Hersheypark (HP) Discussion Thread

[JG-77]

Not sure when this happened, but Hersheypark has has updated their 2020 expansion page with a few more details, including a map showing the position of the new expansion, the new coaster, and a basic idea of the layout.

 

Going to be quite interesting seeing two hypers so close to each other!

[RollerManic]

Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I would have spent a long time comparing the new layout and Google Maps if it weren't for their pretty clear website.

 

This new entrance is really going to change the dynamic of the park entrance. I always thought the old park entrance was oddly long and a real bottleneck, but yet it always seemed very "Hersheypark" to me. Going to miss the old entrance but I'm excited equally for the new one.

[amy_mel]

Also on their website is the long awaited unlimited Fast Lane. Get your's before they take it down again

[Canobie Coaster]

I love how I can add the water coaster to the Fast Track as well. I've been wanting to try Breakers Edge, but didn't want to burn an hour in line.

 

Having this new B&M and Skyrush next to each other will be awesome.

[boldikus]

Damn $49 bucks ain't bad. I'm with this.

[coneyislandchris]

$49 looks to be the slow weekday rate. Punching in a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday date returns a $105 rate, which is more along the lines of what I'd expect.

[YoshiFan]

For anyone that buys it, I hope this year they run the merge points better. On many coasters there is still a lot of the line past the merge point and if the person controlling the line lets too many people in, there will still be a long wait. When I was at the park at the end of December, Wildcat had around a 20 minute wait for anyone with Fast Track because the ramp was half full (and 1 train was running). Storm Runner is another bad line, 1 train running and the line down the stairs to the merge point is another 20 - 25 minute wait in October. They should only let the line just get past the station so anyone using Fast Track has at most a 2 to 3 train wait.

[Canobie Coaster]

^ That's good to know for future reference. I've never visited Hershey on a day when it was absolutely necessary.

[molemaster43]

Hey y'all,

 

I'm planning an opening day visit this year on the 6th next month. What sort of crowds am I in for? Mostly looking to get on the three Intamins as the priorities and some other rides as some extras.

 

Thanks in advance

[michaellynn4]

Do they still do the assigned rows on some, if not all, rides for Fast Lane? To me, that's always been the biggest drawback, but I can't remember if that's been done away with recently.

[YoshiFan]

They changed it within the past few years, now every coaster Fast Track line has a merge point before the station, some go right into the station like Fahrenheit, others still have more of a line past the merge point.

 

Hey y'all,

 

I'm planning an opening day visit this year on the 6th next month. What sort of crowds am I in for? Mostly looking to get on the three Intamins as the priorities and some other rides as some extras.

 

Thanks in advance

 

If the weather is nice, expect it to be crowded, up to an hour wait for the big coasters, possibly more if 1 train is running on anything. Springtime In The Park is usually crowded with the cheaper admission and no water park open to take some of the crowds.

[molemaster43]

They changed it within the past few years, now every coaster Fast Track line has a merge point before the station, some go right into the station like Fahrenheit, others still have more of a line past the merge point.

 

Hey y'all,

 

I'm planning an opening day visit this year on the 6th next month. What sort of crowds am I in for? Mostly looking to get on the three Intamins as the priorities and some other rides as some extras.

 

Thanks in advance

 

If the weather is nice, expect it to be crowded, up to an hour wait for the big coasters, possibly more if 1 train is running on anything. Springtime In The Park is usually crowded with the cheaper admission and no water park open to take some of the crowds.

 

Yeah I figured as much. Planning on being at the entrance by 9:30 and then hitting up Storm Runner and Fahrenheit first and worrying about other things later. Last time I checked weather, there was morning rain turning into overcast, but since it's opening day, I anticipate it'll still bring in plenty.

[A.J.]

Fahrenheit is still a good place to start only because the queue doesn't move much faster than it did ten years ago.

[Canobie Coaster]

Does Hersheypark typically have all the coasters running on opening day?

 

Originally I was planning to go to Great Adventure for opening day but Hersheypark is only one more hour away at that point.

[YoshiFan]

They should be, I went to the park Sunday of opening weekend last year and all the coasters were running.

[Canobie Coaster]

Thanks!

[Canobie Coaster]

The temporary entrance is quite the change. On one hand, not having all the quaint shops is a bummer (they have some trailers along the path). On the bright side, the new entrance renderings look great and the temporary one allows for some awesome views of the backside of Skyrush.

 

It also seemed like the path under Skyrush was blocked off.

 

Edit- I also just learned from the Comet's ride op that Sooperdooperlooper was moved from its original location.

[ScreaminNewEngland]

Any pictures of the Front Gate construction?

[Canobie Coaster]

I have a few photos from opening day. You can see a pretty big clearing near the tram circle and cranes in place.

 

Temporary shops

 

The rerouted temporary entrance has you walk in by Skyrush's far turn. This gives some awesome new photo opportunities.

 

2019 entrance

[michaellynn4]

Wow, it already looks so different from what we're used to. Can't wait to see the finished product next year!

[Canobie Coaster]

The temporary entrance with all the trailers feels very out-of-place for Hershey considering how nice the rest of the park works. But it's well worth it considering what's coming next year.

[palmerleeberry]

Greeting all riders and amusement park flyers - I have return to these pages after a long absent. Before I continue, there's someone else who wants to say "Hello" to you -

 

"Hello everybody . . . now I'm going back to sleep!"

 

I brought a group with me to Hersheypark last Saturday and I was so overjoyed by the fact that I was able to ride SKYRUSH,LAFF TRAX and THE CLAW!!! While the rest of the group and I had a great day in the park despite the huge crowd, there were several rides that were no-shows (such as Storm Runner, Fahrenheit, and Coal Cracker). I do have a Season Pass, so I'll be coming back in May to ride what I miss, plus do a marathon on THE CLAW to make up for all those years past when I visited the park and had to skip that ride because I couldn't fit into the restraints.

 

"When you lose weight, the riding season becomes great!"

Edited April 18, 2019 by palmerleeberry

[JG-77]

Anyone else notice the 2019 map (and possible other before it, I didn't check) makes it look like storm runner has like 10 inversions

 

http://www.hersheypark.com/assets/pdf/info/park-map/sitp-map.pdf

[tanthonyam]

Is that a high rise residential building to the right of Skyrush? If it is they have a great view of the park.

[Canobie Coaster]

Is that a high rise residential building to the right of Skyrush? If it is they have a great view of the park.

 

My GPS took me a different way to Hersheypark on this visit. This time I drove through the center of Hershey, PA. I noticed a parking garage that appeared to have an amazing view of Skyrush's front drop head on. I thought about stopping, but I was too excited to ride.