How Good Is Hershey Park?
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Enjoy your voyage to the sun on the wings of Apollo's Chariot!
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Tuesday's Gone With The Wind.
Elijah Rock.
Is it written in the stars?
La Vie Boheme!!!
It's very good, one of the best I've been to.
The rides, as stated, are not of the exrteme variety, but are very fun.
Lighting Racer is top ten material for me, and Wildcat and Comet are both very good wood coasters.
The mouse at Hershey is one of the best around. It's actually wild.
I didn't get the chance to try out the Great Bear when I visited, but most say that it fits the bill for Hershey: Not too intense, but very fun.
The park is very nicely landscaped, and there is a zoo next to the park which is included in the admission price.
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"drop rides, not bombs."
Hershey is a lot of fun and gives a great variety of rides.
The rides may not be too intense, except for Great Bear, but they are so much fun.
They have the best wooden coasters I've been on..
Great Bear is a good ride except that it's way too short but I say you should still take a day and go to Hershey Park. The fun doesn't stop inside the park either. There are many attractions to see like Chocolate World, 3D theater, and Zoo America.
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Formerly known as Glenn on Coasterbuzz.
Check out http://www.ckportal.zzn.com
One of the Best amusmentparks I been to, and I been to a couple ;)
CP, SFWoA, SFA, SFDL, Knoebels, Hershey Park, Dorney Park, SFGAdv, PKI, CLP.
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Six Flags Worlds of Adventure Online
Team NL
NITRO ~ The most EXPLOSIVE coaster on the planet!
Not to repeat any of the above (all correct), but to add on...
Great Bear: While some say it isn't intense, it does have two moments of intensity (the helix off of the lift and the loop). Its main drop (after the helix) is very fun and the speedy run through Comet Hollow (after the loop) is fun as well. Only draw back (and a minor one), it is a bit on the short side.
Two other coasters not mentioned... Sidewinder and Trailblazer. Sidewinder is your standard boomerang. Fast, but rough in back. Trailblazer is a short and slow mine train but has the saving grace of having a helix that takes your head very close to the ground.
The flatrides are standard but not the most wide variety (one of the park's few weaknesses).
Water rides are the new Roller Soaker (I haven't tried this one yet), Tidal Force (very tall shoot-the-chute's with a huge wave), the very soaking Canyon River Rapids, and the Coal Cracker flume (this is Hershey's other weak point... one of the most lack luster flume rides around... but a 1974 era ride... so for its time...)
While it is called a theme park, HERSHEYPARK is themed unevenly. Around the entrance is Tudor Square and Rhineland... kind of a BGW appearance... and are the most themed. The other area is Midway America... but becaused it is themed to look like an old time amusement park, the themeing escapes many people. Other areas like Comet Hollow, Carrousel Circle, Music Box Way, Mine Town, Tower Plaza, and Pioneer Frontier don't seem to be themed that much at all. (of course, maybe I take it for granted... last year I actually did notice that Pioneer Frontier is really themed with old west style buildings). But don't take the lack of themeing as a draw back. The park is beautifully landscaped with plenty of shade and benches etc. Midway America being relativley new has trees... but not mature trees. Give it a few years and you will see shade here as well. Contrary to popular belief, the park is not themed around Hershey Chocolate. There are tie ins (they of course sell it in the park, the height restriction scale is based on it and some rides like the Kissing Tower and Roller Soaker are themed toward it) but with the exception of the smell of chocolate from the factory drifting over the park, there is not that much of a connection.
To add onto the acolades from above... add on to that employees that range from simply to competent to competent and very friendly and helpful. Also, this is one of the cleanest parks I have ever seen. Maintenace staff seems to be doing it's job too... I don't ever remember a major ride being down for a day (during one visit Wildcat was down for 1/2 hour and on another visit Great Bear was down for 15 minutes)
As for the zoo... don't expect to see any exotic animals at ZooAmerica. It is a small zoo with animals from north America (I always liked the prarie dogs myself).
While not in the park itself, Hershey's Chocolate World sits between the park entrance and the parking lots. If you've never been here, this is a neat little ride that takes you through the process of making of Hershey's Chocolate followed by one of the biggest candy stores around (of course only selling Hershey products). This also is the home of the Really Big 3-D Show (new for this year... not sure what it is like). Considering what this attraction is, of course Chocolate World IS themed all to Hershey Chocolate.
