Cedar Point Hotels --- Please help!!!

SFGAdvkicksass · #1 12-15-2002, 12:56 PM

There's a possibility that I'll be able to persuade my parents into taking me to CP for the 2003 summer season. So, a couple questions come up. Firstly, what hotel do you guys recommend, and why? We don't mind spending a little extra money for a nicer room and all, but I want to have advantages like early entry, etc. if it even exists. Also, a nice view of the park wouldn't hurt. Secondly, what's the best time of the summer to go. I might only be able to get into the park one day, and in that one day I'd like to ride at least 75% (12 of the 16) of the rides. If lines are too long, though, that's obviously not possible. So, what time of year is best? Any help is appreciated.

***Chip*** · #2 12-15-2002, 05:36 PM

Check out Hotel Breakers. It's pretty pricey but I'm sure you get discounts and I think you get into the park a little early. Correct me if I'm wrong.

That's a biggie and it's pretty famous. As for other places to stay, check out this page. Cedarpoint.com sure helps out!

CrystalKat · #3 12-16-2002, 07:45 AM

Hotel Breakers is your best bet, absolutely. It's actually inexpensive for the perks you get (the early admission, for example, reimbursed for parking, a 5-minute walk from the Magnum entrance which happens to be closest to the new coaster as well...). After working at Cedar Point for 4 seasons (and yes, I'll be there again in '03), I'd recommend early - mid-June for your visit, if at all possible, and certainly during the week (Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday). Many school trips are over then but heavy summer vacationing hasn't begun, so the lines are quite short and you could easily do every coaster and several other "top" rides. If money is somewhat of a concern, the Hotel Breakers has "package" deals at that time that include the hotel room, several tickets into the park, and other assorted discounts. It's really quite a steal. For a better room, however, request Breakers East or Breakers Tower -- those are the newer portions of the hotel, rather than the more "quaint" and very old section. One hint -- book early! Especially in a year with a new coaster, the hotel can easily fill up.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask! And don't forget to post for tips when you do know your travel dates and such!

Andrew H · #4 12-16-2002, 12:49 PM

Judging by what you said in your post, I'm going to agree with Melissa and Chip... you're going to want to stay at the Hotel Breakers. It is the only hotel the really offers a "view" of a good part of the park.

To add to Melissa tip... you shouldn't just book early because it can easily fill up but there are only a number of the "cheaper" rooms.

My favorite place to stay at Cedar Point is Lighthouse Point by far... its new, some good views(mainly some great great great views of Mean Streak). It is on the more expensive and is really worth it if its just you are your parents. But if your into "pool" swimming then you might enjoy it was it has a small little water park but if you want to swim in the walk you have to walk or take the shuttle to the CP beach as there is no beach at Lighthouse Point. Though a con is that is is alittle far from CP(but you can catch the free shuttle).

Sandcastle Suites is also one of my favorites - though the rooms are alittle, err "old", it is hidden from the park by a small forest, thus making the area quiet and relazing, along with the fact your at the tip if the Cedar Point penin.(though Magnum runs all the way down the Sandcastle Suites so there are some good views of Magnum). There is a regular pool, along with beach access.

Hotel Breakers is the heart of the activity - its located in the middle of the park(lenght wise) and on the beach.. a few rooms are on the older side, but they been working hard to update the place. It has two outdoor pools and one indoor one, not-to-mention its feet from the beach.It also has a TGI Fridays, and numerous smaller food things.

The Breakers Express doesn't offer the views, but it does offer a small price(though you have to drive to the park as Breakers Express is "off-point"). The rooms are standard, ditto for the pool, and it is new and clean. Staying here will get you the same perks as the "on point" hotels.

The Radission is bascially a tab bit more "up-scale" version of Breakers Express, and it is located right near Breakers Express. It has a TGI Fridays and another small bar area.

The local hotels all depend on the what you want... you can get a room a cheap place or a suite, the rule of thumb is you get what you pay for. Here is a listing and information on local hotels: http://www.experiencethepoint.com/travel/hotels.asp

The Great Bear Lodge(non-CP) is a resort hotel with a indoor water park and large aracade.

The best time to go to the park is in June... try to stay away from July if possible. The best day to go is a Sunday in June. Basically any time from July 1th to Aug. 15th will be pretty crowded(esp. Saturdays).

