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Author Dorney Park v.s. Hersheypark
RCGenius
Posts: 1180
Registered: 12/23/2004

Rank: Platinum Critic
3/24/2005 8:46:55 PM
Which park do you think's better? I like Hersheypark because of their large assortment of rides, great staff & maintenance, & the fact of how Hersheypark has something for everyone. Dorney Park should give Hersheypark great competition with the addition of Hydra: the Revenge. What do you think?
bb_dg
Posts: 3568
Registered: 7/31/2001

Rank: Site Moderator
3/24/2005 9:53:51 PM
dorney is better. end of discussion

no really. i just like the overall atmosphere of dorney better than hershey. i cant describe it but it just has something that hershey doesnt
Scott
Posts: 2766
Registered: 11/7/2004

Rank: Platinum Critic
3/24/2005 10:03:10 PM
Hershey really is lacking in atmosphere. Espescially near great bear. I thought that area was hideous. 5 structures crammed into an acre.
coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004

Rank: Platinum Critic
3/24/2005 10:19:31 PM
I haven't been to dorney but currently hershey is my favorite park, I love the variety, cleanliness and feel. But hey There is always room for something better
mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001

Rank: TPC News Minister
3/25/2005 7:32:24 PM
I havn't been to either of these parks but hopefuly this will be the year.
BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001

Rank: Site Moderator
3/25/2005 8:56:33 PM
Then why is a ride from Hershey in your top 10?
coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004

Rank: Platinum Critic
3/25/2005 11:11:51 PM
you can actually ride that ride without going to the park it is in a differnt building.
mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001

Rank: TPC News Minister
3/31/2005 12:42:01 PM
Quote:
BobFunland said:
Then why is a ride from Hershey in your top 10?


Hershy's Choclate world isn't within the pay gates. it's next to the parking lot. We stoped for the night went of the Dark ride and had dinner.

I'f you have been to Hershey shoudl shoudl be able to figure that out.

Perhaps i shoudl have said I havn't been to the pay gate side of the park.

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Knoebels
Posts: 854
Registered: 7/2/2003

Rank: Gold Critic
3/31/2005 3:42:21 PM
Yo dude I dont know what to say. I mean I've seen both parks, but I haven't been in any of them. I'm going to Dorney this year with my band (...), so, we'll see...
BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001

Rank: Site Moderator
3/31/2005 4:04:55 PM
Quote:
Hershy's Choclate world isn't within the pay gates.


Thanks you, I missed coaster05 saying it

But, I can understand now, youve been there but not in the park. Thats ok, question taken back.

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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004

Rank: Platinum Critic
3/31/2005 5:06:38 PM
Well, with all bias aside... it is really close. However, I will have to go with Dorney. The one thing that totally kills it for me is that Hershey is so crammed, especially in the Comet Hollow area as mentioned before.

I do disagree with the whole "atmosphere" thing. I think that Hersheypark as a great atmosphere, it is just too crammed. It has a family atmosphere about it. I get a good feeling when I am there. Dorney Park does have an awesome atmosphere, but that is slowly diminishing as Cedar Fair progressivly transforms the park into a mini-me of Cedar Point. If the park were still like it were, it would top Hershey by a lot.

Positives for Hersheypark - Great collection of roller coasters
Good collection of flats
Fun atmosphere
Safe
Great variety of foods
Clean

Negatives for Hersheypark - TOO CRAMMED
Takes way too long to get to the parking lot, let alone even walk to and from the park (if you are not there as soon as the place opens)
The flats are not run well enough (too short of rides)

Positives for Dorney Park - Solid collection of roller coasters
Great collection of flats
Flats run very well
Good atmosphere
Safe
Wildwater Kingdom

Negatives of Dorney Park - It's owned by Cedar Fair
The historical aspect is going downhill
Decent food, but not great

Aside from all of this, I had the best trip to an amusement park, if not overall days ever, when we visited Hersheypark this year. Yet, overall, I do have to say that Dorney is better. Hershey is just way too crammed.
coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004

Rank: Platinum Critic
3/31/2005 6:40:09 PM
Herc Great views of Hershey and you are spot on about the flats. You are also right about it being crammed, but I actually like that I love how they use about every inch of space. But hey just me, either way great analysis by you.
Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002

Rank: Experiment 626
3/31/2005 8:53:08 PM
Quote:
Scott Hot said:
Hershey really is lacking in atmosphere. Espescially near great bear. I thought that area was hideous. 5 structures crammed into an acre.


Hershey lacking atmosphere? What are you smoking, because I think I want some.

The very fact that Hershey has worked their rides in and around each other make it great. It is not like they simply plop a ride down, they really put thought into how the ride is going to interact with everything around it. Besides, if you want to see crammed in, visit Indiana Beach, there is no comparison.

Hershey has loads of atmosphere, unlike Dorney. Don't get me wrong, Dorney is an excellent park, but since Cedar Faire took over, they have striped and sterilized that park like no other. It is now like a mini Cedar Point without the history behind it. They have nuetered the Thunderhawk and removed nearly the entire heart of the old park. It totally lacks atmosphere.

My vote goes with Hersheypark.

