O/T: Cedar Point & Cleveland

[Fire14]

Haven't been to Cp in years but last time I ran tixs up to my parents/brothers they stayed at a suite type hotel on milan rd which is maybe 5 min from CP casway and bunches cheaper. I personally never did fol thingies but bros said midweek Tues/wed thurs they didn't have much trouble without FOL.

 

[Order66]

From the CLE airport the drive to Sandusky is about 1 hour. Add 20 minutes if coming from downtown Cleveland.

To stay downtown is pricey. The Renaissance has suites and is connected to the Terminal Tower building, which has a little mall, which has a walkway to Progressive Field. Actually to the Q, which is right next door. Nearly the entire walk is inside. There is also a Hyatt Regency and Marriot Key Center on Public Square and would be a quick walk to the stadium. Terminal Tower is also on Public Square, these 2 hotels are just adjacent. Public Square is quite a long walk from the Rock Hall. Probably 20 or 30 minutes......but you can drive it in 5.

If you like something less expensive, nice area and a quick 15 minute drive away, I'd suggest the area off I77 in Independence. There are a ton from Red Roofs to Embassy Suites. Look for Rockside Rd, Independence OH.

From Canton to Cleveland is also just a bit over an hour. From Sandusky I'd think it would be closer to 2. Never had an occasion to drive it.

For staying in Sandusky, I'd agree that GWL is nice enough.....but for the price, it's more for younger children. Kalahari is much better for older kids. Both are no more than 10 minutes away. In fact GWL is just down the road from Kalahari. Nothing on Milan Rd is cheap in the summer. For less expensive, yet close enough options look for Norwalk. We are local........so we only stay if we are making it a Cedar Point/Kalahari trip.

regards

 

[RachaelA]

As for time, google mapped my old address in University Heights to Cedar Point Blvd, Sandusky OH..

three different routes ranging in time from 1 hour 28 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes.. plus traffic, so 2 hours gives you some traffic wiggle room

Using my old Shaker Heights address it was 1 hour 19 minutes

Using a Chagrin Falls address is one hour 35 minutes..

Of course if you are on the west side it would be closer.. Westlake OH is only 57 minutes.


It could feasibly take you two hours. I know it did when we lived in University Heights.

We drive to Port Clinton (15ish minutes past Cedar Point) every weekend in the summer from Geauga County. It takes us about 2 hours. From downtown to CP, it shouldn't be more than an hour and a half tops.

 

[Mom_Rides]

Only 5 more sleeps until CP opens...wanna guess where we'll be comes Saturday???

Anyways...LOL....to answer at least some of your questions.

I've only ever stayed at Breakers Express and for our family and the amount of time we spent in the room, this was just fine. Its nothing fancy but its clean, spacious and comfortable. Its located on the causeway, so you'd have to take your car but it would include free parking and you could come and go as you please. I like the idea of staying at Breakers or Sandcastle Suites but I just can't justify the price. We've also looked at Lighthouse Point but those are grossly overpriced as well. Staying on Point allows you to take advantage of ERT and this can help with getting in some coasters before crowds set in. I would recommend Maverick if you decide to stay on Point as the lines seem to be the longest for this.

I've also stayed at the Fairfield previously mentioned and it was nice as well. We loved our stays at both Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari. But in my opinion, if you are paying to stay there (especially Kalahari) its a waste to not spend time in the waterpark. Especially when there are cheaper options.

Depending on traffic, you'd be from Fairfield (the furthest away) to Cedar Point parking lot, within 20 minutes depending on traffic. Getting down 250 can sometimes take a bit with traffic. 250 is the main drag in Sandusky and you will find pretty much any place you want to eat or shop along that drag.

If you stay off Point, you can leave one time on your parking pass and return later in the day. Anymore then that and you will have to pay the parking fee again. Parking is $10 again this year. Be sure to get your hand stamped if you leave too! Cedar Point has 2 really nice picnic facilities on either side of the admission gates. Lots of people grab Subway and McDonalds (theres one on the Causeway) and eat at the tables.

I know absolutely zilch about Cleveland other then to get there we take the pike and the R n R Hall of Fame is there and the Indians, Browns and Cavs play there I've been but it's been years, so I'm sorry I'm no help there!

If I can help with any CP questions, let me know. I know very little about Disney but I know CP inside and out!!! Have a fantastic trip!

