Cedar Point, Ohio ?

[threeboysmom]

Thanks all of you! I'm definitely going to look into the Breakers Hotel. Do the rooms sleep 5? Some of you mentioned great park views - do all of the rooms have a nice view or is that something you request but are not guaranteed?

 

[hpygrll]

Not to be a downer - but we stayed at the Breakers Express and ended up checking out at midnight and asking for our money back. The walls are paper thin - people were loud and running up and down hallways and slamming doors. Calls to the front desk to ask for help on this issue did not resolve anything.

The coasters are great - but overall the service at Cedar Point is beyond bad. We actually went to the management office and complemented the one and only one person who was good because we were so excited to have good service from at least one person.

I'm not so sure I would go back either.....
Jenny

 

[Towncrier]

I think part of the problem may have been that Cedar Point isn't Disney.

The funny thing is that, in the mid 1950's, the owners of Cedar Point nearly sold the land to a real estate developer. That is until he saw what a man named Walt Disney was doing in California at a place named Disneyland. According to a park history program that they show at Cedar Point, it was then and there that the owners decided to make Cedar Point into the Disneyland of the north. Nice try. At least we still have an amusement park.

I have to agree with others that, after visiting a theme park like WDW or Disneyland, amusement parks seem a lot less amusing. We had season passes for CP for several years and finally got burned out on the park as a whole. I could never find more than about one day's amusement at CP.

Too bad they closed our Sea World. Now that was a park that we visited weekly when our kids were younger.

 

[puggymom]

One word of warning about the old section of the Breakers, NO elevators. I would ask for a tower room.

 

[Donna]

Last time we were there, we stayed at Lighthouse Point in one of the cottages, right next to the Breakers and Sandcastle Suites. we LOVED the cottages, they were modern yet rustic and very cozy. We had 3 adults and one child and were comfortable. There is an upper loft that can be used for sleeping bags, not tall enough to stand up in but very spacious, kids would love it. It overlooks the living room where the couches fold out into beds.

I agree, CP is not Disney since it's an amusement park for coaster enthusiasts. For some reason, i get so tired walking around there but never get tired at Disney. We've been taking our kids there since 1987 and prior to the cottages, stayed in the Breakers, both old and new section (we prefer the new). It's a great park and can be done in 2 days easily.

They have a fast pass type thing called Ticket to Ride that helps with the lines. Staying in one of the park hotels, you get in slightly early, only about a half an hour but thats all you need to come in the back way (where the hotels are) and hop into the coaster line of your choice. Top Thrill Dragster is an awesome ride. My son talked me into riding in the front car, lol. Have fun!

 

[rockin_rep]

Not to be a downer - but we stayed at the Breakers Express and ended up checking out at midnight and asking for our money back. The walls are paper thin - people were loud and running up and down hallways and slamming doors. Calls to the front desk to ask for help on this issue did not resolve anything.

The coasters are great - but overall the service at Cedar Point is beyond bad.

We stayed at Breakers Express and it is what it claims to be, a budget type motel affilitated with CP with free transportation. We've also stayed at The Breakers and enjoyed it, but only after requesting a better room. It IS pricey but you can't be any closer to the park! And the Fridays next door to The Breakers has the same food but higher prices. Same with the Fridays adjacent / across the street from Express.

I agree - the coasters are great! We LOVE CP because we love roller coasters! It is undoubtedly the BEST Amusement Park in the world, according to Coaster Magazine, having 17 (maybe more) awesome coasters.

But i disagree with the service being beyond bad; we have never had a problem with any kind of service and we have been going for YEARS.

Its not WDW but i don't think they've tried to be.

You will have an awesome time!

 

[stinkerbelle]

DH and I went to Cedar Point last year with the American Coaster Enthusiats crowd.

I was at the entrance to CP at 4:30am...before the sun came up...so that DH could be amoung the first of the day to ride Top Thrill.

DH had a blast...but I don't like coasters...so I had a crappy time "ride-wise" to be honest...but it was a nice park to walk around.

except at night when those freaky gnat/bugs came out - blech!

The "service"...well, i get comparable service at my local mall food court...it is what it is.

We too stayed at the Breakers Express...but wasn't a big deal as we really didn't sleep there that long (left the park at midnight only to be back at 4:30am...yeah, no problem...and it was cheap.)

Yeah - it's NOT disney...but neither is Six Flags...

 

[threeboysmom]

I just found a gorgeous hotel a very reasonable price - the Kilahari ? Has anyone stayed here or can comment on it? I know it's not a Cedar Point hotel, but how far away is it from the park? It looks beautiful on the web.

 

[ntburns22]

It has been open less then a year. It is also an indoor waterpark. It looks great everytime we drive by.

 

[cstraub]

I just found a gorgeous hotel a very reasonable price - the Kilahari ? Has anyone stayed here or can comment on it? I know it's not a Cedar Point hotel, but how far away is it from the park? It looks beautiful on the web.

My vote is still for Hotel Breakers even after looking at the hotel mentioned above. I just can't tell you how much you will enjoy the feel of the older part of the hotel. It just really ties in with the park. What it is lacking in themeing is made up for to some degree by the history of the place and how it "used to be". It has sort of a Coney Island feel being on lake Erie. You can step back in time for awhile.

Then.......

Now.......

Try this link for tons of then and now pics...
http://www.thepointol.com/history.html

 

[rockin_rep]

I just found a gorgeous hotel a very reasonable price - the Kilahari ? Has anyone stayed here or can comment on it? I know it's not a Cedar Point hotel, but how far away is it from the park? It looks beautiful on the web.

Hi again, yes it looks nice when we pass by also, but its not very close to cedar point. It depends what you're looking for. If you want to be as close as possible to the park (as at WDW) then stay at The Breakers or Breakers Express. I also have to say, many of the other chains nearby look like they need work.....

But if you're looking for a place to spend up to another full day before or after CP, then Kalahari would probably be a fun idea. It's similar to Great Wolf Lodge (which btw, is alot closer to CP) - do a search here for more details as it's been discussed recently.

Am also curious what rate you were quoted; i've heard they're all over the map!?

My vote is still for Hotel Breakers even after looking at the hotel mentioned above. I just can't tell you how much you will enjoy the feel of the older part of the hotel. It just really ties in with the park. What it is lacking in themeing is made up for to some degree by the history of the place and how it "used to be". It has sort of a Coney Island feel being on lake Erie. You can step back in time for awhile..

I totally agree. You would love it - especially if the rate is decent!
Have fun planning and let us know what you decide.

 

[HayGan]

I have to vote for Breakers Express (if you are looking to save some $$$) or Hotel Breakers (if you are looking to splurge). A friend and I got a great package at Breakers Express last year and had a blast. We each paid around $130 and got a 2 nights accomodations, a day pass and a night pass, plus free parking at the park and some other discounts. Watch for package specials and I'm sure you will find the right deal for you! Also, if you are going for more than 2 days, a season pass is usually the cheapest way to go (~$99)! You could always do a second trip or extend this trip for a day or two!

I love Cedar Point! It is the best park for coaster enthusiasts! Lots to do for the kids as well!!!

 

[darrose]

We stayed at the Hampton Inn nearest Cedar point. Saved us some of money by not being at the breakers and it included a pretty good breakfast each morning. Ended up being very satisfied with our location and the drive to Cedar point was easy. This street with the Hampton Inn, Great wolf lodge, Kilahari, etc. has a lot of restaurants that after the park closed we were able to get great meals in. We toured Cedar point in August on a Sunday and a Monday. Sunday was by far our better day for us. (the wait to get on rides were shorter sunday due to a lot less people visiting the park). If you are sure you want Breakers dont do what I did and putz around. By the time I called Breakers to reserve our rooms they were already filled up. LOL

 

[Tiffann4k]

I have to say Cedar Point was a big dissapointment. It's dirty and dingy, with zero themeing. Maybe I am a disney snob. The lines are all hours long. I'd say on average 2-3 hours. It just wasn't fun standing all day. And all the hotels in the area are $200+ a night. We stayed about 45 minutes away to have an affordable hotel.

