Sam and I have been known to just randomly go to an amusement park on a whim. We recently spent a few hours at Six Flags America (SFA) on a rainy Monday because I had a free admission perk on pass. Well, during our Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW) trip on Thursday, I found out that she had off the following day. I asked her if she wanted to go to Hersheypark since it was open 5-9 p.m. on Friday. We wouldn’t even have to wake up early, being able to rest up a bit after our day down in Virginia. She said, “Hell yeah,” so our plans were set.
Daytime
Starting Off Like a Comet
During our drive to the park Sam had mentioned that she would like to do ride Comet again, if the lines weren’t too long. We skipped it for that reason our during our last visit to the park together on Labor Day, making her last ride on Comet coming back on our Monday, August 10 work trip. Thankfully, since we were planning to head to Skyrush first anyhow, we detoured to Comet because we saw it was a walk on. The park had just opened, so I think everyone was heading to Candymonium.
We secured a back row seat as Sam is really taking to back row rides as of late. It wasn’t the only ride we rode in the back either.
Front Row Ejector
Since the plan was to ride Skyrush first, originally, it became our second ride since we had our walk on ride with Comet. There were only a few people in this line too, so I asked Sam if she wanted to take advantage of that and wait for a front row ride. Most of the time Skyrush is little more than a station, or staircase, wait, unless you want the front. That usually has a bit of a wait, especially if right now since you can’t mix riders from different parties. Anyhow, Sam said sure, so we walked up the staircase to the left and only had to wait for a couple trains before it was our turn.
It had been a while since I rode this ejector airtime filled machine in the front. It was a nice change of pace seeing nothing but the track and the scenery around us during our 1 minute, 30 second ride. As for riding this machine in the back row, we did that at night, which you’ll read about in a bit.
Inverted on Great Bear
With both Sam and I loving Great Bear so much, there is no way we will visit Hersheypark and not ride it a time or two. Once we left the station of Skyrush, it was up the hill and around the corner for this Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) invert. And seriously, how can we not ride an invert representing a site called “We Were Inverted?”
Thankfully, we weren’t assigned a row because the queue line was empty, so Sam elected to go to the back row. I’m pretty sure we have Alpengeist to thank for her new found love of the back seat.
Sam's New Credit #59: Sidewinder
Heading into the park, Sam was looking forward to finishing up all of Hersheypark’s available credits, just like she did the day before at BGW. Obviously, Storm Runner is going to have to wait until next year, but Sam was finally ready to give both Sidewinder and Fahrenheit a try. In past visits she was still feeling the anxiety when I asked her about riding either of them. Now, however, it’s game on.
Although Sam was not a fan of the slow lift hill, while leaning forward in our seats and being pulled backward, she did enjoy herself. It’s crazy to think that she had rode 58 other coasters before riding her first Vekoma Boomerang. Lucky for her, she got to ride one with the newer trains. One day she’s going to get to experience Tidal Wave at Trimper’s Rides in Ocean City, Md. where that is not the case. Hopefully all the parks who plan on keeping their Boomerangs switch over. It does make a huge difference. I know that Sea Serpent at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, N.J. retrofitted theirs this year. There is hope!
Sam's New Credit #60: Fahrenheit (x2)
Two weeks ago Sam marked her 50th coaster credit by riding the legendary Phoenix at Knoebels. When we came into the park today, we decided that Fahrenheit would be her 60th and that’s why Sidewinder was claimed just prior to this one-of-a-kind Intamin coaster.
In recent times, it has been awesome seeing Sam’s positive reactions to rides that she wanted nothing to do with, even back during the summer months. Now, however, she’s grabbing credits like Skyrush, Sidewinder, Batwing at SFA, and just the day before, Tempesto at BGW. Those are all coasters that she balked or probably would have balked at riding. Had it not been for the rain, Sam would have rode Joker’s Jinx for the first time two weeks ago too – a ride she literally sat down on, had second thoughts about, and got off of before the ride attendant came by to secure lap bars.
So, what did she think of Fahrenheit? She freaking loved it! I’m not kidding. Just like with Skyrush our last visit, she was laughing and having a blast the entire ride. When we came back into the station, I asked her if she wanted to go again. She said yes without hesitation. We had a walk on for the first ride and a staircase wait for a second. And after the second, she purchased a ride photo keychain since she loved it so much.
Nighttime
Lightning in the Dark
Being so close to the mini-donut truck, I wanted to go get some cinnamon donuts to snack on. Neither of us were really hungry, but a little snack sounded good. I grabbed a dozen cinnamon and we sat down and enjoyed them while the sun went down, leaving the park dark for the rest of the evening.
