Halloweekends Trip Planning

Hey! Long time reader, first time poster here. My name is Jake, I'm 17, and I'm from Toronto.

So money is very tight at the moment, but I busk (for anyone who doesn't know: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_performance), and I am totally 100% determined to save enough money to take my parents and girlfriend to CP for a saturday and sunday during the HW fall season. I haven't been to CP since 2009 so I am CRAVING this place..

I have some questions for all you CP regulars of who I am extremely jealous!

We're driving from Toronto and we're going to stay at Breakers for the saturday night, and get the $64 two day passes. If we arrive at the park early enough on saturday, but we're only staying at Breakers THAT saturday night, do we get access to early entrance on both saturday and sunday morning?

Also, I'm determining which saturday is presumably the least busy.. When I did this same trip in 2008, Saturday was busy, but not terribly busy, the longest wait was an hour and a half I think. I've looked into trip reports but I'm am wondering what people think the crowds will be like this HW season.
Since I am an extreeeeme coaster lover, we're not planning on going through any of the haunted houses, as we have a good gig going on at Canada's Wonderland anyway. I realize sunday will be the better day in terms of getting on everything, but does anyone have suggestions to which weekend would have the least busy saturday?

I was planning on doing it the weekend of Sept. 15-16, but that's the opening weekend, so I'm not sure now. What about early October? Or Canadian Thanksgiving weekend? (13th-14th)
This is a very important trip to me, ($600 kind of important..) and I want to make sure it's not just waiting in lines all day, but a very memorable time for all of us.
So thanks in advance for the advice.

Yes, Breakers will give you an early entry pass on the day of your arrival even though you won't be checking in until later that day.

Typically, the September weekends seem a little bit less busy than the October ones, but really, they're all very weather dependent. If the weather is nice, you'll probably have a decent crowd. I was going to point out that the outdoor haunts are open on Sundays in October, but I guess that wouldn't matter to you. Personally I think you're missing out if you don't at least check out a few of the outdoor haunts (no lines except for Cornstalkers), but I am a bit biased.

It sounds like Halloweekends is not the time of year for you to visit. If the weather is nice Saturday will have the worst crowds of the season. If it is cold and rainy the crowds will drop but many of the rides close in the rain. If you don't plan on doing any of the haunted areas or shows I would recommend waiting until next season and going in late may. The crowds will be better, the weather will (probably) be better, hotels will (probably) be cheeper and the new coaster will hopefully be open (who knows with the recent track record). If you do go during halloweekends plan on only getting a few rides in on Saturday and bring your own food because those lines can be awful as well. Sunday will be better crowd wise so plan on that being your coaster day.

Thank you both for your advice!! I honestly just don't think I can wait till next year, and I'll just be too busy then anyways, with school and stuff. But I had another idea, if I can get a little money help from my parents, maybe coming up friday afternoon and getting the starlight tickets? It won't be too busy on friday night right?

Friday would be a great idea. If it were me I would go to the park on Friday and Sunday and find something else in the area to do on Saturday.

Hmm.. you know after thinking that through for a while I think that's the perfect plan. Thank you for your suggestion! Do you have anything you'd recommend we do on the Saturday (hopefully low-cost if not free of cost)?

There are lots of cheap fall-activities in the area like corn mazes and pumpkin farms. While I'm sure you can find some closer to Sandusky, this one is about 45 minutes away and was very nice to visit when I went last year:
http://www.fleitzpumpkinfarm.com/

My go-to free activity is geocaching. www.geocaching.com

There are many beaches and parks along lake erie if the weather is ok. Others on here might be able to suggest specific locations.

The Getaway Guide has a coupon for buy 1 get 1 free mini golf at Challenge Park. If you don't have one yet go on the Cedar Point website and request one soon.

On 250 there is a mini golf and go cart place. I don't remember the name.

Bowling

Movie Theater at the Sandusky Mall

Toledo is a 1 to 1.5 hr drive to the West.

The Toledo Zoo. www.toledozoo.org Parking $5, Adult Admission $14.

Toledo Museum of Art www.toledomuseum.org $5 parking, free admission.

Maumee Indoor Theater (cheepie theater south of Toledo) http://www.greateasterntheatres.com/maumeehome.asp $4 for all shows concessions reasonably price. Shows movies just before they are released on DVD/Blue-ray. I believe there is still a cheepie theater in Bowling Green that plays first run movies - maybe someone can confirm? Toledo also has a few normal movie theaters.

