OMG the long lines!!! Is this normal???

Carousel Rabbit said:

I'm a longtime season pass holder and I've made a weekend trip to Halloweekends every year since 2000, so it's a tradition for me. If it weren't... I'm not sure I would do it anymore. 2000-2007 I went with my ex-husband and we would always spend Friday and Saturday at the park, then go to the Merry-Go-Round Museum in Sandusky on Sunday afternoon then head home (3+ hours drive). (The MGR Museum is an important destination for me because, as my handle suggests, I'm also a carousel enthusiast.) By about 2005 we were already noticing that the event was changing into one with more lines on Saturday, when it used to be pretty light even on Saturday. Friday went from "eerily dead" to "very light crowds."

Around 2008-2009, I came to realize that Saturday was a madhouse and started wondering if I hadn't made a mistake in going Saturday instead of Sunday. Around the time I started going to the park with my new fiance/husband in 2010, I switched to going on Friday, then taking Saturday morning/afternoon as a break and doing my MGR Museum visit then, going in on Saturday night with no intention of actually doing anything (so expectations are low), then spending all day Sunday and making a rather tired drive home Sunday night. At first, Sundays were now about as light as Saturdays were in the early days -- that is to say, very good. I figured I had hit on the magic secret.

But this year, even Friday and Sunday were getting busy. This year I went 10/16-10/18 and in addition to the extremely crushed Saturday evening, I found Sunday had moderate crowds too. It wasn't bad or anything, but certainly wasn't the day of walk-ons that it used to be. (It did get closer to that near the end of the day, but MF always had at least a 15 minute line.)

Last year I went closing weekend, and the fact that closing day was both extremely cold and officially not part of Halloweekends (haunts were not open) probably helped, making it a very light crowd day. That may have given me unrealistic expectations for what my Sunday would be like this year.

You hit the nail on the head! This is exactly what ive calculated also through the years. We started going in 2003 and your correct the last 5-7 years have been getting worse. Its just gotten to the point its not fun anymore for us because of the massive crowds. Its sad too because it had become so much of a tradition and something to look forward too. I really miss the old Halloweekends with the giant screen playing old movies, and the cheesy monster band playing below it. Used to love watching that while waiting for Wildcat!

It is true about the crowds, but the upside is that it is good for the park and it will make them spend more money on the event to make it bigger and better in the future.

We went on the 17th as well for the first time in 3 years. As cold and crappy as the weather was, we were surprised at how packed the park was! We waited in the lines we wanted and skipped the long lines that weren't worth it. Was a bit bummed on it being so busy but it seems to be trending this way more and more each year so we weren't too surprised. What did surprise us was the lines for every food stand in the park around lunch time. They were long, ride lines were long and the midways were packed! That was a clue that it was only going to get worse throughout the park. And it did as those lines turned towards the haunt attractions once they opened. Over all, we enjoyed our day and made the most of it.

My son and I went on Friday 10-23. Arrived at 5:00pm and did our usual route for early entry on a Friday.

1. 5:03pm Ocean Motion, first riders, no wait

2. 5:15pm Walk back to Iron Dragon, 5 rides, no wait.

3. 5:55pm Arrive at Blue Streak for 6:00 open, first train, no wait.

4. 6:07pm Allow son to run in hay-maze, then do Boo-Hill for bag of candy.

5. 6:14pm Cedar Downs, no wait.

6. 6:20pm Dodgem, no wait.

7. 6:27pm Matterhorn, no wait.

8. 6:35pm Pipescream, no wait.

We continued down Gemini midway to Frontier Trail and back to front of park.

At 6:50 we passed Panda Express and saw a line of epic proportions out the door. I can't understand waiting in a line like that for that stuff, in my opinion it would be at least an hour before the end of line folks would get food. It just seems like a waste of time.

At 7:00pm we neared the main exit area, I was astounded by the crowd waiting to enter. I have never seen so many people in line at the ticket purchase booths. I have no way of knowing, but it would seem like at least an hour wait to reach a booth, then a line to be wanded and entry. When we left via Cedar Point Rd. to the east, the parking lot booth was backed up to address 1900. Those poor people would be looking at major wait times. Wait to park, wait to purchase, wait to enter, wait to eat, wait to visit Haunts & rides. I guess it is worth the price of admission if they still have 4 to 5 hours of park time.

I know most won't ride the tame rides Ethan & I rode, but we had a great time, visit #92.

Wow! I can't believe how many things you got done in a couple hours. Hope you guys had fun. And yes, Panda's line was outrageous yesterday. I wouldn't wait that long for it, but it sure is good food.

I considered going yesterday but figured the weather was actually too nice. Had a campfire out back instead. We're going to try our luck tomorrow. I don't mind the cold. I'm thinking of renewing my passes this week so I can have the fastlane available for closing day in case the weather is too nice and it's busy.

We did have fun. It was actually nice to see alot of people out enjoying themselves, not only at CP but at other places on a Friday night. I know there were many high school football games going on, my other son was playing in one at Firelands & I was able to catch the whole second half. As for CP, we use it as excercize as well as a great activity for Ethan who is autistic, not to mention just plain enjoyment. We go through fast & do not stress when there are lines.

I can make a great argument against the incredible value that PE offers. In my case I would be spending $11 to get a plate of food that I am simply going to throw away. I do not like what they have. So in my situation PE offers the least value that I can find as a food option at the park.

