Going all the way from Europe to visit the point f

Hey, well, I´ve been around here for quite a while now and I finally start posting something here cause I have quite a few questions to ask and I hope you can help a little bit here. Okay, in not even two weeks time I finally manage to make a dream come true and visit Cedar Point for the first time in my life. I live in Berlin, Germany, so getting to Cedar Point was always a dream for me that didn´t seem easy to make come true, so maybe you can understand that I´m overly excited now about this trip. I´m going to visit my younger brother who´s currently working at Disney in Orlando (oh yea, I know) and because "It´s a small world" is definitely not a reason for taking a flight from Europe I figured I should come over to Ohio and do the "Real thing" before that, so I got a cheap stopover in Cincinnati on the weakend starting 10th of October. I´ll have a rental car and I plan to drive all the way up to Sandusky right after my flight from Europe. Well, here´s my first question, cause I really haven´t been even anywhere near Ohio before: Can anybody tell my about the drive from Cincinnati to Cedar Point? I figured it should be about a five hours drive but I´m not sure about it. Also, those mapping sites on the internet always give me some pretty complicated looking route right though the country so I´m wondering if it may be a good idea to choose some highways instead, though it might be a little bit longer, as far as the actual distance is concerned. Maybe one of you guys can give me some advice here. I´ll never forget how I once managed to get completely lost on my way from San Francisco to Reno, Nev. which, as some Americans told me later, is something really stupid to accomplish ;-) I´m still wondering if it will be possible for me to go to Cedar Point Friday night when arriving in Cincinnati at around noon, but I´ll probably decide upon that depending on my condition that night...

It would just be great to make it on Friday cause I understand that lines should be much shorter on a Friday, so that would be a great start for my weekend at Cedar Point. I won´t bother you with questions about wait times and stuff like that cause I know very well that trying to predict something like that is as good as looking into a cristal ball. I guess, that´s the same all over the world, the one day is a perfectly warm and sunny day right in the middle of summer vacation and the park is all empty cause there´s some soccer game going on you didn´t even know about (well, it´s soccer over here, but I assume that it won´t be much different with some Baseball game or somehting like that over in the US...) and the next day is rainy and some time in Ocober and you´ll find the park crowded with 15yo school kids cause its "School out"-day or something. Well, whatever it will be, I´ll enjoy the time at Cedar Point, I´m sure about that.

Another question that strikes me is, as I´m going during Hallo Weekends, will this make my CPexperience much different from a "normal" day there? What I mean is, cause it´s my first time there (and probably the last for quite some time), will something of the atmosphere be absent because all those Halloween decoratons and stuff like that? Don´t get me wrong, I see HalloWeekend´s haunted houses and stuff as an extra bonus but still, that´s not the thing I´ll go there in the first place. What I want to fully enjoy are all those great coasters, because there´s nothing that even comes close here in Europe. You know, we have all those stupid laws and restrictions over here like a large coaster could disturb the residents in some amusement park that is located like a hundred miles away from the next city and stuff like that (maybe there are some cows or something to be disturbed by the noise of some liftchain, I don´t know...). Well at least there should be all the rides open on Saturday and Sunday as far as I have read here so far, so I should be all right I guess. Oh, there´s another thing I wanted to ask: How are weather conditions up there in Ohio during October? I know, that´s the cristal ball again, I just have no idea at all what to expect, is it like it can get cold, but it could also be warm and nice but at night it might be really bad, freezing on top of MF for example or is it like in Ocober there´s a good chance for snow in Ohio or somehting like that? This might sound stupid to you, but as I said, I´ve never been to this area of the US so I just wanna make sure to have the right kind of clothes with me (and I definitly don´t want to become the scariest thing to be seen at Hallo Weekends as the stupid guy from Germany who ended up frozen to death on top of TTD...).

Well, I should come to an end now, this got quite long actually, mhm, thanks a lot to everybody who really took the time to read all this. Sorry for making it that long and I also apologize for all mistakes there might be in spelling or grammar and I hope you´ll forgive me for that knowing that English isn´t my native language. Also, given the fact that I´ll be at CP all by myself, if anybody of you guys (or girls) is around there Oct. 10-12 and wants to meet an easygoing but maybe a bit funny rollercoaster-fanatic from Europe, I´d be more than happy about meeting some of you at the point. Actually, that would be really great cause otherwise I´ll probably not even get the chance to talk to anybody while I´m there. And I really deeply love your country and the American people, I always did and always will, no matter what some of my friends over here in Europe think about that. So, getting to the US again is great for me all alone, but with getting to Cedar Point, it will even be better, I´m sure about that.

