hershey park

[dpratt68]

Trying to plan a trip to Hershey this summer. How many days do I need to do the park and see some of the area?

 

[dpratt68]

bumping-anyone been recently?

 

[Mkrop]

We have been numerous times. We live 2 hours away but stay over all the time. If you are staying at the Hershey Lodge, which I totally recommend take advantage of Early Entrance, just like WDW it is worth it. Even if you are not staying the night before if you can get there early enough go to the Lodge first and buy your tickets from them (cheapest around) and mention you are staying that night and you will get in early. Depending on the crowds we are usually able to tackle the park in a day. The other stuff, can't comment on because we are such amusement park freaks we don't bother. Take a break during the day and get hand stamped and do Chocolate World Tour midday. Nice air conditioned break! Hope that helps. Feel free to ask anymore. Do you know when you are going yet? We love the weekdays in June, except for some class trips the place is empty!

 

[dpratt68]

Thanks for the great info. we are planning on going the first week of august. When we finish in PA we are going to MD to see a baseball game and maybe enjoy six flags baltimore(we will have season passes). At this point I'm trying to figure out how many days to book in PA and how many in MD. I also heard if you get to the park after a certain time you can enjoy the evening in the park as well as the next day for the price of a one day ticket. Do you know anything about this?
Right now i am looking at staying at Country Inn and Suites in Harrisburg. Any other info would be great.
thanks again

 

[tnkr mom]

We did Hershey last spring and was a nice time, however wanted to note the area is not very handicapped accessible; if thats an issue for you. My DS broke his ankle 2 days before we went & was in a wheelchair. Ramps were few &Choc World didn't have auto doors! I even wrote a letter with no response, so I was not impressed. But we did have a "sweet" time! You really do smell it in the air. And you can definetly do the Park and Choc World in one day. Dont forget Valley Forge is about 1 hr away if your into the history of it. King of Prussia Mall is huge too and Philadelphia another 1/2 hour down the road!!!! Have fun!!!!!!!!

 

[lovindonald]

This is one place I have always wanted to go to. I now have a peanut allergic child and I kind of think this would not be the best place to take her. I will have to live vicariously through all of you.

 

[Mkrop]

Harrisburg is about a half hour outside of Hershey so I am not sure how concerned you are about traveling. The only place we have ever stayed is the Hershey Lodge (usually combine it with my husband's trade shows) and once at the Hershey Hotel (anniversary getaway)

I did not know about the Six Flags in Baltimore. Thanks for the heads up on that. We could definitely try there for a quick weekend getaway.

 

[Mkrop]

And yes forgot to comment on the evening in the park deal. We did that and it was great. Many people had left for the day so it was less crowded, kind of scooped things out and then got up early the next day and got a lot done becuase we had already done some of the rides.

 

[java]

The perks of the Lodge are that early morning entrance- The "free" Hershey bars for everyone in your party, free mini golf onsite. There is an indoor/outdoor pool that is nice. The food choices in the hotel are really pretty good. The rooms though- not so great. If you do go make sure you get SMOKE FREE. We stayed in a smoke free room- but in a smoking building(it was all that was left) And it was awful. We have also stayed at the Hershey hotel(paying $$$$$) and all we could keep thinking was "do they realize this is in PA? not NYC?" While it is nice I don't think it is worth the $$$$(jmho) We also have stayed at the Comfort Inn that is right nearby and that is nice- as is the suites hotel nearby. They are just 5 minutes from the park.
Oh and this is good as a preview evening one day kind of park. It is a lot of walking! For a single park it is BIG walking up hills. I don't get how everything is UP hill but I always felt like we were pushing that darn double UP a hill. The tour is cute too - we do it everytime just kind of a must do for our day. Now I don't know how old your kids are but you can do another day with the combo ticket- and head over the Dutch Wonderland(much much smaller and geared towards the under 10 set- but even my then 11 found stuff to go on and liked it.- for a "baby" park.) There is also the Strasburg Railway near dutch wonderland(in june they do the day out with Thomas!) But it is a nice "train" place anyday if your kids are into that. Hey I just realized I am talking kids and I don't even know if you are traveling with children?

 

[michboro]

They are building a new Boardwalk area with a big water park inside of Hershey Park, that will be opening up this summer to celebrate their 100th anniversary, so you may want 2 days in the park. They also have a zoo area that is included with park admission.

