Comet Review, Hersheypark's Oldest Operating Wooden Coaster | Is it their Best Wood Coaster Too?
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- Опубликовано: 13 окт 2024
- Comet is the oldest roller coaster currently operating at Hersheypark. This classic wood coaster was designed by Herb Schmeck and built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. This wood coaster passes over Spring Creek twice and is an essential part of the Hersheypark entrance experience, as it towers over Founder's Circle. But is it still their best wooden roller coaster after all these years? Find out in this review!
Video Credits
Comet POV, 2013 (Hersheypark)- • Comet POV at HERSHEYPARK
Comet POV, 2019 (Hersheypark)- • 2019 Comet POV Hershey...
Background Music
Portal (Gravity Sound)- • "Portal" Mysterious Sp...
I'd say this is one of the most underrated coasters I've ridden. I was very surprised by how great the airtime was on it and had to ride more than once because of how fun it was!
I wish I could get a trimless ride on it.
How in the world is Comet underrated..?
@@uncledrosselmeyer6480 because no one seems to talk about it but I was really impressed with it and thought the airtime was fantastic. Last time I went to Hersheypark was in 2019 so keep that in mind.
I always remember Comet being very popular with the public. During my visit in April 2012, Skyrush wasnt open yet to ease the crowds, and comet had an hour wait while everything else was a walk on
It's location up front causes it to get a line immediately.
This was the first wooden coaster I ever rode. I was terrified to ride it as a kid, but I was laughing my head off by the 2nd drop. Even now as an adult I absolutely adore this ride.
I’m just glad they fixed the curve in the lift hill, that always unnerved me lol
It always made me chuckle.
Same with jersey devil. The curve kind of freaked me out in the front
As an older guy, I really enjoyed the Comet, and I enjoyed seeing a range of ages enjoying it. So the notion of “best” depends on a coaster’s place in the riders it attracts. I don’t like rough or breakneck or ejector airtime, so the Comet suits my needs. It’s a little bit thrilling at the beginning, and it ends with a smooth, pleasant “scenic railway” kind of ride. If you’re 20-something, it might be too tame. For many of us young and old, it’s not a Skyrush endurance test, but just fun. That’s worth a wait in line for me.
I agree, Comet appeals to pretty much everyone.
@@CanobieCoaster It's in the same category with Phoenix at Knoebels and Yankee Cannonball at Canobie. When you see most riders come back with laughs and smiles, you know you have a fun coaster.
I absolutely love this ride!!! It’s very smooth for its age and you can tell Hershey really takes care of it!!! Not to mention it’s a very fun ride for all ages!
They really do care about this ride.
This coaster really surprised me when I rode this five years ago! I never heard anyone talk about it! The buzz bars and fun lighting were great!
It's a great classic.
Back in 2002, I went to Hersheypark as part of a school trip, and I was afraid of all coasters. The height terrified me, and none of the hypercoasters had been built yet, so like mentioned, Comet towered above Founder's Square. I never rode it; it scared me off. I rode Trailblazer, but stayed away from Comet and all other coasters that day. I just went back this weekend, 20 years later, and rode it. It was my first time experiencing a ride with airtime. And while it was still scary, I had a great time on this ride, and I'm glad I went back to experience what I missed out on. This ride is surprisingly powerful despite the age and relatively short height, and while the bunny hills at the end ARE far less intense than the first half of the ride, for someone who had never experienced a coaster before, that reprieve from all the airtime was appreciated, and I could calm down a bit and enjoy the entire experience by the time we pulled into the brake run.
I hope to go back next year and ride not only Comet again, but move on to Candymonium and maybe some other rides, like Skyrush and Great Bear.
That's fair about Comet.
Another roller coaster I didn’t respect before your review but after watching I understand why everyone else loves it! Looks like such a fun ride
It is.
