Dorney Park, 8/27/11

Normally there was no way I would have gone to a park today with the weather forecasts and threat of the hurricane but I was near Allentown today and Dorney was open so I decided to go get some coaster rides in.

I knew the parking lot would be empty, and it was the total opposite of what a normal Saturday in August looks like. There were 5 buses and 150 - 200 cars.

I saw that Wildwater Kingdom was closed, I guess that was to be expected since no one would go to a water park with it raining on and off all day and the threat of a major storm.

The first ride I went to was Talon. Only 1 train was running but that was all that was needed with the train going out over half empty.

I stopped at the Wild Mouse next since it had a less than 5 minute wait which almost never happens. The brakes didn't seem to be as strong as they were the other time I rode the coaster earlier in the season and in past seasons. It made the coaster better but still not as good as Hershey's Wild Mouse or The Dark Knight.

Hydra also had 1 train running with almost all the rows going out empty. It seemed to rattle a lot today, almost the entire circuit.

Thunder Canyon was running with empty rafts no way was I going to ride with the waterfalls turned on. Hangtime was open but had no riders. White Water Landing was closed.

I went to Thunderhawk next, also 1 train running and no one in the station but the front row as closed off for some reason. I almost had a solo ride until a group came into the station right before I was about to board the train.

Steel Force had 1 train running and had maybe 10 people waiting in the station. I chose the last row since I didn't feel like waiting 2 trains for the front and saw the train entering the station had only 7 riders. Right after the train dispatched, the skies opened up. It was very painful with the rain hitting your face and I had to close my eyes for most of the ride.

I thought for sure the rides would shut down but everything was still running. I considered stopping at Possessed seeing that only 2 people were riding and the station was completely empty but decided against it.

At the Monster ride area which still isn't put back together, there must have been over 50 trashcans turned upside down probably so they don't fill up with water. Seeing that, I expected the park would be closed tomorrow and wasn't surprised to read on their website that they won't be open until Monday.

The rain got even worse walking to the exit of the park and they made an announcement at 4:45 that the park was closing in 15 minutes.

I only spent a little less than an hour in the park but I still got more coasters rides in that hour than most people would in 4 or 5 hours at another park on a typical August Saturday. It was nice that Dorney was open but I was kind of surprised they opened at all with almost every other park in the area closed the entire weekend.

I was wondering how they were going to fair today. I kicked the idea around of going there after I shut down the majority of servers at work. But with all the curfew and "no vehicles after xxPM" announcements figured it was safer to get home while I could..

Didn't think my "essential personnell" card that allows me to drive on closed roads would work going to Dorney :)

My friend and I were coming home 2 days early from our east coast/NYC trip to avoid the hurricane and had considered stopping at Dorney on Saturday, but decided against it. I guess we made a good call. :)