Cedar Point Amusement Park is a popular amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, that’s beloved by thrill seekers and generations of families of all ages.
If you love roller coasters, you’ll find plenty of rides at “America’s Roller Coast” to get your heart pumping.
The 364-acre amusement park is on a mile-long peninsula surrounded by scenic Lake Erie on both sides.
I’m sharing tips for visiting Cedar Point Amusement Park along with ways to save on your visit.
This article contains affiliate links.
Download the Free Cedar Point Amusement Park App Ahead of Time
The Cedar Point Amusement Park app will be your go-to for ride thrill levels and wait times, live shows, a park map, dining options, and more.
If it rains during your visit, you can take advantage of indoor dining options, shopping, and indoor shows.
Things to Do When You Arrive at Cedar Point Amusement Park
Purchase your parking and tickets online in advance for the best pricing.
Drop a pin location or take a picture of the closest sign near where you parked. You don’t want to wander around the parking lot in search of your vehicle after a long day at the park.
FYI- Cedar Point Amusement Park is cashless but will accept a debit or credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
Take a group picture near the sign at the entrance at the beginning of the day. It’s harder to get everyone to cooperate at the end of the day when everyone is tired.
Purchase All Day Dining wristbands, FunPix Photo Passes, etc., at the beginning of your day or online before you go.
If you’ll need a larger locker specifically for while you’re on rides, consider renting a movable locker (accepts credit cards only, no debit cards). These locker rentals are near rides throughout the park, and you can move from one location to another for one price.
If everyone in your group plans on riding Top Thrill 2, you must have a locker for your phone, keys, etc.
I’d recommend wearing shorts with zippered pockets to keep cell phones secure, especially for parents of tweens/teens who may go on thrill rides without their parents.
Thin running belts/fanny packs are another option to help secure items.
A lightweight portable charger/power bank is essential for a long day at the park. Especially if you have a large group that may split up.
*If you plan on riding Top Thrill 2 wear gym shoes that tie. Flip flops, Crocs, etc., aren’t permitted on the ride, and you can’t ride barefoot.
Most of the big thrill rides require that glasses be worn with an athletic strap.
Tips for Young Families at Cedar Point Amusement Park
Get younger kids measured for a height wristband at Guest Services so they don’t have to be measured before each ride.
Height requirements and the type of seat are typically displayed near the entrance of each ride.
If you’re taking advantage of the Rider Swap Program, you’ll need to obtain a slip from guest services.
You can also sign up for KidTrack at Guest Services to help reunite a lost child with their parents by providing their cell phone number.
Cedar Point Amusement Park has four children’s areas (Planet Snoopy, Kiddy Kingdom, Camp Snoopy, and the Gemini Midway Area).
Family Care Centers double as First Aid Stations. They are located near Planet Snoopy and the entrance to Maverick in Frontier Town, and include areas for baby changing and private nursing areas.
Guests With Special Needs
If you’re visiting with a guest with special needs, stop by Guest Services to ask, “What resources do you have available?”
Guest Services staff can’t assume what your special needs are. You should provide as much information as possible.
The guest with special needs must be present with you at Guest Services. Ride policies are on a case-by-case basis, dependent on the guest’s physical abilities and specific ride policies.
The Guest Assistance Guide is a great resource to check out before your visit.
How to Save on Dining & Drinks at Cedar Point Amusement Park
If you’re visiting the park for one day, I highly recommend purchasing the “All Day Dining Plan,” which includes an entree and a side.
It will easily pay for itself if you use it for more than one meal during your visit.
I recommend setting a timer on your phone after your first meal because you can eat every 90 minutes. You can enjoy a meal when you enter the park at participating restaurants.
If you want snack options and drinks all day, consider the “All Day Dining Premium.”
This plan includes a select entree & side OR a snack at participating locations every 90 minutes AND free refills on beverages all day long every 15 minutes. You don’t have a souvenir bottle with the drink wristband.
I prefer the wristband option with paper cups because I don’t want to carry a souvenir bottle around the park all day or need to get a locker for it.
The “Single Day Drink Plan” includes a Souvenir bottle or drink wristband. It’s sold separately if you prefer the souvenir bottle or don’t want to purchase the premium option.
The “All Day Dining Premium” is a better value if you’re already planning on purchasing the “All Day Dining Plan” and the “Single Day Drink Plan” anyway.
You can find the drinking and dining locations at Cedar Point here.
If you want to dine with a view, check out the Grand Pavilion restaurant and bar near the Ferris wheel.
How to Save Money on Tickets to Cedar Point Amusement Park
I recommend checking multiple sources for discounted tickets. Start with the Cedar Point Amusement Park website for packages and bundles for the best value.
Unfortunately, Cedar Point Shores outdoor waterpark is NOT included with general admission to Cedar Point Amusement Park.
