Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom Discussion Thread

[njcoasterguy34]

I find the backwards launch in the very back row of Possessed to be quite intense.

[coasterbill]

We were in Pennsylavnia this weekend for a wedding so yesterday we made the last minute decision to stop by Dorney and ended up spending most of the day (noon to close).

 

I like this park a lot, in true Cedar Fair fashion everything is always in pristine shape and the rides always run at max capacity even with small crowds. In true Dorney fashion it wasn't uncommon to see trains on Hydra and Talon with only one row filled, though generally they were able to do a little better than that.

 

The only big changes from last year were the addition of Cedar Creek Flyers which were fun but we weren't able to snap them nor did we see anyone snap them and the new BBQ place by Dominator which is delicious. Aside from Chickie and Pete's the food at Dorney has always been atrocious so it's nice to see that they finally have another quality food place.

 

Since it was opening weekend they had some issues with breakdowns but that's to be expected. By about 7:00 Stinger, Posessed and Revolution were down for the day. Posessed was having issues all day stopping out by the front spike and I guess they finally gave up (we managed to get a ride in though). Thunder Creek Mountain had 2 logs collide in the block on top of the ride (by Hydra's exit) and they had to walk people off the ride so it was down and Demon Drop actually had 2 cars bump in the station but it did re-open later in the day. They bumped lightly but even the ride ops seemed really suprised when it happened, all running over to make sure everyone was okay. They obviously were since it couldn't have been more than a 2 mph collision but it still made a heck of a noise.

 

We got to ride all of the major rides except Thunderhawk and Stinger because they're terrible. Meteor isn't quite ready to open for the season yet which is a shame but everything else was up and running. Everything was running about the same as last year, Steel Force is a great ride in the front seat, Talon is great everywhere and Hydra is always a fun ride. Demon Drop is still amazing and for some reason Thunder Creek Mountain continues to be my favorite ride in the park... don't judge me. lol

 

Overall we had an awesome time at Dorney, we'll definitely be back later in the season.

[njcoasterguy34]

I honestly don't know why people say Stinger is rough. I rode it for the first time ever on Saturday, and it seemed to be less rough than Thunderhawk or even Hydra.

[TyRush]

I honestly don't know why people say Stinger is rough. I rode it for the first time ever on Saturday, and it seemed to be less rough than Thunderhawk or even Hydra.

I had a similar experience when I first rode it I would even go to say it was smooth. Then I rode it again and it kicked my a$$. So I guess we can call it even

[grsupercity]

Me and the lady are debating doing a Dorney/Hershey trip this summer along with the Carowinds trip we already have planned. Does anyone know when the lift cable will be fixed on Stinger?

[coasterbill]

Stinger is open for now. It's very likely that by the summer it will be closed for the remainder of the season with some serious malfunction though.

[Rollercoaster Rider]

Stinger is open for now. It's very likely that by the summer it will be closed for the remainder of the season with some serious malfunction though.

 

 

Does anyone know why it has many mechanical problems? I don't remember hearing this many stories when it was in California.

[rcjp]

^ stinger is pretty forceful but yes, I don't think possessed is that intense. Plus talon is a more complete experience.

 

For me, the first launch and the part where it stops are the most intense parts of any ride I ever rode

Really? I found wicked twister's launch more intense.

[vette2006c5r]

Stinger is open for now. It's very likely that by the summer it will be closed for the remainder of the season with some serious malfunction though.

 

 

Does anyone know why it has many mechanical problems? I don't remember hearing this many stories when it was in California.

 

I can only speculate, but I wonder if the move did a number, plus being in PA, Stinger is exposed to cold snowy winters, rain, and some large temperature fluctuations. That has to do a number on roller coasters.

[Donkey123]

Stinger is open for now. It's very likely that by the summer it will be closed for the remainder of the season with some serious malfunction though.

 

 

Does anyone know why it has many mechanical problems? I don't remember hearing this many stories when it was in California.

 

I can only speculate, but I wonder if the move did a number, plus being in PA, Stinger is exposed to cold snowy winters, rain, and some large temperature fluctuations. That has to do a number on roller coasters.

 

I don't think that's the reason because you've got so many great coasters all around the northeast and they are super smooth and don't break down, Steel Force is 18 years old and is still very smooth. Stinger did have trouble in CGA, and that's probably why they wanted to removed it in the first place. This past weekend Stinger was running great and was open the whole time on Saturday and Sunday.

