How to Save Money at Cedar Point in 2024 - Family Money Adventure (2024)

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One of our favorite family adventures is visiting Cedar Point. The family fun destinationwas recently named one of the 16 best Amusem*nt Parks in America and for good reason. Long known to visitors as “America’s Roller Coast”, Cedar Point constantly pushes the limits and world records with its thrill rides, especially roller coasters. Keep reading to learn how to save money at Cedar Point.

Cedar Point Updates 2024

Big changes are coming to Cedar Point and Cedar Fair parks in 2024:

• Top Thrill is Back: Cedar Point recently announced that a reimagined version of Top Thrill Dragster will return in 2024. The new ride is called Top Thrill 2. Passholders can experience the new coaster early at a special Top Thrill 2 Passholder Preview taking place April 30 – May 2, 2024.
• Cedar Fair and Six Flags Merger: On November 2nd, 2023, Cedar Fair announced a merger of equals with Six Flags. This significant move joins two of the leading amusem*nt park operators, setting the stage for potential enhancements and innovations. Cedar Fair has released an official statement, which you can read here. While this merger is promising, the exact effects on park visits during 2024 and beyond remain unknown.
• Snake River Expedition not reopening: Cedar Point announced that Snake River Expedition will not open in 2024. The themed boat ride only opened in 2021, making it a short-lived experiment.
• Updated Cedar Point App: The park revamped the Cedar Point mobile app for 2024 with new and updated features for a better guest experience.

We live about an hour from Cedar Point, so we love to plan day trips to Sandusky, part of Shores and Islands Ohio. While there is so much to love about Cedar Point as a family, it often feels like we are spending a small fortune to visit, between tickets for 6 people, parking, and food.

Over the years, we’ve discovered several ways to save money at Cedar Point, find deals, and maximize the money we spend. Check out our top tips on how to save money at Cedar Point. You’ll be able to create the most enjoyable family visit without breaking the bank.

Do Not Buy Cedar Point Tickets at The Gate

Cedar Point ticket prices seem to rise every year. To spend less money on admission, don’t wait until you arrive at the park to buy your tickets. If you are purchasing tickets directly from Cedar Point, make sure to head to CedarPoint.com, where they often postdeals for tickets throughout the summer.

Members of AAA can get discounted Cedar Point tickets here. Discounted tickets can also be purchased through regional retailers, like

• Meijer
• Wegmans
• Discount Drug Mart
• Kroger
• Giant Eagle

Look For Sales Throughout The Year

If you are planning a trip to Cedar Point later in the summer, start watching Cedar Point’s website and social media for their Christmas in July ticket sale to save money at Cedar Point.

Buy a Cedar Point Season Pass

If you plan to visit Cedar Point multiple times during a season, you may be better off buying season passes instead of individual tickets. This is a great way to not only save money at Cedar Point but also gain access to other special perks and benefits.

Below is the pricing for 2024 Cedar Point season passes (taxes and fees not included):

• 2024 Gold Pass:$130
• 2024 Prestige Pass:$325
• 2024 Summer Pass:$99

Previously, Cedar Point sold season passes with access to all Cedar Fair Parks. You can still gain unlimited admission to all other Cedar Fair Parks by purchasing a new pass add-on called the All Park Passport.

• 2024 All Park Passport Gold Pass Add-On:$100
• 2024 All Park Passport Prestige Pass Add-On:$125

Bring Your Own Food to Cedar Point

It’s one thing to buy tickets for your whole family. That’s just the start, though. What do you do for meals and snacks for everyone? Your pockets can empty quickly at Cedar Point, especially with all the food options available now.

We almost always pack our own lunch. To be clear, Cedar Point doesn’t allow outside food to be brought into the park. There are a couple of exceptions to that rule. According to Cedar Point’s website, “individual, unopened water bottles, as well as special diet/need items, may be brought into the park.”

Cedar Point has a large picnic area just outside the front gate. Pack a cooler, leave it in your car, and take a break sometime during your visit to go out and eat. You will save tons of money with this one tip alone. The one con is that packing your own lunch requires walking back out of the park, retrieving your cooler from your car, walking to the picnic area, returning your cooler after you are done, and then re-entering the park. That can take up precious ride time depending on where you parked.

Another way to make this more efficient is to plan your day so you end up towards the front of the park around the time you want to eat. You could also send one lucky adult (Me) out to the car early to retrieve the cooler and meet everyone in the picnic area.

Like most amusem*nt parks, buying food at Cedar Point is expensive. Try packing your own lunch to save money at Cedar Point.

Cedar Point Dining Plans

If you decide you don’t want to mess with packing a picnic lunch, you can save money at Cedar Point through their dining plans. Cedar Point offers single-meal plans as well as all-day dining plans. With the all-day dining plan, you can get an entree and a side at participating restaurants all day, with only a 90-minute wait between meals.

As a family that deals with food allergies, I appreciate Cedar Point’s detailed dietary needs guide on its website. Super helpful!

Here’s the current pricing on the 2024 Cedar Point Dining Plans. We’ll update pricing as it’s released or updated.