 

[Pembo]

Another vote for staying at the Breakers Hotel. We live local but have stayed there a few times. It isn't Disney but the convenience of being right there is great plus you get early entry AND the Cedar Point beach is one of the best on Lake Erie. Oh and you avoid all the traffic at the end of the night.

We lived in Akron and had season passes to CP, it took us 1.5 hours. Canton is a bit farther down the road. If you have a zoo pass, the Akron Zoo is nice and you could hit the Cleveland Zoo for the new elephant exhibit.

Enjoy Ohio...

 

[JerseyTink]

While at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame don't forget the Science Museum next door. Our family enjoyed the Science Museum more than the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

 

[AndreaDM]

I live 5 minutes from the PFHOF. What time of year are you coming? I would suggest NOT coming during the ProFootball HOF Festival in August.

Hi neighbor! I live exactly one mile from the HOF! Yeah, we get the heck out of town and go to Disney during the HOF festival, it's insane!

I agree with the PP, check out the McKinley Monument, it's a nice view from the top. Go have ice cream at Milk & Honey or Taggarts, both old fashioned ice cream parlors. If you plan to do anything else in the Canton area I might be able to find some coupons for you. There is a car museum downtown as well if you have any car buffs in the family. And yes, it takes almost exactly one hour from our house to downtown Cleveland.

 

[njmomboys2]

Thanks again for these great suggestions & advice...I knew my pals on the DiSboards would come through

Anyway.......for the Breakers Hotel...is there a room type or location we should ask for? It seems like parts of the hotel are more run down than others.....plus my youngest has asthma so is sensitive to older carpeting, etc.

Thanks!

It is still hard to believe that the Breakers hotel is almost double a room at Great Wolf......is it really worth it for the hour early???

 

[czycropper]

We're going to CP this summer as well but driving from Jersey - I know we're nuts! we're going from June 25-28th and then driving to Holiday World, then to Kings Island, stopping at Dorney on the way home (only 45 minutes from where we live) and then going to Great Adventure the 2nd week in July.

We're calling it the 2011 Coaster Adventure. We're trying to hit as many of the top coaster/thrill rides from the Golden Ticket Awards as possible We've already done Forbidden Journey less than a month ago.

Reading this thread has been wonderful.

We're staying onsite at the Breakers on the Concierge Floor as a splurge and just because we like to be able to take breaks during the middle of the day and go to the pool.

We can't wait!

Can anyone give any suggestions on which coaster to hit first? We'll be at the parks for 2 1/2 days.....

 

[njmomboys2]

Wow...that is alot of coaster riding...We live in Jackson NJ so G.A Season ticket holders and my 16 yr old works at Great Adventure..so make sure to hit Nitro.......Kingda Ka...Green Latern (opening Memorial Day weekend)........and El Toro....personally Nitro is my favorite.

We were thinking of driving but just did a long drive over Spring Break...and have another long drive to Virginia Memorial Day weekend for a family gathering.

So if I put my 2 boys back in the car for a long drive they will kill me!!

 

[Bearvet]

It is still hard to believe that the Breakers hotel is almost double a room at Great Wolf......is it really worth it for the hour early???

YESS!!!! We stay off-site at Disney so I compare the perks, etc. My son actually described the WALL of people coming in when the park opened! I booked one of the older rooms - it looks like the rate for your date is $165/night for 2 double beds. Looks like $100 more for the newer section? https://reservations.cedarpoint.com/cedarpoint/availability.asp They didn't spend much time in the room really - just to sleep.

I would stay in a nearby less expensive hotel on the day you arrive. You can "check in" at the Breakers early on the first of your park days and get the early admission. They reimburse you for your parking fees. You WALK to the park from the hotel - a back entrance only available to hotel guests. You also get early admission on the day you check out. My guys managed to do 3 or 4 coasters in the first hour, and that many again during the rest of the day - the lines get that long!

Waiting for the first row of Millenium Force at night was an amazing experience and they still talk about it!

My guys are huge coaster junkies and the waterpark (in or out of a hotel) didn't interest them. Favorite coasters at CP are: Top Thrill Dragster (but Kingda Ka is better), Millenium Force, Wicked Twister. They also liked the standing coaster (Mantis I think). Maverick didn't get high marks from them.

Also, my boys are REALLY into music and they were done at Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in an hour. They said they prefer going to a Hard Rock Cafe and looking at the same type of stuff.

