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I mean if it's replaced with something on-par with AlpenFury I'm sure SFOT would take that trade.

That would be a tragedy. Freeze is an icon. You can hear the roar throughout half of the park.

Absolutely!

Universal Studios Japan has announced that the extremely popular Snoopy Studios area of the park has reopened featuring the new "Snoopy's Flying Ace Adventure" coaster along with updated theming and photo opportunities! https://www.usj.co.jp/company/company_e/news/2025/0717/index.html “Snoopy Studios”, hugely popular since the Park first opened, is now reopening! Fans and crew who love Snoopy and friends celebrate!“Snoopy is so cute! The new coaster was thrilling!” “I discovered a lot of new things and was able to refresh my childhood memories!” New attraction "Snoopy's Flying Ace Adventure" Debuts! Experience and enjoy the newly enhanced story of "PEANUTS"! Reopening tomorrow, Friday, July 18, 2025 Today, Thursday July 17th, Universal Studios Japan unveiled to the press details of the revamped "Snoopy Studios" area, where visitors can enjoy the world of Snoopy and friends, which has been loved by people of all generations since the Park first opened. At around 7:45am today, “Snoopy”, “Charlie Brown”, “Lucy”, and “Sally” rushed over to celebrate the upgraded “Snoopy Studios”, together with fans of Snoopy and “PEANUTS”, and the crew from the Snoopy area, who gathered to celebrate with a special greeting. After performing a happy dance, Snoopy and his friends posed for photos with the gathered fans and then headed to the renovated "Snoopy Studios". This year marks the 75th anniversary of the birth of the PEANUTS comic strip, and Universal Studios Japan is proud to announce the reopening of “Snoopy Studios”, an adorable and imaginative experience that can only be enjoyed here, with even more excitement and charm. The reopening is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday July 18th New ride attraction "Snoopy's Flying Ace Adventure" unveiled! Experience the story of “Flying Ace,” the popular character who is a master of disguise and dresses up as a pilot, in “Snoopy's Flying Ace Adventure”! This attraction has been completely redesigned with a new look and storyline, offering a totally new experience. It is an indoor ride attraction that allows you to fully enjoy the world of PEANUTS in comfortable regardless of the weather. Dive into the world of ‘PEANUTS’ comics, hop aboard the iconic, red-roofed doghouse, and embark on an exhilarating adventure as you race at full speed in search of the “Flying Ace” and his arch-rival Red Baron. A new space has been created where you can enjoy taking photos and greetings with the adorable Snoopy!　New photo spot "Snoopy Photo Opportunity: Beagle Scout Campground” A campground inspired by the world of the “Beagle Scouts”, an expedition team led by Snoopy, has debuted as a movie set within Snoopy Studios! The new photo greeting experience, “Snoopy Photo Opportunity: Beagle Scout Campground”, features adorable Snoopy dressed in Beagle Scout attire, offering fun photo sessions and greetings. Join Snoopy for an exciting adventure! *“Snoopy Photo Opportunity” (Stickers Included) 　Available for purchase at counter adjacent to Snoopy Photo Opportunity Enjoy time with Snoopy and his PEANUTS friends in a playland full of photo spots! The playland, where people of all ages can enjoy themselves with “NO LIMIT!”, is full of spots where you can enjoy yourself with your whole body and photo spots where you can become one of Snoopy's friends! Experience immersing yourself in the story while discovering your own experiences and feeling familiar scenes and episodes from the PEANUTS comics. Comments from PEANUTS fans who got an early look at the newly reopened Snoopy Studios “Snoopy is so cute, I love him so much! ‘Snoopy Studios’ holds many childhood memories for me, and coming here brings back fond memories and makes me happy. The newly renovated coaster feels like you're flying through a storm with the Flying Ace, and the sound effects seem more powerful than before. It's cute yet thrilling!” (Woman from Tokyo) “I remember the first time I entered Snoopy Studios when I was a child. Today was like discovering something new and refreshing, as if my memories had been updated! I'm looking forward to seeing the 75th anniversary of PEANUTS celebrated in various places! When I entered Snoopy Studios, I felt like I was coming home, and my heart was filled with joy.” (Group of men and women from Osaka Prefecture) “Snoopy is so cute and fun! We used to come here as a family before the renovation, but now that my children are older, I was really happy that we could enjoy the coasters together today!” (Family from Osaka Prefecture) “A Very Snoopy Festival: The 75th Anniversary of Peanuts" is now underway! Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the birth of the "PEANUTS" comics with the "PEANUTS" gang with a special show greeting! To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the birth of the PEANUTS comic strip, we will be hosting a special show greeting on Thursday, October 2nd, 2025. Join us for a special Super Happy greeting and celebrate this important birthday for Snoopy and the PEANUTS gang at Universal Studios Japan. Location: "Snoopy Photo Opportunity: Beagle Scout Ground Camp” Schedule: Time TBA, Thursday, October 2nd, 2025 75 Years of Peanuts Happiness is...75 years old. In 1950, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang were first introduced to the world. In the 75 years since, Peanuts have become a global phenomenon, encompassing award-winning animated content, stage shows and live experiences, high profile collaborations, and retail programs around the world. Artists, musicians, philosophers, and fans have been inspired by the Charles Schulz creation for over seven decades and there is no end in sight for this beloved cast of characters who speak so beautifully and simply to the human experience. About Peanuts The characters of Peanuts and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide, which is 41% owned by Wild Brain Ltd., 39% owned by Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and 20% owned by the family of Charles M. Schulz, who first introduced the world to Peanuts in 1950, when the comic strip debuted in seven newspapers. Since then, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang have made an indelible mark on popular culture. In addition to enjoying beloved Peanuts Shows and specials on Apple TV＋, fans of all ages celebrate the Peanuts brand Worldwide through thousands of consumer products, as well as amusement park attractions, cultural events, social media, and comic strips available in all formats, from traditional to digital. In 2018, Peanuts partnered with NASA on a multi-year Space Art Agreement designed to inspire a passion for space exploration and STEM among the next generation of students.

