Cedar Point: Getting the Most Out of Your Day

Finally. Spring is here, and it's time to visit Cedar Point, but let's say you've never been there before. Or, maybe you've been there a couple of times and want to do it "better", but you feel lost.

I'm going to give you THE best way to attack that park and get the most out of your day. I've been going to Cedar Point every year since 1984 (when I was finally tall enough to ride some of the coasters!), so I have it down to a science.

First, let's get the nasty bit out of the way: If you are a woman who wears a size 18+ and fuller through the hips or a gentleman with a chest larger than 54", you may want to skip the day. Trust me. I put on some weight one year and was mortified when I realized I couldn't fasten most of the lap belts since they go straight across the hips. If you're on the borderline and not sure if you're what they call a "guest of exceptional size", CP now has sample seats near the front of each line so you can test them out and avoid a long wait for nothing (not to mention some embarrassment). If the shoulder harness or lap belt doesn't fit in the sample seat, you aren't going to be able to ride. This isn't due to any kind of discrimination. If you take a physics course, you'll realize just why they have to design rides and seats the way they do.

Now, onto the fun!

1) Try to go on Opening Day. Most people think it's going to be mega-crowded, but fear not! This is actually one of the best days to go. The lines aren't long, you don't run into any families with screaming kids (they're still in school), and everyone who goes on Opening Day is a veteran and/or roller coaster conoisseur. Whenever we go on Opening Day, we end up running into some awesome people who love CP as much as we do. After all, if they're there on Opening Day, they obviously can't wait for that first ride!

2) If you can't go on Opening Day, go on a Tuesday or Wednesday. The weekends are always more crowded, for obvious reasons. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are pretty much dead. Additionally, despite popular thinking, Fourth of July turns CP into a ghost town. Most people are home slapping things onto the grill, not riding roller coasters.