Need help planning a trip

[imbordisux]

Just a little early planning, as my fiance' and I want to do a big trip next Summer, probably around May or so.

 

Here are the parks we want to hit:

 

- Hershey

- Dorney

- Kennywood

- Knoebels

- Geauga

- Cedar

- Probably - Waldameer

- Possibly - SF America

- Possibly, but not necessarily - SFGAdv

 

Quick question first: Would "Waldameer" be worth it? I'm dying to do a Maurer-Sohne spinning-mouse, but is it worth going out there for it? We don't have a lot of money, but are willing to blow/charge for our first big trip, as long as it is really worth it.

 

I've already charted it all out using Mapquest (how far each park is from every other park), but I was just looking for some advice, like if anybody thinks we should do certain parks on certain days, or if two of the parks could be done in one day, which saves on hotels.

 

We'll probably have 9 days total (though we'll probably want to get home on a Saturday) and really want to enjoy each park for about a day (two, maybe three for CP); we're not interested in credits or coaster-counts, we don't want to just run from park to park and ride each ride once, we really want to have plenty of time to savor each place, and ride rides numerous times. We're also not gonna spend money for any "fast-pass" devices (other than possibly CP), so we're not planning on that as a time-saver.

 

We live all the way out on LI, so we were thinking of doing something like this:

 

Sat - Hershey

Sun - SF America

Mon - Kennywood

Tues & Weds - Cedar

Thurs - Geauga + Waldameer

Fri - Knoebels

Sat - Dorney

 

Or some other variation of that. I didn't want to do all the "nearby" parks (Hershey, Dorney, Knoebels), since I wanted to save some for the return-trip.

 

Any suggestions? Should we drop Waldameer and/or SF America?

[Rider117]

Drop SFA for GADV. Nicer and has alot more coasters, I did not like SFA when I went down and I didn't get there S:RoS.

[imbordisux]

SFGAdv is our home park, hence why we likely won't include it on the trip; we're there often enough that we didn't want to take time away from visiting a different park.

[larrygator]

I would switch the days you do SFA and Hershey (SFA to Kennywood is quite a hike) and this would allow you to spend a more time at Hershey which is a full day park. Also, I don't know where you are planning to stay but if you stay near Hershey the night before you visit the park, they have a preview plan. You can enter the park for the last couple of hours the day before your visit at no additional charge.

 

Waldameer is a nice little park but I enjoyed spending time at some of the other smaller Pennsylvania parks (Lakemont and Conneaut Lake). However, Waldameer fits in nicely with your itinerary.

[alpengeist04]

Be careful, not all of those parks are open on weekdays in May. Make sure you check operating hours for each park before planning. You will be OK with CP, but I don't know about the others. June shouldn't be a problem, if you decide to go then.

[imbordisux]

I'm so absent-minded, I wouldn't have even thought of that.

 

Thanks for all the help so far, everyone.

[Guest]

From SFA to Kennywood is only 4 hours. It isn't as bad as you think.

 

In May depending on what day you go if you go Monday make sure you check park hours. The parks opening day is May 6th and they are open ONLY on weekends until Memorial Day weekend. And even that weekend which we hit up GL and KW wasn't crowded in the least. The longest line in KW was 30 minutes for Exterminator.

 

If you need to hit me up with a PM and I can tell you anything you need to know about KW.

[larrygator]

Be careful, not all of those parks are open on weekdays in May. Make sure you check operating hours for each park before planning.

 

Great point I remember changing the start day my trip to the smaller parks in Pennsylvania based on the differing schedules. I actually missed Lake Waldameer in 2004 because they were closed the day I driving through the area.

 

Coastin Katie - Also, I didn't realize SFA to Kennywood was so quick. I start in New York and it takes 5 hours from the time I get to Easton, PA to get across the state. I keep forgetting the Eastern seaboard is not a straight line and the Balt/DC area is as far west as Harrisburg, PA

[307]

Also, Hershey and SFA will likely be packed on weekends, so uh, budget time accordingly. We went on a Thursday and Friday last year and it was insanely crowded.

 

SFA -> Hershey -> Kennywood would probably be a quicker trip. However coming from LI, I would have no clue.

 

Not sure if Waldameer is even open on weekdays at that time. Same with Knoebels. The other parks should be, but only if you go in late May. I think we're hitting up Kennywood on June 2!

 

Waldameer is definately worth a couple of hours of exploring. We went to CP, Geauga, and Waldameer in 2004, and had more fun in three hours at Waldameer than we did in two days at Geauga. We also finished everything at GL in about five hours. It was a freakin' desert there.

 

Have a good trip!

[eddie200330]

Coming from New York, Dorney should be first and Hershey second, they are only a short drive down 77/81 from each other. I usually do Hershey on Sundays and get there when they open, not really crowded until later in the afternoon. Find out if there is a NASCAR race at any track nearby either weekend and plan @ that. We did Hershey on a Pocono race weekend and the place was dead. If going from six Flags to Kennywood, stay in Maryland from DC to Grantsville (I 270/70/68)and follow Route 40 from there until 51 south in PA and then 837 along the river to Kennywood. Alot easier than the turnpike and cheaper and quicker. Get yourself a CP Family Getaway Guide (1800bestfun) very helpful discounts on everything! Hope that was some help, any questions or anything wildman123@pennswoods.net

[eddie200330]

oh yeah, if you have time check out the 2 smaller parks in the Altoona, PA area, Lakemont and Delgrossos(Bland's) they are cheap( free adm. w/ a pop of $10 or less) and only 10 minutes apart

[gravitywolf216]

Geauga Lake and Cedar Point are my home parks. I'm not sure how far Waldameer is from Geauga Lake, but if it is close enough, you can do both and still make it to CP by five. Since Cedar Fair drove the remaining crowds away, it only takes at most 2.5 hrs on a busy day to ride all the major rides at least twice. ( seriously)

[307]

Geauga Lake and Cedar Point are my home parks. I'm not sure how far Waldameer is from Geauga Lake, but if it is close enough, you can do both and still make it to CP by five. Since Cedar Fair drove the remaining crowds away, it only takes at most 2.5 hrs on a busy day to ride all the major rides at least twice. ( seriously)

It's just over an hour and a half from Geauga Lake. At least that's what I remember.

