Cedar Point: From Blue Streak to Maverick

Cedar Point has 17 roller coasters, totally an amazing 53,963 feet of track spread over, around and through the park. Listed below are my personal critiques of each one, in the order that I think of them.

Blue Streak

The Blue Streak is Cedar Point’s oldest roller coaster. It is located to the left of the entrance and is tucked away behind the Raptor. This is a great coaster, despite it’s age, and very rarely has much of a wait. The Blue Streak is a wooden roller coaster with a first hill of 78 feet. It reaches speeds of 40 miles per hour with a series of small hills and hairpin turns. Although it may sound tame, the slower speeds give you time to feel the drops. If roller coasters typically make you feel sick, do not think that small and old means gentle. I recommend sitting in the front seat especially if you have any lower back issues as the ride is a little rough. Also, the seatbelt isn’t just for appearances, the drops will lift you right out of your seat and the lap bar does not snug down as well as you might wish.

Gemini

Absolutely a great ride. Built in 1978, the Gemini qualifies as a classic. As the name indicates, this coaster has twin trains that race each other around the track. As far as I can tell, neither train is ‘faster’ than the other so take your pick. Located in the center of the park and toward the back, the Gemini usually has a wait of less than an hour. The first hill is 124 feet and this wooden roller coaster reaches speeds of 60 miles per hour. At various points in the track you can reach out and touch the people in the other train, an action that is not sanctioned by Cedar Point but is nevertheless part of the Gemini experience. My favorite part of this ride is trying to keep my arms at full length throughout the ride. It’s harder than it sounds; in one place there is a beam that looks like it will hit you across the forehead if you don’t duck! Don’t worry though, even with arms up, the beam is well out of reach. For the same reasons as with the Blue Streak, I recommend sitting in the front car to save your back from the heinous vibration.

Mean Streak

Once the record holder for tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster (a record it snagged from The Beast at King’s Island) the Mean Streak is really an incredibly boring ride. Traveling at 65 miles per hour, this 2 minute, 45 second ride is a series of uninteresting banked curves. The Mean Streak was added over 16 years ago and when I think back to the year that it was new and I waited over four hours to get on this ride, I cringe. Thanks to its distant location at the very back of the park, the wait is rarely that long any more. Personally, I would never wait more than half an hour for this ride and unless you want whiplash, I recommend sitting near the front with one hand bracing your neck.

Disaster Transport

This roller coaster is a piece of crap. The Disaster Transport was completed in an effort to revamp an already crappy ride previously known as the Alpine Slide. The Disaster Transport is a non-traditional roller coaster that does not run on a track but in a U-shaped slide something like a bobsled run. Originally, the Alpine Slide was an open air coaster located close to the entrance behind the Demon Drop. While the location was not changed, the Alpine Slide was moved indoors and renamed as the Disaster Transport. Despite black lights and air conditioning, this ride really is the same as it was 20 years ago. Traveling at 40 miles per hour, it still holds the record for the fastest bobsled type roller coaster in the world. One of biggest complaints I have with this ride is that the wait time they post at the door is never accurate and because of the way the line goes in and out of several different rooms, you can never see how long you have left to wait. If you are dying of heat exhaustion and happen to be in the area, by all means, go spend some time waiting in an air conditioned line; however, don’t expect much.

Raptor

Hands down one of the top three rides in the park. The Raptor is located close to the entrance on the left hand side. This was Cedar Point’s first unenclosed hanging roller coaster. At the time of its opening, the Raptor held the record for the tallest fastest inverted roller coaster in the world. With an initial drop of 137 feet and top speeds of 57 miles per hour, it may look tame in comparison with the Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster but the loops and rolls make it an extremely thrilling ride. Depending on when you hit this ride, the line wait is extremely variable but generally less than two hours. I recommend riding the Raptor later in the day as the lines are generally shorter in the afternoon.

Magnum XL-200

When the Magnum debuted in 1989 it was the tallest fastest roller coaster ever built, records it maintained until 1991 and 1994. Oddly enough, the Magnum, which once dominated the Cedar Point skyline, is now dwarfed by its two record breaking neighbors.

