Last-minute Line Advice?

[certifiedcoastergeek]

Last week, I decided to finally make the pilgrimage to the Point from my hometown of Ashland (which is in the same county as and less than five minutes from Cedar Point's sister park, Kings Dominion). This year, I upgraded from my typical Gold Pass to a Platinum Pass, and have visited Dorney for two days (Stinger and Possessed were running, it was a miracle ) and Carowinds for one (Two B&M hypers in one park? Yes sir!)

Blah, blah, blah, last-minute booking for next week, etcetera.

Cutting to the chase...

My schedule will look something like this:

Wednesday afternoon: Drive to Pittsburgh (visiting family, I did Kennywood last year).

Thursday: Get up super early and drive to Cedar Point in time for 9:00 Platinum Pass ERT. Stay through 10:00-11:00 Platinum Passholder Dragster ERT. (staying ~20 min from the Point)

Friday: Be at Cedar Point for 9:00 Passholder ERT. Stay until 4-6 PM. Drive back to Pittsburgh.

Saturday: Stay in Pittsburgh (again, visiting family, NOT Kennywood, although I love that park).

Sunday: Drive back to good ol' Virginny.

I will NOT be purchasing Fast Lane OR Fast Lane Plus, no matter what (obviously, for budget reasons, as this is a last-minute trip). I've never been to the Point before, and so I have none of its credits, and need some advice from some kindhearted soul:

1. What to ride during my morning ERTs? I know that Maverick, Millennium, and others are open, and to enter through the Marina entrance, but I need to know what to ride then to maximize my rides later.

2. Will I need to ride Dragster during either day despite Thursday's night ERT? How long can I expect the lines to be during this ride time?

3. Any food, parking, or other logistics tips?

4. When to ride GateKeeper? I know that this is like Kings Dominion's Dominator (or any Cedar Fair park's "entrance B&M") and has an enormous line early in the day.

5. Any other ride tips? I know that some of you have proven strategies to maximize ride counts even on crowded days like Thursday and Friday, and even if you can spare a tip or two I will be immensely thankful.

Thanks a QUADRILLION in advance!

-Certified "Elated for the Point trip" coastergeek

[pianojohn]

:

1. What to ride during my morning ERTs? I know that Maverick, Millennium, and others are open, and to enter through the Marina entrance, but I need to know what to ride then to maximize my rides later.

 

I would suggest Maverick and Millenium. Gatekeeper is also on ERT but the capacity on it is such that you shouldn't have that long of a wait during the day.

 

2. Will I need to ride Dragster during either day despite Thursday's night ERT? How long can I expect the lines to be during this ride time?

 

TTD is hit or miss as far as lines go. I would see what the waits are like during the day and if 30 minutes or less, go for it.

 

3. Any food, parking, or other logistics tips?

 

Since you are getting there early, you should be able to park fairly close.

I USED to recommend the Midway Market, but the last time I went in June, the food was VERY sub par. Since you have the Platinum Pass, you get the french fry deal which is a chili cheese fry at regular price, and then a 2nd french fry and 2 soft drinks for free. If you're by yourself, this is way too much food, but it is a great deal.

 

4. When to ride GateKeeper? I know that this is like Kings Dominion's Dominator (or any Cedar Fair park's "entrance B&M") and has an enormous line early in the day.

 

Gatekeeper is a crowd eater. I would suggest the afternoon or early evening.

 

5. Any other ride tips? I know that some of you have proven strategies to maximize ride counts even on crowded days like Thursday and Friday, and even if you can spare a tip or two I will be immensely thankful.

 

Just get used to walking. You may end up traveling from front to back of the park several times depending on crowds.

[hendrixmarshalljames]

We did the Maverick ERT a couple of weeks ago, and it works like this...who ever's still in line when it gets to closing time, they clear the que. The one hour starts as soon as they drop the chain for the passholders...We timed it so we got on during normal ride hours, and got back in line for the re-opening. We got 7 laps in on Maverick before they shut it down. It was so worth it, especially at night.

