You can find very positive reviews of Dorney on this Forum. One example is the recent discussion of their Haunt:
Post in thread 'Dorney Park Halloween Haunt'
Event - Dorney Park Halloween Haunt
Dorney Park General Discussion
- Thread starter Nicole
- Start date
You can find very positive reviews of Dorney on this Forum. One example is the recent discussion of their Haunt:
Post in thread 'Dorney Park Halloween Haunt'
Event - Dorney Park Halloween Haunt
Pretty belated reply to my last post but I will bite. This is going to be a long post.
The Haunt at Dorney does have excellent haunted houses, but their ride operations are lackluster. I was a SP holder there from 1992 to 2019. For over 20 years I had a great time at Dorney which I had considered to be the best of the local parks. Clean, low crowds, decent operations, pleasant clientele, charming atmosphere, etc. Starting around 2014 the quality of the park just began a sharp decline from previous years, and each new season things got worse. Ride operations slowed to a snail pace, upkeep took a slide, breakdowns became more frequent, cleanliness really took a nosedive, they removed stuff that made the park unique, it became more crowded, the clientele became increasingly scuzzy, secuity was scaled back,, and English being spoken was becoming rare. The last few times I was there my group were sometimes the only English speakers in some of the lines. Fights and line cutting became much more commonplace at Dorney. Ride SBNO closures became increasingly common too, especially with the Zephyr and Cannonball. They also became weird with roller coaster operations, running two trains on low crowd days and single trains on high crowd days. They also became very lax enforcing ride safety. I saw people not only have phones out during rides, but even throwing stuff like hard candy on Steel Force. Also seen people scoop up road bed gravel on Zephyr's track to throw at the geese along the stream.
The decline in Wildwater Kingdom was even worse than over in Dorney. They removed many of their unique slides and replaced them with generic duplicates of slides they had elsewhere in the park. There was an massive increase in trash buildup along the sides of the lazy Rivers as well lifeguards becoming evermore lax allowing guests to increasingly misbehave and roughhouse. Years ago they use to be strict against any roughhousing in the rivers, not anymore.
The bathrooms and changerooms were unkempt and became pigstys. Toilet paper all over bathroom floors, the hot water stopped working in the men's showers for years. My female friends said that the hot water occasionally worked in the women's showers, it was very hit or miss. Sadly on several occasions I saw defecations in change rooms and shower stalls which I never saw in prior years nor at other Waterparks to this day. Then they began banning aqua socks to protect your feet and using incorrect diameter inner tubes for their slides which caused them to become stuck and eject riders which happened to me. Slammed my head on a slide wall and had to go to first aid. Ended up having to leave early with my friend driving me home that trip. A similar incident happened to one of friends whose oversized tube became stuck and threw him in the shallow landing pool injuring his feet later the same season.
The last two years I did Haunt they gave SP holders a free one time express pass good for both the houses and rides which was nice. The express passes worked excellently for the houses as employees handled the merging really well. However, this was not the case with the rides. The fast pass line just merged in near the end of the standby queues with no employees to ensure a smooth merge by express pass holders. Instead, express pass holders basically had to cut themselves into the standby line and hope the standby people didn't start a fight. It was awkward merging into the standby line, and the standby people made it clear they weren't happy at me, at least a fight never started for me. I did see fights breakout other times with other fastpass holders and standby guests. Because of that I mainly used the fast passes for the houses as only those had employees to handle the line merging.
While the houses were good, the Haunt shows were pretty lacking, some of the fright zones were good, some were not. Some of my female friends complained that the ghouls in some of the the fright zones at Donery, mainly the zombie themed ones sometimes said inappropriate sexual remakes to them, I witnessed a couple of these incidents myself and we notified park security about it. They didn't want to go Haunt anymore after that with ghouls crossing the line to sexual harassment.
After a couple years of escalating issues at Dorney, I came to the reluctant conclusion I was no longer having fun at Dorney which used to be my go to park. It used to be a place you could reliable have a fun day, but ceased being that way the last few years I still visited. It was not an easy decision but one I stand by. Sorry for the wall of text detour but this is partly why I am not happy about the SF / CF merger besides the great elimination of competition. I fully expect roll eyes from certain members.
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Obviously, we’ve had very different experiences. Dorney has always been charming, when I’ve gone.
