Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom Discussion Thread

[deguy123Bonafide Donkey Expert]

My initial impression was not so good - the traffic jam getting into the park was the worse I've eve seen. I think we ended up parking in the lot in New Jersey so the walk into the ticket booth was a killer. Then there was the 30 minnute wait to buy tickets (definitely go on-line and make your purchase - you'll save some money too!). After buying a ticket we then were shoved through the throng of humanity to get into the gates!

The only horrible wait was for the Wild Mouse. I was warned about this but needed the credit. I think we ended up with a 45 minute wait or so for a ride that we walked on at most other parks we visited.

I recently went to the park also and the Wild Mouse was the WORST. About 10 people(workers) were loading the ride but sometimes only putting on one person per car. It does say something about having only two adults but then load it up correctly.(There was someone at the gate directing people)

The parking lot is a joke....getting out of there was insane. I don't overdue it but when I say we say for 40 minutes not moving I'm not lying. I'd suggest parking closer to the exit of the parking lot even if you get there early.

[HerculesThe Resident Vegetarian Hippie]

I do not have any comments in regard to the parking lot as I have been a season pass holder for years. I do remember some problems with the parking lot a while back when I didn't have a pass, but I don't remember anything nearly as bad as what has been said.

I suggest skipping the Wild Mouse as that will definltey eat up a lot of your day. The comments here are very correct in regard to the wait time. Besides, it is a standard, very bad, mouse to begin with. If you are lucky and get a 10 minute wait, go for it. If that is the first thing you want to hit at park open, I would suggest it, however, it rarely opens with the park.

[YoshiFanDon't make me kick you in the donkey!]

I have had a 10 minute wait for the Wild Mouse with the line maybe 5 people past the turnstyle to get into the station. At TDK or the Wild Mouse at Hershey, that would have been maybe a 2 minute wait. The seatbelts and the 2 adults per car rule and that as few as 4 cars are running make it a horrible wait. I walk by it on most visits and see what would be a 15 - 20 minute wait at another park be at least 45 minutes to an hour at Dorney. It's a shame because operations are usually good on almost every other ride with a few exceptions.

Now that the waterpark is only open from 11 - 6, that is going to make lines on the ride side worse since when the waterpark was open until 7 or 8, the ride side stayed emptier earlier but now with people leaving the waterpark earlier, the ride side will be a lot more crowded.

[Mich17makI Love Donkeys!]

The two times that I went to Dorney happened to be on Wednesdays in August..and the line to purchase tickets were pretty long even during the weekday, however I was lucky enough to get tickets before hand from ebay. I figured that would cut down on the line to get into the park..wrong. The wait to past the entrance was the longest I've ever waited for any park - and it was pretty much just a mosh of people, so someone could cut through to the front..it wasn't very efficient at all (hopefully they fixed that since I've been there..). I'd advise to get there early so you can get a decent parking spot and try to beat the line to enter (and try to purchase your ticket beforehand online!).

Anyway, about the flat rides - The one thing that I like about Dorney compared to Six Flags (Great Adv. or America) is that they have great flat rides. I hope you have a chance to go on Dominator, Meteor, Hang Time, and Revolution. They are all really fun (esp. Meteor and Hang Time - really thrilling).

My experience w/ parks that also have attached waterparks is that the coasters have less lines mid-day...then once it gets close to the waterpark's closing times, the lines dramatically increase, so try to go on Hydra, Possessed, and especially Talon in the morning if you can (although Talon may have a big line in the morning since it's the closest coaster to the entrance). Anyway, Steel Force usually doesn't have that long of a wait b/c they usually run 3 trains.

[CoasterNERD502Does Jeff Johnson count this donkey as a credit?]

Thanks guys for all the great advise!
I think my group plans to visit the waterpark while were there. I'll make sure that we leave the waterpark before closing so that we can ride Talon, Hydra, Steel Force and Possessed before the crowds get hectic.
O, and about Screamin Swing, how much does it cost to ride? The website said it has an extra fee, but doesnt tell you how much.
I also plan on checking out those cool flats mentioned earlier.

[tatertot3710(22:06:18) ajc47: who are the obnoxious ones? (22:07:16) tatertot3710: Mr. Starr, jeremie, deathbydinn]

I don't know about the Screamin' Swing price but I've heard (and seen) that it's a very short cycle. As for flats, great ones include:

Dominator - S&S tower. 1 side Super Shot and one site Turbo Drop (reccomended)
Apollo - Classic Swing Around. Fun if you've never been on one.
Thunder Canyon - Very soaking rapids. Really fun ride.
Thunder Creek Mountain - flume
Hang Time - Top Spin
Krazy Kars - A mix between bumper boats and cars.
Revolution - inward facing frisbee

The cycles on the flats aren't really the longest, though.

[YoshiFanDon't make me kick you in the donkey!]

Screaming swing is $5. The park was packed today but it was all in the waterpark. Hydra was 7 minutes, Possessed looked to be around 15 minutes, Talon was closed. I only stopped in for 20 minutes since I was in the area and just rode Hydra. Wild Mouse looked to be at least an hour.

[CoasterNERD502Does Jeff Johnson count this donkey as a credit?]

Ok cool! Looks like I'm riding Screamin Swing. Wild Mouse is deffinantly out. Doesn't look worth a hour wait.

And what are the good slides in the waterpark? Most likely we'll visit the waterpark and I only want to wait for a slide that is worth the wait.

[YoshiFanDon't make me kick you in the donkey!]

My favorites are Patriot's Plunge tube slides, red and blue are short but awesome. Red has a double down drop that has some air time and white has a huge drop.

Aquablast is also a lot of fun (family raft slide), but it gets a huge line so it is best to get to it early.

[HerculesThe Resident Vegetarian Hippie]

There were a lot better slides 10 years ago..... but I digress.....