Hershey On The Weekend... any tips?

So my super-hot coaster fanatic boyfriend has decided he's going to lose his HP virginity this weekend, and has chosen me - a native Pennsylvanian - as his riding companion. The only problem is that yes, I have been to Hershey before but never as a coaster enthusiast, only as a choir geek. I've never ridden any of the rides! And Jeff usually avoids amusement parks in August due to crowds, but we have jobs, plans, school etc, so this was the only time we could do a trip! My question is... given that we'll be getting to the park early in the morning on saturday, where do we go first? Where are the worst lines? I read Intamin fan's TR and was surprised to see that he didn't go to Storm Runner first!? Is that because it was down that morning? I would assume that ride would have the longest lines... someone enlighten me! We don't mind waiting in lines, but I just wanted to get an idea what would be the best order to do things in... and if we're going to do the Chocolate tour (that's a no-brainer) what time of day is best to do that?

My number 1 tip for Hersheypark on a weekend...

Wait until Monday.

If not Monday, Sunday afternoon or evening.

Seriously. That place can get CRAZY on a Saturday.

Agreed, I went on a Saturday once and will never go again (I try to go on weekdays whenever possible to any park). 2 hour for Storm Runner (didn't ride), 45 minutes for Great Bear, 40 minutes for Lightning Racer etc. *** Edited 8/14/2006 5:29:41 PM UTC by YoshiFan***

The reason we didn't go to Storm Runner first is because it was testing for a while, and we wanted to hit a low-capacity ride first--which was the Reeses Extreme Cup Challenge--before the line got even worse (which it did later on). SR's capacity is much better.

Gowithgravity's theory is that they had a staggered opening of some rides because of how long it might take someone to get to the back of the park, but if I want to ride Wildcat or Storm Runner at 10am in the morning, I should be able to.

Your worst waits will most likely be for Roller Soaker if you decide to ride it, because of how long it takes to fill the tanks in the station and only having four seats to a car. They have six cars, but they can only send them out in groups of three. *** Edited 8/14/2006 7:20:24 PM UTC by Intamin Fan***

I made the stupid,stupid,stupid,stupid mistake of taking my son to the park saturday and sunday.

All rides had lines 4-5 cycle waits and alot of rude people all over. the midway america area was chos and the water rides(big supprise( were all at least 2 hour waits. Sunday on out way to the park we came in through the road that splits Zoo america and the park you can see the line for storm runner and it was totally nuts and the park just opened. The comet had all the Que full even the addon ones.

If I were you take a day off and go on a week day. this is when everyone takes their vacation right before back to school time.

As far as the Chocolate World tour, I'd say it depends if you plan on buying anything (chocolate). If you go anytime before leaving the park, make sure you have a cool place to store any chocolate. If you're not buying chocolate, you might want to hit that up first before you enter the park.

Another thing that sucks is that Chocolate World closes at 9, while the park closes at 10. Lots of people head out of the park late only to see C.W. closed and in darkness.

The most crowded I've ever seen the park was on a Sunday in 98'. Again, my sister and I hit up the park and as we got off on the exit to HP, we were greeted by a long line of cars. I was hoping it was just the local traffic mixing in with the park's traffic. Wrong.

I think hitting up HP on a weekend next year with The Boardwalk in place could be a huge mistake. I don't see the Dorney Park phenomenom happening at HP because The Boardwalk will be inside the park and not as a separate part of the park. Hopefully, I'll be proven wrong.

One thing that became painfully obvious on Wednesday is that Hershey's midways aren't the widest at some points. And when you've got lots of parents with strollers--and most of them are the rented two-wide type--you're going to get some seriously congested midways.

I have one.

Ride the rollercoaster, get free candy bar, eat it, repeat as many times as needed. ;)

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RatherGoodBear said:
Another thing that sucks is that Chocolate World closes at 9, while the park closes at 10. Lots of people head out of the park late only to see C.W. closed and in darkness.

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Hershey's Chocolate World closes at the same time as Hersheypark, both at 10pm on most summer nights. I don't know of any time during the summer when Chocolate World closes earlier than Hersheypark.

They must have changed hours then, because I know twice last year I or people I came to the park with wanted to hit Chocolate World around 9:30, and both times the place was either locked, or they had security at the door not letting anyone else in.

It's good they are staying open later. It only makes sense to get as many people as possible leaving the park.

I have no tips for you, sorry.

Can someone tell me when and if a new topic was started regarding the 2007 boardwalk at hershey?

All the previous *****ing and moaning was unwarranted, in my opinion. It was busy today (Saturday), with cars parked beyond the arena. We had an amazing time ("we" being Catherine and I), and we even left the park for about four hours for a side trip to Allentown to see her brother. Trip report forthcoming.

& Dorney... right? Don't disappoint, Jeff. ;)

Weekends in the early part of the season aren't bad. Weekends in August are. Try to wait for a weekday if at all possible. If not, try Sunday. Saturdays are not days you want to be there. It's not a day I want to be there, but I have to....

Read my post two up...

I have been to Hershey many times on a Saturday and while it is crowded, I have never found it unbearable. I don't get the "don't go to Hershey on the weekend" mentality. That is one of the most efficient parks you can go to.

I suppose that "Do not go to Hershey on the weekend" come from us "locals" who have the luxury of going to the park when ever we want... weekends or weekdays. While it may be efficient and not "unbearable" on weekends... it's so much better during the week, especially in the evenings when it is a walk on for almost everything.

Given a choice between a 45 minute wait for Comet on a Saturday, or 6 rides in an hour on a weeknight, I will take the weeknight.

SLFAKE:
My feelings exactly....Maybe "we" should get out more? Nah.....

Maybe a crowd that we consider unbearable is just par for the course for people used to going to other parks. Personally, I'm so used to going to Knoebels that I lose patience if a train isn't dispatched every one minute fifteen seconds.

I wrote a TR... and I can't imagine it would've been written much differently had the park been less busy.

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