Hersheypark '07 discussion

Oops, missed the flyers. I don't get back to Pennsylvania enough.

As for the speedracer, ok, sure Sooper Dooper Looper is a loopiong speedracer, but I'm talking somhhting like Zambezi Zinger. I'd like to see Intamin or someone bring this style of coaster back.

And StormRunner is no match for a "good" hyper like Supes. I do have to agree with you about Comet though, heh. :) But a small family woodie wouldn't hurt. :) *** Edited 2/12/2006 12:46:05 AM UTC by Acoustic Viscosity***

Comet Rider, thanks for the info. I'll admit I'm a bit surprised. I figured in 2007, three years out from Stormrunner, 100th anniversary, that the time had come for the hyper (a perfect fit for Hershey and their goals), then they'd take maybe 5 years off from adding a major coaster. After the boom the past 15 years, it will be interesting to see how parks handle their counts in the future. Either by recycling rides, replacing, it will be interesting. Knowing nothing, I still say CP should knock down Mean Streak in the next 5 or 6 years and build their next major attraction there after the 07 project. They would have gotten 15-20 years out of it, it was one of my favorite woodies in the first few seasons but then went way downhill, beginning with the breaking of the first drop. I don't see HP removing any of their coasters. I can't complain about anything HP does, they're flawless for meeting their goals, not ours as thrillseekers in some people's eyes but I don't care, that's not their goal.

Did anybody notice that Hershey dropped their parking fee $1 to $6??? Amazing, who does that in this day and age? They always had cheaper parking than all the major parks that did charge for parking. The $15 at SFGA is absolutely ridiculous.

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Mantis2 said:
Did anybody notice that Hershey dropped their parking fee $1 to $6??? Amazing, who does that in this day and age?

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The smart people who also turn around and raise the ticket prices across the board by $2 at the same time do that in this day and age. :)

Trip to Hershey in 2006 costs the family of 4 a total of $7 more than last year. It'd be the same as it they left the gate price unchanged and made parking $14.

(which is suspiciously close to SF's $15 :) )

^

I'm reading $8 for parking on Hershey's website. Where did you guys get 6?

Dunno. Just taking Mantis2's word for it, but you're right. I'm seeing $8 on the site too.

Guys, for parking, I was just basing it on what I saw when I was there in December for the football games/Candylane and for the Giant Center. It was $6 and I was shocked. To my knowledge, the parking fee had never changed during the offseason park events. Now, at the same time, people going to the Hershey Bear's game were also paying the lower price so I don't know. If $8 is on the website, then the $6 must have been an anomaly or a temporary token of good will :) Funny, $6 for parking is "good will" in this day and age, wow. HP parking was always a few dollars behind the norm but if it's $8 now then they're slowly creeping up to the rest of the group. That's unfortunate, they never came across as a money-gouging park. IS HERCO publicly traded? I know Hershey is but I'm assuming that's just the candy manufacturing company aspect. Hopefully, we'll get that hyper in '08 or '09 but they certainly don't need it right now.

Did I mention that I paid $8 with two hours to go last year the day after the Buzz event at Dorney? So the parking hasn't changed this year--yet.

I didn't realize it was that high. I still thought it was $6. Of course I get a season pass every year, and don't have to worry about paying to park.

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Lord Gonchar said:

Trip to Hershey in 2006 costs the family of 4 a total of $7 more than last year.

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That's to pay for all the candy they'll be giving out on the dark ride.

As far as the former golf course goes, maybe it will be used only for parking. But it doesn't rule out the possibility of the park expanding into the existing parking areas sometime in the future. 130 acres of additional parking seems pretty extravagant considering they must have almost 100 acres already between the park and Giant Center lots. That's more than 200 acres of parking for a park that's only 110 acres or so. Just my opinion.

Well if your looking at 07'...how long of a life does SDL have left in her?

Hope this link turns out OK. Shows what we're talking about here-- both the parking lot/ golf course and the open space in Midway America.

http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=40.288464~-76.665857&style=h&lvl=15&sp=adr.Hershey%20Park%20%28amusement%20park%29%2c%20Pennsylvania%2c%20United%20States

Try this.

All I will say about the golf course...

That's a helluva lot of space for parking... but then again, its not nice flat terrain that tends to be good for parking (with out MAJOR fill and/or regrading). Kind of hilly.

*** Edited 2/15/2006 3:46:28 PM UTC by SLFAKE***

Thanks, Moosh.

How about those GCII beauties from 100 yds? Too bad there's no bird's eye view-- or Storm Runner.

It sounds like their argument was no net increase in the area of obstruction, which could prevent them from the whole permitting process with DEP.

Generally in PA, as long as you can show your obstruction or encroachment won't increase the flood level by more than one foot, you can get the permit or a waiver. You're also required to get a permit to place fill in a floodplain, since that could restrict the channel and send water onto someone else's property.

Funny, but I was at-- well near-- the park when it was flooded by Ivan. It seemed like the park took a worse hit then a lot of other areas. They took water from a lot of other places-- including the golf course on the other side of town, beyond the factory. Golf courses may be grass, but they're so manicured that water runs off them just like they were paved.

Maybe they aren't doing much development beyond a small parking area in the immediate future, but I really can't imagine them acquiring 130 acres and not having some sort of plan in mind for the whole thing.

Ridiculous hills? Sounds like a terrain coaster to me!

Thanks for bringing up floodplains and water obstructions, Comet Rider. It's (part of) what I deal with all day long at work, and now I see it on one of my favorite leisure sites as well. Well, at least I don't have to feel so guilty about posting during working hours. :)

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Charles Nungester said:
Ya know, IMHO Hershey is one of the parks that needs nothing.

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Well put. Hershey is one park that really doesn't need anything and anything more would simply be icing on the cake.

I suppose they could use a drop tower, and it would be nice if their cuddle-up happened to make another appearance. But aside from a real waterpark (something the park definitely lacks), Hersheypark is pretty much perfect. When they decide to add another coaster, something like SFOG's Goliath would be nice, or perhaps a Gerstlauer spinning coaster.

Star Flyer would be a nice addition, unless low rider capacity is an issue. Rode that in Orlando last weekend and it was a blast. Mellow yet exhilarating at the same time. Sure to see this thing pop up at a bunch of parks in the near future.

See, I though Hershey "had everything" even before they put in SR...great mix of thrill attractions, mild rides, shows, family stuff, etc. The dark ride *and* SR in addition to what was ALREADY in place? Sweet! :)

How about an escalator on the hill between Trailblazer and Storm Runner?

Just a few "tweaks" to the mechanical system and the seats and the Kissing Tower could be turned into a drop. It would be the only one that drops AND revolves too. :)

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X Factor said:However I did have a thought that the empty lot in front of the laser screen in Midway America would make a nice location for a drop tower.

X Factor

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X Factor,

I'm not sure if anyone commented on this yet, but the open space is for the laser light viewers to watch the show. At least that's how it was explained to me, back during the ACE Convention at Hershey a couple of years ago.