It’s such a shame that many Herb Schmeck coasters had to be tamed down over the years, like this (trim brakes), Thunderhawk (trim brakes) and Yankee Cannonball (GCI retrack). Comet at Hersheypark was designed to be an airtime machine (like Phoenix), but the trim brakes take it down to make it more family friendly. The first half feels more like Phoenix with its mind blowing airtime, and the second half feels more like Woodstock Express. Comet at Great Escape also has individual lap bars, so Phoenix is really one of the only Schmeck coasters left to give you an action packed ride filled with airtime that Schmeck adored. If the trim brakes were removed, this would compete with Phoenix as one of the best wooden roller coasters in the world.
It's unfortunate many of these rides have been slowed or tamed.
It's still possible to get better rides on Comet! I was lucky enough to get an untrimmed ride, and it was better than Phoenix in my opinion! Rain rides are great too since the trim trims less since it is wet!
I appreciated the calm ending of the ride the first half was so intense.
I would have preferred it kept the intensity up.
@@CanobieCoaster my son said the same thing lol
Comet rain rides in the back are something else! Solid flojector!
I love the first half in any weather.
Yeah it’s honestly one of the smoothest coasters at the park
Smoother than some of the steel coasters.
Another thing, I went to Six Flags St Louis today, all all the coasters, except River King Mine Train are now running with full train operations. Screaming Eagle in particular was running better than I ever remembered with full trains
Awesome!
The Buzzbars gave me some insane airtime. This ride is very underrated because even with its age, it is very fun and enjoyable.
I really enjoy it.
Comet was the sleeper hit of the park for me on my visit to Hershey yesterday. When I planned the trip, I wasn't even sure I'd ride this unless I had extra time. But we saw a short queue on the way to the front of the park for lunch, so we took that opportunity to grab a ride. So glad we did, because for a Tuesday, the queues were pretty long for everything. We only got in about 10 rides on the day, so had we not ridden then, I'd probably have waited until my next visit.
Glad you enjoyed it!
My grandpa went on this back when he was going to Delaware University, he said he enjoyed it. Also it's funny how a coaster with arguably one of the world's best restraints is right next to the coaster with the world's worst restraints
True tho
While I don't hate Skyrush's restraints, I agree they are flawed and can be extremely painful.
How come all the fabulous classic woodies are so far away? We had Colossus, the coaster of my youth and such fun and thrilling memories. I took Colossus for granted believing it would always be there. I mean after all, it was opened when I was still in grade school. I didn’t get to ride it until I was in middle school and all thru my teen years and into adulthood. I took a long long hiatus in my late 20s on until recently. But I loved driving by and looking upon Colossus from the 5 fwy, tall and majestic and smiled
To myself as I remembered all those good times and it warmed my heart to see that the regal icon was still there. Until it wasn’t! Well not in the same form anyway. But even as Twisted Colossus it’s still a force to be reckoned with and my heart coaster. Still there are time I long for the classic wooden coaster. I guess the only way I can experience even a fraction of what my Colossus used to be is to travel long distances. I will have to plan that
I'm glad I rode the old Colossus once (backwards) before the conversion.
Back seat on Comet + night ride = Best PTC I’ve been on!
It is fun at night.
@@CanobieCoaster If only I got more rides on Swamp Fox as well as a better experience at Family Kingdom, my opinion maybe different.
However the airtime to my memory is very similar on both rides.
@@roxynano Swamp Fox's airtime was far stronger and more abrupt.
@@CanobieCoaster From my memory on both rides the airtime was way better than expected and it brings me into joy feeling it on both rides.
I love this review, this is one of my favorite roller coasters!
Thanks!
What a great coaster. When I road it in 2019, it was just pure fun. Good airtime, IMO pretty good layout, and ran smoother than the other two woodies by a long shot. 10 times better than lightning racer for me, which is just another coaster with rmc written all over it.
Elf?
Lol I meant rmc don’t know how that got spell corrected
My first "big" coaster. Always a favorite, but I do feel like it either runs great or sluggish. I've been in the back and have gotten no airtime. Seat belts don't really inhibit anything, but I wish it was like Phoenix with only the buzz bars.
I wish the trim didn't engage.
