Cedar Point in Late August

[rcdude]

I will be going to Cedar Point for the first time on Tuesday, August 26. I will most likely have only one day at the park since we are doing this as part of a trip and have to be at Niagara Falls by 7:00 p.m. the next night. I would like to maximize the number of rides that we can get on. I have also asked my brother and sister for what they most want to do at the park, and have arranged the rides into the following priority levels.

 

Level 1 (Must Ride):

 

Millennium Force

Maverick

Raptor

Cedar Downs Racing Derby

Top Thrill Dragster

Magnum XL-200

Power Tower

Gemini

 

Level 2 (Would like to ride unless line is 1 hour or more):

 

Snake River Falls

Skyhawk

Demon Drop

Wicked Twister

Max Air

 

Level 3 (Would like to ride, but will not sacrifice above attractions or wait more then 30 minutes):

 

Mantis

Thunder Canyon

Blue Streak

Super Himilaya

Corkscrew

Paddlewheel Excursions

Troika

Chaos

 

Level 4 (Would like to ride if time allows and wait is below 15 minutes):

 

Wave Swinger

Mean Streak

Cedar Creek Mine Ride

Iron Dragon

Scrambler

Matterhorn

Witches Wheel

Space Spiral

 

Level 5 (Will only ride if line is 5 minutes or less):

 

Wildcat

Turnpike Cars

Calypso

Monster

Giant Wheel

Disaster Transport

 

All other rides can be skipped. However, how many of the above rides can we realistically get on in one day (How many complete levels)? Are there any rides that should be added, moved up or down in the levels, or simply deleted?

 

I have a few questions about the order of rides and other things as well.

 

1. We will be staying at Castaway Bay hotel, so we get in an hour early. I was thinking of trying to do Millennium Force and Maverick during that hour, than waiting by Top Thrill Dragster for the park to open. Once the park is open, we would follow this order:

 

Top Thrill Dragster

Magnum XL-200

Power Tower

Gemini

Wicked Twister

Max Air

Raptor

Cedar Downs Racing Derby

Demon Drop

Snake River Falls

Skyhawk

 

After these, we would just go around and do the other rides on the list. How likely is this plan to work? Is there a better order than this?

 

2. What are the crowds like on a weekday in August. From what I have heard, Top Thrill Dragster, Millennium Force, and Maverick usually have more than an hour line while all the other coasters are usually less than an hour. Is this accurate? How are the lines on non-coaster rides?

 

3. What is the weather like this time of year? Is it usually sunny, cloudy, raining, or what?

 

I would appreciate any help or suggestions about this park. I don't know which of the rides on the list are really not worth the time. Also, this is not all about credits, I would like to do more than just roller coasters all day.

[haux]

I love that Cedar Downs is a "must-ride." It's a really fun ride that's underrated. I love it.

 

A Tuesday in August shouldn't be too bad, and you should be able to get on most of those rides with no problem. Your plan looks pretty good. If Maverick's open for morning Point Perks, go there first. Ride it once or twice and then do MF a couple of times.

 

It'll be 10 before you know it, so here's where you can lay low a little or hit some less popular rides. Or you can book it to TTD. If you're lucky, the line still won't be too bad, and you can get on in maybe half an hour.

 

As long as TTD is running, Magnum's line shouldn't be too bad. It's got a high capacity, so the wait isn't too bad even if the first queue is full.

 

Then you can swing by and ride Gemini, though only one side might be open.

 

Your plan isn't too bad, except for maybe Raptor. If you don't want to wait long, either ride Raptor for morning ERT, or ride it after 3 p.m. The line clears out by then because everyone is in the middle and the back of the park.

 

But this all depends on how busy it is. If it's not busy, you can change your plans completely and just hit rides as you walk by them. Millennium Force isn't bad when only the first queue is full. MaXair's wait is never bad, even if it spills out on the midway. The queue is ridiculously short.

 

Sheesh. I've typed a lot. If you've got any other specific questions, just ask, and I'll try to answer them.

[kalvin]

Me and my dad usally go to Cedar Point that week. Usally the longest lines are Millenium and TTD with usally less than a hour long.

[rcdude]

Thanks for the info. I've decided that we will probably have lunch after Max Air if it isn't right around noon and go to Mantis and Thunder Canyon before doing the rides in the front of the park. I have one more question: Is there a specific entrance to go to for early entry? If not, which entrance is best if we are going to Maverick first?

 

Also, is there a shuttle from Castaway Bay to the park, or do you have to drive yourself? If there is a shuttle, does it operate for early entry and run until after park closing?