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Disappointingly I've been extra busy this year and while I've been to Dorney a few times I haven't been able to do a full update as I usually do... until now!! These photos will all be from the whole year so far, so things will jump around a bit here and there. This year wasn't a 'big new addition' year but there were some small changes around the park to take in. Feels like a year of transition for the park as they (and we!) anticipate a gigantic, stellar 2024.
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Right when guests enter the park they will notice a brand new Dorney Park logo sign in a stone planter, a nice addition that serves as a great photo op in this selfie world we live in. Plus, as evidenced by the second photo here, the park is able to swap out the Dorney Park logo for special events, like Grand Carnivale.
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Another new item that just happened sometime this summer is the addition of modern open air metal detectors that people pass though much faster than the old ones. The park has them in the shade under the ticket booths... ticket booths that are very unnecessary these days. In fact, it may be time for the park to totally redo their entrance area, as it was designed for an amusement park of the 1990s. The ticket booths are mostly useless now and while the structure is a nice greeting to guests... it's still taking up a lot of space. But I digress. The new metal detectors have a pull off area for guests with bags so the line keeps flowing, it's a very easy process.
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Heading into Wildwater Kingdom, I noticed this entrance sign that I do not recall being there before. A nice touch. There is another one at the back entrance to the water park, you know, the one that very few people know is there! (at least day guests, pass holders certainly do!)
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The water park has also made some changes to the area surrounding Wildwater Cove, firstly they moved the stage to elsewhere in the park to allow for more cabanas to line the section. The change allows for more general seating as well.
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There are also some new very fancy and very big cabanas that went up along the side of Wildwater Cove. They seat up to 12 people, come with souvenir towels, a family style meal and more. Definitely a great way to spend the day if you're staying at the waterpark with a big group.
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A new bar has also been added to Wildwater Kingdom for the 2023 season. Called Schooner's Cover Bar, it is located right at the entrance to the water park. The bar offers frozen cocktails, regular cocktails, beer and wine. Just from appearances it looks like the bar has been a huge hit at the park.
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One of the park's older waterslides, Lightning Falls, was repainted this year. Each of the tube slides were painted a different shade of blue, and the double-down raft slide got a green look. Gives the attraction a nice, fresh appearance!
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In the middle of the waterpark the stage that was located by Wildwater Cove has a new home. Featuring live music from The Coastal Currents, the park has added plenty of seating in the area plus a second bar, called Surfside bar, right next door. It has made for a nice space to lounge and hang out indeed.
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Over in Dorney Park there haven't been an overwhelming amount of changes in 2023... probably because we've got a big year coming up in 2024. I noticed that this retail store, a holdover from the 'old' Dorney, is not being used at all this season. Most recently it was a $10 or less type bargain store.
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I noticed some changes in retail around the park in general this season. For instance the park's largest store, Good Time Gifts, has a much more open and spacious feel to it. It traditionally had a large display in the middle that is no longer there.
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A small change in the lower part of the park - the overgrowth along Cedar Creek has been removed and the area looks beautiful again!
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Also in the lower part of the park Center Stage is dormant this year, with no show taking place here. The park has decorated it nicely and it is still open to guests to dine in the shade from the various food locations surrounding it. Hopefully with more foot traffic in the lower park next year a show comes back to the venue.
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To replace the live shows in the lower park a new stage has been set up for season-long use just behind the Carousel on the main midway. The stage has various live shows on it during the day and evening, and then is also used heavily during Grand Carnivale.
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And speaking of Grand Carnivale, which is wrapping up its 2023 run this weekend, the park has started to use some of the existing food locations along the main midway to serve the special tastings in the evening. This has allow for at least three of the temporary food tents to be removed which has made the area a bit less cluttered with the big crowds at night. A great move, and the food locations still serve their usual food during the day. Above is the pizza place which at night switches to serving food from China for Grand Carnivale.
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As we've seen at other Cedar Fair parks this year, the park is experimenting with single-use Fast Lane passes. I only noticed one in the amusement park and that was for the Wild Mouse. I inquired and it was $10 each that day, which was a busy Saturday. I also am aware that they are selling them in the water park for AquaRacer, but I am unsure of the cost.
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It has been so many seasons of posting a photo of Stinger Field here on NewsPlusNotes and noting that nothing is going on, and now as we all well know there IS something happening! I know it's obvious but I feel I owe it to myself to include this picture and note that things are changing down here! We will all know much more this Thursday, August 10th!
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Dorney Park is also hard at work on a new haunted maze, located in the pavilions where Enigma was the past few seasons. The has a very nice haunted factory looks and I personally expect this to tie in to the new coaster's theme. Exciting stuff!
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