Located on the right hand side, just past Soak City, the Magnum boasts a first drop of 205 feet and travels at speeds of 72 miles per hour. The front and back design gives a great view of Lake Erie as you jump over bunny hills and through blackout tunnels. This is a great ride that generally has short lines. It was the first roller coaster at Cedar Point to have misting fans and a DJ booth in the queue line. That may not seem that significant but if you go there in August you will be relieved at this innovation! I recommend the third seat of the first car. I know it sounds weird, but I swear the air time is better there and it’s generally one of the shortest lines.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride

My opinion on this one may be tainted my nostalgia. I love this ride. It’s tamer than most of the roller coasters in Cedar Point but it has some life in it yet. Never a long line and quaint scenery, this ride is perfect for any park goers who don’t want to lose their lunch. When I used to go to Cedar Point as a kid, this was the only ride besides the Ferris Wheel that my motion sick mother would ride. With an initial hill of 55 feet and variable speed, the most exciting part of the ride is a corkscrewing turn that makes you feel like you are in danger of losing your extending limbs. A little disconcerting, especially as a child, is that the lap bar is shared with your neighbor. If your neighbor is, say, your 300 pound father and you are a 70 pound ten year old, you get to ride with a foot of clearance between your lap and the bar.

Iron Dragon

The Iron Dragon is a great little ride though to get the maximum effect it is imperative that you sit in the very front seat. The Iron dragon is an enclosed, hanging roller coaster with fun drops and banking turns, located in the shadow of the Mantis. With a max speed of 40 miles per hour and an initial drop of 76 feet, it is an easy ride for less adventurous riders. Since the cars are connected, the front car gets the most swing out of the lake skimming turns. At 20 years old, it is still a great ride to take in between longer lines.

Corkscrew

The Corkscrew is typical of its type, though when it was built in 1976 it was the first of its kind to span a midway and take riders through three inversions. At 85 feet tall and 48 miles per hour, it is still a fun ride. As a child, the Corkscrew was one of my favorite but as an adult I have found the ride painful and I try not to ride it until just before I leave. The Corkscrew is located in the center of the park and is impossible to miss as you have to walk under it to get to the Top Thrill Dragster and other rides.

Millennium Force

Best freaking ride in the park! Even with a three hour wait, this roller coaster is completely worth it. At 310 feet tall and 93 miles per hour this roller coaster shattered a slew of records when it debuted in 2000. After nearly 8 years, it still ranks number 6 worldwide for height and speed. One of the best things about this innovative design is its lack of a chain for the ride to the top of its monster first hill. The Millennium Force has a nifty gadget that comes down the hill to collect the train and brings you to the top with a smooth fast ride. It’s location on the far left side of the park offers a great view over the lake and it’s even more spectacular at night. I cannot stress enough how incredible this ride is. With its central location, this is a great ride to hit again and again throughout the day and a great option for you fast lane stamp.

Wicked Twister

My advice on this ride is to hit it whenever you see it running. Just like the Top Thrill Dragster, the Wicked Twister will shut down with even the slightest bit of rain or high winds. That being said, it’s a fun little ride. Once again, I recommend sitting in the front seat for maximum effect. The Wicked Twister is a unique roller coaster with an inverted style and a double ended track. Riders are launched at 50 miles per hour toward one of two towers which the train scales and then returns through the boarding deck in reverse to scale the second tower backwards. On the return trip, riders are launched again, this time at 63 miles per hour and then for a third time at 72 miles per hour. Each launch results in a higher climb up the towers. Since the ride is located right on the beach, waiting in line can be a bit chilly after the sun goes down or if there is a healthy breeze off the lake. Generally the line for this ride is about an hour give or take thirty minutes depending on the time of day. Once again, if you notice that this ride is only running on occasion, get on it when you get the chance. Its location close to the MaXair is convenient since you can ride this non-roller coaster yet extremely fun ride, while keeping an eye on the line and operational status of the Wicked Twister.

