Dorney Park to go Linear?

As long as they get a GCI sometime before 2010, I'll be happy. Dorney seems to be all about Talon, Steel Force, and Laser to me anyway, although Hydra was running better than last season. It's still a letdown, though.

I don't know where this trend in thought regarding Cedar Fair's moving coasters around is coming from. They move one coaster from a struggling park, and you would think they're turning into Six Flags by some people's imaginations. If CF wants to put in a ride, they have the resources and fiscal smarts to put in a new ride. IMHO, X-Flight is a one-time occurrence.

^ I'm not a cool "insider" like many of the people here, but I would not be surprised if Steel Venom ends up moving to Allentown. It really seems like CF wants to get rid of a lot of the rides from GL and turn that property back into a "family" amusement park with the emphasis on the water attractions. GL's attendance simply doesn't justify the costly operation of Steel Venom. Add in low ridership (although that can be said about any ride at the park lately), high maintenance, and Wicked Twister just 60 miles west and North America's first Impulse coaster just doesn't look like it's going to spenidng too much more time sitting alongside Rte. 43.

Ray P. (who is not complaining as he knows it's all about business)

I wish I had cool info like this only info I usually put out is that there is some wierd roller coaster in China and the one time occurance of me telling about Zonga being sold and pretty much everyone already knew this, but yeah I think they arent going to put steel Venom at Dorney because it just doesnt seem right it hopefully will be something new.

I agree with those who say it is not likely for Dorney to get an impulse in the near future, if ever at all. The limited draw of the impulses (compared to the other rides at the park) combined with their cost (they are expensive for what little they can do), efficiency, maitenance, and capacity is not something Dorney would want. In a park with the largest market of all the CF parks and the potential for growing its attendance for a long time to come, I don't think it would be wise for the park to add a ride that can only handle, what is it, like 900 pph?

If anything, Dorney would likely take a more serious look at a rocket than an impulse. They only cost 3 to 4 million more and are becoming more efficient (minus Dragster and KK).

I still see the park looking at a GCII first before anything else though.

If the electric cable rumor is true (and I wouldn't doubt that it is) I think that is just the park getting ready for major infrastructure expansions in the years to come. *** Edited 1/15/2007 5:14:41 PM UTC by DorneyMan88***

I agree. Dorney could really use a nice, twisting woodie.

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Ensign Smith said:
If CF wants to put in a ride, they have the resources and fiscal smarts to put in a new ride.

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Why not use "fiscal smarts" to utilize resources they already have to put in a fresh ride that could be marketed as new without paying Intamin for a brand new impulse? Nobody said they are turning into Six Flags, which is completely different with "ride rotation". Cedar fair obtained this park from Six Flags and breaking it down into something more fit, which includes the removal of some rides. Sure it's the same idea of marketing an older ride as new, but Cedar Fair is only doing it as part of rehabilitation of this one park, not switching around the entire chain. *** Edited 1/15/2007 5:36:03 PM UTC by P18***

When I went to Dorney for the first time in 2005 I thought the same thing - an impulse would be great in the area near where Laser is. However impulses are rather loud rides so how would Dorney be able to limit the noise level with people practicaly living just on the other side of Steel Force?

However my other choice for Steel Venom's new home would be Carowinds. They don't have a launched coaster either and it would also be a unique ride for that area as well.

X Factor

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DorneyMan88 said:
If anything, Dorney would likely take a more serious look at a rocket than an impulse. They only cost 3 to 4 million more and are becoming more efficient (minus Dragster and KK).

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The only thing is DorneyMan, that it wouldn't be only 3-4 million more than Steel Venom for a rocket coaster installation, because Steel Venom has already been paid for by Six Flags, back in the day. All Cedar Fair would have to pick up the costs on would be deconstruction, moving, and reconstruction elsewhere. Where as a whole new project would need to be started to construct a Rocket for the park.

