UPDATED (see current posts)

To any Orgers in the US Midwest (or nearby)...I'm thinking of taking the family to Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH next week. It's a 9-hour drive for us, but it looks fun (and closer than Myrtle Beach).

So I'm checking out the online admission prices, and at $46 it's a bit pricey. The "internet deals" that they offer aren't that great.

I know that usually the local fast food restaurants offer coupons & such. If I knew where to go once in the area, it'd make it worthwhile.

Any suggestions?

[Edited 8/13/10 22:01pm]

I used to go there pretty often back when I lived in Michigan ! They had a great Halloween time ( nighttime ) celebration every year and we would stay on the lake for a weekend

I have one person I can ask about coupons ~ I'll hit her up tomorrow

You can purchase discounted Cedar Point tickets from most Meijers Stores in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana for about $38.

You should also check AAA if you are member, and the online deals on the CP website.

http://www.cedarpoint.com.../deals.cfm

I love Cedar Point

It's worth the trip

Mach said:

I used to go there pretty often back when I lived in Michigan ! They had a great Halloween time ( nighttime ) celebration every year and we would stay on the lake for a weekend

I have one person I can ask about coupons ~ I'll hit her up tomorrow

littlemissG said:

You can purchase discounted Cedar Point tickets from most Meijers Stores in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana for about $38.

You should also check AAA if you are member, and the online deals on the CP website.

http://www.cedarpoint.com.../deals.cfm

I love Cedar Point

It's worth the trip

Yeah, well the drive from NY through all that farmland sounds idyllic.

I am not a AAA member anymore and the CP website offers a discounted ticket that's only good on predetermined Wednesdays/Sundays or they have a 2-day pass that ISN'T vaild at the waterpark.

Not sure, myself. But my brother has been on an east-of-the-Mississippi amusement park tour this summer, and he's a pro at this sort of thing. I've sent an email to him. When I get an answer, I'll let you know.

PurpleJedi said:

littlemissG said:

You can purchase discounted Cedar Point tickets from most Meijers Stores in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana for about $38.

You should also check AAA if you are member, and the online deals on the CP website.

http://www.cedarpoint.com.../deals.cfm

I love Cedar Point

It's worth the trip

Yeah, well the drive from NY through all that farmland sounds idyllic.

I am not a AAA member anymore and the CP website offers a discounted ticket that's only good on predetermined Wednesdays/Sundays or they have a 2-day pass that ISN'T vaild at the waterpark.

have you got room in the car for one more?

Lammastide said:

Not sure, myself. But my brother has been on an east-of-the-Mississippi amusement park tour this summer, and he's a pro at this sort of thing. I've sent an email to him. When I get an answer, I'll let you know.

ZombieKitten said:

PurpleJedi said:

Yeah, well the drive from NY through all that farmland sounds idyllic.

I am not a AAA member anymore and the CP website offers a discounted ticket that's only good on predetermined Wednesdays/Sundays or they have a 2-day pass that ISN'T vaild at the waterpark.

have you got room in the car for one more?

No...but we can sit you in the trunk (it's an SUV)...you'll just have to hide when the cops drive past.

PurpleJedi said:

ZombieKitten said:

have you got room in the car for one more?

No...but we can sit you in the trunk (it's an SUV)...you'll just have to hide when the cops drive past.

OK!

I live in the Cleveland, Ohio, and have been to Cedar Point several times (although not recently). Cedar Point is a blast, you and your family are going to have a lot of fun!

[Edited 8/5/10 15:11pm]

PurpleJedi said:

Lammastide said:

Not sure, myself. But my brother has been on an east-of-the-Mississippi amusement park tour this summer, and he's a pro at this sort of thing. I've sent an email to him. When I get an answer, I'll let you know.

Sorry, man. We gave me the standard AAA and local grocery store answer. I'm not sure where you are, but if there are Giant Eagle stores near you, they often offer discounted tix or coupons, I think.

Thanks to all the replies.

unfortunately I think that our plans have fallen apart. I don't think that we can handle the cross-country trip right now.

Maybe next year.

Right now we're thinking a few days in Boston perhaps.

PurpleJedi said:

Thanks to all the replies.

unfortunately I think that our plans have fallen apart. I don't think that we can handle the cross-country trip right now.

Maybe next year.

Right now we're thinking a few days in Boston perhaps.

I can relate ~ I was "supposed" to be in TX right now ...

Mach said:

PurpleJedi said:

Thanks to all the replies.

unfortunately I think that our plans have fallen apart. I don't think that we can handle the cross-country trip right now.

Maybe next year.

Right now we're thinking a few days in Boston perhaps.

I can relate ~ I was "supposed" to be in TX right now ...

I would love to visit San Antonio one day.

PurpleJedi said:

Mach said:

I can relate ~ I was "supposed" to be in TX right now ...

I would love to visit San Antonio one day.

We were going to Dallas ... maybe another time

PurpleJedi said:

Thanks to all the replies.

unfortunately I think that our plans have fallen apart. I don't think that we can handle the cross-country trip right now.

Maybe next year.

Right now we're thinking a few days in Boston perhaps.

Mach said:

PurpleJedi said:

Thanks to all the replies.

unfortunately I think that our plans have fallen apart. I don't think that we can handle the cross-country trip right now.

Maybe next year.

