HPCrazy

I'm guessing the Boardwalk is helping generate those crowds lol. Actually we went the first Sunday of June last year and the crowds were pretty light. The Boardwalk was the busiest area and even that wasn't that much of an issue. If you look for my 2009 HP PTR from last year, you'll see what I'm referring to. Actually, that's why we plan on going this Sunday, for basically the same situation.

They have a variety of different places in that food court. My friend and I usually hit Subway over there for dinner. I've heard the same about Freeman's as well. It always smells so good when we walk down through there. I think the thing that has kept us from trying out that place is that the prices are a little too steep. I've heard others mention that as well but evidentally, it doesn't stop them from going over there to eat.

You must go at bad times. We ate at Minetown the last several years and the crowds weren't an issue. I find the food there not to be too bad either.

I've eaten at the Alamo before. Good stuff. Their spaghetti was good if you crave Italian food.

At Hershey, definitely do Minetown Restaurant, located back near the Coal Cracker flume and Great Bear. They have sandwiches, wraps, pizza, burgers, salads and the like in there. Plus it's air-conditioned! My friend and I always hit that place for lunch and then do Subway over by Sidewinder/Storm Runner for dinner. Don't forget to take advantage of the free ice water at the food stalls. We did it last year and will again this Sunday when we're there, since it's supposed to be really hot again. I also know there are other food places near HP like Red Robin, Applebee's, Bob Evans, McDonald's, Wendy's, Pizza Hut, etc if you're looking to slip out or grab breakfast somewhere (well some of those places don't serve breakfast lol). That's my two-cents for Hershey. I don't know about the other places like Knoebels and Dorney Park. I've been to them both at least once or twice but really didn't pay attention on t hat stuff as much. Hope I was of some help!

Glad to see you've brought this park back to life! Having a B&M invert is definitely a must! Hopefully we'll see a Six Flags Hurricane Harbor arise on the property sometime in the near future as well.

I never have a problem with Hershey's Wild Mouse either. I agree that Dorney's is horrible and the line barely moves. At Hershey, the line continuously moves because the train doesn't stop and no seat belts.

I thought someone took a pic of it last year with a sign on it. Maybe I'm referring to the cabins.

I haven't been to this thread in awhile and I must say is, wow! Some rather impressive pieces of coaster/park art there. I love the map drawing that's been posted and updated several times on here! I also enjoyed the one of Tatsu and the Skytower from over at Magic Mountain. If any of you haven't followed my drawing of Hersheypark recently, I posted my Candylane overlay from back in December. You can see it on page 4 of this thread: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=53239&start=0

I think that Americana always had a logo in the center, just on the other side. I really need to hit both KD and Busch again and get my I305, Dominator and Griffon credits in (it's been since 2004/05 since I've been to both). Nice pics by the way. I'll be at HP in two weeks myself, can't wait!

You'll be there the weekend before I am. You definitely won't have a crowd problem either. I agree with what you said. I believe STITP is just a way for a bunch of impatient people to get there who can't wait for another month. The weather just helped it even more. I still think HP in the Dark is better because the event is more festive and fall is just a great time of the year to get your last coaster rides in. Perhaps if we're both there the same day, maybe we can meet up.

My friend and I will be there the first Sunday of that month. We always go that day because of the light crowds.

Sounds like a good plan to me Shouldn't be a problem crowdwise.

LOVE the pics! Makes me get anxious for my WDW trip coming up this Sept. I still can't believe how that 20,000 Leagues is going to be home to all that new stuff they're beginning construction with. I'm also still used to the Skyway being there. Not seeing those towers there still gives me the weird sensation (and this will be my fifth time coming up since the ride's removal). I guess I got to get used to the Tomorrowland station becoming just a one-story restroom building now.

I hope this park lasts a good long time! I love the charm of the place....I hope you can manage to keep it going into the current age and see some modern stuff being added.

When my friend Alex and I go there, usually we head straight back there for me to get my Fahrenheit ride out of the way and the queu is always like that, especially on a non-busy day in early June. Last year, I don't think it was even half full in the afternoon on the day we visited. That's exactly when Alex and I go, early June. Last year on the day we went, most of the park was empty or very light crowds. Even the Boardwalk wasn't that busy and there wasn't a line for The Shore and maybe a short wait for Intercoastal Waterway, plus Comet's line was just down the ramp (not even at that). I guess it's just trying to hit the right time, but I think Alex and I have it figured out now.

