Cedar Point

Avoid weekends, holidays and special events if you want to ride a lot of coasters.
Know when the park opens and closes, times will be different each day but you can find that info on their website.
If you plan to stay a whole day, look into the Cedar Point / Soak City tickets, it is nice to cool off on some water rides in the middle of the day.
If you stay at the hotels in Cedar Point, you will gain access to the park an hour early. You will be able to ride the most popular coasters a lot faster than when the park fully opens. Here is a route you can take to get maximum coaster riding in with that extra hour boost (use the back entrance, see image below):
Maverick > Millennium Force > Mantis > Top Thrill Dragster (the park will be open by this time, but you will still beat a lot of people)
The front of the park has 3 good attractions: Raptor, Wicked Twister, MaxAir. Lines will be short late at night for all rides, stay in the back until that time. *Although if you pass by and see the Raptor's line 45 minutes or less on a busy day, go ahead and take that opportunity to ride.
Pack a lunch and remember to go into restaurants to get free cups of water. Don't pay $3 for a bottle...
If you are looking to spend as little money as possible, look into hotel deals, park packages, and off-site motels. A motel 5 minutes from the Breakers Express was a heck of a lot cheaper when we last stayed off-site. (I remember one hotel desk saying all off-site hotels/motels are owned by the same people so the rates are the same, I didn't confirm that though)

Roller Coaster Ratings and Tips

-= Must Ride | Most Intense =-

This is one of the best rides in the world. If all you do at Cedar Point is ride this once, the trip will have been worth it. It shoots you straight going from 0 to 120 miles per hour in a couple seconds, then launches you strait up 420 ft. I have waited over 3 hours to ride this multiple times, and it is always worth the wait.
Best Seat: Make sure to get the front seat. It is the smoothest, has the best view, and the most wind resistance which all add to the experience. Keep your eyes and lips open! The worst seat is the back, it is incredibly rough and shaky, sit as close to the front as possible if you aren't going for the first seat.
Compare the Vibrations (smooth is better):
Front Seat - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbN3NU4hIZg
Back Seat - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9Sai8SKmbc
Time-Saving Tip: The waiting line splits in two at one point; some people think the left line is for the front, and the right line is for the back; both lines are for a full-train. If you are aiming for the back, take the left line. If you are aiming for the front seat, take the right line. (Although front-seat waiting riders will be more comfortable in the left line if the ride breaks down or stops due to weather)
Other Notes: When walking into the line, look around and see if bug swarms are in the air. If there are a lot, you will definitely be hit by them in the front seat. Best to catch this ride first thing in the morning because bugs tend to appear late in the day.

You will hit some intense g forces and awesome twists in this inverted sit down coaster. Best place to sit is in the front corner. If you enter the park from the main entrance, pass by the Raptor and see if the line is 45 minutes or less. If it is then hop on this ride. If not, head to the coasters in the back and hit the raptor before you leave, its line is short during sunset.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qt1LutrWnY

This stand-up coaster can either be fun or incredible depending on your setup. The trick to making this ride better is to keep your stance and seat low. If you keep your seat high, you will be supported primarily by the seat, however if you keep your stance low, you can make your legs fight the force. The workers want you to stand up straight so standing low is against Cedar Point's rules because it will make the ride a lot more intense (and dangerous). Only do this if you are physically fit and don't have sore muscles from walking all day.
When you are getting on the coaster, bend your legs slightly and keep your feet a little to the front (wearing baggy shorts or pants can help hide you). After the worker locks your harness in and moves, secretly push down on the seat before the booth operator locks it. I must warn you again this is against the rules and should only be done by the physically fit that haven't walked around all day.
Best seat: The key to making this ride more intense is your stance, but position plays a minor role. Last time I went, the middle-car actually gave the best experience. However that may have also been due to the track being hotter in the afternoon. I rode the front-car twice that morning to compare. The outside seat will also give you the most twisting. *Remember to bend your legs at all times, you don't want to lock them (just like heavy lifting).
The line for this ride is shortest in the morning; with the 1 hour early entrance pass attained by staying at Cedar Point hotels, I was able to go on the Maverick, Millennium Force, then Mantis front seat twice with a minimal wait. (it even broke down once)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1f6hWuAcOc

