Hershey Planning & Tips

Getting There and Around
Hershey is about three hours from New York City, and about two from Philadelphia, in eastern Pennsylvania.

Maneuvering around the park is easy. To get a good view of the park and an idea of the layout, take the monorail. There is also a trolley ride, which took us throughout the grounds and into downtown Hershey, PA, where the streetlamps are shaped like Kisses. The fee for the trolley ride was $26 for the three of us, and we enjoyed the onboard actors who told a humorous story about how Milton Hershey created his empire.

The Art of Smart Timing
I love theme parks in the off season. Fall and spring mean shorter lines for rides, fewer people, better value, and milder weather. True, the water park is closed. However, my family and I didn't feel slighted. With so much to do at Hershey, PA, we packed a lot into our three-day vacation. The amusement park, zoo, Chocolate World, and Hershey Gardens are open everyday in June, July and August. The park and all of the other attractions, except the water park, are also open on weekends in May, September, October, November, and December. Hershey's hosts special events for Halloween, Christmas, and New Year's. The water park is open on weekends in May and June and everyday in July and August.

Travel Tips
The park, which is the main attraction, is well marked. It's impossible to get lost thanks to the signage. However, we kept our seven-year-old son close by. When something catches his fancy, he tends to wander toward it. Plus, it gets crowded, and while the folks were friendly and clearly having a good time, we tend to be a bit over protective of our child when we are among a mass of people.

When we checked into the Hershey Lodge, our son was given a name tag with our cell phone numbers printed on it. The tag comes on a hanging chain, so he wore it throughout our stay. While it feels quite safe, I felt better that he was wearing this form of identification.

We also liked that food courts were always close by, bathrooms had changing tables (even in the men's room), and workers were on hand to answer questions. The lines weren't too long, and for the longer lines, they moved quickly.

Babysitters
We wanted some grownup time, so we hired a babysitter through the concierge. Babysitters are hired and screened through the Hotel, so we were not afraid to leave our child alone with a stranger. We actually asked her to come a few minutes ahead of time, so we could check her out. We liked her so much that we asked her to come back the next night. Jackie Weaber, who watched our son, brought a bunch of books and activities to keep him entertained. Babysitting is $10 an hour with a two hour minimum. You have to make the arrangements 24 hours in advance through the concierge, and you pay the babysitter directly.

Visitor Bureau
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts