Which amusement park would you pick

[BeenHereB4]

for a 2-day vacation (Sunday to Monday)? I'm cashing in my change jar and 2 days at one of these places is about what I can swing.

My choices are:

Lake Compounce in Bristol, CT
Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, PA
Hershey Park and Dutch Wonderland, PA

Good, bad and ugly stories? Which gives the best bang for the buck? Best food/lodging suggestions? Thanks so much - I know I'm asking for alot !!

 

[happygirl]

Hershey Park

 

[imabrat]

Definitely not Dorney. We were just there yesterday and we got most everything done in both the ride and waterpark within 8 hours. It's not worth 2 days, IMO.

I would pick Hershey.

 

[BeenHereB4]

I myself am leaning towards Hershey as well. I've taken the kids to Lancaster 2 or 3 times so far so we know the place, but also wasn't sure if we should "branch out".

Imabrat - Love your tag - I eat that way too! LOL

 

[dalt01]

carefull, herseypark and dutch wonderland are not even in the same town. one is in, of course, hershey and the other is in lancaster. also dutch wonderland is geared towards the stroller crowd. nothing worth seeing if you are over 8.

 

[dalt01]

having said that, hershey is probobly the best park outside of orlando with the possible exeption of busch gardens williamsburg

 

[BeenHereB4]

Williamsburg. Hmmm..... Should I add another possibility to the list?

 

[mjkacmom]

I like Hershey better than Dorney, and you can definitely get 2 days out of just Hershey. Even my 6 year olds go on the big coasters (at least the ones they're tall enough for), and my kids would be bored at Dutch Wonderland. I'm not familiar with the CT one.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I'd go to Dutchwonderland and another place near there called Cherry Crest Farm (google it). It's got a lot of fun activities for kids like these huge bouncing mats, games, wagon rides. Just don't go when its 90 plus degrees like we did.
Hershey park is OK, but we don't like big scary rides, so it wasn't for us.

My kids were 11 and 7 last year and they still like Dutch wonderland. The outdoor diving show was spectacular- it's up to Disney standards.

 

[BeenHereB4]

Ooooh! Cherry Crest looks very cool and it would be a nice family day, but unfortunately they are closed on Sundays and Mondays (the only days DH has off work).

 

[Our 2 Princesses]

We love Hershey and just took our dds there for the first time a few weeks ago. You can also get in to the park 2 1/2 to 3 hrs before closing with the next day's pass. We got so much done that night. Plus there is a chocolate factory tour and stores right next to Hershey Park and they have added a waterpark which is included in your pass. Lots of fun! Hershey is probably our second favorite amusement park, next to WDW of course.

 

[KarenB]

I would agree with Hershey. I would do a second day at Hershey instead of going to Dutch Wonderland which to me "looks" older, plus it is not in Hershey. I think there may be a trolley tour that goes about the town that I have wanted to try but never did. There is a community center/area that we have gone to with a great playground and pool too.

 

[Erin1700]

This is coming from a family who has had passes to Dorney for about 5 years including this year. GO TO HERSHEY!
We live right here by Dorney, so PM me if you decide to go here and need other ideas, but it just isnt as nice as it looks on the commercials.
I take my kids to the waterpark right when it opens or an hour before it closes and we never spend more than a few hours at the other side of the park.

 

[EthansMom]

Lake Compounce is nice, especially with younger kids. It's no WDW, but it's pretty clean and well-run, lots of options for rides and a decent (though packed during warm weather) water park area.

However, as others mentioned regarding smaller theme parks, I'd say that Lake Compounce is a one-day park. However, if you're looking for a two day trip, you might be interested in doing Mystic Seaport and/or Aquarium (in Mystic, CT) on one day and maybe Lake Compounce on the next. (I think there's about an hour drive between the two towns.

 

[Kimberle]

I haven't been to the others, but we go to Lake Compounce quite often. It's a nice little park. They've big plans to expand the water park. I hope they are able to do so given the current economy.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

If you do go with dutch wonderland, there is a nice country inn and suites across the road there with free breakfast and also an indoor pool and hot tub which were both uncrowded. Also, DW will give a ticket free for the next day if you arrive 3 hours before closing.

 

[LovintheLodge]

My vote is for Hershey too...perfect for a 2 day vacation. You can also visit Chocolate World (just outside of the Park) and go on the free tram tour. As another poster added, with a one day park ticket, you can enter the park the night before at 2 1/2 hours before closing. I haven't been there since they opened the Boardwalk area, but there is so much to do and the Park is great. I live closer to DorneyPark, but I think Hershey is better.

I also love Busch Gardens, but with the distance from NJ, you'll need more time than 2 days. If you go there, they also have a fantastic water park called Water Country USA. Lots of lodging options too that are reasonably priced.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Mkrop]

Hershey Park!!!!!!

 

[Our 2 Princesses]

We love Hershey and just took our dds there for the first time a few weeks ago. You can also get in to the park 2 1/2 to 3 hrs before closing with the next day's pass. We got so much done that night. Plus there is a chocolate factory tour and stores right next to Hershey Park and they have added a waterpark which is included in your pass. Lots of fun! Hershey is probably our second favorite amusement park, next to WDW of course.

I forgot to mention that there is a small but nice zoo included in your admission price also. We had so much fun watching the prairie dogs and their new babies. They were so close you could almost touch them.

 

[PaulaSue]

We are Hershey people (Passes) so I have to say Hershey. Are you DC into fast rides or more baby rides? If into faster rides HP is the way to go. DW (owned by HP now) is more kiddy rides. (We love HP for the whole family their is tons to do and smaller rides in each section for the kids when they were into that. Now it is speed all the way with a 10,8 and 6 yr old.)

Do they like water stuff? HP has some great water additions lately but it is not the large scale of Disney. It is a clean park and lots of hills.

I am not sure BUT I think you can get 2 day passes to hit both places at a discount. IF not go to AAAs or Giant for Discount tickets.