Tips to Hershey Park!?

kpjb said:
So do you get in free to the park with a concert ticket? Or is it the other way around?

For the big-name concerts in the stadium outside the park you must buy a separate concert ticket, however with your concert ticket you can buy a Hersheypark ticket for the reduced price of $19.95.

HaHa 3r1c, I'm getting that Conestoga ride down here at Lake Winnie! :-)

No pink monkeyface, the owners of Lake Winnie are getting a new ride. You pay to get in and ride it. That is business.

------------------
The Empire will Strike Back....
"What do I know, I only work in an Amusement Park?"
"You are paying to get in. Period."

Definitely go to the back (midway america) first and work your way forward, hitting the new rides (claw and flying scooters) on the way back. Because of the lopsided design of the park, all the inital traffic funnels through carrousel circle then hangs around comet hollow, music box way and minetown for a while. Later in the day, the crowds thin out in those areas and if you start in midway america (the farthest point from the gate) and work forward, you miss most of the "traffic jams". You will get many short wait rides on the midway america rides in the morning.

All of the coasters are nice. The right size, thrilling enough without beating you up. Lightning Racer is definitely a top 5 coaster and the best racing coaster in the world--they actually race it and the 2 sides always finish neck and neck.

Don't miss the Giant Wheel. It is the only ride of its kind left in the USA since Six Flags and Paramount/KECO jerked out their versions from their parks. Its just a nice long ride with a great view. Also sooperdooperlooper is classic. Not high thrills by todays standard, but just a nice, smooth riding, fun coaster. The Great Bear is a nice, smooth inverted (no cobra roll means no jerky neck snapping). The helix before the drop is a unique element on that coaster that really adds a lot to the ride.

Unlike most theme parks, the food at Hershey is good quality. We found the pizza pretty good. Also the bar-b-que/turkey legs by Trailblazer. Food prices are higher than the outside world, but low by theme park standards. The bottle pop and water are at extreme rip off prices, but the fountain drinks were more reasonable and they will give free cups of water at the food stands if you ask.

If you can, take 2 days at Hershey. There is enough to do to fill a day completely with the 2nd day to do all the favorite things again. This is without a doubt one of the cleanest, best operated big parks in the nation.

*** This post was edited by super7 5/28/2003 10:09:05 AM ***

Sooperdooperlooper is still one of my favorite coasters at Hershey. Without fail, I always manage more rides in a day on the 'Looper than any of the other coasters. The fact that there's never a line helps...but I've been riding it since the days when there were 30-minute waits for it. It's one of only 3 or 4 coasters that I have ever 'marathoned.' It still has one of the best vertical loops in existence, and of course has the original classic Schwarzkopf lapbars.

------------------
-Mike B.
Son of Hulk

Thank you Super 7 for more very helpful information. Yes, Vater I am very anxious to ride Sooperdooperlooper I'm always amazed by ride Schwarzkopf products:) What exactly was the ride Conestoga? Thank you!

------------------
Assistant Webmaster,
Kennywood Boulevard
*** This post was edited by KpExpress 5/28/2003 2:49:10 PM ***

The Conestoga was a ride much like a Rainbow or 1001 Nachts, except that the seating arrangement was different. Someone who knows more about flats would probably know the exact make and model of the Conestoga.

http://www.************.com/images/conestoga.jpg

Replace the *'s with 'coaster force' (no space). I apologize, but it was the only pic I could find.

------------------
-Mike B.
Son of Hulk
*** This post was edited by Vater 5/28/2003 2:58:21 PM ***

Aww, I love those kind of rides:( Yeah the ride appears to be much of what I believe a (Huss Rainbow) just themed differently. The ride kind has the same motion as the Zierer Flying Carpet, but only the Flying Carpet is a much faster ride then the Huss Rainbow's are, but they are still fun to ride:) Thank you Vater for that picture

------------------
Assistant Webmaster,
Kennywood Boulevard

It was a shame that the enterprise (cyclops) and the rainbow (conestoga) were taken out. They were both still great rides in perfect physical condition (as far as appearance). The enterprise was making a grinding noise last time we were there, so the mechanicals must have needed attention and the decision to remove it was made.

At least Hershey replaced the 2 removed flat rides with 2 others, unlike other parks (paramount) that replace rides with cheesy upcharge attractions.

Thats something else you WON'T find a Hershey. A park full of ridiculous price upcharge attractions. They charge extra for the paddleboats, and i think i might have seen a rock climbing wall (or maybe i imagined it). That's it. No eyesore skycoasters, etc.

Season passholders find things at Hershey like FREE parking and 15% discount at all food stands. Obviously Hershey is out to make a profit, but they are not out to take every penny their customers have. Like i said, it is a well operated park.

sup: Hershey still takes your money, and plenty of it. They are just so good at it that you actually leave HAPPY haiving drop a large wad of cash. It amazes me the sheer number of people, who in the middle of summer, buy CASES of Hershey bars. Dont they realize that by the time they get home they will have all melted? Doesnt matter though.

Even I *thought* about buying candy as it seemed the right thing to do. I think they have subliminal messages in the Chocolate World Dark ride :)

Either way, I cannot wait to return and once again be made "HersheyPark Happy".

lata, jeremy

------------------
The world's next Miss Universe?

Tell me you're joking about the Conestoga! It was my favorite non-coaster in the park as well! It's just like the magic carpet you see on boardwalks, but not as big and the tighter radius made it more stomach-churning (in a good way). It was also VASTLY superior to the magic carpet variety because there are no lap restraints, just a general bar accross the seats, so you get good airtime on the Conestoga. I'd gladly sign a petition to keep this ride! Especially if they're replacing it with some dorky show. Who goes to amusement parks for stupid shows?

They replaced Conestoga with a virtual reality game. I personally think it's stupid and they should have kept Conestoga. I seemed to like it when it was running.

---

KKochanski said:
Who goes to amusement parks for stupid shows?

---

:) Lol...Well, I go to amusement parks for the good shows, not the stupid ones, and Hersheypark has some pretty good shows. Regardless, I think the Conestoga was replaced with an interactive virtual reality game (Ham On Rye??), and I agree that that is not as good as the ride was. At least they replaced the two removed rides with two new ones.
*** This post was edited by gardener14 5/31/2003 10:47:53 PM ***

This is becoming a Conestoga love thread.

I'm so glad that someone started this thread. This summer I wanted to go to a park that I have never been to before and all during the off season, we were debating between BGW or SDC and CC. However, while watching the travel channel one evening, on a whim we decided it would be a visit to Hershey PA and Hershey Park because it looked really fun.

Now I'm pumped and I can't wait to go!

Those two pictures of the two halves of the park are great. Where were they taken from? That park looks like a really awesome place to visit overall.

Can anyone help me out with a little more information.... I was wondering about the animal park across from Hershey Park. I really want to go to it. I need info along the lines of the time factor. How long will each park take if I take my time to enjoy them? Do I need two days to do both the Hershey Park and their animal park?

Does anyone know when kids go back to school in that area? would the last week in August be good to go? They would still be open during the weekdays then.

If anyone could email me (as not to tie up bandwith on my specific questions) some of the info above and also other cool things to do in the Hershey or neighboring areas, cheap / clean motels close to the area or within 30 minutes or so from the park, I'd really appreciate it and / or if someone can pick up an extra park map on a trip to Hershey this year, I'd gladly compensate you for your troubles.

Thanks guys.

------------------
Happy Happy!
*** This post was edited by CP Silly 6/6/2003 9:46:42 AM ***