Any Hershey, PA experts?

[kandb]

My children have the last week off in April for spring break. We are thinking of going to Hershey. If we go at the beginning of the week, we will go to Chocolate world, go on the Hershey tour, and a few museums in the area. If we go towards the end, it says that Hershey Park is open on Friday, April 29th. My children would love to go. I am wondering why it's open on a Friday in April. Does anyone know why? If we go, should we expect long lines? Any discounts to be had? Thanks for any info.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

According to their website's calendar, April 29th is the beginning of the "summer season" - they're open Fri/Sat/Sun from then until the last week-ish of May, then they're open every day until September. It's a little early for a northeast theme park to start regular operations (at least in my experience) but it's not horribly unusual.

They also run "Springtime In The Park" the first couple of weekends in April.

Can't help you with crowd predictions or discounts. Haven't been to Hersheypark in a few years now.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

it is the normal opening for Hershey. never been on opening day but most schools in area are still going. for a possible discount check with the Giant market in Hersey and see if discount tickets are being sold.

 

[kandb]

ok, thanks

 

[la79al]

We're about an hour away from Hershey and a lot of the schools around here are closed the 29th and May 2 for some reason.

 

[jenhum]

We are season pass holders at Hershey and the first few weekends that they are open for the summer are a GREAT time to go. We typically go a lot in May and June, and then hardly at all in the second half of July and August since it's so hot and crowded. The least crowded times (most weekends in May will be 10 min waits for almost everything) are of course the first and last 2 hours they're open. If you are able to go on Saturday instead of Friday, you can take advantage of their preview program, where if you buy a ticket for Saturday, you can go for free for the last 2.5 hours Friday night. The Giant grocery stores sell discounted tickets I think. You can follow them on Facebook, they occasionally post ticket deals, but I think they are usually for multi day tickets.

A couple other things- there is an app that's pretty good and has ride wait times. If you get there when the park opens, head all the way to the back to Laff Track first- it's the newest ride and pretty fun, but it's slow loading and the lines get really long. You really shouldn't have a problem with any other waits in April/May. Have fun!

 

[kandb]

Thanks for all the great advice. We can go Friday, 4/29 or Saturday, 4/30. I am "assuming" Friday would be less crowded. I will start looking for discount tickets.

 

[disny_luvr]

I live in Hershey, and as others have stated, April 29th is opening day for the season. Friday will be emptier than Saturday but Saturday shouldn't be too bad. I do know that the neighboring town of Palmyra has off of school on Friday so that may add slightly to the crowds. Honestly, I think a lot depends on the weather. Have fun! I spend a good chunk of my summer at HP.

 

[kandb]

Anyone know the approx. price to get into the park for a single day?

 

[lvthemouse]

Hershey Park is a great clean family fun amusement park. We go every year and our kids go for school field trips. We love it. Just a word of caution about going on a Friday in April or May- school field trips tend to make the park packed. The last two years my girls have gone on school trips on Fridays and they spent most of their day waiting in line and only got to ride a few rides. They did say the park started to clear out late afternoon as most schools had to get back. Hershey offers (at lest they always have in the past) an after 5:00 discount ticket. Something to consider.

 

[yeahdisney]

I think on the Hershey web site they had an email alert to sign up for and we got a discounted ticket to buy during the season while it was closed to use when it opened for the season later in that year. When we went the water ride lines were super long, we did the ride side first then arrived on the water park side. And I remember tons of cement and it was scorching hot cement. Bring water shoes or sandals.

 

[Alexle2007]

We are season passholders and the crowds on the weekends are not bad in May and early June. We never go on a Fri since DS is in school. Our PTA just received a flyer to for ticket program/fundraising opportunity from them. It looks like gate rates are $63.80 (age 9-54), $40.80 (age 3-8 and 55-69) and $26.80 (age 70+). We plan to join the program to offer our families an opportunity for discounted tickets. Many times the Boy Scouts of Central PA offer discounted tickets, but be aware of the fees. The waterpark won't be open in early May (it opens Memorial Day weekend). Definitely do Laff Trak. It's a unique roller coaster. DS is excited since this is the 1st year he will be a Twizzler and able to ride the big coasters. He is dying to get on Skyrush.

Even though we are only an hour away from Hershey, we typically spend the night and make it into a weekend get away. We typically stay at the Comfort Suites in Hummelstown. DS really wants to stay at The Hotel Hershey sometime.

We love the park!!!!

 

[JaimeK]

You can buy a 1 day ticket and go the evening before also. You get admission 2.5 hours before close.

In case any adults in the group need a break, the Hershey spa is AMAZING.

Oh and the Troegs brewery has surprisingly good food along with the good beer, and is family friendly.

 

[kandb]

Hershey Park is a great clean family fun amusement park. We go every year and our kids go for school field trips. We love it. Just a word of caution about going on a Friday in April or May- school field trips tend to make the park packed. The last two years my girls have gone on school trips on Fridays and they spent most of their day waiting in line and only got to ride a few rides. They did say the park started to clear out late afternoon as most schools had to get back. Hershey offers (at lest they always have in the past) an after 5:00 discount ticket. Something to consider.

Thanks for advice about school trips, sometimes they can crowd the parks more then regular crowds. Maybe we will do Saturday instead with preview on Friday night. I guess we will have to see what the weather is like also. Thanks everyone for the great advice.