Hershey

[Trib]

Has anyone ever traded for Hershey Vacation Club?

 

[JimC]

No trade, but we live 90 minutes away. So if you have a question about Hershey I would be happy to help.

 

[goldilocks_63]

As a paying guest. It was lovely, but I thought the pool was cold, even though supposedly heated.

Very lovely, Very expensive, and I like Disney better.

Just my opinion, Goldi.

 

[Zimbubba]

The Hotel Hershey and the Hershey Vacation Club (?) are not the ame thing. The timeshare is next to the outlet center. It is a far cry from the Hotel.

 

[tigger2esq]

I live about 20 minutes from hershey and visit there frequesently (mainly to shop and visit the Hershey Spa at the Hershey Hotel. The Hershey Vacation CLub is indeed right next to the outlet center (not a very secluded or historic location if you ask me--kind of on a main 6 lane road right down from the amusement park and arena). Now--the hershey Hotel sits up by itself on a hill and is a beautiful old historic hotel and spa. very nice for a romantic getaway. (I would recommend spring when the hershey gardens are in full bloom) and most definitely book a Cocoa Hydrotherapy bath or Coco Butter/Chocolate massage at the spa!!!

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

I live about 30 min away from the Hershey Hotel and it is a very nice hotel. My husband and I go there for anniversary dinners and such.

I just heard the advertisement for Hersheypark while there for their Halloween nights and they claim to be the "Greenest and Cleanest park in America". IMO, it is filthy compared to Disney. I am always comparing the 2 and noticing the garbage scattered and the caked on gum and filth on the walkways. My husband just LOL when he heard that one. The previous poster was absolutely right, you can't compare the 2. But the gardens are lovely in the spring and the Hotel and restaurants are very nice.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I wouldn't say Hershey is filthy---I live about 90 min away, but maybe I've caught the park during good times ? Last time were were there was Aug 2001. Now, Six Flags, NJ I considered filthy the last time I was there. Very true though....Hershey can't touch WDW.
It's fun to visit Hershey during the holidays when it's all lit up and late spring is a wonderful time to catch all the flowers in bloom. The Hershey Hotel is gorgeous imo.

 

[colleen costello]

Hershey is a lovely park IF you don't compare it to WDW. When we last visited a few summers ago, we thought it was very clean and nicely maintained but thought of it as an amusement park -- like a Six Flags. It is not on the scale of WDW.

The whole area is rural and pretty. There is the amusement park, the faux factory tour (how they make the candy, you ride in a cocoa bean) and the little downtown area with shops, plus the outlet stores. Lots to do, really, for the middle of rural Pennsylvania! Just don't expect it to be "like Disney World."

One perk -- the whole area smells like chocolate.

 

[twinmomplus2]

We tried to exchange for there last summer. And were not able to do so. My sister lives in Lancaster county so we thought we would go down. There was nothing available. Interval said it was a new resort and did not have alot of trading going on. For us by the time I factored in the passes for 5.... Gas, spending $. It was cheaper to take the kids back to Disney. We all had AP's, Boardwalk had rooms... And Southwest had a great sale. So we never did it. ( yes, I am bad I did not see my sister!)

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Ok Ok.... it wasn't filthy, but I always compare everything to Disney and their cleanliness and Hershey does not even come close. I just keep thinking of the way Main Street sparkles when you arrive in the mornings. My husband also reminded me of the their chocolate "characters" w/ stains on their outfits and such. Not what I call the Greenest and CLEANEST park in America. But nice all the same..... As long as you don't compare........ and it does smell very good. I forgot about that.

 

[DVCPAT]

Originally posted by Disney Enthusiast
I just heard the advertisement for Hersheypark while there for their Halloween nights and they claim to be the "Greenest and Cleanest park in America". IMO, it is filthy compared to Disney. I am always comparing the 2 and noticing the garbage scattered and the caked on gum and filth on the walkways.

We also visited Halloween, I thought the park was very clean. Although the leaves covered most walkways, the park appeared well kept. I agree its not Disney but we had a great time.

We saw the new roller coaster supports and structures temporarily sitting in the Mr.Goodbar parking section. It’s nice to see them investing in new thrill rides.

 

[AnnaS]

We usually go go Hershey and/or Lancaster on a yearly basis for a quick getaway - one night or two in addition to our yearly vacation (3 /12 hrs.). We usually visit during the summer and find it a great place for a quick theme park adventure. We have also visited Hershey during Christmas. Great for younger children. Dress warm though. If you have younger children, two or three days are more than enough here. Does this timeshare also rent or trade on a nightly basis. I think a week here might be too much, yet it depends on ages of children and what you plan on doing.

