Will Hercules not being there still bring you back to Dorney?

I really don't see how roller coaster enthusiests can hate a ride so much as to love its removal. I don't think there is a single coaster I hate. I don't prefer kiddie coasters and tiny wood, but I don't hate anything enough to have it torn down. A roller coaster like The black widow at the old riverside or viper at sfgadv are the type of coasters that I wouldn't really miss. But a nice big woodie like that is something I would like to remain at the park even if it wasn't great. Hell, I haven't even been to the park yet but I will notice something missing when I do eventually get there from all the photos and videos I have seen. I think that is the true pain, noticing that a huge woddie is missing, an empty lot, just empty. I know that with the new B&M it will be the home of a nice coaster, but for this coming season, all I can envision about that park and a trip there would be a feeling that a piece of the park is missing.

Oh please, save the drama! You were the same person bad mouthing Villain and SFWoA. Face it, the ride sucked, it was operating at a loss, and they elected to put something worthwhile in it's place (sorry DorneyDante, but....)

Talon alone is enough to bring me back.

^^Someone gets it.

Talon's probably my second favorite invert (Montu).

The reason I'd return, though, is for Thunderhawk; even if it was the only coaster there. I've never had that kind of front-seat air (and I work 20 feet from Jack Rabbit.)

(Edited because I called Montu "Kumba.")

*** Edited 1/27/2004 9:04:46 PM UTC by kpjb***

^^Someone else gets it :)

(who will step up and proclaim Laser's Schwarzkopf-y goodnees and finish this one up?)

Well, I was gonna mention how I think Steel Force blows Magnum out of the water, but around here that's heresy. ;)

I happen to like Steel Force, however, I can at least appreciate where those who think it's disappointing are coming from.

If Nitro & Magnum had a love child it would be Steel Force.

Will I make it Dorney this year? Hmmm Thunderhawk is awesome air in the front. Lazer is a decent Schwarz. Steel Force is good but no Magnum. Talon I haven't been on and hear it's better then Raptor. (I'm also one of those people who thinks B&M's smaller coasters are better overall than their larger ones.) I guess since I haven't been there in a few years I should consider the possibility. I'll think about it on my way to Knoebels.

Wood - anything else is an imitation *** Edited 1/27/2004 9:43:05 PM UTC by Thrillerman***

^^Someone doesn't get it ;)

That comment made me think though. Why is it everyone rants and raves about Knoebels but Dorney gets mixed reviews at best. It seems out of place - especially in the context of this thread which seems to be "what does the coaster lineup offer?"

Knoebels has two outstanding woodies, the lackluster Whirlwind and a kiddie coaster in HSTC

Dorney has Thunderhawk (a great woodie), One of the better (best?) B&M Inverts, a solid hyper in Steel Force, Schwarzkopf fun with Laser and rounds it out with family coasters (Woodstock, Dragon, Wild Mouse) and a kiddie coaster.

As much as it may seem like blasphemy, that's a no brainer - Dorney can compete in quality but wins with bonus points in variety. Add the Floorless in 2005 (and assume it maintains B&M Floorless standards) and Dorney flat out has the better lineup. Does the "campground feel" beat out the "corporate feel" that much and more surprisingly does it really affect your decision that much?

You'll see a lot of "not worth the drive" comments about Dorney, yet people will sell their firstborn for gas money to Knoebels. That strikes me as odd.

I don't know. I'm not really bashing Knoebels - it's a wonderful park, but I really think Dorney is as good or better on all levels and it seems that very few feel that way.

I agree with those who will go to Dorney to rally Herc's not being there. It was a great ride and it did not deserved to be broken down, any way you put it. Talon and Thawk are awesome, but Gadv's coasters make you really want to go back to the place, since Dorney is mediocre compared to Gadv.

I think id rather get to Hershey park or Kennywood before Dorney, but i do need to get to Dorney eventually because they do have some good rides. The park is a bit underated I think because it has some good coasters, but SFGADV has many more coasters, many of which are taller, faster, and more intense than at Dorney, and there are all those classic parks like Kennywood and Knoebels Grove, and then theres all the rave about Lightning Racer and now Storm Runner at Hershey. Dorney is a great park, but there are many Different great parks in that area, so it has tough compitition. But thats only my thought.

Well, that would be the other side of the Dorney or Knoebels arguement, Dptalon05.

I'd say the lineups are comparable again - especially once you add the Dorney floorless. I do think it's a closer race than Dorney/Knoebels and it would come down to preference.

