Hersheypark is one of those places where your experience depends a lot on the crowds and how you approach the day. We visited in August with our daughter. I'm not much of a coaster person myself, but my wife and daughter are, and they spent most of the day riding. One thing we figured out pretty quickly was that it didn't make sense to stand in the massive Candymonium line first thing in the morning. Instead, we headed farther into the park and worked our way back. What I noticed is that Hersheypark seems to have its own rhythm. The rides with the longest waits in the morning weren't necessarily the rides with the longest waits later in the day. Things seemed to even out around midday, and by the evening the wait for Candymonium was much shorter than when we first arrived. Unfortunately, someone got sick on the ride by the time we made it back there, so that ended up being the one major coaster my wife and daughter didn't get to ride. One thing Hersheypark does really well is the overall atmosphere. The park is clean, easy to navigate, and has a lot of mature trees that provide shade during the hotter months. I also like the history of the park and the newer Chocolatetown area near the entrance. It's a nice first impression when you walk in. As someone who doesn't ride most of the coasters myself, I spent more time taking in the park while my wife and daughter were off riding. Even if you're not chasing roller coasters all day, there's enough to enjoy between the scenery, people watching, shops, and family rides. The food is about what you'd expect for a theme park. If you're using the meal plan, most of the included options are pretty basic. Nothing bad, but nothing particularly memorable either. On the other hand, some of the specialty restaurants and food stands have genuinely good food and are worth checking out if you don't mind spending a little extra. Overall, we had a good time. The crowds were definitely noticeable, but paying attention to the flow of the park helped a lot. My wife and daughter were able to ride just about everything they wanted, and we felt like we got our money's worth. Hersheypark rewards a little flexibility and patience. If you're willing to adjust your plans instead of chasing the most popular ride the moment you walk through the gate, you'll probably have a much better experience than you expected. read more

Not a roller coaster girl, but it was a nice park. Layout inside the park was easy to get around and maneuver. Went on a rainy Sunday, so it wasn't overly crowded but surprisingly there was a lot of people with their kids and strollers! Even though I don't ride roller coasters, I loved going to amusement parks to eat and drink my way around. This park definitely catered to people of all ages and I loved that they had alcohol and beverage places all around the park, even though it was dependent on what was open. Food selection was limited. We got our Fried Dough, ice cream, frozen bananas, churros, and small turkey legs (That was disappointing). They have a food area that served BBQ and some restaurants all over the park. Parts of the park was closed because of the rain which they eventually opened up their rides later in the evening. We ended up going back later at night for their Halloween Haunted houses and I really do like the fact that they let people back into the park so you don't have to stay there all day and not be able to leave and take a nap. We didn't have that much time for the Haunted Houses, but did go to one of them which I was more so impressed with how they got everything set up so fast when we had only left the park for a few hours. They did think through a lot of the effects with sound, light, and smoke. One of my girlfriends was definitely scared. The worse thing is that they did not have an organized location for Uber. We ubered there in the evening so we could drink, and the park closed all its entrances and exits so the drivers could not get in. My friends and I ended up going hiking almost two miles to Giant Stadium to catch an Uber OUTSIDE of their parking lot. The place was a maze and when you put in Uber to Hershey Park, they would drop you off at the outside restaurants off Chocolate Ave, which was confusing. So just suck it up and drive to the park. Do not Uber! Overall the park was nice, but the food selections could be better and I wished they were more clear on what the hours were. We asked a few people on what time they closed and got different answers. We ended eating dinner there at the restaurant above the gift shop and didn't make it to the Chocolate Factory which was overly packed with kids. We were so exhausted from walking and drinking in the rain, we probably could have done the park over two days than one. read more

Ive been a handful of times to Hershey park and I have never experienced what we did this past weekend for the Halloween themed events. As a handicap individual, myself and other handicap individuals were unable to access the handicap lot as this area is 'first come first serve', other than this they have several large lots that you can park in, but you have to drive around as there are no parking attendants to assist and there are tents sent up throughout the parking lot blocking off several spots and making areas inaccessible for all drivers. With the amount of people who were trying to access the park, having these problems was not ideal. We also went with the expectation that rides were going to be open, the roller coasters and the child rides were open but the majority of the rides were closed and listed as temporarily out of service. The Halloween night was fun, the only down side is that you have to pay for a necklace in order to not be scared by the scare actors. These will run you about $17 and often the actors can't even see the necklace and will scare you accidentally. The themed food and drinks were by far the best part, the scare actors and other actors were incredible to interact with. read more

Hersheypark - Amusement Parks Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

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We went to Hersheypark for the Hersheypark Halloween on a Friday evening. The Decayed Brigade was great but wasn't impressed with the Haunted House (we only got into one). We did the Haunted Coal Mine because we were close and we used the app to track the wait time. When we entered the line it said the wait was a half hour, that was far from the truth. We waited for an hour and fifteen minutes. Half way through our wait the line just stopped. As we got closer to the entrance we quickly understood why. The fast track people were being let in with no wait at all. Just because it is fast track doesn't mean there is no wait. This ruined our experience and we had no desire or confidence in the app to attempt another haunted house. Just unacceptable. No way would I pay for that experience again. Not worth it. read more

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World-class theme park that definitely isn't just for kids. They have some really cute kids rides and stuff, but don't get it twisted, Hersheypark is for thrill seekers. It's also super aesthetic and pretty, and you can tell the team really takes care of the park compared to a lot of other parks in the Northeast. Everything just feels clean and well maintained. And make sure you don't skip the candy dark rides, which are kind of outside of the main park. read more

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Good, clean, food is pretty decent and not crazy expensive. The Hotdogs for instance are the same as at the ballpark but with worse buns. The lemonade.. omg what a joke was $7. Popcorn 12. Fries, soda and chicken fingers + gogo apple $20. The bad: lines for everything. The timer they have is all lies. To the bathrooms lines, to the wave pool, long lines. To do anything lines. See some of the pictures The ugly: its designed to get you 1 time unless you live near by. Tons of tourists and we all came to the same conclusion. NEVER coming back on purpose. Too much waiting for everything. Everything said 15 minutes wait but that was a lie.. 45+ per ride Some rides had 2 lines. The last one was Reese central and that was 45 with a 5 year old.. every parent here was carrying their kids by this time of the day as these took too long. Ps: 3 people work the ride but only 1 works the ride. Its done on purpose to make you want to pay for the fast pass. Same for the lifeguards, kids playing rough and they ignore it No thank you. REESES would be ashamed of what this has become.. milk factory. read more

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I've been coming to Hershey park for over 30 years and have always been a big fan but this last trip was beyond disappointing. I'm hoping it was just an off day. They advertise the app but it wasn't too user friendly. The app ride wait times for rides are incredibly inaccurate. Half the rides were closed all day, especially the small ones for younger kids. My nephew was very restricted on the rides because most of the ones that were for his height requirement were closed. The food prices are basic for amusement parks. Overpriced but that's to be expected. The park is beautiful as ever. Well landscaped and pretty clean. read more

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We came on a Sunday during end of June. Online parking is $25. On site is $40. So buy online. Pro: -3 in 1: admission includes zoo, amusement park and waterpark. Zoo was ok but will skip next time. - free shuttle to take you to parking lot up to one hour after closing. - lots of restrooms and trash cans. - very sufficient staff despite they may not be very well trained. - at the chocolate world free ride, it offers moving platform and at least 5 staff running it. It was very efficient. Long was long but kept moving. Good job! - we bought tickets at kids' price promotion, $49.99 plus tax online. Good value. - Great sea lion and seal show. Trainer and narrator were both very knowledgeable. Cons: - long line!! Popular rides are easily 60-90 min wait. Monorail was 60 min ( only one train operating). A water ride was 60 min. Things improved after 6 pm when park closes at 10 pm. - Food is ridiculously expensive. $4.50 for water. $11 hot dog. $17 brisket sandwich. $ 6.5 a fountain drink. $10 for 6 inches subway sandwich. $4.65 for a bottle os soda. $5 Cheetos. Overall, not sure will return or not. Too much standing on line. read more

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This was my first time at Hershey Park. I really enjoyed my visit. Wow what a walk. Got in nearly 12,000 steps. We love amusement parks. I'm not a roller coaster rider but I do get on rides. I get on mellow rides lol. We probably got on at least six non roller coaster rides that were very enjoyable. Also saw a seal show. That was quite entertaining. It also wasn't rushed. Probably lasted at least 30-40 minutes. Oh and the price also includes the zoo. We were here during the springtime. I would love to come back during the summer to explore some of the other activities available such as the water park and other options. This really was fun and we also paid for one meal plan. It included one main course, one side and a fountain drink or bottle of water for $19.99. All tickets were pre-purchased online. One recommendation. Pre-purchase your parking online as well. We didn't do that and we went for upclose parking. It was pretty expensive. $60 to be exact. We could have saved if we had purchased it online. So we know the next time. General parking was $35 and they had a trolley to take you to the park. So the choice is yours. I would definitely return again. Can't wait!!! read more

