Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom Discussion Thread

[Physical]

I don't understand why the rides park is basically shunned by the GP

 

The water park and Halloween Haunt is where Dorney makes all their money really. The park is just kinda... there.

 

they should take the trim off Thunderhawk

 

Won't happen, that ride is old, and I mean old. The trim is there so it doesn't fall apart pretty much. Every season they add more wire bracing on the figure 8 section. They've actually been using the old wood from Hercules (taken down in 2003) to repair Thunderhawk. The trim is in place so it doesn't fall apart on them.

[rcjp]

^But it's not always used. On my very first ride the trim was off meaning there was some awesome air in the end.

[Donkey123]

From 10-5 P.M. the park Is dead with most lines as walk-ons, but when that waterpark closes you'll experience most major roller coasters in the middle of the switchbacks even with high capacity rides like Hyrda, Talon, and especially Steel Force. This past Saturday the park had very short lines like everyone said already, but I went at night and it was very crowded; Posessed and Stinger's line was unbelieveable with both of the lines in the middle of there switchbacks. Hyrda had a line up to the second switchback and I don't even want to talk about Steel Force's line. Talon's line was surprisingly very short with only about a 5 minute wait and rides like Enterprise and Meteor had a 10 minute wait. For me, as a season pass holder was, eat smoked chicken and baked beans, walk around and see if any lines were short, and then get on my favorite ride, Talon. Going back Friday morning ( 7th visit for the season) so I can have a usual relaxing day at Dorney and the Smokehouse Barbecue!

[Physical]

I don't even want to talk about Steel Force's line.

 

Weekends are brutal for lines over there, it was especially bad this Saturday because a few troops of Girl Scouts were on a trip there and had to ride that ride for one of their projects.

 

IIRC That entire section of the park (Steel Force, Thunderhawk, Possessed, and Stinger) was open an hour after close. Next time you're here ask one of the ops if there's anything like that going on. We (usually) get a sheet with a list of events going on that day and we should be able to tell you if anything is open later than usual.

[boldikus]

I'm excited to get back to this park on Sunday. Last years visit I missed Demon Drop and Stinger, also excited to check out the new Flyers and of course get some laps on Talon, Steel Force and Possessed. And can't forget about the amazing Apollo!

[Physical]

I'm excited to get back to this park on Sunday. Last years visit I missed Demon Drop and Stinger, also excited to check out the new Flyers and of course get some laps on Talon, Steel Force and Possessed. And can't forget about the amazing Apollo!

 

I rode Stinger for the first time a few days ago, one word describes it, "ouch."

 

I thought everybody was just overstating how much it beats you up, nope, on the return trip, coming out of the loop, the whole car sucker punches you right in the temple (

is a good example of this. Keep an eye on the restraints, whenever they shake or move around a lot, they're coming in contact with your head)

 

I'm tempted to ride it again sitting in a different car, but considering how much it beat me up the first time, I'm not exactly in a hurry to give it another shot.

[certifiedcoastergeek]

Which DP coaster is most worthy of re-rides aka smoothest (I'll be visiting for the first time on a Tuesday in late July, so I heard it isn't that crowded)?

[Donkey123]

I'm excited to get back to this park on Sunday. Last years visit I missed Demon Drop and Stinger, also excited to check out the new Flyers and of course get some laps on Talon, Steel Force and Possessed. And can't forget about the amazing Apollo!

 

I rode Stinger for the first time a few days ago, one word describes it, "ouch."

 

I thought everybody was just overstating how much it beats you up, nope, on the return trip, coming out of the loop, the whole car sucker punches you right in the temple (

is a good example of this. Keep an eye on the restraints, whenever they shake or move around a lot, they're coming in contact with your head)

 

I'm tempted to ride it again sitting in a different car, but considering how much it beat me up the first time, I'm not exactly in a hurry to give it another shot.

 

You probably didn't ride it in the front row if you experience that much head-banging, I also ride the other rows sometimes and you do get some head-banging, but nothing to ruin the ride. I am used to rough rides though and don't mind going on them. I consider Stinger to be quite smooth and very forceful.

[ImNotOneOfYou]

Which DP coaster is most worthy of re-rides aka smoothest (I'll be visiting for the first time on a Tuesday in late July, so I heard it isn't that crowded)?

 

Talon and Steel Force. Hydra has a rattle that gave me a slight headache after the ride. The holding brake on Possessed is sightly uncomfortable. Thunderhawk, being a nearly 100 year old wooden roller coaster, is a ride you want to ride once if you choose to ride it at all. Use context clues to decide why Stinger isn't the smoothest...