Awesome, so we are getting SFT's 'hand me down' parts for our Freeze.

Gröna Lund has announced their newest addition, Spindeln, a bouncing and spinning attraction for the whole family. This new ride will open in the Summer of 2026 between Kvasten and Blå Tåget. https://www.gronalund.com/en/rides/spindeln Meet Gröna Lund's newest resident! In the summer of 2026, Spindeln will take its place between Kvasten and Blå Tåget – a brand new attraction that offers bounce, spin and speed for the whole family. With space for 42 riders and a height limit of 100 cm, more people than ever can experience the thrill together. A spinning novelty with speed, bounce, and spin! The spider is a spinning novelty for both the family and those who love speed – a so-called Super Jumper and the first of its kind in Sweden. The attraction combines bounce, spin and speed to the rhythm of the spider's own music. Thanks to a type of harness that folds down over the shoulders, it is also the first Super Jumper in the world where even younger children can ride, from 100 cm and 4 years old in the company of an adult.

Shanghai Disney Resort has announced that Soaring Over The Horizon, their version of the popular flying theater attraction will add a third theater to expand capacity with the ride's finale receiving a new scene. Shanghai Disney has confirmed that the attraction will remain open throughout construction of the new theater. https://shcorporate.shanghaidisneyresort.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Press-Release-Shanghai-Disney-Resort-to-Expand-Iconic-Soaring-Over-the-Horizon-Attraction.pdf Shanghai Disney Resort continues to expand with ongoing development of exciting new experiences and offerings to provide innovative ways to bring even more magic and surprises to its guests. As part of these efforts, the resort will expand Shanghai Disneyland’s iconic attraction, Soaring Over the Horizon, to significantly increase the daily capacity for one of the theme park’s most popular attractions. As a special surprise, once completed, guests will encounter a brand-new scene at the end of their aerial journey. The attraction will remain open during the expansion phase. Located in the theme park’s Adventure Isle, since its premiere to the world in 2016, Soaring Over the Horizon has captivated millions of guests with breathtaking and sensational aerial adventures featuring scenic wonders and landmarks from across the globe. The attraction’s expansion plan marks another example of the continuous development of Shanghai Disney Resort. “The passion and enthusiasm that our guests and fans have shared for Shanghai Disney Resort continue to inspire us to explore innovative ways for more guests to experience our most popular attractions,” said Andrew Bolstein, President and General Manager of Shanghai Disney Resort. “Soaring Over the Horizon is an iconic family-friendly attraction that has delighted millions of guests of all ages since opening. We are very excited to welcome even more guests to embark on this magical ride in the near future and to encourage our seasoned fans to return and experience its new ending.” Featuring an original story, Soaring Over the Horizon takes guests on a magical flight across the globe, offering an immersive experience to guests like never before. With guest experience being a top priority, the expansion will see an approximately 50% increase on the current attraction capacity so more guests can take flight on aerial tours around the globe. Soaring Over the Horizon is a family-friendly attraction offering guests of all ages an unforgettable experience. While guests will continue to take off from Adventure Isle and fly over some of the world’s most iconic landmarks and natural destinations, including the magnificent Great Wall in Beijing and the spectacular city skyline view of Shanghai, the updated attraction also includes a surprise transformation, concluding the special aerial journey with a new destination at Shanghai Disney Resort along with some other magical surprises. Since opening, the strong popularity of the many innovative attractions and entertainment experiences at Shanghai Disney Resort underscored the growing demand from guests and fans for the quality family entertainment. Through unique storytelling and creativity, the resort delivers a diverse range of experiences and offerings - from beloved seasonal celebrations held throughout the year to fresh adventures inspired by Disney stories, including the recently opened Pixar Adventurous Journey and the Stitch Space Base. With an unwavering commitment to delivering world-class experiences and creating lifelong memories for all guests, Shanghai Disney Resort continues to advance through major developments and expansions. The resort’s current major expansion projects also include a new Spider-Man-themed land, the ninth themed land of its theme park, and a third themed hotel, with the construction of both projects well underway. In addition, a new residential community for the resort’s cast members is also under construction, further supporting its frontline cast members and interns who create the memorable Disney magic experienced by guests at Shanghai Disney Resort. Shanghai Disneyland Resort has also confirmed that installation of the new Spider-Man themed attraction is underway within the park. https://shcorporate.shanghaidisneyresort.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Press-Release-Attraction-Installation-Begins-at-Spider-Man-Themed-Land-in-Shanghai-Disneyland.pdf Shanghai Disney Resort announced today that the first vertical steel column was installed for the major attraction at Shanghai Disneyland’s new Spider-Man-themed land, marking the official beginning of the installation work for this high-energy thrill coaster. The installation is another important step forward in this major expansion project, which is also one of the latest examples of the continuous development and expansion of Shanghai Disney Resort. The construction of the Spider-Man-themed land officially began in May 2025 and is progressing smoothly. As the latest addition and the ninth themed land at Shanghai Disneyland, the new land, upon completion, will present the park’s first major Marvel-themed attraction - a high-energy thrill coaster featuring Spider-Man. Guests entering the land will be surrounded by Spider-Man and his friends with unique shopping, food and beverage, and entertainment experiences that extend the story and invite guests into the web-slinger’s world. Since opening, Shanghai Disney Resort has continued to expand with new and exciting experiences, including the opening of the two new themed lands, Disney·Pixar Toy Story Land and Zootopia at Shanghai Disneyland. The Spider-Man-themed land will become the third new land expansion of the theme park, further enriching the already abundant experiences with unique Disney storytelling. In addition, the resort recently announced the expansion plan for Shanghai Disneyland’s iconic attraction, Soaring Over the Horizon, significantly increasing its daily capacity. A third Disney-themed hotel, located adjacent to Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, is also currently under construction, aiming to provide even more accommodation options for guests from near and far after opening. Each development continues the resort’s long-term commitment in creativity and storytelling, providing extensive high-quality experiences for guests of all ages. A new residential community for the resort’s cast members is also under smooth construction, which is one of the many ways in which Shanghai Disney Resort continues to invest in its cast experiences.

A true return to form for Erik's Oddventures! So glad to see another trip report and glad to see your humor (my kind of humor) shine through! Thank you for sharing!