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Unfortunately, this was one of the most disappointing customer service experiences I've had, particularly because my family and I recently moved to Hershey and were genuinely excited to support Hersheypark and become part of the community. I purchased a season pass for myself and my son specifically because he qualified for the free Pre-K Pass. Before purchasing, I verified his eligibility with an employee at the ticket window, and his pass was issued and activated. We were even given a special sticker because we live locally and were told we could enter through ZooAmerica. On our next visit, however, we were told that my son's pass was no longer valid and that we needed to go to the ticket office. The first employee I spoke with was extremely kind, understanding, and apologetic. He acknowledged how frustrating the situation was but explained that he did not have the authority to resolve it, so he brought over a supervisor. I genuinely appreciated how he handled the situation. The supervisor acknowledged that an employee had made an error when issuing the pass and told me that the employee had been reprimanded. I was surprised, however, that despite acknowledging the mistake, there was no solution or accommodation offered to us. When I asked for a refund, I was told that wasn't possible because I had already used my season pass. I asked to speak with another supervisor but was told no one else was available. I later emailed management explaining the situation and received essentially the same response. What was most disappointing was not the original mistake. Mistakes happen, and as a business owner myself, I completely understand that. What disappointed me was the lack of ownership or effort to make the situation right afterward. I wasn't expecting anything unreasonable. Even a modest gesture acknowledging that we had relied on information provided by Hersheypark staff would have gone a long way. I brought the issue up once more during a later visit, hoping someone might be able to help. Unfortunately, that interaction was even more discouraging. I was initially told that I could have received a refund had I requested one immediately. When I explained that I had, in fact, requested a refund at the time, I was then told that a refund would not have been possible anyway. When I politely asked to speak with her supervisor, I was told that she did not have one. Toward the end of the conversation, I asked what she thought Milton Hershey would have done in a situation where a customer relied on information provided by an employee and the organization later acknowledged that an error had been made. She responded, "We are done here," and placed a block in the ticket window, ending the conversation. I was able to take a photo of the interaction. I'm sharing this because I believe Hersheypark can do better. We live here, we want to support Hershey institutions, and we were excited to enjoy the park as a family. I would have been satisfied with almost any reasonable effort to acknowledge and correct an admitted mistake. Unfortunately, the repeated unwillingness to take responsibility and the way the final interaction was handled left a very disappointing impression. I sincerely hope Hersheypark uses experiences like this as an opportunity to improve customer service training and empower employees and supervisors to resolve situations fairly when an error has clearly occurred. read more

Hersheypark - Supervisor shutting the window in my face in front of my 6 and 5 year old boys. I used it as a teaching moment for them to always be kind. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

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Unfortunately I came on a super rainy day, so I don't have a ton of experience to comment on, but I will say that this park is way bigger than I expected! They have tons of rides and carnival games, and although it was raining most of them were still open. There are a few indoor rides too, which are good for bad weather. I wish they had more candy themed rides though, as many are just regular rides. Overall it's a very cool place and I think I'd enjoy it much more on a day with better weather. The prices for tickets were not bad either! read more

MomMom & PopPop had a great day with our granddaughter and grand niece at Hershey Park yesterday. Monday & Threat of rain all day did not keep us away but we feel like it may have kept others away. We went in the wave pool, lazy river, boardwalk buckets and beach areas, log flume, Waterslide's, bumper cars the girls had a blast! Happy faces and polite park attendants with lots a great food choices, our 10 and 11 year olds picked in the park Chick-fil-A, lol. Wholesome fun for the family or grandparents day!! We will be back soon! read more

Hersheypark - Hershey Park waterpark time! - Amusement Parks Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

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The park keeps getting better. It could use lite shade and maybe something to watch while waiting in the lines, but we got lucky most of the time with the lines. read more

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I was really torn over adding an additional star and for those that really really really love rollercoasters, you might. This was our second trip in about four years and we met up with some family to spend a pair of days doing all the coasters we could handle- In my case, it was all of them. Some of the kids had to work their courage up by doing easier ones first, but by the end of the trip, I think we conquered everything. I personally like the coasters on metal rails better- much easier on the neck and back, while the kids really loved the vintage wooden coasters. Between Candy-Moneum and The Great Bear the winning title for me goes to da Bear. About the hardest part of the park is the signage; you'll follow an arrow, get to an intersection and then have no clue what to do next. To add insult to injury, there's few if any park employees around aside from the ones working concessions or rides. A great bonus to the coasters is the water park inside the Hersheypark complex. Splash zones, and tubes and plenty of sun chairs are available for what could be a full day of fun for the kids. Lines for the more popular attractions are not uncommon but at least there's plenty of water around to cool off in. A food court of sorts is there as well with a decent assortment of decent food. Alcohol can be purchased at some of the trucks or concession trailer outposts throughout the entire park so now we know there is a god. Also included with a park admission, there is a zoo that is worth spending an hour or two. Between the park, the zoo and the water park, you'll probably leave because the kiddos are tired, not because they are bored. If you happen to stay at one of the Hershey owned hotels or lodges, you'll be able to forego the parking fees and take the free shuttle. Also, staying on site gets you into the park an hour early. Great for the coasters that develop longer lines as the days wears on- you can get them in before the other crowds show up. Clean and safe fun is what you're in for so plan a trip for yourself- just do yourself a favor and do a search of all the rides available- if you're not a fan of rollercoasters, there aren't many other non-coaster rides you'd enjoy. read more

