Tag Archives: Opening Day

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Cedar Point Opens for the Summer on May 14

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Cedar Point Press Release

SANDUSKY, Ohio, May 6, 2011 — Premium made-to-order gourmet hot dogs and chili dogs will add to the fun and excitement of a Cedar Point summer when the Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park/resort opens for the season on Saturday, May 14.

Beginning Saturday, May 14, Cedar Point will be open every day through Labor Day, Sept. 5.

New this summer will be Pink’s, a restaurant that specializes in gourmet hot dogs, chili dogs and onion rings.  A Hollywood legend since 1939, Pink’s will be located near the front of the park, just across from Toft’s Ice Cream Parlor.  It will be the first Pink’s franchise east of Las Vegas.

Later in the month, the park will also introduce WindSeeker, a 301-foot-tall towering swing ride that will be located near the Cedar Point Beach.  Seated in open two-passenger cars, riders will be treated to dramatic views of Cedar Point, Lake Erie and the Cedar Point Beach.

“We are very excited to officially kickoff summer in the Midwest,” said John Hildebrandt, Cedar Point’s vice president and general manager.  “It has been a long, cold winter and people are ready to have some fun.  Roller coasters, hot dogs and Snoopy are the perfect solution.”

Opening for its 142nd season, Cedar Point features an extensive entertainment package that includes thrilling rides and roller coasters, live shows and special entertainment for young families.  With 74 rides, including 17 roller coasters, Cedar Point has more rides and more coasters than any park in the world.

In addition to the rides, guests will be able to watch some of the park’s award-winning live entertainment.  Tropical Heat, Island Beat, presented in the Red Garter Saloon, will feature the hits of Jimmy Buffett and the Miami Sound Machine, while Charlie Brown’s Funtime Frolics will be performed in Camp Snoopy.  Four other shows will open later in the summer.

Other special activities at the park during its Opening Weekend include:

— Beginning Opening Day through Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19, guests can enter the Take Home a Thrill contest to win a new XUV 825i John Deere Gator, valued at more than $11,000.  Entry forms can be obtained at Cedar Point’s Guest Services, the Town Hall Museum or by mail.  For more information, please visit cedarpoint.com.

— On Sunday, May 15, the park will also hold an all-you-can-eat Picnic in the Park meal featuring Johnsonville Brats, fried chicken, hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, baked rigatoni, cookies, ice cream and assorted Pepsi beverages.  The picnic will be held in the Coral Courtyard from 4-6:30 p.m.  Tickets can be purchased online at cedarpoint.com or at the park’s admission gates.

Through the end of May, Pick-a-Date tickets for a June visit can be purchased online at cedarpoint.com for only $32.99, a savings of $14 per ticket!

All of Cedar Point’s resort properties will open for the season on Friday, May 13.  Resort guests qualify for Early Entry and can enter the park one hour before it opens to the public and can purchase tickets for only $29, the lowest rate available.

For more information about Opening Weekend at Cedar Point, please visit the park’s website at cedarpoint.com or call the park’s General Information Line at 419.627.2350.

Events, News and Updates, News Stories, VIPs

Cedar Point Seeks A Very Important Family

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Cedar Point Press Release

SANDUSKY, Ohio –- The search begins.

Cedar Point’s Opening Day may still be a few weeks away, but the historic amusement park/resort in Sandusky, Ohio, is currently looking for a Very Important Family (V.I.F.) to help it celebrate the opening of the 2011 season on Saturday, May 14.

Now through April 15, Cedar Point’s biggest and most loyal fans can log on to www.facebook.com/cedarpoint to enter the Very Important Family Contest.  Interested guests will have to tell park officials by video why they should be chosen as Cedar Point’s Very Important Family.

The winning family will be invited to help with the ribbon-cutting ceremony that will officially open Cedar Point for the summer on Saturday, May 14.  Also participating in the Opening Day Ceremony will be Dick Kinzel, President and CEO of the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Cedar Point’s General Manager John Hildebrandt and everyone’s favorite beagle — Snoopy.

Besides the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the winning family will also receive six complimentary tickets to the park on Opening Day, a commemorative photograph of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, preferred seating on the ride of their choice, a Cedar Point gift bag and a complimentary lunch at a Cedar Point restaurant.

To enter, contestants need to create a video explaining why they should be chosen as Cedar Point’s Very Important Family.  Participants are encouraged to supply a link to their video.  (Videos must be less than 90 seconds in length.)  Official rules and regulations can be found on the V.I.F. Facebook tab.

Deadline for entering the contest is Friday, April 15.
Cedar Point officials will select the top videos and post them on the park’s YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/CedarPointVideos where people will be able to vote for their favorite video.  The winner will be determined by the number of “likes” it receives on YouTube and a panel of Cedar Point judges.

Voting will take place from Thursday, April 28 through Sunday, May 1.  The winner will be announced on Monday, May 2.

