Cedar Point: July 25th, 2013.

I just returned from my 5 day vacation in Ohio. I'll try to keep this short, so I don't get that "Can't make an Empty Post" message again. I'll keep the details to a minimum. I will say that the weather was perfect. Sunny, and around 80 degrees with a very light wind.

Early Entry Rides:

Gate keeper was my first ride of the day. 20 minute wait. I absolutely loved this ride! I rode in the front of the train, far left seat. The drop roll off the lift is pretty amazing, and the rest of the ride is very exciting, though, after the mid-brake, it's nothing to get excited about. But still fun.

Raptor would be next with 2 back to back rides with maybe 5 minute wait each time. I rode in the front, first ride, and the back for the second ride. Some roughness here and there, but nothing terrible.

Next I went to Top thrill Dragster, but it was not open. So, I looped back to M-force, to find that it had a wait posted at an hour and 45 minutes. So, I skipped that, and went back to Maverick, which only had a 20 minute wait. I love Maverick. One of the best rides in the park.

Next up was Mean Streak, which had no wait, and premium choices of seating. I know I will break my Mean Streak sucks rule, by saying that it was not horrible. The last couple hills were very bumpy, but, I think they could still improve it. I rode a second time with no wait, right in the front seat.

Next up was Gemini, which was a 20 minute wait, and by now the masses were starting to arrive. Gemini was fun, and had some decent drops, but really isn't that high on my list of must rides. After that I went to Magnum, but it had an hour and half wait. I saw that Top Thrill Dragster was running, so I went to get in line.

The Masses Have Arrived

After my ride on Gemini, I noticed that the masses had started to arrive. I went to get on Magnum, and the wait was posted at 1 hour and 30 mintues. Corkscrew also had a full queue with an hour wait. So, I took a trip on Power Tower, which was only a 15 minute wait, then I took a spin on Enterprise, with a 20 minute wait, and then headed back over to Top Thrill dragster.

I saw that Top Thrill Dragster had 45 minute wait, until I realized that I was in the wrong line. The 45 minute time was for Fast Lane, and the actual line was 2 hours. But, it didn't matter, as it broke down at the 50 minute mark, and I said screw it, and went to ride something else.

So, by not making this post too long, I'll skip some of the rides I went on after Gemini, and just post a few highlights. I took a spin on Power Tower, and really liked it, and my next ride was on Wind Seeker. It was my first ride on it, and think it's just a really big ride, with it's highest point, and speed being the only thrill to it. Not overly scary, just kind of freaky.

I do have to comment on my too short rides on Blue Streak, as the turn around, and a couple drops on the return run, were just terrible. It's still a solid little coaster, but now is the time to call in a repair man. That roughness just kills it for me. People were saying Mean Streak was better, and I kind of have to agree.

After a few flats, I ate dinner at the Midway Market. $19.95 all you can eat. So, I ate until I was stuffed. Then just did a lot of gentle rides until my stomach settled. Wave swinger, Mine Ride, and the Matterhorn. Then I decided to get in line again for Top Thrill Dragster, with a wait now posted at 1 and half hours. There were quite a few drunks in line, who apparently only know 4 letter words, so there was some entertainment in line.

My riding partner for Top Thrill dragster was one of those drunks. Man, some people just can not shut up. He yelled and high fived his buddies, and called the lady next us a bitch, because she apparently kept bumping him in the queue. Gee, maybe if you can stand upright, no one would bump you. Anyways, had a great ride on Top Thrill dragster, and held my arms up the whole ride.

I ended the night, taking Tyler's advice and going to M-force during Luminosity. Where this so called short wait was, vanished somehow. I entered the line at 9:00, and did not get on M-force until 10:25. But, I must say, a night ride on M-force is just amazing! Addd to that the light show going up the lift from Luminosity, made that trip something I have never seen on a coaster before. The sky with stars, and the lights and smoke from luminosity, almost felt like a hyper space mountain. Just Loved it! By far the best ride in the park.

Once I got off M-force, I wanted to get another ride on Gate keeper, but, I had to get past the dance party that was going on at luminosity first. By the time I got to Gate keeper, they had closed the Queue, though it was already packed full of people still waiting to ride. So much for night time rides for season pass holders.