[Donkey123]

Which DP coaster is most worthy of re-rides aka smoothest (I'll be visiting for the first time on a Tuesday in late July, so I heard it isn't that crowded)?

 

Talon is the smoothest and my personal favorite at the park, Steel Force and Possessed are also smooth. Hydra is mostly a smooth ride with just some minor rattling. Stinger is pretty smooth too, especially if you ride in the front and Thunderhawk is pretty brutal, but the airtime in the front is pretty good and still worth a try.

[njcoasterguy34]

Today was proof that you can't always trust the weather forecast.

 

Before I left my apartment to go to Dorney Park, I checked the weather for Allentown, PA. It called for rain from about noon until about 2 or 3. I decided to go anyway and I'm glad I did because it never rained at all.

 

I got 5 rides on Talon (my favorite in the park), 3 on Hydra, and 3 on Steel Force. I didn't ride Thunderhawk because I didn't feel like getting pummeled. I didn't ride Possessed or Stinger because I just didn't feel like riding them. The lines were pretty much non-existent until about 4 or so when people started coming over from the water park.

 

I arrived before the park opened and left about 5:30 or so.

[blk_mamba]

Hey I brought a season pass for the Cedar Fair parks and wanted to visit Dorney Park b/c I have the pass. Is it super crowded on weekend? Last time I went everything was a walk-on. They even let us stay on Steel Force twice with out getting off.

[neil009]

Which DP coaster is most worthy of re-rides aka smoothest (I'll be visiting for the first time on a Tuesday in late July, so I heard it isn't that crowded)?

 

Talon is the smoothest and my personal favorite at the park, Steel Force and Possessed are also smooth. Hydra is mostly a smooth ride with just some minor rattling. Stinger is pretty smooth too, especially if you ride in the front and Thunderhawk is pretty brutal, but the airtime in the front is pretty good and still worth a try.

 

My ride in the last row of Possessed in May was very, very far from smooth. It rattled all over the place, I was really surprised. Talon and Steel Force are really the only rides at Dorney you could call smooth. SF is one of the most rerideable coasters I've ever ridden, smooth, fast and fun, but also pretty gentle with super comfy trains. Thunderhawk really is not bad though, at least compared to rides like Wildcat at Hershey. I actually really enjoy it right up until the big trim towards the end.

[njcoasterguy34]

Hey I brought a season pass for the Cedar Fair parks and wanted to visit Dorney Park b/c I have the pass. Is it super crowded on weekend? Last time I went everything was a walk-on. They even let us stay on Steel Force twice with out getting off.

 

I would recommend getting to Dorney in time for the pass-holder early entry at 9:30am. The lines are not bad at all until about 4:00pm or so because everyone is over in the wet side of the park.

[blk_mamba]

Hey I brought a season pass for the Cedar Fair parks and wanted to visit Dorney Park b/c I have the pass. Is it super crowded on weekend? Last time I went everything was a walk-on. They even let us stay on Steel Force twice with out getting off.

 

I would recommend getting to Dorney in time for the pass-holder early entry at 9:30am. The lines are not bad at all until about 4:00pm or so because everyone is over in the wet side of the park.

 

Oh ok cool, what if the person I go with doesn't have a season pass?

[njcoasterguy34]

If your friend uses your bring-a-friend discount at the gate instead of buying the ticket online, he or she can enter early with you.

[Donkey123]

I wonder why Possessed was so rough that day, maybe I am just used to launch coasters because compared to other launches I call Possessed to be pretty smooth compared to other big launch coasters in the area like Stormrunner, which has so much head-banging in the last half of the ride unless you push yourself into the seat, and Kingda Ka which has a very bumpy launch. I agree that Thunderhawk isn't as rough as Wildcat, but for others that are older then me I would feel like it would take a beating on them, like it does to other parents I see on the trains.

[Physical]

I'm excited to get back to this park on Sunday. Last years visit I missed Demon Drop and Stinger, also excited to check out the new Flyers and of course get some laps on Talon, Steel Force and Possessed. And can't forget about the amazing Apollo!

 

I rode Stinger for the first time a few days ago, one word describes it, "ouch."

 

I thought everybody was just overstating how much it beats you up, nope, on the return trip, coming out of the loop, the whole car sucker punches you right in the temple (

is a good example of this. Keep an eye on the restraints, whenever they shake or move around a lot, they're coming in contact with your head)

 

I'm tempted to ride it again sitting in a different car, but considering how much it beat me up the first time, I'm not exactly in a hurry to give it another shot.

