Our Memorial Day King-Sized Pass Holder Preview at Hersheypark left Sam and I wanting more! More airtime. More hangtime. More laterals. More Wildcat’s Revenge! Just three days later we would get all those things and more.
We Were Inverted was invited back out to Hersheypark to attend the ride’s Media Day Preview event, which provided us with four more rides. I’ll touch on those rides briefly later in this trip report. If you’re looking for my in-depth review of Wildcat’s Revenge, be sure to check out “Wildcat’s Revenge Review – This Kitty Has Claws” as well as “Wildcat’s Revenge 1st Impressions & POV” over on the We Were Inverted YouTube channel.
New Coaster + New Camera = Me in My Element
When we arrived for media day we were expecting to have just one ride, as was the case on Monday. We decided not to run up and ride right away, instead taking a few minutes for me to capture some footage. I brought along my brand new Sony A7 IV camera and 70-300 mm zoom lens to see what I could get.
After only a few photos we heard that we would be allowed to keep re-riding as much as we want during our allotted time. We entered the queue, where I took a few more photos. Once we hit the lockers, however, my camera went away while we focused on rides. I had taken some photos during the Pass Holder Preview. Those combined with what I had just took would suffice. I needed to more ride time to give an adequate review, so we kept doing rounds until we couldn’t anymore.
Wildcat's Revenge
For our first ride of the day we hopped in the back row, Row 12. I go into detail in my review on my thoughts about the back, but I felt like my Roe 5 ride on Memorial Day was more intense.
We ended up in Rows 1-3 for the three rides that followed. All three provided moments that also felt more intense than the one in Row 12. I’m hoping to get back again soon to try the back again. I want to see if this persists. Until I do, I prefer the front of the train as does Sam and Eric.
Comet
Speaking of front row rides, Sam and I managed to grab a Row 1 ride on Comet that was much different than our ride three days prior. Granted we were in the back row on Memorial Day, but for some reason, the ride felt bumpy. I had never experienced that on Comet before and I’ve ridden it too many times to count. Eric and Sam also noticed it. It wasn’t painful or anything, just not the normal smoothness we are used to.
Just like with Wildcat’s Revenge, on my next visit I plan to jump in the back to see if that bumpy sensation happens again. I have a feeling it won’t as Comet has always run smooth for me. While the airtime might be hit or miss, rough, or in this case, bumpy, has never been something I’d use to describe Comet. Hersheypark gives this historic woodie lots of TLC to keep it running in tip top shape.
Great Bear
It’s funny how each of the topics I’ve discussed on one ride have provided perfect segues into the next ride. When it comes to rides riding a bit different this year, after three visits to the park so far in 2023, Great Bear feels to be running faster. I noticed it on the Pass Holder Preview Day back in April and then again for the Wildcat’s Revenge Preview on Memorial Day. Once again, Eric and Sam also noticed it. And now, after the June 1 visit, Kaylee and her mom, Holly, also mentioned it. I’m convinced it’s true at this point and not just me.
I’m not sure what is different about the ride, but it feels like it’s pulling through its inversions and transitions at a faster speed. The ride always felt like it sat in a nice little spot between Talon, which is super smooth and graceful, and Alpengeist, which has some bite. Well, the Bear has some more bite this year. It’s not as much as Alpengeist by any means, but it’s just more pronounced than it’s been these last few years.
Final Ride Counts
Candymonium (1)
Coal Cracker (1)
Comet (1)
Fahrenheit (1)
Great Bear (1)
Hershey Triple Tower: Kisses (1: Holly, Kaylee, Patrick)
Mix’d (1)
Skyrush (2: Sam, 1: Holly, Kaylee, Patrick)
SooperDooperLooper (1: Holly, Kaylee, Sam)
Wildcat’s Revenge (4: Patrick, Sam)
Excited to Bring You More Amazing Content
I’d like you to take a moment after you finish up this trip report to look through the gallery below. Everything minus the shots of the flight crew was taken with my new camera. So far I am very happy with its performance while out at the parks. I’ve used it at Hersheypark and Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW) so far. Those photos will are already in the Busch Gardens Williamsburg Photo Gallery if you want to check them out. I will be publishing that trip report soon, however, if you wish to see them all in one place.
Let me know what you think of these shots. I haven’t messed around too much with the video settings on the camera yet as I need to pick up a faster SD card to film at 4K, 60fps. That’s on my to-do list and hopefully I’ll be able to capture some awesome off-ride footage to share with you all soon.
Hersheypark Photo Gallery - June 1, 2023
If you would like to use any of the images in the gallery above for your commercial and/or non-commercial projects, feel free to do so. I ask that you credit We Were Inverted whenever they’re used. I also ask that you do not alter the image or remove the watermarks. If you need any images/video resized or without the watermarks, please contact me directly.
CREW MANIFEST
The following flight crew members attended this park, & earned the respective credits below:
Patrick
CAG
New Credit(s): n/a
Sam
Admiral
New Credit(s): n/a
Kaylee
Commander
New Credit(s): n/a