Hershey park is worth the road trip to PA! I feel like it's such a magical and cute place that is entertaining for the whole family no matter how you enjoy parks! I also appreciated how well maintained & clean it was! The Turkey Hill ice cream that they serve here is so yummy & it's not a small serving either! Also enjoyed a delicious BBQ sandwich with some crunchy fries! They have cute little chocolate mascots roaming the park! I loved the wooden coaster & the Ferris Wheel! There's even a little zoo inside the park. I visited in late spring & it felt too cold to visit the water park so I can't speak to that side of the park! Will definitely visit this park again! read more

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I am a longtime fan of Hershey Park, but as the years go on, it is getting outrageously expensive. My friend and I bought tickets ahead of time and got fast pass, about $400 ish. We didn't get any food because everything was high priced. I stopped at a dunkin & a medium refresher was almost $7. We did enjoy the water park & the lines were short today probably due to the heat but the ride attendants were nice & did their jobs well. We went to the boardwalk & a large locker was $25, which seemed insanely pricy to put personal items away. Also parking is so expensive. $30 with tax to park the car on their lot I did notice the water at tidal force was brown & murky. I know we had that thunderstorm semi recently but the water color was a turn off to ride. I do appreciate how well kept the park is, the rides are very safe & the employees seem well trained. The waterpark was also a huge relief with the heat today! Overall, I do suggest trying HP if you're looking to have a fun day. read more

@Hersheypark disappointed with this park.Guest services basically tell me they don't want my business. It's Saturday and monorail, ferris wheel, Tower, and zoo and many more features are closed.Purchased fast track for wrong day they won't honor them or let me change the day.. without paying an addition $165. My kids don't want to wait for a 2hr ride and many of their favorites are closed and they won't refund. #fail Thanks to Larry for being so rigid and his poor customer service. read more

Hersheypark - All the rides closed today!! - Amusement Parks Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

Amazing time at the park. This was my first roller coaster in more than 25 years. Lost 100 lbs so now I fit. Lol read more

Hersheypark - Amusement Parks Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

We visited Hersheypark as a family, and this was the first visit for my husband and our two young boys, ages 6 and 4. I had been to the park several times when I was younger, but it had probably been 15-20 years since my last visit. Needless to say, a lot has changed. When we arrived, parking seemed organized, but there was a huge line to enter the park, so we decided to visit Chocolate World first. The ride was mostly how I remembered it, although the chocolate-smell portion didn't seem to be working, which was a little disappointing. Once we entered Hersheypark, we were handed a Dark Nights map, which wasn't particularly helpful for navigating the park. We eventually found another posted map near the entrance to The Hollow, but that wasn't much better. We finally downloaded the app, which was much more useful, although I personally prefer having a physical map. Trying to navigate an unfamiliar park on a phone while also managing two young children made the experience unnecessarily stressful. Our biggest disappointment was discovering that more than half of the children's rides appeared to be closed that day. It was a beautiful day with no rain, so we weren't sure why so many of them were unavailable. With children ages 4 and 6, those rides were a major reason for our visit, so having so many closed significantly impacted our experience. We also walked through ZooAmerica. Unfortunately, we left feeling uncomfortable with some of the animal enclosures, which seemed quite small. The ocelot in particular was pacing repeatedly, and we noticed extensive scratching on the viewing window near the alligator gar exhibit. Obviously, we're not animal-care experts, but some of what we observed made the zoo portion of our visit feel more sad than enjoyable. Another frustrating aspect of the day was simply navigating through the crowds. I understand that Hersheypark has limited control over individual guests, but there were numerous occasions where people stood in the middle of pathways or blocked areas while socializing, seemingly unaware that others were trying to get through. This even happened inside Chocolate World while we were clearly trying to select candy and fill our bags. With two young children in tow, constantly trying to maneuver around groups of people made an already stressful day more frustrating. The food was fairly standard amusement-park fare, although the burger was exceptionally disappointing. Spending around $50 for one cheeseburger, one order of chicken tenders, fries, and two drinks also felt excessive for the quality of the food. One thing we did genuinely appreciate was the availability of free ice and water throughout the park. Overall, this was unfortunately a very disappointing experience. Between the difficulty navigating the park, the large number of closed children's rides, the crowds, the food prices, and our experience at the zoo, the day simply wasn't what we had hoped for. I'm not sure if or when we'll return, but if we do, it will probably be when our children are considerably older and able to enjoy the larger rides. Based on this visit, the park seemed much better suited to older children, teenagers, and adults than families visiting primarily for attractions geared toward younger kids. read more

