Hersheypark (HP) Discussion Thread

[Geauga Dog]

I think that we could see a lapbar Intamin at Hershey next year. IMO.

 

A part of me wants to say "yes" to the lap bars but the other part of me wants to say "I hope not" as lap bars would mean restrictive seat belts thus preventing many from riding due to size. Why can't Intamin incorporate a retractable seat belt system which would eliminate the struggle of trying to buckle the seat belt for us "larger" riders? It definitely would help with faster dispatches.

[Skycoastin Steve]

^Retractable seat belt or not, I think the allowable size would be the same regardless.

[thrillrider]

Not sure if these are the "real" bluprints, but this may be the layout of the ride.

 

If it is the ride, it looks like it will be a really short ride(time wise).

 

Look at them here....

http://keystonethrills.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/attraction-2012-possible-layout-42011/

[Skycoastin Steve]

^Look at the last 6 or 7 pages, that picture has been posted probably 5 times.

[thrillrider]

^Look at the last 6 or 7 pages, that picture has been posted probably 5 times.

 

Sorry.

 

Guess that's what I get for not looking back a few pages.

[Myself]

I was at the park today, and Sidewinder was open. The new train was rather comfortable, but I must admit it was my first Boomerang, so I couldn't really tell you how it compared to the old train.

[Ccron10]

I was there as well and was suprised that it was open.

 

There was a good 1/2 hour wait to ride and the queue was down one switchback.

Let's talk about the trains. I found them to be MUCH better than the old ones with plenty of arm space, comfortable restraints and with nothing coming near your head. It is almost pretty much impossible for your head to hit the restraint (I checked).

As for the experience....I now consider it to be up there with Great Bear, Storm Runner, Fahrenheit, and Lightning Racer as one of the best coasters in the park (Not the best, but still packs a punch). Going through the corba roll was smooth, the loop was intense, but taking it in reverse was the most intense part of the ride. There was hardly a rough patch during my rides, no head-banging what-so-ever and most importantly, no headache!

The only negative part I found was that the backrests of the seats were kind of hard and if you kept your head against it, it can hurt. What I've done to solve this was to keep my head away from it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As for Attraction 2012, they have started digging along the hillside next to the road (close to where that first turn would be according to the blueprint.

Speaking of the blueprints, I am 80% sure that the stakes down now match up to the blueprints. I am basing on the close proximity to where they would be built according to the blueprint in the area of Comet. Also, Lightning Racer's queue overflow has been fenced up and some of the fensing inside is missing.

[HPCrazy]

Can't wait to ride it next month! And this is coming from a former "Sidewinder-hater" ... lol!

 

Also about Lightning Racer's overflow, I remember you mentioning it when we were there on Sunday. I'll to check it out next month.

[Myself]

Might as well add my pics of the new train:

[deguy123]

^ Visited the park yesterday and LOVED the new train on Sidewinder. It was much much better then I remember!

 

Also the Pit Roastbeef place down by Trailblazer is GONE! There is a roastbeef place there but it's not the same and I swear....3 slices of meat on bun was $9.50. I actually gave it back and I NEVER do that.

[Ccron10]

^ Visited the park yesterday and LOVED the new train on Sidewinder. It was much much better then I remember!

 

Also the Pit Roastbeef place down by Trailblazer is GONE! There is a roastbeef place there but it's not the same and I swear....3 slices of meat on bun was $9.50. I actually gave it back and I NEVER do that.

I ate there on Friday and I will never eat at that place again. For $16 I got a Pit Beef Sandwich (which was cold), 2 sides which were Mac & Cheese and Texas Taters for me (The mac and Cheese hardly tasted like just pasta, but the fries were good) and a medium drink (but even though I got my souvenir cup refilled, I think they charged me full price). They offered to give me an extra side for no additional cost because they said that they were closing, but I declined.

The stand was a complete rip-off and I should've ate at Gourmet Grille and be able to get a Chicken Quesadilla, a big thing of pasta salad, and re-fill for $11 and it would be warm.

[HPCrazy]

Sounds like a season pass wouldn't be a great deal for that place. When I was there last week, I got a glimpse of the prices and it just doesn't seem worth it, but 15% off probably doesn't help that much either, IMO.

 

As of right now, I think Gourmet Grille, Minetown Restaurant and Subway are currently my favorite places, but I really do want to try out some new places and take advantage of the season pass discount.

[BRTeller]

Man those trains look amazing. Hopefully I can make it up to Hershey in a few weeks. Very eager to test out one of the new vekoma trains.