Top Thrill Dragster

Great freaking ride! Although the line wait can be somewhat excessive for a ride that lasts less than a minute and a half, anything less than four hours is still worth it. Unfortunately, the Top Thrill Dragster is very prone to being shut down. With even the slightest rain, high winds or lightning, your ride could be cancelled regardless of how long you’ve been waiting. The Top Thrill Dragster broke the world record for tallest and fastest roller coaster with its 420 foot peak and a breathless 120 miles per hour, reached in under 4 seconds. Riders board the train and are brought out to a randomized starting line complete with red, yellow, green count down light. When the light reaches green, the car is launched out with surprising velocity, regardless of how many times you have watched it happen to others. You spiral up to the top and barely have time to take a breath before shooting back down at 90 degrees. Make sure to take the opportunity to look around when you are at the top as you will not get another view to match without getting on a plane.

Mantis

The Mantis is Cedar Point’s only stand up roller coaster. Despite its impressive appearance, I feel that this ride falls a little short of the mark. The rig that you ride in is incredibly uncomfortable, especially to men, and the ride is blasé despite its 145 foot drop and 60 miles per hour speeds. The first time I rode this ride it got stuck and let me tell you, standing on a platform with a ridged, spring loaded crotch-piece jamming you into the shoulder harness for ten minutes was enough for me that day. The Mantis is still one of the fastest tallest standing roller coasters in the world, even after 11 years of operation. It boasts 4 inversions and a figure eight finale.

Wildcat

This roller coaster barely counts as a roller coaster. It is the typical carnival design that you can find in most older amusement parks and is basically just an over grown kiddy ride. Since its addition in 1970, the Wildcat has been moved twice which may give you an idea of its construction. I haven’t ridden it since I was a small child and if you can’t impress a seven year old, you probably aren’t worth mentioning as a roller coaster. The one redeeming factor of this 50 foot tall ride is the g-forced created by its variable speeds as riders race around the track in individual four-seater carts.

Gemini Jr.

This is a kiddy ride that is, or was, a ton of fun. Riders must be 36-54 inches tall or accompanied by a child. The best thing that I remember about this ride from when I was a child, was that I was able to ride it over and over while I waited for my dad to get off the Gemini, located directly across the midway. It runs an astounding 6 miles per hour with a drop of 19 feet.

Woodstock Express

This is the only roller coaster in Cedar Point that I have never ridden (with the exception of the Maverick which was not yet built the last time I was there).

Maverick

Since I did not have the opportunity to visit Cedar Point last year when the Maverick opened, I have not had the opportunity to ride this new roller coaster. The Cedar Point website does have a fun virtual ride that I have viewed many times and, roller coaster gods willing, I will be riding it in about 6 months and will review it at that time.

Cedar Point: Roller Coaster Heaven

With the newest addition of The Maverick, Cedar Point now boasts an amazing 17 roller coasters, more than any other location in the world. With the distinct exception of the Disaster Transport, all of the roller coasters are amazing and always worth the wait. I will say this; however, if you are under 52” tall, or if you are not a DEDICATED roller coaster enthusiast, Cedar Point may not be for you. I’m not saying that kids can’t have fun, I know I did as a kid, but considering the distance and expense that this trip entails, you will be wasting money better spent at your local Six-Flags.

Cedar Point was originally opened in 1870, making it the country’s second oldest amusement park. When it first opened, Cedar Point was an island with natural park and beach front areas open for family fun. Rides began being a feature of Cedar Point in the late 1800s with its first roller coaster added in 1892. The oldest operating ride in the park is the Midway Carousel which was installed in 1945 though it was originally built in 1912. In the mid-sixties, Cedar Point added the Blue Streak, the oldest and still-operational roller coaster in the park. Since 1964, Cedar Point has added 16 other roller coasters, many of which have held or broken records for tallest, fastest or longest, at one time or another. Additionally, Cedar Point boasts 51 non-roller coaster rides.

Although the awards for “best rides” varies from list to list, one thing is for certain. Cedar Point will never be a disappointment for roller coaster enthusiasts. Most of Cedar Point’s roller coasters have been on the top ten list at one point in their lifetime and Cedar Point has held the record for tallest/fastest roller coaster three different times with the Magnum XL-200, Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster. Cedar Point has been at the top of the industry for decades, trying new technologies and innovative designs. The park offers a huge variety of roller coaster types including steel and wood, stand-up, hanging, and magnetically propelled, as well as a plethora of different null-g hills, turns and rolls.