I was at the park Saturday night and all day yesterday. I only did outdoor haunts Saturday night. Yesterday was busy for a Sunday. It was above average Sunday crowds. Maverick was a consistent 1.5 hour hour wait all day, so I never bothered. And PE's line was long yesterday as well. Many of the haunts had a significant wait but I got Fright Lane.

On Saturday, waited in line for Gemini for about 45 mins, Rougarou for an hour and 15 mins, MaXair for 55 mins, Magnum for about 35 mins.

On Sunday, waited in line for PE for about 25 minutes.

Shades said:

I can make a great argument against the incredible value that PE offers. In my case I would be spending $11 to get a plate of food that I am simply going to throw away. I do not like what they have. So in my situation PE offers the least value that I can find as a food option at the park.

In an attempt to quote the part of my post where I specifically mentioning ignoring personal taste, I ended up deleting the post. There really should be a confirmation for that, by the way, since there's no way for a user to un-delete. But I digress...

Anyhow, my original post was simply that in terms of calorie/dollar, PE is a very good value, perhaps the best in the park, especially considering content.

Yep, yesterday was quite busy for a Sunday. The weather this fall has to some extent been almost too good. There have been a couple days that were really bad but usually we get a lot of iffy days with lighter crowds and most everything open. Not this year it seems. Think I'll renew my passes this week to have fastlane for closing day just in case the weather is gorgeous. I'm thinking we're going to need them.

I got my renewal Fastlane for closing day. Definitely looking forward to it, but I am going to bet there will be lots of us fastlaning that day

Cartwright said:

I got my renewal Fastlane for closing day. Definitely looking forward to it, but I am going to bet there will be lots of us fastlaning that day

Yep, thats the only way Ill go on Halloweekends anymore. Now you gotta fastlane just to wait in a somewhat decent line. Dragster was still an hour in the fastlane on our last trip. It doest bother me to spend the money on passes, but I just get irritated when there are soo many people everywhere I can hardly maneuver through the crowds to do anything else. Im not sure if the majority consensus feels the same way I do. It might just be me, LOL!

My girlfriend wants to go to the park this week for Halloweekends, particularly on Halloween itself. I usually never go this late in the year (weekday in May is what I do) so I have no idea how the crowds will be. I see that Saturday's are normally crazy, but with it being Halloween will that lessen them at all? We could possibly do Sunday instead, but with it being the last day I'm wondering if it would be busy as well.

heed316 said:

My girlfriend wants to go to the park this week for Halloweekends, particularly on Halloween itself. I usually never go this late in the year (weekday in May is what I do) so I have no idea how the crowds will be. I see that Saturday's are normally crazy, but with it being Halloween will that lessen them at all? We could possibly do Sunday instead, but with it being the last day I'm wondering if it would be busy as well.

Ive been on closing weekend a few times, and once it was also Halloween day I believe. Its really hard to say these days. When I went on those weekends it wasnt too bad. As a matter of fact it was before fast pass was even around and it wasnt bad. Take that with a grain of salt because like Ive been saying in the recent years crowds seem to be large not matter what Halloweekend it is. I was debating on going back this weekend, but Im just going to stay at home because I know sure as I do it will be a nightmare crowd.

deeturnerjr72 said:

....Now you gotta fastlane just to wait in a somewhat decent line. Dragster was still an hour in the fastlane on our last trip. It doest bother me to spend the money on passes, but I just get irritated when there are soo many people everywhere I can hardly maneuver through the crowds to do anything else. Im not sure if the majority consensus feels the same way I do. It might just be me, LOL!

Not to be rude, but you sound very entitled. It really is nobody's fault when the park is busy. I actually love when it is busy. I like to see the park full of life.

TwistedWicker77 said:

deeturnerjr72 said:

....Now you gotta fastlane just to wait in a somewhat decent line. Dragster was still an hour in the fastlane on our last trip. It doest bother me to spend the money on passes, but I just get irritated when there are soo many people everywhere I can hardly maneuver through the crowds to do anything else. Im not sure if the majority consensus feels the same way I do. It might just be me, LOL!

Not to be rude, but you sound very entitled. It really is nobody's fault when the park is busy. I actually love when it is busy. I like to see the park full of life.

Not sure why you think im "entitled"? I like to see the park do good business also, but I dont like being in a cluster of so many people you can hardly move. Im not saying I want it dead with noone but myself there.

Yeah, lines have been getting longer, and the Midways have thick crowds. With that said, I'd guess most visitors go expecting that, and still manage to be patient, wait in lines & still have a good time. If that's not your 'style', or if your impatient, don't go. If I wasn't a pass holder, it's still has entertainment value, IMO. Use your passes to your benefit. Early entry rides first, then get in line for the others once normal operating time starts. I've noticed my last 2 HalloWeekend visits, crowds didn't show up until 2-3pm on Saturdays. By that time, I was content, and ready for my break at hotel or in my car. We took a 2 hour breather...snacked, drank and napped. Sure, the crowds were even worse, but we took our time, enjoyed people watching, caught a few more rides, then headed out to beat heavy traffic. Not every visit is going to be 'early May mid-week' type visit, but that's ok with us. We get excited EVERY time we know we're going. For us it's a big deal, not a burden. CP never gets old IMO!

Having passes and being relatively close to the park my visits throughout the year end up well balanced between "holy crap there's a lot of people here" and "did we just really ride Millennium 15 times in one hour?". For me it usually balances out.