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FirstMate
My lil cowboy
Member since 10/10 7789 total posts
Name:
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Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
We are headed there in a couple of weeks with my 3 kids, ages 8, 4 and 3. We are staying at Hershey Lodge. I think we are leaving early Saturday and coming home Sunday evening. I guess because I’m used to having such a planned out Disney vacay I’m nervous because I don’t know the best way to handle this park, how long we will be there, what we should not miss, best way to handle the rides with the height differences (do they do FP and rider swap type of thing?), where we should eat, etc. So lay it on me! Also, is Hershey a one day park? Thanks!
Also, is Chocolate World in the actual park? Should I plan on doing that first and then rides or should we do rides and then Chocolate World? Or should we do chocolate world separately on Sunday?
Message edited 9/16/2019 6:53:54 AM.
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Posted 9/16/19 6:43 AM  |
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M514
Hi
Member since 8/10 6011 total posts
Name:
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Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Same here! Going for the first time in a couple weekends (Sat-Sun), so looking forward to the tips.
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| Posted 9/16/19 7:29 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Hershey is definitely a 2 day park. I would probably add a night. But, from me it's 5 hours, so I wouldn't drive all that way for one night.
Chocolate World is in the parking lot of the park. So, you could do that Saturday, then do the "free preview" Saturday night in the park (You can go like 3 hours before the park closes for free if you have a full day ticket). Then Sunday, use the full day ticket. Then I would go back to the hotel Sunday night and play in the waterpark because you are paying $$$$ to stay there and utilize the amenities. If you aren't going to use the water park, I honestly would stay elsewhere. It's expensive for that hotel. Or just wake up, drive right to Hershey, do the park for the day, then check into hotel, then do waterpark. Wake up Sunday, do waterpark, then chocolate world.
Message edited 9/16/2019 8:22:48 AM.
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| Posted 9/16/19 8:21 AM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17789 total posts
Name:
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Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
One nice thing about staying on site is you get in the park an hour early in the morning and get an hour longer for your preview.
I would do the preview / you can knock out a lot of the park. And definitely use the hour early the next morning where you can do the front section of the park (head right to the new Cupfusion ride since lines get long later in the day). Once the whole park opens, the other ride that has the longest line is Laff Trak, we typically head straight there and hit the back section of the park and work our way forward.
I would also download the HersheyPark app which shows all ride wait times.
Message edited 9/16/2019 10:04:56 AM.
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| Posted 9/16/19 8:33 AM |
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EricaAlt
LIF Adult
Member since 7/08 22665 total posts
Name:
Erica
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
We've been fine with 1 day at Hershey as long as you take advantage of the Preview night and go a few hours before the park closes. Believe me it's the best time to go and take advantage of as many rides as possible.
Download the app so you know the wait time for the rides as well.
What we do is go after breakfast and head over to Chocolate World. Walk around, do the ride there and sometimes have lunch their too.
We have dinner at the Lodge and then go to the park for Preview. Next morning get to the park early and enjoy the day. We stay till about 5 - 6 and then go back to Choc world to buy some choc and other fun stuff to bring home.
I haven't stayed at the lodge though and we've stayed offsite so you should really enjoy the indoor waterpark there too
Chocolate World is separate. You don't need any tickets for it.
Have fun
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| Posted 9/16/19 8:34 AM |
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NYCGirl80
I love my kiddies!
Member since 5/11 10413 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Posted by ali120206
One nice thing about staying on site is you get in the park an hour early in the morning and get an hour longer for your preview.
I would do the preview / you can knock out a lot of the park. And definitely use the hour early the next morning where you can do the front section of the park (head right to the new Cupfusion ride since lines get long later in the day). Once the whole park opens, the other ride that has the longest line is Laff Trak, we typically head straight there and hit the back section of the park and work our way forward.
I would also download the HersheyPark app which shows all ride wait times.
All this. We just got back a few weeks ago and had THE BEST TIME!!!
We did the preview night the first night just to get a few rides in and get the lay of the land. Hershey is much bigger than you think! Keep an eye on the wait time for Cupfusion and Laff Trak and if either are under 30 minutes, do it. They are both good rides and the lines get very long!
We then did a full day at the park. We did Laff Trak on the early side and only had a 30ish minute wait. It was my favorite ride, but you have to be taller, so likely only your 8yo will ride it. The 3 and 4yo can do smaller rides with the other parent at that time. We did dry rides the rest of the day and left around 2pm when it started to rain and headed to the indoor pool. That was a long enough day for the kids anyway.
