JJLehto

Yeah while I always advocate for express as its cheaper, to be fair I've been a ton of times. I hate to say "spend more $" but for the first time, staying on site is an experience

I mean, others will provide input but I dont think there's any way you can do CP without having the early access... quite easy, just book any of the Cedar Point hotels! They are of course pricier, but yeah unless you're a local IDK anyone who's ever gone and not had it, including myself. There's breakers express which is a few minute drive, but it is cheaper and still grants you early access. On site hotels tend to be a good bit pricier but you are right there. In late Aug/early ish Sept Ive generally found the park not too crowded (again excluding S V and Maverick). Though it's been a while since I've been at that time of year, not sure what others feel.

Wild aint it? I do indeed remember when it was opened, and being like 12 or 13 and new to the internet being able to follow its construction etc Was so mindblowing this 230 foot ride. I mean later that year went to CP lol but yeah damn 20 years.

You'll prob be fine. 3 days is plenty. I've done everything I've wanted at CP w/o fast lane in 2 days. No real plan of attack/pointers that aren't pretty obvious: I assume you are getting early access? If not......I hope you haven't booked lodging yet/can change it because you will need that. Get to the park early, make sure you are at the gate for early access. Take advantage of it. In the past my group has used each day's early access to do a particular ride (Maverick, TTD) and get it out of the way. Besides that, just be aware it's Cedar Point and this year is kinda whacky... Sept it usually quiet but thats around labor day and again lots is still up in the air. So yeah, take advantage of early access, be aware of info (like I think SV is only opening early access on weekends, so keep that in mind) and yeah, that's about it. I think you'll be fine, and just remember its CP...it can get gnarly, expect S V and Maverick to be swamped basically all day . Again assuming there's no Fast Lane I'd prob want to get those ASAP upon early access and unless you're willing to wait may not get more than 2 rides. Enjoy! It can be a lot but there's nothing like the first trip to Cedar Point. And it gets shat on (partly sincere partly bc coaster enthusiasts are the most dour lot of people I've seen given its a hobby about fun lol) but Cedar Point is a great experience. Not the "nicest" and deff not most beautiful park but can't beat its quantity and quality of rides and there are far worse parks that also offer much less, (and likewise while I love a small park enthusiasts do seem to fetishize them, I mean there's a reason CP is expensive and bustling and (place) with like 4 coasters and total 15 rides isn't lol) so just remember to enjoy!!

Interesting. Yeah that is hopeful esp as I imagine a park can allow more distance/protocol even than a stadium. Would deff love to pop by hear before I move out of NE but we shall see! And oh yeah, no doubt the park wants to open bad.

That is pretty unusual. I get people may end up near each other/crowds can happen but parks....nightclubs? That's a weird group of entities lol Guessing the chances of this place opening by June 1 is not looking so good?

Got my first dose of vaccine! Bit of luck. Someone heard this one site has recently had excess vaccines and been giving them out after 5. So we went and waited and sure enough they opened it up! Was a pretty large group but I managed to make it in. 2nd dose scheduled, so I will be fully vaxxed by the time I hit the parks

That's neat, gotta admire the passion. I used to kinda suppress this stuff bc idk, felt embarrassed wasn't till 4 years ago I was willing to just let people know, post travels on FB so yeah kudos to him.

Fair, also depends on the mindset. Like, I'd say I deff have a better experience with others, but unless Im with fellow enthusiasts (which has only happened like 3 times in my life) I just wont do as much/quite what I want and generally expect a more chill day and less interest about riding stuff and some more about hanging out. Which is perfectly fine! If I go solo, I can maximize. Like I know I'll be there at open, can move at the speed I want, do the day how I want, move at a pace others dont and gunna skim/cut other things to get the most rides done. Which I enjoy as well. Nothing like a plan going perfectly and you can just beast a park. Just depends how I'm feeling/keeping it in mind. A park w/ fellow enthusiasts yeah that's the golden ticket but Im not so lucky.....my friends tend to drift lazily around and stop frequently and not really care about gate opening/beating crowds which was unfortunate at CP when they decided nothing more than 30 mins wait (lol) so it was the antique cars, log flume a few times, the mine ride I think. I shared this story here before but it cost me my 1st ride of Maverick. They didnt know...coasters are coasters, I did say oh hey I missed this last time would realllly like to do it an hour sucks but itll be worth it but nope. So I think for a while I had a backlash against doing parks with people LOL

Tease indeed. Planning has been quite a pain and when I finally pulled the trigger assuming this will be open....not so sure now esp with Universal doing a June opening : / Thing is I got limited income so if IG isnt gunna be open when I'm in FL I aint going. If Ice Breaker isnt open Im nixing Orlando fully to save time/$ but yeah the park has to do what it feels best, and the loss of my single admission isnt gunna break them XD

Yup the crowds are to be expected esp after last year, they will die down so the 2 trains is great news! Sorry it was such a rough time. I never did get why so many struggle w the easiest things of ya know, navigating a station, moving slow etc but then I remember that is the different between (Ugh I hate the term) "GP" and us lol but yeah if the park already seems to be returning to normal...I have little concern the rest will die down. I am still banking on need using time saver when I go and think it'll be ok

Fair that would've been pretty gnarly. Guess later in the year I'll keep my eyes peeled for some of those dirt cheap Orlando flights.

Glad its official! That said, I will be missing this when I go to FL in May Oh well, next year I suppose.

