Sandcastle really that bad?

bholcomb said:
Is GTR open year round? If so, that'd be a big difference. If not, then it's not surprising. World class resorts really do lack when it comes to CP.

Yes it is, although during the winter months they layoff over half of their staff.

to answer the original question: No, it's not that bad. It's not any worse than Breakers and in some ways it's better. It's also better than 75% of the hotels in Sandusky and you get the convenience of being within walking distance to the park.

OK, I have to chime in here given I spend over 200+ nights/year in hotels for work, as well having stayed at the Hotel Del Corinado.

I've also spent at least 3 nights/year at a Cedar Point and/or Sandusky since 1989.

Lets be honest, at CP you pay for the location. Conversely, CP nickles, dimes, and milks every penny off of their properties. Their "free" coffee is a liquid extract only available in the lobby, and it sux. Internet access? Limited at best! The rooms and hallways are beat, and more than a few times I've had to complain to the front desk about room cleanliness when I've checked in.

At this point, I will only stay at Lighthouse Point. Imo it's the best value of all the "resorts" on the property.

And regarding the other local Sandusky properties - they kick CP butt. Cedar Point could learn alot from the Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn, and my fav non property hotel "Great Wolf Lodge" - my god - for $169/night - it offers a HUGE room, great indoor waterpark, free coffee and internet and is awesome VALUE imo.

I'll be honest. I'm lazy and want to walk into the park, Sandcastle has never disapointed me and that's where I stay (assuming it's not sold out)!

If Cedar Point really wants to cater to the resort crowd, they need more/updated amenities, luxury rooms, and a cleaner atmosphere. As it stands now, they are a family hotel. If a family stays at CP, they already come with the expectation of spending 80-85% of their stay doing stuff outside of their room. They also don't expect luxury/5 star service and amenities.

I've stayed at Disney before, and for what you get with your room, its a much better value than CP. I stayed at Breakers once (was several years ago and it wasn't that nice of a hotel). Now we stay at Camper Village. *** Edited 5/30/2007 12:32:30 AM UTC by Kyle Dersch***

Cp resorts are WAAAAYYY over priced for what you get. Look at a typical weekend stay at a disney hotel here...

http://bookwdw.reservations.disney.go.com/ibcwdw/en_US/_framework/components/processEngine

Not only are the hotels a hell of a lot nicer, but the price is cheaper as well. Also, the rooms at disney are spotless. I have stayed at disney resorts several times, and never had a problem with my room. I have also stayed at cedarpoint resorts several times, and have had many issues with the room.

The only reason my friends and I stay at the Point anymore is for the early entry. But, if LHP were booked for a stay, we'd stay off-Point.

Thankfully my parents still live within an hour and a half drive, so we just do that now.

Man, I LOVED the "liquid" coffee. I lived off that stuff for 4 years and I still miss it.

If you are worried about getting in early, it is a lot cheaper to purchise a joe cool add on to your season pass.

Except I don't have a season pass. When you live in a different country, a season pass doesn't really do you much good.

Although, I do have a season pass to Six Flags this season. Go figure. The season pass for Cedar Fair didn't make financial sense to me this year, but the Six Flags one did.

Tom said:
OK, I have to chime in here given I spend over 200+ nights/year in hotels for work..............

200+ nights OMG. There's between 240-260 working days a year or less than 180 if you're a teacher. I'm just curious, what do you do for a living?

I also agree 100% with your post. They really do need to get the resort wireless internet up to a Super8 motel quality soon. But as some have stated CP knows your spending MOST of your stay away from the room and like you stated, it's all about location.

Tom said:

The rooms and hallways are beat, and more than a few times I've had to complain to the front desk about room cleanliness when I've checked in.

I have to disagree with you on the condition of the rooms and hallways. I have a Breakers East poolside suite every year and the room and hallway is certainly not beat, and it's always been clean enough for me.

Not a luxury hotel by any means, but certainly nice enough and in good condition. The hallways in Breakers East are actually pretty nice, I like the decor in the hallway better than the actual rooms.

If you are speaking about Bon Air however, than you do have a good point.

I'm not mentioning my room number (keeping that little gem to myself, will tell you that it is on the 9th floor though), but I've had the same room the past two years for opening weekend in the Towers, and the room is always spotless when we arrive, as well as when we come back at night from the park.

As for SCS, I never did think that it looked all that great from the outside, so I never did stay there. I can imagine how bad the stair cases can get with the bugs though, as I usually run right through the place in the early morning on my jog around the resort loop. It always seems the place is teeming with bugs, even at 5 or 6 in the morning. *** Edited 5/30/2007 3:53:26 AM UTC by BlueStreak64***

A friend and I stayed at Sandcastle for the first time last yr. It was July 4th. We didn't want to chance having to wait 2 hrs to leave park. So we decided to stay on park property. For a holiday at a amusement resort, $250 was not bad imho. Especially when it sleeps six. We requested a room with a Magnum view. Loved it!

