HERSHEYPARK in Hershey, PA

mouse_luv

Well-Known Member
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).


Just a heads up. They put in a Troeggs brewery right up the street from the park, next door to the Hershey Outlets. Haven't been there myself yet, but from the people I know that have been, rave reviews.
 

brifraz

Marching along...
Premium Member
Just a heads up. They put in a Troeggs brewery right up the street from the park, next door to the Hershey Outlets. Haven't been there myself yet, but from the people I know that have been, rave reviews.

We love Troegs! We visited the old brewery/tasting room in Harrisburg a few times w/out DD. Haven't done the new facility in Hershey (although we've scoped it out from the parking lot a couple times), but since it is just tours and tastings (no restaurant) and we always have DD with us in Hershey it just hasn't happened yet...
 

WDW-Crazy

Active Member
Original Poster
I tend to disagree with Great Adventure. While they may have some good coasters there, it's pretty much coasters and kiddie rides. When I visit a park, I like the complete package. What they (GrAdv) did last year was just a start and now they need to continue with that in order to appease people like myself.
 

Gonzo79

Well-Known Member
I haven't been to Hersheypark since 1995, but I do remember loving it and having a great time. I would love to get back there again some day,but it probably wont be for a few more years.
 

jw24

Well-Known Member
I went to Hersheypark once with my family in the early 2000s, probably when I was 11 or 12, I think. It's a nice park from what I remember. As my family has got older, trips to theme parks with my family have dropped significantly. My family used to go to Great Adventure all the time when I was younger but we've stopped going because well, everyone in my family knows how much I don't like roller coasters and thrill rides while my parents can't tolerate the physical component of thrill rides so we haven't been back there since 2008. SFGA puts far too much emphasis on thrill rides and while they may have big coasters, the park doesn't fit me like the Disney parks do. Also from what I've heard, the park environment has gotten worse over the years. I've never been Dorney Park but from what I've heard, it's not exactly a great place either.
 

WDW-Crazy

Active Member
Original Poster
I went to Hersheypark once with my family in the early 2000s, probably when I was 11 or 12, I think. It's a nice park from what I remember. As my family has got older, trips to theme parks with my family have dropped significantly. My family used to go to Great Adventure all the time when I was younger but we've stopped going because well, everyone in my family knows how much I don't like roller coasters and thrill rides while my parents can't tolerate the physical component of thrill rides so we haven't been back there since 2008. SFGA puts far too much emphasis on thrill rides and while they may have big coasters, the park doesn't fit me like the Disney parks do. Also from what I've heard, the park environment has gotten worse over the years. I've never been Dorney Park but from what I've heard, it's not exactly a great place either.

I can pretty tell you that Dorney is better than Great Adventure as far as atmosphere goes. I don't care for the Six Flags company as a whole. Cedar Fair, who runs Dorney Park, does a much better job in operation of their parks for a general theme park chain. All Great Adventure is pretty much is coasters and kiddie rides, with a few flats here and there. Hershey (as you have mentioned) was and still is a great park. It's has greatly expanded since the early 2000's and has since added a water park to the mix. I would definitely prefer another trip there again in the foreseeable future if I were you.
 

rsoxguy

Well-Known Member
Chocolate!!!
images
 

wdwstateofmind

Well-Known Member
I can pretty tell you that Dorney is better than Great Adventure as far as atmosphere goes. I don't care for the Six Flags company as a whole. Cedar Fair, who runs Dorney Park, does a much better job in operation of their parks for a general theme park chain. All Great Adventure is pretty much is coasters and kiddie rides, with a few flats here and there. Hershey (as you have mentioned) was and still is a great park. It's has greatly expanded since the early 2000's and has since added a water park to the mix. I would definitely prefer another trip there again in the foreseeable future if I were you.
The coasters at Six Flags are so worth it compared to the rides Dorney has to offer (and if I really want a water park Hurricane Harbor and Mountain Creek are both better than DOrney's)...regardless of, how so I say this...seedy...the park gets, it's still the best bang for the buck as far as bring a coke can and get to go on some of the top rated roller coasters in the world (El Toro, Nitro, and Kingda Ka)...

What new coasters has Hershey got since the Great Bear (I think that's name, but i could be wrong)?....I haven't been there since the 90s....
 

