Hersheypark will install 220-foot roller coaster for 2020 season

Well, not as much as I used to. :)

Rob Ascough said:

I don't understand the "complaining about complaining".

I don't understand the "complaining about the complaining about the complaining"

The only thing weirder than complaining about parks and rides is probably complaining that others don't want to hear your complaining.

...or something.

Seriously though - we all know "that guy" who is a little too much the enthusiast stereotype. It's a fine line before someone becomes "that guy."

"That guy" is exactly what I've done so well at avoiding all of these years while managing to exist on the peripheral of this silly little hobby. In fact it's such a silly little hobby that I can't imagine actually complaining about the park and rides, but the community around it - that's worth preserving. And I have no problem with keeping "that guy" in check, at arm's length, or flat out away.

And if that takes "complaining about complaining" then consider me a complainer complainer.

I'm sorry, but having posted more than 17,000 times and having a website dedicated to amusement park photography appears to be more than merely existing on the peripheral of a silly little hobby. But whatever.

A quick glance at all the posts in this thread don't reveal anyone that's complaining about this. I see a few people (myself included) vocally wondering why a park that installed a 200 foot tall non-looping steel coaster a few years back is building something that the public might perceive as very similar. Maybe it's because that kind of ride will be a crowd-pleaser? And reliable? And marketable? Sure. All of the above, and good for Hersheypark for going that route. They clearly have a track record that proves their business decisions to have been sound ones.

But so what if there is conversations about "what if"? If you believe those people need to be kept in check, or at arm's length, the world must be a harsh place for you to endure.

Rob Ascough said:

I'm sorry, but having posted more than 17,000 times and having a website dedicated to amusement park photography appears to be more than merely existing on the peripheral of a silly little hobby. But whatever.

It is an impressive straddling of the line, isn't it? I've always thought of Coasterbuzz as the anti-enthusiast enthusiast site and, as such, it's the only forum I've participated on and the only club whose events I've ever attended.

I've always thought of Coasterimage (when it existed as more than a page to push you to my social media pages) as a personal celebration and promotion of the parks and rides...almost to a fault. Pretty much the antithesis of hardcore enthusiast attitudes. Exactly the kind of blind faith and boundless support you question in your post.

I may have a bit of a presence, but it's purely on the peripheral of the hobby. I'm certainly no Paul Rueben or Robb Alvey...or even a Jeff Putz.

I see a few people (myself included) vocally wondering why a park that installed a 200 foot tall non-looping steel coaster a few years back is building something that the public might perceive as very similar.

Maybe it's because that kind of ride will be a crowd-pleaser? And reliable? And marketable? Sure. All of the above, and good for Hersheypark for going that route. They clearly have a track record that proves their business decisions to have been sound ones.

I think you knew the answer all along...we all did. Which might be enough to prompt someone to question the motive.

I mean, I get it.

But so what if there is conversations about "what if"? If you believe those people need to be kept in check, or at arm's length, the world must be a harsh place for you to endure.

In fairness, tone and subject make all the difference.

Not sure there's a "what if" scenario here though:

"But am I the only one a little underwhelmed by what they're getting for 150 mil? I know they helped relocate a road, and I'm sure a lot of the infrastructure improvements are with the next 10 or 20 years in mind... But a roller coaster... And a restaurant, ice cream parlor, and kettle corn stand? All of that and the new entrance should be, what.... 50 mil? Where's the other 100?"

"But why not something different? A flying coaster, perhaps?"

Surely you have the self awareness to see how that comes off...or at least could come off.

Moreso, I don't think the "complaining about the hobby they love" thing was directed solely at you...or even at you specifically (especially in the shadow of some of the truly cringeworthy posts in this thread). What's funny is the personal offense and hurried defense of "I complain because I'm passionate and I have that right" is pretty much step two in the "How to identify that guy" handbook.

It's not an attack, it's an intervention.

With all of that said, I haven't been to Hersheypark in ages and I think it's one of the most overrated parks out there. We always seemed to have a totally "meh" experience there.

(and that last line still doesn't feel as icky as a "that guy" post does)

I'm the Bruce Campbell of the enthusiast world.

With all of that said, I haven't been to Hersheypark in ages and I think it's one of the most overrated parks out there. We always seemed to have a totally "meh" experience there.

Blasphemy. Hersheypark is the charm park with modern rides! Maybe I love it so much because Tröegs is next door...

At least if you get a little lost there, it's a pretty scenic walk. I don't how this park won my heart, but it has. Maybe it's its charm. Maybe it's how they treat their season passholders by giving us a really close parking lot, for example. Maybe it's how they treat all of their customers by not giving the park to the fast pass holders. You only get one ride per ride that is on the list. I LOVE that.

It does help that a park that I at one time thought was strictly a family park, turned out to be a park that guys like me, who love extreme coasters, could really enjoy. I LOVE Skyrush and Lightning Racers. Riding Mako in December, so, I'll get a taste of how good a B&M hyper can be, based on the reviews I've seen for it...If it's that good, hopefully HP builds an even better version, assuming that HP isn't tricking us with the plans and video they've released.

The food I ate at HP last time was fantastic, I had the smoked chicken and mac & cheese served down in the valley. Can't wait to get back there on Nov 2nd and 4th. Plus, you can get a case of full size Hershey bars for $.50/bar. That's definitely not typical of an amusement park.

Well, so hopefully in the very near future, I will be making a trek where I get to visit some "new to me" amusement parks. Hersheypark is high on my list of those parks. Seeing how I have been severely limited in where I have been, I am ready to branch out, especially since my son has hit the 54" mark, so any ride should be in play.

On this addition...I like it. Seems like it's well thought out and I look forward to seeing it all in person. The case of full size Hershey Bars at $.50/bar is the deal breaker for me. My brother has been and highly recommended HP.

Finally, I wanna complain about all the complaints here because, well, I just like to complain. ;-)

For those who might not have noticed the decimal point, that is 50 cents per bar in a case of 36 for $18...lol. Hershey's Chocolate World has tons of flavors that aren't in stores yet or might never be. It's extremely cool to walk around in there after the park closes.

I think the distinction Gonch is trying to make is between the enthuiast who actually has fun and the enthusiast who would rather nitpick than enjoy themselves (either because they’re genuinely too close to the subject matter or to increase some perceived street cred.).

It does seem upside down when someone’s whole trip is ruined by trim brakes. I mean, if that’s your deal, I suppose “good for you” but then why are you doing this in the first place? But it’s especially absurd to think other people agree, let alone that you know better than the park what it should do. That’s just insanity.

^Nothing worse than a know-it-all coaster nerd...lol

This is really minor news, so I'm not going to start a new topic for it...

Did anyone watch The Goldbergs this week? The episode was called Hersheypark. Adam, the main character, goes on a field trip to Hersheypark, and his (s)mother tags along as an unwanted chaperone. There is a really funny scene on Sooperdooperlooper where Adam and his mom are riding, arguing, and frequently passing out from the excitement.

And the sitcom is supposed to take place in 1980something, but during the scene, you can clearly see Great Bear. Also, it's pretty apparent that they are in front of a green screen, which kind of makes it funnier.

I missed that last week! But I did watch the Mr Knifey Hands episode of The Goldbergs last night that included Robert Englund revisiting Freddy Krueger for the first time in 15 years. Word is he is now contemplating doing a movie to finally kill off his version of the dream demon and pass the glove to someone else in a pass-the-torch reboot type deal.