HERSHEYPARK in Hershey, PA

[WDW-Crazy]

Thought this would be the appropriate area to post this topic, away from the Disney sections. Was wondering if any fellow Disney fanatics here live or have visited this cool theme park in Hershey, PA. I visit numerous times every year (live appox 40 min away). If you have visited before or live near it, feel free to discuss about the park below.

By the way, any locals in the Central PA area here who may be attending summer opening weekend (next weekend)? If so, feel free to let me know and maybe we can meet up!

 

[Figgy1]

I haven't been there in quite a few years and miss it. We keep saying we're going back but keep winding up in Disney! I remember when you could tour the actual factory and there used to be a small airport right there! Made for a much faster trip in! I love how the whole town smells of chocolate!

 

[bsiev1977]

I live about an hour away. Usually get there once a year.

 

[WDW-Crazy]

I haven't been there in quite a few years and miss it. We keep saying we're going back but keep winding up in Disney! I remember when you could tour the actual factory and there used to be a small airport right there! Made for a much faster trip in! I love how the whole town smells of chocolate!

Do you remember the last time you went? It's worth trying to get back if you can. Sure it's not Disney, but it's one of the best theme parks out there.

 

[Violet]

I have such good memories from Hersheypark as a kid. Disney was never in our paltry vacation budget, but a little annual trip to HP was. I'm going to have to add this to my list of places I want to visit.

 

[WDW-Crazy]

Here's a close-to-scale pencil drawing I've done of the park itself:



I usually try to keep it up to date when they do changes in the park every year. Let me know what you think of it.

 

[mousehockey37]

I can see the Kissing Tower out my back window. I can hear all the concerts for free, I'm home from Bears games in 5 minutes and the growl of the Great Bear can be felt in the floor of my home.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I went four years in a row with music in the parks...and have not been back since. *sigh* I want to take my brother. He's really into roller coasters and is finally tall enough for all of them, but he's never been on the really big ones at Hershey. We're probably going to go before Disneyland, possibly late May or early June. I live North of Baltimore in Baltimore county, so it's two hours away.

 

[fractal]

I live about an hour away (Berks County) and we get there once a year. Riding the Great Bear at night is one of my favorite things to do.

The coasters at HP are amazing. The new one, SkyRush, is just insane. I almost chickened out getting on it - I probably would have if I hadn't been more afraid of being shamed by my 11 year old.

It's not Disney but still a great park. The Great American Chocolate Ride is a cool dark ride in it's own right. It's like Hershey Park's version of Living with the Land.

BTW - great sketch!

 

[WDW-Crazy]

I can see the Kissing Tower out my back window. I can hear all the concerts for free, I'm home from Bears games in 5 minutes and the growl of the Great Bear can be felt in the floor of my home.

That's pretty cool. Do you go to the park often?

 

[mousehockey37]

That's pretty cool. Do you go to the park often?quote]

Nope. Unfortunately, between living here and where I've lived before, I'm kinda burned out with the tourist destinations.

If you're local, like hockey and want a free park ticket, they always have 2 nights a year for the Hershey Bears where they have Hersheypark Pass Night.

I do plan on going up to the Hotel Hershey and areas where I can view the park to take some pictures over the summer. It's my place to test out my camera equipment to get ready for Disney!!!!

[/quote]

 

[mousehockey37]

That's pretty cool. Do you go to the park often?

Nope. Unfortunately, between living here and where I've lived before, I'm kinda burned out with the tourist destinations.

If you're local, like hockey and want a free park ticket, they always have 2 nights a year for the Hershey Bears where they have Hersheypark Pass Night.

I do plan on going up to the Hotel Hershey and areas where I can view the park to take some pictures over the summer. It's my place to test out my camera equipment to get ready for Disney!!!

 

[WDW-Crazy]

I live about an hour away (Berks County) and we get there once a year. Riding the Great Bear at night is one of my favorite things to do.

The coasters at HP are amazing. The new one, SkyRush, is just insane. I almost chickened out getting on it - I probably would have if I hadn't been more afraid of being shamed by my 11 year old.

It's not Disney but still a great park. The Great American Chocolate Ride is a cool dark ride in it's own right. It's like Hershey Park's version of Living with the Land.

BTW - great sketch!