WDW-Crazy

Active Member
Original Poster
What new coasters has Hershey got since the Great Bear (I think that's name, but i could be wrong)?....I haven't been there since the 90s....

Here's what the park has added since Great Bear. I've listed them in order with the year opened in "( )".

Wild Mouse (added in 1999): just your standard Mack Wild Mouse but I must say it's one of the best because they cut back on the trims making it such an intense ride.

Lightning Racer (2000): built by Great Coasters International, this is a racing/duelling coaster in which both trains come within a near collision in three different places. It's one of my favorite wooden coasters and is such a capacity eater as well.

Storm Runner (2004): an Intamin accelerator launched coaster. Very intense, especially through the Flying Snake Dive portion of the ride. It was the first of its kind with inversions when it first opened. Definitely a must-ride!

Fahrenheit (2008) the first vertical lift coaster built by Intamin and also features a negative 98 degree drop which was the steepest in the U.S. when it first opened.

Skyrush (2012): The tallest and fastest coaster in the park, also built by Intamin. Skyrush stands at a whopping 212 feet above the park and features winged seating on its trains, meaning the outer two seats are floorless while the inner two seats have a floor beneath you. Along with this coaster, the park reclaimed several acres that were formally the Sunken Gardens back in the day, as well as totally remodeling Comet Hollow changing it to "The Hollow".

They've also added a complete water park area called The Boardwalk beginning in 2007. The park has definitely changed and grown since your last visit. Hope this helps!
 

wdwstateofmind

Well-Known Member
Here's what the park has added since Great Bear. I've listed them in order with the year opened in "( )".

Wild Mouse (added in 1999): just your standard Mack Wild Mouse but I must say it's one of the best because they cut back on the trims making it such an intense ride.

Lightning Racer (2000): built by Great Coasters International, this is a racing/duelling coaster in which both trains come within a near collision in three different places. It's one of my favorite wooden coasters and is such a capacity eater as well.

Storm Runner (2004): an Intamin accelerator launched coaster. Very intense, especially through the Flying Snake Dive portion of the ride. It was the first of its kind with inversions when it first opened. Definitely a must-ride!

Fahrenheit (2008) the first vertical lift coaster built by Intamin and also features a negative 98 degree drop which was the steepest in the U.S. when it first opened.

Skyrush (2012): The tallest and fastest coaster in the park, also built by Intamin. Skyrush stands at a whopping 212 feet above the park and features winged seating on its trains, meaning the outer two seats are floorless while the inner two seats have a floor beneath you. Along with this coaster, the park reclaimed several acres that were formally the Sunken Gardens back in the day, as well as totally remodeling Comet Hollow changing it to "The Hollow".

They've also added a complete water park area called The Boardwalk beginning in 2007. The park has definitely changed and grown since your last visit. Hope this helps!
It does...I've been trying to plan a trip out there as I enjoy theme parks and GA has lost it's Warner Bros. charm. I've just been having a hard time justifying spending the money for a weekend in Pennsylvania as Hershey is 3 hrs. (make that 4 hrs. with two lane interstates and people going 50 mph in the left & right lanes) into the middle of nowhere (unless ur crazy about Harrisburg **snore**)...I'm not short on money, but any dime I could spend on something like this i usually save for Disney...
 

Figgy1

Well-Known Member
It does...I've been trying to plan a trip out there as I enjoy theme parks and GA has lost it's Warner Bros. charm. I've just been having a hard time justifying spending the money for a weekend in Pennsylvania as Hershey is 3 hrs. (make that 4 hrs. with two lane interstates and people going 50 mph in the left & right lanes) into the middle of nowhere (unless ur crazy about Harrisburg **snore**)...I'm not short on money, but any dime I could spend on something like this i usually save for Disney...
There's always outlet shoping in Hershey and Lacaster.:) There's also a few nice vineyards to visit!
 

wdwstateofmind

Well-Known Member
There's always outlet shoping in Hershey and Lacaster.:) There's also a few nice vineyards to visit!
Jersey Gardens is about outlet mall as I'll get and why drive to PA when we have like 5 others in our immediate area..."outlet" shopping isn't enough to get me anywhere anymore...most outlet goods aren't overflow, they are companies own lower quality lines made to get one over on the consumer (I mean the Gap, Disney Store, etc.. are outlets but most aren't)...
 

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