While I wouldn’t recommend going to Cedar Point if you don’t love roller coasters that push the limit, the park offers a wide range of intensities for the fainter of heart. Don’t judge the book by its cover, though. Size doesn’t always matter! The Cedar Creek Mine Ride, Iron Dragon, Disaster Transport and Mantis are of variable sizes but can all be considered tame. Alternately the Blue Streak, despite its size and age, has thrills that you will feel from the bottom of your belly.

Cedar Point: Fast Lane Stamps

As you are walking through the park you may notice booths offering Fast Lane stamps. Chose carefully! You can only get one stamp in a day but if you play your cards right, you may get two rides out of your stamp. The way that Fast Lane works is this: you get a stamp that has the name of the ride and a window of time. When you arrive during your time slot, you are allowed to enter a shortened line that lets you bypass most of the queue.

So you want to know how to beat the system? First of all, don’t pick a stamp for a ride that doesn’t have notoriously long lines. It’s a huge waste! I would recommend picking the Millennium Force, Top Thrill Dragster, or Maverick. These rides will typically have lines in excess of two hours but with a stamp you can cut that time down to as little as 30 minutes. With a little planning and a little luck you may be able to slip through twice! Be sure to arrive at the earliest moment for your slated time. When you get off the ride, if you are still within your timeslot, try to get on the ride again. If the attendant notices that you’ve already been through once, play dumb or beg. In general, they don’t care and would rather just let you on then listen to you whine about it. The last time I went, we rode the Millennium Force twice in an hour while people in the main line were waiting over three hours for a single ride.

Cedar Point: Tips for Travel

I would highly recommend that you visit the park at the end of June. Not only is the park much less crowded (waiting lines shorter by 1-2 hours), the weather is perfect. Being that Cedar Point is located on a peninsula, the window of opportunity for temperatures that are not overwhelmingly hot or freezing cold, is relatively short. No matter when you chose to go, be sure to take a variety of clothing as weather on the lake can be unpredictable. I also recommend that you take a water resistant windbreaker for wear in the evening as the breezes across the water can get quite chilly after the sun goes down.

Cedar Point is also notorious for its mayfly season. If you have never experienced it, take my advice and don’t. The mayflies are in season from the end of May through the end of August but are generally heavier before the middle of June. While completely harmless, they don’t even bite, they are gross and at the heaviest point in their season, they cover everything. One year in Cedar Point, the park had to be cleared with a snowplow each morning before patrons arrived.

When you are packing up to enter the park, pack very light. I know they are dorky but your best bet is a fanny pack with a zipper closure. Everything that you have in your pack should be enclosed in waterproof zip lock bags. Even if you don’t intend to hit the water rides, you may change your mind after walking in the heat all day.

If at all possible, don’t carry anything that can’t fit into your fanny pack. This includes baseball caps. Although some of the rides will allow you to remove your hat and sit on it, some of the rides do not. If you have to pay for a locker every time you get on a ride, you are going to be pumping out quarters all over the park. This is true for shoes as well. Pick shoes that you will be comfortable walking in all day but that you don’t mind getting wet. I recommend Tevas, Crocks or Burkenstocks with heel straps. All footwear is permitted in the park but rides such as the Wicked Twister and the Raptor won’t allow you to wear shoes, while riding, which are not securely attached to your feet.

If games are you thing, I would suggest playing at the end of the day where you will not be required to tote your prize around all over the park. The same goes for any non-wearable souvenirs. Most of the lockers are too small for large stuffed animals. The lockers in the park are single use only. Therefore, if you have things that you have to bring into the park but don’t want to carry around, be sure to select a locker of appropriate size in an area where you think you will need the items. For instance, if you bring towels and sunscreen you should lock them up close to the water rides.

Depending on how many days you plan to spend at the park, you may benefit from a 2-day or even a season pass. In previous years, season passes were only good for Cedar Point, not Soak City or Challenge Park. This year they have added a Platinum Season Pass which includes all of the Cedar Point parks as well as free parking. As a die-hard roller coaster junkie, I could care less about water slides and go-carts but to each his own. Whatever you decide, it is probably best to plan your lodgings first since some of the local accommodations offer discounted tickets. With my hotel package one year, we got our 2-day passes which included Soak City, as well as passes to starlight Cedar Point and early entry passes. Starlight Cedar Point was great because we were able to spend one day outside of the park and then go enjoy a few rides late in the day when the crowds were thin.

