Morey's Piers: An Excellent Beachfront Amusement Park

In the early- to mid-twentieth century, piers dominated the Jersey shore. Places such as Atlantic City teemed with them; these huge structures on the beach were as much of a destination as the beach itself. Many contained amusement parks, restaurants or even aquariums! Today, few survive. But in Wildwood, New Jersey, Morey's Piers Amusement Park, located on three separate piers, is thriving as much as ever. Visiting Morey's has become a family tradition -everyone from grandparents to toddlers enjoys this unique amusement park.

Morey's Piers has a special atmosphere, filled with vacation and tradition. Located directly on the beach, only a few steps from the ocean on Wildwood's enormous beaches, Morey's Piers has a feel no other amusement park "on land" can capture. As you hurtle down a hill on the Great White, you can hear waves lapping at the sand in the distance, and smell the spray in the air. Many parents and grandparents remember visiting Morey's as children, enjoying the same timeless rides and attractions today.

Morey's isn't as expensive as Disney World, but has almost as many rides as the Magic Kingdom. An all day wristband costs $43 for those over fifty four inches tall; those under fifty four receive a discount. An all day wristband for a family of four costs only $142 (as of September 2007)-a relatively low price when compared to Universal Orlando or Disney. Bands of tickets can also be purchased; visit www.moreyspiers.com for more information.

The sheer amount and variety of rides offered is nothing short of amazing. With three piers to choose from, and rides ranging from kiddie rides such as the Pink Elephants to wooden roller coasters such as the Great White to modern, steel coasters such as the Great Nor'Easter. Whether you enjoy old fashioned carnival-type rides or new, innovative, state of the art themed thrills, you won't have any trouble finding the perfect ride here.

Even non-riders will enjoy visiting Morey's. Located directly on the boardwalk, which features a host of restaurants, unique shops, and even an aquarium, Morey's can turn into an outing for the entire family. As there is no gate admission fee and one can freely move between piers and the boardwalk, it is easy for one member of the party to shop while the others enjoy heart-wrenching thrills. On the piers, a host of game booths provide entertainment for those who aren't riding.

However, some parts of the Piers have a dumpy feel to them, reminiscent of its not-so-pleasant former self. Some rides are definitely "tourist traps", and a few seem like stripped-down versions of Disney's themed rides. For example, the log flume ride basically consists of floating through a dirty, uninteresting track that loops around under different rides, with the drops providing the only entertainment.

If you aren't up to a hefty walk, Morey's Piers isn't the right amusement park. Because the rides are equally divided between three piers (e.g. there are about 1-2 thrill rides per pier, instead of one pier containing all the thrill rides), you should expect do have to walk between piers several times. It is a bit of a walk from one pier to the next, and especially because of Wildwood's sparse parking, you should expect to walk much farther.

Long lines are normal during the summer here, and no system such as Disney's Fastpass is available. Expect to wait in long lines for the thrill rides and even some kiddie rides. If you arrive just as the piers open, you won't experience very long lines, but there is something to be said for a "night" on the boardwalk versus visiting during the sweltering daytime heat.

Overall, I would recommend Morey's Piers to basically anyone who isn't on a tight budget. Despite the negative points mentioned above, the overall experience is wonderful, and the beach atmosphere only magnifies fun. To all who love amusement parks and to many who don't, Morey's Piers beckons with fun and adventure!

Sources consulted: www.moreyspiers.com