I totally agree with you that Great Bear is awesome in the dark. It feels like you're flying, love the feeling! Does your eleven year old like Skyrush? That's one of my top two coasters (the other being Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion being the first). They made some changes to it this year to accommodate rider discomfort including the slowing of the lift and padding on some parts of the train, along with a wider area for loading/unloading to speed up the process. I also agree with you in that Chocolate World does remind me of Living with the Land, although I think it can somewhat compare to the entire The Land pavilion but with a candy/chocolate theme with combination attractions, shopping and eating within the facility. When do you guys think you'll hit up the park again? You'll have to let me know, would be awesome to meet up with some other local Disney fanatics at the park this summer.

 

[brifraz]

We've been getting season passes for the last 4 years. About an hour and half away in extreme northern Maryland.

I'd like to put in a good word for the Highmeadow Campground as well. We've camped there a few times and love it there. The 'extra magic hour' that you get for staying there is definitely worth it.

Our day tends to start with arrival about half an hour before rope drop (unless we are camping, then their version of EMH at opening), enjoy the park as best we can until about noon, then off to Appalachian Brewing Company in Harrisburg for lunch and then back home (something I think @mad hatter and @Figment423 would enjoy).

 

[WDW-Crazy]

Nope. Unfortunately, between living here and where I've lived before, I'm kinda burned out with the tourist destinations.

If you're local, like hockey and want a free park ticket, they always have 2 nights a year for the Hershey Bears where they have Hersheypark Pass Night.

I do plan on going up to the Hotel Hershey and areas where I can view the park to take some pictures over the summer. It's my place to test out my camera equipment to get ready for Disney!!!

That can be understandable if you're around it 24/7. I agree that the Hotel Hershey/Hershey Gardens area up on the hill is the perfect place for pictures. I go up there myself to take shots, usually in the wintertime.

 

[mousehockey37]

I totally agree with you that Great Bear is awesome in the dark. It feels like you're flying, love the feeling! Does your eleven year old like Skyrush? That's one of my top two coasters (the other being Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion being the first). They made some changes to it this year to accommodate rider discomfort including the slowing of the lift and padding on some parts of the train, along with a wider area for loading/unloading to speed up the process. I also agree with you in that Chocolate World does remind me of Living with the Land, although I think it can somewhat compare to the entire The Land pavilion but with a candy/chocolate theme with combination attractions, shopping and eating within the facility. When do you guys think you'll hit up the park again? You'll have to let me know, would be awesome to meet up with some other local Disney fanatics at the park this summer.

Just be aware that at Chocolate World the "make your own candy bar" experience is $15 and that was a year or so ago. So be cautious... It's a neat thing to do, but that's 2 mickey bars for a small candy bar

 

[WDW-Crazy]

To be honest, I've never the Create Your Own Candy Bar before. I'd like to do it at least once to say that I've done it but it will probably be a "done it once, probably will never do it again" type of thing for me. I've done the 3-D Show that recently closed and plan to see the new 4-D Show when it re-opens. That really looks cool and definitely an improvement over the old.

 

[mousehockey37]

FWIW, if anyone needs info on stuff in Chocolatetown, just inbox me and I'll be glad to give you info. There's been a ton of construction in the center of town there's also a new hotel, Fairfield Inn and Suites behind the Staples and the Outlets now have a Banana Republic, lol. Just a couple things off the top of my head.

Another tip, go to the local Giant stores or some of the fast food places (Burger King in Palmyra) because they have discounts for park tickets.

 

[fractal]

I totally agree with you that Great Bear is awesome in the dark. It feels like you're flying, love the feeling! Does your eleven year old like Skyrush? That's one of my top two coasters (the other being Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion being the first). They made some changes to it this year to accommodate rider discomfort including the slowing of the lift and padding on some parts of the train, along with a wider area for loading/unloading to speed up the process. I also agree with you in that Chocolate World does remind me of Living with the Land, although I think it can somewhat compare to the entire The Land pavilion but with a candy/chocolate theme with combination attractions, shopping and eating within the facility. When do you guys think you'll hit up the park again? You'll have to let me know, would be awesome to meet up with some other local Disney fanatics at the park this summer.

They loved SkyRush. I was worried about the restraining bars from early reports but I didn't find it that bad. I'll definitely give you a heads up when we go this year. We usually go in July and spend the first part of the day at the Boardwalk ( pretty nice water park! ) then spend the rest of the day doing the rides.

 

[trr1]

we usually go there once a year in the spring and to Dorney Park in the fall