Nick and I have been hoping for a while now that for his birthday on the 22nd of May that we could go to Ohio for a few days to Cedar Point. Cedar Point has always been just a fun place for us to go, relax, and have fun. It's expensive, though, and a long drive, so we haven't gone since the summer of 2005.
Because it's so expensive, we don't take the kids. Raegan has gone with us twice, but for the entire family to go, it'd be almost $200 just to get into the park. Not in the cards, that's for certain!
Anyway, we set money aside for it, and hoped and hoped we could go, but we put off asking for sitters to know that we'd be able to afford it. We also had a minor set back when Gilly came home with the ONLY field trip form of the year- a trip to Binder Park Zoo on the 22nd. We had been planning to go on the 21st and 22nd, then head home on the 23rd. That was before I realized it was also Memorial Day weekend. Oops.
I couldn't deny Gilly her only field trip, though, so I signed up for her to go, and to chaperon. We put the trip off till the following week. Part of the reason we want to go during the week is because in May, the park is dead during the week.
That translates to less standing around in lines. I hate lines! In the heat of summer, lines can be as heavy as an hour long wait. That's just a waste to me. In May on weekdays, the waits are more like 10 minutes. 15 if the ride is popular.
So, with a date in mind, and our finances set, I started asking around. My Aunt Marci is taking Raegan from the 25th to the 27th (Mon-Wed), and my step-mom & dad are taking Gilly for the same period of time. Nick's Grandma is taking Chris from the 22nd to the 27th (Fri-Wed).
I'm making hotel reservations tonight. We'll drive down early on Monday, stay over night, go to the park on Tuesday, then because it closes at 8pm that day, we'll drive back that night, get back late, and pick the kids up on Wed.
I'm so excited! A vacation for Mommy & Daddy!! This is a late Mother's Day gift, and Nick's birthday, all wrapped into one!
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Comments: 24
We try to go to Cedar Point once a summer...and we get discount ticket through AAA, so it's not quite as expensive. I also HATE standing in lines....we've gone to the parks on holidays, like 4th of July, and for some reason, it's not nearly as crowded.
Have fun! I love the Maverick...great coaster.
Since going last, both Sky Hawk and Maverick were added. But, the last time we went, we avoided all the newer things, bcause we went mid-summer, and it was packed. So, I haven't done Wicked Twister, Top Thrill Dragster, Maverick, Millenium Force, Sky Hawk, and MaXair. I plan to do most of those.
I've also avoided Mantis, though I plan to ride that this year, as well as Power Tower (don't plan to do that one- the part I hate is the feeling of falling, so that's out), and Magnum (won't do that one, either).
My favorite is Raptor, so that'll be one we hit at least twice. Next to that, Gemini & Iron Dragon. Iron Dragon is the first coaster I ever went on, and kind of look at it as a nice gentle ride to ease into riding bigger coasters. ;)
The water park will be open, but we never go. Too expensive, and we never have the time.
We are hoping to get to Sandusky early in the day, and just relax- walk around, find some parks to take photos at, find a decent place to eat, then just get some sleep that night. With it being a 3 hour drive, I would estimate we'd be home by about 1am. We won't leave the park right at 8, so if it's 9 before we get on the road, and we make any stops, it'll be 12:30-1am when we get home.
One year, I did the insane and drove from Sandusky to my parents place (4 hours), then an hour and a half north to our house after swapping cars (we borrowed their car). The park closed at 11, but I was tired, so we left at 10. We didn't get home until about 4am. I was sucking down Red Bull and cranking the radio the entire way home.
I refuse to do that anymore- if the park closes later in the evening, we stay over night. I'd rather get up at 5am, drive all morning, and spend all day in the park, than to try driving after spending all day in the park on a day that long.