Moreover, CF has been improving KD for years. So, I am hopeful they will turn the old SF parks around in similar ways.
Moreover, CF has been improving KD for years. So, I am hopeful they will turn the old SF parks around in similar ways.
Only been to Dorney once in either 2018 or 2019, but I had the same experience as you. Didn’t take long to do everything I wanted to, but absolutely had a great time. Ops were good, everything was open, Steel Force was absolutely hauling, and it was clean. Great park, would happily go back if I still lived in the Northeast.
@The Master: Aside from saying that none of what you said matches up with my Dorney experiences, I'm not going to argue with most of your anecdotes. For the majority of them, if that's what you experienced, that sucks. It's reasonable that perceptions and experiences of parks are greatly impacted by their audiences and the parks' proactivity regarding mitigating issues caused by said audiences.
I have been to parks with unusually rude, rambunctious, and even violent crowds and, especially when such a park makes no attempt to correct the issues particularly problematic crowds cause, it can easily ruin one's entire perception of a park.
That being said, one bit in your post really does your entire case a massive disservice and, I would argue, paints everything else you presented in a really bad light.
First off, I am absolutely positive that speaking English at Dorney Park has never been anywhere close to "rare" and I worry that, if your retelling/perception of your experiences at Dorney are actually that "English being spoken was becoming rare," I (and others) should disregard everything else you shared as likely distorted/exaggerated/dishonest.
Secondly, and more importantly, even if I were to grant your premise for the sake of argument, what does the language being spoken by other parties around you matter and why is that audience "observation" sandwiched in the middle of a list of major, negative points such as "the clientele became increasingly scuzzy." Hopefully this wasn't your intention and you can clear it up, but right now that portion of your post sorta, kinda reads like "people who don't speak like me started to visit Dorney and now I think it's a shit hole park."
I have been to parks with unusually rude, rambunctious, and even violent crowds and, especially when such a park makes no attempt to correct the issues particularly problematic crowds cause, it can easily ruin one's entire perception of a park.
That being said, one bit in your post really does your entire case a massive disservice and, I would argue, paints everything else you presented in a really bad light.
First off, I am absolutely positive that speaking English at Dorney Park has never been anywhere close to "rare" and I worry that, if your retelling/perception of your experiences at Dorney are actually that "English being spoken was becoming rare," I (and others) should disregard everything else you shared as likely distorted/exaggerated/dishonest.
Secondly, and more importantly, even if I were to grant your premise for the sake of argument, what does the language being spoken by other parties around you matter and why is that audience "observation" sandwiched in the middle of a list of major, negative points such as "the clientele became increasingly scuzzy." Hopefully this wasn't your intention and you can clear it up, but right now that portion of your post sorta, kinda reads like "people who don't speak like me started to visit Dorney and now I think it's a shit hole park."
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I had heard horror stories from Dorney several times over the years and was pleasantly suprised on my first visit to not be able to verify single one of them. In fact I found the park to be quiet nice and charming. It has been one of my best park visit experience and I look forward to many return visits in the future.
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Sigh, just to be clear, I judge people by their behavior and actions. Language doesn't make a person good or bad, but their actions certainly do. I do object to people who act rudely and obnoxiously. A few people speaking another language is nothing, but being surrounded by people speaking another language than you is disconcerting because its harder to assess their attitudes, the attitude of the situation, or predict their behavior. In other words its more difficult to maintain situational awareness when you can't understand a large portion of the people around you which can create stress. But clearly nothing like someone actually attempting to cause harm to you.
All I can say is I am glad you had better experiences at Dorney than I did in the final years I went there. I had good times there for over two decades and glad I visited before it declined, at least for me. Guess we will have to agree to disagree. You are free to believe or disbelieve whatever you want as its no skin off my nose for retelling my experiences at Dorney.
What I posted above was only a fraction of increasing issues me and my friends and relatives encountered at Dorney. It simply got to the point where every trip a major bad thing would happen. My friends had old sneakers and towels stolen from the water park. Found two white couples fighting each next to my truck so I couldn't even get near it to go home. Another time found someone rearranged my side view mirrors, wtf. The park allowing weeds to take over landscaping. WWK closing change rooms right at park closing time, forcing guests to change in dry park bathrooms. Closing rides 10 minutes before the posted park closing time. Had a security guard yell at me for changing in the change booth one minute after WWK closing. At first I thought it was some dad yelling at his kid then realized it was me. Saw a group of security guards chase a man in the parking lot, tackle him to the ground, and then fought with him, etc.