Universal Destinations & Experiences has released new details about the themed lands and experiences coming to the first ever Universal Kids Resort, opening in 2026 in Frisco, Texas. https://corporate.universaldestinationsandexperiences.com/universal-kids-resort-unveils-details-of-themed-lands-featuring-interactive-play-areas-and-more/ Universal Destinations & Experiences unveiled more details about the themed lands kids and families will experience at Universal Kids Resort. The new resort specifically designed and developed for families with young children will open in 2026 in Frisco, Texas. Kids and their families will be able to explore, imagine, and play while enjoying attractions in seven lands made for kids featuring iconic brands and characters: DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club Jurassic World Adventure Camp DreamWorks’ TrollsFest Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom Isle of Curiosity “Universal Kids Resort embodies the spirit of igniting thrill that drives everything we create — designed to bring our youngest guests and families together through play, creativity, and beloved characters and stories,” said Molly Murphy, President of Universal Creative. “It’s a destination made for kids and, as a regional theme park, brings Universal’s signature storytelling to families close to home.” Inspired by that spirit, the creative team brought the park to life through a child’s lens. “We envisioned this park through the unbridled creativity of kids where infinite imagination, curiosity and free-spirited play were core to our design philosophies,” said Brian Robinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer at Universal Creative. “It produced a park that’s pure joy and an absolute celebration of what it is to be a kid.” Families will enter through the Isle of Curiosity, a whimsical gateway with space for kids to explore. This will be the spot to join the one and only Gabby from DreamWorks’ Gabby’s Dollhouse for a special meet and greet and a pawsome dance party. At DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp, Shrek has transformed a swampy shack into a waterlogged paradise for some ogre-sized fun for his three adorable triplets. Kids and their families will have a chance to meet Shrek and Fiona, and they can even take photos in the onion carriage. Two interactive play areas, Shrek’s Swamp Rompin’ Stomp and Shrek’s Swamp Splash & Smash, will allow kids to stomp and/or splash away. Families can also venture to DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar. From meeting the fearless hero himself along with Mama Luna, Perrito and friends to taking on the challenging carnival games Barriles de Leche and El Gato’s Meow, the feline fun will be in full force. Next, let the games begin at Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club where the Yellow Minions attempt to rein in their Purple counterparts leading to water-soaked fun. Families can take part in this action-packed competition, or just relax, and watch the chaos unfold. With a special Minions meet and greet and interactive play areas, there’ll be plenty of surprises. The excitement continues for kids and families as they experience awe-inspiring and thrilling moments exploring Jurassic World Adventure Camp. Whether it’s meeting a newly hatched baby dinosaur or climbing up the Lookout Towers play area to get a Pteranodon’s view of the park, guests of all ages will have an exhilarating journey. “With all the interactive play areas at Universal Kids Resort where kids can explore, discover and create, we’re really excited about this being a place for kids to play their way. We’re even going to support play with team members who will help kids dream up imaginary worlds with sidewalk chalk or spray themselves silly with water blasters. From blowing bubbles to belly laughs, there will be fun for kids of all ages and interests,” said Robinson. In addition to the park’s many play areas, Universal