New York, October

[FLIPDUDE]

I'm heading across the Atlantic in October for a vacation in New York. So far I'm planning on visiting Victorian Gardens(Because it's right there in Central Park), Coney Island, and... Undecided. Mostly on the fence between SFGADv and Dorney, but if anyone has any other suggestions, I'll be glad to hear them! Keep in mind it has to be accessible via public transportation though. I'm also into waterparks, in case there's any good one that I overlooked.

 

Now, here's the thing: I've already been to Great Adventure. Twice. Or this wouldn't of even been an issue.

I've been there once in 2002 and once in 2007. I've ridden every rollercoaster in the park except Rolling Thunder and El Toro. Whereas I haven't been to Dorney once.

Now, on one hand, SFGADv has El freaking Toro, one of the best rollercoasters in the world, as well as Kingda Ka(which I already rode, but still). On the other hand, most of the other rides in the park are pretty "meh", since I'm pretty tired of B&Ms, and I've ridden everything else twice already. Not to mention that they got rid of alot of the rides I did like in the park: The chiller, Viper(yeah, I like Togo, shush), and now GASM.

And then there's Dorney, who, on one hand, I've never been to, but on the other hand, the ride lineup does not even nearly compare to SFGADv, especially when you consider that I'm bored with Beemers. Not to the point where they dont' thrill me at all or anything, but they're all sort of "Been there done that" for me. Hopefully Hydra will be more interesting.

 

People seem awfully eager about Dorney for some reason, so that's why I havne't ruled it out already, but I am leaning towards SFGADv at the moment. What are your thoughts? Ideally I'd visit both, but I still want to leave enought ime to enjoy New York City itself.

Another thing to keep in mind is that I'm going to be there during the Halloween celebrations, if that makes any difference.

 

 

And if anyone else has any more tips to getting the best out of my trip, I'd be happy to hear them! I'm already planning on getting whatever line-cutting system the parks have but I trust there's more I can do.

[let1gre]

since I'm pretty tired of B&Ms

 

The two flagship coasters at Dorney are B&Ms too.

 

Dorney probably has a better "atmosphere" than SFGAdv, but from what I've heard, it's easy to clear the park in less than two hours and on a rather off-season day in October it will be even easier and shorter. It also has only six coasters, so if you want quantity, hit up Six Flags. In October, especially on an October weekday, you could probably put a very large dent in the coaster lineup there, and it wouldn't be rerides of the same few over and over again.

[larrygator]

In October, especially on an October weekday, you could probably put a very large dent in the coaster lineup there, and it wouldn't be rerides of the same few over and over again.

 

It is not a good idea to visit SFGAdv on a weekday in October!

[let1gre]

In October, especially on an October weekday, you could probably put a very large dent in the coaster lineup there, and it wouldn't be rerides of the same few over and over again.

 

It is not a good idea to visit SFGAdv on a weekday in October!

 

It's not? Why not?

 

(I'm sorry, FLIPDUDE, I've never visited either, just trying to use what little knowledge I had)

[larrygator]

In October, especially on an October weekday, you could probably put a very large dent in the coaster lineup there, and it wouldn't be rerides of the same few over and over again.

 

It is not a good idea to visit SFGAdv on a weekday in October!

 

It's not? Why not?

 

(I'm sorry, FLIPDUDE, I've never visited either, just trying to use what little knowledge I had)

 

Let1gre - I'm not trying to pick on you because you are far from the only one to make this mistake. Trying to provide help when you don't have a proper knowledge base is counter productive.

 

You are making suggestions when you haven't been to either park, how can you provide an acceptable answer.

 

I know people want to be helpful, but everyone please refrain if you are uncertain.

 

SFGAdv is not open on weekdays in October. Columbus Day and Friday limited hours are an exception.

 

Tomi - I don't know who is eager for Dorney. Purely from a coaster standpoint you should pick SFGAdv. Dorney much better flats but you have said you didn't care about flats in the past.

 

Maybe someone else can help you with the Halloween aspect.

[let1gre]

Thanks larrygator. I appreciate you telling me this before I accidentally set someone off on the wrong track.

[FLIPDUDE]

Thanks, guys!

