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Opening days, preview days are far from the most crowded days of the year.

If that were the case, then the chaperone policy would only be needed the first couple of opening weekends...

Totally agree with this. Guests have expectations of what they want to get done and what they should be entitled to. You see this a lot at bigger parks like Disney or Universal where guests pay so much money they feel like they "deserve" a certain experience. And if that expectation isn't met, people get mad. Then those people meet each other and they're just looking for a reason to fight. The parks have been closed for a little while now, and guests can't wait to get back on their favorite rides. But what guests don't always understand is that ALL the other guests want the same thing they do. KI Opening Day is always so crazy because it's new and it's been a while since everyone has been. Plus everyone wants to use of their new pass they just bought or renewed and so they all go on Opening Day. Going on Opening Day is fine, as long as you manage your expectations. I went on Opening Day last year, waited 45 minutes just to get in the gate, ate lunch, and rode 2 rides. Waited 90 minutes for both Beast and Diamondback. Then I waited 10 minutes just to get a drink. Then I went home. I don't go very often the first month because it's so busy, but I still go and have a good time because I manage my expectations. I know that when I go on Opening Day, I will only get a few rides in. But when people get their expectations too high, that's where disappointment leads to tempers flaring. And that is when fights occur. Just my thoughts

Granted, we haven’t seen the entrance in its entirety yet, but I can’t imagine why they’d have to remove the trees they did, here.

Whirly birds and racer currently running. We're getting close!

Because guests have inflated views on what seasonal parks' opening days are when the reality is most of the staff is either newly trained or a few months out of practice, systems are getting the kinks out, and it creates a perfect storm. Even for parks that are opening big new rides. There are a TON of better days to go. When I go to KI's in a few weeks, its more to get back to the park and enjoy it slowly, not to go all ride warrior (that's for mid-May or early June for me at the earliest).

Why do parks in general have so much trouble opening day... https://local21news.com/news/local/active-police-incident-at-hersheypark-confirmed-by-dispatch-eyewitnesses-describe-scene?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ9aJhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEd3RRbExmRkp0MGJHUHc0c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvl7LzfYirrD0sx33hqBP5G-L0wTmOfkwNtQ8HkAxYs9KbYS6ADiwnw-ZHBC_aem_h4ga6IXkLl1hrC4rlaxzvw https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1bbq3SNGRP/

It is jazz....but it's the Phineas and Ferb theme song.

Of course they cut down the trees around the entrance This chain is incapable of building anything new and preserving the trees. KI continues to have less trees every season.

Hopefully to a new better soundtrack. I swear if the jazz returns for a 5th time....

Double posting to mention that the Royal Fountain has started its testing!

I was thinking the Snake Pit Saloon was either that or a replacement for the Outpost Frozen Cocktails location. That structure needs to be turned back into a food stand, but I guess it's whatever for now. For anyone counting there are now 5 official bars in Rivertown (Outpost, Brewhouse, Whistlestop, Snake Pit, and the bar counter in front of LaRosa's).

I think it will definitely look better if/when the foliage grows in. Removing the eyes does make the windows look a little plain, but the issues with the parapet could be solved by adding a roof trim like the original had. It could either be flat (like the image below) or still be curved to go with the rest of the current structure. The rubble and missing stucco details are fine IMO. They add to the rundown look the ride is going for. (I think this image was made by either BryanJay or Hawaiian Coasters 325, sorry if I got it wrong though!) One thing that keeps getting me is all of the people who are baffled to see that the ride will have a very cartoon-y art style. I completely understand why they wanted a more refined look, but this should not be a shock to anyone who's seen the singular piece of promotional art that's been used for the new ride since August.

We got a saloon now?!!!! Jk it's probably that bar that was put in by the conjuring/crypt building

Thought the same. The music notes gave me Magic Kingdom Birthday Cake Castle vibes at first. Eyes looked a bit cartoony, too. But cleaning those up, along side some of the more castle-y bits made it look a bit plain. The more I’ve looked at it, the more it’s grown on me. Not that I hated it or anything, but I have a feeling it will work well with the art design of the ride itself, which we haven’t really seen much of. As far as the sign, I’d imagine it would be the official logo: But personally, I feel something like this would look better color-wise:

2 weeks till passholder preview day. Action going on at the monster, zephyr has it's canapy on and the scrambler has been running most of the morning!

Did they announce this anywhere? Edit: Nevermind I found it. That’s cool.

There’s something special about a milestone season, and Hersheypark is leaning into it in a big way. Details: https://themeparksbydon.com/hersheypark-120th-season-spring-weekends/

Agree - its WAY too much going on and introduces a conflict into the narrative based on what we've seen so far. The interior looks "new" - just spooky but not abandoned and rediscovered. I seemed like the store was more "this is a phantom theatre that brings the spirit worlds best entertainment to the living - enjoy the newest production" not "we have discovered a long-abandoned theatre and have 'disturbed the spirits' with our need to 'see the theatre'. Now its a comically distressed looking exterior that doesnt really look authentically distressed and a new looking interior - maybe the show sceme will tie it all togther, but as of now REALLY now liking the exterior. Shouldve not done the crumbling plater and boarded up windows. WAY too literal and not in a good way

They’ve advertised on the event pages for it and opening day that you’ll be among the first to ride it, and they’ve giving out keychains on opening day to the first so many riders of it while supplies last. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That’s the word!

So are they ready to open this attraction on Pass Holder Preview day?

I was thinking myself that it was giving off Scooby-Doo vibes! Honestly its starting to look more Scooby-Doo then when it ORIGINALLY was Scooby-Doo. 😅 (Note I'm a BIG Scooby-Doo fan!)

I'm honestly curious when they started playing that song at rope drop and who's idea that was? It honestly fits so well as it talks about having a great day during the summer and mentions building a rollercoaster and climbing up the Eiffel Tower which connects with KI very well. I'm also curious why they chose to not play it anymore at rope drop. I honestly could see a world where the higher ups were sick of that song and as someone who knew associates during the time that song would play they would dread hearing that song as it meant it was time to be in their spots as guests were in the park. I believe 2019 was the last year they played it and in 2021 (the first full season since covid) they started playing High Hopes by PATD but not at rope drop, it would be played as associates started to arrive for the day. In fact, Mr. Koontz selected a song each season from 2021 til his retirement last year to be played in the morning as associates arrive to help set the mood and get employees ready for the day!

I like the new color scheme more than I thought I would. Would it have been nice to see bigger changes to the castle? Definitely, but I still think it's a lot better than what was there for 15 years after nothing substantial was changed for Boo Blasters. The view of the right side windows was more hidden during its time as Boo Blasters. It's possible that once the new foliage grows in it will be covered more. The eyes give me Scooby-Doo vibes more than anything, which is a nice little callback if anything. The center-left pillar of the entrance Finally, a look back at the original facade. I don't think they would have ever sprung for something this realistic when the new ride is already so much more cartoon-y than the original. That's fine with me. (Photo: Rick Davis via DAFE)