Kids Resort features multiple sensory gardens designed to give children and families opportunities to pause, reset, and connect. These carefully crafted spaces invite guests to explore through touch, sound, and color in calming, nature-inspired settings — creating moments of balance within a day full of play. More fun abounds at DreamWorks’ TrollsFest where the music will be bumping and the energy will be pumping in the liveliest party in Troll Kingdom. Families can meet Poppy, Branch and the rest of the DreamWorks’ Trolls gang at a glitter-filled meet and greet. Two interactive play areas will offer good Trolls-fashioned fun including Poppy’s Playland and Trolls Critter Crawl. Then, it’s time for an undersea adventure at Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom where kids and their families can have the best day ever as they get to meet SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star and Sandy Cheeks in Bikini Bottom since “F” is for friends who do stuff together. There’ll be oceans of nautical nonsense as kids can explore Mussel Beach for some rest and Pineapple Paradise for some playful splashing around. After all the fun, families can relax just steps away at the Universal Kids Resort Hotel. The colorfully themed on-site 300-room hotel designed with families in mind will offer a place to stay and relax just steps away from the park. The vibrant site will also serve as the entrance to Universal Kids Resort. More details on the attractions, entertainment, merchandise and foods kids and their families will be able to enjoy at Universal Kids Resort will be announced soon. To stay updated on all of Universal Kids Resort’s newest developments, visit UniversalKidsResort.com.

Believe it or not, we just got the same survey here at Over Texas. This despite the fact that Tormenta is being constructed even as I type this. I picked new Launch Coaster. Mr Freeze is rumored to be getting replaced by something new from Premier.

Six Flags does not own this property and is in a management and branding agreement with EPR properties. EPR is solely responsible for any and all capital investments or improvements to Darien Lake (as they are the owner) which is most likely why there was no Six Flags surveys done. It is my opinion that EPR is fulfilling it's obligations to whatever Six Flags expects in their contract with them, vice versa. I also have seen EPR consistently and albeit more slowly, start to maintain this park in a more Cedar Fair way (E.G., Michigans Adventure and similar parks), as they are bringing their old, more popular rides back to life, removing maintanence nightmare attractions like Grizzley run Ect. and not currently investing in new attractions. Even with one train operations , I now rarely wait more than 15 minutes for anything at the park and everything is open almost all the time which leads to a pleasurable experience. Good management and maintenance is key factor. With all that being said, I am sure EPR has some plans for the future as does Six Flags. This park also makes money on it's hotel, campgrounds, waterpark and the 20 or so concerts they host annually in their 20,000 person capacity amphitheater (all top touring bands). I could see after getting all their current ducks in a row that EPR (or Six Flags, if they choose to purchase it outright) would/should make a larger attraction investment, as it would then, IMO, be a smart return on investment. This park is no way a negative asset to either company and although it is taking a different path than the other 39 Six Flags parks, it is going in a good direction IMO, more than a lot of the parks in the collective chain right now. A survey is just not needed here, it wouldn't matter.

Mine says, "page not found."

I just received my New Attraction Guest Survey for SFSTL. A. Wait 5 more years for a new coaster. B. Wait 10 more years for a new Coaster. C. Wait 15 more years for a new Coaster. D. Hope for a 2026 Tornado to destroy The Boss.

