Cedar Point Dining Help

[ArielRae]

We will be taking our first trip to Cedar Point this weekend coming up (Be there May 9th) and was wondering what you thought of the different dining plans (Single Meal and All Day Dining)? We will be staying at the Breakers Express and getting the ride and refresh drink deal that came with our room so drinks are covered there. (Anyone know if that is a refillable mug or not with that deal?)

*Would you recommend this for a first timer or not and if so which one?

*For the all day dining how many times would you say we needed to stop for a meal to make the price worth it?

*Are the dining locations included with it good or should we do the big brand name companies like Johnny Rockets or Panda Express?

*What are your opinions on the Market buffet restaurant?

*What are your favorite food stops? (Cedar Point brand restaurants and name brand restaurant choices)

We will probably be there from open to close so no worries about missing out on ride time cause we are stopping for meals. Any other questions you have or advice please I would love to hear it all.

If anyone is interested in hanging out with a fellow DISer, her husband and be our tour guide that day PM me we can talk details.

 

[ArielRae]

Still hoping to get some help and advice.

 

[Pembo]

Last trip to CP all I noticed was that food was EXPENSIVE!!! $25 for a hot dog, a pop and a water. The brand name places are good. We typically pack lunch. If you are staying at the Breakers, it might be a good option for you. It's very close and easy to get to.

 

[lauradis]

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/240/142...usky-Huron/New-Sandusky-Fish-Company-Sandusky

The New Sandusky fish company was the only meal I liked, its not fancy more like a fish shack take out style, but the perch was yummy and not on property at cedar point.

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201403/3919/

Hubby says famous dave was over priced but ok food.

http://www.famousdaves.com/dinein/Cedar-Point

 

[KristiMc]

We like Famous Dave's. A nice little break from the park. You exit out the Marina side and it is right there.

 

[Kellydelly]

Last trip to CP all I noticed was that food was EXPENSIVE!!! $25 for a hot dog, a pop and a water. The brand name places are good. We typically pack lunch. If you are staying at the Breakers, it might be a good option for you. It's very close and easy to get to.

There is no way you paid that much for just a hot dog and a soda. Cedar Point food is not cheap, but it's not that much of a rip off.

I have never done a meal plan, we live two hours away and will pack a picnic lunch and eat snacks and dinner in the park. I think Panda Express is a good value for the size servings they sell. Usually we buy ice cream, Friar Tuck fries, and snacky stuff like that. Since you are going opening day, I would plan to spend more time in ride lines than sitting around in restaurants. I wouldn't think a meal plan would be worth it. I would assume you are going more for the rides than the food there. Having free refills on drinks will be nice, especially if it ends up being a hot day.

 

[MattsPrincess]

I don't think I've ever eaten at one of their restaurants, lol. My mom and dad stopped at got hot dogs at Pink's the last time we went together, but didn't seem very impressed. I usually get breakfast at Tim Horton's on the way down, get a few snacks in the park, then eat somewhere outside the park for dinner.

 

[5kidsmommy]

This is our first year with a dining plan, we have platinum passes and got the all season long plan. I figure we will need to eat 15 times to come ahead, but since we go multiple times a week and go to different parks throughout the season I don't think it will be an issue.

https://www.cedarpoint.com/things-to-do/all-dining-locations

It's $30 for the day long dining pass and I think for a one day visit it is a good deal but it does not include all restaurants. Here is a link to the places that are included and you can get food every 90 minutes. I would say you will need to eat three times to come out ahead, so if you don't plan on eating three times then it isn't a good deal and you'd be better to pay out of pocket. Note though the food at Cedar Point is pricey, people say WDW is expensive but the price and quality at Cedar Point is more expensive for lesser quality food, doesn't stop us from eating though because I like the convenience of not going back out to my car.

As far as the drink, it's not a mug but a big cup with a handle and a straw. Since it's free refills all day you would be better off to drink it and toss the beverage before heading on to rides, yes it's wasteful but those things leak like crazy when slightly tipped. Might want to bring a plastic bag to store them in inside of your bag if bringing one.

 

[ArielRae]

We were planning to only have a fanny pack with us so no backpack to put the cup. Do they give you a new cup each time or do we need the cup to get the drinks? Do you have a pic of the cup they give you? Would you recommend a clip to hang the cup from the fanny pack?

