of the wineries around the area. There's one called Firelands Winery if you head west on US-6 and follow the signs.

One of my favorite times of year to go to CP to avoid crowds is a weekday in mid-May. At this time of the year, all of the local schools are still in session, so there won't be a ton of kids or families in the park. Lines are usually short, and I never have a problem riding everything I want to ride in a reasonably short amount of time (as long as the weather cooperates). Sure, you'll have the school field trips that show up and stuff like that, but in my opinion it's never really that bad as far as crowds go. Once you get towards the end of May and into June, kids are out of school and the crowds pick up.

And as far as CP secrets, the free tap water at any food stand is probably my favorite...saves me a ton of money. The cups they give you are tiny and mostly filled with ice (I usually ask for no ice), but I just carry mine around and refill it at drinking fountains.

Plus, if its warm out, chewing on the ice while waiting in line helps keep you cool.

I agree, I always ask for ice. The water is usually cold anyway so the ice is just an addded bonus when youre in line and youre left with JUST ice.

Heck, that ice thing helped those of use who worked on the midways. During the hottest days, i'd easily chug a gallon of H20. Now if only more quest knew about that trick, it would save the EMT's from fewer calls. Most of those are heat related.

That's ANOTHER thing about CP. The two first aid stations in the park are located behind the Pagoda Gift Shop (just about in the center of the park) and across from the Wave Swinger (down by Maverick). They're always staffed by at least one RN on duty.