CoasterBuzzCon 2005 Suggestions: Days Before, Days after?

Hello All,

Fellow Buzzer Joe. and I are planning yet another one of our multipark road trips. This one is going to be based with Dorney as our Main Stop for CoasterBuzzCon 2005.

I (we?) would appreciate any suggestions you may have for parks which we could visit before and after this event. We are coming from the Detroit Area and really have no problem with a drive if the park is worth it.

5 days, 5 parks... What would you do? Let me know?

Thanks

*** Edited 3/24/2005 5:49:07 PM UTC by James K***

James:

A buddy and I are doing the same thing except we are flying out Friday to Philly and then going to parks the following week: Dorney first stop and then are going to go to SFGAd, Hershey and then sightseeing in Washington DC and maybe go gamble in Atlantic City.

Knobels is right down the street. That park has some great wood and classic rides.

I was going to say, I only live an hour from Dorney, and my deck really needs to be pressure washed and sealed. But then I saw you said "parks." Oh well, it was worth a try.

But seriously, Hershey and Knoebels are both great choices. The one problem is, I don't believe either park is open on the Monday or Tuesday following CoasterBuzzCon (the 23rd and 24th), at least according to the calendars on their websites. Knoebels will be open Saturday and Sunday only, while Hershey will be open Friday through Sunday.

Still with a bit of scheduling finesse, it's possible to hit all three, or at least two on that weekend.

After CoasterBuzz Con, I'm stopping at Hershey Park on Sunday and Kenneywood on Monday. Actually May can't get here soon enough, I'm hitting 9 parks in May this year. What a fun month!!

I would suggest these (most of which are within a 4-5 hour drive of DP):

BGW - Curse of Darkastle
PKD - Tomb Raider:Firefall
HP - Storm Runner

I've never been to Knoebels or the other Pennsylvania parks but hear they are great parks as well.

Thanks for the suggestions all, Any more?

My friend and me live in Toledo, we are going to go out for CoasterBuzzCon, then in the following days hit every park on our way to Coney Island. Then hit geauga and CP on the way back. And we probably will end up sleeping in my pal's car at some point if gas prices will be high as forecasted.

James, as your trip companion, I suggesty looking at other threads like this one:

http://coasterbuzz.com/forum.aspx?mode=thread&TopicID=41107

Gonch put up a good map we (and other interested parties) can use. We could probably plan a good trip using that thing.

(map at http://www.coasterimage.com/mapindex/pennsylvania.htm) *** Edited 3/26/2005 1:06:11 AM UTC by joe.***

Keep in mind that that map is in no way meant to be comprehensive. :)

It's a personal thing detailing the parks that I personally have been to.

However, in the case of PA it's pretty much all current parks (the exceptions being a couple of kiddie coasters sitting somewhere).

Coming from Detroit, I'd keep it close to Dorney and then hit Kennywood on the way back.

Something like Dorney, SFGAdv, Knoebels, Hershey, Kennywood.

You'd get 2 'new for 2005' coasters and what most would call the three best parks in PA.

Gonch, are you going to get the Pocono Play Park added to that map this year?;) It's the only one missing.

As a suggestion for Hershey/Dorney all in one day: if you don't mind missing the beginning of the day events at Dorney I did this last year. If you buy a Hershey ticket Friday night after a certain time, somewhere between 5 and 730pm, it's good for the rest of that night and all day Saturday. So, go into the park, stay until closing and you'll probably get on just about everything. Then Saturday, be up and in the park as early as possible, finish off the park, grab some re-rides and then Dorney's only an hour to an hour and a half drive away. You'll miss some of CbuzzCon, but you'll get both parks, up to you which is more valuable.

I agree with Gonch, and if you are under time constraints Impulsive's idea really makes sense.

Get to Hershey on Friday after 5pm buy a ticket and spend the evening in the park. You should be able to ride everything at Hershey on friday night, and if you want to you can visit the next day, and get rerides. Hop on 78 and head to Dorney be there in about an hour depending on how you drive.

Spend the day enjoying Cbuzzcon. At the end of the day I'd head to Gr8 Adv if Kingda Ka is opened, or if you haven't been there. Plan B would be to spend the day at Knoebels or do both since you don't need a whole day at Knoebels.

Then if you are driving back west on the I76. Take a 20 - 30 minute trip off of it to Kennywood. All of the PA parks are great.

Okay.. Thanks for all the help!

How about this. We will leave Thurday night and head out as far as we can toward Knoebels. Enter Knoebles as early as we can Friday.. finish off that park mid/late afternoon and head to Hershey for the Evening, next day Tickets. Hopefully finish off hershey that evening but if we do not, in the next morning. Head to Dorney on Sat. for CoasterbuzzCon. On Sunday we can Do SixFlags Great Adv. and head out on the road back. Monday would be Kennywood and the drive home, or crash at a friends house in Ohio.

Sound to ambitious? Strictly my idea based on yours. It would be great if Dorney and Hershey could be done in the same day. Does this sound Possible?

~James K *** Edited 3/27/2005 11:40:40 PM UTC by James K***

Anybody think Coney Island could be worth fitting into that already hectic schedule?

That sounds like a busy weekend, but I am sure you could get through Hershey and Dorney in one day as long as the crowds are thin. I can't see it being that crowded at Dorney, but I know Hershey was hoppin last year at that time. Of course they did have the new addition which drew a lot of people.

Unfortunately the plan doesn't work, Knoebels is closed on Friday May 20.

Instead I would suggest heading to Pittsburgh on Thursday and hitting Kennywood first thing in the morning, then driving to Hershey to finish out the night (it is a lot of driving, but doable).

Finish out Hershey the next morning and then head to Dorney.

Sunday depends on what you really want to do. It will be your only shot at Knoebels, they are closed that Monday. Or you could hit up SFGAdv. Or, if KK is not running yet and you really want to you can head to NYC for Coney Island. There will be "something" going on there that will get you a great deal.

Hershey is closing on Friday May 20 to the GP @ 8:00 PM because they are having their "senior all-nighter." Now, maybe if you can pass for seniors (high school, not AARP members) you can hang out there later into the night. Check out the website for the criteria-- if you think it's even worth it. But they're open at 10 that morning.

That's the one problem with PA parks. Most of their weekday business in May comes from school trips. And most of them don't start happening until the week before Memorial Day. So the parks really are limited to either weekend hours until that week. I'm sure they figured out it wasn't worth it opening more days beyond that.

Good luck with your trip, guys, and I hope you enjoy whatever parks you decide to hit.

Hmmm. That's another good point. I was just tossing out the usual park suggestions without thinking schedule.

That early in the season may pose a problem at the PA parks which typically don't really 'kick off' until Memorial Day weekend.

Definitely look into park operating schedules.

well, Due to this information the plan needs to change I guess. Also, it may be a little to ambitious to attack so many parks.

How about this.

Friday - Six Flags Great Adventure (open 10:00 - 8:00)
Saturday - CoasterBuzzCon at Dorney
Sunday - Hershey Park (10:00 - 8:00)
Monday - Kennywood (hours?)

Perhaps we can sneak another park in somewhere.

Any comments on this?