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The new trains also seem to have much more knee room. Back when I rode in 2004, the knee cushions were very close and obviously well used. Between the roomier trains and smoother stop, there didn't seem to be much need for the pads.

Does the picture showing the "official hiding spot" count in the total ducky count?

They just moved/rethemed it. It'll now be called Clarabelle’s Ice Cream.

I missed the G Force one.

Fast Lane Pass allows you to ride each ride once (except Farenheight and Skyrush) at a pre-determined time. The closest Giant is at the intersection of Cocoa Ave and FIshburn Road, about three miles from the park. You can also get $12 off coupons at the Dunkin Donuts near the Red Robin that is across from the park. You can also get discounted tickets at hersheypark.com by using the following coupon codes: 16075 - $14 off each ticket in May 16076 - $12 off each ticket in June 16077 - $10 off each ticket in July 16078 - $8 off each ticket in August or September

DVR Set.

I ran into one TPR member in line for Skyrush who had ridden a megalite previously, but didn't see him afterwards to ask how they compare. Can anyone who has ridden both Skyrush and a megalite comment on how the pain levels compare? Especially after several rides on each?

^If you want to buy your tickets at the gate, the local Dunkin Donuts stores have coupons (although I'm not sure if the Dunkin Donuts right next to the ticket windows does)

Have you ridden Skyrush?

oops, double post

Just as a data point, I found SkyRush painful, but didn't find GL:FF uncomfortable at all. I also found SkyRush's restraints ARE worse than El Toro's. It's not a negative G problem or an intensity problem as the restraints are painful even in the brake run. I see what you did there

Or they could use mandatory £0©Κ€®$.

Autocorrect? That's what I get for posting from my phone

For me, the problem was the shape/hardness of the lapbar 100%, not the airtime. It sits on your thighs differently than the restraints on i305, El Toro, and SFNE's Bizarro (all of which I've marathoned without pain).

Lap bar is much worse than El Toro. GP reaction is mostly positive, as the lap bars only really become an issue after the second or third ride.

^Yup, although SkyRush is still one of the best coasters I've ridden, after three rides over two days I had to rank it lower simply because the lap bars are too painful. The bruises on my thighs from earlier rides made the airtime on my last ride unbearable, and the worst part is that you then have to sit on the brake run for several minutes with no circulation in your legs before they let you into the station. I think the problem is that the lap bars are at the wrong angle for someone of normal leg size, so the restraint hits the thigh at a single point instead of distributing the forces across a large part of the thigh like the molded B&M hyper restraints. Hopefully Intamin can rework them, but I would understand if after the various S:RoS and Mega Splash lap bar incidents that comfort is a secondary concern after safety of larger riders. As much as I love the open feeling and lack of headbanging from lapbar only rides, and as much as I hate to say it, the ride would be better with Farenheight/Storm Runner style OTSRs. At least it would be more re-ridable.

Wildcat was much rougher this weekend than I remembered it being last time I was at Hershey. However my last trip to Hershey was 8 years ago, and I remembered Wildcat being no rougher than Lightning Racer.

Me too. Also have to say, I love the new SDL trains. No more knee banging!

This afternoon, before the rain started, there was less than an hour wait for SkyRush. You can also get the fast lane pass if you're concerned about the rest of the rides. That was a private event for the Project 2012 junior researchers and about 100 radio station contest winners to ride once, not a soft opening.

The Skyrush lift hill seems to be alternating between two modes: One goes at full speed the entire way up, the other goes slowly until the other train is in the station and then speeds up to about 2/3 of full speed.

The middle is for the front row (and the line for the front goes all the way down the stairs). On the plus side today, Storm Runner was a 1-train wait.

SDL is down. It was open for less than an hour after the park opened.

The crazy thing is that Great Bear was sending out half empty trains. I saw one with just 3 people on it.

I just got back from the Project 2012 first ride event, and I'd say the ride lived up to the hype. I'd rank it just ever so slightly behind i305 as my #2 coaster, and only because I love the first helix on i305. I'll post more after I get some decent internet (thanks for nothing Knight's Inn Palmyra's WiFi). Can't wait to see the mobs tomorrow in Comet Hollow.

Thanks for the tip on Shady Glen. I stopped there on the way down to Hersheypark and had the amazing cheeseburger. I plan on stopping at Wild Bill's on the drive back to New England (if he's open on Memorial Day).