Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom Discussion Thread

[SkyToro]

I am impressed with Dorney's recent focus to adding new and improved light packages. Last offseason, Dorney Park added a pretty impressive light display on the Ferris Wheel and now they are adding chaser lights to Thunderhawk. Not to mention, the light package that came with the Cedar Creek Flyers is great!

From what I've been told, 2 flats will be upgraded to LEDs for 2016 as well.

[Physical]

I am impressed with Dorney's recent focus to adding new and improved light packages. Last offseason, Dorney Park added a pretty impressive light display on the Ferris Wheel and now they are adding chaser lights to Thunderhawk. Not to mention, the light package that came with the Cedar Creek Flyers is great!

From what I've been told, 2 flats will be upgraded to LEDs for 2016 as well.

 

Please be the Musik Express. The one Dorney has is in /desperate/ need of a modernization.

[DorneyKid14]

I am impressed with Dorney's recent focus to adding new and improved light packages. Last offseason, Dorney Park added a pretty impressive light display on the Ferris Wheel and now they are adding chaser lights to Thunderhawk. Not to mention, the light package that came with the Cedar Creek Flyers is great!

From what I've been told, 2 flats will be upgraded to LEDs for 2016 as well.

 

Please be the Musik Express. The one Dorney has is in /desperate/ need of a modernization.

 

This is true. Especially being on one of the busiest midways in the park, a nice light package would do wonders to the area.

[CoasterTony]

Thunderhawk's new trains construction update (Via Mike Fehnel's Twitter):

[CoasterTony]

Mike has been spoiling us with Thunderhawk updates! (Via Mike Fehnel's Twitter)

[boldikus]

buzzbars, you will be missed.

chill, im only half serious

[Rill'o'beily]

buzzbars, you will be missed.

 

What's a buzzbar

[michaellynn4]

A buzz bar is this kind of restraint, known for its "buzzing" sound when locking:

 

[Jcoaster]

The new trains look fresh but he buzzbars being removed is a major bummer.

[Physical]

Anybody know if the new trains are trailered or are they the standard 2 axle trains?

[CoasterTony]

Wow, these trains look amazing! (Via Mike Fehnel's Twitter)

[KICoasterkev]

Wow is right! Looks great, good job Dorney Park!

[SkyToro]

Wow, these trains look amazing! (Via Mike Fehnel's Twitter)

The red train looks fantastic! The yellow train could use a more prominent red outline around the letters imo, but it still looks great.

[Lareson]

Anybody know if the new trains are trailered or are they the standard 2 axle trains?

 

They're actually neither. These are one of the newer articulating rear axle trains. These should move around the corners much better than the old trains did with the 2 fixed axles.

 

PTC hasn't made any trailered 2 or 3 row trains for quite a few years now. The only ones they make are their 360 trains.

 

I know the buzzbars will be missed, but at least there's no middle seat divider so there should still be plenty of wiggle room. Oh and to also confirm, there will just be standard seat backs, no more stupid headrests!

http://www.philadelphiatoboggancoastersinc.com/news.php?NewsId=22

[SkyToro]

Anybody know if the new trains are trailered or are they the standard 2 axle trains?

 

They're actually neither. These are one of the newer articulating rear axle trains. These should move around the corners much better than the old trains did with the 2 fixed axles.

 

PTC hasn't made any trailered 2 or 3 row trains for quite a few years now. The only ones they make are their 360 trains.

 

I know the buzzbars will be missed, but at least there's no middle seat divider so there should still be plenty of wiggle room. Oh and to also confirm, there will just be standard seat backs, no more stupid headrests!

http://www.philadelphiatoboggancoastersinc.com/news.php?NewsId=22

The new trains will have seat dividers.

[Physical]

Anybody know if the new trains are trailered or are they the standard 2 axle trains?

 

They're actually neither. These are one of the newer articulating rear axle trains. These should move around the corners much better than the old trains did with the 2 fixed axles.

 

So they're two axle with one fixed in the front and one articulating in the rear? Or is it more like Arrow looper trains or Intamin hyper trains where there's one axle per car that sits under the car behind it? (with the exception of the pilot car of course)

 

After looking at the pics from PTC's site I answered my own question. Are both axles free to move separate from the car itself or is just the back one free to move?

 

I know the buzzbars will be missed, but at least there's no middle seat divider so there should still be plenty of wiggle room. Oh and to also confirm, there will just be standard seat backs, no more stupid headrests!

http://www.philadelphiatoboggancoastersinc.com/news.php?NewsId=22

 

Here's hoping all that comfy (looking) padding makes the ride less rough! I dig the old school look though, with the "couch cushion" style benches without seat dividers.

Edited March 2, 2016 by Physical

[DorneyKid14]

Was at the park today, they started painting thunderhawk. Cant wait to see the final product!!!

[CoasterTony]

Was at the park today, they started painting thunderhawk. Cant wait to see the final product!!!

 

Thanks for the update, I haven't driven past the park in a few weeks. Thunderhawk is going to look great once they are finished giving it a fresh coat of white paint. The question is, how is it going to run?

[Genx24]

The question is, how is it going to run?

As crappy and rough as usual. A coat of paint isn't going to help that.

[CoasterTony]

As crappy and rough as usual. A coat of paint isn't going to help that.

 

I think the ride will run at least slightly better then it has been (and as of 2015, Thunderhawk wasn't running that bad) with the new trains and some minor retracking, it should be a great year for Thunderhawk.

[Physical]

As crappy and rough as usual. A coat of paint isn't going to help that.

 

I think the ride will run at least slightly better then it has been (and as of 2015, Thunderhawk wasn't running that bad) with the new trains and some minor retracking, it should be a great year for Thunderhawk.

 

Plus the new trains are probably significantly lighter than the old ones, perhaps allowing the trims to be turned down/removed completely?

 

I'm still dreaming about this

[Jcoaster]

Rough, painful airtime. The only way this ride will improve is if they took the trims off and that is never happening. Trains look good at least.

[boldikus]

Obviously I can't speak for the new trains but if you want a decent ride on Thunderhawk sit in the first two seats.

[CoasterTony]

Obviously I can't speak for the new trains but if you want a decent ride on Thunderhawk sit in the first two seats.

 

That's a very valid point, I know you will only see me in the first car of Thunderhawk (Third row is pretty good too). Everywhere else lacks the ejector airtime that the front car gives so much of.

[Lareson]

After looking at the pics from PTC's site I answered my own question. Are both axles free to move separate from the car itself or is just the back one free to move?

 

Just the back one, but only in the up and down direction, not side-to-side. It may seem odd, but it generally helps with banking transitions as those are what causes the most stress to the standard fixed axle chassis

 

This is a pretty good picture of an underside of an articulating PTC train. You can see the cutout where the rear axle is allowed to move. Also, this is one of the weird White Cyclone trains that for some odd reason, uses a skid brake and a fin brake system, for those that may wonder.

 

You'd be surprised on the difference between a good train and a bad one. Wolverine Wildcat at Michigan's Adventure was an OK ride, but the year the train was shipped over to PTC for its refurb, it was running the best I've ever rode on it. And there was little to no track work done on it from the previous year.