YoshiFan

Great Adventure Dorney Park Hersheypark Knoebels Magic Kingdom Epcot Animal Kingdom Disneyland California Adventure

Go on Friday the 22nd, the park is actually open all day since some schools are closed. Saturday of Columbus Day weekend is one of the most busiest days of the year.

Hopefully the park considers opening those days to pass holders maybe in upcoming seasons since those are usually buyout days. I like how they are trying it on September 30th this year, the park is closed to the public but pass holders can attend as well.

Definitely: Great Adventure Dorney Knoebels Hersheypark Probably: Six Flags New England Maybe: Playland's Castaway Cove Quassy Lake Compounce

Yeah they were the most popular with the ice cream lines almost as bad. The WWK location had a full queue with the line past that and the location near Sea Dragon had a lot of people waiting to order and many more waiting at the pick up area. I avoided using my dining pass at any of the places that had $1 items because I didn't feel like waiting.

Today was one probably the most crowded I have seen the park in over 10 years (I avoid summer weekends). The overflow lot was being used with cars parking on the grass next to that lot. Everyone was mostly in WWK and even after 6 when it closed lines were still 10 - 15 minutes for Talon, Hydra and Steel Force (not that I was expecting to see 30+ minute lines). The major lines were for the $1 Crab Fries, Hot Dogs, Nachos, Icees and Ice Cream.

If they ran out on a not crowded day, I wonder what is going to happen on a Saturday during Fright Fest when El Toro has a completely full queue with the line almost to the bridge near Bizarro? Even if people use the ones at Bizarro, that is still probably not going to be enough.

The only rides you can take photos and video while riding are the Skyway, carousel and Big Wheel.

Yes and Joker now has the same policy.

Dorney allows it on Thunder Canyon and Whitewater Landing, maybe because they are near the water park.

I tried the standalone Chickie's and Pete's a few times (Parx Casino and 20 minutes away from Atlantic City) and thought it was just ok. At Dorney, I usually go to the location by Sea Dragon since it's on the dining pass and it's the closest I can get to a Philly style cheesesteak anymore since at the places that serve them in Northeastern PA, it just isn't the same. The table service location near Whitewater Landing just has chicken cutlets and salads on the dining pass. Otherwise I find the choices limited as well. I tried the grilled chicken sandwich at Coasters earlier this year and it wasn't nearly as good as what Great Adventure has (the chicken at Dorney was all dried out and the fries were overcooked and too greasy). I sometimes get the pizza since it's not that bad. They changed it this year from an individual pizza to 2 slices with breadsticks and also raised the price to $12.99.

I have heard 2 reasons but not sure if they are true. One is they want turnstile clicks to be accurate and the few times I have seen re-rides allowed at Dorney, a ride operator does go to the turnstile to rotate it for each person re-riding. I don't see how it can be accurate when kids turn them. The other reason I heard is for insurance, if someone passes out or becomes unconscious and they don't respond and re-ride, the park doesn't want to be held liable. I stopped asking for re-rides at Dorney 10 years ago and now only will re-ride if the ride operator offers it or I see others re-riding.

Joker also has a single rider line but is almost as worthless as Green Lantern's with the beginning of the line past all the switchbacks.

I hope Wild Mouse stays since it is one of the few coasters open for Christmas Candylane, unless they added another coaster open for the event in its place.

Gold Pass holders are supposed to be able to enter 10 minutes early, rides don't open early so it just allows you to get to a ride entrance before everyone else. Whether they actually let pass holders in early seems to be random. The last few times I have gotten to the park before opening (not this year), they didn't let anyone in early.

Cedar Fair has gotten even stricter with seatbelts. Now on the non coaster rides, them ride operators walk around and tighten everyone's seatbelt to the point where it is uncomfortable. On the Whip, they also now put the slack of each belt around the lap bar and it takes close to 4 minutes from when the riders are let into the ride area until the ride starts. They are also now selling game prizes at each game booth if you would rather just buy the stuffed animal. Prices range from $4 to $125 depending on the item.

I used to try to go to Fright Fest on Friday nights. It usually wasn't too bad except for the last 2 Friday nights in October (except Halloween night when it is empty). Last year it seemed more crowded and I will probably avoid October all together this year except Columbus Day. After seeing the overflow queues set up with the Glow In The Park Parade trash cans and chains for rides like Superman that already can hold a multi hour line, as well as the pictures from trip reports of past years, I will never go on a Saturday during Fright Fest and avoid Sunday as well.

It was the same with Skull Mountain. The VR only lasted just over a month before it was removed.

Thanks, that was what I was hoping to hear (just in case we need it when I visit the park with a friend later this summer who can only go on a weekend).

Does anyone know at the Fast Track merge points is there a worker there to control the line or do you have to just walk into the regular line at the merge point yourself?

I went to the park on Friday of Memorial Day weekend in 2015. It wasn't as crowded as I would have expected since I thought the same thing about crowd levels with a 10:00 closing. I got there in the afternoon and probably spent around 5 or 6 hours and got 17 rides in that day.

As expected the bumper cars were just ok. The cycle is very short and the small driving area combined with the metal island in the middle caused a lot of people to spend most of the ride cycle stuck. Stinger was closed with some mechanics working on the ride but it never opened (not that I would have ridden the coaster anyway). I also noticed this when walking around the park today.

Maybe they will use the single rider line for a non VR line?

On Friday, I would expect 10 to 20 minute waits most of the day and walk ons from around 4 to 5 until closing at 8.

Hershey is probably going to be extremely crowded in the afternoon and until you leave the park. I went to the park on the 2nd or 3rd Friday in May last year and there was Music In The Parks which brought a lot of school groups. Some of the major coasters were 60 to 90 minutes, even smaller coasters like Trailblazer got up to 30 minutes in the middle of the day. Great Adventure shouldn't be too crowded, I have gone on Thursdays in May 2 or 3 times in past years and it is usually walk ons to 15 minute waits for the coaster.