Trip to Ohio July 4th

I live in Houston. My boss just called me in her office and told me we have to make a week trip to Columbus next week. So that covers hotel and car rental. I have never been to Ohio, so of course my eyes light up as visions of Cedar Point and SF's dance in my head.

I asked her can I go up early.

Sure, she says...

So I finally get my Cedar Point trip.

Here is my ????

I am off on Sunday and Monday.

I thought I would hit Cedar Point on Sunday and SF on Monday. I will probably find a cheap motel to stay in Sunday night.

I need to know...

1. It appears the drive from Columbus to both parks is about 2 hours a piece. Correct?

2. What is your opinion about which park on Sunday and which on Monday? I know Sunday both parks will be crowded as heck, but I have only 2 days and 2 parks. Does one park handle crowds better than the other, making Sunday a better choice for one over the other?

3. I probably will just hit the coasters at both parks. What are the wait times like at CP? Do you think the 4th is going to be miserable packed?

1) More like 2.5 hours. Do not follow Cedar Point's directions from Columbus. Take U.S. Route 23 to state Route 98, then get on state Route 4 in Bucyrus, and take that into downtown Sandusky (do NOT get on the interstate when the green sign prompts you to). Once you get into downtown Sandusky, follow the small blue signs. This gets you to the park without going through the long, crowded "strip" of mini-golf courses and go-cart tracks.

2) and 3) No one can predict what kind of crowds will show up or how lines will be. Just go and don't worry about it.

Yes, the 4th will be miserably packed and most likely the 5th too for the earlier parts of the day. You're off work when the rest of the country is too - chances are, enough will be in line that day to make the waits all upwards of 1 hour +

Well SF moved out and it's Geauga Lake now. GL is a much smaller park so I say do that on the day that you have less time. You're going to want to use all the time in the world on CP because it's that big. GL is just now getting crowded but I'm sure you could do it all in half a day. Since the 4th is CP's longest operating day of the season and I hear it can get plenty full - do GL on the 4th and then on the 5th go to CP. I'm just a kid - so I could be totally wrong, but this is what I would do.

Great suggestions, and advice, And Zak I did not know the sizes in comparison. Given that, I think SF's ( Yes I know, but I have no idea how to say Guenga?) will be the Sunday stop, and leave Cedar Point for Monday.

You really should ask locals for directions to Guenga Lake and please report back to us on their reactions ;)

It's Geauga and pronounced Gee-Aw-Guh (but be sure to ask where Gweh-en-ga Lake is ;) ) *** Edited 6/29/2004 6:10:08 PM UTC by Impulse-ive***

Markieb-
I agree with the rest of the folks here, do Geauga Lake on Sunday, and Cedar Point on Monday. Granted, both parks will be packed as it is a holiday weekend. But, since GL is smaller, go there on the 4th as that day will draw the largest crowds.

"Geauga" is a funny word to pronounce if you have never seen it before! Try this: Gee-Ogg-Uh. Just say it fast and you'll get it. And, no one will look at you funny if you need to ask locals for extra directions!

Get to Cedar Point EARLY. You're going to have to fight crowds at the gate on a holiday weekend, not to mention the longer lines, so get in as much time as you can. I would just worry about hitting the coasters. If you're looking to prioritize, try this:

Group 1 (in no particular order)
-Raptor
-Millenium Force
-Top Thrill Dragster
-Mantis
-Magnum XL 200
-Wicked Twister
-Gemini

Group 2
-Wildcat
-Blue Streak
-Mean Streak
-Disaster Transport (borderline group 3)

Group 3
-Iron Dragon
-Cedar Creek Mine Ride
-Corkscrew

But most importantly, have fun!

What about staying at the breakers express sunday night if you are hitting cp on monday? it may cost a tad bit more, but you get a little ticket that would get you in the park an hour earlier.

Hmm ... I guess it's just opinion, but I say do Cedar Point on the 4th. Cedar Point is the capacity king and better equipped to handle the large crowd. Plus, you might find the crowds slow to start at Cedar Point on the 4th. If you get there at opening, I would bet that you'll find shorter lines until 11am or noon. You could - in theory (no one can predict the future) - knock out a few different rides before the crowds start towards the peak.

