Hershey Park

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RollerFreak said:

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Jokercoaster said:
"I hated Hersheypark. lightning racer was cool and so was Sidewinder, but everything else sucked. I hated Great Bear. And Sooperdooperlooper is the longest and weirdest name I've ever heard. The park was ok, near Tidal Force and Lightning Racer, but before that it sucks. On a rating from 1-10 I'd give it a 6.5
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The Jokes on You!! Ha Ha Ha"

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Hum, I'm confused. First you say the park sucks, then you turn around and say its "OK". Which is it?
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Did I mention, that I like coasters...

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Ok, lets just say it was very disapointing for me.

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The Jokes on You!! Ha Ha Ha

I live about 2 hours from HP and go every summer. Great Bear does have a unique lay out and is one of the greatest inverts in the front. Sidewinder is a typical boomerang and Trailblazer is boring. Wildcat is also rough as hell. Somehow though this park is still amazing because Sooper Dooper Looper is quite fun and they have an amazing Wild Mouse, you just tear around those corners. Comet is also one of the most under rated woodies in my opinion and LR is an amazing dueling wood. If you ever get the chance to visit the park it is definatly worth it.

*** This post was edited by Medusafanatic on 12/2/2001. ***

Hersheypark is a classic park, great atmosphere, clean, beautiful, reasonably priced, and some great coasters.

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Coaster Grotto - No Ads, No banners, Lots of Coasters!
http://www.coastergrotto.zzn.com

We attended PKI, Six Flags Great American, St Louis, Kentucky Kingdom, Cedar Point and Hershey this year.

Hershey rates number 1 in our books, for great variety of rides, smooth, fun coasters that don't beat the crap out of you, clean park, quick lines even on busy days, and many attractions that the family can enjoy together.

Its a park with a great Schwarzkopf looper, and 2 GCI super twisting wood coasters.  Lightning Racer is the second best wood coaster i have ridden in my opinion, closely behine Le Monstre at La Ronde.   Wildcat is another top 10 coaster.  Both are works of art to look at.  Great Bear is a great invert, fast, great inversions and soaring.

This park actually maintains their rides and keeps them open for the guests enjoyment and to keep crowds dispersed, compared to lower quality parks like Paramount and Six Flags who continually remove rides and replace them with upcharge attractions.  We were there 4 days this year, on busy days and the only rides that were not open was one kiddie ride.

Their pricing is more reasonable than the chain parks also.  $34 for a day vs $40 for a day at the chain parks. 

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super7 said: ...compared to lower quality parks like Paramount and Six Flags who continually remove rides and replace them with upcharge attractions...

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Enlighten me super7. When has Paramount, and the key would here is Paramount, removed any rides from any of their parks only to replace them with upcharge attractions? While your at it, give me some of your examples from Six Flags as well.

As far as I know, Carowinds did remove their swings in 2001 and replaced it with an extremely "WTF?!" upcharge attraction called "Flight School" by Top Gun. BUT they did send it to PGA, and I think that PC's new additions this year do more than take up for that. I believe I heard it was replaced due to the fact that it was never overwhelmingly popular and a little out of theme. Seriously though, are you going to take the swings or Top Gun. I understand the family thing and variety though.

Second, Skylab at PKI was replaced with the climbing wall by Paramount, but I do believe they've made up for that by adding usually several attractions a year since 98.

That's a questionable two, but you used "continually". Any more?

*** This post was edited by Koaster King on 12/3/2001. ***

AT LAST!

Hersheypark.....Second to none boys and girls. My season pass serves me deliciously every year. This place is indeed very underrated, but they're slowly starting to get recognized as one of the big guns. You'd really have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find something wrong here. Arguably, #1 in water rides and #1 in wooden coasters. Also, a pretty good rank in steel (improving steadily).

OH, and on a scale from 1-10.... Try about a 9 JOKER DUDE

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Just when you think you have all the answers, I change the questions

hey 2hostyl...the drop on Wildcat IS rough!!  haha, butnot as rough as riding Tidal Force in 50 degree weather!!  yeah, i totally agree...hershey is one of mytop parks.  Lightning Racer has surpassed Roar at SFA as my fav woodie.  and sooperdooperlooper was my first Anton coaster, so it will always have a place in my heart!!  i give this park a 9 out of 10 easily....they just need ONE more ultra intense coaster, like a B"M hyper or floorless!!!  then they would be my #1 park for sure!!

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ROLLERCOASTERS....BETTER THAN OXYGEN BABY!!!!!!

I didn't realize that there were this many Hersheypark fans on here. Its good to see other people feel the same way about my home park. I remember in 1977 when The Sooperdooperlooper made its debut, and since then Hershey hasn't looked back. They have been growing at a good pace. Not as rapid as Cedar Fair, Six Flags, or Paramount Parks. They take the look and wait approach with their rides, and coasters. Their planning department is top notch, and they know what the families that come to their park expect to see. My friend that works at the park say that they state in the training classes that their only competition is Disney. They aren't trying to compete with thrill parks like SFA or Dorney. They want to lure families that will spend a few days at the park, and experience everything that Hershey and surrounding areas have to offer. Thats why they bought Dutch Wonderland. They want attractions that compliment their own operation. I think its the smart management approach to take. Its seems to work really well for them. They don't try to say they have the tallest or fastest rollercoasters or greatest number of rides, but they do tout that they have the most coasters at any one park in PA. For those who haven't experienced Hersheypark really have to see what the #1 Family park outside of Disney is like. You can't knock it til you experienced it. Don't forget to visit Dutch Wonderland, and Williams Grove when you are in the area.