Anyways. It was a really great day. Glad I went. Though traffic getting out of the park was a nightmare. And, I have a lot of complaints, but will save that for my Sunday TR, which was absolute hell.

Um, my advice was to ride Millenium during ert, to ride Gatekeeper between 6-9:30, and end your day with Maverick. How were following my advice? I may have subtly said to ride Millenium at night once in a trip report a year ago, but the stuff I annoyingly repeated over an over did not follow. You could have saved an hour of saved yourself an hour and had gotten one extra ride if you flipped Gatekeeper and Millenium.

Tyler Boes said:

the stuff I annoyingly repeated over an over did not follow.

It's known as developing a tolerance.

I actually rode Gate Keeper twice, on Thursday, but was trying to keep my post down to a minimum. My second ride on Gate keeper was only a 40 minute wait, just before I went to dinner. Back seat, left side of the train again, which was a very awesome ride. I had not been on Millennium Force yet, as the ERT in the morning was at 1 hour and 45 minutes. My wait during Luminosity was actually shorter than that.

Also, I don't think it would have mattered which I rode, because if you read my post, Gate keeper had a full queue, as I bypassed the Luminosity crowds on my way out of the park. After around 7 or so, it had a 90 minute wait. So, I don't think Luminosity would have made much of a difference. I also rode Wicked Twister on Thursday which had a 40 minute wait. And, Maverick was at around 2 hours, almost the entire day. Raptor also had an 1 and 45 minute wait most of the day.

The Thursday crowds were pretty bad. But, with no rides closed, the lines fairly tolerable. Sky hawk is still closed, as is Shoot the rapids, I doubt either will open before the end of the season.

I also think fast lane is a joke. They say they limit the amount they sell. But with wait times of 45 minutes at just one ride, they can't be that limited. I don't think I saw any fast lane line at the major rides that wasn't under 30 minutes. Except for Mean Streak, which was maybe 5 or 10. Even M-force had a 45 minute wait for fast lane. Though I do like the way the do it, by at least making fast lane folks enter the queue, instead of allowing them to march right into the station. Otherwise, regular riders would be waiting all day, just for one ride.

I also met a few season pass holders at the campground, who live close to the park. A couple live in Cleveland, others lived in Toledo, and a couple guys even live in Sandusky. They all said, they go to the park for the ERT rides, once or twice a month during the week, and mainly go in June. They said that July and August were the worst times to go.

They also said that going to Cedar Point for Hallow Weekends was a good time to visit the park, as long as you got to the park early, and left before the haunted attractions got busy at night. Otherwise, it's just more of the same.

Timber-Rider said:

I also think fast lane is a joke. They say they limit the amount they sell. But with wait times of 45 minutes at just one ride, they can't be that limited. I don't think I saw any fast lane line at the major rides that wasn't under 30 minutes. Except for Mean Streak, which was maybe 5 or 10. Even M-force had a 45 minute wait for fast lane.

I can't imagine paying admission and paying another $60 on top of that to stand in 45-minute lines. Who are these people? Hell, I can't think of a single ride I'd wait 45 minutes for...period. Let alone pay for the priviledge.

I'll stick with Early June weekday trips where stations & queues look like this and this and this and this and...you get the point.

45 minutes on Fast Lane? Pfft.

I'd wait 45 minutes for Millennium Force, and that's about what you'd wait as a non-fast lane day in early June weekdays. If never waited more than 5 minutes for Gemini in my life. Same goes for Mine Ride, Blue Streak, and Power Tower. The longest I've waited for Magnum is 15 minutes. Same goes for that with Mean Streak, Mantis, Iron Dragon, and Skyhawk, During early June, the only rides that have consistent one hour waits are usually only Millennium and Maverick. I usually knock those guys out in the ERT.

Yeah I was at the park on the 24th and 25th, and it was absolutely mobbed both days. I expected a pretty good crowd seeing as it was July, but I figured that it being a weekday would at least somewhat keep the crowd down. Boy was I wrong.

I did very well with the morning ERT and such, but there were full queues for rides by about 11:00 am. Once I saw Wicked Twister with a completely full queue, and all of the aisles open, I'd seen enough. Crazy week at CP.