 

Is Dorney open on weekdays though? Because if it's open on weekdays, and the park really CAN be cleared in 2 hours then it might be a good idea to make my way there one morning just a for a quick hit and run deal.

 

Also, it's not so much that I don't care for flats as much as it is that I've already been on most common flat rides... It takes something unique to wow me. For example, the fact that Dorney has a 1st gen intamin freefall did nudge me a little. And I love stuff like Top Scans or SCAD towers, but Dorney's selection is mostly your run-of-the-mill stuff.

 

EDIT - A second after posting I figured "Why don't I just look it up myself?" And a quick look showed that Dorney is also only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during october. =\ Is one of those suppose dto be praticularly empty?

[What Now]

What is more important to you, to get more credits or ride of the best coasters out there?

[FLIPDUDE]

I want to have fun. That's all there is to it. The idea of going to Dorney wasn't so much about credit whoring as much as it was about the potential fun of a new park.

[tatertot3710]

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Edited April 5, 2017 by tatertot3710

[FLIPDUDE]

^Thank you very much!!! I will be in New York on Oct. 7th-19th. I'm going to have to find some way to squeeze in everything I want to do because it seems like everything I want to do is only open on weekends, and on one of the two weekends I'm there I'm going to be visiting New York Comicon!

[YoshiFan]

If you do go to Great Adventure, Friday October 8th is probably going to be the best day to go if you don't mind only 6 hours in the park. The first Friday night of Frightfest is almost always empty, last year there were only around 3000 people in the park and all lines were 0 - 10 minutes so it would be very unlikely you would need a flashpass. If that won't work, a Sunday will be better than Saturdays. I have never been there on a Saturday (I only go on Friday nights for the low crowds) in October but I have seen pictures and one report I remember reading Nitro's line was spilling out of the queue onto the midway and Batman had a line in the garden area and both were reported to be over 2 hours. I am not sure about Columbus Day this year as this is the first year they are also having a fall physics day which means school trips on top of the people visiting who have the day off from work or school so I don't expect it to be empty.

 

Dorney isn't crowded on Friday nights early in October or Sunday. I would try to avoid going on a Saturday. Dorney doesn't have a line cutting system (except a $300 per person VIP tour) but I'd be surprised if the ride lines were long. Except for Halloween weekend, I have never seen any lines more than 5 - 10 minutes for the rides during Haunt but the Haunt attractions can get 20+ minute lines.

 

Having both parks as my home parks I would probably pick Great Adventure on coasters alone but as others mentioned Dorney has a more balanced ride collection. For Halloween events, Haunt at Dorney is way better than Frightfest at Great Adventure if that matters and as mentioned earlier Great Adventure charges $5 for each of their walkthroughs and at Dorney they are all included with admission. The scare zones are also better at Dorney, Great Adventure's have 3 - 4 actors at most in a whole section, Dorney's zones have actors every few feet.

[slither37]

This is good info for me too. Planning on stopping at Dorney on my way home from NYC on 10/17 for a few hours. Hopefully weather and lines cooperate.

 

When I mapped out the trip. My route home goes right past Dorney and as a Cedar Fair Platinum holder, how can I and my daughter not stop for a few rides?

[MJL12785]

I have been to both parks. I go to SFGA quite a bit. It has been years since I've been to Dorney. I never have been to Dorney during the October Months. SFGA has the better line up. Personally, El Toro is worth it alone, especially if you have never been on it. If you can get to SFGA before the Fright Fest starts it is not crowded at all. If Fright Fest is happening the weekend you go, go on a Sunday. Be there when the park opens and plan on leaving at 3pm. After 3pm it gets totally mobbed. LInes will be at least 2hrs, 3 is even likely. I go quite a bit in October, leave at 3pm and get on all coasters at least twice. If you can go when it is cloudy or chance of rain, better yet!

[FLIPDUDE]

Uhm... thanks for the tip, but... I've been back for 4 months now. o___O Kinda slow to repsond there.

 

Ended up going to SFGADv and had a blast.

[MJL12785]

Yeah, I guess it was a bit late! I just joined the site today actually and saw the post. I just thought it was for this October, didn't even realize the date of the original post! OH well, glad you had a great time.