Sandcastle Suites

Did anybody have any problems/complaints about Sandcastle Suites if you stayed there this past season? My family and I stayed there in 2012 and had no problems. I booked a room there for this season, and a couple days later, found some bad reviews from this past season. I know that some people just write a bad review no matter what, but aside from that, any feedback would be great.

It is currently the most neglected of the CP resorts... and neglect usually is indicative of major remodeling or removal in the CP world.

It usually smells in the hallways, the covered walkways between wings are often dirty and bug filled, the wooden stairwell near Breakwater Cafe is loose from the riser mounts-straps, the beds are the least comfortable of the hotels, the snack bar by the pool hasn't been open for years, the lobby is dated, the rooms got an odd refresh about 6 years ago but wasn't much, the fire alarm system has malfunctioned twice while we were staying there in the last 3 years.

Overall, it used to be the nicer of the resorts, but has quickly been eclipsed by the recent renovations at Breakers and Lighthouse Point. I'd imagine the CP Express remodel will further put Sadcastle down the list of room options (excepting its ideal location).

Ugh, that's not good. I'm not super picky, to be honest only reasons I picked it was because of platinum pass 10% off & I usually stay at Breakers or CP Express, so was hoping for something different. Room is already booked. I wonder if they'll let me switch to a different CP resort if they have availability?

419-627-2106.

Ask them. They'll know.

I was there about 3 years ago and did like it. I am not sure about the updating thing. It is expensive so maybe it warrants that to keep up but I had no issue with it. Flowery décor, a little but clean and spacious. I liked the set up inside and outside.

Noggin, thank you for your help. I just called and they let me switch from Sandcastle suites to Cedar Point's Express Hotel.

XS NightClub said:

It is currently the most neglected of the CP resorts... and neglect usually is indicative of major remodeling or removal in the CP world.

It usually smells in the hallways, the covered walkways between wings are often dirty and bug filled, the wooden stairwell near Breakwater Cafe is loose from the riser mounts-straps, the beds are the least comfortable of the hotels, the snack bar by the pool hasn't been open for years, the lobby is dated, the rooms got an odd refresh about 6 years ago but wasn't much, the fire alarm system has malfunctioned twice while we were staying there in the last 3 years.

Overall, it used to be the nicer of the resorts, but has quickly been eclipsed by the recent renovations at Breakers and Lighthouse Point. I'd imagine the CP Express remodel will further put Sadcastle down the list of room options (excepting its ideal location).

I agree with everything NightClub said. The property really has been neglected, with the slight exception of the rooms themselves. I have stayed there several times since the 2008 remodel, most recently for a weekend in 2016 and for a 5 day trip in both 2013 and 2014. We've switched to Breakers for our 5 day trip since their remodel. The rooms are OK at Sandcastle, but everything else about the property is approaching or perhaps already at "embarrassing" status. Its hard to justify the cost when the park clearly isn't keeping the property up at this point. I look forward to the overhaul of Sandcastle into whatever will replace it in the next few years. Until then, I think any of the other CP properties will be more enjoyable. We have decided not to go back there at all, even if it is for a 1 night stay. When we do the 5k in June, we are staying at CP Express and then Breakers for our longer trip later on.

Jake10 said:

I just called and they let me switch from Sandcastle suites to Cedar Point's Express Hotel.

I'd consider one of the cabins/cottages instead of Express and having to drive to the park.

Chris

Chris49, thank you. That's a good idea. However, it will just be me and (possibly) one other person. If he isn't able to go, it would just be me. But I most certainly will look into it at some point.

I honestly don't understand why they don't have a bus that transports guests from Castaway and Express. It really would add to the value of the properties. Making them pay for parking and drive defeats the purpose of staying at a Cedar Point hotel.

The shuttle only operates at the three on-point properties?

James Parker jr said: When we do the 5k in June, we are staying at CP Express and then Breakers for our longer trip later on.

Just jumping in to say we are also staying at the Breakers Express for the Run and Ride 5K in June. Couldn't justify the additional money for Hotel Breakers when we will be leaving the hotel so early to be on point in time for the beginning of the 5K and the Mile Run.

But, we are ready to lace up and get there :)

If you are staying at either Castaway or Express, why would you not get a ticket package that does include parking? Or get a Platinum Pass and then you don't have to worry about it.

Yes if you are able too, you should get a Platinum Pass. Takes care of the parking headache, and plus you get 10% discount at all Cedar Point Resorts (except) Lighthouse Point. So as DSShives says, get a platinum pass or ticket package that includes parking.

Tilt-a-Whirl said:

I honestly don't understand why they don't have a bus that transports guests from Castaway and Express. It really would add to the value of the properties. Making them pay for parking and drive defeats the purpose of staying at a Cedar Point hotel.

From what I've read, they did have a shuttle when Breakers Express first opened, but non-resort guests were parking there and taking the shuttle to skirt the parking fee. Maybe if they did reintroduce the shuttle, they should make everyone show their room keys. Also, don't forget that only a portion of the resort guests actually use the current shuttle, considering that all of the on-Point resorts are within decent walking distance to the park. If the shuttle was extended to the off-Point resorts, the demand would be far higher (and the wait times much longer) for the shuttle since you can't walk to the park from those resorts. The best compromise IMO would be providing free parking with your room key, a la Disney World; no need to create an overcrowded shuttle, and the off-Point resort guests wouldn't be punished solely on location. Of course, the pipe dream monorail would be the best solution, right? ;)

Tilt-a-Whirl said:
I honestly don't understand why they don't have a bus that transports guests from Castaway and Express.

Several reasons.

Infrastructure. "A" bus couldn't handle the number of people trying to get to and from the park during the day. And Cedar Point's causeway and parking lot were designed to accommodate the needs of a small park in the 1950s, not a major destination resort.

Decreased profits. Fewer people driving to the point and parking = lower profits.

Increased expense. The park would need to purchase a (small) fleet of buses (the buses, making multiple stops, would need to be dispatched pretty frequently during prime hours; otherwise, most people would choose to save time and drive to the park); those buses would need drivers; the park would need to build a maintenance facility; the park would likely need to hire folks experienced with maintaining buses; the buses would need to share the causeway and parking lot with guest traffic, unlike, say Disney World, where buses have separate access to park entrances and don't have to wait to pass through toll booths or maneuver through parking lots.

It seems unnecessary. Cedar Point's resort enjoy spectacular occupancy rates. Clearly guests at Express and Castaway have no problem with driving to the park.

Don't you get a parking permit to put in your car when you stay at Express or Castaway Bay?

Another reason they don't run shuttles to and from these properties is when the causeway gets backed up the buses would be stuck, too. Is this a problem for employee shuttles?

They used to run a water taxi from Castaway Bay to the park a number of years ago. It was a short lived service, but they​ actually widened the channel going into lagoon by Castaway Bay to accommodate the ferry. I think it was discontinued when water levels dropped and was never restarted.

Shane, yes the employee shuttles get caught up in the mess of traffic. It is a big issue, and managers and returning employees told me on my first day to plan on taking the employee shuttle at least 30-45 min earlier than normal on employee parking ban days.

I could see a revamp of Sandcastle coming in 2018.

Every year we have seen at least one of the resorts getting a revamp. Now that Breakers Express is getting its revamp, Sandcastle is the only one left to get renovations under the Ouimet team.