Just a few more questions, Thanks! (Whitehall, Hershey: condo, buying, school district)

[familymom]

Just got back from roaming the country side and the views were great! I finally found an area I like. First question--How is Dorney Park? my realtor said something about buying a season pass and using the pool (which she said had a wave pool with sandy beach area?). Has anyone done this, is it very crowded during the week or late afternoons? Is it clean? I understand a lot of camps use it during the day and weekends I can only imagine are very crowded. The second question is about East Penn School system. Do you think that if they build another high school, will the taxes go up per household a couple of thousands. Do you think they will make the area into 2 high school district or do what they did in Parkland and use the old high school for a middle school and build a new huge high school.? I heard that when Parkland was built the school taxes went up about 2 thousand dollars per home. Sounds high when the taxes in lower macungie are already some of the highest around.

[3232b]

1. I find Dorney, on you're typical weekend to be one of the most unpleasant things I have ever experianced - the water park in particular. The lines are awful. Weekdays when the weather is less than ideal is the best time to go Imo. it's clean. There is silly litttle sandy area that is full of loungers. Season Passes are very much so worth it if you live nearby.

2. Seeing as how they have 2 middle schools currently, the 2 high schools would make the most sense for them...Although I can't picture that actually happening...the old high school would probably be too large then...

[unoriginal]

I would definitely not suggest Dorney on the weekend. It gets packed and very annoying. However, throughout the summer early weekdays are not so bad. I'd say in by 11 which is when the water park opens and out by 1 or 2 would be the best way to go.

They used to have "special" parking for season pass holders but they don't anymore, so you might wind up having to walk quite a bit, depending on what time you get there.

[toobusytoday]

Bribing my kids with season passes to Dorney was one of the incentives for our move here 10 years ago. It seems to be most popular with kids of Middle School age. We did it for just two years before they grew tired of it. Also, our neighbors daughter worked in the water park, specifically at the big wave pool and told us of how they would find condoms and tampons (YUCK!) when they cleaned it at the end of the day. That kept us out of THAT area! We found the best time of the season was June and that was about it.

I have no idea about the HS, but no suprise about the overcrowding.

[cupid881]

whoa toobusy thanx for the info on the pool area..
Are there any area pools??

[wings396]

I also try to avoid Dorney Park, especially during the peak season. I have found it better to go there just before they close for the season, which is after all of the Camp Clowns are long gone. I have never used the pool, and after what is posted above, I have no plans to do so. The pool at the Macungie Memorial Park is very nice from what I remember. When I have gone to the car show there in August, my kids always spent their time at the pool area.
If you are looking for a nice Amusement part to visit, try Knoebles out near Bloomsburg. I go there almost every year at least once, and think that it is great. I will attach a link to their website below. That is one of the few parks that is still far away enough to keep some of the goofballs away that find their way to Dorney and Hershey.


Knoebels Amusement Resort

[KristyLiz]

We moved to Lower Macungie in October when Dorney Park was already closed for the season - thank God!

My three kids hoot and hollar every time we pass that darn place, so I guess I will have to take them at least once this season (I'll let their father do that).

As for pools - there are two community pools that i know of that lots of people in my area join - Lower Macungie pool and Macungie pool.

I am sure that if they build any new schools our already high taxes will go higher - hey, you get what you pay for, right?

[iamcoko]

I agree with Wings:

Knoebels is great! It also has family campsites if you wanted to stay for a weekend.

[Matt_PSU]

I worked at dorney park/ ww kingdom for 5 seasons. The park is great but the clientele differs greatly from day to day. The park is clean but not nearly as clean as hershey or even 6 flags.

East Penn just expanded the HS in the mid 90's. I can't see them building a new HS but never say never. I think expanding in the 90's rather than going the parkland route with a clean slate high school was a mistake, but it is too late now. Parkland used to be dirt cheap property tax wise, one of the best bargains for a great education in the region. Not anymore.

[familymom]

We really like the North Whitehall area and I can't really find much info on it. Is it even remotely desirable. There seems to be no real community feel, no pools, no real towns. I guess the views were so great that I forgot about feeding the family and keeping them entertained. Everyone always goes on about lower macungie and how great it is for conveniences and maybe that is better than a view and larger lot..