The Wait Times Archives: Hersheypark

Hershey is amazing park! Holy cow! Because we were staying at the Hersheypark Campground, we got in at 6:30 the first day. While that might not seem like a ton of time, the park was open until 11, so we were able to pretty much do the whole park. We were greeted with short lines and a very clean and friendly park. The next day, we got early entry because of the campground and that lace was dead. Skyrush was walk on and I rode it 5 times in a row. Pretty amazing! The whole Chocolate World and Founder’s Way sections feel very tourist trappy, while the rest of the park is very pretty. It is truly amazing all the stuff they could fit in the Hollow and Kissing Tower Hill as everything is on top of itself. This is probably my new favorite park and I am so glad that it didn’t end up getting cut.

On to the rides…

Coal Cracker - Didn’t ride, but thought it was interesting that they still run both sides of the drop, unlike Great America. Looked like a very pretty ride built up on the hill.

Comet ran great for its age. The airtime was really solid and the buzz bars made it all the better. Solid attracting and was pleasantly surprised. Maximum wait of 15 minutes, usually less. Solid B.

Fahrenheit was kind of a let down. Not going to lie. It rattles really bad and I really wish it had one or two more airtime hills. Other than that, solid attraction and had quite a few unique elements. Usually had about a 15-20 minute wait due to the short trains. B-.

Great Bear is a good old fashioned intense B&M invert. It is very unique with the forceful helix before the drop. The awkward supports from them not being able to go into the water provide really nice leg/foot choppers. Really fun ride! Only problem was that it probably had the worst operations at Hershey due to them not opening the airgate until after the train had cleared the lift and they double checked all restraints. Stacking galore. Should have been about 5 minutes, but waited 10-15. A

Hershey’s Triple Towers are a really nice addition for this park. I like the options that you have. They all have the new S&S restraints which no longer lake a seatbelt, but you have to push down a full click to release the restraint. Just a tad odd. Kisses was my least favorite and runs a short program of a shot to the top with one moment of floater air. Hershey’s was my second favorite with a shot to the top which had a mix between floater and ejector air and then “drops” from the top. Intamin drop towers are so much better. Reese’s was my favorite which shot up and provided 2 ejector moments and a floater. Really nice drop tower. Hershey’s was the only one with a line and it was like a cycle or 2 wait.

Laff Trakk was a pretty fun little ride. Surprisingly smooth for a spinning coaster and my first Maurer. This thing was posting 45 minutes and we waited 45 minutes once and about a half hour another time. I thought it was better done than Dark Knight and had a more interesting layout. Very fun ride! B-, very solid for a spinning coaster.

Lightning Racer is absolutely fantastic! I love myself a good GCI and this is no exception. It is smooth and it is what I wish American Eagle was. The dueling aspect is so fun and seems to be very random, based on weight. Lightning is better than Thunder as I think it has more air and it runs smoother. 2nd favorite ride at Hershey, but favorite woodie as I am writing this. I really wish more parks would put in these dueling GCIs and I wonder how bad Gwazi really was. It never had a line and gets an A+. Also, the chaser lights at night look spectacular. Marathoned it both nights and got a super zen ride (only one on either train).

Merry Derry Dip Fun Slides did not run very fast. No air over the hills. The one at Bay Beach is still my favorite.

Reese’s Xtreme Cup Challenge is a very interesting Sally shooter. It runs on more of a coaster track than just a hotwire. Not all the targets worked, but it was still a pretty fun ride. Not my favorite shooter, but they are always fun rides. 5 minute wait

Sidewinder is a boomerang. I can’t image it without the vests as it was still pretty miserable. 20 minute wait and it was one and done for me. D

Skyrush is the epitome of ejector air. I have never felt so much painfully amazing airtime in my life. The restraints are not the best, but the ride is so amazing. Also love the fact that they have free lockers for this ride because it is so violent. Best ride at Hershey and my new number one coaster. I wish more parks would install these modern Intamin hypers as long as they fix the restraints. Rode it 5 times in a row during our Sweet Start ERT. Maximum wait of 10 minutes, but usually less. A+

sooperdooperLooper is a fun family ride and is about the only shirt you can buy in that park. Any color you want, they have a shirt that says, “I survived the sooperdooperLooper.” The loop was pretty good with only the lap bar, but the rest of the ride kind of just meanders. Whizzer is still better. C+

Storm Runner was probably the biggest surprise of the trip for me. I was expecting just another Intamin Accelerator, but this is probably my favorite. The layout is really unique and it just works. More airtime than you would think and makes a very fun ride. Usually had kind of a long line due to the dual loading station. That ride really needs a grouper because the station is a mess. 10-15 minute wait. A

The Claw is a standard Chance pendulum which isn’t as good as a Discovery or Giant Frisbee. For some reason, this ride always had too long of a line. 20 minutes of sitting in a non shaded queue.

Trailblazer is an old Arrow Mine Train that is set in a pretty area of the park, but is pretty short and tame. Wonky transitions keep it interesting. Walk on. D+

Wild Mouse was a really fun Wild Mouse. Probably my favorite one. It is interesting that it is a shared lap bar so the person next to you could go flying if you are too big. Walk on. C-

Wildcat is not a very good GCI. Those darn PTCs ruined it and it jackhammers really bad. The layout is pretty good, but it is just so rough. I really want either GCI to completely retrack it, or take the easy out and have RMC Iron Horse it. This ride actually needs it. Not a terrible ride, just rough. Walk on. C