It’s hard to believe that on Friday, April 21, 2023 I was looking at an incomplete Wildcat’s Revenge during Hersheypark’s Pass Holder Night. There was track yet to be laid, no signage, and construction equipment scattered throughout the scene. In my mind, I figured the ride was going to have an early-July opening at best. So imagine my surprise when an email arrived in my inbox a few weeks later for the King-Sized Pass Holder Preview event taking place at the end of May.
I, along with Sam, and our friend, Eric, reserved ride times on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023 – Day 1 of the three-day event. We were among some of the first people to ride this new RMC conversion, with Sam booking her ride at 11:30 a.m. and Eric and I getting ours at 1:30 p.m.
We were allowed just one ride, but for Sam and I, we would be back on Thursday, June 1, 2023 for the Media Preview event. We managed four more rides, including both front and back row rides. Eric would also return to the park the following week with several friends and get in two more rides himself. To say we all love Wildcat’s Revenge would be an understatement.
Visual Appeal
First things first, the visual impact of Wildcat’s Revenge cannot be understated. I wasn’t too keen on the red and black color scheme in the ride’s early renderings, but seeing it in person has me admitting I was wrong. It looks amazing. On top of everyone being drawn to it inside the park, it’s placement along Hersheypark Drive will also draw a ton of attention to those driving by outside.
The ride’s logo on the station is simple, yet stands out against the all black building façade. It certainly grabs your attention when walking up the hill and alongside the ride. I’m glad the fencing along the left side of the walkway, that once stood in front of Wildcat, has been removed. The whole area just feels more open and inviting. It also lets you get amazing views of the ride and will surely be a popular place for people taking photos.
Then there is the entrance and even more importantly, the ride’s exit. The ride’s logo looks great over the queue entrance, but if you look to the left, you’ll see a nod to the former Wildcat (GCI, 1996). A piece of the ride’s old track has been placed over the exit where everyone can see. I love nostalgia and when parks aren’t afraid to pay homage to their former rides.
I am eager to see how this area look at night. I saw LED lights behind the ride entrance and imagine the sign on the station illuminates as well. The park also teased some light package shots not too long ago and wow!
Ride Queue & Lockers
The queue for Wildcat’s Revenge is mostly what it was when it was Wildcat. It isn’t until you go past the small bullpen area that sat mostly empty for years that the path differs. Once you clear that area, you now wait alongside the ride where you will get amazing views, and lots of great photos. One thing that is missing here, however, is shade. There is little to no cover from the sun, especially when you add in the overflow queue we waited in briefly over by Laff Trakk.
There is a grouping of two-sided lockers before entering the station. They’re larger-sized lockers that easily fit my camera bag and our pass holder cups without any issues. Oh, and they’re free. A huge thank you to Hersheypark for not only giving riders larger lockers than most rides I’ve experienced with two-sided locker installations, but the fact that they don’t charge for them. You can tell this is about safety and improving dispatch times – not a means to nickel and dime visitors.
I am not sure exactly what the park’s policy is for items in zippered pockets here as we were told all items had to come out. We also seeing people taking photos in the station cellphones that were allowed on ride with zippered pockets. We decided to just put everything in the locker. We had plenty of time to take photos up to that point, although I would have liked to have taken a few shots inside the station.
Ride Station
There are many positives to be had when it comes to Wildcat’s Revenge’s station. Yes, the former station was repurposed, but so many modifications have been made that it not only looks different, but it was designed to help keeping operations running smoothly. With the lockers down below, you don’t have to worry about people putting items into cubbies and slowing things down.
The loading process is also quicker due to trains coming into the loading area empty. Trains are unloaded in the former ride’s storage bay area before moving forward to load. With RMC’s usually needing separate checks for seatbelts and lap bars, every little bit helps.
Much like the outside of the station visually, the inside is bare bones when it comes to décor. You’ll see mostly black walls with some red accents. Where the station shines, however, is in the audio track played over the sound system. If you’ve watched the Wildcat’s Revenge trailer, you’re already familiar with this soundtrack. There is a little extra element though – a voice track further hyping riders for their upcoming ride with a mini-countdown. It certainly gets you pumped.
The Trains
I’ve always found RMC trains to look great and the ones for Wildcat’s Revenge’s are no exception. Each train has a cat tearing through the front of the lead car, with all three cats featuring a different color scheme. Sadly I was unable to get any photos of the trains since my phone and camera were in the lockers. Instead you can see them in the park’s announcement trailer above.
When it comes to comfort, Sam experienced some issues. She had a bit of discomfort with the seatbelt buckle digging into her lap. With the buckle being trapped between the lap bar and her body, it dug into her and caused some pain. While I could sometimes feel it myself, it didn’t bother me as much. Perhaps it is due to differences in our height and/or weight? I’m not sure on this, so just be mindful of that when you ride.