Aahhhhh. Very nice. A virtue signal. Milton was born in born in 1857 and died in 1945. All boys and all girls schools were incredibly common back then, and still not controversial in my eyes. You have to consider cultural relativism from 1857 to 1945 when black listing Milton as a segregationist. I'm not making excuses, but cultural norms were much different during those times. 100 years from now people may be tearing down statues of modern global humanitarians if they owned pets or ate meat. (example) Upon Milton's death, 45% of US citizens were white males, so plenty directly benefitted, let alone their wives and children who benefitted indirectly, from their educated husbands and fathers. We don't always have to mention peoples' negatives when mentioning their positives. Milton was the reason your trip existed. I'm sure there have been plenty of minority men and women who have had great success due to the foundation Milton built.

Disney has announced that Soarin' will be debuting a new ride film in 2026 at both Disney California Adventure and EPCOT: Soarin' Across America! https://disneyparksblog.com/disney-experiences/soarin-across-america-at-disneyland-and-disney-world/ Buckle up and get ready for takeoff! The fan-favorite attraction Soarin’ will be receiving an all-new airborne adventure across the U.S. That’s right— you’ll soon be Soarin’ Across America at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, debuting Summer 2026! The new bi-coastal offering will showcase the United States—from sea to shining sea—highlighting some of the country’s natural beauty and iconic cityscapes. This will be brought to life with the iconic elements that make Soarin’ unforgettable – the flight, the sights and score, even the scents! Walt Disney Imagineering is hard at work capturing more than a dozen breathtaking locations for the new flight.

Has anyone else here noticed there was no future attraction survey like many of the other parks in the chain got? Did I miss it or did they really just not release a similar survey? I'm started to grow concerned that they are just still going to refuse to invest more into this park. It's such a self defeating cycle to not build more but then blame a lack of crowds for the lack of ability to do so. Like, yeah... they kinda have to build more to earn more in the first place. That's what gets people to come and spend money. I just don't understand the thought process behind the management there at the park when it comes to what seems like a lack of any future plans for the park beyond the bare minimum.

Maybe being able to ride the monorail would've helped me figure it out.

It's bad when even non enthusiasts notice so many things wrong. The latest money grab is Kumba and soon to be Iron Gwazi and Sheikra have switched to a new on ride photo provider, if you bought the annual photo key or it came with the annual pass, those rides are no longer part of photo key and cost $5 each for a digital copy.

Kailash - Trail of the Sherpa High in the Himalayas, on the sacred Mount Kailash, lies the remote village of Avalok. Your journey begins there. As an honored Sherpa, following his spiritual calling, you set out on the path to become one with the mountain - and with yourself. An ancient tradition that every Sherpa undertakes only once in a lifetime. But the path is not an easy one. Away from snow and ice, you will also venture deep into the mountain. Ancient legends awaken, ancient forces stir - and you must decide: Will your journey bring enlightenment... or your end? I put 300 hours work into the video. Hope you enjoy!

I got my first ride on alpenfury yesterday, what an amazing coaster. They recently installed a metal detector next to the automatic bin system inside the station. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving your loose articles unsecured make sure to rent a locker outside the queue entrance. I was the only person renting a locker during rope drop so it was a fast process and it only costed $3. I managed to get on the ride in under 30 minutes without any issues afterwards. Just something to keep in mind if you plan to go.

Tormenta construction update!! The BIG crane comes out to play!!

I like Hersheypark, and I'm with you when it comes to the park's layout. It just sprawls out, and there are lots of dead ends. Perhaps it was designed by the people responsible for the Winchester Mystery House.

That is exactly what I hope, a refresh would help a lot. Mind Eraser absolutely needed it worse, but Ride of Steel is right there too now. If they're not going to bring back the Superman theme I'd be fine if they even changed the color scheme, it just needs to be well taken care of. Unfortunately I don't think the park has any interest in running 2 trains on anything and that kind of boggles the mind.

