SFGAdv, Dorney Planning

Not your usual threads on this - I can already guess at crowds. My questions are as follows:

What are the areas around each park like? I'm going to be travelling alone, and although I don't like to admit it, I don't do so well in "rough" neighborhoods. The point of the trip is a job interview in Princeton, NJ, but I know hotels there will probably be through the roof, and I have a very limited budget. Any suggestions on good, clean, cheap hotels in decent areas?

Have both sides of the Chiller at SFGAdv been working lately? I remember seeing something that all of Batman's LIMs were removed to make Robin work, or something like that - any truth to that or are both working? Any other steady closures this season at either park?

And if anyone knows any shortcuts to either park or whatnot, can ya email those my way? Thanks in advance - figure if I'm gonna be out there anyway, I may as well make a weekend out of it!

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Give me launched or give me ... uh ... more launched!!
--Brett

Only the Robin side of Chiller is running. Batman hasn't operated all year and, as far as I know, the train still isn't even on the track. Other than that, the only other ride that's always closed is Jumpin' Jack Flash.

As for hotels, I'd suggest checking out the Days Inn in Freehold.

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Sue Barry
CoasterSue@aol.com

Hey,

the areas around Dorney Park is pretty nice. Its on 309 right off the North East extention. Not a bad area. As for SFGA its in the woods. Not much around it. Few miles up are outlets and some other stores. Not many homes just some house back out of the way. You'll be fine! In the park of SFGA is the scarest part!
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Alpengeist,Beast,Hulk,MeanStreak,Nitro

Where are you coming from for the short cuts? Also I went to SFGA on Tuesday and only the robin was running.

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Alpengeist,Beast,Hulk,MeanStreak,Nitro

Pittsburgh - so I'll probably come in the turnpike (ugh - $15 to cross the state plus gas ... )

Thanks for the tips so far, my Dad's actually gonna try and get me a discount on hotels through his company in Princeton.

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Give me launched or give me ... uh ... more launched!!
--Brett

Just call him the mad poster. Anyway, the area around Dorney is perfectly fine. South Whitehall is a nice place.

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"You know its a good ride when you come into the final brake run wiping tears from your eyes."
*** This post was edited by DorneyDante 8/7/2003 12:36:04 PM ***

Where are you planning on staying. I am from the area and I guess take the PA turn pike to the North East exstion. Also you might be able to pick up 81. Your from Pittsburgh so you probaly go to KennyWood alot. I was there 3 weeks ago and I was scared outside the park. I made a few wrong turns and was really worried. Dorney and SFGA are nothing like that. There area are pretty nice. There is a Holiday Inn across the street from Dorney. Its looks pretty nice. I never seen a Hotel near SFGA though. Why are you coming out by yourself?

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Alpengeist,Beast,Hulk,MeanStreak,Nitro

Ok you seriously need AIM

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"You know its a good ride when you come into the final brake run wiping tears from your eyes."

Why everyone gotta be all rude and crap. I am just trying to be nice and help people out. And all your doing is taking up thread space with your pointless words! I have im thank you!
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Alpengeist,Beast,Hulk,MeanStreak,Nitro

Got that right Dante ;) Ok, good to hear, maybe I'll just hit up that Holiday Inn he's talking about the first nite, save myself some late-night driving. I can't do the 2am drives as much as I used to!

Well, unless you cross the Rankin Bridge, you're ok around Kennywood, and even that area's rather harmless anymore. Ok, if you're saying its nice compared to Kennywood, I should be just fine.

Comin out by myself cause #1 its for a job interview and #2 I'm 21, so my friends are all still poor college students (even though I've been working summers since I started at good jobs and have enough cash to do trips like this) and my girlfriend's dad wasn't too keen about the one nite of Coastermania, I don't think he'd like 2 nites in New Jersey ... I did California by myself, I can do New Jersey and east PA ;)

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Give me launched or give me ... uh ... more launched!!
--Brett

Impulsive, yeah, the area around Dorney is very suburbanish (is that a word)? There are some ranch homes behind Dorney. Along Hamilton Blvd, the highway that runs parallel to Dorney, there is restaurants and stores. Typical suburbia. Downtown Allentown can get a little iffy, so don't travel too far down Hamilton Blvd. You'll be fine, its a nice area. There is also a Howard Johnsons across the street from Dorney and a Holiday Inn like previously stated.

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"You know its a good ride when you come into the final brake run wiping tears from your eyes."