Need CP advice.

Taking our kids ages 12 and 10 to King's Island, Six Flags Ohio and Cedar Point during a 4 day whirlwind tour in July. We are coming from North Dakota so my kids have never seen anything like the parks we will visit. They are most excited about CP...2 questions.

1. Strategy to ride Millenium Force...my daughter (10) is already starting to get scared. Should we ride it first thing to avoid lines...or wait until she is warmed up on other coasters and hit it last? What is the best time to avoid long lines? We will be visiting on a Thursday after hitting the other parks early in the week.

2. Hotel. Where to stay close to the park. Looking for newer/cleaner budget priced ($80 or less per night) near the park. Any suggestions?

Can't Wait!! Thanks in advance for answers.

Since you're already hitting other parks, she'll be as warmed up as she's going to be for MF. Go ahead and take her on it first thing and avoid the lines.

As to where to stay, see my thread "Travelodge in Sandusky?" (link below). I got a price of $56.56 per night, tax included and got good reviews.

http://www.guidetothepoint.com/thepoint/cpplace/thread.asp?ForumID=1&TopicID=5073

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Duane Cahill
Coming soon to a park near Sandusky!

I second the suggestion for the Travelodge. It's clean, reasonably priced, and a nice place to rest after a very tiring day at CP!

If travelodge doesn't float your boat there is a really nice ramada in and we payed under 60 for that one with a AAA membership. NICE HOTEL. Also if you time things right like ride a few rides in the back of the park first (mine rides, mean streak, heck even woodstock express) by the time the rush for MF is over you should only have a 45 min wait. That is the longest i have ever waited for that coaster, and if you go on magnum first and your daughter likes it let her know that MF is nothing like magnum it is just fast your stomach doesn't even drop on it. So she should be golden.

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magnum or MF now that is a real question.... final anwser magnum

dont all area hotels go up in july though?
i never can find one under 90

Yes go right to Big Blue.

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Live for FUN!

Don't let life fly by.

Just want to say that my 10year old who loves coasters was really intimidated by MF. It is truley an amazing site to behold and it took me some nerve to get on.....it is bigger than you can immagine. We saved it as our last conquest and it took a little coaxing for him to get on....He loved it though! I hope you have a blast! Sounds like my kinda vacation!

Kruggie's $0.02

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Feeling kruggie cause I'm not at the Point.

Thanks so much for all of the advice. This board is great. You have all made us even more excited to visit the point. We even discussed skipping one of the other parks and spending 2 days at CP!

One more question...

I see on the website that the Thursday in July is a "Joe Cool" day...what does this do to crowd size and early arrival strategy?

Thanks again!!

Thursday being a Joe Cool day shouldn't have any major effect on the crowds. All it means is that from 9-10am Joe Cool Club members get Exclusive Ride Time in the park, and then the General Public is let in at 10. The one good thing about a Joe Cool day is that you will know FOR SURE that the gates will open at 10am (see: thread on gate opening times). So if you want to arrive early on Thursday then you can get there just before 10 and be assured of getting in soon.

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Steuks!!

Second the Ramada....Just made my reservation after reading about it here....Mid-July, peak season and $67.95....thats is sweet for a top quality chain hotel in the area....!!!

That ramada is really really nice too I am very picky about hotels and that is the best low price hotel in sandusky! Even better than the holidome!
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magnum or MF now that is a real question.... final anwser magnum

Tell your 10 year-ol that if she rides MF, she can ride anything else. That strategy worked for me when riding Magnum and the Steel Phantom (RIP) for the first time

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Brian Z.
Assistant Webmaster
Kennywood Park Unlimited
www.kpunlimited.com