Hersheypark from a First Timer’s Perspective
I visited Hersheypark for the first time on a trip that lasted just 36 hours, from wheels down to wheels up. Here’s how it went:
Getting to Hersheypark from Kansas City
Getting to the East Coast parks from the Midwest can be challenging; it’s even more so when tornado sirens are going off at the airport at departure time.
Thankfully, we had a pilot who was as ready to get out of Kansas City as we were, so after a lot of uncertainty, we managed to take off between storms and make it to Detroit for our connecting flight to Harrisburg. From there, it was an easy Uber ride to Hershey.
Hersheypark Accommodations
We opted to stay at the Hersheypark Camping Resort thanks to a good deal that included day tickets with our resort booking. This turned out to be a really fun place to stay.
We arrived well after office hours and met our first Hershey employee. This interaction with security set the tone for our entire visit. This individual went above and beyond by getting us our keys and walking us all the way to our cabin.
Both our cabin and the public restrooms were spotless and well-stocked. Guests and employees were all there to ensure a wonderful time. We made friends with neighboring visitors and would choose to stay here again in a heartbeat.
Since the park didn’t open until 11 a.m., we were able to explore further by walking through the well-stocked camp store before heading for the complimentary shuttle. I’ll talk a little bit more about the shuttle experience later in my recap, because I’m just way too excited to talk about the park itself.
My First Impressions of Hersheypark
Hersheypark has one of the best front gate plazas I’ve seen. It’s my understanding that Hershey’s Chocolate Town was opened in 2020 as the new entrance, and the park is all the better for it. From the Hershey motifs in the brickwork to the sleek logo and shiny gates, it all promised a clean and fresh experience.
Thankfully, the positives followed through those turnstiles into the park itself. A park that feels absolutely massive. We didn’t even get to experience the zoo or waterpark on this trip, and it still felt like a park you could spend days in without seeing everything.
So our first impressions were overwhelmingly positive, but what about the individual experiences? Let’s start with the two add-ons we made to our day ticket.
Hersheypark Meal Plan
My husband and I are big fans of daily dining plans, so we opted to split a $40 All-Day Dining Deal, which gave us a meal every 90 minutes. While the food didn’t feel particularly special (the desserts were phenomenal), we definitely got our money’s worth. After doing the math, we found that our food would have been just over $100 if we paid outright. It was well worth it for us, and the portions were very impressive.
On top of this, there was never a shortage of seating. We noticed this at every section and loved how many options there were for shaded rests or food breaks. We were also impressed by how clean these areas were.
We had heard going in that food lines could get long and cumbersome, and while we did run into a lot of lines, they moved quickly, and we were never left waiting long for the food to be in our hands.
Skipping the Lines with Hersheypark Fast Track
I mentioned lines above; well, there were a lot of those to go around.
Usually, we don’t opt for a “fast pass” add-on at parks, but since we knew we had limited time here, we both purchased the “Hersheypark Fast Track” add-on. It did end up saving us what was probably 3-4 hours of line, but the system itself felt like a work in progress.
Sometimes we walked straight through the line with an employee merely glancing at our wristbands; other times, they scanned them; and other times, we had to tap a Hershey’s Kiss. It wasn’t the biggest inconvenience, but as first-time guests, we had no idea what was going on for the first 2-3 rides.
We would not have been able to do everything we wanted to do without the “Hersheypark Fast Track” and are thankful we bit the bullet and splurged for this experience. I highly recommend it if you only have one day in the park.
Roller Coasters
Here’s where things might get controversial for coaster enthusiasts. I’m going to start by saying that I did not think Skyrush was that good.
I’ve never felt more lied to in my life, because it wasn’t anything special, in my opinion, and I’ve only ever heard people rave about it. Sorry, not sorry.
Some of the other coasters did surprise me in a good way, though! Storm Runner, although short, was the perfect surprise punch that I had not experienced on a coaster in a long time. Its small layout did not waste a single element. Other surprises included Laff Trakk and Lightning Racer.
Wildcat’s Revenge was the obvious standout for us. We were fortunate enough to get two rides on it and loved both the front and the back. I easily could have binged this ride if time had allowed.
I do unfortunately have to talk about the dispatch times. A lot of coasters left us waiting 4-5 minutes between train dispatches. This was a very obvious issue for Great Bear and Candymonium, where multiple trains were running and then stacking on break runs; it was just a tad disappointing to see.
I don’t want to harp too much on this, though, because “Fast Track” gave us a little extra time, and it was clear that early-season employee training was still underway. All employees were working hard and making sure that safety came first, which I will never complain about.
Our entire day was dedicated to coasters, but we did manage to catch a ride on the iconic Kissing Tower, which allowed for stunning views of the surrounding area and a little background on the Hershey story.
Hershey’s Chocolate World
Speaking of the Hershey story, the park closed at 7 p.m., giving us 1 hour to explore Hershey’s Chocolate World, a separate attraction adjacent to the park.
While we didn’t have the time to explore some of the extra ticketed attractions, we did experience the “Hershey’s Chocolate Tour Ride.” This free ride acts as a simulated tour through a Hershey’s factory. We thought it was a delightful experience for the whole family and appreciated the free chocolate at the end.
From there, we ordered Hershey’s milkshakes to cap off the night and headed to the shuttle stop. Unfortunately for us, the shuttle service stopped an hour after the park closed, right at 8 p.m. This is most definitely on us, as we should have researched when shuttle service stopped. It was weird to us to have some attractions still open and not offer a way back to their resorts.
We ended up taking an Uber back to the campground for the short distance. Again, our fault, but it would be much more convenient if they could extend this, or at least post the times at the shuttle stop itself.
It was a slightly sour experience to end on, but nothing could truly dampen the sweetness of our experience in Hershey, PA.
My Final Hersheypark Thoughts
I think it’s safe to say that we had a wonderful time. If I lived closer to Hersheypark, I would adore visiting it regularly. It was so refreshing to visit a park that people clearly care a lot about. That dedication came through in how both guests and employees carried themselves throughout the day. This park was clean and well-maintained.
Rarely do my husband and I find a park we can’t conquer in a single day, but Hersheypark requires at least two days. Add in the surrounding attractions and the town of Hershey, and you have a full week of vacation ahead of you! I so wish we had had more time here.
We left Pennsylvania with a newfound respect and intrigue for the Hershey Company. The fact that this park has kept the good-hearted nature and whimsy of its founder, Milton Hershey, comes through in everything they do.
About the Author:
Elora Maxwell is a writer based out of Missouri. She writes mostly fiction novels, but also loves to write about her travel experiences in her free time. She enjoys parks that provide great food and even greater roller coasters. Her dream is to one day be on a social media team for a theme park.