Electerik Hershey Oddventure September 25 - 29, 2025 Part 2 of 2: Special Dark Inside the gates. Is Candymonium the best name for a roller coaster ever? Yes. If you disagree and insist that it is in fact Thunder Dolphin, I can respect that. Any other answer will simply be dismissed as wrong. Unless there’s a really good one I haven’t thought of. Because I like my egomaniacal certainty lightly dusted with crippling self-doubt. Look who I ran into! Totally unplanned. But it’s said that if one lingers around long enough trying to get a good photo of a roller coaster, eventually AJ will appear. Okay, let’s get nerdy: I absolutely loved Candymonium. It reminds me a lot of Mako, which was my favorite B&M hyper, but this one is better. I’m not sure anything on Candymonium is quite as good as Mako’s third hill, but this one’s second hill is close, I like this layout more, and most importantly, while they both have noticeable trim brakes, Candymonium’s are far less ruinous to the second half of the ride than Mako’s are. The Starbucks really makes me feel like I’m at home. (In the sense that I didn’t go in and I don’t go to them here in Seattle either.) So, Candymonium doesn’t have a midcourse block brake. But really it does, it’s just weirdly at the end of the ride, right before this pointless little transitional dip over the midway and into the brake run. Except, the thing is, on paper, while this looks pretty silly, it kind of won me over. I mean, it’s not particularly forceful. But it’s visually-interesting and acts as a sort of false ending to the general public--who react like the ride is legitimately over and then scream when it isn’t quite. It’s kind of fun. Speaking of screaming, I have a fun story. But this caption is already long enough, so I’ll save it for the next photo of Candymonium. Here we have left Chocolate Town and entered the wilds of Hersheypark, where we find this statue of some guy. dooperdooperLooper is sort of the sister coaster to Magic Mountain’s Revolution. The little sister. The less attractive, less talented, less successful one. Which is not to say that it’s bad. It’s not. It just doesn’t do a whole lot, especially when compared to other Schwarzkopfs of this type. Even the visual placement of its loop is “lesser” than that of Revolution. Still fun, though. Glad it’s still around and that I got to ride it a couple of times. Interestingly enough, my first ride was a zen front seat night ride, as it had just come up from a short downtime and the few other guests in the area hadn’t quite caught on yet that it was open again. (Of course, the fact that they closed and reopened the queue by putting up and taking down a simple chain at the front entrance, with no signage and no team members posted, did make it a bit hard to suss out.) Onto the next old school family coaster, Trailblazer. Unlike most Arrow Mine Trains, this one has just one relatively-large lift hill, and then a fairly short layout. But like most Arrow Mine Trains, it manages to be both smooth and janky at the same time. This photo of pathways with some Halloween decor awaiting the darkness might be a good opportunity to share that this park’s layout absolutely befuddled me. A lot of coaster parks (and I would classify Hersheypark in this way) evolve into places with lots of dead ends, but this is more like a series of circuitous pathways that occasionally connect at random intervals. Even by my third day in the park, I often had trouble getting exactly where I wanted to go or finding some particular thing without getting turned around a couple of times. Here, of course, you can see two pathways that cross without connecting. So that’s fun. Storm Runner looked to have an interesting, if rather short, layout. But I didn’t ride it. Why? The trains. I absolutely despise these. I did give the test seat a go, just to double-check/remind myself. And even just briefly and carefully sitting down in said seat, without even touching the restraint, I experience immediate pain in my boy apples. I can’t even imagine how that would feel if I was pinned in, the thing was moving, and there was airtime. Actually, I can, because I’ve been on Maverick. Once. No idea who these seats are designed for, but it’s certainly not big burly men with adult-sized man… um, I need a synonym for balls. Anyone? Thesaurus says “courage,” but that doesn’t quite seem right. Parts of this park are quite pretty. Well, mostly the nature parts. But that’s still something. I didn’t ride their Boomerang either. But I do appreciate that they rethemed it to Jolly Ranchers! It does look like it has the newer vest restraints, but you could still see people jostling around in there as the train bounced its way through the course. Well, this is surprisingly honest. Did they know it was going to be hot this weekend? Also, why is it always hot when I go on park trips? Do I just attract warmth? If you’ve hung out with me at all, I’m sorry. But also, you know I don’t particularly care for RMCs. I was interested in maybe giving Wildcat’s Revenge a try, though. Not entirely sure why. I’d been on 3 (Outlaw Run, Untamed, and Wildfire) and didn’t care for any of them. But I tried the test seat, and found it utterly unchallenging, so I decided to give it a go. The restraints seemed to fit me a bit better on this one (or maybe I’ve changed a bit), so I was actually able to experience, you know, forces. And I kind of liked it? But it also beat me up a bit, especially in the second half. So…while I would say that it’s the most fun I’ve ever had on an RMC, I still found that one ride was enough. Hear me out: Wouldn’t it be more scary if the radiation didn’t have a safety control unit? The park’s indoor Maurer spinner, Laff Trakk, was