 

[JimC]

If Disney is the happiest place on earth, Hershey is the sweetest place on earth. Yes there is a difference between the two, but Hershey has done a lot over the years to improve its performance and infrastructure. We enjoy going to Hershey and have so for years.

The resort we can trade into at Hershey is nothing special. It sits on the edge of a series of outlet stores adjacent to the park.

Hershey Hotel is a much better choice if you want something elegant. Even the Hershey Lodge on the other side of town is better (although it is more oreinted towards the convention crowd). The Hershey Hotel, built like everything in the town -- by Hershey himself, was constructed during the depression when there was no money to build much of anything and even fewer jobs. Here is the hotel's web site:

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

If you want an interesting look at Hershey the man, read "The Emperors of Chocolate". It tells the stories of Hershey and Mars in a very engaging way. Hershey, the town, was possibly the first well executed version of Walt's work/live community that was to be his Florida project.

The lasting presence of the heritage were the three trusts that hold his interest in the Hershey Company that benefit the Milton S Hershey school for orphans, the local public school system and the foundation that supports the other public institutions he created.

Some of my fellow PA DISers will probably remember the days when the factory tour was of the real thing and the free chocolate bar at the end was a, then, full size mild chocolate bar! Of course the monorail had a stop on that side of town back then as well.

For further information visit:

http://www.hersheypa.com

 

[twinmomplus2]

To answer the prior question, Yes it does rent on a nightly basis. (if members are not using it) I think there was a 2 night minimum? I just called the resort/timeshare directly.

 

[KarenB]

We live about an hour from Hershey and have been spending July 4th there these past few years. (great fireworks!)

As colleen wrote-it is a nice park and area but you really can't compare it to Disney. We just go for the day, have a great time, and enjoy what Hershey has to offer.

As for the resort next to the outlets, I would not use my points on it. From the outside it has no theming or atmosphere.....again it can't compare to WDW DVC resorts. I would shop around on the Internet and find a reduced cash price for somewhere nicer and bank the points.

JimC-yes, I can remember the original chocolate tour!!!!

Karen

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Originally posted by JimC
"If Disney is the happiest place on earth, Hershey is the sweetest place on earth. Yes there is a difference between the two, but Hershey has done a lot over the years to improve its performance and infrastructure. We enjoy going to Hershey and have so for years."

My husband and I have taken our kids there for the Christmas and Halloween nights and we have always had a wonderful time. The employees are friendly and the atmosphere is fun and inviting. They have a really nice thing going there and we visit because it is convenient for us. But as a fellow poster has mentioned, bundle up the kids.... it can get a bit nippy.

Originally posted by JimC
"Hershey Hotel is a much better choice if you want something elegant. "

Absolutely. We go there for special occasions and have only had superb service. The Sunday brunches are wonderful, and the Fountain Cafe Patio is beautiful for upper casual dining while overlooking the mtns, weather permitting of course. It is both lovely in the fall and and spring and it is welcoming to young children.

Originally posted by JimC
"Some of my fellow PA DISers will probably remember the days when the factory tour was of the real thing and the free chocolate bar at the end was a, then, full size mild chocolate bar! Of course the monorail had a stop on that side of town back then as well."

I do remember the old days in Hershey! My parents were weekend house parents for the Milton Hershey School when I was 6 or 7 yrs old. We went to Founders Hall on Sundays in a big ole station wagon. I had 16 older "brothers" and became a real tomboy. It was a wonderful experience! Thanks for bringing up those old memories.

 

[cjacobs]

I live and work not far from Hershey. I've visited Hersheypark one or two times every summer since I was a little girl and Christmas brings at least one visit to Christmas Candy Lane. Hersheypark is definitely an amusement park (especially if you like roller coasters!) and not even as big as one of Disney's parks. What impresses me about Hershey is its history. A town built by one man with a vision (sound familiar?) and a heart big enough to include caring for orphaned boys (3 of whom were my uncles who were privileged to know Mr. Hershey). If you do decide to visit, stop by the Hershey Museum to learn more. I wouldn't be surprised if Walt Disney didn't take a look at Hershey when he was designing his world!

And you will know when you're close to Hershey. Just take a deep breath and smell that chocolate!