We come every year but this will be our last. We decided to come for my daughter's birthday and enjoy Hershey in the fall (weekend of 9/18-9/21) but 75% of the rides are closed, most of the kids rides. So disappointing for the kids as they were really looking forward to the rides. How can you charge full price admission when less than half the park is usable? The lines for the rides that are open are ridiculous since there are so few rides open. I'm talking 45 min for teacups. Various games and food places inside are also closed. This will be our last year here, very sad because we loved Hershey! Would never recommend coming here in the fall. Posting a pic so you can see everything orange is closed. read more

Hersheypark - Amusement Parks Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

Hersheypark needs to elevate its standards. Today's visit was an unmitigated disappointment, aside from the pleasure of spending time with family. This follows a concerning trend in recent visits we've experienced. Major issues include high prices, numerous closures, season ticket discounts with more exclusions than inclusions, discontinuation of towel service in cabanas, and opaque communication about closures. After four years of loyalty as a season ticket holder, I'm choosing not to renew next year due to these unresolved issues. Hersheypark needs to elevate its standards. Today's visit was an unmitigated disappointment, aside from the pleasure of spending time with family. This follows a concerning trend in recent visits we've experienced. Major issues include high prices, numerous closures, season ticket discounts with more exclusions than inclusions, discontinuation of towel service in cabanas, and opaque communication about closures. After four years of loyalty as a season ticket holder, I'm choosing not to renew next year due to these unresolved issues. read more

Hersheypark - Amusement Parks Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

To my knowledge there's no other Chocolate related Theme Park anywhere else as awesome as Hershey Park is, where the good times are as abundant as the Dentist visits you'll need when you return home, Lol. [Just kidding] tell the kids to brush their teeth and you should be fine. Traditionally the annual Halloween Season at the park offers hair raising thrills and blood curdling frights in their one-of-a-kind immersive haunted experience which runs for eight weeks from September 12th to November 2nd. This is probably one of the best times to plan a trip here in my humble opinion. Anyway, you know you're somewhere special when the entire town is named after this super famous brand of Chocolate. It's fun, it's flavorful, it's Hershey baby!! Where Fun and Chocolate Shake Hands!! read more

Hersheypark - Chocolate Town, Hershey Park!! - Amusement Parks Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

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My son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, who is four years old, came to visit from North Carolina this past weekend and we all went to Hershey Park on Saturday. When we arrived, I was actually shocked to find out that it cost $40 to park a vehicle, but we did. When we got to the ticket booth, the young man there informed us that it would be much cheaper for us to go online to buy a family pack of tickets, rather than to buy them at the window, which he said would be double the price. So we stood there and purchased the tickets online to find out that parking was included with the family four pack. When I asked the young man if I could be refunded for my original parking fee of $40, he said there was nothing he could do to help me. So we purchased the tickets, four of them in the pack with the parking and went inside the park. Yes, my grandson had a great time, it had been years since I've been to Hershey Park a lot has changed, but we all had a very good time. He got to trick-or-treat there, and ride many rides. However, I called Hershey Park customer service this morning to ask if there was anybody that could help me and getting my $40 refunded for the original parking, she did explain that the tickets are reduced in the family pack and the parking is free when you buy the family pack, which I already knew, I understand that. However, I still spent $40 to park and I believe that they should have something at those parking ticket booths that explain that when you buy online parking is included. They will not refund the money if you pay to park and then end up buying the family pack with the parking included. The lady in guest services told me there was nothing she could do to refund that money. So lesson learned, but I believe her she should be very ashamed of themselves and even refund somebody with a gift card or something if they make that mistake because it's an honest mistake that I'm sure a lot of people make and then they still make their money. read more

I am not a chocolate fan whatsoever. Luckily, my displeasure for chocolate does not carry over to chocolate and candy themed rides. Hershey has the cute little kid rides as well as a decent selection of more intense roller coasters. I appreciate the variety as my stomach does not do well with too many coasters normally yet I'm able to enjoy most of this park. There are plenty of other games to explore. There are more food options than just candy and chocolate. It is fairly easy to navigate. Finally, admission includes access to ZooAmerica if you need a ride break. Overall, I find Hersheypark to be a good value in the theme park world and would recommend a visit! read more