The CP resort guests benifits are good: you get in 30 mins. early, you can buy discounted tickets, and get free shuttle service.

If you have any questions, just ask, I'll fill you in with more information.... but book early and soon!

- Andrew

Leyna · #5 12-16-2002, 12:57 PM

Me and my family have always stayed at Breakers. It just isn't Cedar Point without a stay there.

CrystalKat · #6 12-16-2002, 02:31 PM

Honestly, I'd avoid the off-point resorts (Breakers Express and the Radisson) -- they're fine as hotels go, but it's immeasurably nicer to avoid the driving to and from the park. Much less hassle, especially if some family members don't want to hang out in the park until the last moment but you do -- they can leave and you meet up with them back at the room, no issues about cars.

Hector · #7 12-16-2002, 07:15 PM

I don't know much about the Hotels, but I would have to say go in early June because that's when I got there and it wasn't as crowded as it was later in the season. I also noticed Mondays were the least crowded days follwed by Tuesdays and Sundays (I don't know numbers, but it's just what I noticed walking in the park on my days off).

If I were to go to CP for a lesiure trip, I would either go with Hotel Breaks (east or tower) or Lighthouse Point. Early entrance is a big plus and the fact that you don't have to drive off point (best if a situation like the one Melissa posed came up) is a great perk.

SFGAdvkicksass · #8 12-17-2002, 12:31 AM

Wow, thanks for such a quick, great response everyone. So far from what you've said, we'll try to go in the last week of June (its the best i can do) but like 2 nights like a wednesday thursday friday or sumtin...maybe even a tuesday wednesday thursday if i can pull it off. It seems like we'll probably be staying at the Hotel Breakers, cuz that hotel seems best, i just wanna book early if i'm gonna do it so i can get a good room.

also, my sister (10) loves water rides, but is not too big on the coasters yet. i can't seem to be able to get her over than initial fear yet. im sure once i do she'll love them, but she's still too scared. But back to the point, shes a fan of water rides and medium-sized rides. How is CP for someone like her? Like the big problem we tend to have with SFGAdv is that she can't find many rides perfect for her. The rides are either too big or too small. I don't want her to have that problem, cuz if she doesn't than maybe CP could become an annual thing. also, andrew h, you were talkin about how the Lighthouse Point has a mini-waterpark at the hotel. Is that open to all CP hotel guests, or just people staying there? cuz if necessary, we could always spend a day at soak city, but i wouldn't want to waste my money if it isn't necessary. so maybe someone could give me more info in those topics, and if you could it would be great.

Finally, if i want to go Wed Thurs Fri in the last week of June, when is the latest you think I should book. I mean i don't wanna pester my parents too much if it isnt necessary, but if its necessary than i'll just have no choice but to do so. Well, thanks for all the help again guys. I really hope this trip works out.

Hector · #9 12-17-2002, 04:10 AM

There a lot of rides for your sister. Some of the water rides are White Water Landing (waves at Lissa), Thunder Canyon and Snake River Falls. She's less likely to go on SRF if only because of it's shear height (82'). WWL is fairly tame and TC is a fun way to get soaked. She could get one a few coasters like Woodstock's Express, Disaster Transport is great for beginners, Wildcat, Iron Dragon (which is very tame, but she might be a little scared) and the Cedar Creek Mine Ride which are all fairly tame. If shes feeling a little more daring, you can try Blue streak and Gemini.

There are many flat rides that range from kiddie to family (Scrambler, Calypso, the three car rides (Cadillac cars [located off of the main midway near the Marina exit], Turnpike cars [next to the Cadillac cars; entrance near Calypso and Blue Streak], both giving awesome views of Raptor's Cobra roll, and Antique Cars [back of the park in the Frontier Town section]), Cedar Downs [which is a slightly faster Carousel at 15 mph], Dodgem, Monster may be a little too intense for her, Ocean Motion, Super Himalaya, Swan Boats, Tilt A Whirl, and Wave Swinger) to more adult (Matterhorn[another iffy one], Chaos, Witches Wheel, Demon Drop, and Power Tower)

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/ins...s.cfm?defimg=1 for all most (if not all) of Cedar points rides from last season.