given a Shaq overlay for Halloween, because apparently there’s also a Shaq-themed Hershey gummy candy? I’ve never had it. Or heard of it. Or been on this ride. Not sure the Shaq stuff really added a whole lot, but the ride was fun (and arguably better themed than Crush’s Coaster in Paris), Probably not worth a long wait, but the park was slammed on Saturday, so I sprung for the Unlimited Fast Track. Lightning Racer is a pair of racing/dueling CGIs. Not top tier or anything, but fun. I’m not sure how I feel about the water park just being in/part of the amusement park. It seemed weird to walk through it closed, but I imagine it would also feel weird to walk through it open. Also, there’s a Wild Mouse coaster called Wild Mouse. I always forget what I bad idea it is to ride a wild mouse by oneself. But I do like Wild Meese, so I’d probably do it anyway even if I remembered. There’s also a dark ride inside the park, Reese’s Cupfusion. The storyline is about misfit candies trying to steal some kind of magical cup from vapid genetically-superior candies and I think I’m supposed to be rooting for the rich, entitled ones? I shot all the bad different candy and maintained the elites’ grip on power! Sta-tus-quo! Sta-tus-quo! As with literally everything, I may be overthinking it. The “trick-or-treat” event seemed…um… Well, this was pretty much it. Also, I’m not a big fan of real-world franchise food & beverage establishments inside theme parks. But they did have a Rita’s, so I was a happy hypocrite. There’s a scenic little side path shortcut that connects Chocolate Town to whatever BS made-up themed area Skyrush is in. (Um…The Hollow? Founder’s Way? Midway America?) Skyrush had some good airtime, but was quite rattly--at least in the outside seats. I would’ve ridden again in a middle seat to see if it was better, if I thought that was in any way achievable as someone in the park by themselves. It wouldn’t have helped with that particular goal, but worth mentioning that Hershey doesn’t have any single rider lines anywhere, as far as I could tell. Okay, time for my Candymonium story! (I’m sure you’re excited.) So I end up riding next to a kid with (I assume) both autism and Tourette’s, and his very patient and loving (again, I assume) mother. Kid’s been shouting odd things in line about how he’s being murdered and whatnot, which is turning a lot of heads, but I figure this’ll be fun. Let’s see how he does on the ride. So, he’s sitting next to me, and he’s carrying on a bit on the lift--which again, I’m finding amusing more than annoying—but he’s locked in during the ride. (Which is probably the point of mom bringing him here, right?) Anyway, train gets back to the station and overshoots. Now, I spent many years working rides, so I’m pretty sure I knew what had happened before the ride ops even did. But immediately my heart sinks, because I know that the restraints are tied to the ride's position in the station. So we’re stuck there for 10 or 15 minutes waiting on maintenance to come move the train back into position and this kid is losing his mind. He’s screaming at the top of his lungs about wanting his phone, why he can’t just get off the ride, how a kid died in the wave pool a couple of weeks ago, you name it. His poor mother is doing her best to distract him, but there’s no hope. And all I can do is wince (he is basically just screaming in my ear) and smile and try not to laugh at the sheer awfulness of it all. The ride manager comes out to talk to him, and he offers to let the kid ride again (because he’s mentioned that). The line was closed by this point, and I probably could’ve weaseled my way back on with them…but I was good at that point. His mother thanked me when we got off. Not sure why. Just for not being an a-hole, I guess. But what can I say? Just like the train overshot the station, sometimes a situation overshoots annoying and lands right in effing hilarious. Plus, let’s be real here. I only had to deal with it for like 15 minutes. For this kid and his mom, it’s basically a lifetime of no choice but to deal with it. Cars in the park as advertisement. Very Six Flags. And a lot of this park is, sadly, despite its charms. On the other hand, this is pretty great. I didn’t ride. Not sure if I could have. But I’ve been on a proper adult one at Kennywood. So no big deal either way. I always ride these things, though. Also, you can’t park your stroller there unless you promise that your child will one day shop at that grocery store. I did go to that grocery store while I was in town. As well as another one called “Karns.” Because I always like to check out the local grocery stores. Is that weird? Maybe the most interesting part of these is that they’re dual tracked “racers,” with classic cars on one side and sports cars on the other. Twizzlers Twisted Gravity was quite good. I think I just like anything named after candy. Note the Kissing Tower in the background, because that’s where we’re going next. The old power plant (still standing for…reasons?), the remnants of the old chocolate factory, the new-ish corporate offices, the Reading Railroad (as in, “take a ride on the Reading”) and the Hersheypark Monorail--which was closed all weekend, much to my unhappiness. I really wanted to ride that. I got the impression they just didn’t want to run it in the fall. The same way they didn’t want to run their water rides, since it was only in the 80’s all weekend. In the queue for the Kissing Tower, there’s a sign that says something like, “Smooching is okay, but no food or drinks, please.” So I get in line, and a woman directly in front of me, who’s by herself, looks at me, looks at the sign, and then exits the line. I’m trying not to take it