Hershey Park TR 8/12-13

**Bob** · #1 08-15-2005, 10:46 PM

I've been to 19 parks now according to my count. In all of those parks, I can honestly say that Hershey Park ranks among the top 3 parks that I would gladly go back to again.

My daughter, who is 10, and I spent Friday night and Saturday enjoying what is a great family park. We took the chocolate tour, which I do recommend and walked through the gift shop (which was a madhouse). We (my daughter, myself, my mother and aunt) then proceeded to the park itself.

The ticketing process was ok...they offer a discounted admission after a certain time of day which was very nice. Then if you have an admission stub from a prior day, you can get in the next day for a discounted price. It ended up costing us about $45-46 (if my math is right) bucks a person for a day and a half of admission. Absolutely worth every penny.

The collection of rides and flats that Hershey Park has is outstanding. There is truly something for everyone. The woodies are great. Not too rough and very enjoyable. My daughter who learned that she loves rollercoasters, enjoyed everything as much as I did. She actually held her hands up on Wildcat (which was a first for her). She also rode in the front car of the Superdooperlooper, which was a first for her too!

The lines were short and the park could not have been any cleaner. You really felt that it was a place where everyone, regardless of age, could have a great time.

My only gripes are the following: There is a bottleneck by the splash area of Tidal Force. While the landscaping in that area is nice, it needs to be removed or thinned out. It was just too hard to move through that area during the day.

My other gripe...the ride ops. Being a ride op can't be the most exciting of job. However, you work for a place where people come to have fun. Show a little pride in your work. Crack a smile once in a while, don't act like I'm 'interrupting' your day. C'mon...if you really don't want to be there...then get another job. The rest of the staff there, sweeps, food vendors, etc...seemed to like what they were doing.

Overall, I would highly recomend this park for anyone. There's a great collection of coasters that all can enjoy. This park has made it on to my 'must visit' list for the next year to come.

Kingdakasurivor · #2 08-15-2005, 11:18 PM

did you do storm runner?

Carowinds 73-03 · #3 08-15-2005, 11:39 PM

I truely enjoyed HP as well. I would also rank it in my top 3 parks behing Disney & Universal.

I do agree about the ride op's, Basically had no emotion, just checked seats put up their fingers for a sec and sat down with their head down, I was quite shocked and this was at every ride.

It is one of the nicest & cleanest parks i had ever had the pleasure of visiting and will visit again soon.

I really enjoyed how the park transformed at night, Just magical.

DHollon · #4 08-15-2005, 11:55 PM

For future refrence, go to the GIANT foods store on Cocoa Avenue and you can get tickets for $10 off the gate price.

We were there on the 7th and enjoyed every minute of it. The water rides are some of the best in the country and Storm Runner is by far the best of its breed.

Carowinds 73-03 · #5 08-15-2005, 11:58 PM

Or that Turkey Hill gas station on the corner, Thats where i got my $10 off cupon.

I just looked at the park website and i was blown away. I am shocked that HP gets away with selling their season passes at $85 and thats the early bird special. I hate to see how much they are after.

I guess it still pays for itself in 2-3 visits. I guess i'm just used to the 40-70 passes at SF & Paramount where at that price you get all parks not just one.

EDIT: I just saw the prices after Jan 1st. $140, Thats insane i think.

Do they really sell alot of passes?

DHollon · #6 08-16-2005, 12:50 AM

Apparently, otherwise they wouldn't offer them

Carowinds 73-03 · #7 08-16-2005, 01:01 AM

I personally don't see them selling alot of passes at $140. I would pay that much if it included the halloween event at Candylane but it dosen't.

Oh well, not like i'm ever going to buy one anway, Just complaining.

Diesel · #8 08-16-2005, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carowinds 73-03

Do they really sell alot of passes?

My wife and I each buy one each year. They were $84.95 last year.

magicpowers · #9 08-16-2005, 12:01 PM

Bob, I was also at Hershey on Friday, 8/12. I thought that the lins were pretty short compared to what I thought they would be. I really like their woodies. Wildcat is just a great coaster all around. Definitely one of my favorites. Here is where I was surprised. I am a huhge fan of most of the B&M coasters that I ride. I had never been on the Great Bear before Fri. and I was very surprised that I did not like it. It is too long and drawn out for me. It's also is a little bit slow. I like a more forcefull inverted coaster. I was psyched to ride that coaster and disappointed when I came off. I also realy like Storm Runner. One of the best coasters I have been on. I had already been on KK a good ammount of times so the launch didn't seem like much but everything after that was great. I got more airtime on that ride than I get on any other coaster. I really liked that. My day was succesfull at Hershey. I don't go there very often, but I do enjoy the few times that I get to go.

DHollon · #10 08-16-2005, 01:19 PM

Well it is not surprise that you liked their woodies, since Clair Jr designed them. I didn't like Wildcat all that much as it was running PTCs and if they had the MF trains on it, I think it would be a much more enjoyable ride. LR is a great ride and my favorite woodie(s). I preferred Lightning to Thunder as it was a bit more aggressive and really whipped you off of the lift hill.

As for Great Bear, I am surprised at your comments. I think the course is wonderfully done and very unique. While I cannot say that it is my favorite inverted, my heart still belongs to Alpengeist, I think that you are not giving it enough credit. Did you take a night ride? It feels out of control behind SDL's station. Oh well, to each his own.

Did you ride SR? That is by far the best of it's kind and to me is worth the price to get in just to ride it.

Diesel · #11 08-16-2005, 07:29 PM

I've never heard anyone complain that the GB is too long and drawn out. My complaint is the polar opposite.

Thunderhawk · #12 08-16-2005, 10:12 PM

While Storm Runner may get you in the gates...Wildcat is what will keep you there (and the other woodies). Great Bear is intense, but too short. I like the PTC trains on Wildcat, they're my favorite type of train.

**Bob** · #13 08-17-2005, 03:02 AM

I did ride SR and all I can say is WOW! Great ride. I've been on TTD and the launch is mild compared to that, but the comment about it being great after that is right on the money.

Great Bear was very good in my opinion and really fit well in the park. Was it as intense as say...Raptor? No. But it fits well with the other collection of coasters.

Again, I really enjoyed Hersheypark and will definately go back.

DHollon · #14 08-17-2005, 01:35 PM

^^Yes but when you have the BEST Wildcat in your backyard (OzCat @ CC) you can see why I was underwhelmed by the Hershey Wildcat.

mayberry · #15 08-18-2005, 12:12 AM

I just visited HP today, and some things sort of iffed me. I've been out-of-state (PA) for about 3 years, and this was my first HP visit since I've been back, and although I immensly enjoyed it, I left kind of scratching my head. They got rid of a lot of rides, some that shouldn't have been removed, and I personally was a little sad, lol. Plus it seemed to be abnormally crowded...ppl *everywhere*...but yet the lines weren't that long.

I dunno. Maybe I'm just getting old, lol.