Cedar Point Suggestions

[JordanSDMF]

I am in quite a pickle. I want input from people who have traveled a ways to go to a theme park, and people who have been to cedar point. I am a 15 year old male, and my friend and I want to drive out to Cedar Point next summer to get to riding those amazing roller coasters. Here is my issue though.

I can't buy a hotel room, so there goes a full day. Is there NO hotel anywhere that will let a minor buy a hotel room? Like even on the Cedar Point grounds?

And another thing is money. I am not driving 6 hours to wait in lines. What is their form of fast passes, and how much money should I prepare to buy one of them?

Any other info would help tremendously.

[bobbinbop20]

they dont have any form of fast passes there unless your getting like one of thos VIP tours

[rct2wizard360]

Plan your trip for early May.
Wake up really early, like around 3-4am.
Drive to Cedar Point.
Get there at around opening.
Stay the whole day.
Drive home.
Get home really late.

Honestly, that's your only option. Unless you plan on going with family.

[FParker185]

Yeah, that was always a problem for me in my heavy traveling days before I was 21, in ohio you need to be 21 you get a hotel room, it's a state law and there's really no way around it.

One thing you can try is using priceline for a hotel which ends up being a prepaid room, though unlikely, they still have the right to refuse you a room without refund per priceline policy, though usually you can get a credit from priceline in the form of bonus cash. Though that doesnt help you much if you show up and suddenly have no room.

Another option which I have done (though not at CP) is simply find a safe place to park and sleep in your car. There is a 24hr Meijer not far from CP with a well lit parking lot with cameras. It's not an ideal solution, and a ride on Snake River Falls should be your #1 priority first thing in the morning (it's the only water ride at CP that uses clean, chlorinated water vs. raw lake water). Also if you are a real clean freak and need a shower, ride stuff for the first hour then track down an employee or go to GR and tell them you have reason to believe you may have been vomited on on a ride(use your imagination and give a good story involving a mysterious splash of something during__insert ride here__), they should escort you to a shower(probably in the waterpark). really depends on how desperate you are

Another option is to pack a tent and find a campground, one campsite near CP says you have to be 18 to reserve, and there is a KOA right next to CP that doesnt mention any age restrictions, just says you need a major credit card to reserve. So the 21 rule doesnt apply and you get use of facilities.

Last option that comes to mind, though they aren't common in the US and my travel tools don't show any but you never know, but maybe you can find a Hostel around Sandusky, Cleveland or Toledo.

Though one more option comes to mind, as far as I know 18 year olds can reserve a hotel in PA, could do CP all day then drive the 2 or so hours to the PA state line and get a hotel there, and that puts you right near Waldameer Park and their new Ravine Flyer II which I hear is an awesome ride.

If neither of you are 18 I guess your options become call the KOA or some other campground and see what their exact policies are, or get cozy in the Meijer lot.

[tp41190]

Sleeping in a car is awful. I tried it and it was way too hot so we opened the windows, then with the windows open there were bugs everywhere.

You can try to get a hotel if you look responsible and tell them a good explanation, and if you have a credit card they might let you.

[UWW-10]

I'm assuming you're friend is also 15 or at least a "minor"...

I know for a fact it's 18 and up on CP property which is why I usually end up at Breakers Express primarily because it's the cheapest and you still get the perks of being a resort guest.

Do you know a friend that is at least 18 and can go with to at least get a room on property? Otherwise you probably won't get anything. You're next best option would be to wait and go until you can get somewhere to stay. It's kind of a crappy option, but waking up early to drive 6 hours, spend all day at the park, and then drive 6 hours back (plus the time zone differences), it's tiring unless you're good driving at that time of day.

[BP317]

Another option which I have done (though not at CP) is simply find a safe place to park and sleep in your car. There is a 24hr Meijer not far from CP with a well lit parking lot with cameras

I did that when I was 16 in a strip mall in Agawam outside SFNE. Worked out pretty well .

Ive also done Breakers Express with none of us being 21. My suggestion would be go with a friend who's 18.

then drive 6 hours back (plus the time zone differences), it's tiring unless you're good driving at that time of day.

I did this with SDC which was a 9 hour drive and also worked out pretty well, though I wouldnt reccomend it unless you can handle excruciangtinly long drives without any sleep. When I was driving during the Canada trip I got so tired that I couldnt see anymore and pulled into a gas station and literally 2 seconds later was sleeping and one of my friends woke up and took the wheel.

[tp41190]

Ive done a lot of driving like that before.

Friday- woke up at 5:00am (6 hours of sleep) drove down to Chicago (2 hours) stayed up till 4am.
Saturday- woke up at 5:30am went to SFGAm all day and then went to sleep at 3am.
Sunday- woke up at 5:00am (2 hours of sleep) and drove all the way home. I got lost by going South on 2-94 instead if North. Took me 30 mins to finally get back going north. On the way home I almost fell asleep every 10 mins which was scary.

If you do end up driving home the same day, make sure you constantly are talking to the passenger and make sure he doesn't fall asleep. Sing along to music, drink lots of soda or energy drinks, stop frequently to get food and drinks and go outside and walk around, roll down all the windows if you feel drowsy, sit on a bag of ice if you are really desperate, get your shirt wet.