 

[njmomboys2]

Ok..so I guess I need some feedback then on which room type to book or which area to ask for. They need to be in a newer section due to the fact that my son has asthma so old paint/rugs can trigger that........or what about one of the other onsite resorts......

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Beware the rooms in the "older" section of the Breakers hotel smells very very musty.

 

[mrebuck]

Depending on traffic, you'd be from Fairfield (the furthest away) to Cedar Point parking lot, within 20 minutes depending on traffic. Getting down 250 can sometimes take a bit with traffic. 250 is the main drag in Sandusky and you will find pretty much any place you want to eat or shop along that drag.

. . . .

If I can help with any CP questions, let me know. I know very little about Disney but I know CP inside and out!!! Have a fantastic trip!

We are headed to Cedar Point Memorial Day weekend. Yes, I know weekends aren't the best time to visit, but we thought this weekend might not be as bad as a weekend later in the summer. (We are season pass holders at Hersheypark and have found over the years that Memorial Day Weekend is not nearly as crowded as a weekend in July.) Am I deluding myself?

We bought two days worth of the 31.99 Spring deal tickets C.P. offered last month, so we'll be at the park two full days. A couple of questions:

1. We are staying at the Fairfield Inn in Port Clinton - is that the Fairfield you mentioned as being 20 minutes away? Or were you referring to the one in Sandusky? (I have three free nights at a category 4 or lower hotel - can't use them in Sandusky because it is a category 5, so we're staying at the one in Port Clinton). If not, how long do you think it will take us to drive there in the morning?

2. What should our plan of attack be for the park when we enter? My DDs are 9 and 11 and we all are roller coaster lovers. Should we head straight for Millenium Force? Or is there another ride that would be better to hit first thing in the morning, before the lines stack up?

3. I've heard that the Top Thrill Dragster takes awhile to open in the morning. Is that true?

4. I read on an older post that you should park by the marina. Do you agree?

Thanks for your help. We are so excited!

 

[Brownsfan317]

Well, I cannot give any good hotel/resort advice because I live too close to stay overnight.

While you are here, if your kids enjoy zoos, definitely stop by the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. They just opened up a new elephant exhibit. There is also the Great Lakes Science Center downtown next to the Browns stadium and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It has a ton of great hands on exhibits and and IMAX theatre. If you by chance own a membership to your local zoo or museum, it may get you a discount into these. My zoo membership gets me into other zoos (part of the AZA) for free or a 50% discount, depending on the zoo.

If your kids love coasters, they will LOVE Cedar Point!!! Definitely have plenty of sunscreen and cold water. Although it is known for coasters, don't forget the smaller rides. We love to hop on the train or Paddlewheel Excursions.

There is a place in Sandusky called Chet & Matt's. It is a pizza place but it is pretty good. It is probably a 10-15 minute drive from CP, but it is a pretty good place to eat. We usually stop there on our way home.

 

[Mom_Rides]

We are headed to Cedar Point Memorial Day weekend. Yes, I know weekends aren't the best time to visit, but we thought this weekend might not be as bad as a weekend later in the summer. (We are season pass holders at Hersheypark and have found over the years that Memorial Day Weekend is not nearly as crowded as a weekend in July.) Am I deluding myself? Its busy Memorial Day weekend but not as busy as July 4th weekend or during Halloweekends in the fall. I think you'll be just fine!

We bought two days worth of the 31.99 Spring deal tickets C.P. offered last month, so we'll be at the park two full days. A couple of questions:

1. We are staying at the Fairfield Inn in Port Clinton - is that the Fairfield you mentioned as being 20 minutes away? Or were you referring to the one in Sandusky? (I have three free nights at a category 4 or lower hotel - can't use them in Sandusky because it is a category 5, so we're staying at the one in Port Clinton). If not, how long do you think it will take us to drive there in the morning? This isn't the Fairfield I mentioned but I'm pretty sure I'm familiar with the one you're referring to and its a quick on and off Rt 2. Head East on 2 to St Rt 250, go left and follow the signs. You'll probably add 15 minutes of drive time, so not too bad.

