Calling Hershey, PA experts

[melk]

We're planning a family trip there this June and are wondering just how many days we should plan on being there. We want to do Hershey park, chocolate world, some of Amish country, and anything else you all might recommend!

Also, any good hotels to recommend?

Thank you!

 

[gr8tpanther]

You can do Chocolate Factory and the park in 1 day. Give another day to tour Amish Country. Depending on whatever else you want to do. I don't really know what else there is to do there. The park, chocolate town, Amish Country. That about covers it.

 

[HOGFAN]

did 2 days there last year. it was plenty

 

[glass-slipper]

How old are your kids? They may enjoy the Indian Echo caverns which is nearby. At Hershey there is the Hershey museum, the zoo, and Hershey Gardens where they have a small butterfly house. You may even enjoy a show at the Sight and Sound theater in Lancaster. We always used to stay at the Hershey Lodge and enjoyed it! Have fun!!

 

[N.Bailey]

You can do the parks and the factory in a day. The tour isn't really of the factory where the chocolate is made. It's just a building they made with a 15 minute ride, if that, (in cars with speakers) to show you the process.

I believe they do sell a ticket where you can go the evening of your 1st night there and the entire next day. I'll go look around their site real quick and post back if I see it. I just checked it out and here is what I got:

Preview Plan - Be Our Guest!

Purchase a regular full-day admission ticket for tomorrow, 2-1/2* hours prior to Park closing, and be our guest FREE for the remainder of that evening. (*3-1/2 hours for 11 pm closing)

6 PM Closing - Admission after 3:30 PM
8 PM Closing - Admission after 5:30 PM
10 and 11 PM Closing - Admission after 7:30 PM

You can also buy combo tickets and such, here is the link:
http://www.hersheypa.com/attractions/hersheypark/admission/index.html

Oh, and there are many Giant grocery stores in the general area which sell tickets at a substantial discount. You can only get 1 day admissions at Giant though. I do think you'd be allowed to use that one ticket for the Preview Plan - Be out Guest, plan though.

If you stayed at the Hershey Hotel, they have many beauty treatments, spa, etc... that you can have done. I've never done it (we're local - why stay in a hotel?), but I guess they use chocolate in many of the treatments if not all of them.

As for the Amish, I can't really say I recall too many in Hershey, but DH is saying there are quite a few. IMO, if it's Amish you want to see, you should head east to Lancaster. There are lots of outlets in Lancaster and a short drive north of Lancaster is Reading where there are many outlets.

Dutch Wonderland is also in Lancaster if you're at all interested in that.

BTW: The zoo is included in the price of the Hershey ticket. It's a walk thru zoo. Nothing fantastic (not like the Philly zoo), but it's nice to have that option too. IMO, it's not worth paying a separate admission price for it though, so if you want to see it, do it the day you plan on visiting the park.

 

[melk]

Thanks for all the info so far. I do have another question, is it substantially busier during the weekend? We were thinking of going over the weekend but we'll avoid it if the lines are too long.
Our kids are all under 10 so the park is a must, maybe a couple of hours at the zoo.
DH wants to go to Gettysburg but I'm afraid the kids will rebel on that one!!

 

[mbw12]

Depending on the time of year that you go, you could also go to the Pennsylvaina REnaissance Faire, which I hear (never been) is a fun day for the family. I believe it is in the late summer or early Fall....but not real sure.

As for hotels, we stayed at The Hotel Hershey and loved it. Very nice. We had friends that stayed at the Hershey Lodge and they said that they liked it also.

 

[N.Bailey]

I will NEVER go on a weekend again. You'll spend 3 to 4 times as long waiting to ride rides as you would on say a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. These are the only 3 days we go anymore. It's made up of a lot of locals and well, locals have the weekends off for the most part. I skip Mondays and Friday because sometimes many will take these days during summer months for a longer weekend. They would probably be less crowded than a Saturday or Sunday though if they were you're only other option. Stay away from the weekends!!!

We never really have to wait too long to ride anything.

 

[melk]

How about in April? I notice that they are open one weekend in April. Is it too cold? Is it crowded?

 

[N.Bailey]

I've never gone in April, but April can be hit or miss temp wise in PA. Some years it's still super cold and others, it's starting to warm. Unless you can do a spare of the moment trip, I wouldn't plan on April.

