Dorney or Knoebel's??

I intend to take a summer weekend park trip fairly close to home this year. I have decided on PA for the state. Now the park. I've been to Kennywood, so I've narrowed it down to Dorney or Knoebel's? As far as coasters, *and* total park experience goes, which would you suggest? I'm also taking quite a few big trips this year, so cost is an objective as well.

For total park experience, Knoebels. Also, you can probably do Knoebels for a lot less $$$ than Dorney and have a better time anyways. That being said, why not Hershey?

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If the shoe fits, find another one.

I assumed Hershy would probably too expensive. We're only going to stay one night, one day at a park. Trying to keep the whole thing under $200. I could spend that on chocolate.

*** This post was edited by bratinola on 4/10/2002. ***

Haven't been to Knoebel's, but Talon is my fav. invert over Montu, Alpie, Raptor, Great Bear, B:TR, Top Gun (PGA). Knoebel's probably has the better atmosphere, but DP has two *amazing* steel coasters.

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The legend lives!

.... And conversely Knoebels has two *amazing* wood coasters.

Look at several things:

Dorney:

Great steel = Steel Force, Talon

Good Steel = Laser

So so Steel = Wild Mouse

Great wood = Thunderhawk

Good Wood = Hercules (okay... I like this ride... am I the only one?)

Flat rides: Good selection, but standard

Atmosphere: nice

Knoebels:

Incredible wood: Phoenix

Great wood: Twister

Lack Luster Steel: Whirlwind

Flat rides: good unique selection. Great dark ride (Haunted House)

Atmosphere: a step back in time to Traditional parks of the past.

It all depends on what you like.

*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 4/10/2002. ***

Well, it looks like I'm going to lean towards Knoebel's. I'm a woodie fan, and like the more traditional park atmosphere.

BTW, thanks for the input!!

*** This post was edited by bratinola on 4/10/2002. ***

Apples vs. Oranges

Either way you can't go wrong but I would go with Knoebels. The Phoenix is just amazing and Twister isn't far behind.

I've never been to Dorney, but you can't go wrong with Knoebel's. And they have really good food.

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"He's blazin' away like the stars in the universe.." A. Vega + M. Rev "Ghostrider"

Gotta disagree with SLFAKE on some steelies here....I considered Laser to be really good, but Steel Force to be totally mis-named. I have since been told to ride the FRONT of Steel Force, so perhaps it deserves another try. ThunderHawk was a great woodie, but Phoenix is the best wooden coaster around IMO. Dorney, for its size, is way underpublicized, but that's probably a good thing...I've only been once, but I'll be back. Knoebels will transport you back to another time and place...and HSTC can give really good rides if the ops punch up the speed of the lift...:)

I have been to both parks. I see my self spending a full day at Dorney more the Knoebles.

Knoebles Park: Defently Knoebles Twister & The Phoenix not to mention the food is excellent ;). At Knoebles its free admission to the park which is nice ;).

Dorney Park: Very clean park. Steel Force & Talon well worth a drive.

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Valleyair Security 2002! 8Years Working at Valleyfair :)! GOPHERS Mens Hockey Champs NCCA 2002!!

rollergator:

for crying out loud... what more do you want? I didn't say that Laser was terrible... I called it "good steel". When I rode it though I found it rough and headache inducing. As for Steel Force... definately a front seat coaster. Ride it in the front and I am sure it will be bumped up a notch on your list.

And either I read your post wrong, or your read mine wrong... I said "Great Wood" for Thunderhawk, but "Incredible Wood" for Phoenix. (maybe it is just deffinitions, but in my book Incredible is above Great)

But as someone else said... Apples and Oranges comparing these two.

steve o said:

Apples vs. Oranges

Either way you can't go wrong but I would go with Knoebels. The Phoenix is just amazing and Twister isn't far behind.

I agree 100%. a family run amusement park vs a cedar fair corporate park! Its like comparing Holiday World to Cedar Point!

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Different Parks this year: 12+ Different Coasters: 80+

*** This post was edited by Marimba Guy 87 on 4/10/2002. ***

Haven't been to Dorney, but if you are looking to stretch the almighty dollar Knoebel's will give you an amazing value for your parkgoing experience.

Also, since you'll be staying one night, then the following day, the fact that you don't have to buy two days of parking and admissions will help.