Yeah, I think I'm passing it up too. I just have a feeling that tomorrow is anyone's only chance of the place not being busy at all. Besides, my family and I are heading to Disney World this September so we have that coming up and all those arrangements. Besides that, Alex and I are heading up to Hershey in June for our annual summer trip, as well as our HP in the Dark and CCL trips following that. Plus we're also talking about maybe taking a side trip to Dutch Wonderland again, as well as maybe their two seasonal events, so this may be a fairly decent season coming up for me. I remember your T/R from that year. It was packed on that Sat and I remember you (or someone else) reporting that Storm Runner had a full queue spilling out into the midway, plus they also opened up Midway unannounced because of the capacity issues.

I think I heard that on another thread here too. I'm pretty sure Spring Break for this area is probably this weekend. Good Friday - off, and then Sat and Sun. You're right, that could be possibly another contributor.

Wow, you're falling behind man. You need to keep yourself on track..... lol!

I think this was last year cause all the trees are out in bloom and yes, the waterpark is open, according to the pics. Great pics and descriptions. You could've gotten some more Comet pics, I always seem to get plenty when I'm there every year. I'm surprised this wasn't posted sometime last year whenever you were there. Whatever made you wait so long?

I knew today wouldn't be an exception. Seems like things are running smoother as far as rides goes which is good, but I knew it would be packed, once again. An hour for Storm Runner and Fahrenheit doesn't surprise me at all. I think a majority of the people in Rides didn't know what the heck they were doing, or being off all winter and getting into the swing of things, which led to the major problems yesterday. I'm really beginning to think that if the weather stays like this, to expect every day of this event to be packed, except Easter. If they also decide to keep the event like this, I'd expect a price increase for next year, maybe somewhere similar to the pricing of HP in the Dark.

Great Bear...two hours??? That's insane! I don't think I've heard wait times this large out there. Like I mentioned before, I've seen the park crowded but I've never experienced what has happened yesterday and perhaps today. Like what Sharktums said, it's great to see them raking in so much money, but they really need to beef up the crowd control somehow. It's just getting way too ridiculous.

Good luck with Hershey. Crowds were super terrible yesterday and will probably be even double or tripple today. Be curious to see any T/R's on how bad it will probably be.

I think a lot of us here are in agreement, wouldn't you say? By the way, doesn't Busch Gardens in VA shut the gates when so many people are admitted? I believe Disney does this as well. I know the Magic Kingdom has been opening and closing because of capacity issues with Spring Break and Easter crowds. They usually operate under these conditions with Phases I, II and III (something like that). I think II is when resort guests are allowed to enter and anyone staying outside is not, and III is where the gates are closed to everyone until the capacity begins to lower. Hershey really needs to take something like this into consideration.

No surprise to me. I was told it was worse yesterday than the day before Easter last year. I remember going on that day and waiting approx 45 min for Great Bear, second row with an almost filled queue. I never EVER seen the Comet with a line like that on the busiest day that I was there, and that includes setting up some temporary switch-backs in the midway. I predict today will be even worse by far....double or even tripple the amount of people over yesterday. I agree with Sharktums, Hershey really needs to invest in a ride reservation system, similar to Fastpass, or something like Six Flags uses (even if it requires a small fee). When my family and I go to Disney, we always take advantage of Fastpass sometime during our stay. It really does help, even at times in the off-season. The park should've looked at something like this for this season, with no new rides on the roster. That, plus the new entertainment options should've been the 2010 headliners. I think that they would be surprised on how popular such a system would be for the park, especially for rides like Fahrenheit (way too overrated, even over Storm Runner). Speaking of that, I really hate being in a mob of very rude teenagers and young adults (who are usually told by security guards to slow down along the way) who run to it every year when Alex and I walk back there for my first ride of the day. If Hershey doesn't see a need for this option, then they need to add some more single rider lines to some of the more popular attractions. I remember riding Fahrenheit during its first season and, of course, the queue was full on a non-busy day due to its newness, I decided to take the single rider line and only waited five min for the third row. Can't beat that! I think Comet, Great Bear and Storm Runner all should have single rider lines installed elsewhere, if people don't mind riding by themselves or with another rider.