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pumpkinmom
LIF Adult
Member since 5/12 2911 total posts
Name:
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Tips for Hershey Park?
We could have either 2 or 3 days there. How many days should be enough? Should we do chocolate world and the zoo and how much time do those areas take? My oldest is 8 and will do a few coasters, but we'll probably be on the smaller rides most of the time. And we probably will do the water park.
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Posted 7/25/21 1:51 AM  |
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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 Park?
One full day for the dry rides and one for the water park.
Be advised that due to the labor shortage they had to cut the park hours. That means massive crowds. Some rides have over an hour wait. That really cuts down how much you can do in one day because you spend most of your time on lines.
However you mentioned you will be doing smaller rides mainly...those have less lines so it will work to your advantage.
I would not bother with the zoo...I hear it's not great.
Chocolate World can be done either before or after one of your park days...its definitely only an hour or so thing.
It's pretty much a big gift shop and a short tour if you want to do the tour .
Pack your patience and be prepared for insane crowds.
I was shocked at the difference in crowd levels from 2 years ago to this year. It was insane!
Message edited 7/25/2021 9:15:14 AM.
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| Posted 7/25/21 8:06 AM |
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MyBabyG
LIF Adolescent
Member since 1/15 792 total posts
Name:
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Tips for Hershey Park?
My husband and daughter did the zoo in about 30 mins a couple years ago. I don’t know if that was the whole thing for I was never in there but they were done pretty quickly.
If you do chocolate world from what the website says you have e to do a timed entry and reserve your time. I don’t know how strict they are with that —last year they just let us in without it for I had no idea you had to do that ) but this year I reserved my time just in case.
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| Posted 7/25/21 8:59 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey Park?
Wear really comfortable shoes, it's a lot of hilly walking!!
Chocolate World is super cute but doesn't take long to see and do. My kids love to make their own chocolate bars there. I'd say one day each for the park and water park. The zoo is maybe a half day, at best. It's ok, nothing spectacular but has some nice animals.
Have fun!
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| Posted 7/25/21 9:13 AM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17789 total posts
Name:
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Tips for Hershey Park?
We usually go in for the preview and do a lot of the more popular rides then. The next morning we will go to the water park in the morning and do more rides in the afternoon. We usually stay two nights and then do chocolate world the day we leave.
We haven’t been yet this year though.
The zoo is really quick - and it’s not that great so if you skip it it’s not a huge loss.
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| Posted 7/25/21 12:02 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 Park?
Posted by ali120206
We usually go in for the preview and do a lot of the more popular rides then. The next morning we will go to the water park in the morning and do more rides in the afternoon. We usually stay two nights and then do chocolate world the day we leave.
We haven’t been yet this year though.
The zoo is really quick - and it’s not that great so if you skip it it’s not a huge loss.
I don't think they are doing the preview this year. The park closes early due to lack of staff .
Though maybe you can still do the preview but it will be earlier and from what I saw the park was PACKED from opening at 11 am to closing at 8 pm.
The line just to get in at 11 am was like 30 minutes long of wall to wall crowds.
Very poorly run imo
Message edited 7/25/2021 1:21:08 PM.
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| Posted 7/25/21 1:14 PM |
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pumpkinmom
LIF Adult
Member since 5/12 2911 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey Park?
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by ali120206
We usually go in for the preview and do a lot of the more popular rides then. The next morning we will go to the water park in the morning and do more rides in the afternoon. We usually stay two nights and then do chocolate world the day we leave.
We haven’t been yet this year though.
The zoo is really quick - and it’s not that great so if you skip it it’s not a huge loss.
I don't think they are doing the preview this year. The park closes early due to lack of staff .
Though maybe you can still do the preview but it will be earlier and from what I saw the park was PACKED from opening at 11 am to closing at 8 pm.
The line just to get in at 11 am was like 30 minutes long of wall to wall crowds.