While we were back this way, we decided to check out Laff Trakk since they were running it without lights for Hersheypark in the Dark. It had been a while since we rode this spinning indoor coaster, but upon seeing the long line as we approached, we wouldn’t be riding it on this day either. That’s the common outcome with this ride. It’s fun, but waiting an hour to ride it just doesn’t feel logical with so many other good rides around it, including the one we did ride while back this way, Lightning Racer.
Sam and I walked into the longest line I’ve seen for Lightning Racer in a long time. Still, the wait felt like it lasted no longer than 10-15 minutes since they were running all four trains. We picked Lightning and won, but I think Lightning was winning every race again. That was the case on our first visit earlier this year. Still, it was fun riding this in the dark.
Back to the Bear
After Lightning Racer we began our walk back to the center of the park. I did want to get a night ride on both Skyrush and Candymonium before the night was through. As we walked past Fahrenheit, I was going to see if Sam wanted to ride it a third time, but by this time, the line had gotten a little longer, now wrapping into a few of the queue lines in the bullpen area. Still, on any other day, this line would be considered short. We kept walking and that’s when Sam said she wanted to ride Great Bear in the dark. Who was I to argue? To Great Bear we went.
Once again we didn’t have much of a line. Earlier on they were only running one train, but they had the second one on the track when we came back for this ride. We claimed another back row seat for our night ride. That’s also when Sam and I rode Alpengeist in the back, which I think only added to its whippy nature. There’s just something about a night ride that seems a little more wild. Maybe it’s mind over matter, or maybe it’s just a little more disorienting? I’m not sure, but it just feels that way and did on this ride too.
Back Row Ejector
Now it was time for Sam to see how much she really loves back row rides. We walked up onto Skyrush after leaving Great Bear and were able to pick our row once again. I told her we’re going for the back. She said okay, but said she was a little petrified. I tried to talk her into that wing seat that is the stuff of legends among the enthusiast community, but she elected for a non-wing on her first back row ride. I don’t blame her. I also know once she does ride that wing seat, it’ll be the same as everything else lately. It’ll be, “Oh my god! It was so awesome! I love it!” Am I right, Sam?
Since Hersheypark has been closing at 7 p.m. most nights that I’ve been to the park in 2020, this was my first night ride on Skyrush in the dark in ages. I honestly can’t even remember when the last time I rode this ride in the dark. I know I have since I used to save it for the end of my days at Hershey in years past to save my thighs, but it just felt “new” to me since it had been so long. I sure loved it too, as did Sam.
Also, while in line for our night ride on Skyrush, Sam recognized Logan from ElToroRyan’s Coaster Idiots videos, with a few of his friends. They actually rode in the row in front of us and Logan appeared to be having a blast on the ride. She wanted to say hello, but she didn’t want to look like a creeper either. I told her he’s probably like someone saying hello, but alas, they walked away rather quickly as we left the line queue.
Our First Night Ride Ever on Candymonium
Now for the coaster I know I’ve never rode at night – Candymonium. Since it opened this year, that 7 p.m. closing time has not allotted me a night ride until this trip. We decided to make it our last ride, especially since it’s at the front of the park. We could ride and go once we were done.
We had about a half an hour wait for this ride, which was by far the longest line of the night. I’ve been in a few that were longer for this ride over the summer, but I things are always kept moving. The park has run all three trains every visit and the dispatch times all season have been wonderful.
Since the ride had a line, we were unable to pick our seats. We got a second or third row ride, I honestly can’t remember. As for the ride itself, it was definitely neat being able to ride this in the dark. The park had some colored lights shining up from under the lift hill, but that didn’t really do much for me. It was the decent down that first drop all the way through the portion of the ride before the head chopper that was the most memorable. It was just so dark throughout that region. After that it passed back through those lights under the lift hill and then around the Kiss Fountain.
Even though this is not my favorite B&M hyper coaster, the floater is easily some of the most sustained on any coaster I’ve ridden to date. You just float for what seems like 5-8 seconds at a time, several times. I’ve never timed it, but has to be close in some spots.
Canceled Plans for Saturday
Originally, Sam and I were going to be at Hersheypark on Saturday, before we decided to do our impromptu trip on Friday. Some things came up to where we decided not go. Still, we got her new two credits and got in some amazing night rides by doing this impromptu trip. Plus, Saturdays seem to be coming close to the park’s capacity limits with what they’re allowed to do right now, so maybe it was best that we didn’t make the drive out. I’m sure we will be back out to the park a time or two before the end of the year. When we do, you’ll surely read about it here.
CREW MANIFEST
The following flight crew members attended this park, & earned the respective credits below:
Patrick
CAG
New Credit(s): n/a
Sam
Commander
New Credit(s): Fahrenheit, Sidewinder
