I highly recommend you plan for at least 3 days in Hershey, PA, just so you can see the major attractions. Even if you had the park to yourself, I cannot see a way to go on all the rides AND have enough time to splash in the water at the Boardwalk. Ok, I am going to give it to you straight… you cannot possibly do Hersheypark in 1 day. Related: Get creative with your kids at The Crayola Experience in Easton, PA 4.

Note: If your kids are on the edge of a height category, they may not qualify for a few of the water slides on the Boardwalk, because the height for those rides are taken with shoes off. Goodness.Įven Reese’s can ride a bunch of rides, including some of the super popular roller coasters like Comet and sooperdooperLooper, which goes upside down! Such a thrill for a 5-year old. That meant that she could ride at least half of the roller coasters. When my daughter was 5 she was a Reese’s and this year she was a Hershey Bar. There is everything from a Hershey Miniature on up to a Jolly Rancher (pretty sure that category is reserved for basketball players). The first thing to do, even before you enter the park, is figure out which height category your kids are in. Related: Dorney Park is an awesome Pennsylvania Amusement Park this is also great for kids! 3. If you decide not to pay for premium parking though, there is a tram (Hallelujah!) that will save your tired feet at the end of the day. until 10pm when you and your kids are staggering back to the car loaded up with t-shirts and the world’s largest Hershey bar. Sign me up! You might not think you want this little perk. $10) you can park in premium parking that is ridiculously near the front gate. Parking at Hersheypark will set you back $15. The evening ended with delicious chocolate milkshakes and walked out of the park with huge grins on our faces. We rode Comet– twice (woo hoo!), Reese’s Cupfusion (there was, inexplicably, a very short line), the SkyLiner, and Bumper Cars. At 7pm at night you will be able to get pretty close parking, and your parking is validated for the next day so you don’t have to pay to park twice.

Many of the rides are lit up and there is a very festive, county fair-esque, feel to the park.Īnd don’t worry about parking. Oh wait, you aren’t a fan of waiting in line for a roller coaster when its 90+ degrees and humid out? Check out the Sweet Sneak Peek!Īnother reason it’s great to check out the park the night before is, honestly, the park is lovely at night. That means you can ride on quite a few rides that typically have longer lines during the day. Granted, the park isn’t empty… but it isn’t slammed. First of all, you arrive fresh to the park at like 7/730pm and see the hordes of park goers. We LOVED this perk for a variety of reasons. Hersheypark’s Preview Plan, dubbed the ‘Sweet Sneak Peek,’ is included in your ticket price but you have to arrive the night before your big park day to take advantage of it! Basically, with your admission ticket you can arrive 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours before closing the night before. This is probably the biggest reason you don’t want to drive up to Hersheypark the day of your visit. Here are some tips we have discovered (some are happy accidents, some are accidental disasters) that can help you plan the best trip ever to the Sweetest Place On Earth! If you don’t plan well you could become overwhelmed, overtired, and honestly– that could ruin your sweet experience faster than a melting soft serve ice cream cone. But I am not gonna sugar coat this part– Hersheypark is a lot bigger than you think it will be.

It can easily become one of your kids favorite destinations, making memories you will all cherish. Hersheypark isn’t just a day trip, it’s a destination. I remember visiting Hersheypark in the 80’s (yes, the 1980’s) but I don’t remember it being anything like it is now. These tips represent our unbiased opinion. We have visited Hersheypark on our own and we have been hosted. Check out these top tips for visiting Hersheypark with Kids! Hersheypark can be the Sweetest Place On Earth, but not if you don’t plan well. The 16 Best Tips For Visiting Hersheypark With Kids

Whitecap racer