2008 Woodie Awards
Dorney Park plays up Halloween while patrons pay out
Jacqueline Starner
Issue date: 10/28/04 Section: Life!
On a Friday night in October, not many Muhlenberg students would think of going to an amusement park. However, for all five weekends in October, Dorney Park offers visitors Halloween-themed fun. On HalloWeekends, guests pay reduced prices and enjoy the park's rollercoasters, the usual array of rides as well as special Halloween attractions.
Spending all day at the park isn't really necessary because in October, the park is much less crowded. It is almost assured that you will be able to ride all three of Dorney's rollercoasters in a total time of under two hours. The longest lines on HalloWeekends are actually for the temporary attractions like the haunted houses and the Fright Zone.
This year the park opened two haunted houses: Doctor of Doom and Scream Works. "The haunted house was a very family-oriented event that you can feel comfortable taking younger siblings or cousins to" said senior Ashley Godshall of Scream Works. In the other haunted house, Doctor of Doom, allegedly the scarier of the two, visitors wear 3-D glasses to enhance their experience.
The Fright Zone, as opposed to the haunted houses, is an outdoor attraction, in which people make their way down a foggy path while actors startle them.
Dorney tried to create a spooky atmosphere by flooding the park with machine-produced fog. However, in some places the fog got so thick that groups of friends were easily separated, and it could be scary for little children if they get lost in the "haunted" theme park.
Another complaint some guests had of the park regarded the food. Of course, most people expect amusement park food to be overpriced, but they also expect to get a decent amount of food in return for said cost.
At a Hershey's ice cream stand in the park, a single scoop of ice cream cost two dollars and fifty-six cents. Amanda Caringi, a freshman who visited the park on Friday, decided to pay the steep price. However, Caringi was astonished when she was given one small scoop. "He didn't even fill the cone, and then put a scoop on top. You're supposed to fill the cone," she said.
Though the Hershey's ice cream stand is a rip-off, going to Dorney Park in October is still a good deal. Guests pay much less than they do during the regular season and can easily go on their favorite rides like Steel Force or Talon without a long wait. Just remember to go to a different Friendly's afterwards if they you really want ice cream.
Spending all day at the park isn't really necessary because in October, the park is much less crowded. It is almost assured that you will be able to ride all three of Dorney's rollercoasters in a total time of under two hours. The longest lines on HalloWeekends are actually for the temporary attractions like the haunted houses and the Fright Zone.
This year the park opened two haunted houses: Doctor of Doom and Scream Works. "The haunted house was a very family-oriented event that you can feel comfortable taking younger siblings or cousins to" said senior Ashley Godshall of Scream Works. In the other haunted house, Doctor of Doom, allegedly the scarier of the two, visitors wear 3-D glasses to enhance their experience.
The Fright Zone, as opposed to the haunted houses, is an outdoor attraction, in which people make their way down a foggy path while actors startle them.
Dorney tried to create a spooky atmosphere by flooding the park with machine-produced fog. However, in some places the fog got so thick that groups of friends were easily separated, and it could be scary for little children if they get lost in the "haunted" theme park.
Another complaint some guests had of the park regarded the food. Of course, most people expect amusement park food to be overpriced, but they also expect to get a decent amount of food in return for said cost.
At a Hershey's ice cream stand in the park, a single scoop of ice cream cost two dollars and fifty-six cents. Amanda Caringi, a freshman who visited the park on Friday, decided to pay the steep price. However, Caringi was astonished when she was given one small scoop. "He didn't even fill the cone, and then put a scoop on top. You're supposed to fill the cone," she said.
Though the Hershey's ice cream stand is a rip-off, going to Dorney Park in October is still a good deal. Guests pay much less than they do during the regular season and can easily go on their favorite rides like Steel Force or Talon without a long wait. Just remember to go to a different Friendly's afterwards if they you really want ice cream.