You will also be practically assured of walk-ons. They sell affordable POP passes only on the light weekdays. On weekends its pay-per-ride, so even though the parks fill up you'll see a ton of folks walking around, taking in the entertainment and the great affordable grub, and few in line in front of you.

My Knoebel's experience started out poorly. I had heard so much Knoebel's hype that I was let down as I pulled up onto the grass parking lot field of what seemed to be little more than a county fair tucked in the middle of nowhere.

Every passing minute, the charm of the place grew on me. You know you're going to love the fly-off-the-seat airtime of the Knoebel woodies. But you're going to be floored by the little things, like:

A carousel with a ring dispenser. Yep, grab the brass ring and you'll get a free ride. Grab any of the rest and have your fun at target practice.

The best low-budget dark ride anywhere. I'm Florida-spoiled, so I'm not going to say that Haunted Mansion is the best dark ride out there. But, no question, it is the most ambitious put together on a shoestring budget. I mean, it goes on forever. And instead of cheating its way to great effects by paying up, Knoebel's does so the hard way: it earns it, creatively. Check this article:

http://www.dafe.org/attractions/darkrides/knoebels/hm.htm

The kiddie coaster that, with a name like High Speed Thrill Coaster makes you do a double-take at first glance, until you realize that it's running at warp speed. If you haven't laughed on a coaster in awhile, this one will do it.

The food! My memory of exact prices will be off, but it was odd to pay a buck for bottled water when I know my good friends in Orlando and the big chain parks will want three bucks. I think a snowcone was $0.75. Perogies ran about fifty cents each. Big ole meaty Tri-Tater hashbrowns? Three huge portions for a buck. Refreshing birch beer soda ran about a buck. You don't walk away from the concession stands trying to see if the gouging left any marks on you.

I can go on about the Flyers, the flume ride, the flat rides run so you get your money's worth, etc.

Dorney is great for number of great rides, and they're getting another flat ride that'll be good. My favorite park.

Knoebels is a small non chain park with two great coasters, but I've never been there.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

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"Take me with you. I want to climb the 208' of Superman, hurl through five inversions on Batman, and freefall 20 stories on Scream. I don't throw up....I can entertain in long lines!!"

I ain't got nothing against Dorney - going there next month, looking forward to it - but for my money Knoebel's is in a class of its own. In fact, you can check out my trip report from last summer here for the real skinny:

http://club.coasterbuzz.com/forums/thread.asp?ForumID=13&TopicID=11707

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Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.

If you go to Knoebels on a weekday (preferrably Tuesday through Thursday), you are definately assured walk ons.

I did this last year and I rode the Phoenix around 15 times, and the Twister around 10 times. Also, there were walk ons for the Haunted Mansion.

I love Knoebels, if I were you I would definately choose Knoebels (I go every summer anyway).

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SLFAKE, I said I only disagreed somewhat on the STEEL....I agree completely with your assessment of the woodies (and that's more important IMO anyway...).

No, I was probably being a *tad* defensive of the Schwarzkopf, I love the intensity...and as noted, only got the one back ride on SF, so I'll definitely have to try it again nearer the front....

And as for birch beer, when will "these Southerners" learn a few things...grits BAD, birch beer GOOD...;)

*** This post was edited by rollergator on 4/10/2002. ***

spewey said:

I ain't got nothing against Dorney - going there next month, looking forward to it - but for my money Knoebel's is in a class of its own. In fact, you can check out my trip report from last summer here for the real skinny:
http://club.coasterbuzz.com/forums/thread.asp?ForumID=13&TopicID=11707
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Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.

Thanks much for the fabulous TR on that. I had made up my mind to do Knoebel's, when low and behold, the hubby states that he *really* would rather do CP. He's never been there, and can't blame him for wanting to go. I'm going to have to kill if he changes my mind one more time.

Oh well, Knoebel's has now been shelved until fall, but *I* am seriously looking forward to it.

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Phoenix! Twister! Flyers! Nuff said! If you're waiting til fall, just come for Phoenix Phall Phunfest on Sat. Oct. 5th!
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Brad Sherman
Don't.....look.....back! The Headless Horseman awaits you in 2002!
Model coasters and rides

PPP is beyond belief....listen to Arrow Guy....you won't regret it!