As we arrived at the park in the evening, I caught my first glimpse of Gatekeeper. I couldn't wait to ride it!
We decided to stop at Famous Dave's near the marina entrance for dinner, as it was around 8 o'clock and we had lunch back around 1. The sun was setting behind Millennium Force as we parked.
After dinner, we drove back around the park to the Hotel Breakers. We had a nice view of the park from our room, and I was very excited for the two days to come!
Day 1
We walked to the beach entrance next to Windseeker around 8:40 for early entry. The weather was perfect: sunny and nice, around 75 degrees. I was very grateful for this, as last year it poured rain most of the first day, and two years ago it was over 110 degrees. Unfortunately, they no longer allow you to check your ticket before 9:00, like in years past. Usually you could get past the first gate, and then they would keep everyone behind a rope, and once the rope was cut you could run. This allowed you to be able to shimmy to the front of the pack to run to the first ride. There were probably 80 or so people in front of us, so we got into the park and my brother and I ran by as many of them as we could to Gatekeeper. We walked into the station and queued up for the front row on the left side, with two pairs of people in front of us.
Gatekeeper is an intense yet graceful ride. It's powerful in the right ways, and not uncomfortable at all. The restraints remind me of B&M flyers, and are very comfortable as long as you don't let them press on your collar bone. As for the layout, the first twist is very fun. I grayed out on the first pullout, but it was probably just because I hadn't ridden a coaster in almost 10 months. The immelmann has some nice side-choppers, for lack of a better term. The air hill is nice, as is the huge corkscrew. The keyholes on the zero-g rolls accomplish their desired effect quite well in my opinion. Overall, it exceeded my expectations and made me like B&M a little bit more than I already did.
After this, my brother and I jogged to Millennium Force. The queue was only about 15 to 20 minutes, and we rode near the back. An awesome ride, as always, and the drop was more impressive than I remembered from this part of the train. Still not comparable to the front, but we'd do that later.
We had about 20 minutes of early entry left by this point, so we headed over to Top Thrill Dragster to line up outside the queue, as TTD is not usually an early entry ride. However, it was already running with people in it! We hopped in line and waited maybe 15 minutes for the front row. Top Thrill Dragster's launch is one of the only parts of any roller coaster that still gives me that distinct feeling in my stomach, and the whole ride is a blast. I was lucky to only get one bug smashed on my shirt.
Me (left) and my younger brother (right)
No, it's not balanced at the top.
Early entry had ended, so we headed to the back of the park. We rode Gemini on the way. The blue side wasn't running, and it wasn't as fun as when both sides are running. An enjoyable ride nonetheless, jerky but smooth for the most part with some nice floater airtime.
Mean Streak. I've ridden it once, and I don't plan on it again.
As we approached Maverick, we decided to check out the line. It was just under a half hour, and I didn't see it getting shorter any time soon, so we queued up. We rode second to back row, and it definitely delivered. It was more intense than I remembered it being. I find it helpful to push your head against one side of the OTSR's, as it stops it from being slammed around.
Millennium Force
We then walked over to Skyhawk, and stopped in the museum on the way to look at Sinuous.
Skyhawk is a very fun ride. I don't usually ride many non-roller coaster rides, but Skyhawk is one I never miss. It's a simple and very well executed concept, a giant swing. The fact that it goes slightly beyond 90ยบ is really what makes it special.
Cedar Creek Mine Ride came next, as it's right next to Skyhawk. This is probably my favorite mine train coaster, not that I've ridden many. The layout is very unique.
We walked up near the front of the park at this point to meet up with my dad, who had been finishing some work at the hotel.
Iron Dragon
Windseeker
It was about 12:30, and we had lunch at the Game Day Grille between Raptor and Blue Streak. I took a couple pictures of Raptor afterwords.
My brother and I then ran over to Wicked Twister. After seeing that the time sign said 45 minutes, we assessed the line ourselves and came to the conclusion that it wouldn't actually be that long. Luckily we were correct, it was only about 20 minutes. We rode near the back to get a larger drop on the back twist. The launch isn't very powerful, but the twists make up for it. My favorite part is zooming back and forth through the station and feeling like your feet are going to be cut off!
I then grabbed a few pictures of Gatekeeper.
My whole family decided to ride Raptor. The line was about 50 minutes, I'm always surprised at how long the line is for that ride. Finally making it to the station, we rode somewhere in the middle/back. The whole ride is very smooth and fun. My head bonked around a little more than I remembered, but I used the same tactic as on Maverick and it worked fine.
Next up was Blue Streak, which I rode with my brother as neither of my parents like wooden coasters. Like Comet, it's bumpy but not too bumpy, just enough to add to the ride's character. The airtime is prime.
Raptor
Blue Streak
Next we walked towards the back of the park. Iron Dragon's line was obscenely long, as was Mantis's and Millennium Force's, so we passed for now.
Mantis
Millennium Force
Shoot the Rapids
Maverick
Lots of fish!
Cedar Creek Mine Ride
At this point, my parents and brother wanted to ride the train, so I decided to go and ride Magnum XL-200 in the meantime because my whole family doesn't like it. The line was just over 30 minutes, and I rode as a single rider in the ejector row. Buckets of airtime on the hills on the way back, it's fun to just let your arms go limp and watch them fly up and flop down on the crests.