Any day that you plan to spend at the park, be sure to arrive early. Not only will you enjoy much better parking, but ride lines will be much shorter. Once you are inside, resist the temptation of hitting the rides closest to the door first. Instead, RUN to the newest ride and get in line right away. The difference in wait time could be several hours depending on how new or popular the ride is.

When you are putting together your travel plans, it is imperative that you rent a car. While there is a limited shuttle and bus system as well as available cab service, the amount of freedom you will gain by having your own car is well worth the added cost of car rental and parking. Despite the busy tourist season, the restaurants in the area close early, and if you plan to eat after 9:00pm, you will need to drive out of town.

Cedar Point: Camping

There is an RV/camping area located just outside of Cedar Point which offers ‘early entry’ deals as well as shuttle service to the front gate. When I planned my trip that involved camping, I found that the cost was too much for the benefits gained by staying in the on-site park. We opted for the East Harbor State Park located about 15 minutes from Cedar Point. The sites range from $14-40/day depending on what services you would like available. The campground was clean and offered beach front and miles of trails for walking or biking.

If you decide to stay here or in any campground in the area, be sure to make a reservation! We were surprised to discover people who had not reserved their site in advance waiting in line for a site to come available. This is especially true over the weekend and during the prime months of July and August.

While I do not recommend driving to Sandusky if you live as far away as I do, I found my stay at the campground very pleasant and would do it again without hesitation. The bathrooms and showers were well maintained and conveniently placed throughout the campground for easy access from any site.

Cedar Point: Hotels

There is a huge range of options for hotels in the Sandusky area. No matter what your budget, you can find somewhere to stay. The year that we stayed in a hotel, we chose the Breakers Express which was very close to the park and offered an ‘early entry’ deal. We found the hotel through the Cedar Point website and bundled our tickets with our hotel. The hotel was around $60/night not counting park admission. You can visit the Cedar Point website which offers all the information on packages, as well as a comparison feature that allows you to look at side-by-side lists of available rooms at all of the Cedar Point endorsed hotels and resorts.

Early entry is a big deal if there has been a new major ride addition within two years of your visit. Since we were visiting during the first year that the Top-Thrill Dragster opened, we were very excited to get admitted to Cedar Point an hour before the gates opened to the general public. We were able to ride the newest roller coaster at Cedar Point with a wait under two hours. This may not seem like a big deal, but the rest of the time that we were there, we never saw a line less than five hours for that ride.

Another benefit of the local hotels is that many of them offer pools. We found that it was a better use of our money to get a hotel that had a pool to enjoy during the heat of the day, than spend extra money on admission tickets which included the water park. Between the in-park water rides and the hotel pool, we found the kid choked Soak City to be a waste of money entirely.

If you have no interest in early entry or pools, I would recommend not booking your lodging in advance. When I did searches for hotels in the area around Cedar Point, I found that the cheapest ones were often not included on the Cedar Point web site or in bundled offers through the airlines. There are also a million hotels and motels just outside of Sandusky that offer better rates than the ones closest to the park and with all the different options, there is little danger of being unable to find a vacancy.

Cedar Point: Bed and Breakfast

The Sandusky and surrounding area has a ton of Bed and Breakfasts. When I was planning the trip that included choosing this type of accommodation, I found a plethora to chose between. The final decision rested on location and price, and I must say, we were very happy with our choice.

The Simpson-Flint House is located in central Sandusky, close to Cedar Point and several restaurants. The cost ranges from $100-$150 a night and varies a little from year to year. The owners were very helpful in giving directions and recommending places to eat. The room was beautiful and the breakfast was AMAZING. Homemade muffins, French Toast made from fresh bread, and Eggs Benedict were among the delicious offerings served at the Simpson-Flint House and every bite was heaven.

The year that we stayed in the Simpson-Flint House, we flew into Detroit and underestimated the amount of travel time we needed to get to Sandusky. Despite our arriving at three in the morning, the owners were accommodating and even gave us a snack upon our arrival.

