Sandusky, Ohio – Get ready for an unforgettable Halloween experience as Cedar Point transforms into a spine-tingling wonderland for its annual Halloweekends! From September 11 to November 2, thrill-seekers of all ages can enjoy haunted houses, spine-chilling scare zones, and thrilling rides under the moonlit sky. This year, combine your frightful fun with a cozy stay at Castaway Bay, where the excitement continues with indoor water park adventures and comfortable accommodations.
Halloweekends at Cedar Point promises an action-packed lineup featuring live entertainment, family-friendly attractions, and heart-pounding roller coasters. Whether you’re navigating through the terrifying haunted mazes or enjoying festive fall treats, this event is designed to make your Halloween season truly memorable. Plus, with extended hours on weekends, there’s plenty of time to soak in all the spooky splendor!
After a day filled with thrills and chills at Cedar Point, retreat to the tropical oasis of Castaway Bay. With its year-round indoor water park, themed rooms, and delightful dining options, it’s the perfect place to unwind and recharge. Enjoy the warm waters of the wave pool or race down exhilarating water slides before settling in for a night of comfort and relaxation.
All of this was recently experienced by me and my youngest daughter, Bethany (16), who is also our Instagram’s social media intern.
Here is a timeline of our adventures:
Thursday, September 18-Castaway Bay check-in 3:oo pm. I signed up for the Bare Bones Package, which included 2 tickets to Halloweekends starting that Thursday evening with early entry from 5:00 pm to 12:00 pm. It also included two fright passes to the paid open house options, which we didn’t use because, well, I’m the scaredy cat LOL. Maybe next year? Hmmm
We also received 2 tickets for 1 park day of our choosing, along with early entry and free parking for both days. After we were settled into our room, we had a quick dinner and made our way to Cedar Point, which was literally just up the street from Castaway Bay, about 5 minutes. When we arrived, we went through the self-scan booth with our parking ticket and since it was early entry, we recieved parking nice and close to the front gate and didn’t need preferred parking. Perfect! We started our rollercoaster adventures on GateKeeper. Now, I haven’t been to Cedar Point in 16 years. Just before I found out I was pregnant with Bethany. Bethany is now 16, so that was kind of cool. I used to go to Cedar Point every year since I was in elementary school, so I was out of practice with what was new at Cedar Point. All the rides that were new to me are now 7+ years old, so I was excited to ride them all. Gatekeeper was insane. Since it was my first ride of the evening, it kind of threw me a bit. Thank goodness I took Dramamine with ginger (highly recommended, by the way, if you need it). Check out Gatekeeper below:
One thing I wanted to mention prior to park entrance is they play the National Anthem and everyone stops and participates. Hand on heart and all. LOVED that! Then there were security checks, etc. Very comforting to know.
After GateKeeper, we made our way over to Iron Dragon. One of my very first coasters back in the day. It was quite rickety and definitely showing its age, but still a lot of fun. We then got lockers and got in line for Cedar Point’s newest coaster,, Siren’s Curse. Oh my goodness, this is a very thrilling ride. That tilt and then drop is awesome. The first time we got on,, we were put in the back row. Check out Siren’s Curse below:
After Siren’s Curse, we rode on Rugarou, Raptor, Valvaran, and Maverick. Let me just say Maverick is beyond the best!! We went on at night. We were put in the front row. Oh my goodness, this thing is quick from the launch up hill to another tunnel launch; it took our breath away. So fun! Check it out below:
Rugarou was a bit rough. Knocked my head into the head restraints a few times. That wasn’t fun. Raptor was initially my favorite in high school, but since 1994, it is now a bit rough and not a fave of mine. Valvaran is pretty short, but so fun and worth it! Check out the video below:
Can’t forget Millennium Force. The Second second-fastest coaster at Cedar Point and released in 2000. It’s still got its awesome thrill, though it’s a bit on the rickety side. Still loved it!
Since it was dark at this point and scaremonies were already underway, once you head into the scare zone, be prepared to be jump scared by the amazing Cedar Point scare actors. The environment was amazing with Halloween props, lights, and fog. If you choose to go through the scare zone to get on your favorite rides but don’t want to get scared, you can purchase a boo necklace, and they’ll leave you alone.
I also took Bethany on my very first coaster there at Cedar Point at 11 or 12 years old. Cedar Creek Mine Ride. That ride is exactly how I remember it to be. Little rickety but fun. The Gemini wooden coaster classic was delayed, so we couldn’t get on. That’s a classic favorite, too. We ended our night by riding the Sky Ride and heading to “BOO Streak” (Blue Streak), it’s as awful as I remember it to be. So rickety in fact you can’t wait to get off! LOL!
The next day, September 19th, we used our resort package full-day park ticket and parking validation. This was the perfect, beautiful fall day. We rode all of the rides, including Steel Vengeance. This is a top favorite, holy cow! LOL! Check it out below,, though the video doesn’t do it justice.
After a full day of rides we wanted to check out TT2, but I just wasn’t there yet with the nerves. Maybe next year!!
The rest of the weekend,, September 20-21, we enjoyed Castaway Bay and their indoor waterpark. It was a nice couple of days regrouping from thrill rides for two days.
You can check out most of our pics from Cedar Point and Castaway Bay on our Instagram!
Don’t miss out on this ultimate Halloween getaway! Book your Halloweekends adventure at Cedar Point and reserve your stay at Castaway Bay today for a thrilling experience that the whole family will remember.
About Cedar Point and Castaway Bay
Cedar Point is known as the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World,” offering world-class attractions and entertainment. Castaway Bay is a premier indoor water park resort featuring tropical-themed accommodations and fun for all ages.
Cedar Point and Castaway Bay are located in Sandusky, Ohio.