When I went last year, extra rides on Comet cost me too many hypercoaster rides due to rain coming in a little later, but it was almost worth it. I didn't think it was completely smooth, more like perfectly rough. Enough to feel wild across that camelback, bumping out of my seat. And I kind of like the end.
Seemed better than my first ride a few years ago. Or maybe better with each ride.
Glad you liked it!
Great Video!!! I completely agree!!!
Thanks!
😀
Would love to hear your thoughts on Comet's new trains and removal of the Buzzbars!
The new trains look aesthetically nice, but I'm bummed the buzz bars are removed.
@@CanobieCoaster The new restraints are awful. The train also comes to an almost complete stop for a photo op now.
Frankly, last time I went on Comet, the only pop of airtime I got on it was on that first turnaround in the back row. I got nothing else the entire ride except some faint laterals.
I'm surprised the first drop didn't have airtime too.
Great video! Do you have a new microphone?
No, it's the same microphone, but this video was recorded on my laptop. Even with the same audio levels, it sounds different for some reason.
@@CanobieCoaster As long as the videos are good I won't complain :)
I havent ridden comet yet, but by looks that second drop reminds me of a larger version of the second drop on Classic Coaster at the Washington State Fair
Sort of!
I think you gave it a fair rating. This coaster has always ran great, especially since 2014. I think the trim brake is completely unecessary given that the train will naturally be going slower during the second half due to the ride in elevation. If they removed it or at least permanently turned it off, this ride would have a much better second half. I still doubt it would be on the level of Phoenix at Knoebels, but it would be better than it currently is. It could probably bump up to a solid 7 out of 10.
I definitely wish that trim brake were off.
I know some people that praise this ride way to much, some even say it's better than Phoenix or top 5 in the park. That seems a little overkill but this ride is a Hershey classic that offers some decent airtime on some areas and it's as smooth a bar of Hershey chocolate.
I would love to get a trimless ride on it.
This was my first ever rollercoaster!!
Nice!
I thought this would be a one-and-done ride. Boy, was I wrong! I love these old school woodies with buzz bars, and my several rain rides were just as good in the 2nd half as the first. Still, I'm a sucker for interacting coasters, which Lightning Racer does better than any other coaster in the country, so it beats Comet for me.
Makes sense. I understand why people prefer Lightning Racer, but I like the airtime in Comet's first half.
When we first went to Hershey Park, my dad wanted to ride Skyrush. However, it was cold and it was cold. Luckily, Comet was open so we went to Comet. My dad was whining because he wanted to ride Skyrush. I TRIED to explain it was closed but he was still pissed because we were riding a 70-year-old coaster compared to a 200-foot coaster. However, he was blown away by Comet due to the buzz bar and we were in the back row. The next day, he got what he wanted and he hated Skyrush. now that's what I call karma. Remember people, bigger isn't better.
Skyrush is better though. Comet is a good woodie though.
I’m going to give this another go on April 30th or May 1st my opinion may or may not change
Try the back.
The line was super long when I went in April so I decided to not ride it but I’ll probably get on it this year
It's usually long.
Could you do a review of Wildcat's Revenge at Hershey Park when it opens
I plan to.
Comet was my first roller coaster, and by all means to bias. Hersheypark finally opened for the 2021 season and I'm still trying to get another ride for it's secret airtime. But my job here isn't going friendly with that. Is Comet your 2nd favorite PTC?
It's probably towards the middle of the pack for PTCs for me.
Such a good ride
Agreed!
Despite Comet’s flaws…. I don’t think anyone will deny its status as a true classic!
It's a fun and well-cared for ride.
I went on it in 2020 the line wasn't long granted it was the beginning of the day
But it was decently rough with the air time being kind of weak but I kind of like the vintage feel of these rides so I tend to not rip on them too much but the seats are well padded so it didn't hurt much
It's a classic.
maybe i rode it on a bad day, it has gotten worse in the past year, or i have been spoiled by busch gardens williamsburg, but i found comet painfully rough. i came off the seat dozens of times not because of airtime hills, but because of the very strong rattle. i enjoyed it still, but i cannot agree with the comment on smoothness until i’ve ridden rougher.
