TR: Hershey Park May 23-24, 2009

[Ibztone]

Hello Everyone, I went to Hershey to check out the new wave pool and lazy river. I was expecting the weather to give me some grief, but both days turned out quite nicely. I arrived at the park around 11:00 AM on Saturday and made my way directly over to the new boardwalk attractions. I like the locker systems that Hershey has. They are a little expensive: $10.00 for a small and $15.00 for a large. Both offer you a full days worth of use. My wife and I opted for a large, because we had her new camera with us. The lockers use a wristband type of lock with a central hub controlling multiple lockers. Sorry if they had this same system for the past few years, but this was the first time I have used them so I figured I would mention it. After getting a locker and changing into our bathing suits my wife and I headed down to the lazy river. You enter the lazy river near the Roller Soaker coaster up some stairs and through a turnstile which I thought was quite strange. It felt more like a regular ride then a water attraction. My only other water park experience was at Aquatica last May. After you go through the turnstile you walk down a ramp that leads you into the water where the ride op hands you an inner tube (either single or double depending on what you want). Ok, so the river itself was clean and had some fountains that spray water on you, but that was all. Also, you could only go around one time which is all I did. I would suggest going early in the day to ride it, because after 1:00 PM or so the line got quite long stretching out back to the lift hill of the Roller Soaker.

The wave pool was a bit on the small side, again I'm used to Aquatica's two side by side wave pools. The pool itself has a 6 ft. max water depth and also has a turnstile entrance which is located all the way to the right near the Cabana rentals, which are just blue tents with two lounge chairs underneath. The waves were a bit on the weak side, but I think that is mostly do the small size of the pool. I went out to the 5 ft. section and the waves pushed me back a little bit, but not too much. They also have a monitor display above the wave pool, which I think is designed to give you a countdown for when the waves will start, but it either wasn't working or the sun was just too bright to see it.

There's the entrance ramp and the start of the line.

Extended line.

Pretty empty. Oh wait, they are still on line.

I think they had some technical difficulties and had to shut it down for a bit.

New Cabanas

Fenced in.

[Goliath513]

Nice pictures, but I'm still pissed off at Hershey for removing Canyon River Rapids for this. That was such a great ride and was one of the best rapids rides around. I always admired Hershey for its well rounded collection of rides, but now they seem to be selling out to modern fads.

[Ibztone]

Thanks! I think it would have been cool if they kept the Canyon River Rapids ride and just modified the layout to go around the wave pool. Overall I like the new additions, but I hope that they can speed up the lines on the lazy river.

[Jds03]

I also really love your pictures, but I also completely agree with Goliath513.

 

 

They got rid of a world class rapids ride to upgrade their waterpark with the things they should have thought about building originally, but it still only stacks up to the most average waterparks around.

 

Although thanks for the report! I'm now pretty exited for going next weekend!

[HPCrazy]

About time someone posts somekind of preview of this thing! While I do not do water attractions like this, I will be walking through the area and checking this out on my June 7th trip with lots of pictures! I do agree with others that the rapids should have not have been sacrificed for this but capacity was one of the main issues. Nice pics by the way. Seems like June 7th is never gonna get here, I don't know if it's me or not - lol!

[Ibztone]

Thanks for all of the kind words on the photos. Here are some more random photos from around the park and at chocolate world.

Some characters that were out briefly.

It looks like they are doing some work on the left stack.

Another Modern Fad?

[tanthonyam]

I really dont like the idea of having water parks INSIDE the actual park grounds. They should be seperate entrances and adjacent or a few miles away. Examples that work are SF Magic Mountain which is next door and Kings Island's water park next door. I dont like what King's Dominion did with theirs, it makes the park look too cluttered.

 

Just a couple of question, since I never been to Hershey yet. What did everybody like about the rapids ride that was removed? What made it so great?

[YoshiFan]

It was longer than Great Adventure's and Dorney's rapids, the layout was good with a lot of turns it was just more fun than the ones at Great Adventure and Dorney.

 

I also think a lot are unhappy with the new expansion because it shows how poorly the boardwalk was planned, throwing it in the middle of Midway America and then having to have other rides removed for more expansion. There are still very few slides. When they want to add a new slide tower or two, you have to wonder what rides will be removed next?

[adeuce02]

the rapids waterfalls didnt go to the side of you. They went right over top of you so you knew everybody was gonna get soaked not just a couple seats.

[mayberry21]

ITA with Goliath too. The pics look great but I'm pretty ticked CRR is gone. To put a wave pool...a wave pool...in its place?? Pffsh. I'm bitter.

 

My biggest gripe with that whole area is the location of it; it's smack in the middle of everything. Crowds are getting thick enough there...now to ride Lightning Racer, I have to dodge half-naked, half-wet adults and children. They should have just put another entrance there.

[Speeddeamon128]

Great pics! Was the line for the Comet shorter since the Sequel opened up or is the line still long like always?

[HPCrazy]

Great pics again! You seem to master the camera like I do lol! You mentioned about them working on the left smokestack. They were doing the same thing to the right one when I was there back in October. It's nice that they are restoring them and putting some upkeep to them.

 

By the way, did you notice the walkway under Roller Soaker at all? The one that went behind the former rapids? It was mentioned in the past that this path was going to be restricted to the public and that only employees would only be allowed back there. I was wondering if you paid any attention to that at all. I took notice it was on the 2009 map, but IMO, you can't always trust that.

 

Also one more thing, I do agree with Speeddeamon128. How does this expansion affect park crowds? I know you were there on a Saturday and those are typically days from disaster. Usually crowds aren't that bad on Sundays in June (when me and my friend Alex go), so I was just wondering what your thoughts might be from your experience.

