Hershey Park

[chrissyt27]

Anyone been to Hershey? We are looking at going the first week of May. The park is just open on weekends. We would be staying at the BlueGreen timeshare which is the Suites at Hershey. We have points we need to use, points from last year and some from this year.
I am looking over trip advisor reviews right now.
Thoughts on the park? Anything else to do?
Thanks

edited to add.
We are driving from IN and staying a fulll week. The Park is just open Saturday and Sunday. It's just DH and I.
This is a super last minute trying to use up our points and not have to fly anywhere.

 

[M&N]

The water park part will not be open but Hershey Park has great coasters. Chocolate World is free. There's a museum downtown.
How long will you be here?
Look up Lancaster County. It depends on the ages of kids. The Strasburg Train is fun. There's a train museum. Lots about the Amish.

 

[cassiez76]

is there a lot of rides for a 2 year old?

we were going to go in july while we're up in baltimore visiting family and i'm just not sure. i don't mind walking around and not riding coasters while hubby does.

is there stuff like at WDW to look at while we wait? chocolate world is so right up my alley!

i've looked at the website and i just can't figure this one out! i hold everything to WDW standards (when they were high ) and nobody can help me out irl!

 

[chrissyt27]

We are driving from IN and staying a fulll week. The Park is just open Saturday and Sunday. It's just DH and I.

 

[java]

Some other things to do in the area-

Gettysburg
Lancaster county- Amish country
http://www.padutchcountry.com/index.asp
there are some great ideas here

there is a cavern right near hershey that we enjoyed touring
outlet shopping
Cabelas is nearby if you are into "outdoor sportsman" kind of stuff- we stopped after going someplace and it was a fun stop off.(hmm where were we? Oh I think a flea market out there)
Oh and Turkey Hill ice cream is opening up an "experience" tour sometime in the Spring. I don't know exactly when but we are planning on checking that out as soon as it opens
http://www.turkeyhillexperience.com/

 

[Pikester]

Took the family to Hershey Park last June and had a great time (drove from NH). The trip was extra special because I got to meet some fellow DISers. DH commented that this was the second best park compared to Disney in cleanliness. DH and DS13 loved the thrill rides a few of which DS9 even enjoyed.



cassiez76: Not sure how tall your 2 yr old is but if you look under the rides section of the Hershey website and click on kiddie rides it shows 27 of them. Some are for kids under 36" tall and others are for kids between 36"-42" Just click on the ride for details. My kids were 9 and 12 when we went so I didn't look too closely at those rides so I can't tell you what they look like.

 

[java]

Oh and Cassie my favorite thing about Hershey is that the kiddie rides are all over the place- not just in one "land". So if your husband wants to ride a coaster there are usually3 or 4 kiddie rides nearby for the 2 year old to go on. I spent a lot of time on the train the year I was there with a 2 year old.

 

[gracie1]

We are going to hershey the first weekend in April, but the parks are closed. We are going for Disney on Ice at the Giant Center. We do plan on going to Chocolate World. How much time should we allow for that? We want to do the make your own candy bar and dessert as well. Is it packed there on a Saturday when the parks are not yet open?

 

[cassiez76]

oh great! i'll check it out!

i think thomas needs to have a growth spurt before july! he's 35", so i'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[PaulaSue]

OP, I live near and we have season passes often.

Everyone else covered what I was going to post. Get a AAA tour guide and also know there are some wineries near if you like touring.

 

[sparks19]

Wow so many people coming to visit my neck of the woods lol

hershey park is a lot of fun. I want to take our DD there this summer. There are lots of rides and things to do for all ages.

Chocolate world is neat and if you are going to do all the different attractions there plan for at least a few hours. not a whole day event but probably half a day.

You can also check out lancaster county (where I live). it's not very far from Hershey and there is lots to see and do here.

but also take a tour around hershey. lots of little novelty things to see and do

 

[gracie1]

I agree with going to Lancaster PA. It is so nice there!! I was going to do the hot air balloon ride last year but had a change in plans, so I am planning on doing the hot air balloon ride in Lancater this year sometime. Probably in October. I just think that would be beautiful.

Thank you for the info on the chocolate factory! I didn't think it would be a whole day thing, but didn't know if it would be crazy busy there or not.

 

[sparks19]

It depends on the time of year. if it's during prime tourist season it could be packed on a saturday but then again I went with my dad on a sunday and there was no one there.

Gracie if you come in october it might not be too bad because people will probably be doing the halloween nights at hershey Park instead.

Oh man a hot air balloon ride in october would be spectacular. With all the leaves changing colors. beautiful. take some photos and share with us LOL

 

[gracie1]

It depends on the time of year. if it's during prime tourist season it could be packed on a saturday but then again I went with my dad on a sunday and there was no one there.

Gracie if you come in october it might not be too bad because people will probably be doing the halloween nights at hershey Park instead.

Oh man a hot air balloon ride in october would be spectacular. With all the leaves changing colors. beautiful. take some photos and share with us LOL

I think the hot air balloon ride would be awesome!! We are going to do the hershey factory tour in April (first weekend).
And I hope in October to do the balloon ride and the weekend in Lancaster.

I don't know why we have never been to Hershey before. We live in Delaware! lol

 

[woodkins]

Just a heads up that the weekend of May 6-8 there is a HUGE cheerleading competition in Hershey & the competition package includes tix to Hershey Park, so if that is the weekend you are planning on visiting you may want to rethink it.

 

[chrissyt27]

Thanks everyone. we aren’t really sure what we are doing. looks like we will miss out on the Spring specials as our hotel is booked. I really wanted a stress free vacation, but a few days of fun.
Wineries sound fun!
we are AAA memebers


I didn’t know Gettysburg was so close.


Thanks for the tip about the first weekend in May, cheering competitions do not sound fun at all. I did that at Disney during Pop Warner and never again!

 

[chrissyt27]

DH and both love rides but are both larger people. I saw this on another thread. How Pooh Friendly are the roller coasters? We have NO issues at Disney. I just hate to go and not be able to do things. Will they kick us off? or is it more of you can squeeze in? DH is about 270pds. He was kicked off one of the Launch type rides at a local park, the kind where it shoots you up on a bench seat.

 

[chrissyt27]

One more question. If we do not plan to do the water park at all, do you think 1 day would be enough? and do the Giant Foods ticket deals work in May? I saw June-Aug. Wondering if I should just get them at AAA and do Sunday and then go for the early get in to the park Saturday night.

 

[Desnik]

We love Hershey Park and even have a fan info site. We have tons of info and pictures, even menus! Check it out:
www.hersheyinfo.com

 

[luxfirsttrip]

W live an hour away from Hershey and have been there many times. The park is great and as many said there is also chocolate world and a zoo. Lancaster is not too far. There is lots of outlet shopping in Lancaster. Some in Hershey, but not much. Harrisburg is really close and has the Whittaker Center (sp???) fun science center for kids with Imax. and other fun things to do.

I have stayed at the Blue/Green Resort in Hershey. They have an indoor pool and a small game room. The only negative thing I have to say is they have the most uncomfortable beds I have ever slept on. They say they are pillow top, but I found the pull out couch was more comfortable. You might want to bring something extra.

Have a great time!