I have had negative experiences at other parks too, but not as frequent as at Dorney in the last few years I visited there.
All I can say is I am glad you had better experiences at Dorney than I did in the final years I went there. I had good times there for over two decades and glad I visited before it declined, at least for me. Guess we will have to agree to disagree. You are free to believe or disbelieve whatever you want as its no skin off my nose for retelling my experiences at Dorney.
What I posted above was only a fraction of increasing issues me and my friends and relatives encountered at Dorney. It simply got to the point where every trip a major bad thing would happen. My friends had old sneakers and towels stolen from the water park. Found two white couples fighting each next to my truck so I couldn't even get near it to go home. Another time found someone rearranged my side view mirrors, wtf. The park allowing weeds to take over landscaping. WWK closing change rooms right at park closing time, forcing guests to change in dry park bathrooms. Closing rides 10 minutes before the posted park closing time. Had a security guard yell at me for changing in the change booth one minute after WWK closing. At first I thought it was some dad yelling at his kid then realized it was me. Saw a group of security guards chase a man in the parking lot, tackle him to the ground, and then fought with him, etc.
I have had negative experiences at other parks too, but not as frequent as at Dorney in the last few years I visited there.
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I would say to give Dorney a chance again. I had a great time there in 2024, and everyone else I know who went to the park last year had the same thing to say. They got a new GM in 2022 and she definitely has brought improvements to the park. A lot can change in six years.
My last visit to Dorney was in 2020 (Covid) but I found the park clean and colorful. It is my least favorite legacy CF park that I’ve visited — the top half of the park still has a bit of a desolate, concrete Six Flags vibe — but I think the lower half of the park is absolutely charming. The little stream, the old koi fountain, the Zephyr train running through it all, lots of shade… I found it lovely.
They also have Demon Drop which automatically makes Dorney an awesome park. If SF tries to remove it, we riot.
They also have Demon Drop which automatically makes Dorney an awesome park. If SF tries to remove it, we riot.
I fucking hate these forums and the people here.
I went to Dorney for a few hours for the first time in 2023 and I loved it! I love their flat ride collection and it just was super charming. I'd go back there often if I lived closer than 10 hours away. My only regret was that Demon Drop was closed...
Went to the park a lot from 95-18 when I lived in the area and visited a lot. The park has had a history of being inconsistent. Sometimes it's great, sometimes it's a miss. I would say it's the most uneven park with all of that but it's also avoided the super highs and super lows of other parks in the area.
I visited last Aug 19, late in the summer season. They closed early at 7 but lines were minimal and operations were quick. Coasters were running multiple trains. Everything but Iron Menace (for some reason) was open. Overall it was a great experience. The area that they lack is live entertainment but that’s been a Cedar Fair issue at several parks.
It’s also the home of the last Huss enterprise (that I’m aware of) on this side of the country. Plus they have a rare swing around. So that’s something.
It’s also the home of the last Huss enterprise (that I’m aware of) on this side of the country. Plus they have a rare swing around. So that’s something.
There are worse places to be, like the place that rhymes with Steam Narc Le-Pew.
Dorney is an excellent park. I’ve been a good handful of times without any big issues. I’ve been on some one train op days, but the park was barren.
I really enjoyed the Halloween Event they put together last year! I definitely forgot to do a report on it, but I’ve got video reactions of all the houses. Maybe I’ll put something together soon because the Dorney slander seems a bit much. Really charming park with a good selection of rides with great special events IMO
I really enjoyed the Halloween Event they put together last year! I definitely forgot to do a report on it, but I’ve got video reactions of all the houses. Maybe I’ll put something together soon because the Dorney slander seems a bit much. Really charming park with a good selection of rides with great special events IMO
IMO the park was still good at that time. The sports bar, Game Day Grill used to be the Red Garter Saloon as that section used to be a western town theme. But then they got away from it. Last time I was there the restaurant was converted to a Chicke and Pete's.