 

I just can't wait to see this completed in person, versus when it was under construction back in April when I was there. Again, good pics!

[Jim S.]

When I was there Saturday, I couldn't find the path under Roller Soaker. I didn't have a map, but if it's where I remember it (I only ever walked it once) it seemed to dead-end at the wave pool.

[DATman]

I just think it's really ugly. The lazy river has no shade nor scenery. It's so bland.

[Ccron10]

When I was there Saturday, I couldn't find the path under Roller Soaker. I didn't have a map, but if it's where I remember it (I only ever walked it once) it seemed to dead-end at the wave pool.

They had to remove it since it was becoming annoying for the park's neighbors. I don't think many people used it anyway.

[Ibztone]

The park crowds weren't that bad. I didn't venture down by the Comet, but the line for Fahrenheit didn't seem that long. I totally agree with you DATman. The lazy river was rather boring and it was really annoying that you could only go around one time. Thanks again for all of your nice comments on the photos.

[TYTL]

 

There are still very few slides. When they want to add a new slide tower or two, you have to wonder what rides will be removed next?

 

You have to remember that Hershey owns a ton of the land out there. They have many of those houses out there being used as offices. Relocate about 10 or 20 of those offices and: BANG! More space for the park. Even with the road there, build a few bridges over it and the problem is solved.

 

By the way, do you think they will continue their 3 year addition streak?

[Wood Dragon 1988]

Nice pictures, but I'm still pissed off at Hershey for removing Canyon River Rapids for this. That was such a great ride and was one of the best rapids rides around. I always admired Hershey for its well rounded collection of rides, but now they seem to be selling out to modern fads.

 

I agree. Is there anything more generic than a lazy river and a wave pool? Especially un-themed ones. I really question the direction Hershey is going. The entrance and first section with SDL, Comet, and Great Bear look amazing. When you get to the Boardwalk/Midway America section, you could mistake the park for any Cedar Fair Concrete Land in my opinion.

 

I sure hope Hershey stays with its 100-plus-year-old tradition, and doesn't end up looking like its Eastern PA neighbor, Dorney Park.

[CoasterNERD502]

Great TR! Looks like you had a great time!

 

Well, I'm going to Hershey Park for the first time this Saturday for only about 6 hours, and I want to know how long should the lines for Fahrenheit, Stormrunner, Great Bear, Lightning Racer, Wildcat, and Superdooperlooper should be. Does anyone think I'll be able to do all of them in that short period of time, especially on a busy Saturday?

[Jim S.]

In my experience, expect about an hour wait for Fahrenheit even if you get there around opening. More later, depending on how busy the day is. Great Bear tends to have around a half-hour wait for a random seat, probably at least twice that for the front seat. (People really pack into the front-seat queue, which is completely separate from the rest of the station. And the trains are always stacked.) Lightning Racer eats lines, it'll be from a walk-on to a station full at any time. Wildcat isn't very popular because it used to be rough (it's better with new trains, but still rougher than Lightning Racer and some people just don't "get" wooden twisters), it probably won't be more than a station wait unless the park is super packed. (Even if it's less than a station full, I hesitate to use the term "walk-on" because operations are a bit slow here.) Sooperdooperlooper should be a walk-on to a station wait, again unless the park is super-packed. Stormrunner may or may not still be down. As for wait times, it's really all over the place. I've seen it anywhere from an hour to a station wait, at random times of day. It's better since Fahrenheit opened.

[HPCrazy]

I can tell you that unfortunately, the place will probably be packed. Not only are the lines long on Saturdays, usually, but the girl scout Camp-o-ree is this weekend and next. That will probably also contribute to the lines and wait times probably being longer. I'd say Great Bear, Comet and Fahrenheit will all have close to a 45 min to an hour wait. I know this from past experiences, which is why Alex and I never do Saturdays during the summer and Hersheypark in the Dark. Sundays and weekdays aren't usually that bad. Too bad you couldn't go this Sunday instead of Saturday. I'm not expecting huge crowds when I go next Sunday because a majority of the girl scouts may be heading out by then (they'll probably be in the park most of the time on Saturday anyways).

[CoasterNERD502]

Thanks guys! I already expect huge crowds because I'm going for a band Festival at Charles Dauplin High (or something like that) and the awards cermony is at the park. All of the area bands are going to be at the park. Does Hershey have a flashpass system?

[Ibztone]

No, Hershey doesn't have any type of flash pass system. When I paid for parking on both days they included a flyer about the Hersheypark Fan Club. On the back of that is a mobile website (mobile.hersheypark.com) that promises up-to-date information on ride availability. I'm not sure how useful that will be.

[Ccron10]

No, Hershey doesn't have any type of flash pass system. When I paid for parking on both days they included a flyer about the Hersheypark Fan Club. On the back of that is a mobile website (mobile.hersheypark.com) that promises up-to-date information on ride availability. I'm not sure how useful that will be.

It acutally pretty reliable in fact you have the ability to see the site now. The only problem is good luck trying to get wifi in the park if you're using and iPod touch. It should work with with a cell phone though.

[HPCrazy]

Yes, the mobile site would definitely be helpful with a cell phone, that's if you have internet usage available on it. Mine is capable of internet but we never got connected to it. You'll also be able to tell on the sign in front of the entrance which also informs you what is shut down, but then you will not want to get your hand stamped to see what's shut down all the time.

 

One thing I wish they would get is somekind of flashpass system, like what was mentioned here. They are popular and would definitely cut the wait time down on most coasters. I definitely see how popular such a system is (Fastpass) when we're at the Disney parks. I do love how they put the singles line with Fahrenheit, they need to do something similar with Comet, Great Bear and Storm Runner due to their popularity, if the park doesn't want to invest in a virtual queue line system.