Very poorly run imo
Your posts are scaring me, lol. I've heard the labor shortage is a national problem, but I wonder if Busch Gardens Williamsburg would be a little better. I'd like to go there because we already have tickets only good for this summer, but my DH doesn't want to drive that far.
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| Posted 7/25/21 2:09 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 Park?
Posted by pumpkinmom
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by ali120206
We usually go in for the preview and do a lot of the more popular rides then. The next morning we will go to the water park in the morning and do more rides in the afternoon. We usually stay two nights and then do chocolate world the day we leave.
We haven’t been yet this year though.
The zoo is really quick - and it’s not that great so if you skip it it’s not a huge loss.
I don't think they are doing the preview this year. The park closes early due to lack of staff .
Though maybe you can still do the preview but it will be earlier and from what I saw the park was PACKED from opening at 11 am to closing at 8 pm.
The line just to get in at 11 am was like 30 minutes long of wall to wall crowds.
Very poorly run imo
Your posts are scaring me, lol. I've heard the labor shortage is a national problem, but I wonder if Busch Gardens Williamsburg would be a little better. I'd like to go there because we already have tickets only good for this summer, but my DH doesn't want to drive that far.
It was still fun, don't get me wrong, but I was shocked at how crowded it was and the kids were upset that after being in the park 2 hours they only got to ride 2 rides.
But again, the smaller rides had less lines so that was good.
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| Posted 7/25/21 2:14 PM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17789 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey Park?
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by ali120206
We usually go in for the preview and do a lot of the more popular rides then. The next morning we will go to the water park in the morning and do more rides in the afternoon. We usually stay two nights and then do chocolate world the day we leave.
We haven’t been yet this year though.
The zoo is really quick - and it’s not that great so if you skip it it’s not a huge loss.
I don't think they are doing the preview this year. The park closes early due to lack of staff .
Though maybe you can still do the preview but it will be earlier and from what I saw the park was PACKED from opening at 11 am to closing at 8 pm.
The line just to get in at 11 am was like 30 minutes long of wall to wall crowds.
Very poorly run imo
Oh wow - I just looked at the hours - it used to be open so much longer! We wanted to go but I’ve heard from everyone who has it’s insanity - hopefully in the fall!
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| Posted 7/25/21 5:48 PM |
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JennP
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 3986 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Tips for Hershey Park?
They are doing the preview but it's two hours now unless you stay on property then it's 3.
They also have some type of early start but only if you stay on property.
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| Posted 7/25/21 8:31 PM |
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GoodThoughts
Dreams do come true
Member since 2/12 2258 total posts
Name:
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Tips for Hershey Park?
We just got back from Hershey is n Friday. We spent 2 days at the park. If you go to Chocolate World when it opens, there aren’t any crowds and you’ll breeze through. Obviously this depends on which days you’ll be there. We were there’s Thursday and Friday. I’m sure weekends are a totally different story. Lines for some rides were 60-90 minutes. Others were walk-ons. If you’re sticking to the kiddie rides in front, I can’t be helpful since my kids had no interest in those.
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| Posted 7/26/21 4:22 PM |
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pumpkinmom
LIF Adult
Member since 5/12 2911 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey Park?
Posted by GoodThoughts
We just got back from Hershey is n Friday. We spent 2 days at the park. If you go to Chocolate World when it opens, there aren’t any crowds and you’ll breeze through. Obviously this depends on which days you’ll be there. We were there’s Thursday and Friday. I’m sure weekends are a totally different story. Lines for some rides were 60-90 minutes. Others were walk-ons. If you’re sticking to the kiddie rides in front, I can’t be helpful since my kids had no interest in those.
Thanks! I think we'll have 1 weekday and 1 weekend. If the weekday is horrible, we'll do something else on the weekend - we're staying in Lancaster.
Are camps there during the week?
Did you notice any long lines for food? I'm thinking about trying an all day meal deal, but I've seen those somewhere else (maybe SeaWorld) create crazy lines..
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| Posted 7/27/21 1:39 AM |
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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!
|
Re: Tips for Hershey Park?
