A few weeks ago I was at Kings Dominion with my camera in hand taking some amazing photos. I came away with hundreds of photos, posting 80 of them in the Kings Dominion Photo Gallery. You can also see the photos from that visit in the trip report, “Kings Dominion – An Impromptu Picture Day.”
Fast forward a few weeks and I’m back at another Cedar Fair park with my camera – this time, Dorney Park. My original plan was the go the week following my Kings Dominion trip. Weather ruined that with a forecast, however, calling for a chance of hail. Not wanting to drive 2.5 hours for a shortened day, or one with major ride closures, I decided to wait.
As they say, good things come to those who wait. I spent the first 3 hours of my day at Dorney taking hundreds of photos once again. While Talon, Hydra: The Revenge, Steel Force, and Possessed all saw a lot of camera time, I also spent some time shooting numerous other rides. A total of 105 photos to the Dorney Park Photo Gallery from this trip, all of which can also be found at the conclusion of this report.
The Enthusiast in Me Also Wanted Some Attention
While this visit to Dorney Park saw me walk away with tons of amazing photos, there was no way I wouldn’t be getting in some ride time before leaving. Although the parking lot was full when I arrived, I was lucky that most people appeared to be visiting for the waterpark. The longest wait I had for any ride was maybe a three/four train wait? That doesn’t mean operations were running fast, just that the lines were on the shorter side.
When my three hour photo tour of the park was finished, I put my camera out in the car and made my way back. I was also lucky in that I was able to move my car very close to the front of the parking lot so I didn’t have to make that long walk again.
Steel Force
Steel Force had a line outside the station, but it was only because people were being held from entering until the train had departed. They were running only one train, so while the line was short, it did take me around 15-20 minutes to get on the ride. With normal two train operations and not having to wait outside the station, I’m sure I would have been on this coaster in a matter of minutes.
As for the ride, I sat three or four rows from the back. I had some subtle airtime pops, but nothing crazy. The turn, as always, provided the most intensity with its laterals. This portion of the ride always makes me feel like I’m being sucked into the train and like I weigh twice as much as I do.
Hydra: The Revenge
While I adore the Jojo Roll element straight out of the station on Hydra, I’ve always found myself wanting more out of this ride. I love its entrance sign, the color scheme, and its unique layout. It’s just the course itself that underwhelms me. I’m also 50/50 on whether or not I’ll get some headbanging during my ride. I’m not talking Firebird levels of headbanging, but maybe a time or two. I didn’t on this visit, thankfully.
Hydra was running two trains with the end of the line being on the stairs leading into the station. This was easily the fastest operations on the day and I was on the ride somewhere between 5-10 minutes.
Talon
Speaking of a line being on the stairs, that was also true on Talon. What was not also true was the fast loading. For some reason, even with two train operations, this queue moved at a snail’s pace. The train out on the course would often be back and stacked before they’d even open the air gates to load the next train. I chalked it up to people taking forever to grab their items when leaving, but after seeing it happen several times, there was no rhyme or reason for the slowness.
Talon was the last coaster I rode before leaving the park. My plan was to marathon it for a few rides then head on out. After taking over 20 minutes to board a train with the slow ops, I decided to call it a day after just one ride.
It was still a few hours before the park closed, but I was feeling tired and hungry. I wanted a nice sit-down meal at a nearby restaurant instead of park/fast food, so I hit the gift shop for a new pin and then I was on my way to find food.
Final Ride Counts
Hydra: The Revenge (1)
Possessed (2)
Steel Force (1)
Talon (1)
Thunderhawk (1)
Back Next Year for Iron Menace
Since my visit, Dorney Park announced a brand new coaster for 2024 called Iron Menace. I can’t wait to ride this Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) Dive Coaster or capture it on camera. The ride looks promising and I’m glad to see them theming the ride. It should make the photos much more interesting. Dorney is long overdue for a new coaster, especially a ground-up new ride.
While it might not be the biggest Cedar Fair park, or the biggest park in this region, I always enjoy my time at Dorney. I first discovered the park in 1989 when found a brochure advertising the park’s then newest coaster, Hercules. I just had to go. It didn’t take long either. Only a few months later, my Aunt Cheryl and I were visiting for the first time.
Since that first visit I’ve gone to Dorney many times, taking countless friends – many times for their first-ever times too. I can’t wait do it many more times over moving forward, especially with the addition of Iron Menace next year.
Dorney Park Photo Gallery - July 31, 2023
If you would like to use any of the images in the gallery above for your commercial and/or non-commercial projects, feel free to do so. I ask that you credit We Were Inverted whenever they’re used. I also ask that you do not alter the image or remove the watermarks. If you need any images/video resized or without the watermarks, please contact me directly.
CREW MANIFEST
The following flight crew members attended this park, & earned the respective credits below:
Patrick
CAG
New Credit(s): n/a