Our second full day in the park we arrived for the extra hour in the morning and went straight to Cupfusion. It did not open until 10ish, but the line was long already. DH waited on line while I took the kids on a few rides near the line. Once it started to move, we hopped back on the line and it wasn't bad. Then our plan was to do the water park the rest of the day. I would honestly skip it if you're going now. It was a warm day for us, but the kids got cold quickly going between rides and the water itself was COLD. We dried off and did dry rides instead. Then headed back to our hotel for the outdoor pool.
We had the best trip but could have honestly spent another day there. We hit most of the rides we wanted to, but there were a few we skipped and a few we'd ride again.
They do have a fast pass system called Fast Track, but we did not do it. With the exception of 3 rides (Cupfusion, Laff Track and Breakers Edge, which is the water coaster), we never had more than a couple minute wait.
Just yesterday the kids asked if we could go back again! The sign of a great vacation!
LMK if you have more questions.
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| Posted 9/16/19 10:27 AM |
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FirstMate
My lil cowboy
Member since 10/10 7789 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Thanks for all of this info ladies! Super helpful.
So if I'm reading this right, the best plan would be to drive up Saturday, use the amenities at the hotel, hit up chocolate world and do the preview and then do a full day on Sunday?
Where would you do dinner on Saturday? If it matters, I can see we can go for the preview at 6:30.
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| Posted 9/16/19 1:46 PM |
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EricaAlt
LIF Adult
Member since 7/08 22665 total posts
Name:
Erica
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Posted by FirstMate
Thanks for all of this info ladies! Super helpful.
So if I'm reading this right, the best plan would be to drive up Saturday, use the amenities at the hotel, hit up chocolate world and do the preview and then do a full day on Sunday?
Where would you do dinner on Saturday? If it matters, I can see we can go for the preview at 6:30.
WE liked the Bear's Den in the Hershey Lodge. Had good drinks too.
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| Posted 9/16/19 2:20 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54917 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Posted by FirstMate
Thanks for all of this info ladies! Super helpful.
So if I'm reading this right, the best plan would be to drive up Saturday, use the amenities at the hotel, hit up chocolate world and do the preview and then do a full day on Sunday?
Where would you do dinner on Saturday? If it matters, I can see we can go for the preview at 6:30.
We liked Iron Hill Brewery and the Chocolate Ave Grille- both on Chocolate Ave
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| Posted 9/16/19 2:45 PM |
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NYCGirl80
I love my kiddies!
Member since 5/11 10413 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Posted by FirstMate
Thanks for all of this info ladies! Super helpful.
So if I'm reading this right, the best plan would be to drive up Saturday, use the amenities at the hotel, hit up chocolate world and do the preview and then do a full day on Sunday?
Where would you do dinner on Saturday? If it matters, I can see we can go for the preview at 6:30.
The best dinner we had was Smoked Bar & Grill. It's BBQ and it was delish!
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| Posted 9/16/19 2:46 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Posted by EricaAlt
Posted by FirstMate
Thanks for all of this info ladies! Super helpful.
So if I'm reading this right, the best plan would be to drive up Saturday, use the amenities at the hotel, hit up chocolate world and do the preview and then do a full day on Sunday?
Where would you do dinner on Saturday? If it matters, I can see we can go for the preview at 6:30.
WE liked the Bear's Den in the Hershey Lodge. Had good drinks too.
We liked that place also.
Plus, you can eat, then take the shuttle bus over to the park from the hotel after dinner. Vs. going offsite, then driving to the park, looking for a spot, and paying for parking.
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| Posted 9/16/19 3:11 PM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17789 total posts
Name:
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Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
We love the Chocolate Avenue Grill and Dukes.
The Chocolate Avenue Grill is smallish though so you need a reservation for dinner.
ETA: If you pay for parking for the preview - you can use your parking pass for the next day as well (so if you were planning on driving to the park on Sunday as opposed to taking the shuttle, and going offsite for dinner on Saturday night, you are only paying for parking once).
Message edited 9/16/2019 3:38:24 PM.
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| Posted 9/16/19 3:18 PM |
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FirstMate
My lil cowboy
Member since 10/10 7789 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Another question: how long does it take to go through Chocolate World?
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| Posted 9/19/19 2:28 PM |
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FirstMate
My lil cowboy
Member since 10/10 7789 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Also, I thought Hershey was like a 2 hour ride. I'm googling and it seems way further than that! How long does it take to get there? I'm getting all skewed info now on my map apps because of the traffic here on Long Island.
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| Posted 9/19/19 2:43 PM |
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lightblue
LIF Adult
Member since 1/17 2249 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
We went to Hershey last month, we stayed two nights, we went to dinner at Primanti Brothers (famous sandwiches) then did the preview the first night which started at 7:30 until close, then went to Chocolate World when it opened the next day at 9, did the chocolate making tour/ride and then went into the park itself for the full day once it opened at 10. I thought that was enough time.
