Cedar Point fast lane

[Kypus]

Saturday? Don't ever go on a Saturday.

Unless you have Fast Lane...

I'm curious to see how FL affects this. From the webcam it looks like the main parking lot is half full today so tommorrow it will be more. http://www.cedarpoint.com/online-fun/webcams

Last year me and my buddy took a group of 6 kids up midweek and were able to ride 7 coasters in the first 2- 2 1/2 hrs (this was of course pre- Fast Lane). Park in the back Soak City lot and coming in thru the entrance under Magnum- the back of the park is mostly empty early on except Maverick. There are a few shady tree single parking spots along the R side.

The trick USED TO BE flat out avoiding the 3 with the longest lines (Maverick, Mill Force, Dragster), but all 3 of those are in Fast Lane :wiggle:

I'd go Magnum, Dragster (1st true FL test), then the rest in the back half in a counter-clockwise loop- Gemini, Mine Ride, Mean Streak. By then it will be apparent if this is working or if your group has !@$^ed it up by wanting to ride every loopty-doop spin-in-a-circle ride along the way. If the FL worked for Dragster, hit Maverick and Mill Force, if not pick 1 if it's not over an hr wait, then continue on to Mantis, Iron Dragon, Corkscrew (10) for the "back half". At your discretion pick up the front half 4- Wicked Twister, Disaster Transport, Blue Streak, Raptor.

If you don't care about hitting all of the coasters you can sprinkle in the 4 "Thrill Rides" as 3 of them are included in FL- Power Tower, Skyhawk (not included in FL), Windseeker, MaXaair.
Modified order- Magnum, Dragster, Corkscrew, Power Tower, then CC-loop of Gemini, Mine Ride, Skyhawk, Mean Streak, Maverick, Mill Force, Mantis, Iron Dragon.
Front half- Windseeker, Wicked Twister, Disaster Transport, Maxaair, Blue Streak, Raptor.

If you bring coolers of lunch food and eat under there it can save a ton of time. Bring lots of 2-liters of juice or whatever to drink, sunblock, hats, and shoes with socks , because the biggest downers are dehydration, sunburn and foot blisters. Take note there are free drinking fountains outside of every restroom in the park. Drink constantly.

Also, and most people initially dispute this, but I've found it crucial- avoid the water rides at all costs UNLESS you have brought swimwear specifically for the 3 water rides (or have extra clothes in the car). "Yeah I can dry off" sounds good, but damp boxers takes the fun out of the end of the day. (No Lumination for you). The only show open this early in the season is the country show, but I don't see any times posted yet. The Starlite Experience in Frontierland at dusk is pretty cool.

Have fun!

EDIT: I guess Raptor is in FL after all- so you should be able to blow thru everything (in theory).

 

[Pyro]

You can also ask for ice water at any stand that sells drinks, and they will give some to you for free.

 

[11 trumps 33]

x

 

[macbdog]

This is what I was wondering. I am taking a friend there for their birthday on a Saturday- can't go during the week- and was wondering if this was worth the price. Still some long wait times, though. While $50 is alot, spending $40 to ride 4 rides is also an overpay.

 

[Urban]

Went this weekend with a large group of around 15.

2 people in my group bought the Fast Lane and by the end of the day I wish I'd have done it too.

They were able to ride Magnum three times in a row in the span of 20 minutes, Millenium 3 times in an hour and so on.

Definitely seems worth it if you're a "one visit per summer" visitor. Really maximizes your day.

 

[Pyro]

I can assure you, as the resident CP expert, and resident expert of all things amusement park and coaster-related, that this IS worth it. They demo'd it at Kings Island last season (which is celebrating it's 40th anniversary this season), and from what I have heard, it was amazing. Buy it. Use it. Enjoy everything twice as fast.

And to think, people insulted me for this. What have they to say now? :chuckles:

 

[Urban]

And to think, people insulted me for this. What have they to say now? :chuckles:

I'm mean I'd say it's worth it if you're only paying for yourself for the day.

