My friend and I arrived at the park last night at 7 and walked around Chocolate World until it was 7:30. (For anyone who it may concern, the candy on the Chocolate World Tour Ride is not real. I was really mad at this because I did risk getting kicked out of the facility.) My friend and I waited until 7:30 because at the time, you can purchase a ticket for the next day and stay that night for free.
Our first ride of the night was Comet. Comet is an old PTC thriller that was remodeled in the late 70's. Its 96 feet tall and packed a punch. I noticed that its larger hills in the beginning had turnarounds at the top so we decided to try out the front. Fortunately, my guess was right and there was floater air like no other. It had a full layout which was really nice. Overall, a 15 minute wait for the front wasn't too bad at all.
Next was Sooper Dooper Looper, a classic Shwarzkoph looper. The best part, obviously, is the loop which pulls off some nice G's. I really liked the layout because it was very original. Again, front seat, 5 minute wait, cant beat it.
After that we walked up to the Great Bear. From the Comet and Sooper Dooper Looper line, it prowls over the whole entire area. Looking at it, I was expecting a great ride. I insisted we wait for the front, which offered a 20 minute wait. We hopped on and I, for one, was excited. The helix at the top pulls off some nice forces which was really unique. The rest of the ride sucked. I think the best part was at the bottom of the loop's pullout/entrance to the immelemann there are black and yellow stripes that looked really sweet. Everything else was forceless and short, the ride is only 100 feet longer than a normal B:TR clone. I know its a pretty old invert (Celebrating its 10th season this year!) but B&M could have done much better than this.
After the disappointment in Great Bear, we decieded to head for Storm Runner, an Intamin Accelerator. On our way down, we hit Trail Blazer which is just a Arrow Mine Train (nothing special at all). While approaching Storm Runner, I noticed that there was only a station wait. Again, I insisted for the front and after about a 15 minute wait we were staring up at the 150-foot top hat ready to experience "Vertical Horsepower". The launch is, if I remember correctly, 0-72 in 1.5 seconds. So it packed a nice punch. The view on top of the tophat was also very cool. Next was the immelemann which may be the worst designed/shaped thing I have ever seen. The entrance to the Flying Snake Dive offered some airtime and the FSD itself was pretty cool. Then there is this weird 90* twisting element at the end which was terrible. Overall, ride is way too short and the design could be improved. About the immelemann though, http://rcdb.com/ig2498.htm?picture=12, take a look for yourself.
After Storm Runner, I wanted to take a ride on Lightning Racers, one of the most twisty-looking GCI coasters I have ever seen, mainly because they are duelers though. The walk there involved going through the Boardwalk, Hershey's new waterpark. It looked really cool but when I am at a theme park, water rides do not stand a chance. Not even if it were a Shliterbahn.
The ride, Lightning Racers, was a walk-on and we compromised for back row. It offered everything I could ask for except ejector air. Decent speed, awesome drops, great intensity... I could go on for awhile. The best part is probably the tunnel because you can scream and do whatever to the other train.
Next was Wildcat, a GCI coaster made in 1996. I remember from past visits that its as rough as hell. But I was expecting the new Millennium Flyer trains to pull through and create a smoother thrill. But, not much difference. It was a 10 minute wait for the front. The best part is definitely the first drop.
Now, what you have been reading for, Fahrenheit. The newest Intamin creation at Hershey Park. Featuring the steepest drop in the United States and storing one of the few Norwegian loops in its layout.
I entered the line at 9:35 and took in the flaming orange track with the blue supports surrounding it. The colors are really cool, IMO. I really liked how close the queue is to the lift and the overbank. The station looked really cool, too. After about 20 minutes, we were next in line for the front (please note that you must ask to sit in the front because there IS assigned seating). The trains are like Maverick's but unlike Maverick, Fahrenheit only has 3 trains compared to Maverick's 6.
As I sat down, I was really excited. New coasters are really something I enjoy, even if I haven't been on them before. We left the station and started approaching the vertical lift. This was my first vertical lift hill and it was a really cool experience. It gets you up that 121 foot lift in no time. Almost as fast as you get up the lift, you go back down, and at 97*. The drop was aweomse, it really throws you out of your seat. The entrance to the Norwegian loop is cool because it does the little twist before it. Coming out of the loop, I think they could have shaped it better because it kind of shifts quickly in steepness. The Cobra Roll was nice and the trademark Intamin Corks were sweet. The low to ground overbank was fast and powerful and the ending airhill is delicious. We ran back in line and got a ride on the back, but the front was better.
Overall, I really wished this ride could have been longer. It has only a 2700' layout. But what it has is original, fast, fun, and thrilling. This ride does make my Top 10 but its not one I am going to be seeking down and wanting to ride the whole summer.
The next day, we hit up Fahrenheit in the morning, front row of course. Then Storm Runner twice followed by Lightning Racers three times, Wildcat, Comet, and Sidewinder (standard Vekoma Boomerang) each once a piece.
My park experience on "The Sweetest Place on Earth" was good none the less. Hershey is still an very well-kept park and is really nice for the family. I enjoyed my stay while I was there, but I think I am going to be taking a break for awhile unless...
"Something Cooler is coming in 2009... check out hersheypark.com on July 1st"
But Im pretty sure its just a Boardwalk Expansion.
Rides:
Lightning Racer x4
Fahrenheit x3
Comet x2
SDL x1
Trailblazer x1
Storm Runner x3
Wildcat x2
Great Bear x1
Sidewinder x1
.
