Hersheypark (HP) Discussion Thread

[Josh Linn]

Comet is one of the most popular rides there, so unless the cost to run it has become outrageous, it's staying. The last 5 or 6 times I've been there, Comet is the one ride that ALWAYS had a long line.

[RomanHORSEman]

Why the lack of love for Fahrenheit? It's a great ride. Not as good as the amazingness that is Storm Runner but Fahrenheit entertained me more than any of the coasters at Dorney Park did.

[imbordisux]

B&M has Great Bear on its resume but what is really the strongest highlight they have is SFOG's Goliath. That is built on a hill with hills crossing over other coasters, across the entry plaza and parking lot access roads. Hersheypark should be going with B&M to build their own Goliath. Hershey has all these scenarios playing for them.

 

Agreed, 100% - I love B&M Hypers, and would love to see HP get one.

 

Then again, I'm also not really a fan of Intamin; I love "Stormrunner", and like "El Toro" a lot (but not as much as "The Voyage"), but don't really care for "Superman: Ride of Steel" (SFNE), "Kingda Ka", "Intimidator 305", "Fahrenheit", or "Possessed" (and I'm sure I'm missing a few).

 

Maybe I'm just weird, but I think there's a certain "majesty" to B&M coasters, a certain beauty and perfection to their rides, and think that a B&M Hyper would be a better fit (both in look and ride-experience) for the park.

 

Your mileage may vary, of course.

[Swiminn6]

Why the lack of love for Fahrenheit? It's a great ride. Not as good as the amazingness that is Storm Runner but Fahrenheit entertained me more than any of the coasters at Dorney Park did.

 

I know!! I LOVE Fahrenheit!!

[YoshiFan]

Why the lack of love for Fahrenheit? It's a great ride. Not as good as the amazingness that is Storm Runner but Fahrenheit entertained me more than any of the coasters at Dorney Park did.

 

I like the ride, just not the long line, low capacity and bad operations it usually has (single rider line closed, 2 trains running instead of 3 or 3 trains running and double stacking).

[F1shy]

I like the ride, just not the long line, low capacity and bad operations it usually has (single rider line closed, 2 trains running instead of 3 or 3 trains running and double stacking).

 

I think a lot of people misunderstand Fahrenheit... obviously this is coming from a ride operator. When the entire queue line is full (without overflow), the line is only an hour long. How do I know? I timed it... waited in line during my day off so I KNEW how long the wait was.

 

Sometimes we run two trains because the 3rd train is malfunctioning... is that really a problem? Safety is a huge concern for any amusement park, and Hersheypark is no exception.

 

And the single rider line is closed because of guest complaints... simple as that :\

[Skycoastin Steve]

Fahrenheit is just one of those coasters that could have been AWESOME, but is just missing any kind of "wow" factor after the first drop/Norwegian loop. I mean, it's a cobra roll followed by a double corkscrew, turn, airtime hill (very good one), turn, brakes. Yawn. Not to mention it loses a TON of speed after the Norwegian loop and there's no real intensity after that point.

 

I hate being overly negative about coasters, and I still like Fahrenheit, but it could have been so much better had it not had a generic 2nd half. Almost feels like B&M had a hand in the designing of that portion of the ride.

[ginzo]

^It does not help that Fahrenheit is sitting right next to Storm Runner, which gives you an immediate reminder of how intense Intamin gets.

[CHILLERLC1]

I've only ever been on Fahrenheit as a single rider, so I would have appreciated the single riders line. Fahrenheit has been mean to me both times I've been on it: rough halfway into the cobra roll. This past time it attacked my back coming out of the cobra roll.

 

So the Creekside catering area could be the station location? Great example since it's already a rectangular like a station would be. It would just be raised, a good thing since that creek has flooded before.

[Skycoastin Steve]

^It does not help that Fahrenheit is sitting right next to Storm Runner, which gives you an immediate reminder of how intense Intamin gets.

Yes. Storm Runner...........hoo boy.

[coasterfreak101]

^^Yeah, the rattle in the cobra roll is a bit ridiculous. I just rode two days ago, and it just keeps getting worse. Not sure why, it's only in that element.

 

Fahrenheit is a great ride, with a great first drop and first element, some nice corkscrews that fling you from one side to the other, and a fantastic airtime hill at the end. But, as was already said, it's right across the bridge from Storm Runner...and I'd certainly rather ride that one. For such a short ride, that thing packs one of the best punches I've ever known from a roller coaster.

[triggernel]

How is Farenheit's airtime hill, compared to Maverick's first one?

 

I personally think it looks awesome, but what do I know

[Skycoastin Steve]

^It's really good, but not anywhere near Maverick's first airtime hill. There aren't many hills that I've experienced that are.

[BaMiTsPaT]

^^ Not nearly as good as Maverick's first hill, but very similar to its last

[rcg19]

Deleted by user

Edited December 29, 2010 by rcg19

[Ccron10]

Here's an update from someone at Keystone Thrills who visited the park recently.

http://keystonethrills.megabb.com/hersheypark-happenings-discussion-f18/2011-2012-new-coaster-rumor-discussion-t157-255.htm#2074

A fence is appearently going up along an old train path that ran along Spring Creek as well as some more stakes, markers and an outline that looks like it could be for a building of something in front of Tilt-A-Whirl.