 

You probably didn't ride it in the front row if you experience that much head-banging, I also ride the other rows sometimes and you do get some head-banging, but nothing to ruin the ride. I am used to rough rides though and don't mind going on them. I consider Stinger to be quite smooth and very forceful.

 

I rode in the same car as the one in the video, having watched the coaster from the employee lot a bunch, it seems that car gets whipped around quite a bit on the return trip. Next time I'm there as a guest I'll give it a shot on the opposite end.

[neil009]

I wonder why Possessed was so rough that day, maybe I am just used to launch coasters because compared to other launches I call Possessed to be pretty smooth compared to other big launch coasters in the area like Stormrunner, which has so much head-banging in the last half of the ride unless you push yourself into the seat, and Kingda Ka which has a very bumpy launch. I agree that Thunderhawk isn't as rough as Wildcat, but for others that are older then me I would feel like it would take a beating on them, like it does to other parents I see on the trains.

 

It may have just been the last car of Possessed. If it's going to be rough anywhere, that's where. I've never experienced any kind of headbanging on Storm Runner. Coaster riding is very subjective.

[boldikus]

I'm excited to get back to this park on Sunday. Last years visit I missed Demon Drop and Stinger, also excited to check out the new Flyers and of course get some laps on Talon, Steel Force and Possessed. And can't forget about the amazing Apollo!

 

I rode Stinger for the first time a few days ago, one word describes it, "ouch."

 

I thought everybody was just overstating how much it beats you up, nope, on the return trip, coming out of the loop, the whole car sucker punches you right in the temple (

is a good example of this. Keep an eye on the restraints, whenever they shake or move around a lot, they're coming in contact with your head)

 

I'm tempted to ride it again sitting in a different car, but considering how much it beat me up the first time, I'm not exactly in a hurry to give it another shot.

 

I only did get one ride on Stinger today (not amazeballs enough to go back for) but I have to say it was smooth as hell, not a single moment of headbanging. We rode 'last' car so we rode the first lift facing up and did the course backwards, and then the other way around (obvs). It surprised me by being much better than I expected. But WTF is up with the rapping autospiel in the station? Horrifying. Would jump in front of the train if I had work that ride and listen to that on repeat all day.

 

We had a great time at Dorney today for Coasting for Kids. Possessed was SO GOOD. Also Demon Drop is insane. I'm tired and I'll post more (with pics) tomorrow.

[Donkey123]

With all of the rumors and almost confirmed attractions coming to the Cedar Fair chain next year, CGA getting floorless trains on Vortex, Carowinds probably getting a big waterpark expansion, Cedar Point's dive coaster, Canada's Wonderland possibility of some sort of new B&M, and Valleyfair's all new parking lot and other major improvements, it looks like Dorney will get a pretty small investment for 2016. I would like to see some sort of family/thrill ride put where Hangtime used to be, since right now it is just weird seeing nothing there and really not a lot of foot traffic with only Talon in the corner. If it did happen next year it would probably be a thrill ride since they just got Cedar Creek Flyers this season, I really don't know what would be a good fit for the park with all of the height and sound restrictions and the very good thrill ride selection they already have. What does anyone else think Dorney could get next year either generally or in the old Hangtime's spot?

[njcoasterguy34]

I'd like to see a ride like SFNE's Buzzsaw. That's a surprisingly fun ride.

[Donkey123]

This is not unusual, but Stinger has been closed for the last six days at the park. Maintenance has been there and today they were on a crane at the top of the lift hill.

[boldikus]

Oh man, glad I got on it when I did.

[DorneyKid14]

Today was proof that you can't always trust the weather forecast.

 

Before I left my apartment to go to Dorney Park, I checked the weather for Allentown, PA. It called for rain from about noon until about 2 or 3. I decided to go anyway and I'm glad I did because it never rained at all.

 

I got 5 rides on Talon (my favorite in the park), 3 on Hydra, and 3 on Steel Force. I didn't ride Thunderhawk because I didn't feel like getting pummeled. I didn't ride Possessed or Stinger because I just didn't feel like riding them. The lines were pretty much non-existent until about 4 or so when people started coming over from the water park.

 

I arrived before the park opened and left about 5:30 or so.

 

There is this thing workers call at dorney and its the dorney bubble. Whenever they call for rain it never rains at the park. It could rain all around the park but not directly at the park.