Hershey is my hometown park, and a great one. It has a great atmosphere, like that of Knoebels. The water by Great Bear and Comet helps out, and the trees do to. I actually rate Hershey #3 on my list of favorite parks(#1 Cedar Point, #2 Knoebels). The collection of woodies is nice sized, at 3 and all are excellent, especially Lightning Racer. Great Bear is a good invert, although short, it is still fairly intense. The water below it helps out the excitement factor. I think Hershey gets no where near as much praise as it should.

Hershey is fantastic, second only to PKI as far as the "big" parks go in my book. It's a really pretty park, particularly "Comet Hollow," and Midway America is very nice as well.

While none of their coasters are "ultra-intense," they all are one thing: FUN. Well, maybe not Trailblazer, but you can't win them all... :)

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"Some things take so long, but how do I explain?
When not too many people can see we're all the same." - George Harrison (R.I.P.)

On a side note; HP has over 60 rides now. How many parks can make that claim?

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Just when you think you have all the answers, I change the questions

My ONLY complaint about HP is that they were closed the last 2 time I was in the area...too ealry in Spring '00, and too late in Fall '01.  I did get a few good pics from outside the fence.  Last HP trip, I was about 6 or 7 years old, so the Comet and Trailblazer are the only coasters remaining from that trip (I only remember the ride-through of the factory  -The Story of Chocolate, o something.)  Can't we get them to open up for PPP weekend in '02?
Oh, and ANY park that both Shaggy and 2hostyl agree is great is a MUST visit park...LOL!

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the buzzer formerly known as gatorwoodie
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

*** This post was edited by rollergator on 12/4/2001. ***

Hershey Park is a great place to go.  The town is beautiful, the Chocolate World museum is beautiful.  The park is beautiful.  The park has alot of amusement variety.  I think you don't hear very much about it because it isn't a Thrill Ride park.  It's not seeking (seemingly) to break any records.  It's not out to cut some other park's throat.  Hershey Park to me has always seemed to be the "Nice Guy" park.  However, it is notable that Hershey Park doesn't arise in discussions of historical parks as much as it should, I think.  The history of the town Hershey is interesting enough, the history of the Hershey family, the Hershey Hotel, the hospital in Hershey, the orphanage, the park and it's ties to the Hershey factories.  It's my favorite place to go when I want to chill at an amusement park, but not the place that would be my numero uno pick for getting my adrenaline thundering over thrill rides. Hey, I even ran to Hershey for a New Years because I was so sick of the big-city fixation typical of New Years, and it was gorgeous and enjoyable then too.  Can't say I went into the park you know, but just goes to show that the enjoyment of Hershey extends beyond the park itself.

Hersheypark is fun, fun, fun on a supreme order.  Let me count the reasons:

1.  Comet Hollow at night is hands down, the most magical park section i have ever encountered.  The combonation of  the classic Comet on on side and Great Bear falling off the hill side on the other side is just gorgeous.  I just can't express how wonderful this section of the park is.  Pure beauty. 

2.  Lightning Racer is just about the most fun possible to have on a coaster.  Pure masterpiece. 

3.  Comet is highly, highly underrated.  One of the best coasters ever. 

4.  Great Bear is the most unique inverted in the world.  People that don't completely love this ride just need to lighten up.  Is it Alpengeist?  No.  Is it Montu?  No.  Hell, is it even Raptor?  No, not really even close, but does that mean that we have to whine about it?  Its a brilliant ride, in one of the most brilliant settings i can imagine.  Every element is perfectly paced, and yes, its short, and yes, the ending isn't intense, but it has to get back up the hill somehow.  The helix at the top of the lift is 100% giggle inducing.   

5.  The food is great. 

6.  Wildcat is wild and wooly, and i love it just the way it is.  Just hold on!!!

7.  Tidal Wave is HUGE, man. 

8.  Superdooperlooper is fantastic.  I love the unique setting, and all of the elements involved.  There are very few pictures of this ride on the net just because of its mostly hidden settings, and frankly, I'm going to stop here.  I was greatly surprised by this wonderful little coaster, and for those that haven't ridden it, I won't ruin it for you. 

9.  The log flume is nice and long. 

In short, I <3 Hershey!

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Kicking screamin' Gucci little siggy.

I am glad to see that people also acknowledge the Historical significance of Hershey. The park has been around a long time, and its a town "Built on Chocolate" as they say on the tram ride into the park.

I've never been to Hershey Park before, but in May we're going there for our class trip. Everyone that I know who has been there loves it, so I'm pretty excited. I just wish I didn't have to wait a few months to go.