Hersheypark in the Dark changes / Question

Looking at Hersheypark's Website for Hersheypark in the Dark I notice that this year they are going to have Midway America section of the park open for this event.

The way it looks, open coasters will be:

Comet, Sooperdooperlooper, Great Bear, Trail Blazer, Wild Mouse and Lightning Racer.

Now I realize why Roller Soaker will be closed (water rides in October are not a good idea) and I assume that Sidewinder will be closed because of "rocket" construction in the area. My question is... why no Wildcat? I know they normally do not open this for HP in the Dark (or Spring Time in the Park), but they usually do not open Wild Mouse and Lightning Racer for these events either.

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Half of the people surveyed agree, half disagree and another half are unsure.
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE 9/26/2003 4:17:58 PM ***

I was so disappointed last year when we wanted to check out Hersheypark in the Dark but Lightning Racer wasn't running... now I'm as thrilled as can be! No Wildcat is a definite minus, though, as it would be nice to ride it with shorter lines (I need a few consecutive rides on that thing to appreciate it, which is kind of tough during the busy summer days.)

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

I'd assume that they'd keep one woodie down to start retracking or normal winter overhaul.

When you have three big wooden coasters, it's hard to keep all of them open for post-season events because they're so labor intensive in the off season.

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Isn't it nice, sugar and spice, luring disco darlings to a life of vice.

The only draw back with having more coaster options for HP in the dark... So many coasters, so little time.

I liked it better when they had HP in the dark on Thrusday nights as well. Low crowd (desolate actually) and rerides, rerides, rerides (7 in a row on Comet to close out the night... last 4 with out even leaving my seat). Last year we went on a Friday, and while not crowded, it was still not Walk On City as it was the previous year.

They are also upping the price for wrist bands this year to $19. Still not bad when compared to buying tickets to ride.

I will either have to do one of two things:

1) Convince my wife that we need to go on two Friday nights. (she said she wanted to see who all in our family wanted to go to a "Corn Maze" on one of them)

or...

2) Go on one Friday night and also on one of the Saturdays before heading over to the hockey game at Giant Center. (one of many reasons why I miss the Bears playing in the old Hersheypark Arena... easy to stop at the park for HP in the Dark before the game... or even skip out of the arena and go to the park if the game is boring)

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Half of the people surveyed agree, half disagree and another half are unsure.

Lightning Racer was the main reason we didn't go last year... as much as I love Comet, Great Bear and the sdl, Lightning Racer is the coaster for me, and the main reason why I would be willing to drive 2 1/2 hours to Hershey more than a couple times each summer, if I wasn't so busy at other parks. The fact that the ride is going to be open will definitely get us there this year.

The POP makes sense, too, as the rides look as though they get very expensive, very quickly. Almost like Wildwood NJ without buying a wristband!

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

Simple math says...

If I were to look at the rides that I normally ride during a regular visit, and ride the ones of those that are open during HP in the Dark just once, I would pay $66. Just one ride on each of the coasters that are open would be $24. certainly worth the $19 wristband.
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Half of the people surveyed agree, half disagree and another half are unsure.

I can't figure out why HP closes for the season the third weekend in Sept. only to re-open for three weeekends in late Oct.

Why not do like CP does and just stay open weekends only, from Labor Day to Halloween. Why close the park for three or four weekends when they could easily be open making alot more money and satisfying the multitudes..

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

Superstew, this is the second time in three years I wanted to do Hershey in combination with PPP, but alas, Hershey isn't open on that weekend. I assume they're basing the decision on past (low?) attendance figures if/when they were *ever* open during those weekends....anyone else have a better idea/guess?
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We're whalers on the moon, we carry a harpoon, but there ain't no whales so we tell tall tales and sing a whaling tune...

They probably don't make enough money for it to be worth staying open. It starts getting cold and miserable in the Northeast this time of year.

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"Get busy living or get busy dying"
~Shawshank Redemption

Buyout days, perhaps?
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Touchè, teacher, touchè.

TD: I think *you* got it right. If you look around the area, SFA and PKD are closed to the public as well just about the same amount of time. I *know* PKD is closed for private events and I remember SFA hosting somthing for the Capital Hill brats. It wouldn't suprise me in the least if that was what HP did as well.

lata, jeremy

--who will continue to wear 'rose-colored glasses' for HersheyPark (they match the new coaster ;))

I know that Hershey does have buyout days at the end of the season, but I can't help but think that they'd make a lot more if they opened the park to the public instead. The last few weekends of the park's normal operating season are really busy, which indicates that there is a demand for the park to be open longer.

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

Exactly....And no way can weather be a factor when it's al ready been established that they are open at the end of Oct.
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Just when you think you have all the answers, I change the questions

Main reason: Buy out days.

Other possible reason: One weekend in October the lots are taken over by a Classic Car Show, or have been in the past... not sure how this will work now since the "grass field" across from the park is now GIANT Center.

Can't comment on the economic factors of this.

I do know that in 1999 on a weekend in October (before HP in the Dark) GIANT food stores had a "coustomer appreciation day" at Hersheypark. Buy $40 of groceries at an area GIANT and you got a "coupon" for a $15 admission to the park (good for up to 4 people I believe). I don't beleive this was a buy out... I think anyone could go... its just that to get the $15 price you had to have the coupon. Basically all rides were operating (with teh exception of water rides). I only remember this being done once though. It has not been done since 1999.

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Half of the people surveyed agree, half disagree and another half are unsure.

From a visitor's point of view... I liked it better when it was Thurs-Fri-Sat-Sun for two weekends. Got there at 5pm on Thurs, stayed to 9pm closing... more rides in those 4 hours than during a whole day during the season. Walk ons for front seat of Great Bear and walkons for Comet.

However... from a business point of view... not good. Walkons come from low crowds, and low crowds mean less income. Also, I would assume it is harder to staff on a Thursday night as well.

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Half of the people surveyed agree, half disagree and another half are unsure.