Posted by pumpkinmom
Posted by GoodThoughts
We just got back from Hershey is n Friday. We spent 2 days at the park. If you go to Chocolate World when it opens, there aren’t any crowds and you’ll breeze through. Obviously this depends on which days you’ll be there. We were there’s Thursday and Friday. I’m sure weekends are a totally different story. Lines for some rides were 60-90 minutes. Others were walk-ons. If you’re sticking to the kiddie rides in front, I can’t be helpful since my kids had no interest in those.
Thanks! I think we'll have 1 weekday and 1 weekend. If the weekday is horrible, we'll do something else on the weekend - we're staying in Lancaster.
Are camps there during the week?
Did you notice any long lines for food? I'm thinking about trying an all day meal deal, but I've seen those somewhere else (maybe SeaWorld) create crazy lines..
I saw a few camps, nothing crazy
Lines for food (and drinks) were insane when we went.
It was 97 degrees and hard to get water or soda because the Lines for the self fill stations were nuts and about 3/4 of them weren't working, were out of ice or out of beverages etc
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| Posted 7/27/21 7:19 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 Park?
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by ali120206
We usually go in for the preview and do a lot of the more popular rides then. The next morning we will go to the water park in the morning and do more rides in the afternoon. We usually stay two nights and then do chocolate world the day we leave.
We haven’t been yet this year though.
The zoo is really quick - and it’s not that great so if you skip it it’s not a huge loss.
I don't think they are doing the preview this year. The park closes early due to lack of staff .
Though maybe you can still do the preview but it will be earlier and from what I saw the park was PACKED from opening at 11 am to closing at 8 pm.
The line just to get in at 11 am was like 30 minutes long of wall to wall crowds.
Very poorly run imo
Yes, I was there the end of June and we still did the preview the night before. If you are staying at a Hershey hotel you can go 3 hours before and if not you can go 2 hours before.
We go every year so this year we happened to go on a beautiful day and skipped the water park. I hated those changing locker rooms anyway and having to carry extra stuff.
We were just there end of June and did the following -
got there at around noon and did Chocolate World (now with Covid you have to make reservations, but that was no problem). WE did the ride and walked around. We went to the lodge and had an early dinner/later lunch then back at the park and got on line for preview. Hung out 2 hours doing a lot of rides. Next morning got there early and ran right to the longest line rides. We followed the app to see where lines were 30 mins or less. Had lunch there then more rides and we left the park around 5PM and snuck into Chocolate World in the back (shhh LOL), got to do the ride one more time, bought some gift and headed home. We were home by dinner time. We live in NJ so about 2 hour drive. So basically 1 night is perfect for us. If it was our first time I'd do 2 nights.
Yes, they shortened the hours.
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| Posted 7/27/21 7:42 AM |
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GoodThoughts
Dreams do come true
Member since 2/12 2258 total posts
Name:
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Re: Tips for Hershey Park?
Posted by pumpkinmom
Posted by GoodThoughts
We just got back from Hershey is n Friday. We spent 2 days at the park. If you go to Chocolate World when it opens, there aren’t any crowds and you’ll breeze through. Obviously this depends on which days you’ll be there. We were there’s Thursday and Friday. I’m sure weekends are a totally different story. Lines for some rides were 60-90 minutes. Others were walk-ons. If you’re sticking to the kiddie rides in front, I can’t be helpful since my kids had no interest in those.
Thanks! I think we'll have 1 weekday and 1 weekend. If the weekday is horrible, we'll do something else on the weekend - we're staying in Lancaster.
Are camps there during the week?
Did you notice any long lines for food? I'm thinking about trying an all day meal deal, but I've seen those somewhere else (maybe SeaWorld) create crazy lines..
We saw one group of campers while we were there. Food lines were quick, but we tend to eat a little later than most do for lunch (1:30-2:00ish). We bought the refillable cup, which was great. Easy to get refills either at stations or at nearly every place that sells snacks/food.
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| Posted 7/29/21 1:20 AM |
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