 

Considering I always thought that Sidewinder was one of the smoothest boomerangs out there. I can only imagine how awesome it is now.

[HPCrazy]

You thought it was smooth? - lol! I've heard way more negetive comments about it, which is why I've never ridden it, until now. Too many people walking off with their necks bothering them and headaches. Now, I think it's so cool that people who would've originally hated the ride either have ridden and loved it or can't wait (like me) to try it out.

[Ccron10]

You thought it was smooth? - lol! I've heard way more negetive comments about it, which is why I've never ridden it, until now. Too many people walking off with their necks bothering them and headaches. Now, I think it's so cool that people who would've originally hated the ride either have ridden and loved it or can't wait (like me) to try it out.

Not all of the Vekoma boomerangs can be considered terrible (even without the new trains). The reason why can be because of the climate, the maintenance and other factors. I know I used to be able to survive two rides in a row on that thing, but it got worse over time.

Simply put, just because it was the worse ride at Hershey doesn't mean it would be the worst ride at Knott's or some other park if it was moved there.

[alilstronger]

The new trains are awesome on Sidewinder!!! LOVED it!!!!!

[Myself]

No leads yet on the first four digits? I've looked all over the web (even that website which shall go unnamed) but no luck...

 

Assuming the Tilt-A-Whirl is indeed moved and not removed, the Lightning Racer overflow queue area seems like a perfect fit.

[HPCrazy]

Not all of the Vekoma boomerangs can be considered terrible (even without the new trains). The reason why can be because of the climate, the maintenance and other factors. I know I used to be able to survive two rides in a row on that thing, but it got worse over time.

Simply put, just because it was the worse ride at Hershey doesn't mean it would be the worst ride at Knott's or some other park if it was moved there.

 

True, and since the one at Knott's (as well as some of the others) are newer than Hershey's, which would mean newer trains and maybe better engineering with the track. I know the one at Worlds of Fun was installed not too long ago. I'm not sure how many were around prior to Hershey's, but I think theirs is one of the oldest out there. I could be wrong though.

[BRTeller]

I'll admit, the last year or two Sidewinder was getting worse. But after riding several boomerangs, sidewinder was the least painful. I've ridden a lot of coasters that I consider a lot more "painful" then sidewinder. Honestly, Mystery Mine at dollywood was a lot worse for example (Not saying it's a bad coaster). It's a shame that you avoided riding it. Since there was some talk about it getting removed a year ago, and it's definitely not an intolerable ride like it's reputation.

[HPCrazy]

Well I think its reputation is going to change now that everyone is either excited to try it or has already did and has liked it. I never thought the day would come where I would have the ambition to try it. Glad they solved the problem by installing the new train. I know that it's been wanted by many, many people.

 

EDIT:

 

NEW RIT RESEARCH STUDY NOW AVAILABLE:

http://www.rideinstitute.com/pdf/researchStudy042511.pdf

 

Looks like they show some kind of support column emerging from a waterbed. Probably relates to them building in the creek. I don't know what the dots stand for...there are seven dark-colored ones and ten light-colored ones.

 

RESEARCH TIME!

http://www.rideinstitute.com/clay01.php

[ahecht]

The dots are the constellation Ursa Major ( The Great Bear) , with the darker dots representing the asterism known as "The Big Dipper".

[A.J.]

The Big Dipper...

 

Help us Prince Desmond! You're our only hope!

[ahecht]

Obviously Great Bear is a reference to the nearby ride. Might Big Dipper be a name for the new ride, or is this a hint that a B&M is in our future? The large flying beast hints from the second link might be pointing to a flying coaster (and the Comet references should be obvious).

[jedimaster1227]

Maybe it is just me, but all of this talk about Mag-Levs, high-speed rails and propulsion has me think LIMs...

[HPCrazy]

From the way that those blueprints look, there is no way this will be a flyer, even though I would love to have one of those. The blueprints indicate Intamin, unless they fool us somehow and unveil a B&M.

 

I also read back over the pdf doc again and took notice of the RIT's Propulsion Dynamics Research Group launching a study in 2004. One of our Keystone Thrills members made a great point there regarding Storm Runner as it's also constructed around the creek, crossing it at two points. I strongly think that that diagram has something to do with what they're currently working with in the creek bed. Comet Halley's approach...diving towards Comet, that's another interesting note considering that those blueprints indicate a first drop diving over Comet's first drop and approach to the first turnaround right there. It will be interesting to see what the next clue reveals.