SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Long lines are a typical feature inside popular amusement parks, from roller coasters to busy food stands.
But last weekend, the lines at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom came outside the park.
- Dorney Park traffic caused major delays on Hamilton Boulevard Saturday
- That day was the park’s busiest of the year so far, partially because it was the first day of the Grand Carnivale festival
- A Dorney representative said the executive team is working with South Whitehall Township staff to address the issue
In the late morning and early afternoon Saturday, major traffic delays plagued Hamilton Boulevard near Lincoln Avenue and Cedar Crest Boulevard, as people tried to get into Dorney Park's parking lots.
South Whitehall Police Department made a Facebook post asking residents to avoid the area “due to Dorney Park traffic.”
Dorney Public Relations and Communications Manager Ryan Eldredge said a “perfect storm” of factors led to Saturday’s traffic delays.
Eldredge said park officials and South Whitehall employees are working together to address the problem.
What caused the delays?
Saturday was Dorney Park’s busiest day so far this year, with about 20,000 people attending, Eldredge said.
The spike in attendance may have happened because Saturday was the first day of Dorney Park’s Grand Carnivale — a festival that celebrates international cultures through food, dance performances, live music and more.
But the park’s Wildwater Kingdom also had its busiest day of this year, Eldredge said, leading him to believe the past rainy weekends may have been a culprit, as well.
“There was a lot of pent-up demand from the weather in June,” Eldredge said.
Eldredge said many attendees tried to get into the park around the same time — which was when the traffic was at its worst.
“It’s going to be a collaborative effort moving forward to make sure it doesn't get like that again."Dorney’s Public Relations and Communications Manager Ryan Eldredge
There was some speculation on social media that the delays were caused by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia’s employee outing. But Eldredge said that group was not big enough to have a major impact on traffic.
Addressing the problem
Eldredge said he does not expect the same volume of delays this coming weekend.
The Dorney Park executive team is working with South Whitehall Township staff to “make adjustments” in the area, he said.
“It’s going to be a collaborative effort moving forward to make sure it doesn't get like that again,” Eldredge said.
“I can report that South Whitehall Township officials, including the administration and the command staff of the South Whitehall Township Police Department, are committed to working in tandem with Dorney Park officials to ensure the safety of both township residents and visitors to the township."South Whitehall Township Manager Tom Petrucci
Eldredge did not have specific information for what adjustments will be made, but said for their part, park staff are looking into new ways to get people into parking spaces faster.
South Whitehall Township Manager Tom Petrucci said township staff has a meeting scheduled with Dorney Park officials this week. He said he could not yet provide details about what adjustments will be made.
“I can report that South Whitehall Township officials, including the administration and the command staff of the South Whitehall Township Police Department, are committed to working in tandem with Dorney Park officials to ensure the safety of both township residents and visitors to the township,” Petrucci said.
Eldredge said the park made some minor adjustments Sunday, such as having volunteers remind people to have parking payments out and ready before getting to the gate to speed up the process.
He said Saturday’s delays were a “blessing” in a way, because the efforts made to improve traffic will help when the park’s new roller coaster comes next year.
Eldredge suggested people arrive at the park early next weekend. The parking lot opens at 9 a.m., an hour before the park opens.