There are also many shows and shops for her if she (or anyone else for that matter) doesn't want to ride something.

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/tri...orts/index.cfm can give you more info on where to stay. I would check the site again maybe in let february for any changes that might happen.

The great thing I noticed about CP is that there is literally something for everyone at or around the park. I hope your trip works out too.

CrystalKat · #10 12-17-2002, 09:20 AM

As Hector's done a fabulous job of point out (waves back from Lift 2), Cedar Point has a large selection of "flat" or "circular" rides that it sounds as though your sister would enjoy. A couple of points to add -- Hotel Breakers has two pools / hot tubs, so that could help to persuade your sister (not quite a water ride, but same idea), and there's always the beach available. The smaller rides are quite well dispersed throughout the park, so she could easily be enjoying a number of them while you're waiting for a coaster or larger attraction.

Cedar Point does offer a special ticket deal -- the "Ride and Slide" tickets are good for both the park and Soak City on two consecutive days (as far as I'm aware). That allows unlimited admission into BOTH the park and the waterpark whenever you wish on those days -- if your family doesn't mind splitting up, your sister could spend more time in the waterpark, while you're on the coasters, for two days. That would represent a significant savings in ticket prices for all of you. Of course, I'd recommend double-checking that just to be sure yourself. Currently, it is listed as $64 for both parks for 2 days, as opposed to the one day admission to the park only for $44, plus $24 to Soak City all day (one day). To buy separate tickets for both parks for both days is then $136 -- you can get it for $64.

For mid-week the last week of June, I'd try to book the trip in February sometime, possibly earlier. You can always call earlier (maybe without your parents knowing if you can get a phone card or whatnot) and see how fast the hotel is filling up, then adjust your tactics with them to compensate. In the meantime, I'd suggest trying to get your hands on one of the maps -- either a 2002 brochure or one of the poster maps (check eBay for sales) -- so that you can show your parents just how much Cedar Point has in terms of a variety of rides, shows, etc. That sort of visual persuasion can work great!

Good luck!

Andrew H · #11 12-17-2002, 02:55 PM

Actually Melissa, as I pointed out in my last post, Hotel Breakers has three pool: two outdoor, one indoor, and two hot tubs(one outdoor, one indoor).

As for "Ride and Slide" deal you get 4 tickets: Day 1 CP, Day 1 Soak City, Day 2 CP, Day 2 Soak City... so yes you can hop back and forth.

As for the pool/mini water park thing at Lighthouse Point, it is open to all CP hotel resort guests. It doesn't have any slides or anything, its just a bigger pool with a small "water playground" thing. I'll upload some pictures in the next fews days.

You don't even have to call to check rooms, you can do it through CP.com: https://www.cedarpoint.com/_cpresorts/availabilty.asp

I did my "big" trip last year the last week of June and we were going to wait to see if anything opens up - bad mistake, everything was book solid by early June. So if you want the cheap rooms book NOW, another than that I would say book by late April.

If you have any more questions, post them or email me.

- Andrew

CrystalKat · #12 12-17-2002, 09:04 PM

Whoops, sorry there Andrew, I didn't see that you'd already mentioned the pools.

I remember when Breakers didn't have any! Ah, well, there is always the beach.

SFGAdvkicksass · #13 12-18-2002, 06:02 PM

LoL this might sound funny, but what is the beach like. I've never been to a lake with the size of the Great Lakes, so I was wonderin is it more like an ocean (the jersey shore) or jus like your regular lake. Also, do any of the pools at the CP hotels have a slide. cuz if they don't, i think we're gonna have to buy the 2-day, 2-park pass. It's a little more expensive, but from what you've said I think its the best choice.

**Phil** · #14 12-18-2002, 06:11 PM

I stayed at Lighthouse Point and loved it. Right on the beach with great views of Mean Streak. The beach is more like that of a regular lake than that of an ocean.

CrystalKat · #15 12-18-2002, 08:01 PM

As far as I know, no, the pools do not have slides -- after all, they do have Soak City next door. But those 2-day tickets are a great deal.

As for the lake, it depends on what you mean about being like the ocean. It doesn't have the waves / tide obviously, but you can't see the other side, either. The bottom is nice and sandy, and quite shallow for a ways out into the water. It's actually quite pleasant.