2. What should our plan of attack be for the park when we enter? My DDs are 9 and 11 and we all are roller coaster lovers. Should we head straight for Millenium Force? Or is there another ride that would be better to hit first thing in the morning, before the lines stack up? I would personally make a dash for the back of the park (via Frontier Trail) and head towards Maverick. This is year 4 for the Maverick and it still consistently has the longest lines all day. I've never seen the wait less then an hour. Millenium I've seen anywhere from a walk on to 2 hours, so it can vary but I'd head to Maverick first. You MUST try Magnum, first car, 3rd row. BEST ride in the whole park. Talk about airtime...whhhheeeeeee...I can't wait until Saturday!!!

3. I've heard that the Top Thrill Dragster takes awhile to open in the morning. Is that true? Eh...I've seen it running in the morning but I think its probably the most tempermental ride in the park.

4. I read on an older post that you should park by the marina. Do you agree? I've never parked by the marina. Mostly because we picnic so we take our coolers to the picnic pavillions and then park nearby. But we may try this year if that's the word on the street...HA! I know that gate is used mostly by employees and its not busy. The resort gate is completely on the other side of the park and has parking as well.

Thanks for your help. We are so excited!

I hope you have a fantastic trip!

 

[bear_mom]

We are planning a trip to CP, June 13-16 and staying at the Great Wolf Lodge.

Some questions:

You can't bring food into the parks, I see people mention that they get subway and eat outside in picnic areas. Is there a subway open that eary in morning or are people leaving to go get it?

Can you bring in drinks?

It is worth bringing a DLSR? Unlike WDW, you can't carry it on all the ride, right? What do you do with a bag when you ride?

How early should we plan to get there if we are staying off-site?

Is Soak City worth it?

Any other tips you can give? My dds are 11 and 9.

Emily

 

[mrebuck]

Thanks for all of your help! My older daughter was really excited to see your recommendation on where to sit on Magnum - she shares my love of hang time! She has been dreaming of going to Cedar Point for a couple of years - we've been waiting for our younger daughter to get tall enough to ride the big rides. We are really excited that this is the year!

Enjoy opening day on Saturday. I'll send some good weather, short line vibes your way. . . .

 

[angierae]

We are planning a trip to CP, June 13-16 and staying at the Great Wolf Lodge.

Some questions:

You can't bring food into the parks, I see people mention that they get subway and eat outside in picnic areas. Is there a subway open that eary in morning or are people leaving to go get it?

Emily

When we took Subway (there's a Subway in the park but it's ridiculously expensive) we went the night before and got footlongs with the sauce on the side. We left them in the car in a cooler, then went out to the car and ate there.

 

[Mom_Rides]

We are planning a trip to CP, June 13-16 and staying at the Great Wolf Lodge.

Some questions:

You can't bring food into the parks, I see people mention that they get subway and eat outside in picnic areas. Is there a subway open that eary in morning or are people leaving to go get it? I'm not sure what time the Subway in Sandusky opens. There is a Subway in the park itself but until you want to pay $10 for a 6in, I suggest you avoid it.

Can you bring in drinks? Cedar Point will allow one unopened water bottle per person. Just like Disney, they will give you free ice water at all the concession stands.

It is worth bringing a DLSR? Unlike WDW, you can't carry it on all the ride, right? What do you do with a bag when you ride? You could bring it but you won't be able to take it on most rides. A lot of the bigger rides require that you get a locker and those that don't require a locker generally have a bin you can store you things in. Most of it is really organized, like your train will have a bin number and people place things in the bin. But you pretty much have to trust everyone else riding that same ride as you to not take your stuff. There are lots of lockers in various different locations though, so you could always snap pics and then store while you ride.

How early should we plan to get there if we are staying off-site? It depends on what you want to ride. If you're going all 3 days to the park, you will have plenty of time to ride. If you are big coaster riders, you'll find that you can get some done first thing in the morning. CP has a rope drop kind of like Disney.

Is Soak City worth it? My kids love Soak City and they can't wait to go this summer. Its a huge park and has something for everyone. I'm not sure where you're from but its been a very cool Spring here so it may be possible for it to not be hot enough to enjoy Soak City without being cold. The lake helps to keep things about 5 degrees cooler too. You may find Great Wolf enough to satisfy your waterpark needs without having to pay more.

Any other tips you can give? My dds are 11 and 9. Cedar Point has a lot of history with it. Be sure to visit the museum in the back of the park. Take a walk down the Frontier Trail and visit the shops. Take in the shows. They're fun and just long enough to re-energize your tired feet. Try the french fries on the main midway! They're legendary!

Emily

I hope you have a fantastic time!