A few rides Dorney removed that I miss are the skyride and the Laser, a Schwarzkopf portable double looping coaster. Also miss the Krazy Kars which were gasoline powered bumper cars with skid steering that were located where Demon Drop now is. Another attraction I miss is the Riptide Run slide which was like an in ground version of the Sky Pond slide at Morey's. It was located where Snake Pit slide complex currently is as well as the green torpedo tubes slides which really weren't replaced by anything.
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I can see both sides of this discussion, because while my visits to Dorney have been pleasant, I’ve definitely also seen the trashy clientele and behavior described above. That said, I wouldn’t say it’s any worse than what you’d see at Great Adventure or any other park located near similar socioeconomic areas
What park doesn’t have bad clientele at times? People can get pissed off at anything, even at Disney. I’m not sure how a few bad apples ruin an entire theme park. I think how a park handles situations regarding unruly people should be more characteristic of a park than just some of the people inside of it.
I went to Dorney twice. First time was in 2022 for Haunt and the second time was last year for Iron Menace.
The park overall isn't terrible. They have an ok selection of rides and I like the atmosphere. A lot of it feels super corporate in places although you have your fair share of nice areas like the giant fountain near Demon Drop.
My biggest issue is the park feels like it needs investment. You see the surrounding parks get bigger and bigger rides and Dorney just sits there in the dust. You can tell the park isn't exactly the darling that the Paramount Parks or the flagship CF parks are. If you want an old school park experience, you go to Knoebels. If you want lots of coasters, you go to Hershey. If you want the big park feel with low crowd levels, you go to GAdv. Its pretty much outclassed in every category in the area. Dorney feels like its just there.
Dorney needs investment in attractions that are unique to the area to draw people. Iron Menace is a great start to that. I would love to see CF invest in more theming and atmosphere. Bring back some classic attractions. Maybe change out the entrance area too. I'd love to see them add the tunnel back to Thunderhawk. Little changes like that would make a huge difference.
They don't need to add big coasters every year. They did that in the 90s and it didn't really go anywhere. But unique attractions? New themed areas? Throw in a dose of nostalgia? I could see all that bringing Dorney up to speed with the other area parks.
The park overall isn't terrible. They have an ok selection of rides and I like the atmosphere. A lot of it feels super corporate in places although you have your fair share of nice areas like the giant fountain near Demon Drop.
My biggest issue is the park feels like it needs investment. You see the surrounding parks get bigger and bigger rides and Dorney just sits there in the dust. You can tell the park isn't exactly the darling that the Paramount Parks or the flagship CF parks are. If you want an old school park experience, you go to Knoebels. If you want lots of coasters, you go to Hershey. If you want the big park feel with low crowd levels, you go to GAdv. Its pretty much outclassed in every category in the area. Dorney feels like its just there.
Dorney needs investment in attractions that are unique to the area to draw people. Iron Menace is a great start to that. I would love to see CF invest in more theming and atmosphere. Bring back some classic attractions. Maybe change out the entrance area too. I'd love to see them add the tunnel back to Thunderhawk. Little changes like that would make a huge difference.
They don't need to add big coasters every year. They did that in the 90s and it didn't really go anywhere. But unique attractions? New themed areas? Throw in a dose of nostalgia? I could see all that bringing Dorney up to speed with the other area parks.
Dorney could really capitalize on a collection of great flats. They’ve already got the foundation there with Demon Drop, Dominator, Enterprise, Apollo, and The Whip.
Honestly, I think with the addition of Iron Menace, their coaster collection is where it needs to be. 8 coasters is very respectable for a smaller park, and Hydra, Steel Force, and Thunderhawk are absolutely phenomenal.
Edit: To add on to this, my one pipe dream has been that when Nickelodeon Universe inevitably closes, Shellraiser is purchased and sent to Dorney. I don’t think it’s realistic at all and it would need entirely new supports, but the low capacity wouldn’t be an issue and it would likely be the standout attraction at the park.
Honestly, I think with the addition of Iron Menace, their coaster collection is where it needs to be. 8 coasters is very respectable for a smaller park, and Hydra, Steel Force, and Thunderhawk are absolutely phenomenal.
Edit: To add on to this, my one pipe dream has been that when Nickelodeon Universe inevitably closes, Shellraiser is purchased and sent to Dorney. I don’t think it’s realistic at all and it would need entirely new supports, but the low capacity wouldn’t be an issue and it would likely be the standout attraction at the park.
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