....Why would security bother you for being there alone? Is this another issue that's existed?

Indeed, and I do feel bad. We gotta support parks esp this year, but also dang that's steep for a not terribly great return and low chance (I reckon it's worse on a non peak, cheaper, day) all will even be open. If they can indeed get all rides open consistently...honestly I'll suck it up and go once.

Yeah it was already an uphill battle for this place, (lots of us got **** for saying we'd be shocked if it lasts and somehow we wanted it to fail...which is stupid bc I love the idea of a park with a not shabby lineup that can run all year long 30 minutes from home, but ya know it was just being realistic) and covid was deff the worst thing that could've happened. Is a shame bc it's got some solid creds and the really fun looking Sandy's and the slightly steeper Takabisha. Im still torn if its worth $59 for this place esp since I hear all their rides running the same day is like winning the lottery, but I'll cave and hope for the best I'm sure.

And it'll be a weekday in June. Again, normally I'd not have any concern and last time I did this (visiting KI after Coastermania) the park was pretty dead. Was wonderful. With protocols and all ya know, tad more anxious but ultimately not gunna sweat it.

End of August, imho, may not be tooo bad in terms of crowds but yeah...Fast Pass is deff gunna be huge, especially how far away you're coming/amount you want to do. Schools let out all over the calendar, (the US is always an incosistent patchwork lol) Hate to suggest putting things off but 2022 may be all around easier and better experience for you. If not for the event, I'd personally not do CP this year and my few parks are all early season weekday to try and dodge crowds. Ive put off my big plans till 2022 myself.

I did Coastermania in 2017 and 2019 and both times tickets were available for, well idk how long but it was several days after they went on sale. Crowds weren't bad at all! ERT was great. S V was slow but that wasn't crowd related. Also the park itself wasnt tooo bad those days. So I'm hopeful! Even with covid restrictions (not sure how CP has been handling it this year) Oh deff good call. Dont look at the # of coasters, Knoebels > Dorney without doubt. I mean Dorney ain't bad not at all but it's nothing special/nothing there is really worth it (if a choice had to be made). Knoebels is a wonderful experience. Depends when you go to CP. Summer is gnarly. If you got early/late seasons crowds arent too bad (but Maverick, S V will be mobbed all day long). I will say with fast lane I've been able to do CP in one day and be fully satisfied, this included multiple rides on S V. To be fair, I've been many times and was fine with skipping some rides. 2 days and Fast Lane is still not a bad call at all given there's just so much and it would reduce your stress if you don't wanna go at a frantic pace like me lol From how far you're coming and all 2 days and Fast Lane is prob still a good idea.

OK THAT makes sense. Bc yeah I was like wtf thats a pretty great deal! How is it not already sold out??? That would be why XD 875 is..... a lot. Sadly too much for me. I'm a student, I have $ put away for this trip and exta ofc but that's too much for me. I'm with you my tolerance for waiting has gone down with time. If I had income coming in I'd throw that 875 and go enough to justify it but not in the cards this year. Ah well, part of my planning was to hit weekdays and try to do this off peak season to minimize crowds anyway so oof, yeah idk hopefully crowds will be tolerable anyway. Deff not worth it given my current state. If I could afford it oh I would totally!! Like the above comment said, would be able to blow by "GP" no more SV fast lane lines that are 45-60 minutes. Can't wait for things to return to fully normal! For now though I shall risk the normal lines and hope good timing will shine upon me.

Ah good to know, thanks! Hmmm so thats added to my platinum pass? aka I get the fast lane for use at ANY of the Cedar Fair parks? If so....$299 is hefty but to use it for 4 or more parks not a bad deal tbh

Well, I was entertaining the thought (IDK where I'll be in July so trying not to plan that far out) but if its already sold out makes it easy lol I'll be doing KI this year anyway. Deff excited to get back Could've had less in stock? It has a stronger base of passionate fans? I first went to Coastermania 2017 so I can't vouch for "it used to be better" I tend to dismiss that stuff as either nostalgia or some type of "ahhhhh I did before it was big/sold out" but hey works for me. Keep people away from Cedar Point make it better for me Speaking of going to KI, I see their fast lane plus is "going on sale soon". This means they are doing one? Anyone got any idea when they might go on sale? Last visit it was dead on a weekday but Im going later this time and I see schools are out so I'm worried about crowds.

Coastermania tix purchased! Pretty excited esp given the lack of fast lane. I know the park already said no S V for early access on weekdays, so I reckon that means no extra early ERT. Shame, I'd love to not have to wait till night ERT esp since w/o fast lane I assume the line will be 2+ hours as usual and that's a no for me lol but still, pretty stoked! Should be a good day. See anyone else there who may be going.

Not gunna lie, $30 (since parking is free) and a limited # of people have basically 5 hours ERT on the coasters? I know this is funny from me of all but, seems good? I'll do it. Like I can't find much to complain about (but its SF, I know it suddenly is cool to like them but eh I assume they have some way to make it bleh lol). Nor does the $5 seem like a big deal for pass holders. You already get all the normal benefits..... this new thing is happening and you can also partake for 1/6 the price of someone else. Again, seems pretty good to me?

Interesting! Hmmmm still not sure if I should risk spring break week or not. Or even getting a season pass. I'll be back in NJ this June so could certainly go enough times to justify it. And ya know.....IF Jersey Devil opens this year lol