Top Thrill Dragster
It was about 5:30. After getting off Magnum, I met back up with my family and quickly learned that my brother wanted to go back to the hotel for awhile. He and my dad went back, and I then rode Iron Dragon, as the line had greatly decreased to about 15 minutes. I rode third row, and the scenery and layout add greatly to the ride experience.
Corkscrew
I decided to go back and ride Gatekeeper again. The line was maybe 40 minutes, nothing too bad. I was surprised that it wasn't too long, being evening on a day of perfect weather. I decided to ride on the right side, near the back of the train. The right side is slightly more forceful in parts, but overall I like the left side better as it flows more gracefully.
maXair
Ferris wheel
We met back up with my dad and brother at the beach entrance after I rode Gatekeeper. It was around 7 o'clock, and we decided to grab some pizza for dinner near Raptor's loop.
Windseeker
Gatekeeper
Raptor
My brother and I decided to ride Top Thrill Dragster again. The line was around an hour, and we got on right around sunset second to back row. Other than the wind, the launch still has the same feeling regardless of row. Being pulled over the top is a lot more intense near the back as well. Another great ride on my favorite launched coaster.
Millennium Force and the sunset
My brother and mom wanted to watch the Luminosity show, so my dad and I got in line for Millennium Force at about 9:15, knowing this would be the last ride of the day. The line was about an hour and 20 minutes, by far the longest wait of the whole trip. As tempted as I was to wait for front row, I know from experience what happens when you do that at night (get ready to eat more bugs than you knew you could!). So, we rode near the back. The view from the top at night is second to none, and speeding through the darkness is a thrilling experience. A night ride is a must.
We got off at about 10:40, well after the park officially closes, but Luminosity was still going on. My brother and mom were back at the hotel, so we headed back as well. It was a great end to a great day.
Day 2
Waking up to another day of perfect weather, score!
We walked to the beach entrance again, this time planning to run to Millennium Force. We got there earlier this time, and there were about half as many people in front of us as the day before. After getting our tickets checked, my brother and I ran as fast as we could, seeing if we had any chance of beating people from the marina entrance. I was surprised at how quickly we got there, we were the 5th and 6th people in the station behind 4 people from the marina. Second train of the day in the front row, couldn't have been better. The front row during the day is fantastic, you don't need to worry about being blinded by bugs and you can purely enjoy the experience.
Afterwords, we ran back to Gatekeeper again, meeting up with my parents who wanted to ride this time. The line was only about 20 or 30 minutes, and we rode on the left side again. Another great ride.
As early entry was ending, my brother and I decided to run to Top Thrill Dragster again and see if it was open. It didn't open until early entry ended, unlike the previous day, but we lined up outside the queue. As we were let in at 10, the line in front of us was only about 15 minutes for a row in the middle of the train. Two trains before we got on, however, it broke down. What a surprise.
They made the classic "mechanical problem, we don't know how long the wait will be" announcement, so we decided to wait it out. Usually the wait isn't more than 20 minutes. 20 minutes went by. Then 40. Then 60. Then 90. We were still in the station 2 hours later, with 16 other people. Everyone else had left. At this point we were regretting our decision to stay. Just then, a guy working in the station gathered everyone up to talk to us. He said the ride wouldn't be running any time soon, but as a group we could head to Millennium Force and walk up the exit to skip the line, basically as a consolation. It was fine by me. 
All of us headed over and grabbed another ride. Definitely better than walking away having just wasted 2 hours.It was just past noon at this point, and we needed to leave by around 2 o'clock in order to drive the 6 or 7 hour drive home. We rode Power Tower on the shot side twice in about 10 minutes, and then made Corkscrew our last ride of the day. The wait was about 45 minutes, much longer than I would usually be willing to wait for it, but not having ridden it in 3 years I was wanting to again. It was enjoyable in all its jerkiness.
It was nearing time to go, so we walked up to near the beach entrance. I bought a Gatekeeper t-shirt, took a few more pictures, and we left the park.
Gatekeeper
Wicked Twister
Walking back to the hotel
As we left the hotel, we drove back around the park where I got some more pictures.
Magnum
Mean Streak
Maverick
Millennium Force
Blue Streak
Gatekeeper
Driving across the causeway
The main sign
The sunset on the drive back
Total ride count:
Millennium Force - 4
Gatekeeper - 3
Top Thrill Dragster - 2
Maverick - 1
Raptor - 1
Blue Streak - 1
Wicked Twister - 1
Iron Dragon - 1
Corkscrew - 1
Magnum XL-200 - 1
Gemini - 1
Cedar Creek Mine Ride - 1
Power Tower - 2
Skyhawk - 1
This was probably my favorite trip I've had to Cedar Point. From perfect weather, to reasonable lines, to the fact that Cedar Point is my favorite amusement park I've been to, it was a fantastic trip. Cedar Point is a park different than all others in many ways, and it's difficult to appreciate fully until you've been there. Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed my report!
! Also, the pictures you take are of really good quality, it is lovely to watch them!