But, for example, if you're taking your wife and two kids....you're looking at spending $200 extra on the fast lane. Likely another $50+ on food too.

 

[Chris]

Wow, sounds like this is worth it. I think me and my crew will have to drop the extra seeds when we hit the park this summer.

 

[Pyro]

Also, get your possible last rides in on Disaster Transport. It's either being removed, or the building around it is being removed and it will return to Avalanche Run, which would just be amazing.

 

[Kypus]

Never thought the day would come that I rode millennium force 3 times, the dragster 4 times, the maverick 3 times, and every other ride worth riding a couple times as well. Also more than enough time for game booths and drunk go karting (my favorite event of the day).

My take: on a busy day at least, the fast lane is absolutely worth it and then some.

Glad you had a good time man- excellent follow-up.

If everyone is buying this how much time are you really saving.

It's limited to a certain amount of purchases per day.

That was my original concern too, stophe. So they really are limiting it? That makes sense... what's the limit though? Several hundred? Several thousand? Although it's really a moot point compared to what's below.

I rode millennium force 3 times, the dragster 4 times, the maverick 3 times, and every other ride worth riding a couple times as well.

2 people in my group bought the Fast Lane and by the end of the day I wish I'd have done it too. They were able to ride Magnum three times in a row in the span of 20 minutes, Millenium 3 times in an hour and so on.

So basically, anyone without it has to deal with a constant hamster wheel of people merging into the front of the line. Sounds like that will be the case with Maverick, MilF, Dragster and to a lesser degree Raptor. Yaaay.

But yeah, I'm skeptical about the effectiveness if it ends up being more than a stealth increase to ticket prices.

I'm mean I'd say it's worth it if you're only paying for yourself for the day.

But, for example, if you're taking your wife and two kids....you're looking at spending $200 extra on the fast lane. Likely another $50+ on food too.

And to think, people insulted me for this. What have they to say now?

"What have you to say now"... Seems like fuckery against anyone taking a group larger than like 2 or 3 people. You know not everyone, especially guys with familes, can afford that. It also works against regular season pass holders- they obviously aren't going to want to shell out extra coin for it after already paying $169- $500/900 per family, but they'll have to jockey against the FL hamster wheels. So RonHarperFan's orginal point about stealth increase to ticket prices stands- it won't force everyone to buy it, but it does have the effect of making regular tickets less valuable.

So it is what it is- basic economics, a shift of supply & demand that may or may not favor your particular group size that you go with. More fireworks at the end of the day isn't going to change that.

 

[Urban]

I rode all the big coasters, except for the Dragster, on Saturday and I never uttered the phrase "screw these fast lane people" or anything like that.

You never really even see the line of them until you're right up at the gates to be seated (unlike Disney world where you see the fuckers walk right past you) and they seem to do a better job of integrating the lines of FL passengers with the normal passengers (again, Disney does a piss poor job when it comes to this).

 

[KB]

Also, get your possible last rides in on Disaster Transport. It's either being removed, or the building around it is being removed and it will return to Avalanche Run, which would just be amazing.

They are probably taking the building down because it's infested with mosquitoes. They just sit on the outside of it until it gets dark then you can see the black clouds of them swarm off of it...

Fast Pass is great though, I went last Saturday. Got there at 1 and rode at least 10 rides

 

[Pyro]

[video=youtube;FzjFpsY8byw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzjFpsY8byw&feature=youtu.be[/video]

Some testing video. Watching it now.

 

[WellYouNeednt]

Also, get your possible last rides in on Disaster Transport. It's either being removed, or the building around it is being removed and it will return to Avalanche Run, which would just be amazing.

Wait a minute, they are getting rid of Disaster Transport?

 

[Pyro]

That's certainly the rumors I am hearing. Either that, or just getting rid of the outside of it.