Congradulations on finally making it over here! I'll answer a few of your questions but I have to leave some of them for other people to finish.

There isnt alot of difference as far as atmoshpere goes during the day, but on a friday or saturday night I think halloweekends really becomes a fun time with all the fog and effects.

Ohio weather is very unpredictable.(in mansfield ohio, some people report it snowed yesterday!)I would suggest bringing some very warm clothes and some lighter ones to wear during the day.

I'm sure some people could go into alot more detail but im hurrying to get to classes this morning. Im planning on being up at CP saturday the 11th so maybe I'll see you up there. Enjoy your stay in America!
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TTD Laps-11. 2-rollback 2 frontseat
"The Day Is Mine!"

Thanks for the advice! Wohow, SNOW, that´s the magic word, really. Okay, I´ll keep that in mind when I decide upon what to have in my luggage when coming over...

Hey Berlin

The Halloweekends stuff is a bonus - most of the rides are running as normal. A few have been modified with with Halloween themeing - the Dodgems have been closed and redone as a haunted house, for example. But all the coasters will be running normally.

Getting to Cedar Point from Cincinnatti is something I've never done. It is about a 4 or 5 hour drive, so you should easily be able to get to the park for Friday night. I usually use Mapquest to get directions, and in my experience they are usually fairly good.

Definitely bring some warm clothes - it will be cold at night, maybe even during the day. A pair of gloves is probably a good idea too. Be prepared for it to rain, too. They keep a lot of the rides going in the rain, so rain is not a very bad thing.

While its hard to predict what the crowds will be like, you can probably expect that Friday and Sunday will be way less crowded than Saturday. So you will probably get to experience a "normal" busy day on Saturday, and then the Friday and Sunday will probably have very short lines.

The Dragster will probably have a longer line than anything else.

There will more than likely be a good crowd of regular GTTP people at the park on all three days. I will definitely be there on Sunday, possibly on Saturday afternoon. You might want to suggest a meeting place and time if you want to hang out with a group of crazy American (and one South African) coaster people.

Hope to see you there!

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Steve

TTD : 11 MF : 104 Raptor : 100 WT : 42

If anything, I think the Halloween "stuff" adds more atmosphere to the park. You will have a great time.

Can't help you with the drive from Cincinnati since we come from Pennsylvania, but there are a few people on the board that should be able to help you out. If your flight gets in around noon, you should easily be able to go in Friday night. Just remember, not all rides operate on Friday, but the biggies will be running.

As far as clothes go, bring something warm. It could be nice during the day, but the nights usually get chilly. And it wouldn't hurt to hope for our Indian Summer to kick in that weekend.

We will be there Friday and Saturday and you are welcome to join our group. It's nice to go to a park for the first time with someone who is familar with the park. Just send me an email and we can set up a time and place to meet if you like.

Lori

I am so excited for you! Make sure you check out the show "Monsters Rock!" I know Cedar Point is known for it's award winning roller coasters, but it also has award winning Live Shows, and "Monsters Rock!" is a great show to take in.

If you are able to, I would definately recommend going on Friday night, in addition to Saturday and Sunday if possible.

Friday will be much less crowded. You should be able to experience at least 5 major coasters in the 5 hours that the park is open.

If nothing else, you will be able to get a 'feel' for the park, so you will be better prepared and know what's in store for you for Saturday.

Take advantage of FreeWay stamps on Saturday and Sunday. Use them for Millennium Force and Mantis or Raptor, and maybe Magnum. Mantis generally has a longer line than Raptor or Magnum. . .although I prefer Raptor and Magnum over Mantis any day.

And while not all the rides are open on Friday, don't forget that Cedar Point is home to 68 rides -- not just 16 roller coasters. You will definately have plenty to do if you spend the whole weekend at the park. The sights of the midway, the sounds from the rides, and the smells of the food are enough to keep you entertained.

I hope you have a great time! I will be working in Guest Services all weekend long. . .the office is right up at the main entrance. Stop by and grab a "Fright Guide" (map) before you go in. And take the people up on their offers to walk around as a group! You will definately get a lot more accomplished.

Good luck!!
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AHOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH! Warewolves of LONDON!

while leibvision's directions may be easy, they're not at all short, or quick.

