Family trip- Sesame Place and Hersheypark

Hi all! I am taking the family truckster (NL's Vacation reference), the wife and kids to Sesame Place and Hershey in two weeks. I haven't been to Hershey since the year they installed the SuperDooperLooper.(yeah I'm old ok?) How is the Wildcat and Lightning Racer? Any other must do/see things there? Also, we have never been to Sesame Place. I know it's for the little ones, but how is the Vapor Trail coaster? Is it just a rethemed Vekoma Roller Skater, or is it something else? My 3 year old daughter is itching to ride coasters with her dad. I was thinking the Trailblazer mine train at Hershey since she meets the height requirement and can ride with me. Is it a fairly tame mine train? I can't remember. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Wildcat= Awesome, one of my favorite woodies. havent been on it this year but it is supposed to be running great

Lightning Racer= My 2nd favorite wood, dueling is great. highlights of the ride are the first drop and the Siphon Drops into the waterfall tunnel.

Other Things to do= ride The Claw [Chance-Morgan Revoloution] if you dont get motion sickness. its well worth the waits if there are any, ride Great Bear, a great B&M Invert.

Trailblazer= yes, it is quite tame, and has a nice helix at the end. it wont be too scary.

I dont know about Sesame Place though, but I hope I helped.

I, too, prefer Wildcat over Comet and Lightning Racer but that's because Wildcat is an aggressive coaster that takes you for quite a ride. If you prefer your wood to be smooth you'll enjoy LR more.

------------------
A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Circumvent [n.] The opening in the front of boxer shorts.

Expect to wait a while for TrailBlazer because they can only run one train. Also have the kids sit on the left side when you are in the car because the first drop has a sharp bank that you come close enough to grab the grass.

------------------
Matt Rydzik
http://beyond-repair.net

Dont forget the Roller Soaker (Setpoint kiddie invert with water effects) the thing is just plain fun, went on it 2 days ago tame but you get absoultly soaked. Also I think that Hershey has one of the premiere if not the best raft ride in the world.

Lightning Racer is great, smooth, but doesnt have any intense moments of airtime. Wildcat is rougher but has more air and you feel more out of control. Both coasters are in my top ten, they rock, expecially at night with the cool chaseing lights. The Comet is the most frustrating coaster I have been on, if it wasnt for that stupid trim the ride would be increadble and you would be out of your seat more then your in it (I picture it as a longer version of the Canobie Cannonball if it werent for the trim) but alas the trim slows you too much.

Hershey is one of the cleanest parks Ive been to, the staff is wonderful, the rides are great and the whole place smells like chocolate. In short it is tied with IOA for my 4th favorite theme park (1-WDW, 2-BGW, 3-CP) you should love it.

------------------
Summer 03-CP, HP, SFDL, SFNE, SFWOA, and SFGAm.
*** This post was edited by Touchdown 7/11/2003 8:16:06 PM ***

The Trail Blazer is a great family ride. It is so tame. It doesn't go up high at all, and if my memory serves me right the hill is on a natural hill. SO it is defiantly a terrain coaster. Their is no major drops, and the ride is really fast over in about 1min literally. The best part is the helix at the end, but like stated caution it gets really close to the ground.

As for Sesame place I have not been there since the late 80's to early 90's. IM sure it has changed.

I live just ten minutes from Sesame Place, and have never been there. It is very expensive ($36.99, my mother works in the Bucks County Visitor's Center and says that people's jaws drop when they are told the price), and there is very little to do. You can do everything in the park in about four hours. I belive Vaper Trail is a custume installation though.

I would suggest taking the kids to Dutch Wonderland instead. It is closer to Hershey, and since it is now owned by Hershey, I think they have some combo tickets.

Of course, my real suggestion is to skip both and go to Knoebels (one of the best family parks out there), but that is just me ;)

------------------
"If you make it too smooth, it'll be like sitting in your living room."
-Bill Cobb - Designer, Texas Cyclone
*** This post was edited by Black 7 7/11/2003 10:19:55 PM ***

Thanks for the info. and recommendations! We have been to Knoebel's already and yes it is a great family park. Yeah, the Sesame Place admission is steep for a small park with not all that much to do, but meeting Elmo to a 3 year-old is like getting the front seat on TTD for the rest of us. Hershey, even though not the best park is still a blast and a great resort area with lots to do. We are coming from outside of Boston to PA for a week and we probably will fit Dutch Wonderland in too. Thanks again all!