SFNEOnline

We took our first long road trip of 2021 on Wednesday.  We had 40% off tix for Hershey that they were selling prior to spring opening and thought a mid-week visit would be a good idea.  Actually it wasn't that good an idea.  The park was moderately crowded at most so lines were OK but the problem was closed attractions.  Candymonium was open and that new to us coaster was #1 on the list.  We also rode Skyrush for the first time in 9 years.  I knew they had made adjustments to the restraints that had led to the nickname Thigh Crush and it was better.  Great Bear was running very well.  Lightning Racer is always a favorite.  We did multiple rides on all these.  Fahrenheit, Storm Runner, Sidewinder, Trailblazer, and Sooper Dooper Looper were all closed.  It didn't ruin our day as we had ridden all these in the past but that many closed coasters would have been rough on a first time visiting enthusiast.  It was not just coasters closed either.  A scan thru the Hershey ap showed 38% of all rides were closed.  Restaurants were the same story and actually worse.  The lines at the few locations were so long it drove us to wait to eat, leave the park a bit earlier than planned and eat out of the park.

We stopped at Knoebels on the way home.  It was late in their day when we arrived so we just used tickets rather than buy the wristbands.  It was a different situation there.  The park was very quiet but almost everything was open.  Twister and Phoenix were running great.  We rode both twice.  Then it was just favorite flats to close the day.  IMO The Skooters are still the best bumper cars on the planet!!  We were worried that the carousel might not be doing the rings due to Covid but they were and they have changed how they load the ride.  Previously there were two entrances that opened at the same time and you had to be quick to get an outside horse to be able to do the rings. Now they still have two entrances, but one is marked for the outside horses and they open that one first and then the one marked for the inside horses. It makes for a much more orderly loading process.  My ring skills have diminished and I only got 8 of13 rings as Casey got all 13 and shamed me!  LOL   We got a fresh sliced apple with caramel on the way out as the park was closing. 

It was a lot of driving for one day but so nice to be back out, riding without masks, and feeling like 2019 after such a difficult 2020 for everyone. 

ill be doing those parks on monday and tuesday!  Cant wait!