PTR: Hersheypark Christmas Candylane - 11/14/09

[HPCrazy]

No trip to Christmas at Hersheypark is complete without a visit to Chocolate World.

 

 

Tram Circle

 

 

 

 

 

It was almost dark when we finally went in.

 

 

These zoo posters were posted in the queue for Reese's X-treme Cup Challenge. I don't remember them on our last visit back in August.

 

 

Fahrenheit's station. Yes, the trains are up there, but they are in the back and on the transfer track. There was a pile of test dummies at the top of the exit stairs, not sure what they were doing there.

 

 

 

Santa's Stables

 

 

The Hershey Community Chorus was presenting us with some nice Christmas carols. A nice backdrop setting when we were over at the reindeer.

 

 

For the rides that are open, they re-did the restriction signs with a Christmas-sy theme. Kind of cute. I think this was also done for the first time last year, although I don't remember it.

 

More pics in just a minute.

[HPCrazy]

 

The Twilight Express arches and the Kissing Tower tree appeared to have had all new LED lights installed this year. They both looked brighter too.

 

 

 

These critters made a return this year, although I think the red and green spotlights are new (actually recycled from another spot along the train route from last year).

 

 

 

More Twilight Express shots, including the Engine House all decked out.

 

 

The Comet's trains, again, sitting in the station on the main track and transfer. SooperdooperLooper also had it's trains visible sitting on the main track and transfer outside the station.

 

 

The Elk Statue received some decor this year.

 

 

 

I was happy to see the trains return this year.

 

 

 

 

Some Kissing Tower pix.

 

 

The last part of this feature will be up in a min featuring some pics of the new N.O.E.L. light show.

[HPCrazy]

 

 

 

 

 

The N.O.E.L. light show was AMAZING! They did a fantastic job synchronizing the lights to the music. We saw several shows throughout the evening, the first one of the night on the bridge by the Amphitheatre, the second on the bridge by the sooperdooperLooper, and again at the same location as the first time. They also must have worked on the Kissmas Tree because the lights on there really danced around and moved along with the music, unlike previous years. I highly recommend you see this show when at the park this Holiday season.

 

 

 

Der Deitchplatz and Rhineland Christmas lights.

 

 

They added signage for the Kissmas Tree, N.O.E.L. and Santa's Stables to the sign posts. They also put up special customized flags with "Santa Claus Lane" on the signposts back in Minetown to compliment the re-theming Santa Claus Lane overlay for the holidays.

 

 

I end you with this pic of the lights at Tram Circle.

 

Notes from last night:

 

-Park wasn't busy at all. Crowds emptied as the night went on. Monorail had the longest wait for part of the night due to only one train running. The guy there told me that they usually run one train during Candylane unless they go to automatic mode and the other train when it's really busy.

 

-All rides were running except Reese's X-treme Cup and the Mini Himalaya which both shut down around the last hour that the park was open.

 

-The path in front of the Amphitheatre where N.O.E.L. is was not open. The dancing tree figures were placed right in the middle of that path. The only good way to view the show is on the three bridges, that's it. (By the way, this show was very good and I highly recommend seeing it when visiting. I did get plenty of pics from different angles, I'll post some of the best later on today or tonight).

 

-The Kissmas Tree is now located in front of the hot dog place by the Amphitheatre exit, on the other side of the bridge from Comet Hollow. They had the N.O.E.L. lights synchronized with it.

 

-The park received alot of new LED lights this year, assuming to save costs. The Kissing Tower tree and Twilight Express arches appeared to have had new LED lights installed this year.

 

-The Twilight Express appeared to have had more light displays this year. The stretch from the RR crossing back at Storm Runner running up to near the second tunnel had more lights than last year (last year it was sort of dead through there with just red and green spotlights shining on the trees). The first tunnel (by Sidewinder) had colored lights changing quickly (for example the tunnel would be green, then pink, then blue, etc).

 

-The park must still have the roofs for the antique cars in storage somewhere. The one antique car that was placed along the turnpike with Santa sitting in it had one of those roofs installed on it this year.

 

-Again, the Comet, sooperdooperLooper and Fahrenheit all had their trains sitting in the stations or on the transfers again this year. However, Fahrenheit's trains were all sitting to the rear of the station (near the restrooms) so I had to look hard. They also had a pile of test dummies at the top of the exit stairs, I don't know why they were there. I did manage to get a pic of Comet's trains in the station from up in the Skyview queue.

 

-Characters were very limited this year. All I saw was the Reese's guy walking around by the Carrousel, that's it. I miss the photo spot across from the Kosher Mart. That was always our prime spot to get our pics with them. So much for stupid Hospitality Services when they already have two or three other Guest Services locations located at or in the park.

 

-Frontier Flyers appeared to have the neon blue lights removed. It first I thought the ride was closed until I saw that there were people in the flyers.

 

-Granny Bugs found a new home this year, in the patio area of sooperdooperLooper Sandwich Stop (Yes, they did remove all the tables and placed the ride under cover). This should have been done the last several years that the ride was down there. Alex pointed this out as I didn't see it at first. The Fun Slide was still in its same place under Great Bear's barrel roll.

 

I may have some more pics coming soon, but I'm not quite sure yet. Enjoy these pics and let me know what you think.

[printersdevil78]

Awesome pics, especially the third one down. I first met my girlfriend's daughter last year when we took her to Christmas Candy Lane on Thanksgiving weekend. We had so much fun that we've decided to try to make an amusement park trip part of every Thanksgiving weekend for teh foreseeable future (Christmas Town at Busch Gardens this year).

[Speeddeamon128]

Great pictures. I wish they would operate at least Comet or Sooperdooperlooper.

[ItsDavidU]

Dutch Wonderland had a light show last year similar to the one like N.O.E.L.

 

I'm excited to see how Hersheyparks is.

[Ccron10]

There's a reason why I think Hershey shows off the best during Christmas and you pretty much showed my reasoning. They don't skimp on decorations, it's always festive, and its the most detailed.

 

As for the N.O.E.L. show, I'll see about getting video of it when I go in several weeks (as well as some sort of a trip report).

[HPCrazy]

I know about the Dutch Wonderland light show. I heard it's coming back again this year. I think Hershey was probably testing out the concept there last year before introducing N.O.E.L. this season. You will not regret watching it. It's one of the coolest light shows I've seen.

 

I thought when HP in the Dark was having that lousy weather this year, that they listed rides that couldn't operate under 40 degrees and Trailblazer wasn't listed. I'm suprised they don't try to open at least that coaster (only closing it during super cold temps, snow or ice). I can understand about the other coasters, especially Great Bear, Storm Runner and Fahrenheit. Great Bear can't run if the temp is under 60 or 50 degrees I thought.

[TheRapidsNerd]

Great coverage! Makes me really want to go back to Hershey, especially for this.

[PKI Jizzman]

Herschend did a good job here; I bet they do better down south at Dollywood!

[tatertot3710]

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