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Trip to PennsylvaniaHersheypark: How to get the best out of Hershey and Dorney
From Tim Strickland
I dont know a lot about these parks, outside of the major roller coasters. I am planning a three day trip, and was planning to go to Dorney Park for the first day and then Hershey for the second and third. I just want to know what are some of the best things about the parks, some of the not so great things; where to stay; is one day at dorney enough; is two days at hershey enough; what are the best places to eat, and anything else. Thanks.Posted October 26, 2009 at 5:27 PM
Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond. From Tim W
Well my advice would be i guess it depends. Im sure you will not be going to the water park. Its probably even closed already at dorney and hershey parks. You have to go to hersheys chocolate world. one of my personal favorites from the park. Tudor grill is really good foor at hershet park. Go on stormrunner and farenhheit. Best roller coasters in hershey park. I probably can't give as much insight to dorney since i havent been there in over 6 years.Posted October 26, 2009 at 6:42 PM I think the time your allowing is perfectly fine. I would suggest staying at the hershey lodge while in hershey park.
From Tim W
double postPosted October 27, 2009 at 3:29 AM
From Betty Rohrer
i hope you are planning next year at least for Hershey. at christmas no coasters in past years. also in last few years Gaint supermarkets in the area have had a good price on tickets Posted October 26, 2009 at 7:00 PM
From Cole Ricks
I recently went to both parks and enjoyed them. To your questions, one day is plently at Dorney. Dorney is a nice park but not overly large. I'm sure it gets crowed during the peak of the season, but I went the week before Labor Day and walked on everything. They have five major coasters and the usual assortment of midway games and water rides, etc. There is no fastpass or appointment system. There are several chain hotels right across the street (literally, you can walk if you wanted) so a quick internet check and you will be fine as far as that goes. I stayed at the Howard Johnsons and that was fine although I felt it was a hair expensive for what I got. Posted October 27, 2009 at 5:53 AM Hershey IMO is one of the nicest parks in the country. You can expect lines and fairly long waits for the top rides. As was said previously don't miss F-H and Storm. Two days at Hershey should be a gracious plently of time for a nice, non rushed visit where you ride the top rides several times each. There are also several chain hotels within reasonable driving distance, I stayed at another HoJo on Chocolate Ave less than five min from the park. Also make time to drive through Hershey itself, it's a really cute town.
From Tim Strickland
Sorry, I forgot to say the trip will be next year.Posted October 27, 2009 at 10:12 AM
From Brandon S
Well, for Hersheypark make sure the forecast is good, because they will shut down rides if there are storms in the area, even if its not raining. Also, the day before your first full day at Hershey, I would take advantage of the Preview Day, which allows you to get in the park at 6 for free!Posted October 27, 2009 at 12:02 PM I don't know how busy Dorney can get, I went on a really slow day, but it is a nice park with a few great coasters and a few great flats. I've heard their waterpark is good, but I didn't go to it when I visited.
From Eli Katzman
Well what days in the week are you going? For dorney, it doesn't matter too much. (I've been on a friday and a sunday in the past 2 years, and it's been almost a ghost town both times.) For Hershey, try to avoid saturdays, pretty much sundays, and also fridays as much as possible. Okay now for the other stuffPosted October 27, 2009 at 1:07 PM Dorney: You will be able to ride all 5 coasters plus some flat rides in 3 hours max, on any day of the week during the summer. As for specials on the rides: Okay, I'll do hershey later. I have to go.
From Bob Miller
Tim, Eli will give you a great report on the coasters and other rides at Hershey, he always does an excellent job. On a side note, the park is usually crowded on Saturdays and Sundays from May till Septmber. One reason is because on those days they have Oldies concerts at their Amphitheater. It seats over 2000 guests and the shows are usually between 3-5pm and a second show around 7-8pm. It's mostly older people like me, but with more people out of the way, the park lines might thin some.Posted October 28, 2009 at 10:36 AM The non-Boardwalk area(water stuff only, wave pool ect.)will not open till May 30th, Pennslvania law I believe. It gets mighty cold up here at night, even up to mid to late June. That means the water temps get down right nasty. But my daughter and I braved many a cold start to our day of fun BURRRRRRRR. Of course that was before Boardwalk was around and we'd ride the other water rides. And Eli, if I remember correctly (senior moments?) I was told that after both trains are loaded on Lightning Racers, that they're computer weighed so that they can be released at the correct time to make it a fair race. Don't know if it's true or not, but makes sense to me. Also Tim, be prepared to walk up and down a lot of hills, that's what Hershey's built on. And I always love to get the soft served ice cream in Comet Hollow. Zachary and I didn't make it there this year to try out the wave pool, but I'll be getting us season passes for next year. Maybe we'll see each other, just look for an old man with a cane with an 11 year old boy in tow.
From Brandon S
^Oh yea the hills! Both Dorney and Hersheypark have some nice hills you have to walk up. And Eli, my opinion on Steel Force is a lot different. I thought it was a great ride and I prefer it to the B&M hypers.Posted October 28, 2009 at 12:40 PM
From Eli Katzman
Yeah brandon, opinions, opinions, everyone has their own! I might also feel that way about it because my home park has a much better hyper: Superman: Ride of Steel at SFA. Which B&M hypers have you ridden?Posted October 28, 2009 at 1:01 PM
From Brandon S
I have ridden Diamondback, Behemoth, and Apollo's Chariot. Apollos Chariot is the best, and then Behemoth, and then Diamondback. My opiniions of course though.Posted October 28, 2009 at 2:57 PM
From Eli Katzman
Do Behemoth and Diamondback have as much air time as AC?Posted October 28, 2009 at 3:47 PM
From Brandon S
They have more airtime, but I just think the overall ride that AC gives is better. Posted October 30, 2009 at 12:28 PM
From Eli Katzman
Gooooooood..... (guuuuuuud......) can't wait to ride diamondback next summer.... ;)Posted October 30, 2009 at 1:46 PM
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