[Millenniumguy]

Well, I am surprised nobody included Moreys and Clementon! True,I never been to either, but those parks deserve a visit! How about a half day to Williams Grove or if you have time,on the way back stop at Knoebels.

[mb425]

We're also not gonna spend money for any "fast-pass" devices (other than possibly CP), so we're not planning on that as a time-saver.

Since Cedar Point removed their free of charge FreeWay system (or so it seems), the only other "fast-pass" style option is a VIP tour, which costs $1,500. Not worth it if you ask me.

[imbordisux]

Oh wow, I haven't checked this thread in weeks - thank you for all your help, everyone.

 

The only reason I was thinking of splitting-up the Dorney/Hershey/Knoebel's area is that we wanted to have parks to hit in both directions to and from Ohio; we didn't want to do all of the parks on the way TO Ohio, and then have a long, boring drive back.

[imbordisux]

Ok, we sat down with a map, and decided on which parks we're gonna hit, and in which order. From our home on LI, we're gonna go:

 

- Dorney Park

- Knoebels

- Waldameer

- Cedar Point (2 days, most likely)

- Geauga Lake

- Kennywood

- Six Flags: America

- Hersheypark

 

... and then head back home to Eastern LI.

 

What I want to ask is, how do you think we should plan the hotels? Should we hit the parks first thing in the morning, and then drive to the hotel of our next location, hitting the next park the following morning, or should we get-up and drive to the next location first thing in the morning, do the park, and then retire to that park's nearby hotel?

 

Sorry if the wording is confusing, let me diagram it, with each

 

Choice one:

- Tuesday, drive to Park B, do Park B, retire to Hotel B.

- Wednesday, drive to Park C, do Park C, retire to Hotel C.

- Thursday, drive to Park D, do Park D, retire to Hotel D.

 

Choice two:

- Tuesday, do Park A, drive to and retire to Hotel B.

- Wednesday, do Park B, drive to and retire to Hotel C.

- Thursday, do Park C, drive to and retire to Hotel D.

 

We've never done a big trip like this before, so we'd like to know if most of you - on your big road-trips - drive to the hotel first and retire for the night, then get-up, do the park, and then drive to the next hotel, or if you drive to the park, do it, and then stay at the nearby hotel.

 

I'm thinking we should do the drives in the morning, as I really don't want to spend five hours in the car at the END of the day, but what do you all think?

[SharkTums]

I can't stress enough how much you should do your drives at the end of the night!

 

That way if you're done with a park early you can head out, you don't have to be forced to stay there. Also traffic is always worse in the morning that at night.

 

Again, do what you feel comfortable with, but staying near the park you're visiting the next day is always going to be better!!! You need to be at some of those parks for opening to have a good day!

[Meteornotes]

You always want to drive at night and stay at a hotel near your next park. Getting to a park before opening is really the key to a good day, especially at busier parks. I'd much rather have a short drive in the morning, than guess how long it might take to make a longer drive, then get stuck in traffic and get to your destination late. The only park on your list that you don't need to be at before opening is Knoebel's. Waldameer might be OK too, though the one time I was there it was sort of crowded. But the rest are parks that you'll want to get to before opening, so you can get some rides in before the lines get too long. So I'd drive at night. Have fun!

 

dt

[larrygator]

I also agree it is always better to put in the hours driving at night. Occasionally I'll drive part way to the next park, But I never want more than a 2 hour drive in the AM.

[imbordisux]

I apologize, I have one more question:

 

Are there any parks between Knoebels and Waldameer, preferably halfway between the two, and not too far out of the way? I'm not crazy about the five-hour drive.

[larrygator]

Conneaut Lake Park is approx. 45-60 minutes south of Waldameer. That is the only park between Knoebels and Waldameer. Not a big park but Blue Streak is pretty darned scary in the back row.

[imbordisux]

Ok, we have our basic itinerary down; we've added Holiday World and PKI:

 

Fri, 6/2 - Leave home on LI, drive to Dorney, Do Dorney, drive to Knoebel's hotel

Sat, 6/3 - Knoebel's, drive to Waldameer hotel

Sun, 6/4 - Waldameer, drive to Geauga hotel

Mon, 6/5 - Geauga, drive to Cedar hotel

Tues, 6/6 - Cedar (stay at Cedar hotel that night)

Weds, 6/7 - Cedar (stay at Cedar hotel that night)

Thurs, 6/8 - Drive to HW hotel

Fri, 6/9 - Holiday World (stay at HW hotel that night)

Sat, 6/10 - Holiday World, drive to PKI hotel

Sun, 6/11 - PKI, drive to Kennywood hotel

Mon, 6/12 - Kennywood, drive to Hershey hotel

Tues, 6/13 - Hershey, drive home to LI

 

Not looking for any real advice or anything, just felt like keepin' everyone abreast of our plans.