 

[Squirlz]

Do not eat at Coasters is all I can add.

 

[FigmentFinder]

This is our first year with a dining plan, we have platinum passes and got the all season long plan. I figure we will need to eat 15 times to come ahead, but since we go multiple times a week and go to different parks throughout the season I don't think it will be an issue.

https://www.cedarpoint.com/things-to-do/all-dining-locations

Wow, you have way better choices than Dorney Park. (owned by Cedar Fair) We bought season dining for Dorney since we plan on going once a week, if you go frequently it's a good deal.

With all day dining, you need to eat three times to make it worth while. Since you can order every 90 minutes, I doubt that would be difficult.

 

[elaine amj]

On our last trip, I couldn;t get the all day dining to make sense. We ended lunch in Famous Dave's - they offer a food credit equal to your parking pass so that made the meal affordable. Food is decent - Applebees quality.

In the parks, I like Panda Express. I have also done Market Buffet and felt like we got decent value. Mostly, we eat outside the parks, driving to Cici's Pizza or Ryan's Buffet as both are cheap buffets. A couple of times,we have done the McD's outside the gates.

And yes, food is much more expensive than Disney. I nearly gagged at Subway's prices.

 

[5kidsmommy]

We were planning to only have a fanny pack with us so no backpack to put the cup. Do they give you a new cup each time or do we need the cup to get the drinks? Do you have a pic of the cup they give you? Would you recommend a clip to hang the cup from the fanny pack?

Ok, looking into it more it actually looks like they just give you fountain drinks without the cup so you are set. That actually looks better.

And yeah the food options are Cedar Point really aren't great. That's one of the big reasons that WDW makes me so happy. We can eat at Disney for our family of 7 for about $80 but at Cedar Point we can't get burgers, fries and drinks for under $100, last time I think it was about $110.

 

[ArielRae]

Anyone know how much lunch cost at the Midway Market Buffet? Wondering if it is best to get the single meal deal as the buffet qualifies and may save us a few dollars. The single meal deal cost $13.99 plus tax.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Anyone know how much lunch cost at the Midway Market Buffet? Wondering if it is best to get the single meal deal as the buffet qualifies and may save us a few dollars. The single meal deal cost $13.99 plus tax.

Pretty sure it's like $15 and the buffet is the best use of the single meal plan, you'll save a couple of dollars.

 

[LBIJim]

Thanks for the tips. I'm going to Cedar Point next week for the first time in about 12 years. Staying at the Breakers Express. They have a deal where you get in free after 4pm on the day before your intended visit. I sprung for the "free" fountain drink deal, but not food. I'll just pick up something when I get hungry.

 

[ArielRae]

Trying decide our lunch choice between getting the Single Meal Deal and using it for the Midway Market Buffet or doing Johnny Rockets (no meal plan there). DH really likes Johnny Rockets (we go when in Atlantic City). Hoping it is good restaurant style food not theme park style like the ones we have in our Six Flags here which we hate.

 

[soccerdad72]

Trying decide our lunch choice between getting the Single Meal Deal and using it for the Midway Market Buffet or doing Johnny Rockets (no meal plan there). DH really likes Johnny Rockets (we go when in Atlantic City). Hoping it is good restaurant style food not theme park style like the ones we have in our Six Flags here which we hate.

Sorry to say, but it's nearly all theme park style food - generally speaking, Cedar Point is one of the worst destinations for food anywhere. We've been Platinum Passholders for four years now and we rarely eat many meals there. Johnny Rockets is fine - but it's a step below a typical location, for like 50% extra cost.

 

[ArielRae]

Which would you pick Johnny Rockets or the Midway Market Buffet?

 

[soccerdad72]

Which would you pick Johnny Rockets or the Midway Market Buffet?

I've heard that the Midway Market Buffet is pretty good, but I haven't eaten there myself. We generally choose quicker meals, so typically, we would go to Johnny Rockets over a buffet (that, and my wife doesn't usually like buffets in general).

But if you're spending a full weekend in the parks and you want to have a (somewhat) relaxing meal inside the park, the buffet is probably one of your better choices.

Enjoy CP - we were hoping to be able to make it up there this weekend, but we have too much other stuff going on, so it'll have to be a week or two later when we get there for the first time this season.