• All-Season Dining: From $99
• All Day Dining: TBD
• All Day Dining Premium: TBD
• Single Meal Deal: TBD

Purchase a Parking Pass Online

Like most amusem*nt parks, Cedar Point charges a parking fee. You can sometimes save money at Cedar Point by purchasing your parking pass ahead of time online. There are no other parking options so why not save a few bucks with advance planning? Season passes come with free parking.

Stay at a Cedar Point Resort on Property

If you plan to stay overnight or a few nights in Sandusky, look into deals at Cedar Point hotels and campgrounds, like Hotel Breakers, Castaway Bay, Express Hotel, and Lighthouse Point. Some of the perks of staying on-site include:

• Free parking for the length of your stay
• Easy access to the park entrance
• Early entry into Cedar Point (1 hour early)
• Free admission to Cedar Point Shores, Cedar Point’s waterpark (plus 30-minute early entry)
• Discounted Cedar Point tickets

Depending on your length of stay, the size of your family, and your budget, staying on-site may or may not be the best deal compared to other local hotels. Other hotels can offer amenities like complimentary breakfast that might be more appealing. That will be something for you to research to determine the best deal for your family.

Buy a Cedar Point Drink Plan

With all of the walking you will be doing at Cedar Point, especially on hot summer days, it’s important to stay hydrated. Their food guidelines allow you to bring in individual, unopened water bottles, which is great. If you need more than that, though, I suggest purchasing one of Cedar Point’s drink plans. There are several plans to choose from based on your needs. Cedar Point offers drink plans for the full season or single-day use. We generally get at least one season drink pass and then supplement it with other pass options depending on the number of people going or how frequently we think we’ll attend the park over the season.

Here’s the current pricing on the 2024 Cedar Point drink plans. We’ll update pricing as it’s released or updated.

• All-Season Drink Bottle: $34.99
• Season Pass Drink Plan: From $34.99
• Season Pass Drink Plan+: TBD
• Souvenir Bottle or Drink Wristband: TBD

Spend Your Time Wisely at Cedar Point

Although this tip doesn’t save you any money, it will maximize your time while at Cedar Point. Most people come to the park with no plan. Some people plan out every second of their day. We fall somewhere in the middle. As season passholders, it’s easier to relax and enjoy the park, knowing you’ll have other chances to ride something if there’s a long queue.

If this is your family vacation or the only time you’ll visit Cedar Point this season, you want to make the most of your trip, but you also want to enjoy yourself without pressure to fit everything in and stick to a schedule.

It’s important to decide beforehand what rides & attractions are most important to ride and what your family can skip.

• What rides do you want to ride first?
• Where do you want to eat?
• Who’s tall enough to ride certain rides?
• Do you want to stay together as a family or split up?

Another tip to save time and avoid crowds is to pick alternative times. Eat an early lunch or dinner and catch shorter ride lines while everyone else is eating. If you need a break from the heat, take in one of Cedar Point’s many shows in air-conditioned theaters. In the end, it’s your family’s day in the park, and you should plan to see and do everything you want to do during your time at Cedar Point.

Military Discounts at Cedar Point

Cedar Point honors members of the military by providing discounted tickets and parking for all active, retired, and honorably discharged members of our armed forces. You will need to bring the proper ID to validate the discount. You can purchase up to six tickets at a discounted rate per military member.

Download The Cedar Point App

Cedar Point offers a super helpful Mobile App (available for iOS and Android). The main feature is ride wait times, which will help you plan out your day and maximize your time throughout your visit. Other features include a park map, special money-saving offers within the park for app users, and a handy car finder to help you remember where you parked. Also available now is mobile food ordering at select restaurants within Cedar Point.

Go to Cedar Point for More than One Day

If you are thinking about visiting Cedar Point for more than one day or multiple times during the same season, look into their multiple-day ticket options. Often you can get your second day for $20 or less with these options. Cedar Point occasionally offers ticket options for one day at Cedar Point and one day at their sister park, Kings Island, located just outside Cincinnati, Ohio.

When planning a family trip to Cedar Point, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all of the costs involved. With some advanced planning, you can save money at Cedar Point and maximize your time in the park. Your family can enjoy one of the best amusem*nt parks in the country without worrying about how much it will cost.

Cedar Point FAQs

What are Cedar Point Fast Lane passes?

Cedar Point Fast Lane passes are a premium pass you can add to your ticket to skip the lines on over 20 of Cedar Point’s most popular attractions.

Does Cedar Point have special pricing for non-riders?

No, unfortunately, there are no discounts for non-riders who are unable to (or don’t plan on) partake in amusem*nt rides. The park features other options for non-riders, like live shows, dining, shopping, and more.

Does Cedar Point offer rainchecks?

No, Cedar Point does not offer rain checks. Depending on the specific conditions, some or all park rides may close during inclimate weather.

Can I pack my own lunch and bring it into Cedar Point?

No, guests are not permitted to bring food or drinks into the park with the exception of individual unopened water bottles and for those with special dietary needs. Cedar Point has a large picnic pavilion outside the front entrance. There is no public picnic area located near Cedar Point Shores Waterpark.

Does Cedar Point offer discounts for military members?

Yes, Cedar Point does offer a discount for active, retired, and honorably discharged members of the Armed Forces. You can purchase military member tickets online.

Do you have tips for saving money at amusem*nt parks? Let us know in the comments below.