[njcoasterguy34]

I noticed a couple changes in regards to a couple of the already existing flats when I went on Saturday. First, the Tilt-a-Whirl now has seat-belt type things keeping the lap-bars down. Second, I was actually able to ride the Scrambler as a single rider. The web-site still states that the Scrambler doesn't allow single riders, so I'm wondering why the operator was allowing them on.

[certifiedcoastergeek]

Hello there, fellow coaster fans! I live about five minutes from Kings Dominion, and this year I'm all set to visit Dorney on a Tuesday in mid-July, having upgraded from Gold to Platinum for this trip and my one-day trip to Carowinds for Fury. I will be at the park from opening 'til dinner (5-6 PM), focusing on the coasters and drop towers, but I need to check in to my hotel in Allentown by 6:30 so that I can make it to Hershey the following day. Before I go, though, (and I understand that this is still very early), I had a few questions about the park which are unclear on the website:

1. Is there an ERT program for passholders like most CF parks?

2. How much do meals cost?

3. Do any rides mandate lockerz for loose articles, and if so, how much $$$ should I pack?

4. Are food and merch discounts offered for passholders?

5. Finally, and this is the big one, how long should I expect the lines to be and what's the best plan of attack to avoid these lines and to be able to do everything (not enough overhead to splurge on FL or FL+ on this trip)?

Thank you very much in advance, and I'm really looking forward to Steel Force!

[njcoasterguy34]

1. Is there an ERT program for passholders like most CF parks?

Dorney Park allows pass-holders in 30 minutes early. Talon is almost always open for the ERT, and sometimes Hydra is as well.

2. How much do meals cost?

I can't really answer this one since I have the Season Dining Plan, but I do know that you can purchase meal vouchers ahead of time and they also offer an all-day dining plan where you can eat every 90 minutes or so.

3. Do any rides mandate lockerz for loose articles, and if so, how much $$$ should I pack?

All the major coasters provide storage cubes on the platform.

4. Are food and merch discounts offered for passholders?

Dorney Park offers a 10% discount on food and merchandise.

5. Finally, and this is the big one, how long should I expect the lines to be and what's the best plan of attack to avoid these lines and to be able to do everything (not enough overhead to splurge on FL or FL+ on this trip)?

The longest lines are usually on the Wild Mouse and Thunder Canyon. I never get Fast Lane when I go and I'm always able to get multiple rides on all the coasters. Most people who go to Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom go there for the Wildwater Kingdom part. The lines do tend to get a bit longer as the day cools off.

[DorneyKid14]

Hello there, fellow coaster fans! I live about five minutes from Kings Dominion, and this year I'm all set to visit Dorney on a Tuesday in mid-July, having upgraded from Gold to Platinum for this trip and my one-day trip to Carowinds for Fury. I will be at the park from opening 'til dinner (5-6 PM), focusing on the coasters and drop towers, but I need to check in to my hotel in Allentown by 6:30 so that I can make it to Hershey the following day. Before I go, though, (and I understand that this is still very early), I had a few questions about the park which are unclear on the website:

1. Is there an ERT program for passholders like most CF parks?

2. How much do meals cost?

3. Do any rides mandate lockerz for loose articles, and if so, how much $$$ should I pack?

4. Are food and merch discounts offered for passholders?

5. Finally, and this is the big one, how long should I expect the lines to be and what's the best plan of attack to avoid these lines and to be able to do everything (not enough overhead to splurge on FL or FL+ on this trip)?

Thank you very much in advance, and I'm really looking forward to Steel Force!

 

Hello fellow friend, i believe i can help you out here.

1) Yes there is an ERT at Dorney. Pass holders can enter the park 30 minutes before opening, usually 9:30 in the morning and ride certain rides. Talon is one of them.

2) Meal can vary. Chickie and Petes would be my go to place to eat. But the park is offering all day dinning this year, which might be a good idea.

3) There are lockers at all thrill rides (expect demon drop) and they are free.

4) The discount would be 10% on both merch and food.

5) Lines will vary on park attendance, like all parks. Mid tuesday in july will be a good time to go. There will more likely be summer camp kids at the park, but they spend a lot of time in the water park and playing games. Most of the guest will be in the water park during the day and work their way into the park around 2-4 o'clock pm. so lines should not be to to bad, give or take 15-25 minutes depending on the ride. Possessed and Dominator usually have fast queue lines early/mid day. Talon, Hydra, and Steel Force will have the 15-25 minute queue time.

 

Hope i helped you out!

[boldikus]

I'm really looking forward to Steel Force!

 

If you're looking for airtime, don't even think about sitting in the back. Front car ride all the way.