 

The main point I'm thinking is why build a new fence in an area that the public hardly ever sees? Could it be a new or temporary path to reroute around an area?

 

Here's a photo from my RCT park showing where everything in this area is. It is not entirely to scale though, but pretty accurately shows the spot.

Shot0021.bmp

[RomanHORSEman]

I also have to say Fahrenheit is definitely better than the other steel coasters other than storm runner. I love B&M inverts but Great Bear did nothing but give me the four standard inversions of inverted coasters without any huge inversion (cobra roll, batwing, etc.) and lots of straight track. I liked Talon better (I know it has the same inversions) because it just felt more intense with all the turns low to the ground.

[coasterfreak101]

I think I might be in a tiny minority that absolutely loves Great Bear. It's not my favorite invert, but it takes its elements at such a speed that each one is forceful and, in the case of the zero-G and flat spin, whippy. At night in the front seat (as I rode a few days ago), that stretch along SDL and the creek is a fantastic experience, if you ask me. But that's if you ask me.

 

*Edit: Oh, and the pre-drop. That turn up in the air is quite forceful, and then the dive down over the creek and path is a lot of fun. And I think the whole time I ride I just appreciate how unique the ride is, and how that just wouldn't fit in anywhere else but that particular spot at Hershey. Seriously, I love this ride - it's one of the few legitimately unique experiences B&M has created, I think.

[sspaz1000]

^ I'm in the minority with you. I love Great Bear. Then again, I'm not one that analyzes every coaster I go on. If I laugh on the ride, it's a good one to me.

 

I'm hoping to get to Hershey on a Saturday in September, if all goes according to plan I haven't been there in a couple seasons, and want to get back.

[carolinacaniac]

I personally thought that Great Bear was a great Invert. I will agree that there are better, but considering the location, and the layout in relation to the terrain and other rides, it is one of the more unique inverts out there. Besides, I think most people would agree that it is better than an SLC, but maybe there are some who would rank an SLC better.

 

To each their own

 

-Gary

[Skycoastin Steve]

^I wouldn't care if a B&M invert was 10 feet tall, had one turn out of the station, then hit the brake run and returned to the station. I would still rather ride that than the best SLC in the universe. And anyone that prefers an SLC over a B&M invert should probably be kicked in the shins by an army of leprechauns wearing steel toed boots.

[Josh Linn]

Count me in as another person that enjoyed Great Bear. It is pretty low on my list of inverts because of Montu, Raptor, Talon, B:TR, etc., but I have it above Alpengeist, which apparently is uncommon.

[CoasterEricHP]

I too think the Great Bear is wayy underrated! Sure it's not one of the more intense Inverts but it's so unique and just plain fun and rerideable I don't understand why some people dislike it!

 

Now Fahrenheit.. I LIKE Fahrenheit, but I'd LOVE Fahrenheit if it was at a park that didn't already have Storm Runner. My gripe about Fahrenheit and Hersheypark in general over the last few years is that the park had a lot more of a traditional, trolley park feel until they added the Boardwalk. Then they added Fahrenheit... which I see as being way to similar to Storm Runner. Then they take out CRR and add moreee waterpark!

 

Now yes.. I know Hersheypark's attendance is booming and that's awesome, but I would personally rather have seen Hershey use the land they acquired from the old golf course and build a stand alone waterpark, never have built that embarrassing POS Reese's Extreme Cup Challenge and instead of Fahrenheit, built a REAL dark ride (see Kennywood). That might make some of you mad but I hope some of us mid 20's and older people would agree with me that Hersheypark has become wayyy too corporate over the last 10 years and lost a lot of it's charm.

 

I do love Hersheypark but I'll gladly drive the extra hour to Knoebels, not bend over and take it to pay for parking ($12 now?), and then pay $50 on top of that. (Luckily I havent had to pay for Hersheypark the last few years). I'd rather go to Knoebels, eat amazing great priced food, and drop the other $40 I saved at the Hollywood Casino on the way home!

 

To end my rant.. Hersheypark season pass $140... UNIVERSAL ORLANDO FL RESIDENT ANNUAL PASS $140. C'mon Hershey.. really?

[coasterfreak101]

^Agreed 100% on the season pass price. It's crazy, I've got a $50 season pass ($95 with my season parking) to Six Flags that came with four or five free passes for friends, plus a hundred other discounts around the park. Then I've got my $130 Hershey season pass that does get me free parking, but only gets three friends in for $32 and doesn't do much else in terms of discounts in the park at all. Not a big fan of that system.

 

And I finally rode Reese's Xtreme Cup Challenge the other day, and yeah, that was some crap. What in the world was Hershey thinking with that thing? I don't think anyone will ever know. And while we're on the topic of major screw-ups, THEY TOOK OUT CRR. One of the best rapids rides I'd ever been on, and it's gone for a lazy river. Honestly, I won't step into that area of the Boardwalk - I just went into the original area for the first time last week. I wonder what's next to come out for more waterpark...

[thrillrider]

Cedarpoint charges just as much for a pass as well.