-= Great Ride | Some Intensity =-

The Magnum's lines aren't as long as the Millennium Force, and I have a lot more fun riding this than the Millennium. Best seat is in the the front, this ride has a long train so the back will be much less of an experience, maybe even rough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Si_xOp_crc

It may not look like much, but the Wicked Twister is like a mini Top Thrill Dragster. It will push you back, forth and vertical. The lines are usually short, especially around sunset.
The best seat is the very front because you will have the most wind resistance and go the highest in the air. The second best seat is the very back because you will go the highest in the air, but won't get wind resistance. The worst seat is very middle because you won't go too high.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMXcr1Oln4w

MaxAir is a giant hydraulic swing that spins. It is near the front of the part and a bit more fun than the SkyHawk. Lines tend to be short (especially at night), the experience is well-worth a short wait.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOZXAvRcGHk

SkyHawk is in the back near the Mean Streak / Maverick. It may be hard to see and not look like much, but you get some nice air time on this giant swing. Line's aren't as long as coasters and you get the same free-fall feel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se2emg5S9rc

The green chairs climb to the top and drop straight down; you will get the most free-fall time. The red chairs propel upwards quickly, but don't drop as far or fast. Try both out to see which you like best, they claim the red one is 'easier' so it sometimes has less lines for a similar ride.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evIR8U6DC3w

The Maverick is advertised as being incredibly twisty and fun. But when this ride is over, it feels like it could have been so much more. My brother and I wouldn't wait more than 1.5 hours to ride this. Best to go on it with an hour-early pass if you want to try it out; I did so twice to beat a long line and I wasn't satisfied either time.
Best Seat: I haven't been in the front, but the train is small enough that there isn't a large difference between front or back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJim1vTJsjQ

Millennium Force was the tallest coaster for 3 years until they created the Dragster. People are always afraid of it being so high, but this is actually one of the smoothest rides in the park. Actually, it is too smooth... I have ridden it many times and it has a few nice moments of weightlessness, but it isn't anything extraordinary. The only time I enjoyed it was in the front seat. I recommend avoiding this coaster unless there is a short line to judge it for yourself; you can hit it after the Maverick with an hour-early hotel pass.
Best Seat: Again, I have ridden this many times and the only time I enjoyed it was in the very front seat. I recommend sitting wherever your group wants to. If they are scared, take the middle/back for a shorter line. If they want the front, go for it. (YouTube says the back is more intense, I can't recall sitting in the back but if I did I didn't enjoy it) If your group isn't interested in this ride then I recommend skipping it and sticking to the rides listed above.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbXPhOFRxTc

-= Good Ride | Mildly Intense =-

I haven't ridden this for a few years, but I used to ride it all the time. It is a nice smooth simple ride. Best at night when the track is hot and the lines are low. Close your eyes and don't hold on for a great experience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao6b9WHxrGM

A decent coaster that will swing your car on turns. Not too fast or intense, although the harnesses have unlocked and popped up on me many times. [Eek6]
The front is the best with the most swinging.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD9JhgGKr3g

This wooden-track coaster is large, fast and fun. However the wood track makes it rough and shaky which takes away from its intrigue. Don't ride it if you have heart problems or have a big fear of coasters.
The front should have the least amount of shakiness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSxmMxYQVZY

I don't remember much from this ride (been many years), but it is a decent intro to twisty coasters with a loop and double corkscrew. The front will most likely be the smoothest. I somewhat remember the back being really shaky.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTRDSkRdx6Q

The Wildcat looks like a cheap kiddie carnival ride, but it may take you by surprise. It actually has some nice g-forces making it worth a short-line's wait.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3ZvfKqVfC0

Disaster Transport is an indoor "lights-out" bobsled ride and may be hard to spot because it looks like a storage warehouse. The ride will be fun to younger riders, but it doesn't offer much to the experienced. The only reason to ride this is to get out of the sun while waiting in the indoor line. The waiting line does provide a nice atmosphere though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7Jmb-9UlGs

-= Rides to Avoid =-

Blue Streak is Cedar Points oldest roller coaster. It is wooden and charming, but extremely rough. The roughness is due to poor track design. After the first starting hill, you would expect to hit the second-largest hill to minimize the g force; the problem is that the coaster goes straight into 2 low hills which put extreme force on your legs held in by an uncomfortable bar. I highly recommend avoiding this coaster, especially if you are afraid of larger ones because it will only add to your fear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD9lnPOtVKs

-= Ride Map =-