Cedar Point will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 14 and will be open daily through Labor Day, Sept. 5, plus Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 9-11 through Oct. 28-30, 2011.

For more information about the V.I.F. contest, please visit Cedar Point’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/cedarpoint).

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Thrill season: Fans have their favorites on Cedar Point’s opening day

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From the Sandusky Register…

SANDUSKY

Colby Waldroup left his house near Pittsburgh at 3:30 a.m. Saturday morning to witness Cedar Point open its gates for its 141st season.

By 9 a.m., the 17-year-old and a pack of his friends waited behind a gold ribbon at the park entrance, eager to be unleashed for a day roller coaster bliss.

Waldroup and his friend Brandon Christie, 18, said they planned to zip over to the Millennium Force as soon as the ribbon dropped.

Many other park patrons had the same idea.

Hundreds of people stampeded into the park to their favorite rides after a short opening ceremony. Platinum pass holders entered immediately after remarks from park officials to ride a special selection of open rides. Folks with regular tickets enjoyed a serenade by The Ohio State University Marching Band while waiting for the park to open to the general public at 10 a.m.

By late morning, families bobbing through the midway enjoyed the scent of the season’s first Cedar Point French fries.

Children scampered ahead of their parents, urging the adults to hurry to the next ride. Some park patrons lounged under shade trees to watch the hustle and bustle.

Park spokesman Robin Innes said the weather, sunny with temperatures in the 70s, was perfect for the occasion and the turnout looked good.

He said the people who come for the opening ceremonies usually zero in on a certain ride to initiate the season.

The debut ride this year — the flume ride Shoot the Rapids — won’t be ready until May 29 while engineers resolve a problem with the boats not fitting in the water flume, but there were plenty of the old standbys ready for riders.

“People will head to Millennium, they’ll stop to go to Raptor here on the left,” Innes said. “The little ones will go to Planet Snoopy.”

Jodie Gambill and her son Wesley, 4, Dayton, got to Snoopy’s Deep Sea Diver ride early enough for Wesley to grab a solo voyage.

“This is the first time we’ve ever been here,” she said, watching her son grin through spins in the yellow submarine.

When asked if there were any rides she aimed to tackle, Gambill said, “I’m just going to enjoy the day.”

The Sanner family from Meyersdale, Pa., said being there for opening day was just a happy accident.

“It was just a good weekend,” Bill Sanner said. “It worked with the school schedule.”

His son, Brody Sanner, 9, and family friend Devin Kretchman, 8, fidgeted with anticipation as Bill and Missy Sanner got their bearings at the park entrance.

Brody held nothing back when asked what he was excited to ride Saturday.

“Everything,” he said with enthusiasm.

Deals, Events, News and Updates

Opening Weekend 2010

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Saturday, May 15

  • The Ohio State University Spring Athletic Band – Performing just before 9 a.m. at the Main Entrance; performing for guests near the Iron Dragon at 1:30 p.m.
  • John Deere “Your Choice” Contest – Win a new X324 or Z445 John Deere lawn mower! Enter at Guest Services or the Town Hall Museum. Contest runs through June 20. Click here for complete rules.

Sunday, May 16

  • The Undeserving – See alternative rock band The Undeserving as they perform free shows at the Jack Aldrich Theatre, located near the Main Entrance. Performances are at 12, 2 and 4 p.m. with meet & greet sessions after the show. Visit their website for more information.
  • Picnic at the Point – This all-you-can-eat meal is terrific value. Combine your admission and a meal for one low price – just $46.99 + tax when you purchase online. Visit our Online Deals page for complete details or to purchase your ticket.
News and Updates, News Stories, Rides, Water Rides

Shoot the Rapids Opening Delayed

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Cedar Point Press Release

SANDUSKY, Ohio – Cedar Point announced today that the opening of Shoot the Rapids, the park’s new water ride, will be delayed until Saturday, May 29 to complete construction of the ride and to conduct final testing and inspection of the ride’s operating systems.

The Media Preview of Shoot the Rapids scheduled for Friday, May 14 has been cancelled. The ride will not be in operation on Opening Day, Saturday, May 15.

The decision to delay the opening of Shoot the Rapids was based on the need to complete a number of commissioning procedures and pre-opening tests prior to opening the ride.

“We are disappointed Shoot the Rapids will not be in operation on Opening Day,” said John Hildebrandt, vice president and general manager of Cedar Point. “But we are committed to opening a ride that is ready to thrill and delight our guests.”

The commissioning and testing process is already underway and the ride is expected to be in operation for the Memorial Day Weekend beginning on Saturday, May 29.

Cedar Point will be open daily Saturday, May 15 through Labor Day, Sept. 6. It will reopen on Sunday, Sept. 12 and for HalloWeekends on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 17-19 through Oct. 29-31.