personally. Fahrenheit. Same trains at Storm Chaser. I just can’t imagine a reality where I would not completely hate a ride on this. Which is unfortunate. But I can’t imagine not being incredibly handsome, either. You don’t always get a choice with these things. That Kissing Tower lady's loss. I assume they didn’t want to run their water rides because half the time the park was going to be open would be at night--and people tend not to ride water rides at night, even if it’s warm. On the other hand, they only ran Trailblazer during the day, and then shut it down at night so a haunted house could use its queue. Really, I’m just bitter because I really wanted to ride their log flume, Coal Cracker. Which this is not. I wouldn’t have ridden this anyway. Honestly, I probably could’ve predicted that the water rides would be closed when I was planning the trip, if I’d thought about it. But I don't have to like it. Lightning Racer’s exit at night. One side is called Thunder, and the other side is called Lightning. Which I just can’t get behind. That’s not the right way to name things. Do I have to explain this? It’s just…wrong. You get it, right? It's not just me? I did check out one of the houses. Auntie Mortem’s Something Something. It was alright. Haunted attractions aren’t really my thing. I do enjoy the theming and seeing how they do throughput, what little tricks they have, and things like that. I don’t scare particularly easy, though--especially not in this kind of setting. So I kind of feel bad when I don’t really react the way they expect me to. I was also there by myself, which is interesting in the “horror night” context, where you’re maybe supposed to experience it more as a group, I reckon. Otherwise, being by myself didn’t really have too many downsides. Oh. A photo so bad that it circled back around again to being good? I was under the impression that Great Bear was on the less forceful side, but I did not find it so. I also thought it rather rough. I liked its setting and the way it interacted with some of the other rides, though. If you’re already in Hersheypark, you can take this bridge over to check out ZooAmerica at no extra charge. But I saw it earlier when Hersheypark wasn’t open to maximize time over cost. Also, it’s closed at night, so you couldn’t do what I just described right now anyway. But here’s the entrance to that bridge, if you just wanted to know what it looks like. sooperdooperLooper, Skyrush, and Comet. Have I talked about Comet? PTC goodness from 1946. Nothing too crazy, but lots of fun. Cool weird T-shaped layout. Obviously more modern trains and braking system than it originally had. But just feels like (and is) a gem. Also a PTC carousel. (With special semi-hidden mirror selfie by me!) I don’t normally like to brag about my ignorance. But all weekend I kept seeing people with 21 Pilots shirts. And I had no idea what that was. At first I assumed it was a band or something. But there were so many. Like, 1 in every 10 guests had one of these shirts. Maybe it was a clothing brand? Or like a joke of some sort? Well, turns out it was a band. And they were playing onsite/next door at Hershey Arena on Saturday night. Anyway, I can’t tell you if they’re any good or not, but their show contributed to this photo. So they can be proud of that, I suppose. What did I think of Hersheypark? Well, I really liked Chocolate World and Chocolate Town. But the rest of the park, while not without bright spots, was less to my taste. But one way I judge a park is by what they have that I like, and what they’re missing. I tend not to judge them poorly for having rides or attractions that I don’t like, because I can just skip those. It’s like a buffet. If I went to an all-vegetable buffet, I’d probably be pretty unhappy with it. But if I went to a pizza and ice cream buffet, I probably wouldn’t be too bothered if they also had some vegetables. I just wouldn’t eat those. Especially if they were first generation Intamin vegetables. Another way I judge parks in on their policies, and Hershey’s were fine and consistent. For example, on the aggressive rides, you could only wear glasses if you had a strap. That’s easy and clear. Signage, announcements, and employees were all on the same page. Every coaster had free lockers and/or someplace to leave your items in the station. That’s all great. I didn’t run into any policies that I thought were especially stupid, punished planning, or seemed unfair or inconsistent. So, on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being Europa-Park and 0 being Uncle Bernie’s, I give Hersheypark a 9. But if you took away Chocolate World and Chocolate Town, it would fall to like a 4. Although, if you did take those away, I’m not sure how you would get in and out of the park. Maybe the trolley? Wait…are we still on the trolley? What year is this? [*screaming from inside the house*]

It's been a little rough for a while now especially on the wheel seats. Could be a few things. The train being used now (not the new never used one on the transfer track) was bought in 2017 to replace the 2 original trains and the ride is pretty reliantly open, so wear and tear for one, as when the new train arrived in 2017 the ride was noticeably smoother. The ride has never been repainted, ever, so no new paint since 1999. A good sanding and new coat couldn't hurt smoothness. I am hoping that EPR will continue with small upgrades like with Predator and give this ride a little love. The ride has still been hauling for a oldie hyper this year and with a little luck (or hope) maybe fix the brakes for 2 train ops (If they could only snag that new one from SF America) and of course a track refresh and this ride will be fine for another decade.