Eh, I just suggested Six Flags as an option because so many people seemed so pumped about Cedar Point. It really doesn't compare, though.

Anyway, all things on Chemical's list are easily taken care of. You'd be paying to get into the Chicago Art Institute (which is absolutely fantastic and likely worth every penny regardless), though. Their free day is either Tuesday or Thursday. That said, every museum in Chicago as a free admission day. I'm not sure if there are ones free on weekends. Either way, I don't think it costs much.

Like I said, I can ask my old man about hotel prices. My mother mentioned something along the lines of, "There are no such things as cheap hotels in Chicago." One option I hear is getting a hotel slightly outside of town and taking the Metra in (it costs like two bucks from the closer suburbs). I'll see what the old man says.