New Cedar Point pass gets kids in for free

Editor's note: Justin Dietz is a Register correspondent representing CPFoodBlog.com and @CPFoodBlog on Twitter.SANDUSKY — Have you wanted to visit Cedar Point but know that tickets for your young kids, who can only ride a handful of attractions, held you back?Well, the great news now is that Cedar Point has taken out the worry by offering you a free — yes, that's right, a free — pass called the Pre-K program.In 2017, Cedar Fair, which is Cedar Point's parent company, rolled out a Pre-K Pass program at select pilot parks, including Kings Dominion, Valleyfair, and Worlds of Fun.For 2018, the Pre-K program is coming to Cedar Point, Carowinds and Dorney Park in addition to those aforementioned properties.Here is how the program works:• Cedar Point offers children between the ages of 3 and 5 a free Pre-K Pass, which grants complimentary admission to Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores for the entire 2018 season.• To take advantage of this special limited-time offer, the pass must be registered before May 28, 2018. To do so, follow these steps:— Step No. 1: Register online by visiting cedarpoint.com/tickets-passes/pre-k-pass?keyword=2018prek— Step No. 2: Bring your child to the Cedar Point Season Pass Center at the main front gate and activate the pass.— Step No. 3: After registering, you must activate the pass at Cedar Point by June 29, 2018. To do so, print the e-ticket after registering, and bring it to the front gate pass processing center along with your child and a valid form of identification that proves the child's date of birth. Examples of valid identification are a birth certificate or travel passport. These can be originals or copies.• You will receive the Pre-K Pass at the Cedar Point Season Pass Center once proper identification is provided, proving your child's date of birth and your child's picture is taken.• The pass is valid for unlimited visits starting Aug. 16, 2017, through Oct. 28, 2018, at Cedar Point and through Sept. 3, 2018, at Cedar Point Shores.Pre-K Pass adviceHere are some tips on the program:• If your child is currently 5 but will be 6 in early 2018, get your pass now. As long as your child is 5 years of age on the date you activate the pass, you are eligible to receive it.• Unfortunately, for those of us with platinum passes that like to visit multiple Cedar Fair parks, the Pre-K Pass is park specific, and, thus, the Cedar Point Pre-K program is only valid at Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores. Not all Cedar Fair properties have a Pre-K Pass. For a free Pre-K Pass, you must register and activate a Pre-K Pass at each specific, eligible park. One pass will not work for all Cedar Fair parks. This means you not only need to register but also visit each of the parks prior to the activation dates to qualify.• The Pre-K Pass includes admission to Dinosaurs Alive, Cedar Point Shores as well as admittance to early entry to both Cedar Point, one hour early prior to park opening to the general public; and Cedar Point Shores, 30 minutes prior to the water park opening to the general public.• As always, kids 2 and under are free all the time. So the Pre-K program effectively makes kids 5 and under free.• Once you activate your 2018 Pre-K Pass any day between Aug. 16 and Oct. 29, 2017, at the park, the Pre-K passholder will receive unlimited visits during regularly scheduled operating days at both parks, Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores, in 2017.• Your Pre-K Pass also gives you the ability to add features, such as Cedar Point dining plans, FunPix, and all-season drink passes.Guests often ask us when is the best, and cheapest, time to get Cedar Point season passes, and the answer is always the same: Get them in the fall to lock in the lowest rates, as they always go up.With the addition of the Pre-K Pass, this is a great way to lighten the wallet for families.