Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Experiment 626
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 5/9/2004 9:10:00 PM
Leaving extra early, I managed to pull into the park shortly after nine, a full hour before park opening. Coming into the lot, I actually came in right behind Sam Marks, which turned out to be very cool, because I didn't have any discounts for the park, but he had a whole book of coupons, so I got into the park for about $23, not bad. I would have had a prime parking spot too, but the park was holding a band competition at the stadium, and they chased me out of my spot right by the stadium. I can live with that though.
At the entrance, they had a nice festive atmosphere. The park had a live band playing, the Hershey characters rooming around, and several different contests going on. One contest was to win a first car ride on Storm Runner. You would reach into a little treasure chest for a Hershey Kiss. If you pulled out a purple one, you won. I had no luck, but Sam did, so they let him and his partner into the park, where they got Storm Runner shirts and headed back towards the ride.
I waited. As 10 o'clock approached, they had a countdown, and then officially opened the park for 2004. I was one of the first to the ticket booths. This is one of my complaints about Hersheypark, the very inefficient way admission is handled. Everyone goes though the same booths, whether you have a ticket already or not. It would have been nice to be able to buy a ticket at the park right there before opening. It did not really matter though, I was the first at my booth, so I was quickly on my way back to Storm Runner, along with everyone else.
When I got back there, they were testing. One of the tests had a rollback. They backed the train back into the station, then dispatched it again, and on this launch is crept over the tophat. Each additional test launched the ride a little bit faster. Finally, at about 20 after 10, they had the local weatherman give the typical PR spiel, directly fro the cue cards, and then they simultaneously opened the queue and launched the first riders.
The ride queue is actually pretty small, and well shaded, which will be nice in the height of summer. I was though the queue and on the train within five minutes, in the third row.
The launch is awesome, it is so fast and smooth. The tophat offers some excellent airtime too, I never tried the back of the train, but from this seat and a later front seat, I was very impressed with the airtime, both on the tophat, and in several other places on the ride. I was not impressed with the inversions. They are strange, the train does not seem to flow through them very well, especially the in-line and snake dive. They seem a bit rough, and you get a little headbanging, or in the case of these restraints, neckbanging.
Speaking of restraints, these are different. The over the shoulder harness is thin, flat, and flexible. The real restraint is all in the attached lapbar. It is a heavy steel pipe, padded of course, that comes down over you and holds you pretty securely. to complete the restraint system, there is a belt that connects between the riders legs. It is very secure, as well as very accommodating, they seemed to be able to fit a very wide variety of body shapes and sizes. The ride ops were making extra sure they were secure by stapling everyone.
Back to the ride, I liked it, but not loved it. It is certainly unique, it has some very interesting elements, but it is not my cup of tea really. Most riders loved it though, and it is deffinately a great addition to Hershey's line-up.
I next headed over to the Frontier Flyers, Hersheypark's set of Larson flying skooters. With some practice, these flyers are very snappable, there is just one problem, it is not allowed. I snuck a few in, and had an great ride. I also had a great ride on The Claw (Chance Morgan Revolution 32). I actually managed to get a seat that gave some airtime. Every time I've ridden it before I always seemed to get the seat that was always at the bottom
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3r1c
Posts: 5466
Registered: 6/7/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/10/2004 3:50:00 PM
I liked the inversions, especailly with the dose of airtime before the in-line and then the hangtime in it.
Great TR though, it was a great day.
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*FreeBird*
Posts: 8264
Registered: 8/29/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/10/2004 5:08:00 PM
Great review. I hope I can get to Hershey this year.
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Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Experiment 626
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5/10/2004 7:55:00 PM
I just felt the inversions were just wierd. Like I said, I just didn't feel that they flowed well. The airtime is awesome though.
I will post photos soon, I have seemed to manage to missplace my camera, so I haven't loaded them yet. Hope I can find it tonight, damned thing must be around here somewhere 
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*FreeBird*
Posts: 8264
Registered: 8/29/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/10/2004 8:01:00 PM
Check your back pocket!!! 
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BaConBoy13
Posts: 102
Registered: 4/17/2004
Rank: Bronze Critic
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5/11/2004 5:13:00 PM
If you have pics of the station or car I'd love to see them.
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3r1c
Posts: 5466
Registered: 6/7/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/11/2004 5:29:00 PM
I have a pic of the station in my TR until Black7 get's his up.
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yfz450
Posts: 1743
Registered: 3/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/11/2004 5:34:00 PM
Ya hurry up with those pics
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3r1c
Posts: 5466
Registered: 6/7/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/11/2004 5:44:00 PM
Black7, Storm Runner uses magnetic brakes, right?
Edit: I'm stilling calling you Black7. 
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Message updated 5/11/2004 5:44:00 PM by 3r1c
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Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Experiment 626
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5/12/2004 10:16:00 PM
Pics are up:
http://www.penncoasters.com/tripreports/Hershey/050804/050804.htm#photos
Yeah, SR uses magnetic brakes. it has a wierd steep down hill brake run too. It is in one of my pics.
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Yogurt
Posts: 600
Registered: 9/21/2003
Rank: Gold Critic
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5/12/2004 10:33:00 PM
Niceee pics. Looks like an awesome coaster. One or two of those inversions did look kind of strange. But what do I know.
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BaConBoy13
Posts: 102
Registered: 4/17/2004
Rank: Bronze Critic
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5/15/2004 5:52:00 PM
They feel different than any other ride I've ridden but..man do they feel good!
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Animan1
Posts: 5394
Registered: 5/14/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/15/2004 8:40:00 PM
Great TR. I have a somewhat insignificant question, but I'll ask it anyway: What are the two sides of Lightning Racer called? You said one is Lightning, what's the other one?
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BaConBoy13
Posts: 102
Registered: 4/17/2004
Rank: Bronze Critic
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5/16/2004 11:27:00 AM
Quote:
Great TR. I have a somewhat insignificant question, but I'll ask it anyway: What are the two sides of Lightning Racer called? You said one is Lightning, what's the other one? |
Thunder
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Animan1
Posts: 5394
Registered: 5/14/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/18/2004 6:16:00 PM
Question for Cyclonic: How do you have the money or time for all these parks and trips?
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/30/2004 11:06:00 AM
I'm gonna tag onto Cyclonic TR's and give my feedback on my trip yestreday May,29 - Memorial Day Saturday. It was pretty crowded but the longest coaster wait was 50 for Storm Runner. I got they when the park opened and rode it twice in the AM 45 minutes.
Storm Runner - unique layout and restraints, I really liked the double zero g-rolls but found that your neck can whip into the side of the OTSRs (painful). Longest line of the day actually goes to Frontier Flyers 45 minutes most of the day - they had only one operator which is not ideal for how they run this. I told guest services this at about 7:30PM and they actually had a second person helping when a went to ride it at 9:30PM.
Great variety of food in the park. The food at Maxwell's BBQ looked great but I had just had Popcorn Chicken, so I got a Texas Tea which was excellent. I also got a reasonably priced large taco ($1.69) from Tumbleweed Tacos later in the day. For snacks I had a chocolate chip pretzel (it is HersheyPark) and bought home a huge bag of kettle corn and ate some of it the drive home. They also had Nathans Hot Dogs, Philly style cheese steaks, Pirogies and Pizza in the park, beyond the typical burgers and chicken. But I couldn't find birch beer wherever I went and I bet they have it there somewhere.
Message updated 6/4/2004 1:40:00 AM by larrygator
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Swimace
Posts: 5916
Registered: 8/28/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/30/2004 12:57:00 PM
sounds good you guys are all making me jelous, I have to wait until August to go. 
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beastboy
Posts: 265
Registered: 4/22/2004
Rank: Silver Critic
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6/3/2004 8:57:00 PM
All this good feedback on Storm Runner is getting me psyched for July
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Animan1
Posts: 5394
Registered: 5/14/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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6/4/2004 11:15:00 AM
Quote:
BaConBoy13 said:
Thunder |
Ah, I should have figured.
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BaConBoy13
Posts: 102
Registered: 4/17/2004
Rank: Bronze Critic
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6/4/2004 4:00:00 PM
June 9th, I'll be there...can't wait!
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