sooperdooperLooper station re-do

This isn't really worthy of a news item, but it looks like Hershey completely tore down sooperdooperLooper's station with the intention of replacing it. That seems unusual. I can't find any renderings of the new thing.

I remember them announcing this a while back. It must be a popular enough coaster to preserve. It's a fun ride.

Anyway, take note that SooperdooperLooper is closed for the rest of the season if you plan to visit the park.

To celebrate 50 years of our legendary loop, sooperdooperLooper® is getting a new station! To keep it “sooperdooper” for generations to come, the ride will close after Labor Day and reopen Summer 2027 with a new arrival and boarding experience, including immersive lighting and enhanced audio. Come get your loops in before Labor Day!

https://www.hersheypark.com...operlooper

sooperdooperLooper.

I appreciate the way Hersheypark takes care of their rides. That's just one of the reasons they're in the top tier of parks.

Lucky to have as my home park.

This is a perfect example of what Six Flags should be doing: low cost investment that updates attractions and generates interest. So many possibilities across the chain, if they’d only open their eyes and think outside the box.

Coasterfantom2:

That's just one of the reasons they're in the top tier of parks.

I like Hersheypark, but the way it's run now has way too many flaws to make it a top-tier park IMO.

The worst offense to me is the operations, or lack thereof. Most of their rides seem to have the bare minimum number of employees operating them. There's no point for Candymonium to run three trains because they always consistently stack two trains because they have two people checking bars. Dispatches on Great Bear are a joke.

Many of their rides have capacities appropriate for a small local park, not a regional theme park that gets more than 3 million visitors a year. Cupfusion, their dark ride, gets something stupid like 250pph. Fahrenheit realistically does about 500 on a good day. They have three trains but there's no point running more than two because a "good" dispatch is one where they send a train out as the second train is returning to the station.

I also disagree that they "take care of their rides." They have/had two world-class GCIs; one of them is already gone because they let it get insanely rough, and Lightning Racer is a shell of its former self.

I could go on - the food is aggressively mediocre and they make really dumb decisions like making the entire park exit through an indoor gift shop during Covid.

The reasons this stuff frustrates me is because the park has a ton of potential. They have some standout rides, a great water park, and a beautiful setting. But they seem to have their heads so far up their asses about doing things "the Hersheypark way" that they don't seem to realize how much better they could be.

I agree with PhantomTails 100%.

Decades ago, the park wasn't always so busy. It seems like their problems grew gradually as more people started visiting the park over the years. It seems like they didn't adjust well to that.

But what about SuperDooperPooperScooper? Any updates?

I haven't even thought about returning to Hershey since 2018/2019 because the park can't handle the increasing crowds they have been getting over the years. The park itself is beautiful and the rides are fantastic, but the operations are about as bad as BGT/Seaworld, just with all the trains actually running.

PhantomTails not going to disagree. They were running 3 trains on Candymonium last night for no reason. At least they run them even though it's pointless with staffing.

I was recently at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Wonder Woman had an 8 person train with a row out of service. 1 train operation. Was at Knotts Berry Farm every coaster 1 train operation except Silver Bullet. Was at Six Flags Great Adventure earlier this season, Jersey Devil one 12 person train operation.

My point is that there are plenty Top tier parks with low capacity rides. Six flags has the worst capacity with the single rail and 4d (throw a DC character theme on it) rides. Six Flags Over Texas, Fiesta Texas, and Great Adventure had at least 2 or 3 coasters not in operation on my visits. It's terrible. They're setting an industry standard that really makes Hersheypark operation stellar in comparison(when we know they're not.)

Am I completely happy with Hersheypark operations. Not at all. Since the pandemic their operations haven't been the same, but the same can be said of all parks. Their Summer hour's still aren't back to pre pandemic, and it makes it harder to visit during the week.

With regards to Lightning Racer I disagree. They still race, and they take great care. It still rides well. Sounds like you're upset about losing Wildcat. Wildcats Revenge was worth losing that for.

The food at Hersheypark is amusement park food. I don't disagree. Its all mediocre, but its better than what I've been eating at any Six Flags including Dorney and Knotts. The only parks I go to where I know im going to eat well are Disney Parks. But if you want good food in Hershey you go their Hotels. They're chefs are up there with Disney.

My point after all that is Hersheypark is still a top tier park. The industry is being leaned out to the bare minimum staff, and its only going to increase. Luckily Hersheypark is privately held. Leave me hopeful they can right the ship.

If you had bad food at Knotts you didn’t eat at the right places. It’s definitely in the upper part of the chain provided you know where to go (anything BBQ, and their seasonal offerings) (personally I think the best park is KI in that regards, Knotts is below them in the next tier along with CP.)

I haven’t been back to Hershey in a long time, so I can’t judge but to beat Knotts they will have to have significantly improved things.

^ Where are you eating at Kings Island that puts them on top?

I can't think of anything there that even comes close to The Grand Pavilion or Farmhouse at Cedar Point.

I really liked Coney BBQ the first couple of years it was open, but it has gone downhill fast. The same goes for BackBeat at Cedar Point.
Grain & Grill was never very good. The taco place (I forget the name) and Brewhouse are decent.

Even though I have the dining plan, I haven't been eating at KI this year. There are just too many better options outside the park.

I like Coney bbq, the Chicken Shack (Texas toast being amazing,) the pub burger at the smokehouse is good, tom and chee is a good change up option, and I don’t mind Larossa. While not on the dining plan, Graeters is in the park and also Blue Ice Cream. I really like the focus on local brands.

Skyline. (If on the plan, otherwise across 71 is the cheapest option.) I know it’s polarizing and I’m not trying to take us there again, but it’s another example of local companies in the park.
When Kings Island first debuted it relied on and promoted heavily many local companies that sponsored and supplied the park. As an example, Kahn’s supplied the hotdogs and local German wursts in Oktoberfest. You could watch the sausage being made (I know there’s a joke in there somewhere…) through large windows on International Street.

Uncle Steve:

^ Where are you eating at Kings Island that puts them on top?

KI is my home park and I don't eat there often as I loathe paying for overpriced mediocre food, and can't justify a dining plan.

All that aside, I had the Miami River Nachos at the Brewhouse for the first time recently... they are absolutely amazing.

The only thing I really love at Hersheypark is the Nathan's Hot Dogs. And you can make those at home.

RCMAC:

Skyline

Skyline at Kings Island makes my tummy rumbly for the rest of the day.

Boardwalk fires is my go-to no matter which park I am at.

LostKause:

Boardwalk fires is my go-to

I'm surprised they haven't banned you for this.