Right now we're thinking a few days in Boston perhaps.

I can relate ~ I was "supposed" to be in TX right now ...

I hate it when plans fall through.

psychodelicide said:

Mach said:

I can relate ~ I was "supposed" to be in TX right now ...

I hate it when plans fall through.

At least we're just dealing with vacation plans though. I mean, it sucks BIG TIME 'cuz I was really looking forward to the drive, but we still plan on doing a few daytrips, so it's not like my week is shot. And we have our health.

...making lemonade...

psychodelicide said:

Mach said:

I can relate ~ I was "supposed" to be in TX right now ...

I hate it when plans fall through.

They didn't fall through ~ I backed out because a 21 yr old and her 6 month old were joining us last minute and I wanted my 600$ investment to go towards a more adult vacation - not focused on a 6 month old ~ specially 4 days worth of almost all day driving ...

Mach said:

psychodelicide said:

I hate it when plans fall through.

They didn't fall through ~ I backed out because a 21 yr old and her 6 month old were joining us last minute and I wanted my 600$ investment to go towards a more adult vacation - not focused on a 6 month old ~ specially 4 days worth of almost all day driving ...

You were DRIVING there? WITH A SIX MONTH OLD?

BTW - I once drove from Long Island to Abilene, TX and it took me 3 days.

PurpleJedi said:

Mach said:

They didn't fall through ~ I backed out because a 21 yr old and her 6 month old were joining us last minute and I wanted my 600$ investment to go towards a more adult vacation - not focused on a 6 month old ~ specially 4 days worth of almost all day driving ...

You were DRIVING there? WITH A SIX MONTH OLD?

BTW - I once drove from Long Island to Abilene, TX and it took me 3 days.

Yes we were gonna road trip and NO ...not me with a 6th month old ~ NOT on my "vacation" and not on my $$ ... I just spent over 21 yrs raising /focused ON children ...

Mach said:

PurpleJedi said:

You were DRIVING there? WITH A SIX MONTH OLD?

BTW - I once drove from Long Island to Abilene, TX and it took me 3 days.

Yes we were gonna road trip and NO ...not me with a 6th month old ~ NOT on my "vacation" and not on my $$ ... I just spent over 21 yrs raising /focused ON children ...

You put your foot down, eh?

After 21 years...I think a cruise is in order.

PurpleJedi said:

Mach said:

Yes we were gonna road trip and NO ...not me with a 6th month old ~ NOT on my "vacation" and not on my $$ ... I just spent over 21 yrs raising /focused ON children ...

You put your foot down, eh?

After 21 years...I think a cruise is in order.

I actually started helping Michael rasie his 2 for 3 yrs prior to marrying so ~ going on 25 years

Naaa not into a big cruise ship ... now the tallship/barefoot cruises ~ YES

To all of you who'd given me feedback on my planned trip to Cedar Point...

...so we definitely didn't get to go this year.

HOWEVER, I turned my lemons into lemonade and planned a bunch of smaller trips to make up for it, spending much less money.

FIRST we drove to Hershey Park and spent the day. It was a nice park and bigger than I had expected. The lines were also much longer than I had expected (considering it was a MONDAY).

We spent our 2 nights in Lancaster, PA at a hotel built to resemble a steamboat;

The kids LOVED it.

The following day we took a horse-&-buggy drive through Amish country in Lancaster. Besides the movies, I had never seen Amish people before. The lady that drove our buggy was Amish and gave us a nice tour. Answered all our questions as well. The kids got to sit in the front on the buggy with her & took pictures. It was really nice to see them interact with her and actually show interest in what she was saying about their electricity-free lifestyles and crops and stuff.

Then the third day we drove to Philly and walked around Independence Hall. We stopped off at the National Liberty Museum and saw some interesting stuff to get the kids thinking about (and appreciating) what they have. It was hot & the kids were tired, so we headed home early.

THEN today we drove back out to the Poconos and hiked a trail at Bushkill Falls. Beautiful, beautiful area. The waterfalls were great and they enjoyed hiking through the woods.

All in all it was a great few days. The kids enjoyed themselves and we saved a few dollars.

Compare;

5 days @ Kalahari Resort + tickets to Cedar Point for 2 days; about $1,900.00 (estimated)

-vs-

1 day @ Hershey Park; $180

2 nights @ Fulton Steamboat Inn; $310.00

1 hour Horse & Buggy Ride; $52.00 (w/ coupon)

National Liberty Museum tickets; $15.00

Entrance tickets to Bushkill Falls; $38.00

TOTAL for above: $595.00

Of course that doesn't take into account food, gas & tolls...but I'm sure that we STILL spent less than HALF.

And a good time was had by all.

Good times

PurpleJedi said:

psychodelicide said:

I hate it when plans fall through.

At least we're just dealing with vacation plans though. I mean, it sucks BIG TIME 'cuz I was really looking forward to the drive, but we still plan on doing a few daytrips, so it's not like my week is shot. And we have our health.

...making lemonade...

littlemissG said:

Good times

Ottensen said:

PurpleJedi said:

At least we're just dealing with vacation plans though. I mean, it sucks BIG TIME 'cuz I was really looking forward to the drive, but we still plan on doing a few daytrips, so it's not like my week is shot. And we have our health.

...making lemonade...

Glad you and your family had a good time, PurpleJedi.