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I visited Hersheypark three different times this year summer, Hersheypark in the Dark, and Christmas Candylane and getting to experience the park in all three seasons gave me a genuinely well-rounded perspective. If you're trying to decide when to go, what to expect, or whether the season passes are worth it, here's the real scoop. Summer at Hersheypark Summer at Hersheypark is classic: bright flowers, tons of ride options, and that unmistakable amusement-park energy. Surprisingly, on the day we went in August, crowds weren't overwhelming. Ride wait times were totally manageable, and the park felt clean, organized, and well-staffed which isn't always the case at large theme parks. Hersheypark in the Dark (Fall / Halloween Season) This was honestly one of my favorite visits. The Halloween decorations were great, it wasn't overcrowded at all, and the weather made it perfect for walking around. We went on (what I believe was) opening night and barely waited for anything. If you hate shoulder-to-shoulder park days, this is the sweet spot. Christmas Candylane / Winter Visit We stopped by after brunch just to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere and walk off the food. Even though the parking lot looked packed, the park itself didn't feel crowded. No major wait times from what we saw. It was in the 30s outside but still totally doable. The decorations are cozy and festive, and even if you don't ride anything, it's worth exploring. What You Should Know Before You Go Here's the honest, practical summary I wish more reviews offered: * Season passes (King Size Pass) are worth it. Free parking + discounts + year-round access. Major savings. * Food is pricey...this is definitely a "bring extra cash or pack a cooler" kind of park. * Choose your day wisely, off-peak days make the entire experience dramatically better. * The park is clean, well-maintained but it's massive. * Ride wait times vary hugely by season summer weekends = long waits, fall + winter weekdays = bliss. Final Verdict After three visits in three different seasons, Hersheypark continues to be a fun, family-friendly, couple-friendly, and tourist-friendly park. If you plan your timing right, avoid peak Saturdays, and take advantage of the season pass perks, it's absolutely worth coming back throughout the year. Whether you're here for roller coasters, food, holiday events, or just wandering around with a hot chocolate, Hersheypark delivers without the nightmare-level crowds you see at other major parks. Highly recommend visiting on off-peak days and sampling multiple seasons if you can. read more

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First and foremost, for HersheyPark and ANY amusement park you go to, check the website for hours before you plan your trip, and again the night before or morning of. Hours change, but not too often. Weather affects hours sometimes, and can definitely affect what rides will be open. Not everything is going to be open all of the time. Check what rides will be open in the season you're coming to avoid disappointment. (And again, this is for literally any theme park/amusement park.) Also, for anything like this, the website is your friend... Read the FAQs. Buy your tickets as soon as you've decided that you will be going this year, they will be cheaper the earlier you get them. Check the season passes, figure out how many days you'd need to go to make it worth it. Maybe just one person in the group should get it, remember *MOST* passes come with parking, so that's a big value right there, not to mention discounts on food and merch. There are also "bring a friend" days, which if that happens to fall on your visit, even better! HersheypPark has some amazing rides. Amazing coasters. Great flat rides. Most important tips: 1. DO NOT just show up and buy tickets the day of, this is always going to be the most expensive way. Buy as far in advance as you can, and look into passes. 2. Check the weather. A. If it's high winds Candy doesn't run. Some things close in the rain, most things close if there is thunder anywhere close. If it's below 40 f the coasters aren't going to run. If it's below 32 f the drop towers don't run. Anything else you'll have to check, I know these from experience. B. Dress appropriately. Bring extra socks if there's a chance of rain, bring a poncho, bring layers if you're coming in cooler months. 3. Drink a lot of water. Any place that has a soda fountain will give you a cup of ice water if you ask. 4. Wear comfortable, worn in shoes. 5. Have fun! Stuff happens sometimes. Try to go with the flow and enjoy yourself even when things aren't perfect. 6. Be nice to the staff. When things go wrong, it's not their fault, they just work there. Treat others how you want to be treated, or even better, treat employees as you would want your child/spouse/loved ones to be treated. 7. Leave the back row open for me and my husband 8. Almost forgot...there's a waterpark within the park. It doesn't cost anything extra, so when the weather is hot hot hot, you can go cool off! (Bring a change of clothes, bathing suit, water shoes, towel) 9. Sunblock. Do it. Reapply often. read more

