I live 90 minutes from Hershey and go to the park several times a year (hint, Hershey is beautiful at Christmas, and free unless you ride some of the rides they sell tickets for. But admission is free).
Mickey88 and I agree, consistently the best ticket prices are at Giant. If you don't have tickets, go find a Giant (in the Hershey area is fine). See if they have a special going for Giant Card holder (they often do). Go to customer service. Sign up for a Giant Card. Buy tickets. Throw the Giant Card away (or save it for next year). Two weeks ago they had a special at my local Giant, I think it was $25 for an adult ticket.
Hershy's gone through an amazing period, as do many smalller parks, where they try to 'Disney-ize." They have more characters, more shows, and yes, character meals. Avoid the character meals. Whadda rippoff.
But strategy is amazingly like WDW. Get there early, at open if possible. Hit the newer rides first. Also catch the ride lull around noon. And expect a slight lull between about four in the afternoon (when families get tired and head home for the day) and about six (when nightime folk are inbound).
Good stuff (understanding I'm not a "coaster person"):
The Giant Wheel is a great idea. You go very high in the air and can view the majority of the park. I often take people there first when their new, to give them the layout.
SDDLooper: An original. I don't know by today's standards if it's even a good ride. But you don't feel like you've been to Hershey if you miss this.
The Comet (old wooden coaster). Nice, not too fast, yet major thrill. It's a coaster for people that hate the speed and gut-wrenching attitude of newer coasters. I can get off the Comet and eat something.
The Kissing Tower: A combo of the above. It's a Hershey original, you can see a lot. And if you're with someone you like, a smooch at the top is good luck!
The Monorail: This loses some of its luster if you've been to WDW lately, but it takes you over the park and right by the Chocolate factory. AFter doing this for thirty years, I still find the factory and its earmark silos, along with the Hershey Kiss lamposts on Hershey's main street, to be facinating.
And finally, my two favorites:
Chocolate World. Not part of Hershey Park per se, but more an advertisement for the chocolate store beside it, it's campy, old, silly, and non-exciting. And I love it! Look for major deals in the store. We almost always buy our Halloween candy there (chocolate freezes).
AND
ZooAmerica. DW hates zoos (she's a biologist and has disdain for caged animals) but even she enjoys ZooAmerica. All of their animals were taken because for some reason or other (usually injury) they're unable to return to the wild. I wouldn't pay the ten buck stand alone charge to enter minus the park (or whatever they're charging these days) but as an escape from the mid-day heat in the park (it's old with lots of cement), it's a pretty amazing array, including bison, otters, black bears, and a reptile house that will make you squirm. Personal opinoin only: the caged American Eagle is very sad. While I applaud HP for taking in this creature that could not be re-introduced to the wild, it's kind of sad to see it cooped up. But beyond that (I just close my eyes and walk by), I love ZooAmerica.
Hope that helps. Enjoy Central PA! Don't miss the "STuff your own Teddy Bear" store. We never buy anything (their prices make DIsney look cheap), but the "Fluff Machine" with the little bear stirring is to die for.
Pat