I'd take Talon & Steel Force over Batman and Nitro.

I'd take Thunderhawk over Rolling Thunder.

I'd take Laser over GASM.

Chiller earns SFGAdv some bonus points. As does S:UF even though I'm personally not a huge fan of either (and have yet to see the Batman side of Chiller run in 2 years visiting the park)

Viper loses some of those bonus points (even though, ironically, it's one I don't mind)

After that it's family/kiddie on both sides with each park offering 4.

Again, it's very close on coaster lineup alone with GAdv just sliiping by on variety. However if Knoebel's can score some extra credit on atmosphere, then Dorney gets a few over GAdv.

The three are all within a short drive from each other. I personally see them as all about equal parks (in terms of what they offer) with Knoebels representing one end of the spectrum, SFGAdv the other and Dorney Park being the middle ground.

...and we're not even throwing Hershey in the mix yet. All of these parks are roughly an hour or so from Dorney.

Interesting market in the area and I'm wondering if the locations have anything to do with it. No matter which direction you come from one of those other three parks will be a little closer than Dorney. With all things being so loosely equal, why not stop at the closer park? There's probably a whole different discussion to be had on that alone.

But wait, you left out medusa!!!!! I think Dorney has a line up ALMOST good enough to match SFGAV.

SFGADV: Batman The ride vs. Talon - Talon wins

Nitro vs. Steel Force- Tie (im leaning towards Nitro)

Medusa vs. New B&M- Not sure yet

GASM vs. Laser- GASM! GASM! GASM!! I LOVE GASM!

Rolling Thunder vs. Thunderhawk- Thunder Hawk

S:UE- GADV +1

Viper- GADV +1

Chiller- GADV +1

And that leaves- 4 for Dorney (including 2 ties)

6 for GADV (including 2 ties)

I think SFGADV JUST tops Dorney.

Yeah, I did forget Medusa. Meant to mention that and the 2005 Dorney coaster.

Although I just realized I took this dangerously close to being a "vs" thread - and that wasn't the intention.

Let's steer it away from that.

I say screw the trying to decide which park is better, and which park to go to (im board) and go to all of them! Im planning on taking a trip down there and visiting Dorney, Hershey, Knoebels, Kennywood, Gadv, and Morey's Pier this summer, although it may have to wait till next year because of coaster con in Ohio. Plus im gonna be at berklee college of music for 5 weeks!

Was I originally intending to go to DP? no
Did I have an awesome two days? YES

Originally I was going to go to PKI. Nope, school decided me and a parent had to go to freshman orientation the day I was going to leave (I didn't learn a single thing; figures). Didn't have have enough time to enjoy PKI so we decided to go to Kennywood. What did I find out? Yay, they opened at 6PM the days I would be there. Finally, I was like, hey, I like CF parks, why not go to Dorney. So thats what me and my family did. I ended up have a great time. Talon is in my top three inverted coasters. The only thing that would have made it better is if it were longer. It packs an awesome punch, but its more like a quick jab than a full blown punch- total awesomness in a short amount of time, instead of the awesomness throughout(ala Raptor at CP). Steel Force is a great coaster. I went on that a bunch, found the best seat, went on some more. Laser was pretty good. I liked the forces in the loops.

The coaster I really didn't like waws the small woody. I was hurting the whole time. There was a sharp pain in my side. I ended up going on it again though and it didn't hurt so much.

So will I go next year? No.
Do I want to go again sometime? Yes.

Edit:Hercules not being there would not affect my dissision to go or not. *** Edited 1/27/2004 11:00:44 PM UTC by colincsl***

>

The 2005 floorless is shaping up to be less like the oversized B&M floorless coasters (Superman, Madrid) and more like the smaller ones.

Well, actually it's more middle ground between the two, but I heard it's going to be pretty unique.

Mike

I get it, too!

I'll step up and sing the praises for Laser. Nothing like getting positive g's in loops and helixes.

I'll be making several trips up 222 to Dorney this year, just like in the past.

Driving past it today was the first time I've seen the park in the daylight without Hercules there, and it definitely looks different. But there's more to the park than a fallen woodie. It's called progress, and if it wasn't done, then there would be the complaints of how financially irresponsible Cedar Fair is being with the park.

"Well, actually it's more middle ground between the two, but I heard it's going to be pretty unique."

Unique would be an understatment. Look for a few firsts when this sucker is announced.

mOOSH