I just completed a 2 week trip to a bunch of parks (see my signature) and had no problem with long lines. The longest wait I had the whole trip was 1 hour and 15 minutes, which was partially my doing to ensure that I got a super rare (and first for me) night ride on the Voyage in row 1, also waited 1 hour on two nights for a night ride on the beast. Im willing to wait in long lines (1-2 hours) for something special (night rides, night shows, etc) but will only wait in a line like that once during my stay. That is not to say that some parks were not packed (KI, HW, Dollywood were pretty packed) but I just got there at opening and modified my day to ride rides that would not have a long wait, or in one case cheated (Dollywood Q-Bot.)

It is so easy to have a fun day at CP regardless of crowds. When CP is crowded like that you use ERT to your advantage (you should have no problem getting am rides on Gatekeeper, Raptor, MF and Maverick before the crowds descend.) Then hit coasters and major rides until the lines get bad, then switch to their pretty good selection of flats that alwyas have a quick wait (Maxair, Tilt-a-Whirl, Matterhorn, Scrambler, Calypso, Cedar Downs, Railroad) catch a show, and go to Soak City (In the summer I usually spend 2-3 hours in the Adventure River midday.) Then reride some coasters again at night when the crowds are lighter.

Tyler Boes said:

I'd wait 45 minutes for Millennium Force, and that's about what you'd wait as a non-fast lane day in early June weekdays. During early June, the only rides that have consistent one hour waits are usually only Millennium and Maverick. I usually knock those guys out in the ERT.

Didn't wait more than 25 for either...and that was reaching the end of my limit.

When did you ride it? I usually ride it during ERT. I have waited for it twice not in ERT once this year, and one was about 45 minutes and one was about 55 minutes. That was on the day of CoasterMania (I was marching in the parade). I waited 1 hour minutes for Maverick when the sign said 40 minutes because of a burst of fast lane people. Other than that, I just skip if the line is more than 45 minutes. In June Cedar Point just has other rides that don't get a very long wait (Gemini, Mean Streak, Mantis, Shoot the Rapids, Gatekeeper, Blue Streak, Magnum, Power Tower, and more).

If I were you, Timber Rider, I would suggest you take a trip to Kings Island sometime this August. I went there recently, and week days and Sundays there aren't that bad. If you marathon the Beast (or Diamondback) during ERT, you can get 3 rides in a row on that ride. Then, you can quickly get to the low capacities (FoF, Firehawk, Invertigo, Stunt Coaster) before it gets busy. It can be very do able in two days even if you do the water park. Plus, I checked your track record, and you haven't been on a lot of their newer rides. You love the Beast, and the park has three camp sites near it that aren't too pricey. (I've never used them, but I just researched it. All are 30-45 dollars a night.)

10 minutes from KI

25 minutes from KI

15 minutes from KI

Choice number 3 is about 45 bucks, but it is the most dollars. The others are about 30 dollars

I can assure you that KI is just as crowded. There last Thurs and Fri and there was a 1 hour wait for the Beast, 1 hour wait for Diamondback, and 2+ hour waits for FOF and Firehawk. If you are unable to get there at opening, and only want to ride the big coasters now is not the time to go. Wait until Oct and go on Sunday.

Tyler Boes said:

When did you ride it? I usually ride it during ERT.

I never bother with passholder "ERT" - I don't power ride and a little common sense will get you on most rides with minimal wait.

Checked the data for you on the pics I took :

In line for Maverick - June 2, 2013 7:23:42pm

In line for Millennium Force - June 3, 2013 8:35:44pm

Neither wait was more than 25 minutes.

Probably the Ohio kids weren't out of school yet. That sounds ridiculously short to me.

It is so easy to have a fun day at CP regardless of crowds. When CP is crowded like that you use ERT to your advantage (you should have no problem getting am rides on Gatekeeper, Raptor, MF and Maverick before the crowds descend.) Then hit coasters and major rides until the lines get bad, then switch to their pretty good selection of flats that alwyas have a quick wait (Maxair, Tilt-a-Whirl, Matterhorn, Scrambler, Calypso, Cedar Downs, Railroad) catch a show, and go to Soak City (In the summer I usually spend 2-3 hours in the Adventure River midday.) Then reride some coasters again at night when the crowds are lighter.

