INTRO:
Its hard to impress me. With all these huge coasters at Six Flags and Cedarpoint, I wasnt too sure that Dorney would have what I needed. Steel Force always catered to my liking, Talon was up there, but I really didnt do anything else... until this year, when Dorney released Hydra: The Revenge. Wow was I psyched when I heard about this... and finally they removed Hercules. A B&M Floorless was going in its place. Nice.
Well, opening day came, and I watched the reviews flow into different websites including this one. I read the majority of them...
Something had to be wrong.
Mostly everyone was saying "oh its a letdown" and "not too thrilling"... I was shocked. It looked so beautiful. I thought to myself "why am I basing this on other peoples opinions? Ill go ride it for myself".
And thats what I did on Tuesday, June 21st. I hit up Dorney Park.
THE RIDE:
When you first enter the park, you see this green monster towering above all else... or so I wished... its really small and slightly on the short side. Wow, could the reviewers be right?
I entered the queue with disappointment on my mind. It didnt help that no one wanted to ride it with me either. I strapped myself in the chair, sat my head back, and waited for the familiar "dispatch". The medusa-style floor dropout always impresses me. We start to roll...
roll over that is.
This is one of the main highlights of this ride... the JoJo Roll... it hangs you upside-down for just the right amount of time and then lets you loose around a corner and into the chainlift...
When you reach the top, its doesnt look too impressive, especailly if you went on Steel Force beforehand. But the drop packs a mean punch, especailly in the back. You get whipped straight toward the restraints and dont sit back down until youre getting sent around the "dive loop". This is somewhat bumpy, but the pure speed you have going around it is disorienting and extremely fun. Before you have a chance to catch your breath, another element comes up. The zero-g. This one might be the best one Ive ever experienced. Alot better than Medusas to say the least. After you get thrown into that one, you get whirled into a corkscrew with loads of speed to burn. Ive never felt a smoother corkscrew in my life. It was great. Afterwards, the tight cobra roll comes into play... Wow. This thing is wicked. I love it though. In fact, I love all of this ride. The first half is done...
The second half starts with a cool turn that takes you under the lift and swooping over a hill that provides loads of floater air. Youre pretty slowed down by now, but the second corkscrew is still intense... but very smooth. Then you slide into a helix which isnt too slow, but not too fast. Its just right to end the ride with a sweet finish.
When I hit the brakes, I needed to go on it again. The ride is nuts, and deserves more credit than what it is getting. I loved the ride more than anything else in the park, other than Steel Force. This is definately re-ridable.
OTHER DETAILS:
The color scheme looks even better from up close. The colors blend very well with each other. Also, the scenery is pretty cool in the front half with loads of shrubs and trees... When they take your picture, they take it in two places: one upside-down in the JoJo Roll and one coming out of the first corkscrew. Be sure to smile there.
Also, if you want a wicked ride, sit in the very back. Its my personal favorite and its also the wildest. If you want a good view and lots of floater air sit in the front. If you want a little bit of both the middle is the place for you.
Hydra is an excellent ride, do not miss it!
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