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Here are some of the coasters, and what
we think of them, at Hersheypark.
- Sooperdooperlooper
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With a name like that, one might expect three loops. But this early example of
a looping coaster has just one, nearly circular, loop. After the initial drop
and high-g loop, this Schwarzkopf coaster becomes a runaway mine train type of
ride. There are lots of banked curves and spirals, with no railing, and a mine
tunnel that's dark in the daytime and lit up at night.
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- Trail Blazer Coaster
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This is a very mild runaway mine-train coaster. In fact, it's a little too dull
for us jaded adults. Although there is some nice scenery with good mine
theming, a "realistic" Old West bank robbery, and mine tunnel trusses that
provide a severe headchopper effect, this ride is really meant for the kids.
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- Comet
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A wooden out-and-back by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, this ride gives a
great view. The first two drops go all the way down to what should be the
ground. But this ride is build over a river, so the drops go down to the
water's surface. The second half of the ride is full of bunny hops (about six
or seven!). This is one of the few rides where we have significant difference
of opinion. Jeanne thinks this ride is very good, but Jon feels it's rather
uninspiring.
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- We first rode this new B&M inverted at the end of its first year of
operation. It is reminiscent of our favorite inverted, Batman: The Ride. It is
bigger and longer, but it doesn't quite have the bang of that original marvel.
Great Bear lacks the nonstop intensity of Batman, but it does twist marvelously
into the tight spaces in and around the Sooperdooperlooper. It floats and
swoops through Comet Hollow and really gives you the sensation of flying, but
it's so smooth that it can be relaxing.
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- Sidewinder
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This is the standard Vekoma Boomerang. Fun
as always, especially once you learn how to hold your head so it doesn't get
banged around.
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- Wildcat
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This wooden twister was the first coaster built by Great Coasters
International, the same company that built Six Flags America's
Roar. We'd already ridden Roar and were not impressed. But the Wildcat
is fun. It manages to combine the high-speed zooming of banked turns with the
feel-it-in-the-pit-of-your-stomach dips and swoops of a hilly wooden coaster.
All of this while giving a smooth and comfortable ride. Wildcat is a wonderful
twister, with lots of curves, lots of hills, lots of drops, and a fair amount
of air-time. If GCI can build more rides like this one, there will be some
great coasters to ride.
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- Lightning Racer
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Another coaster built by GCI (the creators of Wildcat),
Lightning Racer is actually made of two tracks with trains that alternately
race and "duel" (head toward each other and appear almost to collide) each
other. The racing aspect works well, and a well-marked finish line combines
with flashing lights and announcements for the winner of each ride.
The two tracks, which are nearly identical, provide a typical GCI
ride that has lots of curves and turns, but not much air time. The single-car,
open-front "Millennium Flyer" trains are comfortable, beautiful, and easily
flow over the twisty track.
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- The Wild Mouse
- This typical wild mouse is a compact coaster that features single-car
trains that carry up to four people around a quick series of drops, dips,
hills, and sharp, unbanked curves. Like most modern Wild Mice, the first part
of the ride consists of genuinely frightening hair-pin turns that make most
riders fear falling over, and the second half has a few short drops that
surprise with their brief moments of air time.
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