Reporter looking for top Cedar Point advice

Hello, all ... I'm a freelance writer working on an assignment for Lake Erie Living Magazine and looking for the best "insider secrets" from devoted fans of Cedar Point.

When are the best times to go to beat the crowds? Where do you find the best deals/discounts? What are your best back-up activities there during bad weather? Best places to stay? And other advice you might give to less experienced park-goers?

Any input you might have is welcome: jennifer@jenniferkeirn.com.

Thanks,
Jennifer Keirn

The best times to go are during the week, especially in May and early June before school lets out.

Best deals are usually at Meijer, or the promotions the park has from time to time.

Enjoying a show or playing in the arcade during rain. Storms rolling in off Lake Erie are a pretty unique experience worth experiencing.

Sleep inn on 250 is a favorite hotel of mine. The Maples Motel isn't bad either. Staying on property is worth it if you want early entry/exclusive ride time.

Don't ride Raptor first thing in the morning. The lines are shorter in the evening.

Best time to go is in early May when everybody is still in school. Tuesdays and Wednesdays at that time have pretty much no lines for any rides. Friday nights in October are also some of the best days to go.

Avoid Mean Streak at all costs: It may look fun, but it isn't.

Go to the back of the park first, and make your way to the front to beat the crowds. Also, in the summer, go in the middle of the week rather than on the weekends; I've found Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the least busiest.

During bad weather, go to a live entertainment show or eat in somewhere, or go play some games in the Coliseum.

Wicked Twister is worth the wait, even though it's a 45-second ride. Don't bypass it.

The funny thing about "insider secrets" is that they're not very insider.

Check the pinned topics in the "trip planning" forum, for example.

When it comes to bad weather, the Power Tower will run in the rain, unless lightning is spotted. I've seen the matterhorn run when almost every coaster has been down. Usually the restaurants are jam packed once it starts to rain, but it beats standing out there soaked.
Meijer's got the best discount I've seen.
My advice is to wear sun block, because if you don't you WILL get sun burned. I also suggest that if you are hungry, buy food, and start waiting in line for a big coaster, so you can eat your food while waiting. I find that the toft's ice cream in front of the park has great deals on ice cream, because you get so much and it's delicious :)
I'd stick around until dark so you can see the starlight experience on the frontier trail; it's really ambient and relaxing, and a beautiful sight to see. A pair of the special glasses costs a dollar, and it's worth it, because it makes all of the lights look like hearts and stars, and I still have my pairs =]

The best bathroom in the park is the Camp Snoopy Bathroom. It's in Camp Snoopy located not too far from the base of TTD.

Obvious choices:

Midweek May and early June days are KEY! I would advise readers to avoid weekends from late June until late August - or if they have to go on the weekend to only go on Sunday.

One thing I think that hasn't been mentioned is the height and safety requirements. I would stress something about not trying to stuff kids' shoes or "thinking they can make it" if they're an inch or two short.

^ And that if their kids are right on any particular height limit, they can visit park op to get officially measured and get a wrist band if they're tall enough.

Personally, I'd mention how much of a value Halloweekends is. Tickets are the same price as the regular season, and you get a bunch of additional attractions (if you're into the scary stuff) included in the price. October Saturdays can be crazy if the weather is nice, but generally Fridays, Sundays and September Saturdays aren't too bad.

Dispatch Master Transport said:

One thing I think that hasn't been mentioned is the height and safety requirements. I would stress something about not trying to stuff kids' shoes or "thinking they can make it" if they're an inch or two short.

YES. Ride hosts check inside people's shoes!!!

And those that do go on to be star employees at the TSA.

Nice one:)

What the *&^#$ is the matter with you people? Don't tell her anything! "Best kept secrets" are not going to be secrets for long if she publishes this list in a newspaper or magazine!

A little common sense please, people. I have some secrets that I have not, and will not utter on this forum or anywhere else. Selfish of me? Yep. But I worked real hard and spend MANY days at the point for the last few years in particular, to figure this stuff out. Why should anyone get to pick up a magazine and benefit from our collective hard work?

Well, so far none of the 'secrets' being revealed are particularly stunning in the revelations they provide.

Like anyone who knows how to use Google couldn't find the exact same information on this site and others like it. Or should we just abstain from talking about the park period because our secrets might get out to that darn "GP"?