For those wondering, there are handle pegs on the lap bars, one on both sides of your knees. I have never used these on any RMC and did not here. Each seat also features, what I call a “rein,” for a lack of a better term. This “rein” is a rugged strap placed between each rider’s legs that can be held onto instead. I did not use these either, but I’d imagine they’re more comfortable to hold onto than the pegs. I’ve never seen these before, so I’m not sure if this is something brand new for Wildcat’s Revenge or if they’re on some of their newer coasters as well.
Ride Experience
From start to finish, Wildcat’s Revenge is a non-stop mix of ejector airtime, hangtime, and laterals – with several occurrences of those elements happening at the same time. It’s one of those rides where you get no break to catch your breath. Until the train leaps into the final brake, at a pretty good speed might I add, you’re being flung every which way, hung upside down, or made to feel like the world is dropping out from below you. It’s a lot to take in with just one ride, so I’m happy that we had five rides between the pass holder and media previews.
I wasn’t sure how I wanted to review the ride portion of this review, but I ultimately decided to break it down by the differences we experienced between the front and back of the ride. I won’t be going element-by-element, but will make mention of the elements that stood out (or didn’t) when moving between the two regions.
Pass Holder Preview Rides
Monday, May 29, 2023
- Row 11 (Sam)
- Row 5 (Patrick & Eric)
Media Day Preview Rides
Thursday, June 1, 2023
- Row 12 (Patrick & Sam)
- Row 2 (Patrick & Sam)
- Row 3 (Patrick & Sam)
- Row 1 (Patrick & Sam)
The Back
I want to start with the back as these are usually the coveted rows for most enthusiasts. On every RMC I’ve ridden thus far, the back has always provided the best ride experience. More airtime. Stronger airtime. More whip through lateral moments. You name it, it’s usually better. That doesn’t mean getting in a front row ride doesn’t have advantages, but from my experiences, the back is always better. So, imagine my surprise when Wildcat’s Revenge didn’t follow this trend. I’m also not the only one making this “wild” claim, pun intended.
The immediate drop out of the station into the pre-lift elements? Better in the back. The first drop? Better in the back. Every element afterward? Not as good. That doesn’t mean the ride doesn’t have forces in the back, though. We just found them to be less intense. After riding in Row 5 on Monday, then getting Row 12 on Thursday, I was certainly taken back. Eric and I were tossed around silly during that fifth row ride. I didn’t feel nearly as much forces in the 12th row three days later.
I do see people claiming this to be a back row ride, but I’m seeing a lot who agree with me that Wildcat’s Revenge rides better in the front. It’s been interesting to see what everyone else is saying and I am looking forward to reading more reviews as more people experience the ride.
The Front
When it comes to the front of the train, just about every element felt more intense than it did when sitting in Row 12. The underflip felt similar throughout the train, but the airtime and laterals following it were all heightened when up front. The airtime immediately following the underflip is one of the most powerful. There are also two mini-drops, that some have been calling a double down, that are also quite intense. The Roller Coaster Database (RCDB) doesn’t list a double down as ride element on the coaster, but it’s the one that happens right by the staircase going into the ride platform. Whether it is, or isn’t, is besides the point. It’s still a series of quick, powerful elements that we preferred in the front.
The most surprising moments where I found this heightened intensity was at the end of the ride. There are two pops of ejector leading into the final brake run that are relentless. Talking to people on the brake run, we weren’t the only ones shocked at the extreme forces felt finishing the ride.
Pros
- Combination of lateral forces and airtime found throughout the ride
- Fun pre-lift
- Non-stop pacing from start to finish
- Double-sided FREE (important) ride lockers at the base of the staircase leading to the station
- The audio track being played in the station (same one found in ride’s early teaser trailers)
- Unique paint scheme of red and black
- Separate load and unload areas keeps things moving
- A ride that will run during the park’s Christmas Candylane event (according to the park’s social media team)
Cons
- Severe lack of shade throughout the ride queue
- Seatbelt buckle placement can cause discomfort due to it being pinned between your body and lap bar during intense elements
- No seal noises on the final brake run
One "Wild" Addition by Subtraction
While I hate to see a park remove a coaster, there is no doubt that Wildcat’s subtraction is a huge addition to the park with it’s Wildcat’s Revenge conversion. While I’m still on the fence on whether I enjoy it more than Skyrush, it’s a debate I’m not upset that I have to have. It just means my home park just got that much better to warrant the discussion.
Hersheypark was already a top tier park and it just got even better. Oh, and with it’s official June 2, 2023 opening day just so happening to be my birthday, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend my 44th!
