Hersheypark 4/5/08 - Springtime in the Park

Stopped by Hershey today to get our season passes processed, and take a few rides. Nice day, and the early morning clouds kept the crowds away. Normally when the weather is nice I just walk around and don't ride because it's too crowded.

There is a lot of construction going on other then the new coaster. They are building a walk bridge from the park over to the new Milton Hershey Museum. They had the the final drop of the Coal Cracker Log Flume disassembled. Either they are refurbishing it, or it has something to do with the walk bridge.

They only had six coasters running. Storm Runner, Trailblazer, Sidewinder, Comet, Sooperdooperlooper, and the Great Bear. The only coaster I didn't ride was the Comet. Just didn't want to wait that long.

Our longest wait of the day was about 30 minutes for the front seat of the Great Bear. Later on in the day it was about a 5 train wait for the front, a walk on for the rest of the train. The crowds were so light at end of the day they shut down one side of Storm Runner, and the line was only to the top of the steps.

Fahrenheit is looking pretty good, and the track is almost complete. They just have a few pieces out of the station to install. Most of the work that needs to be done is to the station. It supposed to open on the Memorial Day weekend. Here are a few pics:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k258/emoppin/Fahrenheit5.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k258/emoppin/Fahrenheit4.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k258/emoppin/Fahrenheit3.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k258/emoppin/Fahrenheit2.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k258/emoppin/Fahrenheit1.jpg

Fahrenheit's first hill looks intimidating.

Thanks for the report, wish I could have been there.

That first hill looks excellent! Definitely requires a ride in the front row and a ride in the back row for the different experiences.

I left the park before they opened up both stations on Storm Runner. Was it me or did it seem to be running very very smooth this year? I didn't get the normal head banging that I do on the inline twist.

I agree that Fahrenheit looks really impressive. There looks to be only three supports and two track pieces left to put into place. Most of the work I saw going on was to put sand into the supports. There should be some great views of this ride as you walk down the midway towards Lightning Racer.

Coasterdom Storm Runner did seem to be running very smooth. The one thing I did notice is that they slowed the launch down to the point where the train just creeps over the tophat. Still get the pop of air in the front seat, but it's not as intense in the back seat until you get pulled over the tophat. I remember catching crazy air in the back, and it's just not like that anymore.

Fahrenheit is going to be a great addition to the park. The first hill looks more intimidating in pictures then it does when you are actually standing there in front of it. The vertical lift should be cool.

I am still waiting for the hyper(preferably Intamin)that has been talked about for years. :)

Storm Runner was running both sides at opening, they filled the first train on both sides, (I'm not sure but I think I was on the first train of the day) and then went from there... I went as well, I was a Hershey Park newbie, I really loved the park, it was fun. I went with a bunch of friends and ended up marathoning on Sooper Dooper Looper on Saturday Night. *** Edited 4/7/2008 5:22:28 AM UTC by crombiedude11***

Were you at the park on Saturday or Sunday? I was on one of the first trains out of the station on Saturday, and they had only one station open. This was around 1:00 or so in the day.

I did get to see a Storm Runner roll back. I think they were fine tuning the launch as Coasterfantom2 said, the launch is different this year.

I also stopped in for a bit on Saturday. I rode only a few rides and wandered my home away from home as I like to call it.

I arrived at the park about 12:30 and headed straight for the only ride I could picture starting this season. Storm Runner. To my shock the line wasn't allowed in the queues yet. But as I walked up it seemed about to open so I got in line. As I was waiting a group of about 6-8 teens did the famous walk up and talk to some friends/cut the line trick and a security guard went over and told them to go to the back of the line 4 times. The teens were having none of it, and I started to feel sorry for the guard as she was really trying to do her job and also not create a scene. While she was trying to get the line cutters to go to the end of the line the line started moving which did not help the guard. Only the right hand side of the station as you walked down the steps was loading.

As I wandered the park after a nice ride on one of my favorite rides, I noticed that Falcon was stuck at the top of it's cycle. This seemed to be a constant thing I noticed in my 5 hours at the park. It seemed some rides were having problems with the slightly chilly weather I saw at some point Great Bear, Storm Runner and Falcon each have down time. Not that it caused any problems for me.

After ride on Great Bear I noticed that the amphitheatre show was about to start so I stopped in and enjoyed it. It was a band playing a lot of adult rock (James Taylor/America/Van Morrison kind of stuff) with a few songs thrown in for the kiddies. Good way to spend 30 mins while eating and getting a drink.

I then headed down the hill and rode Sooperdooperlooper watching out for the hard application of the brakes in the station on return since I had noticed as I was waiting that some riders were definitely getting jarred when they applied.

I continued my loop and looked at the line for Comet and decided to stop back later. I went back around and looked at a few flats but decided I didn't want to wait in the lines since I was kind of tiring after doing a workout in the gym and then the 2 hour drive to the park.

I headed back for another ride on Storm Runner only to find a train stopped on the launch track with a ride op standing beside the train. Once they got the issue resolved the sent a couple of test trains and then started to load people. This ride I will say the exact opposite of what has been stated earlier. I never have felt the force like I did on that launch or the tossing that I got at places of that ride. After this lap I headed back to Comet and found a shorter line.