 

We also figured out how to get on MF for that first hour...We got to the Marina entrance around 8:20 and waited it out...So when the rest of the park opened, we had a short walk, and overall minimal wait time for a good three laps before it started getting crazy wait times. Free parking with a platinum pass, too...So we just went to town for lunch. The A/C break, and saving real money was welcomed by my gang all three days.

[hendrixmarshalljames]

Whoops...just read that part of Marina entrance covered! Apologies-

[SoCal_Coaster]

Like You, I visited for the first time very recently. IMO, Millennium, Maverick, and Dragster all need to be ridden in the front to get the complete experience. If you get the chance, ride Maverick at night. The Turns seem to be extremely aggressive and some of those elements come to life. More advice would be to ride Raptor, Gatekeeper, and Blue Streak later in the day. Other than that, if you stay the full day, you should be able to ride everything.

[DILinator]

I know others have answered, and they have all given good advice! However, I thought I'd add my two cents.

 

1. If you're going to early ERT both days, you may want to seriously consider splitting up the two headliners, Millennium Force and Maverick. Whichever one you're more amped to ride, I'd do for all of the first day's ERT, and save the other one for the next day's ERT. Here's one reason why I suggest this: those two coasters are a healthy walk apart from each other through Frontier Trail. FT is one of the last vestiges of the old CP that actually had trees, shade, and natural beauty (though I certainly love its coaster beauty, don't get me wrong!), and it might be nice to enjoy it slowly your first time through, instead of running through it. Not to mention, it's not exactly a straight line through there, so as a first timer, it could prove tricky to run straight through! If you really want to catch both coasters that first ERT, I'd suggest this compromise: 15 minutes before the park is opened to the rest of the public, head for whichever coaster you didn't just marathon ride, and get in one ride before the line grows. Depending on where you plan to go for ERT, you'll park in a different place. If you are heading to MF, park up front, and go to the Marina Entrance. If you are doing Maverick first, go through the parking toll both to the far left, and then after going through, let the person waving you into the main lot know you are going to the Soak City lot, and then you'll head left. Follow that road, Perimeter Road, around the point, then park to the right when you see the big Soak City lot, in the small-ish lot next to Gemini. A short walk will take you to the Soak City entrance to CP, and from there, you have the closest walk/run to Maverick! Then, the next day, just go to whichever lot is appropriate for that day's coaster.

 

2. As pianojohn said, unless the wait is under 30 minutes, don't bother, since you're getting the ERT! Much longer than that, you're just asking to have to endure a break-down, which will only lengthen your wait further...

 

3. I pretty much already touched on some Parking and Logistics tips. I don't really get food much at amusement parks, and when I do, it's usually not a full meal. So I can't help much on that account. I'm a Boardwalk Fries and Electric Lemonade kind of guy, myself! (I also love to eat at Chik-fil-A while there, because we don't have them really in Michigan, but you being from VA, that is not an issue!)

 

4. GateKeeper is a people-eater, and FWIW, when I went there earlier this year (a Sunday in May), it was pretty much a station walk-up every time I went on it, including first thing. It won't likely be that way when you go, but it just shows that it does move people through. If you hit Maverick first on Thursday for ERT, and then go to MF right before park opening, I would just work your way back around to the front by way of the "Oceana Midway" (any "old timers" will appreciate that reference!), which means cutting across after doing Rougarou and Iron Dragon, and going down towards Wind Seeker. See what the line is like when you get to it, and if it's under 30 minutes, I'd go for it. I'd evaluate Raptor the same way, and if it's a wait early on, just wait until around 4 in the afternoon, and it should be pretty low. The same thought should apply to GateKeeper as well, if it's too long when you get there earlier.