The rides are great, but not worth the wait or the price. I will not go back again.

Cedar point is not disney by far..so if you set your expectations to be that high then yes your going to be dissapointed. I dont know where you were at that it was dirty, there are many many people who sweep all day long, the only thing I have ever noticed on the grounds was the occasional seagull poop...and as far as being dingy ??

I have never once been to CP where the lines have been hours long( maybe when a ride is first opened to the public as in being brand new)..... are you sure you were at CP ??? ( only kidding of course)

I cant comment on the price of hotels since we are less than an hour away and I cant comment on the value since we get in free ( my dad works there in management )

To the OP I hope you have a blast & dont forget to get your 25 cent cotton candy

 

[angelam]

We have been going to Cedar Point ever since I was a kid. We have taken our kids almost every summer for about 8 years now. We always stay onsite because you can walk back to the hotel for a break or a swim. There are small shuttle buses that do run from the hotels and will drop you off at the different entrances to Cedar Point. We have stayed at the Breakers and at Sandcastle Suites. The Breakers has an old and a new section. It has been a long time since we stayed in the older section, but when we did, it reminded me more of a dorm room. The newer section has some small suites for larger families. The TGIF restuarant is in the Breakers hotel, along the beach. We usually stay at Sandcastle Suites. All of the rooms are small suites, with a bedroom area and small living area with a sleeper sofa. I believe the rooms are somewhat cheaper at Sandcastle than Breakers, but the rooms are expensive at all of Cedar Point for what you get. Sandcastle is also within walking distance to Soak City- Cedar Point's water park. My kids really like the water park, and they have a large pool (a few inches deep) for families with children. It has a couple of small water slides and other splash things for them to play on, as well as a mini lazy river. There is also a large family area with the big structure that has the huge dumping bucket, etc, as well as other water slides for adults/bigger kids.

As other posters said, Cedar Point is NOT Disney. It is a different type of theme park. Many of you would be shocked (maybe applalled) that my kids said they preferred Cedar Point after we took our first trip to Disney. Don't get me wrong, Disney is an amazing park and they did have fun, however, their expectations were that there would be lots of rides and roller coasters. So, you have to take it for what it is- primarily a roller coaster park.

Some posters said that Cedar Point was dirty. I don't agree. While it isn't as clean as the Disney parks- which seem like the garbage just magically disappears, Cedar Point is a clean park. We have always seen workers constantly cleaning up.

-Angie

 

[ntburns22]

Kalahari is about 20-25 minutes away and Great Wolf Lodge is only about 5 minutes down the road past Kalhari. We do all of our shopping on RT250 in Perkins (Sandusky). I know someone that works at Kalahari and she told me if the weather is bad they get a lot of CP people because they sell one day passes to the waterpark. The waterpark gets really crowded. Great Wolf Lodge and Castaway Bay do not as of last spring when we stayed at both. That is just something else to think about.

*********Our AAA mag just came and it says that Castaway Bay sells one day passes now too***************

 

[mommaU4]

I've been reading that it's a coaster park but what about for younger kids age 5 and under? Is there anything for them to do?

 

[cardaway]

How are the attractions that are not coasters, and not amusement park type rides?

Water rides? Dark rides? Shows?

 

[The Edgington's]

I've been reading that it's a coaster park but what about for younger kids age 5 and under? Is there anything for them to do?

They have an area up front for smaller kids as well as an area toward the back called Camp Snoopy, that is where my kids wanted to be when they were younger. There is the Woodstock Express which is a lot like the Goofy Barnstormer, small roller coaster. Plus there is Soak City Water Park that has stuff for younger kids. That is seperate admission though.

 

[mommaU4]

Cool, Thanks.