Aaron and I just went on our annual Ohio trip to both Cedar Point and King’s Island and we’ve complied our best tips to maximize the experience!
1. Look into Season Pass options.
Cedar Fair, the company operating both of these parks, has a few different season pass options. We highly recommend seeing if one is right for you or your family. We often find that season passes pay for themselves after two or three visits and are well worth it if we plan on going multiple times or days. We personally chose their Platinum Pass as it gets us into Cedar Fair’s parks and water parks across the US and Canada. The pass has paid for itself with everywhere we have been able to visit over the last year, and we will be using it one last time this weekend in Virginia!
2. Do your research and download the App.
What excites you about amusement parks? Is it thrill rides? Shows? Kid-friendly experiences? Do some research before going to the park to ensure that it has what you’re looking for. You can also download the Apps for each of the parks to view an interactive map and see wait times for the rides. This has been a big help in planning our visits. We even get pretty strategic about mapping our path to get to certain rides the fastest.
3. Find out about ERT
ERT = Early Ride Time. It is a must if you are trying to get in as many rides as possible during your visit. It is usually available for Resort guests or Season Pass Holders. It varies from an additional 30 minutes to an hour, but it makes a huge difference at the start of your day. We usually get an extra 2-3 rides in before the park opens to general admission!
4. Start at the back of the park.
This is a little trick that we find has helped us beat the crowds. Most people with start at the front of the park, but we make a beeline for the back. Also, most major thrill rides are usually located towards the back so hit them up before the lines get to long!
5. Thrill Rides First
This leads me into my next tip, ride the thrill rides first. Those are most likely to get the longest lines and I recommend getting them checked off your list first thing. Use the middle, most crowded part of the day to ride the mediocre rides, and you can always go for a repeat on the thrill rides later in the evening or at night (night rides for the win!)
6. Plan your meals.
We always pre-plan our meals before the day. There are times we may eat inside the park, but we try to avoid this when we can. I will say that Cedar Point and King’s Island have great dining options, but they are expensive! Consider taking a break in the afternoon to eat off property and take a rest before returning for more fun!
7. Free Water
Cedar Fair provides free cups of ice water at all of their parks. Take advantage of this! We usually have a goal to get a cup of water after every few rides just to make sure that we are staying hydrated since we usually visit the parks during the hottest months of the year. You’re always walking a lot so drinking enough water is important!
8. Don’t be afraid to take a break.
If we eat off-site in the afternoons we will usually return to our hotel to rest for an hour or two before returning to the park. This helps us stay up when the park is offering late hours, and ensures we have energy for the next day’s adventures too! This is another reason why we like the flexibility that a season pass offers. We can go take a rest without feeling like we’re wasting money.
9. Wear clothes you can get wet in.
Both parks have rides that you can use to cool down, whether it’s a rapid river or log ride, they will get you soaked! Take my word for it. Wear clothes that will dry easily once yet (no denim!) and won’t be uncomfortable once wet.
10. Consider the bags you bring in and renting a locker.
Most rides at Cedar Point and King’s Island have bins at each rate to place your bags in, however there are a few that won’t allow you in the queue line with a bag and you must rent a locker if not leaving with a non-rider. We always ensure that we only bring in one fanny pack that fits our car keys, hand sanitizer and both of our phones. This allows us to rent the smallest, cheapest locker when we run into these situations.
Question of the Day:
Which tip do you see yourself implementing on your next (or first) visit?
Traveling by Nature 