9 Steps to Do Cedar Point on a Budget

If you are looking for a frugal Cedar Point Vacation, I have the information you are looking for.

Here are 9 steps to do Cedar Point affordably and do it well.

1. Be flexible about when you can go.  If you go earlier in the season or later in the season the rooms are cheaper.  We always go late August.  The room rates go down and the park is less packed.  To get the most out of my trip I also plan around the local school schedule.  I try to go once they are back in school in hopes of having it not be as crowded.

2. Use one of their motels first and foremost.  You get in an hour before the public if you do.  Breakers Express is the cheapest, unless you choose to camp.  Plus if you are staying for a day or two the packages save you money on the entrance fee. We have stayed at Hotel Breakers and Breakers Express and we like the benefits of both properties.

3. If you get a room with a fridge, go to the grocery store and buy fruit and muffins for breakfast and  meats and veggies for lunch along with nuts and chips for snacks. This option works best if you stay on the property and it's so much cheaper and better than the food in the park.

4. Don't buy expensive drinks in the park.  They have to give you a cup of water if you ask.  This is true, our last trip we did it the whole time and paid very little for any water.  If you must buy water, buy it out of the vending machine so you don't have to pay sales tax.

5. Do the math for yourself.  We don't go to the water park at all, so therefore we don't pay for it.  Since we travel all the way from Oregon we make a full week of it.  Therefore we buy the season pass.  It costs a lot up front, but in the end it's cheaper than buying a ticket every day.  Plus you don't have to go to the window to get your ticket every day before you enter the park.

6.  Leave the property to eat dinner.  You can find cheaper and better food if you leave the property.  We went to a great restaurant just down the road, had amazing food, great service and no wait at all.  We came back to find an hour wait at TGI Fridays.  Our food was much better than what they were going to get and we paid about the same (ours was more upscale), plus it was less stressful.  We chose a restaurant that Dan Aykroyd even ate at, so it must be good.

7.  No need to do anything else.  Take advantage of the beach and the boardwalk.  After you have paid so much to get there and do the park, don't spend money on other things, enjoy it!! It's Cedar Point!! The Roller Coaster Capital of the World!!

8. Carry your snacks in with you.  We have the guys wear cargo shorts and we pack snacks in there so no one has to carry any bag.  When you need refueling pull out some nuts or trail mix and ask for that free glass of water. We bring ziploc bags to put our snacks in after we purchase them from the grocery store.

9. When you get a season pass you should get a booklet that shows discounts you get at participating stores.  Take advantage of this when getting souvenirs and any food you choose to purchase.  Check out this older post showing what some of the discounts have been in the past.

Now throw your hands in the air and enjoy!!