BTW: The last blizzard we had in our area happened in the month of April (in the '90s, not last April). I remember it well cause it was around hubby's bday. We got something like 3 ft. prolly closer to 3 1/2 ft.

 

[melk]

I've never gone in April, but April can be hit or miss temp wise in PA. Some years it's still super cold and others, it's starting to warm. Unless you can do a spare of the moment trip, I wouldn't plan on April.

BTW: The last blizzard we had in our area happened in the month of April (in the '90s, not last April). I remember it well cause it was around hubby's bday. We got something like 3 ft. prolly closer to 3 1/2 ft.

Okay, April's out, lol!!!

 

[disney junky]

You won't be able to spend 2 hours at the zoo. Trust me. Chocolate World actually has two attractions. One is the free sit down ride which you will see the chocolate process. Freebies at the end. There is also a 3D movie (for additional cost) there at chocolate world. Haven't seen it but some of my students work there. It's quite popular. They have recently renovated Chocolate World for kids to "make" chocolate stuff. I've watched lots of families having a really good time with it. Outside of Chocolate World, there is the Hershey Trolley. For a price, you will take a tour on air conditioned trollies (not on tracks) of the town. I believe it's about an hour in length. The guides dress in period costume. Someone mentioned the Renaissance Faire. Doesn't start until the end of the summer. You can, however, tour the winery where it is held. Within an hour is Gettysburg, a great tour. Really not many Amish in the area. Most of the Amish tourist stuff is really commercial and more towards Lancaster county. (Go to Intercourse is you want to see all the Amish tourist traps) I would avoid the park on weekends, more because of the tourists. Locals buy season passes and leave when it gets full. The day and a half package is nice. The park is very kid and family friendly, clean, and the rides really accomodate all ages. Hershey Park was actually the 23rd most attended park last year with 2.4 million visitors. Not bad considering it is open seasonally, though they do special Halloween and Christmas events. There is lots of golf if anyone is interested. If you would head to Lancaster county, there is a pretzel tour in Lititz. There are a couple caves within an hour, as someone previously mentioned. Lots of other good comments above.

 

[Desnik]

We love Hershey park and try to make it there every year. Last year was our first time going for Halloween and it was a blast! We usually go for 3 days and stay at the Hershey Lodge. If we include the Amish and outlet shopping, then we add an extra day. One place I would recommend is the strausburg railroad. We love it and it is so much fun, also the train shops. I'll add some links for ya. Our best trip was when we went for Mother's day. It was so nice. No crowds, great weather. The middle of the summer is always busier. We almost always go on a weekend and really don't find the lines to be too bad. The place has so many rides for young kids. Also the 3D show, trolley tour and chocolate tour are always a must for us. Really fun. I do miss the restaurant they use to have at chocolate world. Now it is just the food court and an upstairs deli type place. Still it is a great family place!

www.adventurehershey.com
http://www.choochoobarn.com/index2.html
www.DutchWonderland.com
www.strasburgrailroad.com

 

[Desnik]

I forgot to mention the Kiss works factory at chocolate world. DD was so excited she got a badge that said she was an employee. They give the kids hats and let them fill a case with kisses. It was really cute and the kids had a ball.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I've never gone in April, but April can be hit or miss temp wise in PA. Some years it's still super cold and others, it's starting to warm. Unless you can do a spare of the moment trip, I wouldn't plan on April.

BTW: The last blizzard we had in our area happened in the month of April (in the '90s, not last April). I remember it well cause it was around hubby's bday. We got something like 3 ft. prolly closer to 3 1/2 ft.

Actually, the blizzard was in March 1993. I will never forget it! But we have had snow as late as April (in the 70's or 80's). I do agree that April is wishy-washy. It could be warm as early summer or cold as the dead of winter.

We had a great day at Hersheypark, on the weekend of 4th of July, believe it or not. The park wasn't crowded at all (everyone must have been at the Jersey or Maryland shore). We have also gone mid-late June and had great weather and lower crowds.

You can certainly see the park, Chocolate World and the Zoo in a day. Two days would give you time see the Hershey Gardens and Milton S. Hershey Museum, plus give you more time to go on the rides at the park.

PaDutchCountry Visitor's Guide

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We've gone to Hershey Park several times, but the last time was August 2004. We spent a whole day there and got to do most everything we wanted. We would like to have had another day there so we could have taken a little more time and hit our favorites again. But 3 of my kids are older and we like to do all the rides. So if you are more selective you should be able to do the park in one day.