You'll have until midnight to enjoy the park. If you save the back of the park until after 10pm, you'll probably find the traffic to be pretty light back there.

More good advice.

Is the anything like a fast pass system at CP?

Single rider lines? I will be alone.

Anyone have any discount coupon suggestions.

Info on FreeWay

Cedar Point Discount Guide

Check out PointBuzz for lots of other great information.

#1) 2 hours if u can go 100mph! but from columbus to aurora it would be about 3 hours.

#2) Do Geauga Lake on Sunday as it is a smaller park and lines do go pretty fast...well atleast they did last year. Stay in Streetsboro for the night then take the ohio turnpike (rt. 80) to sandusky. that will be about an hour 45 min drive. Then do CP on monday!

#3) Yes CP will be packed....i remember that people were parking in the grass last year...it was horrible. People could hardly move anywhere and wait times were into the 2+ hours for about every coaster.

It's 2:15 to CP from Columbus. Beware speed limit is 55 on Rt 98 and Rt 4. Highway patrol frequents this strip a lot. I had the privelage of getting $95 ticket for doing 64MPH.
CP last year was not as crowded on the 4th (fell on a Friday last year)as it was during some weekdays in August last year. Granted you'll do your share of waiting. I do know for sure the MF was 1:15 wait and Raptor 45min. As for TTD, if up and running well, line moves fairly well. Knock on wood, so far this year I have waited no longer than 30 minutes 4 it.
As everyone, says no 1 can predict the crowd. Go and enjoy yourself. If u go on the 4th CP has a good fireworks display at 10pm!

I have gone 9 times this year, Sundays are best at Cedar Point, I have went Sundays and then the next day on monday, and Sundays are alot less crowded but I have never been there July 4th, but it is open longer. I am not sure how long GL is open the fourth I would go to the point Sunday personally, this coming from a weekly visitor.

Best way I know of to get from CP to GL is to take I-90 to downtown Cleveland and then go on 480 and follow that eventually you will find signs for GL, it gets confusing for alot of people at downtown Cleveland though, I have to go that way for school overy day and I still tend to somewhat get lost. But if you end up passing Jacobs Field, and heading toward Dead mans curve you went the wrong way ;). Then you will end up by my school.

Thank you all for the advice.

I am doing CP on Monday!

I can't wait. My free trip to the mother ship!

I could not ask for more!

Any one going on Monday alone and care to show a Texan around? I know SFAW like the back of my hand, so I can get through it in 2-3 hours. I am sure the same holds true for many of you, and CP. It's always better to have a guide, than to spend time looking at park maps. I will be there at opening on Monday. Debating on wearing my SFAW shirt, but it does say Houston , so I might!

I am heading out on Monday at 6:00 AM from Columbus. I will use the directions given, thanks.

And take all of the advice from the pro's.

Looks like no one in near CP wants to show me around. Anyone in Columbus interested? As stated I will leave at 6:00 AM, and head back at the latest 7:00 PM. Gotta be to work on Tuesday in Columbus. If you are interested email me at frightman@hotmail.com. and put Cedar P trip in the subject.

One last question, And thanks again for the help.

One the Pepsi can $ 10.00 off offer. Can I find these cans in Columbus, or in Sandusky?

It is going to be easy for me to find them?

Any one know where I can buy one. Especially in Columbus.

If not it looks like I can save 4.00 by buying online and skipping the ticket lines. *** Edited 6/30/2004 8:06:34 PM UTC by Markieb***

I know you could do what I did when I did not have a pass, and buy my ticket the day before I go so I do not have to wait through the line there, I went to tops and you get 8 dollars off instead of 10, but I like tops more than pepsi cans.

It should not be too hard to find one though on a pepsi can.

Since he's got his trip figured out, how about helping me.

I'll be arriving Tuesday around 4 and waiting until 5 to purchase a Starlight ticket for Tuesday night, and then spending all day the next day in the park. Has anybody been on the two days after the fourth holiday? I figure people would be heading back to work. Especially by Tuesday night. I'm staying at the Radisson Harbour Inn.

Also what rides are open early in the morning and it says we can only ride two? Do they keep track? Thanks in advance for help.