If you want discount admission, stop by any Turkey Hill mini market in the area (there is one just out side the park at the corner of Hersheypark Drive and Rt 743) and pick up a coupon. Its good for I think $7 off weekday admission and $5 off Weekend admission (along with also offering "up to $12 off" Dutch Wonderland admission but I am not sure of the details of this "up to" deal).
Of the parks I have been too (Hershey, Knoebels, Dorney, Kennywood, BGW, BGT, IOA, Sea World Orlando, SFA, SFDarien Lake, Morey's Piers plus various small parks in PA and NJ), I would place HERSHEYPARK second only to BGW.
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Face it, call ourselves what we want, but to the parks we are all "GP".
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 7/15/2002. ***
We rate Hershey the best. You won't get extreme coasters there, but what you will get is one of the best all-around collections of rides of any theme park of its kind. There are rides for everyone, kids to people who don't like fast rides to coaster lovers.
The park is kept very clean, capacity is great because of the big amount of rides (except roller soaker line is low capacity). Prices are very reasonable compared to other parks. I would recommend going 2 days. Theres enough to do there if you do it all, and its only about $15 more.
Nice coaster collection. Lightning Racer is a top coaster, and its probably the best-operated racing coaster in the country. Trains are always sent out in sync, and they actually RACE. Finish is always close.
Also its a rare chance to ride a Schwarzkopf looper. Again not a huge coaster, but its NICE. Smooth as glass for a 20 something year old ride.
One of our favorite rides in the park is the Intamin double wheel. I think its the only one of its type left in the country....Kings Island, Magic Mountain, Great Americas, Astroworld have all removed theirs. Very long ride (about 10 mins) and great view of the park.
This park also does nice things for their season pass holders, free parking, 15% off food and souvenirs. Who else does that in these greedy, up-charging corporate run parks?
The theming is so so, but its there. Tudor Square and Rhineland are brittish and german themed shop areas. Carrousel Circle is unthemed, but has PA Dutch buildings. Comet Hollow feels like a boardwalk area. Minetown is themed to coal mining, industrial feel. Pioneer Frontier is western them, but as it gets to the water area there is more of a colonial look. Midway America is county fair. Pay attention to the great looking buildings there. Music Box Way is no theme, they should make that 50s or something.
Hope you have fun at Hershey. We always do.
Super7 and SLFake pretty much hit the nail on the head. One thing that I want to add to what they said is that HP has a preview package where if you visit the park within the final 3 1/2 hours of the parks operating hours on any given day and pay the full day price, you get those 3 1/2 hours, plus the next day. It is a great option if you get into town early the day before you plan on going in.
Also, people have talked about Chocolate World...I just wanted to add that the Chocolate tour is free. The 3-D show (which is actually a 4-D show) is a neat little show with a live actor/actress. If you have the extra time, it is worth the upcharge.
One last thing...if you don't want to wait in the long lines for Roller Soaker, don't fret. You can have just as much fun without riding it. With all the water guns/geysers that you can operate from the ground, it is a blast. In fact, the last time I was there, I got just as wet standing in line as I did on the ride. You will get soaked if you go anywhere near this ride. The ride is very low on coaster action (it is just a slow downhill inverted ride with a few minor turns), but it is as much fun as you can have at such low speeds.
Also, one ride that you really don't see at other parks is the Falcon...It is a fun ride and I highly recommended. They also have a nice Josef Zeirer Wave Swinger if you are into them. Finally, if you stay for the laser show at 10pm, be sure to keep an eye on the Wild Mouse and Ferris Wheel...the laser effects that reflect off of them are just as neat as what is on the screen.
SLFake, I am partial to the prairie dogs exhibit too :-)
Happy Coastering!
Sean
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"Have fun stormin' the castle!"
OOPS, I forgot to mention that a good place to eat is the Texas BBQ by they Trailblazer...It is a little more expensive than other places in the park, but it's worth the extra couple bucks.
Happy Coastering!
Sean
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"Have fun stormin' the castle!"
You should go to Knoebel's instead.....much better wood.
IMO, Wildcat 1-2 gives the best ride of anything at Hershey. Lateral & airtime combinations as you crest the hills. Lightning Racer is fun but not near as intense as its older brother GCI.