[coasterbill]

Nobody should ever buy Fastlane or worry about lines at Dorney... 99% of the time every ride in the dry park will be a walk on except the Log Flume, Wild Mouse and Cedar Creek Flyers, none of which you'll wait more than 15 minutes for. This applies to Saturdays during the summer, haunt... basically all the time unless there's some fluke thing where a ridiculous amount of school groups show up and even then you won't wait more than 15 minutes for the major rides.

[neil009]

Had a really nice day at the park today despite the rain. The park is really looking beautiful. I'm always amazed just looking around the place how good the landscaping is, I think it's severely underrated in that regard.

 

Operations unfortunately were... bad. Normal early season woes, I guess. I tried riding the Whip while it was raining, along with a whole bunch of other people, but the kid operating it couldn't get it to start. He kept pressing the button and nothing happened, then he flipped through the pages of instructions on his clipboard, then pressed the button again, and still nothing happened. Finally after someone asked if they could get off he just apologized and let us all off. It was obvious from his body language he was totally lost, I didn't see him call for help or maintenance or anything.

[Donkey123]

I always think the same of why people think that this park has such bad shade/landscape, but there are so many areas especially in the back of the park that has many trees and flowers with a scenic creek running through it. If they expanded into the wooden area in the future I think more people will see how nice this park is.

[Brassinthegrass]

I'm planning on going to DP again for the second time this season on Friday on my way up my farmhouse upstate.

 

Has anyone been in the past two weeks? Is possessed back open? Is the back spike break working?

[ImNotOneOfYou]

I'm planning on going to DP again for the second time this season on Friday on my way up my farmhouse upstate.

 

Has anyone been in the past two weeks? Is possessed back open? Is the back spike break working?

 

Yes to all 3

[Brassinthegrass]

At the park now. Beautiful day. Sun shine a few clouds and most importantly everything is riding great! Online for steel force, been on everything else within the last 2 hours! Lots of music programs here. Middle schoolers everywhere! Hitting the old fashion sandwich company around the block and then heading to Knobel's for the evening! Happy Memorial Day everyone!

[njcoasterguy34]

I went to Dorney's Memorial Day fireworks show for the second year in a row tonight and it was awesome as ever. I didn't get any pics of the show because I only had my iPod touch with me and not my Nikon. I did take the following pic of some geese with their goslings, though.

 

 

Overall, the lines seemed to be pretty good. I think the longest wait I had was for Steel Force.

 

There was a small mechanical problem with Talon when the park first opened for the day, but it was solved quickly and I didn't notice any other rides not operating.

[Genx24]

My buddies and I are making our annual trip to Dorney on Saturday. Is that new BBQ place open? Is it any good? I remember being underwhelmed with the park's concessions last year.

Also, how have the crowds been on Saturday so far? Is it the usual 'everyone in the water park, no one in the rides park', or are more (or less) people hitting the dry side this year?

And finally, has Stinger gone down yet?

[coasterbill]

The new BBQ place is open and it's very good. I agree that besides Chickie and Pete's the food was terrible at Dorney so I'm glad they have something else to offer now. I was very impressed.

 

Since you're going on a Saturday in the summer I would expect enormous crowds (by Dorney's standards) so don't be surprised if wait times for the coasters reach as long as 2 or maybe even 3 minutes.

[neil009]

My buddies and I are making our annual trip to Dorney on Saturday. Is that new BBQ place open? Is it any good? I remember being underwhelmed with the park's concessions last year.

Also, how have the crowds been on Saturday so far? Is it the usual 'everyone in the water park, no one in the rides park', or are more (or less) people hitting the dry side this year.

And finally, has Stinger gone down yet?

 

The brisket is EXCELLENT. The fries are ok (a little too heavy on the seasoning for my tastes), and the ribs are ok too, but the brisket is way better. The meat portions are gigantic so you can probably get one side dish to split among your group.

 

Saturday two weeks ago was your typical school group crowd, numerous and very obnoxious. I imagine the crowds from now on will be about the same, maybe a little busier, but hopefully less obnoxious. Stinger was open, I believe it's doing ok this year.

 

I forgot to mention, we finally decided to do Dinosaurs Alive since it might (hopefully) not be around that many more years. We did the after dark addition which (according to signage) wasn't even supposed to be running, but a man standing at the gate told us it was. There were no "special effects" but they also charged us $6 instead of $7 so no worries. The tour guide was great, and the darkness made the dinosaurs a lot creepier and also hid any signs of wear they probably have by now. Also, at the end they told us "Here's your dirt cup". That turned out to be a free cup of chocolate pudding with oreo pieces and gummy worms on top. Which was adorable. Highly recommended.