 

5. I think I've addressed a lot of my "ride tips" already in these top 4. It's hard to know exactly what you'll face, because I avoid any times that are going to be busy (like, anytime from mid-June until mid-August) these days. When I have gone during the Summer, you just accept that some waits will be 30-45 minutes, and roll with it. Growing up, waiting in line was part of going to an amusement park, since there wasn't any of this Fast Lane foolishness! That being said, I definitely think there are tricks to utilize, and between what the others here have said, and what I've elaborated on, you should get off to a good start! One other thing I guess, would be to tell you that instead of heading up towards the front after hitting Maverick, MF, Rougarou and Iron Dragon, you loop back around the water there where Coasters is, and hit Power Tower (if you are so inclined), see how long the wait for TTD is at that point, hit it if it's under 30 minutes, and then ride Magnum. Gemini would follow, and then you're back to Frontier Town, and you can hit Mean Streak and CCMR while you're there. That way, by the time you work back around (taking time to enjoy walking down Frontier Trail this time), the front crowds should have thinned out, and your wait times will be better there!

 

That's all I got (for now, unless I think of anything else!) I hope this helps at least a little, and I hope you have a blast at Cedar Point! It truly is an Amazement Park (there's another bone for the "old timers"!)

[certifiedcoastergeek]

A HUGE thanks to all of the awesome people who have given me profoundly useful advice out of the kindness of their hearts!

If anyone else has any last-minute pointers, as always, they would be GREATLY appreciated!

(If anyone needs Kings Dominion advice, make sure to HMU so that I can "pay it forward"!)

Edited August 5, 2015 by certifiedcoastergeek

[robbalvey]

I will NOT be purchasing Fast Lane OR Fast Lane Plus, no matter what (obviously, for budget reasons, as this is a last-minute trip). I've never been to the Point before, and so I have none of its credits, and need some advice from some kindhearted soul

My advice to you, and please seriously consider this...

 

However you can do it, make Fast Lane Plus happen. On one of the days. It will just make your day that much better. Especially in case if there is weather delays, a ride might break down etc... As your first visit to the Point, make it awesome. Figure out a way to get the money. Sell a kidney or a relative you don't like! lol

 

Seriously, though, really consider it if you can do. I cannot stress or recommend this enough.

[Superbatboy]

Like Robb said, I recommend just forking over the $$$ for FastLane. CP is a truly amazing park, might as well experience to the maximum degree. And trust, you'll want multiple re-rides on Millie and Maverick and the lines for those two are generally lonnnnnnnng. And from what I remember, a good portion of MF's queue is in the sun, dont do that to yourself lol.

[certifiedcoastergeek]

I will NOT be purchasing Fast Lane OR Fast Lane Plus, no matter what (obviously, for budget reasons, as this is a last-minute trip). I've never been to the Point before, and so I have none of its credits, and need some advice from some kindhearted soul

My advice to you, and please seriously consider this...

 

However you can do it, make Fast Lane Plus happen. On one of the days. It will just make your day that much better. Especially in case if there is weather delays, a ride might break down etc... As your first visit to the Point, make it awesome. Figure out a way to get the money. Sell a kidney or a relative you don't like! lol

Seriously, though, really consider it if you can do. I cannot stress or recommend this enough.

I found out tonight that a FL+ is the same price as a FL reg with a Platinum Pass (I had assumed that like Kings Dominion the worthwhile coasters would be exclusive to FL+ [Volcano, I-305] and I thought that $95 a pop was too expensive for my crew and myself, so I hadn't bothered to look ). This enables me to get it on one of two days.

Hopefully (and I know that an AWESOME Cedar Point mini-TR just made its way onto the front page) I can get some half-decent pictures of the park, and of the everything-but-the-deed Valravn site.

Sell a kidney or a relative you don't like!

(Apparently, the folks down at Kings Dominion's Haunt preparations were willing to take my appendix for $500 for usage as a prop in this year's Slaughter House maze, which they said was because "the skyrocketing price of wax means we're forced to perform sketchy budget maneuvers". Thanks to them, I funded the entire trip with this one transaction. And no, I'm OBVIOUSLY not joking.)

[robbalvey]

^ That's awesome! Even getting it on one of the two days will be a HUGE help!