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| Posted 9/19/19 4:03 PM |
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lightblue
LIF Adult
Member since 1/17 2249 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Posted by FirstMate
Also, I thought Hershey was like a 2 hour ride. I'm googling and it seems way further than that! How long does it take to get there? I'm getting all skewed info now on my map apps because of the traffic here on Long Island.
Took us like 3 and a half hours
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| Posted 9/19/19 4:08 PM |
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NYCGirl80
I love my kiddies!
Member since 5/11 10413 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
It depends where on LI you're located. We're central Nassau and it took about 4.5 hours with stopping and traffic to get home. It's 3.5 with no traffic and fewer stops.
It depends what you want to do at Chocolate World. We went in the morning and only did the ride and then the store. We were in and out in about an hour. There was no wait for the ride when we were there. You need to leave more time if you want to do the other things (movie, tasting, make your own chocolate bar) there.
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| Posted 9/19/19 4:16 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54917 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Posted by FirstMate
Also, I thought Hershey was like a 2 hour ride. I'm googling and it seems way further than that! How long does it take to get there? I'm getting all skewed info now on my map apps because of the traffic here on Long Island.
I live at exit 62 on the LIE and it takes us about 3.5 hours and that is with no stops and leaving at 5 am to avoid traffic.
Coming home we leave Hershey around 10 am and it's about 4 hours because once you get into NY traffic is the 7th level of hell no matter what time of day it is.
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| Posted 9/20/19 9:03 AM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17789 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Posted by FirstMate
Another question: how long does it take to go through Chocolate World?
We usually spend less than an hour there. We do the ride and then buy some chocolate.
If you want to do any of the add ons (that cost $) it will take longer. We've opted out of making your own candy car as we'd probably end up coming out with a plain Hershey Bar in the end.
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| Posted 9/20/19 9:17 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
It always takes us AT LEAST 4 hours to get to Hershey from Port Jeff. That's with no traffic. 5 with minimal traffic.
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| Posted 9/20/19 10:31 AM |
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FirstMate
My lil cowboy
Member since 10/10 7789 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Yikes! I was delusional with my travel time. LOL Is the make your own candy bar thing worth it? Or should I just skip it?
I really appreciate all of your tips!
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| Posted 9/20/19 11:49 AM |
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nraboni
Uggh...
Member since 10/09 6905 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Posted by FirstMate
Yikes! I was delusional with my travel time. LOL Is the make your own candy bar thing worth it? Or should I just skip it?
I really appreciate all of your tips!
Can't really answer your "is it worth it?" question because we tried to do it when we were there in June but the times were all sold out on the day we went to Chocolate World. If you decided to do it, you should pick a day and time online and reserve your spot. Same with some of the other activities in Chocolate World.
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| Posted 9/20/19 12:09 PM |
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NYCGirl80
I love my kiddies!
Member since 5/11 10413 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Posted by FirstMate
Yikes! I was delusional with my travel time. LOL Is the make your own candy bar thing worth it? Or should I just skip it?
I really appreciate all of your tips!
It's about $25/person to make your own candy bar and everyone in your party has to do it. Meaning, you can't just purchase it for the kids to do and adults just help them. With 4 people, I did not want to spend $100 for 4 chocolate bars. I'd rather buy $100 of chocolate for that.
We have friends who did it and said it was cute, but generally was not worth the money. There's plenty of rides in the park, I think your time is better spent there.
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| Posted 9/20/19 1:36 PM |
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FirstMate
My lil cowboy
Member since 10/10 7789 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Posted by NYCGirl80
Posted by FirstMate
Yikes! I was delusional with my travel time. LOL Is the make your own candy bar thing worth it? Or should I just skip it?
I really appreciate all of your tips!
It's about $25/person to make your own candy bar and everyone in your party has to do it. Meaning, you can't just purchase it for the kids to do and adults just help them. With 4 people, I did not want to spend $100 for 4 chocolate bars. I'd rather buy $100 of chocolate for that.
We have friends who did it and said it was cute, but generally was not worth the money. There's plenty of rides in the park, I think your time is better spent there.
Thank you for that! I can guarantee you that would be melted and/or trashed before it even made it to the car. We'll skip the $125 worth of candy bars.
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| Posted 9/20/19 9:30 PM |
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M514
Hi
Member since 8/10 6011 total posts
Name:
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Tips for Hershey? 1st trip!
Are you going this weekend? It’s going to be 90 degrees there on Saturday!
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| Posted 9/26/19 7:32 AM |
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