So, here's the scoop: in 2025, Hersheypark's Dark Nights ran Friday through Sunday, and every ticket included all haunted houses, rides, and coasters. A 1-day Halloween ticket ran a whopping $54.99, but we saved a few bucks with the After Dark tickets for $45.99 each. We went on a Friday night the week before Halloween -- spooky season perfection, right? Well... kinda. Let's start with the sticker shock. What I didn't realize when buying those $45.99 tickets (for two people, so just shy of $100) was that parking isn't included. On Hersheypark's own property. The parking attendant hit us with a $35 charge, and I'm not exaggerating when I say I nearly had a full-blown stroke handing over my credit card. I guess nothing says "boo" quite like surprise fees. Once inside, we were met with big crowds (expected), but not nearly enough Halloween flair (unexpected). Yes, there were hay bales and pumpkins sprinkled throughout, but the park felt like it gave up on the spooky ambiance once the sun went down -- barely any themed lighting in most areas. The same could be said for the maps. Only about half of the wayfinding maps had been updated for the Halloween event, so we spent a lot of time squinting at general Hersheypark maps, trying to figure out where the haunted houses actually were. (Spoiler: not easy in the dark.) We did manage to stumble into all four Scare Zones, where park staff in creepy costumes jumped out from behind bushes, slid across the ground toward you, and generally made it their mission to test your reflexes. It was fun, chaotic, and good for a few laughs and screams. We also found two of the five haunted houses -- Twisted Carnevil and Haunted Coal Mine -- and both were well done, with Haunted Coal Mine taking the gold medal for atmosphere and creativity. As for the other three houses... we assume they existed somewhere in the darkness, but we sure didn't find them. Toward the end of the night, we hopped on The Comet -- a childhood favorite -- and it was just as nostalgic and rickety (in the best way) as ever. That ride never disappoints. Next up: Treatville, the trick-or-treat trail. Kids were handed candy bags at the entrance, but adults? Not so much. I love candy and Halloween fun as much as the next person (and at $45.99 a ticket, I'll happily take some Reese's for my efforts), so I joined in anyway. Some workers laughed and handed me candy; others rolled their eyes like I was single-handedly depleting Hershey's inventory. Lighten up, folks -- it's Halloween, not a corporate inventory audit. The trail itself was cute, with photo ops and themed décor, but the "adults-optional candy" vibe was a bit of a bummer. Before we left, we stopped at Berks Dogs of Doom for a sweet treat -- the Red Velvet Cookies & Scream brownies and a Dragon Fruit Lemonade (complete with a little plastic syringe of dragon fruit nectar to inject into your drink). It was $22.23 for the two items -- steep, but actually pretty tasty and a fun way to end the night. Overall? We had a good time for a few hours, took in the atmosphere, and got our Halloween fix. But will we be back next year to drop another $150 on tickets, parking, and snacks? Nope. Once was enough. Fun to experience? Absolutely. Worth the price tag? No thanks. Next year, I'll save the $150, buy a bag of Reese's, turn off the lights, and let my own dark night begin! read more

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I spent a hour plus on hold trying to make a reservation to stay at Hershey Park Inn & Suites. I had questions that were not found on the FAQ page so I wanted to speak with a representative. The wait time to speak with someone is highly disappointing. I hope Hershey park fixes this going forward. I was extremely disappointed as it would have been my families first time going here. Not a great first encounter. read more

Last Minute RoadTrip to Hershey Park -- just a few hours away A day at the amusement park seemed like good reason for a roadtrip. They have a large amount of death defying roller coasters. If you are a fan of coasters this is totally the right place for you. There was a lot of hills, and walking, so bring your walking shoes. For the adults, they have several different types of adult beverages. We had a frozen malt drink, they were cold and tasty with few flavors but we weren't crazy about the aftertaste. Before we went back home, we checked out the gift shop. For stuff animals, keychains and cups the prices were very reasonable. The sweatshirt cost around $40ish and above. We did visit the full fledged restaurant the Chocolatier and they had delicious drinks offering all the Hershey flavors, even jolly rancher drinks. We thought about getting dinner but they were very busy with a Luke Bryant Concert that night. I think I'll need a return trip, maybe late Summer or early Fall. read more

Hersheypark - Amusement Parks Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

My whole life I've been coming here. They have some of the best rides, especially rollercoasters. It's just getting out of hand with the prices, they are starting to think they are Disney. I use to be a season ticket holder but if you don't have the fast pass it's just not worth it. Parking is what around $40 now which is ridiculous. Chocolate World is always a must stop when you are leaving. I will always come here and have a great time but instead of 5-6 times a summer it's more like once every couple years now. read more

Love Hershey Park! Plenty of rides, foods, shopping, and games! Come prepared for fun! Do you love roller coasters or are you more of an arcade person? HP got both covered. The local park that is a must visit! Don't forget to stop at Hershey World before coming to the park! read more

Hit up Hershey Park with my beautiful wife, our adult niece and her boyfriend, and my 17-year-old daughter and her boyfriend -- basically a full-blown family circus, and yes, I was the ringmaster. Rides? Mind-blowing. Twisted, intertwined, and close enough that I high-fived strangers on the next coaster -- accidentally, of course. My stomach filed a formal complaint somewhere between the first loop and the third drop. Food? Delicious. Drinks? Everywhere. I hydrated like a champ... or at least tried to while dodging flying pretzels and sugar-crazed teenagers. Waterpark? Yep. Got blasted harder than my dreams of sleeping in on vacation. Note to self: 50-year-old bodies do not handle slide-induced splash attacks as gracefully as 12-year-olds. Dinner at The Chocolatier? Sweet victory. Chocolate in every form, and I may have tested the laws of physics by consuming three different desserts in one sitting. Then, the cherry (or should I say chocolate) on top -- Luke Bryan was performing at the concert venue. I sang, I danced, I embarrassed myself in true dad fashion... and the kids loved it. All in all: rides that made me question my life choices, chocolate that made me question my waistline, and family chaos that made me question my sanity -- and I wouldn't change a single second. Hershey Park, you get an A+ and a gold star from this old kid at heart. read more

Hersheypark - Peanut butter martini. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

