Battle of the PA parks in 2003

It is nice to know that Dorney can co-exist with other parks in the region. Kind of a question off topic. Does anybody know how much Hurrican Hargor (SFGAdv) costs? I know it's a separate park, but I was just wondering since Dorney is so much cheaper than Six Flags.

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Enjoy the rest of your day at Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom.

This is according to their website...

WATER PARK ONLY

Regular $29.99

Junior (48" & under) $22.99

Sr. Ctzn(55+)/Disabled $22.99

Upgrade to Theme Park after 4 pm All Tickets $17.99 + tax Parking $10.00 + Tax

THEME PARK/SAFARI PARK/WATER PARK

Regular $60.99 + tax

Junior (48" & under) $45.99 + tax

Sr. Ctzn(55+)/Disabled $45.99 + tax
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Emerging from the ashes of Eric 013...
*** This post was edited by 3r1c 2/18/2003 10:21:23 AM ***

I gotta agree with the previous posters..... it's very wise of Dorney to invest money in the water park this year. Personally I don't visit the WWK side very much when I go there, but I can see how busy it is when I'm there.

As for the future, my fingers are crossed for something Intamin... impulse is tops on my list, and rocket second. I think it could be argued easily for either type at DP, since both types of coasters have gone into CF parks lately.

Personally, I can't wait to start cutting out of work a bit early and hitting the park for the evenings. Who's with me? :)

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Men are like parking spaces... the good ones are all taken and the rest are handicapped or too far away.
www.TiggerMan.com

I'm pretty sure Dorney's next coaster will definitely be Intamin. They like to have a variety.

Although the impulse would be awesome, I just think Dorney can do better than that. I'm not saying impulses are bad, (as a matter of fact I love them) it's just that they only cost 9 million. Why would Dorney get a cheaper coaster if they can afford a higher priced one with a larger capacity?

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Enjoy the rest of your day at Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom.

What about a stand-up B&M like the Georgia Scorcher? There isn't a stand-up coaster in the area, so it would be highly marketable.

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Emerging from the ashes of Eric 013...

A pro for an Intamin Impulse would be that it would be something different and unique then what is being offered in any other park in the area/eastern region. Like I said earlier I am from the area, and not many of my friends who even enjoy coasters have heard of say Cedar Point (aside from a perfuctory glance at the Discovery Channel or endless amounts of me annoying them with stories/info.). An Intamin Impulse would have a smaller footprint, be very cost effective and offer a new brand of thrill riding experience to the area. An Intamin Rocket coaster would be fun too, but I would love to see Dorney get around the height limitations and mean residents that live near there. Hopefully with all the park improvements and how respectable and even quaint the park is becoming (not the old eyesore it used be), maybe the residents will be nicer and less combatic when they try to bring forth improvements. (I know that will never happen though.) I have a feeling though if their performance continues to build even stronger the barrier would probably me more local things like unyielding residents then a pricetag corporate is blocking them into.

3r1c said:
What about a stand-up B&M like the Georgia Scorcher? There isn't a stand-up coaster in the area, so it would be highly marketable.

I like the way you think....marketability, variety, capacity, quality, compactness....Ga Scorcher itself doesn't get NEARLY enough attention for the ride that it is....it's the Talon of stand-ups, and you get a gold star in my book just for the mention....it would be a fantastic choice for Dorney (which means of course that it'll *never* happen, LOL)...;)

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Never go unarmed into a battle of wits...;)
The secret to life is sincerity...once you can fake that, the rest is easy...

JasonPSU20, not all people are roller coaster enthusiasts like us :) Those people sound "mean" to us, but in reality maybe just want some peace and quiet.

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The only difference between stupidity and genius is genius has limitations.

Yah maybe my post sounded rude towards the residents, I was just reflecting with the battles in mind that always go on. There are a ton of perfectly nice people who live there. Friends of mine even.