Out of all my parks (SFGAm, SFStL, PKI, Wonderland, Santa's Villiage (IL), Knott's, DisneyLand, SFMM, USH, SFoG, CP, WDW-Magic Kingdom, KiddieLand(IL), PKD, SFA, Carowinds, IOA, USF, SFWoA, SFKK, Epcot, SWF, BGT, Holiday World, KennyWood, Hershey, SFGAdv, BGW, SFAW, SFoT, SFFT, SWT, Dorney), only ONE park (SFGAm) do I hold in higher regard than Hershey. Honestly, I think that had I not "grown up" with SFGAm, Hershey would be number one (suprisingly even over DisneyLand).
I dont know of anyone who has been to HersheyPark in the past three season who did NOT abosolutely LOVE the place. I mean it starts from the moment you park your car, where you can use the restroom while waiting for a tram to take you to the front gate. Then once inside the park, you have EVERYTHING at your disposal. None of their coasters suck (well maybe TrailBlazer) though none are "blackout" intense either (but Wildcat *will* give you a work out).
The whole *vibe* of the place is real Disney-esque. Not necessarily the immersive *themeing* of Disney (though the stations for Wildcat and Lightning Racer are the BEST around) but the people (staff and crowds) are just out for fun. Most times, the ride ops arent the most excited bunch. You wont get the "We'll turn you upside down 6 times which is better than Magnum can do" type spiels. But they are quick, unobtrusive and basically let the RIDES entertain you. But if you have a question, they do their best to help you continue your fun. Oh and the best customer service item I've seen in any park anywhere, they actually ADVERTISE IN THE MAP/GUIDE that you can get a free cup of water at any stand that serves fountain drinks (okay, second best, Holiday World gives free soft drinks ).
As for Roller Soaker, it's the most fun you will ever have standing in line! The "ride" is wack, just some dumb slow turns high off the ground, but the "experience" is outstanding! With all the water that is shooting off, you will be soaked long before you get to the ride. And once you get on the ride...well just expect your shorts to be about ten pounds heavier due to water!
The "Really Big 3-D Show" was entertaining, but if you're pressed for money you *might* want to hold on to your five bucks. It's pretty much "Honey I Shrunk the Audience" themed to a chocolate commercial (and convienently, you exit through the gift shop ).
And when I went to Zoo America, they had an albino aligator.
EDIT: For food, go to Pippin's outside the main gate. It's a sit down place, but for like ten bucks a person you get great food, table service, free refills and most important on a hot day: air conditioning!
lata,
jeremy
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"To get inside this head of mine, would take a monkey-wrench, and a lot of wine" Res How I Do
*** This post was edited by 2Hostyl on 7/15/2002. ***
I believe the Albino Aligator was only there last season... on loan from another zoo.
Also... IF you visit next year early in the season and IF the Bears are having a good year, you could go to HERSHEYPARK during the day and catch a playoff hockey game in the new GIANT CENTER at night (Mid May until... hopefully... mid June).
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Face it, call ourselves what we want, but to the parks we are all "GP".
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 7/15/2002. ***
...I'm sold....going back for my first visit in almost 30 years.....(hold the old-timer jokes, heard 'em all already)....
...but the real question is: How do we get the self-proclaimed HP-Ho to "host" the park for us....do we tell his employer he's too sick to work, or what?
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Welcome to the Cedar Point skyride....we'll take you up 50, drop you down 30, all at an amazing speed of 6 miles per hour....we won't see you back unless you make the return trip!
gator - You'll love it. I'm still trying to figure out how to get back this summer.
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"drop rides, not bombs."
HPH (Hershey Park Hoe)
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"To get inside this head of mine, would take a monkey-wrench, and a lot of wine" Res How I Do
Rollergator: 30 years? 1972? No old timer jokes... but you will certainly be in for a shock!
I'm trying to think what was there 30 years ago (1972). I swear the only things that are still there from then are the Comet, Carrousel, Monorail, Skyview sky ride (the little one where your feet dangle), Dolphin Show, Dry Gulch Rail Road and perhaps Giant Wheel.
In 1972 the park was in the middle of its "re-inventing" and up grading. Also, in the summer of 1972 the park (along with most of PA) was hit hard by Hurricane Agnes. The biggest losses were The Lost River (formerly the Old Mill Chute) ride, the Turnpike (along Spring Creek). Both were located by the creek and I know that Lost River never re-opened after that, and I think it was the end of the Turnpike as well. On the arena/Comet side of the creek there is a strange little "underpass" that one of the foot paths goes under... this I think was originally built for the Turnpike... basically all that remains of it.
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Face it, call ourselves what we want, but to the parks we are all "GP".
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 7/15/2002. ***
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