 

[Desnik]

We love Hershey park and have gone many times. We love the Hershey Lodge and won't stay anywhere else. One tip is if you are staying at the Lodge, when you make your ressie request a Tower room. Those are the rooms in the main building. They seem to be alittle nicer than the rooms in the "wings". Also we love having the restaurants right there. We usually do 2 nights at Hershey. The first day we arrive we get there early and go to Chocolate World. We do the tour, 3D show, shopping, factory tour, lunch, Trolley tour and then hang at the resort. The next day we spend in the actual park. Then we leave the next day. Sometimes we will go into the park the night before we plan to spend the whole day. They do give you free entry if you buy a ticket for the next day. The way it works if the park closes at 10pm, you go to the park about 3 hours before at 7pm and buy a full day ticket for the next day, they let you in free that night. It's really great. The park itself is so nice. Very clean and friendly workers. As someone mentioned this year is the 100th year celebration and they have added a lot to the park. We have also goine to the Zoo and Museum. The museum was actually pretty cool. Haven't gotten to the gardens yet. I just wanted to add that if you don't stay at the Hershey Lodge, I would definately stay somewhere closer to the park. It gets crowded in the summer and a lot of times there is a huge line of cars trying to get in. We have also stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn. It is really nice and about 5 mins. from the park. Here are some links that might be helpful:

http://www.hersheypa.com/attractions/hersheypark/index.asp

http://www.hersheypa.com/accommodations/hershey_lodge/index.html

http://www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld/

http://www.hiltongardeninn.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MDTHEGI

 

[java]

They are building a new Boardwalk area with a big water park inside of Hershey Park, that will be opening up this summer to celebrate their 100th anniversary, so you may want 2 days in the park. They also have a zoo area that is included with park admission.

WHAT??!!! See you miss one year and look! I have to go check that out. Where the heck did they build it there isn't that much land there? And is it by that soaker coaster that we still have not riden because it is always so crowded.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Yep, the water area will be by the soaker coaster. We went last August and saw the construction area. The "kiddie" themed area looked very Dr. Suess-ish with lots of color going on

I know there were artist's renderings of the water additions on the Hershey Park website last summer when I was planning what to ride. I wouldn't really call it a water park as such, just a really cool water play area, since it's in the middle of the existing park, not it's own separate area.

 

[Desnik]

Take a look at the info on the links in my previous post. If you click on the Boardwalk info you will see the artist renditions. It is a water park alright! A mini one let's say. I thought it was one huge play area, but it's more. Really cool! I also noticed they raised the admission price a lot. But, it doesn't seem to have seperate admission to the water area so that's good. Also I was wrong. They now let you in earlier if you do the evening free thing with park admission for the next day. Here's a link for that info:
http://www.hersheypa.com/attractions/hersheypark/admission/#after

 

[Desnik]

Here's a link to the BW page. Click the titles and you will see the artist rendition. Roll over it and they give a description:
http://www.hersheypa.com/attractions/hersheypark/100th/boardwalk.php

 

[java]

oooohhhhhh Mommy likey!!! I think I'll have to book an overnight for the summer. Holy smokes though more walking! LOL That play structure thing looks really cool- but a total nightmare to keep your eyes on your kids.
The last time we went was last April I guess(the easter thing I think...) It was the first day they had that Reeses ride open and well... a girl and her reeses just can't be beat. Come on a ride that gives you candy!!! What's not to love!

 

[loriandmatt]

Hershey park is quality entertainment. not WDW, but as close as this WDW addict has come. generally nice staff, with very nicely kept grounds (flowers and plants everywhere and trash is kept after.)

they keep adding more stuff. we are about a 2 hour drive away and we have been able to do the park in one day and feel comfortable doing so. with the addition of a 2.5 YO to our family and with all the added rides waterpark options there, we may find that we need more time there.

We have often camped at their campground. very nice and it affords us luxury of being able to hit the park for a while at a relaxed pace and then go back the next day for a few hours.

if i were planning a visit and wanted to see some local sites, i would plan for a two day to 3 day outing.

NOTE that many local businesses offer discount tickets AND the hershey website has a two day park ticket that is really a bargin.

 

[dpratt68]

great info!!! Thanks to all who posted. One more question-how do I get the discounted tickets from the businesses ahead of time? or Did someone post on these boards once that they were in charge of purchasing group rate tickets for their place of employment? I thought they said to email them if we were interested in such ticket. Does anyone recall this?

 

[FormrCastMbr]

We are about 2 1/2 hours away and always stay 2 nights...we may stay 3 this coming summer just to have some extra pool time. I have stayed at the Lodge, the campground and believe the local Days Inn. I like the Lodge the best...but, IMHO, the food at the hotel was not very good.

They are celebrating their 100th bday this year, this is why they built the new water park/boardwalk...

They have the best coasters and we always take advantage (free admittance with a park ticket...I think it starts at 7pm) of going to the park the night before our full day...

I am rambling as always....hopefully what I said will help!!!

 

[Kycha]

great info!!! Thanks to all who posted. One more question-how do I get the discounted tickets from the businesses ahead of time? or Did someone post on these boards once that they were in charge of purchasing group rate tickets for their place of employment? I thought they said to email them if we were interested in such ticket. Does anyone recall this?

I think this is the thread you are looking for. There is a lot of info about Hershey/Lancaster. And if I recall correctly, someone did mention buying group rate tickets.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1313490&page=4