Amusement Park Smackdown: Dorney Park Vs. Six Flags Great Adventure

I have had the pleasure of visiting both Dorney Park in Allentown, PA and Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ recently. While they're both great parks, here are some things to consider before you go.

Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is the largest amusement park in the northeast and is situated almost exactly halfway between New York City and Philadelphia, which naturally means crowds aplenty. However, the price of admission ($49.99, $39.99 online) is a bit higher than other area parks, and it does not include admission to Hurricane Harbor, the water park, which definitely deters some people. Admission to Hurricane Harbor will cost you an extra $29.99. Getting to Six Flags Great Adventure early is key, as the crowds increase dramatically after noon. By getting to the park when the gates open, we are usually able to ride the most popular ride in the park, Kingda Ka, with no wait at all. If you use the morning wisely, you should be able to hit all of the other major coasters, including Nitro, El Toro, Superman and Batman, with little to no wait as well. The park is large and the major thrill rides are very spread out, so mapping out a route is a good idea. A drive through Wild Safari, a huge wildlife park, is included in the price of admission and is a nice way to take a break from the afternoon crowds.

Dorney Park
Though not a huge amusement park, Dorney draws crowds by offering two parks for the price of one. Their $35 admission fee covers both the amusement park and the water park, which makes for an excellent deal. However, the low prices draw ridiculously big crowds from Allentown, Philly and even NYC. The day we were there, the water park looked like Times Square on New Year's Eve. There was at least an hour wait for every water slide, and up to a two-hour wait for some of the bigger rides. The wave pool was so full you could barely wade in. Luckily, the amusement park was not quite as packed (especially in the morning), and we were able to ride most of the rides there with only a 15-20 minute wait. There are several terrific roller coasters and thrill rides to choose from, most notably Steel Force, Voodoo, Talon and Hydra. The amusement park lines pick up after 7pm, when the water park closes.

So, how do they stack up?
If you're looking for serious thrills, Six Flags Great Adventure wins hands down. Kingda Ka is the tallest, fastest roller coaster on the planet, and the rest of their line up is hard to top as well. Dorney has nothing to compete with Kingda Ka, El Toro or Superman. However, Dorney is still worth a visit for thrill seekers. Dorney's Steel Force is just as good as Six Flags' Nitro, and Hydra and Talon measure up favorably against their Six Flags counterparts. Dorney also has a few other non-roller coaster thrill rides that aren't available at Six Flags.

If family fun is more your speed, then my vote goes to Dorney. The lower price of admission and inclusion of the water park makes it a great value for families, and there are many more kid-friendly activities available. Six Flags Great Adventure does have its fair share of smaller, carnival type rides, and the Looney Tunes theme is fun for youngsters, but Dorney is definitely more family oriented overall. No matter which park you choose, you're sure to have a great time - just remember to get there early!