From the airport, get on I-275 EAST and go NORTH on I-75/I-71 to downtown Cincinnati. Immediately after crossing the Ohio River, I-71 NORTH will split from I-75...follow I-71 NORTH. If it's not rush-hour, then the drive won't be bad at all. Continue on I-71 NORTH Toward and through Columbus. That should take 1-1/2 hours. About 50 miles North of Columbus, take Exit 169 State Route 13. Turn left (NORTH) at the end of the exit ramp and go into Mansfield. Follow the signs through Mansfield (won't take long) and continue NORTH on St Rt 13 until it intersects with US-250. Turn left onto US-250 and follow it to Sandusky. There will be signs all over the place for CP in Sandusky, and you'll pass many hotels before you get to the park. The total trip should take around 3-1/2 hours...beware of Ohio State Highway Patrolmen....they're vicious ;-P Hopefully this will help.
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--Seth

71 all the way up to 480 is almost as bad as going through Pittsburgh to get to Detroit.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

geeze, sorry, i was just trying to help

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Arms down.....Arms down.....Arms down.......Arms down.....Arms down....Arms down...(you think they would get it the first time?!)

TTD-15 Rollbacks-1

I will also be at the point on Friday and Saturday the 10th and 11th, and would be willing to meet up as well. Hanging with some of us "regulars", you'll get some first class tips.

Although not all coasters are open on Friday, it will give you some time to get "acquainted" with the park.

Dress in layers. You can always remove something if it gets too warm.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

Don't forget cash! See you on the 10th & 11th.

MrScott

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"If we go any faster, she'll blow apart for sure!"
*** This post was edited by MrScott 9/30/2003 4:19:43 PM ***

As OldCPer's coaster buddy, see you there, Berlin!

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TheRealCP :)

Hes, thanx a lot for all your great advice, you really are helpful people! This includes liebevision, by the way, who I´m sure just wanted to help, though it seems the other route to the point will be quicker.

I´m really happy about so many of you offering to meet up with me while I´m at the point and it would be really great if I could get to know some of you guys cause that would be much more fun I think. Well, maybe someone here can think of some easy-to-find meeting point, so that I can meet everybody who´s interested there?!?

Hope to see you around and I can´t wait for next week to finally see Cedar Point!

How about we all meet at the Dragster watching/viewing/seating stands at 8pm sharp? Just an idea. If someone has a better place or time, I'm game.

MrScott

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"If we go any faster, she'll blow apart for sure!"
*** This post was edited by MrScott 9/30/2003 5:58:15 PM ***

My directions suggestion would be jsut to take 75 up to the toll road and then take the 250 exit ( i think its exit 118) then you shoudl be able to make it the rest of the way following signs. It might look out of the way on a map, but I think its prolly the quickest. you can drive it like the autobahn haha. You'll have to pay a small toll, but in my opinion id rather take it than go around columbus and you don't have to mess with 250 for as long. just my suggestion

NOT the quickest, freak...

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--Seth

well it depends how fast you go haha, i like taking 75 to the toll road, rather than going through columbus and taking state route 13. I've only gone from ciny once, so thats the way i went and i liked it.

I live in Sandusky and went to college in cincy for 6 years. I've done the drive more times than I care to recollect...every convievable route and the way I described is the quickest and relatively easy. Things are well-signed along my route, and it really shouldn't pose much of a problem to any decent, observant driver.

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--Seth
(there's even a more backroads way than 250, but that's WAYYY confusing, so I'll just keep with what's already been said)

8 pm at Dragster sounds like a plan to me. Of course, Berlin, you'll have to give us an idea what you look like!

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

Okay, guys, meeting at Dragster seems like a pretty good idea to me, at least I shouldn´t be able to accidently walk by THAT ;-)

I´m a bit worried about making it there on Friday night though, I´ll try my best of course, but you´ll never know going thru immigration at the airport and all that... Well, I should make it till eight I guess, so yeah, that sounds good to me.

As my looks is concerned, well, I have a picture uploaded in my profile, but somehow it´s not "approved" yet. So, basically, I got short blonde hair, 28 years of age, mhm, I don´t know what else, can´t tell you what size I am, because I really have no idea whatsoever what that would be in inch (isn´t that inches you use?), but pretty much "average" I would say. Mhm, that´s all I can think of now, but it´s still a bit more than a week till then and maybe the picture here on this site will be available till then anyway.

I´m really looking forward to get to CP and to meeting some of you guys!