Chief - Sandcastle was built in '90, I believe. I know it wasn't there when Magnum opened. You are correct about the two phases. The second phase was a yr or two later.

In 1989, I was hired as a room attendent. I will start off by saying that they bust their ass cleaning rooms. I am not saying they don't take shortcuts. But the amount of rooms they have to do in a short amount of time keeps them hopping. I am not sure how it's done now. But back then, each section would have a group for cleaning. There would be one person in charge of the group and would have a list with him/her detailing if the rooms were check-ins or makeovers. The employees would split up and do the rooms. As they would get done, they would then be inspected by the leader. They would then check the room off the list.

After a couple of weeks doing that, I started to help in the linen room. They liked me so much, they asked for me to be permanently there for summer. I did not complain. Sorting and folding towels, checking sheets, and keeping the shelves stocked. All this plus air conditioning! :)

Sup Cedarpointdude, I see you live in Boston too. I'm the national sales manager for a small company based in Boston (Dunkin' Donuts). lol I cover the country so I'm on the road constantly. That is why after the park closes, I do occassionally wish I could check my email more easily.

Pete, I've stayed at Breakers East as well and you're right - that one section is nice. The original part of Breaker, SCS, and all of Breakers Express imo are "beat". Breakers Express was the biggest disapointment ever for us - the bathroom was discusting when we checked in, got attitude when we asked for another room, and have NEVER stayed there again! Horrible experience.

Like more than a few other, Lighthouse Point is the ONLY on-site property I stay at, followed by GWL if I have to stay off propery.

And while I'm on my soapbox, why the hell are the Radison and BE considered on property when you still have to drive to the park?

I agree that you can't compare Cedar Point to Disney. That is because Disney sets the standard. They also have experienced staff working for them. Another thing, Disney pays travel agents who book through them, Cedar Point does not.

Sure,

But you can just go onto disney's web site and get the same deal you can through a travel agent.

Point is, I am paying more to stay at a sub standerd cp resort, rather than paying less at disney resorts and getting much more value and a much better room.

But it's the same price without someone to help you if something goes wrong with well the airline.

Never accept a filthy room. Always explain the situation to the Front Desk; and for your convenience ask for a suite or a different room. Nowone should have to stay in a room that grosses you out. They can also give you a discount off of what you paid; and considering Cedar Point takes customer service so seriously they are bound to do something for you to make your stay better.

I helped out doing housekeeping during halloweekends, and the housekeeping supervisors were very strict about making sure everything was perfect. That was in 2004, but maybe they lost all their good help. Being a housekeeper and a front desk clerk I scower rooms these days that I check into and I would really be bummed to see a dirty room at the overpriced Cedar Point resorts.

Over memorial, I had some friends of mine that stayed in sandcastle and said the room was tiny. I didn't go in there, but they came over to spend some time with us in the cabin because they couldnt stand the size of the rooms. Are they THAT bad?
*** Edited 6/1/2007 5:47:31 PM UTC by IvyRose-MissX***

Tom said:
Sup Cedarpointdude, I see you live in Boston too.

Sorry Tom, Long Island NY.

LET'S GO YANKEES......I'll see everyone at the point with my #42 Mariano Jersey.

Beyond issues of room infrastructure at breakers, the bedding (comforter/quilt and blankets) are NOT washed between guests, only the sheets and pillowcases are stripped and washed and then the itchy blanket and quilt are put right back on the beds... the coffee pots are just rinsed out (even after guests have urinated in them)... the carpets are covered in booze and body fluids are are just wiped up... the bathrooms are wiped down not scrubbed down... the housekeeping just gives the rooms the illusion of clean when in reality they are only straightend up.... after a day spent cleaning that mess Iwas appalled by what I had seen there... I would NEVER stay at a cedar point resort even if they paid me to sleep there.... sadly I suspect most hotel rooms are the same way so now I take my own linens with me when I stay in hotels (and I stay in sheraton/westin quality rooms only now...)

As for the hotel breakers itself, the old part (rotunda) reeked of cigarettes in the public spaces when I was there... perhaps it has changed since the smoking ban has gone into effect... but the whole thing needs to be torn down and rebuilt at this point as it is a mess at this point, and they have just managed to slap some drywall and paint up to cover up over a century of damage and decay.... The tower section gets trashed every weekend and just tidied up after it is turned into animal house every weekend... its disgusting, so for all of you who have reservations at the breakers, have a good nights sleep in your filthy rooms...

So seriously... spend just one day slaving away there and you will never look at a hotel the same way again...

EDIT: Oh and just so I do not seem biased, I have had several frineds who worked at disney tell me all the horror stories of what really goes on at Disney World... its not really any better... you just pay twice as much for the same diseased rooms that look nicer without a microscope or a black light... *** Edited 6/2/2007 1:00:13 AM UTC by Andrew VanAtta***