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Message updated 3/31/2005 8:56:00 PM by Cyclonic
Swimace
Posts: 5916
Registered: 8/28/2003

Rank: Platinum Critic
3/31/2005 9:09:22 PM
I think Hershey has plenty of atmosphere. I think it's biggest problem is that it's really hard to get around and that it has no room to expand
tacoking
Posts: 9914
Registered: 2/19/2003

Rank: Platinum Critic
4/1/2005 1:20:58 AM
I haven't been to either, but I think Hershey looks like the better park, overall. Dorney looks better coaster wise, but I think overall - especially with atmoshpere, Hershey is the winner.
coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004

Rank: Platinum Critic
4/1/2005 7:25:20 AM
Cyclonic you are right no place uses space like Indiana Beach. Its amazing how they got so much stuff in
mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001

Rank: TPC News Minister
4/1/2005 12:34:03 PM
Quote:
BobFunland said:
Thanks you, I missed coaster05 saying it

But, I can understand now, youve been there but not in the park. Thats ok, question taken back.


Sorry if the responce came out a little harsh. Been in allot of stress lately.
larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002

Rank: Platinum Critic
4/5/2005 11:20:53 PM
Quote:
coaster05 said:
Cyclonic you are right no place uses space like Indiana Beach. Its amazing how they got so much stuff in


IB is like the Nethrlands of amusement parks. Just as The Netherlands reclaims the ocean, IB reclaims the lake. And having those rides over the water makes them so much more fun

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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004

Rank: Platinum Critic
4/8/2005 1:58:35 AM
Yep the use of the lake and putting rides through and inside each other is amazing. The fact that they have five coasters is unbelievable when you think of how narrow that piece of land is.
Animan1
Posts: 5394
Registered: 5/14/2003

Rank: Platinum Critic
4/8/2005 11:05:10 AM
I haven't visited either, but both are near the top of my list of parks I want to visit. Dorney is adding Hydra this year, which looks amazing, but Hershey added SR last year, which looks sweet as well. In a way, they're both rather similar. Dorney has Talon, a small B&M invert, and Hershey has Great Bear, another small B&M invert. Both have a good selection of woodies, although Hersheypark looks to have the edge there, but Dorney has a nice looking water park right next door. Basically, I'd have to visit them both before I can decide, but both parks look very good in their own right.
Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004

Rank: Platinum Critic
4/8/2005 12:50:48 PM
Yeah, you definately have to visit them because they are no where near similar. Just about the only thing that is alike about them is the fact that they are in Pennsylvania. And the fact that saying Dorney has a good selection of wood coasters isn't right considering they only have one.

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Message updated 4/8/2005 12:51:24 PM by Hercules
Animan1
Posts: 5394
Registered: 5/14/2003

Rank: Platinum Critic
4/8/2005 8:01:40 PM
Yes, yes, sorry, my mistake. Still, I think I pointed out some real reasons why the parks look similar, at least on the outside.
mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001

Rank: TPC News Minister
4/9/2005 9:30:49 AM
In the long run I wouldn't through iether park to the curb.
RCGenius
Posts: 1180
Registered: 12/23/2004

Rank: Platinum Critic
4/9/2005 10:06:45 PM
I've changed my mind for saying that Hersheypark's better than Dorney. The main reason of why I said that's because I didn't go to DP last year. 2 years ago though, I remembered saying how I liked DP better than HP. Don't get me wrong. Everything that I've said about HP's true, but after going to it so many times, including the Springtime in the Park event today, except for Storm Runner, every ride at HP was just the same. It's probably because I've been to my home park so many times. Ya'll were right about Hersheypark not having a lot of room to expand the park. DP's amazing by its coaster collection, Wildwater Kingdom included w/the admission, & their great maintenance & staff. I'm going back to DP this year to ride Steel Force, Talon, Hydra: the Revenge, & many more.
Message updated 4/9/2005 10:09:15 PM by RCGenius
3r1c
Posts: 5466
Registered: 6/7/2003

Rank: Platinum Critic
4/10/2005 12:10:34 AM
I've been to Hersheypark more times than I can remember and my vote definately goes to Dorney. Hershey just seems so... stale. Of course, they did work around rides but it still completely ruins the atmosphere (if you were there before the addition of Great Bear, you know what I mean). Dorney also just has that traditional amusement park feel. The only negative I see is that mess below Hercules with all the buildings. Plus, I feel Dorney's selection and variety of flats is a hundred times better than Hersheys... but I can't say the same for their coasters (unless Hydra turns out to equal Storm Runner).
Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004

Rank: Platinum Critic
4/10/2005 12:16:55 AM
I'm telling you, if you had been to Dorney pre-Cedar Fair take over, this "traditional amusement park feel" that you all speak of would be non-existant.

And 3r1c, what mess of buildings below Hercules?

And, yes, before Great Bear... I know what you mean.
mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001

Rank: TPC News Minister
4/15/2005 11:03:19 PM
So what is it that makes you feel the traditional feel is lost?
Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004

Rank: Platinum Critic
4/15/2005 11:10:45 PM
Well, there is the fact that it looks like a mini Cedar Point. The concrete jungle, with next to no rides still there from the pre-Cedar Fair era, the complete overhaul of Wildwater Kingdom rides to these new ones (which aren't anything overly special mind you), and overall you can just feel that the traditional feel is gone. Other than those visual things, you can just feel it. I know that some of you have no clue what it is like, since I've been going there since I was 3 I can just feel it, but it is not there anymore.
coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004

Rank: Platinum Critic
4/15/2005 11:36:04 PM
It's weird how many of you feel a lack of atmosphere at Hershey and I feel that at CP. I love Hershey I'm sad that I sacrificed it this year for some new parks.
Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004

Rank: Platinum Critic
4/15/2005 11:38:53 PM
Hershey definately has atmosphere. I don't understand what people are saying about that either. It's definately Dorney that is lacking the atmosphere that it once had.
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