I'm sorry if I sounded upset in my post. I don't think your post was rude at all, I was just expressing my feelings about it. Sorry for sending the wrong idea across. :)

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The only difference between stupidity and genius is genius has limitations.

rollergator, it's too bad (most) parks would rather have huge hypers than a compact, intense coaster. Don't get me wrong, hypers are great but they aren't the same as coasters like Talon, Georgia Scorcher, and B:TR. Then again, hypers would attract more of GP I think than something that was smaller and compact, unless they would add something not found in the area, like a stand-up.

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Emerging from the ashes of Eric 013...

Its actually the inversions that turn the average rider away. There is a hard percentage of riders who do not want to go upside down, no matter if the sitting, standing, hang gliding, etc.

Considering the choices guests have now, think of of what they had 30 years ago. Wooden, mineride, and small steel. My how the times change.

But, back tot he last comment, PA parks are still unique. Hersheypark got a tremendous response from crowds when the Great Bear was opened, from a marketing, retail, and attendance. When Lightning Racer opened, it was big, but nearly as big. Go figure.

Look at Kennywood. No looping coasters, yet they do fine. No loopers at Waldameer, Conneaut Lake, Williams Grove, Dutch Wonderland. And Knoebels survived until 1985 with a Jet Star.

As the industry goes, you can throw the operating book out the window on what to build. Each park is its own identity, which is one reason why there are no outside ownerships. (except Sesame Place).

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"Every Man Has Got to Know His Limitations"

I think a hypercoaster would be just the thing Hershey needs to have a well-rounded coaster fleet, probably the most in the state.

Hershey already has the most coasters in the state, according to their brochure.

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Emerging from the ashes of Eric 013...

Agent Johnson, Knoebel's is still going strong- I wish they would have just kept the Jet Star though. I don't think Whirlwind is doing much for their marketing...

Dutch Wonderland is run by Hersheypark now isn't it? Even if is, I don't think that would be considered an outside ownership.

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The only difference between stupidity and genius is genius has limitations.
*** This post was edited by MarimbaGuy87 2/18/2003 7:41:58 PM ***

I agree, but I thing the Jet Star's maintance was getting out of hand, and that is why they got rid of it. Whirlwind's split corkscrew design is a bit quirky, and so it does fit into the park with their other coasters, but I think it is the poorest of the bunch, and would like to see some better steel there sometime.

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"If you make it too smooth, it'll be like sitting in your living room."
-Bill Cobb - Designer, Texas Cyclone

I would like them to get rid of the Whirlwind, but I would not like to see a B&M there. Don't get me wrong here- I love B&M's to the ends of the earth, but not at Knoebels. Also, I'd rather Whirlwind than a Boomerang. So basically what I'm saying is a Schwarzkopf would be nice, or maybe a wild mouse.

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The only difference between stupidity and genius is genius has limitations.

A Mouse is Knoebels next venture, in my opinion. I do not think we will see a B&M there any time soon. Knoebels would be stretching resources by sending staff to another park for training, parts inventory, eyc. They do not really need one to grow their business.

The Jet Star is alive and well after a 6 year stint at Moreys. Agent Johnson actually helped sell that ride to a independent park in France. It is doing fine according to my sources.

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"Every Man Has Got to Know His Limitations"
*** This post was edited by Agent Johnson 2/18/2003 11:37:46 PM ***

I too never would want to see a B&M there, it just would not be a right fit for the park. I would like to see something like a Schwarzkopf looper there. It would make for a good, classic steel ride with the added thrill of it being a looper.

Is there any truth the the rumors of a wooden flying turns being built in house by the staff? That would truely be awsome.

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"If you make it too smooth, it'll be like sitting in your living room."
-Bill Cobb - Designer, Texas Cyclone

dexter said:
All I know is that I'm going to go to ALL of the parks in PA this year.

Want to do that as well. 14 parks now with Twin Grove reopening. I am not sure I will make it out to the Erie parks though :(

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"If you make it too smooth, it'll be like sitting in your living room."
-Bill Cobb - Designer, Texas Cyclone