Cedar Point ends reservation requirement

SANDUSKY — Cedar Point will no longer require reservations to get into the park. When the park opened earlier this month, it implemented a reservation service as part of COVID-19 safety procedures. The reservation service required guests to book a time online for when they would arrive at the park to avoid large crowds forming as they waited for a health screening before entering. The amusement park, however, announced on social media Tuesday that it no longer requires guests to make a reservation before coming to Cedar Point. "We originally implemented reservations to help with social distancing during arrival, but we've learned that we are still able to maintain all of our health and safety protocols without requiring them," spokesman Tony Clark said. It will still not sell tickets or season passes at the park and will continue to follow all other precautions, including mandatory face coverings, health screenings for guests and employees and limiting the park's capacity. Clark added that it removes guests from the park who refuse to follow the safety measures. Operating during a pandemic Clark said guests, overall, have done a great job of adjusting to the new protocols since the park opened two weeks ago. "We know it's very different, but everything we're doing together is critical for the safety of our guests and associates," Clark said. "We still have audio announcements throughout the day, reminding guests of the policies. Our associates are reminding guests about face coverings, should they remove them in areas that are not designated 'RelaxZones.'" The park also started to require a timed access pass to ensure social distancing on popular rides like Steel Vengeance, Top Thrill Dragster, Millennium Force and Maverick. The park has kept certain rides closed for now, including the Antique Cars, SlingShot, WindSeeker, Rougarou and Joe Cool's Dodgem School. "This lineup may change as we go along, but Forbidden Frontier, Snake River Falls and Snoopy Bounce will not open," Clark said. People can look up the full list of closed rides by visiting cedarpoint.com/play/rides. The park has also limited its capacity to 50 percent, which changed the number of employees it requires to operate Cedar Point. "We are not operating at full guest capacity, so we currently have fewer associates than 'normal' summer," Clark said. He added they're still actively hiring for positions in all areas. The Erie County Health Department has had employees walk through the park daily, and Cedar Point has stayed true to the safety protocols it outlined before opening. "Everything they said they were going to do they've done. Cedar Point has gone above and beyond," Erie County health commissioner Pete Schade said. "We haven't had any issues or concerns since they opened on July 9. They've done a great job." Some Register readers believe the protocols in place have hurt attendance at the park. "Until the weather gets cooler, the masks are keeping away lots of people," Deb McClellan posted. "Plus the news about rides not being open isn't helping. We went and had a good time, but I wouldn't go unless I had a pass. They won't have any problems with capacity." Others, however, believe the park is doing more than enough to protect guests. "They are still restricting the number allowed in each day and have not been reaching capacity, so no real need for the reservation system," Cathay Dingus Beaver commented. "All safety protocols are still being enforced." "I will have to say that we felt very safe. There were no crowds. Everyone was wearing face masks and social distancing," Kelly Francis Heckman wrote. "Their cleaning procedures go above and beyond. I would go to cedar point any day over Walmart and Kroger."