Hershey After Dark - CoasterBuzz

Hi All,

I am heading to Hershey this weekend and I was wondering if they do anything other than just put up spooky stuff? I looked on their site and it looks like they just spruce up a few rides. Do they have any haunted houses? Any information you could provide would be appreciated. Also anyone recommend a good place to eat in the park? I been there once and I don't know to much about the park.

Thanks,

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http://coastertrackrecord.tripod.com/

No haunted houses, no nothing like that. Really, the "spooky" stuff is mainly geared toward the kiddies (who can go in costume... KIDS only... and stop at various "stations" to get Trick-or-Treat candy). Some of the rides are renamed, some halloween looking decorations are put up, some Halloween music is played over the speakers (anything is better than the Polka sounding music they play in Rhineland over the summer season)... but for the most part it seems to be "business as usual".

A few pointers:

Free admission and pay as you ride with wrist bands available. Get a wristband. If you add up the cost of tickets, the wrist band easily pays for itself.

As for food, not sure exactly what is open for this event. While I love HP, I will admit that as far as food goes, it does leave a lot to be desired. The best restaurant there is actually out side the gates in Tudor Squate. I believe it is called Pippins, (or has it changed names since it was called that?) Hours vary. Chocolate Town Cafe in Chocolate World is also an option... but a bit on the expensive side. Inside the park it is the normal park fare. A notable exception is the pit beef near Trailblazer. However, not sure if it is open for HP in the Dark (not sure if consturction of the new coaster may have displaced this either.) IF they have any of their stands open, try some Bricker's French Fries... loaded with vinegar of course.

Not sure about this year though. This is all from past experience since I haven't gotten to the park yet for HP in the Dark (and I probably won't get their either). While I'll make 5 trips to Hershey while HP in the Dark is open, I'll be spending that time in Section 103 at GIANT Center watching hockey instead of riding coasters. (Guess I know where I draw the line with my priorities.)

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"I don't believe it!" - Victor Meldrew

*** This post was edited by SLFAKE 10/20/2003 12:52:11 PM ***

I haven't hit Hershey this year so I am heading out this weekend. Got tickets for $11. I love Giants Center nice stadium. Caught a few games there last season. I will be there when the bears and phantoms get together.

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http://coastertrackrecord.tripod.com/

Aside from decor (and some trick-or-treat thing for the kiddies), it isn't very extensive. We went on Saturday and a TR will follow soon (within the next few days, I hope).

SLFAKE: Pippin's was a great restaurant when we went years ago (haven't been there in a while, though) and it has been renamed... but damn my memory, I can't remember what it is. Sad, considering I noted the change less than two days ago! And the "Pit" by Trailblazer is open, as construction within the park has been quite limited. Only some footers behind Sidewinder, a construction trailer in place of the balloon ride and some stakes indicate that something is going on. That, and the endless rows of supports and track behind Lightning Racer!

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

It used to be the Tudor Rose... then Pippins... and now... the Tudor Grill (okay... so I just looked it up on the map on the park's web site).

For me, eating at Hershey for my next 40 visits until April 2004 will be quite easy... Chicken Strips and Bricker's Fries at the concession stand behind section 102 at GIANT Center.

There are also a good many supports and track sections for the new coaster (when will the name be announced?) in the one parking lot along Hersheypark Drive (the lot between the Stadium and HP Drive).

*** This post was edited by SLFAKE 10/20/2003 4:32:28 PM ***

40 visits between now and April? Does that mean you'll be providing us picture whores with construction photos? ;)

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

Sorry... can't see the constrction area of the park from 8 rows off the ice in GIANT Center.

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"I don't believe it!" - Victor Meldrew

It didn't even occur to me that you could be going to games at the Center!

See, I'm ALWAYS thinking coasters!

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

Just a warning that not everything is open either, such as Wildcat. The renaming of the rides is awful! Super Booper Looper, Great Scare?
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Did anyone ever bother trying out the seats on the KMG Tango? And if so, were they male?

I agree that the renaming is awful. Nobody ever refers to the rides as their halloween names, not even me. I'll be there the next couple weekends, so maybe I can grab some pictures of the construction. That's not a guarantee though.

Is WildCat the only coaster not open? What reason is it not open for? I saw video of the new coaster and whats its suppose to look like. It looks really really awesome!

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http://coastertrackrecord.tripod.com/

Wildcat, Sidewinder and Roller-Soaker are scheduled to be closed.

Rollersoaker's reason: no brainer there... who wants to ride what is basically a "water ride" in PA in October?

My guess (and I think someone verified it) is that yearly maintenance is beginning on Wildcat.

As for Sidewinder: Usually open during HP in the Dark... but the proximity to the Construction area (after all, Balloon Flight just across the walk way from Sidewinder is already dismantled or in the process of being dismantled) may be the reason for it staying closed.

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"I don't believe it!" - Victor Meldrew

I also heard that Wildcat was down for maintenance... something about the brakes needing an overhaul.

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

Atleast lightening Racer is open. I love that coaster. We are now tossing dorney up in the air for halloween stuff. But I think I wanna go to Hershey.

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http://coastertrackrecord.tripod.com/

Lightning Racer was what "sealed the deal"... had that not been open, we wouldn't have bothered.

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

Wildcat is down for yearly maintenance. I had heard that they were having some problems with it late in the season, so that would be the reason why it's not open.

Sidewinder is down because of the construction of the new coaster.
*** This post was edited by SmurfRacer 10/21/2003 1:42:09 PM ***

No problems with the 'Cat. It is a bit more finicky in cold weather than the others and it's just as good a time as any to get started on winter rebuild of the cars and such.