^All of the above worked for me when driving back from a 7 hour drive home from Kentucky

[BP317]

/\ Yes thats key during long trips, if you go with 2 or more people make sure the one in the passenger seat stays awake to keep you awake. If you go with just 1 person make sure that if your so tired to the point you cant see well anymore you pull over and wake him up to switch spots. On some trips when I was 16/17 after driving for hours (especially at night) and you havent done it much before you cant dictate your speed.
Which leads me to my next point, dont speed through Indiana

[tp41190]

^Yeah

I noticed I was going about 105 in Indiana because I was so tired and was not paying attention. Luckily though I didn't see any cops or get pulled over. But from what Ive heard, you can pretty much pay your speeding ticket in cash at the time you get pulled over. I know in some states speeding tickets are $30 at most.

[CoasterDave316]

If your going 105, and get stopped you won't get a 30 dollar speeding ticket. In fact it's likely you will be arrested.

[tp41190]

^Arrested?

hmmm, good thing I didn't see any cops

Also, when you get off of the freeway, make sure you watch your speed. Driver hypnosis is dangerous as you could end up going 50mph + in a 25mph. It happens to me all the time.

[SixFlagsGuy76]

It is almost impossible to find a hotel in Ohio that allows guests less than 18 to reserve a room. It's difficult to find 18+ hotels, but still manageable. I guess that 21+ law isn't so strict.

[rb1]

Why not just take youre parents, grandparents or relatives or cousins that you or your friend know. I know you wanna drive there and all but for you being a minor youre better off going with some adult you know especially with all the crazy people out there going to themeparks you know what I mean better safe than sorry.

[FParker185]

For the most part there are no cops on the IN toll road, but the ticket you get has a time on it, they know how long it takes to cross the state at the speed limit, if you show up across the state with a ticket with a time that's like an hour previous, they will hand you a hefty speeding ticket.

[JordanSDMF]

Yeah, thanks for all the input.

I am thinking of just dragging my brother who is 21, or if need be, my parent. I don't think any of my close friends will be 18 then, more will be 17.

I didn't think about it, but for just getting my license, and driving all the way out there will be a little risky. If worse comes to worse though, I will find a campground, and sneak into my car in the middle of the night if possible. I hate camping. I would just really like to stay at a hotel on the grounds so I can get a half day, and then almost a full day and leave like around 7 or something so I can arrive home like, around 1. (that time zone is going to be the death of me).

I wanted to do a road trip though, and like go to Kings Island too, so I may have to bring an adult for that. Would it be worth it to go to Kings Island too? I want to get on Diamondback, and the infamous Beast. And for some reason Vortex. I never rode Shockwave, and I want to ride an arrow with a boomerang.

[Jerrykoala2112]

Ha I am also a "Minor" So I cant help ya

I wish you the best!

[MForce4ever]

Suggestions:
-Find someone 18 or over to go with (who can get a hotel room)
-Go the first Friday of June for Coastermania (so long as you have some sort of coaster club membership) the ERT works out well and you should be able to get all 17 in one day (less maybe Jr. Gemini)
-Maverick or Dragster either first or last
-Raptor early
-Wild Cat and Iron Dragon both close early during the peak season so make sure you get those credits earlier in the day

that's about the best I can offer...

[Jerrykoala2112]

Suggestions:
-Find someone 18 or over to go with (who can get a hotel room)
-Go the first Friday of June for Coastermania (so long as you have some sort of coaster club membership) the ERT works out well and you should be able to get all 17 in one day (less maybe Jr. Gemini)
-Maverick or Dragster either first or last
-Raptor early
-Wild Cat and Iron Dragon both close early during the peak season so make sure you get those credits earlier in the day

that's about the best I can offer...

What do you mean the Wildcat and Iron Dragon close?

[FParker185]

They place a chain across the entrance. Turn off the lights in the station, and send the crews home or to other rides.

Though actually that's for the Laser Show. As soon as the show starts all the lights have to go out and operation has to cease. Usually they do reopen after the show unless the park is pretty dead.

[Jerrykoala2112]

They place a chain across the entrance. Turn off the lights in the station, and send the crews home or to other rides.

Though actually that's for the Laser Show. As soon as the show starts all the lights have to go out and operation has to cease. Usually they do reopen after the show unless the park is pretty dead.

When do they close it? The show is probably around 7 on my judgement. But WildCat and Iron Dragon are really fun to me.

[FParker185]

5 mins before the laser show starts (I have no idea exactly when that is, but probably sometime after dark, been a while since I've been there during the reg season)

[tp41190]

^ I think it 9:30 or so. Because I remember waiting in line for Millennium Force for a good 1.5 hours watching the show, then getting off the ride around 11:00pm (closing).

[JordanSDMF]

Suggestions:
-Find someone 18 or over to go with (who can get a hotel room)
-Go the first Friday of June for Coastermania (so long as you have some sort of coaster club membership) the ERT works out well and you should be able to get all 17 in one day (less maybe Jr. Gemini)
-Maverick or Dragster either first or last
-Raptor early
-Wild Cat and Iron Dragon both close early during the peak season so make sure you get those credits earlier in the day

that's about the best I can offer...

Please tell me more about ERT. What's ERT? I would probably want to do that if it will get me more rides. And I will probably get a friend over 18, or just bring along my brother or dad or mom or something. Whatever. And I don't really seem to count credits, so I would just want to get in the bigger rides. Also, I will probably stay at the hotel on the grounds, so I will be there for 2 days.

OH, and when is a good time to go during the summer?? Like, specific days or something.

[Ilovthevu']

The Tilt-A-Whirl is one of the best Tilt-A-Whirls around in the Snoopy kiddie section. Ride the Chaos before it's gone! The Matterhorn is quite slow and disappointing.