A few weeks ago Chance, the Cheapthusiast, asked me if I wanted to come up to Hersheypark with him during the weekend of September 11-12. I told him I was open on the 12th, but did have some plans on the 11th. As the weekend drew near, Chance told me that they decided to visit on the 11th. It looked like we’d have to get together another time. Or would we?
When Saturday rolled around, I wrapped up my plans early and I looked at the time. I knew I could make it up to Hersheypark around 3 p.m. if didn’t waste any time. I touched base with Chance and found out that they weren’t even at the park yet. I jumped in the car and make my way up to Hershey.
Arriving After Candymonium, but During Chocolatier
When I was about half an hour away from the park, I caught a bit of traffic and texted Chance to let him know I’d be later than I thought. He said not to worry because they were on the waiting list for a table at the Chocolatier. That worked out perfectly.
When I finally arrived, Chance, Aaron, and their friend, Mike, were just finishing up their meals. I sat down and talked with them as they paid their checks. It looked like the only ride they had done so far was Candymonium. I didn’t miss much.
Storm Runner
The first thing on our agenda was getting to Storm Runner. When I visited the park with Chance, Aaron, Matt, and Madison earlier this year, the coaster had not yet opened. Now that it has, Chance was eager to ride it again. He guessed that his last rides on this Intamin Accelerator came way back in 2014. He was overdue!
For the first time since the ride has opened, during my visits, the park was only utilizing one side of the loading station. That made the line longer that I have seen in quite some time. I’m puzzled though. Can both trains run using just one side of the station? With the launch track, loading area, and brake run coming into the station, I feel like it would be possible to hold a train on the brake while the other is sent out onto the launch. Maybe I’m totally wrong here and the ride system don’t allow it. Just seems like it should be a possibility.
We ended up riding in the last two rows. This ride has very little difference from the front to the back other than some extra yank over the top hat. Most of my rides this year have been in the front, however, so it was nice being toward the back for a change of pace.
Fahrenheit
I was glad that the group wanted to ride Fahrenheit. This ride can get some long, slow-moving lines, so sometimes I end up skipping it to ride other coasters. That really sucks too because I really enjoy this ride. Thankfully, we didn’t skip it yesterday.
I’ve always said that Fahrenheit was my first-ever vertical lift coaster. In reality though, that is not the case. My first “true” vertical lifts were a couple Chance Toboggan installments that I always forget about when talking vertical lifts. So to clarify, I guess you can say that Fahrenheit was my first large scale vertical lift coaster. It is my favorite one as well, even though I have gone on to ride several others afterward, including (S&S Free Spin models excluded):
- Impulse: Knoebels
- Mystery Mine: Dollywood
- Hydrus: Casino Pier
- Tantrum: Six Flags Darien Lake (SFDL)
- Thunderbolt: Luna Park
- Dare Devil Dive: Six Flags Over Georgia (SFOG)
- TMNT Shellraiser: Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream (NUAD)
Lightning Racer
As is tradition, we had to see if Aaron’s streak of winning every side of a racing coaster would stay intact during yesterday’s visit. Guess what? It did, but with a caveat. Aaron and Mike went to the Thunder side while Chance and I rode Lightning. Thunder was winning every single race and it wasn’t even close. That’s been the case during a few of my visits to Hershey this year. Something is create lopsided victories and usually in Thunder’s favor. I’m putting an asterixis next to this win for Aaron.
As for the ride, Chance and I rode the back row and dare I say, it was one of the better rides I’ve had on Lightning Racer in a while. I noticed my butt leaving the seat a few times. No, it wasn’t any amazing ejector airtime, or sustained floater, but instead, a bunch if subtle pops all throughout the course. While I certainly wish they were a little more forceful, I’ll take whatever I can get.
Final Ride Counts
Candymonium (1: Aaron, Chance, Mike)
Comet (1: Patrick)
Fahrenheit (1)
Lightning Racer: Lightning (1: Chance, Patrick)
Lightning Racer: Thunder (1: Aaron, Mike)
Storm Runner (1)
An Hour to Myself
After our ride on Lightning Racer, Chance told me that they would have to leave around 6 p.m. We said our goodbyes as we walked toward the front of the park. I stayed, taking a few photos and catching a ride on Comet. The line wasn’t long at all so I waited three extra trains for a front row ride.
While waiting to be dispatched up the lift, I heard the woman behind me talking to her daughter. Apparently this was going to be her first ride on Comet, and from what it sounded like, her first big coaster. I turned around and told her she’s going to love it and that it was my first big coaster too. Her mom said it was hers as well. With that, we were on our way.
It truly seems like a lot of people in this region rode Comet as their first adult sized coaster. I’ve heard that same story so many times. How about you? What was your first large size coaster?
With about 35 minutes left before the park closed I decided to try my luck with a ride on Candymonium. The wait read 45 minutes, but that queue line was packed. From my conversations with the crew earlier in Chocolatier, the operations were quite slow when they rode. I decided to skip it and head to the shop. While there, I managed to find a pin for the Chocolatier – the last one having grabbed the Sweeterie, Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor, and Chocolatetown ones in prior visits.
Thanks for the invite yesterday, Chance. I’m glad my plans allowed me to catch up with you after all. It’s always a good time whenever we manage to get out to a park together. Can’t wait for next time.
Hersheypark Photo Gallery - September 11, 2021
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CREW MANIFEST
The following flight crew members attended this park, & earned the respective credits below:
Patrick
CAG
New Credit(s): n/a