There is also a few malls in the Toledo area. Westfield/Franklin Park (indoor), Fallen Timbers (outdoor) and Levis Commons (outdoor).

Cleveland is 1 to 1.5 hours to the East. I am not as familar with there as I am with Toledo but I'm sure there is alot to do there too. (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?)

I'm sure the current and former employees have a better list of ideas. Hopefully a few of them chime in here.

Ralph, I'll mention the farm to my family. We usually love doing October-y things like that so thats a great possibility, thank you.
And Krafty, again, thank you!!! These all sound wonderful, maybe if I'm lucky we can drive into Cleveland and check out the Hall of Fame.

Also, how soon should I book Hotel Breakers in advance? Or maybe I should ask, how late can I push it booking a room for the 14th-16th?

I wouldn't wait too long. Their parking lot usually looks pretty full that time of year.

Wait times are funny things, on July 4 weekend, Raptor was a walk on at times, busier at others Early entry gets you to ride Maverick (my favourite ride) 2-3 times. Driving from Toronto - check on highway construction or things you may want to do on the way, there are 4 routes I can think of to get to CP from TO:

1, Toronto - Niagara Falls - Buffalo - Cleveland - CP

2. Toronto - Sarnia - Toledo - CP

3. Toronto - Windsor/Detroit - Toledo - CP (stop in Windsor and spend some $$$ - hehehe)

4. Toronto - Leamington or Kingsville (Catch the Pelee Island Ferry) - Pelee Island - Sandusky - CP (a most interesting route I have yet to take...especially if you have a bicycle)

Regarding weather, my experience is that if the weather looks crappy, lots of folks stay away, but CP does a great job at keeping rides going, so unless it's a gully washer coming....go....

Perhaps not for this year, but something to consider for future visits, is a Cedar Fair Platinum Pass - Works at Canada's Wonderland, Cedar Point (& Soak City), and all other Cedar Fair properties.... covers parking, admission, and discounts on purchases (we have been platinum pass holders for a few years now)

To get your early entrance pass for Saturday, (be there early enough for starters) check in at the Breakers, your room probably will not be ready, but they will give you the early entrance pass.

I've been going to CP since 1976, still love the park and still learning about it. Good luck & have fun.....if you have extra $$$ pick up a copy of the book "Cedar Point the Queen of American Watering Places" It is necessary reading for all CP fans (~$35)

If you want stay at Breakers, book ASAP. Rooms range from around $150 - $1,000 a night.....unless you are on a strict budget or not fussy, nice rooms are about $300/night with taxes, Sandcastle Suites may be a bit cheaper. Cheaper rooms are OK, but I hear some folks complain...nevertheless, my opinion is to stay in the park.

Hey Jake!

Just to put in my two cents... I am kind of in the same boat that you're in, driving for more than 10 hours away for my yearly trip. I went during opening weekend of Halloweekends last year, and Friday night was great! I got to ride just about everything I wanted to... which was good, because Saturday was one of the busiest days that I can remember.

If you are thinking of going on Saturday, prepare to be frustrated by long lines (or get the fast lane passes if you could afford them).

I am going the weekend of the 21st of September, and because of my experience last year, I felt that it was necessary for me to get the fast lane. It just sucks to drive 10 hours only to have 2 hour waits for several rides.

I just kept telling myself that waiting in a line at Cedar Point is still better than being at work! :-)

Have a fun trip!

So I've booked the hotel (Breakers), everything's a-go.

acrossthelake, thank you so much for all your advice and detail, we're gonna take the Toronto-Detroit-Toledo-Sandusky route simply because it's worked best for us before and we know it well.

I'm thinking about the platinum pass, but I really only even go to wonderland once maaybe twice each summer nowadays, cause I've been SO many times over the years. But it's tempting, I might get one for next year.

I will most definitely look out for that book, thanks for letting me know about it!!

xfireboyx, thank you for your reassurance about Friday night, that makes me look forward to it even more! And luckily, we're gonna go Friday and Sunday, and do other things around town on Saturday, so hopefully that will help us avoid the busy busy busy Saturday crowds.

And weather's looking pretty good, some showers.. cloudy.. though it changes everyday it seems. Hopefully it will scare people away. ;)

Thank you everyone very much, you've all helped a lot in the planning of this trip, and I can't even explain how important this trip is for my family. I really appreciate it!

I'll do a trip report when I'm back!