Info on Hershey park

[Ctsplaysinrain]

I'm sorry this is not about Disney but hoping someone can help out. We may be going to Hershey this summer. Does anyone know if they make any accomodations for children with disbailities such as Aspergers and ADHD..
Also, my 10 yr old son is now too big to ride most of the kiddie rides BUT he doesnt like loud rides, coasters etc.. Do you think there would be enough for him to do? Also, do they have any sort of child swap?

 

[KathyRN137]

Hi! We have 2 kids; the youngest is 8 and is autistic. We went to Hershey about 2 or 3 years ago and at that time, they did not have any special accommodations (like the GAC). That is one of the reasons we love WDW so much!!

The only recommendations that I can make are:

1) Go when the crowds will be lighter (midweek)
2) Take 2 days so you can tour at a slower pace

We stayed at the Hershey Lodge. They have a free shuttle to the park, several restaurants, and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

HersheyPark is probably the cleanest and most family-friendly amusement park that I have visited. Until we went to WDW, I thought it was the best (but now I know better). There are TONS of things to do; we went when the kids were 6 and 4 and they did not "do" coasters then! They have rides for all ages and several shows. There is also an interactive tour of "Chocolate World" that your son may enjoy.

Its not WDW, but I do recommend it.

 

[KathyRN137]

Sorry, I just realized it was more than 2 to 3 yrs ago, more like 4 yrs (time flies!) Who knows? They may have changed and have special accommodations now. Perhaps you can call their information line and ask; sorry, I don't have the # but I'm sure you could get it through 411.

Good Luck!

 

[lovethattink]

Actually they do have special accomodations. My cousin's daughter has spinal bifida and she can't stand on her own for long periods of time. They have seasonal passes and if she is going for the day and not a couple hours, they stop at guest services near 1st aid. They give her a certain wrist band that lets the ride operators know that she can't wait in a long line.

 

[luvmyeor]

Visit their website: hersheypa.com and click on guest services. They offer a child swap. They also have a new guide for disabilities that you can view in a .pdf file. The last time we were there they also offered discount admissions
for individuals with special needs.

 

[lovethattink]

Forgot to mention about the noise of the rides. The Great Bear is very loud and can be heard "roaring" from the Kissing Tower all the way down to the Super Dooper Looper. I have seen many small children covering their ears as it goes by. In fact, the 1st year it was there, it competed with the shows from the Amphitheater. The train whistle can be loud at times too.

 

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

I have taken both of my boys (autistic and SID) to Hershey and loved it. If you see that they are getting a little overloaded or need a break, that is the best time to head to the zoo (attached and part of your admission price) or, bypass the chocolate factory tour in the morning and wait to do it in the afternoon, (especially if it is hot out, the AC will perk you back up), it will be less crowded and a nice break. We rode it twice as the boys loved it and it was crowded in the park and they needed the AC!!

There is so much to do in that area (lived in Camp Hill which is a suburb of Harrisburg and about 15-20 minutes away). You can take them to Indian Echo Caverns - which is fun and will get you out of the summer heat, and then there is Dutch Wonderland, another great little amusement park.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[dj2]

this thread is so timely for us, too! we were thinking of maybe stopping by here for a day this summer on our way to visit relatives in NYC.

when i was a kid my parents took us to the tour the last year that you were actually able to tour the real factory. i think it was in the early 70's. i still remember seeing the machines that dropped the kisses, and the huge vat of a room where they stirred the chocolate. we all wanted to dive in. yum!

my DD's will be 15, 13, and 10 this summer. but they do NOT like thrill rides. i'd kind of been leaning toward passing up this park, since DD's will be too tall/old for the kiddie rides and don't enjoy coaster-type rides.

what's your opinion of the number of "in between" rides and/or shows--for bigger kids who don't like thrills? (you can almost think of them as very young versions of the "stereotypical senior.") their brochure just came in the mail last week, and i wasn't sure that i saw enough to do that was not either kiddie or wild.

also, i'll be using my "new-to-me" ecv. think i'll have difficulty queueing in it at the attractions?

so what do you think---should we stop in or just keep driving??? or maybe just skip the theme park and just do the "factory" tour?

THANKS for any advice!

-dj

 

[lovethattink]

this thread is so timely for us, too! we were thinking of maybe stopping by here for a day this summer on our way to visit relatives in NYC.

when i was a kid my parents took us to the tour the last year that you were actually able to tour the real factory. i think it was in the early 70's. i still remember seeing the machines that dropped the kisses, and the huge vat of a room where they stirred the chocolate. we all wanted to dive in. yum!

my DD's will be 15, 13, and 10 this summer. but they do NOT like thrill rides. i'd kind of been leaning toward passing up this park, since DD's will be too tall/old for the kiddie rides and don't enjoy coaster-type rides.

what's your opinion of the number of "in between" rides and/or shows--for bigger kids who don't like thrills? (you can almost think of them as very young versions of the "stereotypical senior.") their brochure just came in the mail last week, and i wasn't sure that i saw enough to do that was not either kiddie or wild.

also, i'll be using my "new-to-me" ecv. think i'll have difficulty queueing in it at the attractions?

so what do you think---should we stop in or just keep driving??? or maybe just skip the theme park and just do the "factory" tour?