Perks of Staying Onsite at a Cedar Point Resort or Campground
If you need overnight accommodations, Cedar Point offers 5 official resorts for guests to choose from based on their preferences and needs.
Here are the Cedar Point Resort Properties:
- Cedar Point Hotel Breakers – Beachfront hotel within a short walking distance of the park. If you want TGI Friday’s, onsite has waterfront dining accessible for guests and non-guests.
- Lighthouse Point – A campground with cottages and RV sites adjacent to Lake Erie, a short walk from the park.
- Cedar Point’s Express Hotel – Located at the entrance to the Cedar Point Causeway, and has an option of connecting rooms that are perfect for families
- Castaway Bay – This resort has a 38,000 sq. ft indoor waterpark and is located at the entrance to the Cedar Point Causeway.
- Sawmill Creek – This lodge-style resort is located on Lake Erie and is 10 miles from Cedar Point. Sheldon Marsh Nature Preserve is next to the resort and has an 18-hole golf course onsite.
Cedar Point Resort guests have access to the following:
- Discounted admission packages for Cedar Point Amusement Park
- Early Entry, an hour before the park opens to the public
- Free Parking
- Free in-park fountain drinks
I’ve previously stayed at several of the properties on the list. If you want to maximize your time at the park, Hotel Breakers is a great option.
It’s also great to have the park and the beach both located within steps of the resort.
The beach has public access, but it’s nice to be so close to your room if you need to change or if half of your party wants to relax and the other half wants to spend time relaxing by the water.
If you leave the park for the beach near Cedar Point, you’ll need to get your hand stamped for re-entry.
Is a Fast Lane Pass Worth the Additional Price at Cedar Point?
That depends on a few factors. If you want to ride all of the top thrill rides on a Saturday, during peak season, it could be worth the price if you hate waiting in long lines.
The park is less crowded mid-week (during a non-holiday week) in the summer.
Fast Lane Passes are limited daily and allow you to bypass longer lines on select rides and attractions.
A Fast Lane Pass includes 22 rides and attractions, but not the most popular ones.
If you want to go on the best thrill rides in the park, a Fast Lane Plus Pass is the way to go.
The Fast Lane Plus Pass includes the rides on the Fast Lane Pass PLUS Steel Vengeance, Maverick, Millennium Force, Valravn, Siren’s Curse, AND Top Thrill 2.
Thrill Ride Restrictions You Need to Be Aware Of
If you want to ride Steel Vengeance and Siren’s Curse, the newest tilt coaster, you’ll have to walk through a metal detector, and there is a small complimentary locker for small loose items like your cell phone and keys inside the queue before you ride.
Larger items (hats, purses, etc.) must be left with a non-rider or placed in a locker rental near the ride entrance.
These are AMAZING rides during the day and at night, so don’t let the stricter safety protocols keep you from this experience.
I recommend riding it twice if you have time. After you ride it, you’ll be grateful that a random cell phone can’t fly out of someone’s pocket during the ride.
Top Thrill 2 – The World’s Tallest & Fastest Triple-Launch Strata Coaster
Cedar Point’s newest roller coaster will be very popular for thrill seekers this year as the World’s Tallest & Fastest Triple-Launch Strata Coaster that reaches speeds of 120 mph!
Glasses can only be worn on the ride with an athletic strap.
You can’t wear loose-fitting shoes without a strap or back. You also can’t ride barefoot.
You’ll walk through a magnetic reader and cannot bring any loose articles past the entrance, so you need a locker rental or to leave them with a non-rider.
Read the full list of rider safety info here.
For comparison, the ride for Top Thrill 2 is 2 minutes long, and the original Top Thrill Dragster was previously 17 seconds long.
How Many Rides Are at Cedar Point Amusement Park?
Cedar Point Amusement Park has 68 rides and 18 roller coasters.
There are plenty of ride options for both thrill-seekers and non-thrill-seekers.
Young families have an assortment of ride options too.
Learn About the History of Cedar Point Amusement Park
The park’s first roller coaster was built in 1892, and Cedar Point has been pushing the limits with innovative technology ever since.
Cedar Point has several historic markers throughout the park where you can learn about its 150+ year history.
Fun Fact: Helen Keller gave a speech at Cedar Point in 1925 that inspired the Lyons Club to work with the blind.
Find More Information on Cedar Point Amusement Park
Check out the Cedar Point Amusement Park website for more information.
Where is Cedar Point Amusement Park Located?
Cedar Point is located at 1 Cedar Point Dr, Sandusky, OH 44870
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Thank you for this website. I haven’t been to Cedar Point in over thirty years and I’m bringing my wife to visit the park on her first visit to America.
I appreciate the hints, particularly about the wrist bands for dining; I wondered if they were worth the expense.
I could have easily backed out of Top Thrill Dragster… if you hadn’t taken so many pictures to keep me accountable! I was so scared! It was so much fun and I’m so glad that was our FIRST adventure together!