When does Cedar Point open? Get your coaster fix at the amusement park's new Top Thrill 2

Cedar Point is gearing up for its 155th season with new rides and old favorites, as well as a special day to view the solar eclipse.

Here's what happening:

When does Cedar Point open in 2024?

Opening day for the amusement park in Sandusky will be Saturday, May 4. That's also when it will debut its new roller coaster.

What new rides are at Cedar Point?

Opening this season will be the new Top Thrill 2. The coaster's new 420-foot tower was completed in December.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

The Top Thrill 2, replacing the park's original Top Thrill Dragster, will be the world's fastest triple-launch strata coaster when it opens. A strata coaster is any roller coaster that eclipses a height of 400 feet — a feat Cedar Point first pioneered back in 2003 when the Top Thrill Dragster opened.

It will feature two 420-foot-tall towers and launch riders three times at 74 miles per hour, 101 mph and finally 120 mph.

What is Cedar Point doing for the solar eclipse?

Sandusky is along the path of the total solar eclipse on April 8, and Cedar Point plans to open for one day to celebrate the event.

The park plans to open its Boardwalk section from noon to 6 p.m. for Total Eclipse of the Point. Guests must purchase tickets in advance to view the eclipse, which will be at its totality around 3:12 p.m. in Sandusky, from the park.

Cedar Point ranks among top amusement parks in the US, right behind Magic Kingdom

A recent ranking of the Top 10 best-rated parks in the U.S. has listed Cedar Point in Sandusky at No. 4.

The ranking by the Westgate Palace Hotel at Universal looked at everything from Instagram hashtags, monthly Google search volume and the percentage of "excellent" reviews on TripAdvisor when determining the Top 10.  

The study found that Cedar Point is the third most popular search term on Google, averaging some 355,000 monthly searches.

When is the best time to go to Cedar Point?

Weekdays during the summer season are the best time to visit, according to websites such as Is It Packed and Theme Park Center. Weekends (Fridays through Sundays) attract more out-of-town visitors, tourists and vacationers. The best time to visit is right when the park opens. The sites say to avoid the park in July, as it's one of the busiest times of the year.

How old is Cedar Point? A look at its history

Cedar Point began as a public beach in 1870. Its oldest operating coaster, the Blue Streak, opened in 1964. In 1988, it added the Soak City water park. The park marked its 150th season in 2020.

When does Kings Island open in 2024?

Cedar Point's sister amusement park, Kings Island near Cincinnati, will open its 2024 season a day earlier, on Friday, May 3.