THANKS for any advice!

-dj

There are shows (at the amphitheater, music box theater, green team, etc.), a monorail, the train ride, the sky ride, the antique and sport cars, the Kissing Tower, the zoo, carousel, a mini-himalaya ride, ferris wheel, possibly the whip, possibly the coal cracker (big hill at the end).

For free there is Chocolate World. Chocolate World replaced the actual tour way back when they closed the factory to the public. It was just remodeled this year. I rode it last month when I was there. There is a movie, but you have to pay for that. My son saw it and really enjoyed it. The candy they gave us at the end of the ride at chocolate world was a little pack of Kissables. There is a "food court". The soups are usually fantastic here. Often we leave the park and eat here instead. Of course there is plenty of shopping at chocolate world too. Oh yea, last year they opened up an area where they have a hand-on build your own candy thing (fee). You get a hat. I'll have to see what it's called. I think a part of it you can do for free. That's all I can think of right now.

 

[dj2]

There are shows (at the amphitheater, music box theater, green team, etc.), a monorail, the train ride, the sky ride, the antique and sport cars, the Kissing Tower, the zoo, carousel, a mini-himalaya ride, ferris wheel, possibly the whip, possibly the coal cracker (big hill at the end)

thanks for the quick reply!

...so what do you think---is this list long enough for a day's fun/day's admission?

-dj

p.s. i sure wish we could still tour the real factory.....

 

[mcrockett1220]

I live about an hour from Hersheypark and we go for 2 consecutive days every year, and we still haven't seen everything. Lots of shows, rides, games, beautiful landscaping, very clean, CHocolate world is awesome- kids can make candy, lots of shops, and the 3D movie is the best I have seen, even better than Disney's (my daughter loved it and screamed at all of Disney's because they were too loud and frightening). There is a trolley tour you can take which is cool. There is the zoo. And right down the road is a museum, butterfly gardens, restaurants that serve everything chocolate, spas, golf, outlet shopping, etc. The town is so cute! As you can see I am totally Hersheypark Happy!
As for disabilities, they are great. We have taken my grandmother several times and rented her a motorized cart. For people with disabilities they are given a special pass that allows them a different entrance to the ride (ramp)with no lines. They are then permitted to select their seat and usually allowed to stay on for as many consecutive times as they like. They will usually allow the entire persons party to enter the attraction or ride at the same time. Very nice people.

 

[jbird327]

I'm sorry this is not about Disney but hoping someone can help out. We may be going to Hershey this summer. Does anyone know if they make any accomodations for children with disbailities such as Aspergers and ADHD..
Also, my 10 yr old son is now too big to ride most of the kiddie rides BUT he doesnt like loud rides, coasters etc.. Do you think there would be enough for him to do? Also, do they have any sort of child swap?

Dutch Wonderland (mentioned earlier) might be a good alternative. I have gone numerous times with my daughter (now 14) who has Fragile X. They have a nice train ride, car ride, monorail, a few boat rides, log flume and a mild but nice wooden coaster. It is a much smaller and less crowded park. Hershey took over the park a few years ago and it's probably been 3 years since I was last there but we are planning a trip this summer. They have a website at www.dutchwonderland.com .

 

[Mel6197]

We went last year, with my DD who was 8 and a HUGE Coaster Fan.

We went to First Aid in the Am, got a Bracelet, and a Book type thing for the rides..

Now all my DD cares about is the Big Coasters (Big Lines) We went Early June, before school let out, and mid week to avoid Crowds..
Well High School Kids taking their Class trips, is something I didnt think of.

How Hershery had us do it, is go threw the exit of the Big Coaster Rides, the Attendent would come up, look a the line, and write down a come back time for us.. (only 1 big coaster at a time) Doesnt sound so bad..

But when Kira is used to Disney Fast Pass GAC system, to get her to the front of the line, see the ride and have to leave... Well she really was having a hard time with that, REALLY a Hard time..
Then when we came back in our time frame, the Ride CM, would go over to the main line and have to "explain" about me and Kira, pointing us out.. Happened on every coaster we went on threw the day..

So while Hershery was nice, We will stick with Disney.. It was way to stressfull for me, and Kira..

 

[mcrockett1220]

We go to Dutch Wonderland several times a year as well as Hersheypark, it is closer to us (only 40 min.). It is a great park for smaller children because it has a wider selection of rides that are just child-oriented. However, ther are some reasons I personally prefer Hersheypark. None of its shows are inside, and there are frequent showing times. (But the Country Bears are great-similar to Disney's). There is no chocolate world-which is a great change of pace when it is extremely hot or crowded. There are not very many rides for teens or adults, so unless your plan entails just entertaining children, it might not be as much fun. However, the castle gift shop area is a hit with little girls and there is not much walking. You can pretty much do this entire park in half a day if lines aren't too bad, and we usually go on Saturdays.

 

[kimbac3]

Hershey Park is VERY hilly, so if you are pushing someone be prepared. DH pushed me there 2 years ago and he was so sore afterwards. I felt so bad.
We are going the 24th of this month for homeschool day ... he's been "preparing" for it though!
Kimba