I decided it probably wouldn't get any shorter so I got in line and enjoyed a trimless ride (probably due to the temperature). After this it was about 5PM and I decided to start my two hour drive home.

I did check out Farenheit and will say I'm not to sure I will like the lift hill going straight up. We will see in June when I get to ride it how I like it. Other than the lift it looks to be a fun ride.

I attended on Saturday Night (Preview Plan), and Sunday (first train out on Storm Runner)... Sorry for the confusion.

*** Edited 4/7/2008 7:52:09 PM UTC by crombiedude11***

I didn't get to go this year. I'm bummed that I've still never had a trimless ride on Comet. Hell, I'd pay for one (maybe just one, depending on whether it lives up to its potential -- but it definitely doesn't live up to its potential the way they usually run it!)

It sounds like they had less breakdowns this year than last spring, when it was much colder. Last spring GB wasn't running, I saw Comet and SDL stop on the lifts several times, I heard the Wild Mouse got stuck after I left, and something kept happening with Sidewinder -- it sounded like the air supply to the brakes blew out. (Stormrunner, on the other hand, did the same thing as this year: shut down once and ran very slowly the rest of the time.)

Previous spring time events were held over easter weekend which was always busy busy. This one wasn't, but still drew a nice crowd (which did die a bit at the end of the day when it got colder).

I attended both days, and there were decent crowds both days. Not packed, but I have seen much less attendance during regular season days.

I was wondering why they don't extend springtime in the park a few weekends like they do with halloween.

I was there Saturday morning at opening. Storm Runner opened at 10am with both stations. I walked right on to the back seat and road with a half-full train. When I got back to the station, there was still no one in line for the back or most of the train, but they said I couldn't stay on, so I moved on to Sooper Dooper Looper and Great Bear while waiting for my friends to arrive. By the time I got to Comet Hollow, it wasn't even 10:30am, but the Comet already had a huge line due to one train.

I think Storm Runner continued operating until around 11am and then it was down for quite a while. I rode it again sometime after noon (maybe 1pm) and then it broke down again. I had the "Curse of Ed" that day as I broke other rides as well including Great Bear. That's right; I broke a B&M! :)

I thought I was the jinx as it seemed when I decided to ride a coaster it would break down as I was in line or about to get into line....

Slightly off topic, I did make sure to stop on my way home at Mount Hope Winery and pick up a few bottles of their locally grown wines. If you like wines, are in the area and have sometime I suggest you stop in a try some. It's a short side trip from PA Turnpike exit 266. Instead of making the left to head to Hershey make a right, The wine shop is on the left about a mile up the road.

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Gary B said:

I was wondering why they don't extend springtime in the park a few weekends like they do with halloween.

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I think I've seen trip reports other years saying that the weekends between now and May are buyout days.

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dragonoffrost said:
I thought I was the jinx as it seemed when I decided to ride a coaster it would break down as I was in line or about to get into line....

Slightly off topic, I did make sure to stop on my way home at Mount Hope Winery and pick up a few bottles of their locally grown wines. If you like wines, are in the area and have sometime I suggest you stop in a try some. It's a short side trip from PA Turnpike exit 266. Instead of making the left to head to Hershey make a right, The wine shop is on the left about a mile up the road.

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Oooh, the Ren Faire place! (Actually, their wine is made in NW PA now. They took out the vineyards when the enlarged the Faire.) But I still enjoy several varieties of their wine. How could you not love something called "The Intercourse Collection?"

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Jim S. said:

I think I've seen trip reports other years saying that the weekends between now and May are buyout days.

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I know Harley-Davidson (York Assembly plant) has the park this coming Sat. so that may in fact be true.

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Coasterfantom2 said:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k258/emoppin/Fahrenheit2.jpg

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It's hard to tell from the photo, and having never been to Hershey, I wouldn't know, but is that simply an area where they're holding parts at the moment, or is that the actual area of the transfer track?

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Jim S. said:

I think I've seen trip reports other years saying that the weekends between now and May are buyout days.

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At least some of them are. A woman who works in the office next to mine said that the company her husband works for has their annual picnic / outing there next weekend (or is it the weekend following) at the park. I would assume that if one of them is a buyout, it is a good chance the others are too.

DBCP that will be the station for the coaster. The transfer track is in part of the station. They still have a few pieces of track to set for the circuit to be complete. I'd think that they are leaving those few pieces of track unattached to complete the work that needs done to the station. I'll let you know in a few weeks when it opens. :)

I just got back from Hershey and went under Fahrenheit on our way into the Tidal Force catering area. That's near the far end of the coaster before it heads back towards the station. I neglected to take along a camera but let me just say, looking back towards the station, that's one twisted and mangled layout. It's a whole lot going on in a small footprint.

As an enthusiast, I'm not. Don't really know a cobra roll from a barrel roll from a corkscrew and don't even get me started on what's an Immelman! When I look at all the twists and flips on this coaster I could barely follow the track. It's got me way more excited than I was previously.

Had a season pass last year and don't this year while only expecting to attend the park during todays private event. I think I'll now be taking advantage of the promotion the local Giant food stores are offering, buy 15 Pepsi products (20 oz.) from the coolers by the checkouts, send in the info and get a ticket to HP this season. And no they don't sell 20 oz. products in 6 pks. at their stores. Still, for about $23 worth of something I would use anyway, a ticket to HP.