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MY BOOK BAG GOT STOLEN AT THE BOARD WALK! Listen up guys. Please do not leave ur valuables unattended!! DON'T even take ur eyes off them! We could not find my book bag after. if the Hershey Park manager sees this, please do something about it!! I know some one took it because it was sitting on one of the seats for the board walk. This place has bad security. Please leave ur eye on your stuff. If I would have brought my Wallet and Phone with me, I would have lost it but I left it in the car(Thankfully) If you security can find it, please. read more

I get my grandchildren - who are spread from Maine to Florida - together each summer. We went to Hersheypark 8 years ago, when the youngest was just learning to walk. This year they all voted to return to Hershey - so we rented a 12 pak van to hold all of us, a beautiful Airbnb in the country, and off to PA we went. The kids are 9, 12, 13, 13, 14, 18, and 20. Everyone had a fantastic time - from gramma to the youngest child. It was a drizzly day when we went which was perfect, actually; way better than beating sun would have been. We paid for parking and tickets in advance which saved me a little money. We did not pay extra for the Fast Pass but most lines were really not horrible. The longest wait was 45 minutes but most were much shorter. I will say the App estimated wait times are completely off AND it seems to take a while, when a ride goes down, for the App to update. read more

Hersheypark - Gramma life at Hersheypark - Amusement Parks Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

Our expectations were tempered, but Hershey Park definitely exceeded them. First, it was a fairly clean amusement park, which is always appreciated. The layout isn't ideal since there's a lot of back-tracking to get around. But the best part, is that there's plenty to do for all ages. Our youngest enjoyed plenty of kids rides, and our adventurous 6 year old loved all the roller coasters she was tall enough to ride. The food was about as expected for an amusement park. Average quality and overpriced. But we've had worse. Pack snacks if you can. We would definitely return in the future once the kids are taller to ride more rides. read more

While I understand theme park's desire to make money, I also understand how to effectively manage a theme park and these bozos just simply don't do it. I figured sine every ride today takes over 2 hours, this leaves me with ample time to write a review. After calculating the wait vs ride time (5rides, 10 hrs waiting, 9 minutes enjoying the rides) I can only see it fit to never come here again. I wont do it to my fam unless they have been extraordinarily misbehaving read more

Hersheypark - The hard to walk through crowd. We simply didnt even attempt to wait on most rides - Amusement Parks Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

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Hersheypark is an amazing amusement park! I went on a Monday and the lines were not bad at all! Candymonium and Great Bear were my favorite rides! The waterpark was also large but the slides had long lines. Overall great experience! read more

Hersheypark - Chocolatetown Sign - Amusement Parks Near Me - Hershey, Pennsylvania

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This place means so much to my family and I as my family and I have been visiting annually for almost 20 years. Surely, we missed a few years, but we always make our way back. We pick a day, rent a 15 passenger van, and cook a smorgasbord of food. We arrive, unpack, eat at the parking lot pavilions, pack up, enter during what used to be Twilight Hours, and go for it. My son's, niece's and nephews were ages 3-8 when we started. Now they're 21-26. I tell you, they all turned into big kids as soon as we hit the parking lot all over again. After an evening of riding everything possible, we unpack our food again in the parking lot and eat before heading back to Maryland. This great, family friendly amusement park has, and continues to create unimaginable memories that are proven to last a long time. See you all in 2026 !! read more

The workers at Nathan's hotdog stand are pretty rude. Lots of vomit on the ground. Lots of trash. It's really loud. And not good for people who have autism. Or concussions. Every single ride is a concussion or a puke fest. The wait times for roller coasters are almost 2-3 hours long. I only like when the reindeer and christmas lights are there during christmas time. Other than that it sucks. read more

I came here to enjoy the day with my 7 y/o nephew. I have to say, I am not impressed in the least bit with my / our experience there. Lines were ridiculously long and slow. Trains (rollercoasters) often went up with empty seats, all the while 50,000 people are waiting for 90 minutes just to get the chance to experience it. I'm sure you could add a line in there just for solo-riders who could complete those random single empty seats that go up each ride that were just waiting to be occupied. Then, when you do finally make it up close enough that you can see the loading dock, there is a HP person there with the wooden stick for kids... Some kids are being booted out at that point, after they've already waited for 90 minutes, only to find out they're going to be booted out anyway because they're not tall enough. Put those HP people at the Entrance into the ride instead of making all potential kids stand and wait in line and ruining their day when they could be spending that extra time experiencing other attractions. The Bumper Cars - there never used to be an island in the middle of it, and so the experience with that was much more exciting when you had free reign to drive anywhere, but now with this island and being forced to go around in circles, it takes all the excitement out of the experience and purpose of those vehicles anyway. Overall, service(s) were very slow, very minimal, and very lackadaisical. I have to say, after experiencing this first hand, I am not at all "Hersheypark Happy". read more