I would not doubt Geauga Lake's decision to move the impulse out of the park, if that in reality becomes the move they are going to take. I, first hand, have witnessed the leap in attendance since Valleyfair's installation of Steel Venom, and now because of that jump in attendance... Renegade is coming in 2007. I think this pattern, if used the same on Dorney could have the same impact on the park. Dorney need's this versatility between coasters I think more than other parks in the chain at this time. But who knows looking into the future.

But VF does not have to compete with Storm Runner an hour away. I see the cost effectiveness of just moving an impulse, but Dorney needs a better ride.

Well they are looking to get rid of a certain air launched maintenance nightmare down in VA. & an impulse would fit that spot quite nicely.

Unfortunately Kings Dominion has one too many launched coasters already. Adding an impulse there would seem like a cheaper version of Volcano.

Honestly I wouldn't be suprised if Cedar Fair considered moving the first Steel Inverted Twisted Impulse coaster in the world... because

A.) It's been rumored to be removed
B.) Dorney has been rumored to get an Impulse for sometime now...

Impulses are loud, but I don't think the frequencies would travel that far since they tend to be higher pitched in nature (high frequencies don't travel as far as low frequencies). They are significantly quieter than a B&M or Premier first-generation launched coaster (The Italian Jobs are extremely quiet, but that might be due to the single rail construction, or having fewer cars).

I don't think the capacity would be an issue either since the park isn't that crowded when Wildwater Kingdom is open. SFGAM has one (V2) and we experienced what I thought was exceptable wait times both days we were there. If Dorney ran it like their flat rides, then they'd be in trouble, but my experience with the coasters is that they do a great job.

Would an impulse draw me back? With out a doubt, yes! I would expect that all of the construction work would be finished on the bypasses leading to the park from 222 and 30 by that time, so a trip from Baltimore could be conceivably done in roughly two hours.

If not the impulse, is there a need for something more exciting at Dorney in the future? In my opinion yes. Hydra was like the filler track on a CD. It wouldn't wind up on the B&M Greatest Hits compilation, that's for sure. *** Edited 1/15/2007 8:55:05 PM UTC by Intamin Fan***

^

You're absolutely right, capacity is not an issue whatsoever. Dorney is probably one of the top parks where you can ride everything within a couple hours, or all of the coasters within 1 hour.

I'll be the first to stick up for Hydra and say that it's a fun ride and much better than that POS up at SFNE.

If you check out photo 4 on here: http://www.flyinphilsphotos.com/amuse/pa/dp/2006-12-29/album0

You'll see the area next to Laser where Skyscraper was, and I can't imagine the impulse fitting in there.

Dorney does a great job at capacity, but they also don't have that many people there. At least the time I went, we were done with the park in about 3-4 hours. Then we did it all over again. But, their mouse coaster had to have been THE WORST queue I've ever waited in. That thing just dragged on for the longest time.

If they were to install Steel Venom, I think that would be a nice addition. It'd just bring them closer to being a mini Cedar Point too. :)

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X Factor said:
Unfortunately Kings Dominion has one too many launched coasters already.

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ONE?

I highly doubt linear.. least of all in skyscraper's spot.

If you follow south whitehall township's planning commission website, Dorney filed for (and I believe was accepted) to move the parking booths and Dorney Park road a bit.. part of the effect is also moving the Zephyr tracks closer to the park...cutting into the available land.

Further, there was a huge article in the local paper recently about rumors of expansion, and linear was not in the list.

They may be getting an extra powerline, but keep in mind this isn't like a bright orange extension cord to plug in some christmas lights.. this is heavy duty electrical expansion. It may be for "one ride" right now, but that doesn't mean they can't plug in other rides down the line, so to speak.

Oh, and I'm not able to confirm this right now, but I'm pretty sure they have more than just one electrical feed.

My bet would be NO impulse.. not SV and not new. At least not for 2008.

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matt. said:ONE?

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Hypersonic doesn't count. ;-)

I just threw the linear coaster idea out there for comment, i have no idea what the line is for but it is 12Kv going to ONE ride. there is only one 12Kv line going to the park at this time..trust me I know people working down on hamilton st. I just had the info and thought i would share it if you don't believe me that's fine. My company has also been involved with ambient sound studies at the park in the past and I can say they are preparing for something big.