Max Air had a full queue both days that I was there, and the line never seemed to go down. I did get 1 ride on Cedar Downs with little wait, had to wait 2 cycles for Calypso, and one cycle for the Matterhorn. Power Tower also had a pretty short wait for both sides, on both days that I was there. 10 minutes for the blast side, and 20 for the drop side.

Most flats had full queues, I think scrambler actually had the longest, and the Witches Wheel had a full queue on Thursday, which was about 20 minute wait. Thought about riding Monster, but it also had a full queue. The only rides that did not have lines were the kiddy rides. I was surprised that the antique autos, and the speedway by Calypso also had full ques. Also the rides in Camp Snoopy had small lines. I waited two cycles for tilt-a-whirl on Sunday. Which had a full queue by the time I got off it.

I heard the two girls, who were switching off at tilt-whirl talking. And the one girl said that Tilt-a-whirl had already given 720 rides. And, the other said, wow that's a lot. And the other girl said. You certainly won't have to worry about being bored. Every ride in the park had some sort of line. The only rides that seemed idle were the ones in kiddy kingdom. Also, it was pretty cold, so there wasn't hardly anyone at Soak City.

I think if it had been warmer, Soak City might have taken away some of the crowds. But, it was very breezy and cold on Sunday. Not to mention the light rain that kept popping up. Just not a good day.

Tyler Boes said:

Probably the Ohio kids weren't out of school yet. That sounds ridiculously short to me.

1. Mine were.

2. Seems pretty normal to me. Just gotta know when to go. That's not to say they never got longer, but I wasn't standing in them.

Checked the data for you on the pics I took :

In line for Maverick - June 2, 2013 7:23:42pm

In line for Millennium Force - June 3, 2013 8:35:44pm

Neither wait was more than 25 minutes.

Curious. Was this wait. with or without Fast lane?

Without.

I know everyone can't go to the park whenever they'd like, but when you go makes ALL the difference in the world. I just don't run into the waits and lines that a lot of you seem to. And on the off chance I do hit an oddly crowded day, it's never been anything that a quick FOL purchase can't remedy.

Of course, I'm also willing to walk right by a long long and find a shorter one. We spent three days at CP in June and I rode MF and Maverick once each. But I didn't stand in a long line to do it. That time was better spent on rides like Magnum, Raptor, Wicked Twister, Gemini and Blue Streak where the lines never got longer than a few trains the whole time we were there.

I can't imagine 45 minutes Fast Lane waits. I'd never go to a park again. It's just not worth it.

I lived in Sandusky in June a few years ago, those numbers are accurate. It was great I would get off work at 2pm and accomplish what I would normally do from opening to close at CP in the 6 hours the park was still open.

Ive never seen CP that mobbed, and Ive been on Halloweekend Saturdays. However, FYI if Max Air has a full queue its still only about 2-3 cycles until you ride, that thing is a capacity beast. 20-30 minutes for a flat ride wait is pushing my limit, but I would likely still get in line if the park was that crowded. A ratio of 3-4 waitime/ridetime is acceptable to me provided I enjoy the ride.

Hey Touchdown. I think the queue time for Max Air was over 30 minutes. But the most shocking to me were the waits for Gemini, Corkscrew, Iron Dragon, and Blue Streak. Which, on a majority of my previous visits had little or no wait at all.

Thursday waits.

Gemini. 20 minutes

Corkscrew: 1 hour in the morning. 15 minutes by mid day

Iron Dragon: Full queue all day. 40 to 50 minutes.

Blue streak: 40 minutes in the morning. Down to 10-20 minutes by mid day.

Sunday waits.

Gemini: 2 hours when it wasn't closed.

Corkscrew: Full queue all day. 1 hour to an 1 and half hours.

Iron Dragon: Full Queue all day. 40 to 50 minute all day, with a line going out onto the midway.

Blue Streak: 1 hour. Closed off on and on due to rain.

I mean the park was just packed on Sunday.

You do know that they overinflate the wait times at ride entrances right? That way if everything goes right, people getting in line think that they "got on sooner" and are happy. If a minor delay happens (handicap load/unload, protein spill, etc) then they get on the ride "on time" and are still happy.