Huh, I haven't ridden it this year, but I've never found it rough.
How rough are the other 2 woodies? I'm making my first visit in May & have an issue with rough coasters.
Wildcat has very cushioned seats, but it's an extremely bumpy ride. Lightning Racer is pretty smooth. It just lacks forces.
im excited to ride it in july
Enjoy!
Of Hershey's three woodies, this is my favorite and the one I'd be most upset if it got RMCed. Either of the GCIs could use a RMC or Titan Track makeover (especially Wildcat) but please Hershey leave this beauty alone!
Agreed!
Comet definitely qualifies as a classic PTC and is safe. Possibly for another 30 or 40 years. I think Lightning Racer's duelling is superb and should also be left in place. Wildcat would be my choice for an RMC treatment, but I wonder if its status as GCI's first coaster would create resistance to the idea.
At 3:24 you said Comet had 200 ft heights.
I said lack of inversions and 200 ft heights. I intended for the lack of to be interpreted before the 200 ft as well. Sorry about that.
@@CanobieCoaster Sorry I misinterpreted that! Love your content! 👍
I rode this second to back row last year and it did nothing for me, honestly prefer lightning racer because even though it also has no airtime, it at least has the racing.
I haven't ridden Comet with the new trains, but I got some good airtime at the start in the past.
Got a better experience today I rode back row it was much more fun
Nice!
Just rode it for the first time today
Nice!
What the section of the ride did you like the most?
2nd Drop
was this better than lightning Racer?
Lightning Racer jumped ahead of it in 2022.
I remember when it was the scariest train in the park
Way back!
Is Comet better than Phoenix?
Nowhere close for me.
If you want good airtime, there's a bright yellow thing in every single shot that does it far better. And with how much that second half drags, it's not worth the wait. It's not a *bad* ride, but there are just far better options at Hershey. But keep enjoying this, because old woodies are still good woodies.
P.S. I miss the kink in the lift hill. Made the ride have some character.
And this is great airtime if you're under 48".
They should get rid of the trim brakes, and lower the height of the second turnaround. That might improve the pacing. It's strange to see trim brakes on a turnaround, since usually there are anti rollback things
All they need to do is disable the trim if they want to speed it up.
Very rough and shaky in 2024. Blows my mind that anyone would describe it as smooth or well taken care of
It was smooth last year. It's a shame if it got rough with the new trains.
@@CanobieCoaster I didn't know about there being new trains. But the restraints were tight on the thighs, even as a relatively skinny person, the train or the wood felt like it was flexing to fit the track (very strange feeling), and my body was shuttering throughout the ride
what about Wildcat?
It's decent up front, but awful elsewhere.
So basically if the trim wasn't there it would be a much better ride. A coaster neutered for no reason (well, longevity, but certainly not for the customers).
Yes
it also have a max speed of 50mph
Yes it does.
When I got back on this coaster last year I’m in the minority of people finding it rather boring which I almost feel nervous saying it
I like the first few drops in back but that's it.
Look its my oldest credit
Nice!
Hated the back row on this one
Too rough?
Comet is fun but it was better when it had no seatbelts
When was that?
Like 10 years ago
i do not like comet, it’s just so boring and it never delivers for me, comet it overrated and i find it to be the worst coaster i’m the park. the seatbelt ruins the airtime
I'm sorry you aren't a fan!
@@CanobieCoaster although i do have a soft spot for it because it was my brothers first rollercoaster that wasn’t a kiddie coaster
The only thing about it I like is the smoothness
What are the differences between when you give a coaster a 6 out of 10, when you give a coaster a 6.5 out of 10, and when you give a coaster a 7 out of 10?
Decent to good
Would you like to go again to Hersheypark?
Yes
Imagine giving three wooden coasters, one a 6 out of 10, one a 6.5 out of 10, and one a 7 out of 10. What are the differences between a 6, a 6.5, and a 7? What do you think?
Decent to Good.
But I was asking you the differences between a 6, a 6.5, and a 7?
6 means...
6.5 means...
7 means...
6 is decent and 7 is good.