The ride
Mini-Comet is a steel kiddie roller coaster built by B.A. Schiff & Associates on its Trailer platform at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania, having opened to the public in 1974. After 52 seasons of operation it remains one of the defining attractions on the Hersheypark midway, drawing repeat riders who track every subtle change to its trains, restraints and station soundtrack.
On paper the ride is a serious thrill machine. It climbs 15 ft above the park before pitching forward into its first descent. That opening drop measures 8 ft, long enough to pin riders against their restraints and pull a prolonged moment of weightless airtime over the lap-bar. enthusiast trip-planning resources
Coasters from B.A. Schiff & Associates have a recognizable signature in track shaping, train design and the way transitions are paced. Riders familiar with other B.A. Schiff & Associates installations will pick up on the same DNA in Mini-Comet's layout, particularly through its station design and the sound profile of the running gear. As a Trailer, it sits within a recognizable family of attractions and benefits from years of refinement applied to similar installations elsewhere.
Plan to ride Mini-Comet early in the day or during the final hour before park close, when standby waits at Hersheypark typically drop. Single-rider lines and early-entry ticketing programs, when available at Hersheypark, are usually the fastest ways to get repeat rides on a busy day.