Classic reimagined on new Cedar Point midway

Editor's note: Justin Dietz is a Register correspondent representing CPFoodBlog.com and @CPFoodBlog on Twitter. SANDUSKY — What was old is new again with the revamp of The Boardwalk at Cedar Point. Guests may recall when Cedar Point had the classic Wild Cat attraction, whipping guests around the up-and-down track. The first thing guests will notice upon entering the midway between GateKeeper and WindSeeker is re-creations of the iconic Cedar Point marquee sign, this time spelling out The Boardwalk with the classic flags. As guests walk along the midway, the classic nostalgia starts to set in with beautiful new paint jobs and theming throughout the area. Guests will be able to enjoy four classic flat rides in the area, including the Atomic Scrambler, Matterhorn, Calypso and Troika. All received fresh coats of paint with two receiving new names. The signature attraction new to the midway is the Wild Mouse roller coaster. This new Zamperla coaster is similar to the vintage Wild Cat. But rather than each vehicle having two-by-two seats back-to-back, the new Wild Mouse train vehicles are seated four across. The great thing about this new attraction is how fast the vehicles load. The mice and cheese continuously move through the station, though very slowly. Guests will get into the vehicle, and the great thing is there are no seat belts. A lap bar simply comes down and locks the guest into the seat. It is super quick and efficient to help keep capacity high. After traversing the lift hill, and immediately after going down the backside, the vehicle begins to spin. As someone who gets off-balance with spinning and inversions, I can happily say the Cedar Point Wild Mouse provides a nice balance. Each ride is different and dependent on the number of riders in your vehicle as well as the weight distribution. We noticed single riders tend to have a little more wild experience than those with a full vehicle. Cedar Point embellishes the Wild Mouse characters with cute signs of each of the characters ranging from Dizzy to Larry. The historic feel continues on the ride with a classic Wild Cat-themed sign at the top of the lift hill. Pop into the Grand Pavilion Anchoring the entire area is the new Grand Pavilion located behind the giant wheel. This new ground-up, two-story facility offers the views and menu that bring the vibe altogether. As guests enter the building, from inside the park, they will see a double-sided queue for cafeteria-style service. But the menu is far from your typical quick service items. The chefs have been curating the menu since 2021, starting with hundreds of options and narrowing it down to what can work in an efficient kitchen and fit the theme of the area. Guests will order a platter — it is on the dining plan, too — with a choice of one entree plus one side and a dinner roll. Menu options include dry rubber pork tenderloin that is cooked on a rotisserie. There is a slow-roasted turkey breast, funnel cake fried shrimp, hand-breaded chicken tenders, a hand-carved rotisserie sandwich and beer-battered fish. Side options include everything from pineapple fried rice to shaved brussels slaw. The food options were all fantastic with some of our personal favorites being the fish, slaw and grilled pineapple. They also offer a terrific key lime pie tart that got rave reviews from the crowd. As guests head upstairs, they will see a large bar with signature cocktails, craft beers, frozen cocktails and a snack bar. While the upstairs snack stand is not included on the dining plan, it is a snack menu option on the All-Day dining plan, the options are tempting. Everything from chicken wings to artisan pizzas that look incredible. After getting your food, guests will find tables throughout the building and on the roof overlooking the midway and Lake Erie. The views are incredible. The whole new Boardwalk adds a really needed new vibe to the area of the park that was sort of slow and unhappening. Guests should really enjoy the iconic vision that Cedar Point team presents. Look for live entertainment throughout the midway area this summer and enjoy the eats, because it is worth the ride. ...