If you are considering a Bed and Breakfast as your accommodation, be aware that several of the available locations are located on the islands out on the lake. This is important because you will have to juggle ferry service which does not run all night. You also will be charged each time you use a ferry and depending on which one you take, you may not be able to bring your car with you.

Cedar Point: Amtrak

I have not tried this method yet, but as it offers a savings over flights and driving, I plan to attempt it this summer. The Amtrak train travels from Denver right into Sandusky with a layover of a few hours in Chicago. Prices are roughly $100/person less than flying and since you arrive directly in Sandusky, you avoid the time and effort of driving yourself to and from the airport.

The one problem that I foresee in using this method is that the arrival and departure times are inconvenient and may require that you take a cab to a hotel, and pick up your car in the morning as well as finding a way to return your car and still get to the train station for departure. As Sandusky is relatively small, cab fare should not be exorbitant and some rental car agencies will come and pick you up during their office hours.

The benefit would be that it appears to be the perfect balance of saving money and not having to drive. Expect to spend about 24 hours in travel, not counting layover. This may seem like a lot but when compared to the time spent arriving early for flights, and driving to and from the airport, it’s really not that bad and is certainly better than driving yourself. I anticipate a savings of around $100-150/person for the additional time spent in travel.

Cedar Point: Driving

I don’t recommend this method unless you have a heap of people and a camper. While the Sandusky area has a great campground convenient to the park, I found that the hassle and time that was expended on the trip was not worth the savings. If you have at least four people that can share with the driving, this may save you a great deal of money but staying in the campground gives you no advantages in comfort or any of the ‘early entry’ benefits that some of the hotels offer during park season.

With gas prices being highly unpredictable, it was very difficult to budget for the trip this way. When I drove, we took a van and pulled a camper. Headwinds while crossing Kansas caused our gas cost to double for the trip out. We also saw a price increase in gas jump almost thirty cents/gallon between the time that we planned the trip and when we actually reached Sandusky.

Construction, weather, and a traumatic break-down all worked together to make the trip frustrating and exhausting. Even with two licensed drivers, we were unable to drive straight through and counting the time we spent sleeping, the total trip exceeded 35 hours each way. We drove through torrential rains, lightning storms, heat exceeding 115 degrees, heavy construction and traffic jams in both directions.

Cedar Point: Flying

If you have two or fewer people traveling long distance to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, you will probably want to fly. Without a larger group, there just isn’t enough savings to warrant the endless hours spent traveling, the possible breakdowns and the unpredictability of rising gas prices.

Since there is no commercial airport in Sandusky, you will want to compare prices of flights into Columbus, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Toledo. Keep in mind that no matter where you fly in, you will have to rent a car, so it is important that you pick flight times that correspond with when the car rental desk is still open. The cheapest city to fly in and out of varies year to year. When figuring the price of flights, be sure to take into consideration the amount of time/gas you will spend driving from the various airports into the Sandusky area.

Cedar Point: Overview

As a dedicated roller coaster junkie, I just can’t get enough of Cedar Point. It would be much more convenient to visit the Sandusky, Ohio amusement park if I didn’t live in Colorado, but regardless, I just can’t get enough.

I grew up in the Detroit Metro area so I had the benefit of cutting my teeth on Cedar Point, the best amusement park in the world, located just four hours away. As an adult, I have never quite lost the addiction and continue to plan vacations there despite the immense distance and complexity.

In the following blog I will relate to you my experiences through three separate trips to my favorite place on earth. In each instance I, and my travel partner, tried a different method of attack. Whether you decide to drive or fly, stay in a hotel, bed and breakfast, or camper, I’ve tried it all! Please keep in mind that the focus of this blog is traveling to Cedar Point from an extreme distance, recommendations on travel may not apply if you are less than 24 hours away.

Because of the distance and expense of traveling so far, I generally plan trips that include two or three days at the park and at least a half day doing other things in the area. You will find that after walking all over Cedar Point for a full day, you may not want to repeat it with gusto the next day. Sandusky is a fairly small town but the Put-in-Bay area and numerous wineries will offer at least a full day of alternative enjoyment.