Thursday, July 21, 2016

How To At Hersheypark: Visiting With Your Little Ones + A Four Ticket Giveaway!

Hersheypark

This post is the first in a three part series highlighting our latest visit to Hershey, Pennsylvania. Earlier this year I was selected as a Sweetest Moms Ambassador which means I get to indulge in certain perks at the park such as free accommodations and park passes twice per year. Our next visit will take place in December when we'll return for Christmas at Hershey and after having already visited the park once during this time of year, we can't wait to return! 



While Hersheypark may not seem like a place to visit with your little ones under the age of 6, it's incredibly child friendly with ample attractions and opportunities for your little ones to engage in. 

Accommodations and Eats

This was our very first time staying at Hotel Hershey and although traveling with little ones is never easy once you arrive at Hershey, you have every amenity available to make your visit feel just like home (but with more chocolate). We stayed in one of their Two Queen Guest rooms and with the addition of a small cot brought to us by the kind service staff, it fit all five of us quite comfortably. My boys will tell you the best part of their stay was "the chocolate soap" that made them smell just like Tootsie Rolls!




There were two things I loved most about staying here at the hotel. The first was its proximity to attractions such as Hersheypark itself and Hershey Gardens as well as it's kid-friendly schedule of events. We enjoyed S'mores each evening on the back patio as well as Chocolate Bingo, a variety of family oriented games and even met a few costumed characters in the lobby one morning. 




Harvest, the on-site farm to fork restaurant is also wildly kid-friendly which made it our go-to dinner destination both nights we stayed at the hotel. I highly recommend the Strawberry Basil mule and scallops appetizer. 






Packing for the Park

Before you even step foot into the park, I suggest downloaded the park's mobile app. This allows you to purchase tickets, plan your visit and dining locations (including allergen and other dietary information) while also offering a host of other sweet tips and interactive tricks to enjoying your stay at the park.

Hersheypark offers dining with the characters, an attraction that also allows entry into the park almost an hour early. While we didn't take advantage of this opportunity, it would definitely be something worth looking into!

Packing for the park is simple. Your bags will be inspected on the way into the park but don't let that stop you from packing refillable water bottles and snacks to keep everyone happy in between meals. Bottled water can be expensive throughout the park, sometimes upwards of $4/bottle so it's best to bring your own cup and refill at the numerous water fountains located throughout the park. We visited during a massive heatwave and it's important to stay hydrated while sweating buckets and having fun! If you plan on taking advantage of the water park as well as the rides and games, be sure to pack your swimsuit and a change of clothes.

Dress comfortably and seasonably appropriate. Sneakers are ideal with the amount of walking you'll be doing. You also don't want to risk losing a sandal or flip flop on any of the rides! 
Arriving at the Park


Once you arrive at the park with your little ones, I suggest reviewing your families emergency plan in the event that one or more of you becomes separated from the family. Use the park's Family Finder service located just inside the park entry to establish a safety plan. Check out this post, 5 Easy Tips for Keeping Your Kids Safe in Crowded Places for some great ideas.

You can choose to bring your own stroller into the park or rent one right inside the park gates. 

If you haven't already done so, use this time to check the height and size requirements for various rides throughout the park. Use the mobile app to filter rides by height and be sure to take notice of the images located at the entry to each ride to make sure your child "measures up."



Are you a nursing mother? Of note, a special area for nursing mothers is located in the First Aid station. Designated Quiet Locations are also available in First Aid (located in Pioneer Frontier Family Health & Services) as well as Guest Services located in Kissing Tower Hill.

Enjoying the Park
Now that you're ready to enjoy the park, get to it! With more than 20 rides available to pint-size kiddos, there's plenty for even your littlest ones to enjoy at the park. 

Be sure to take advantage of the Kiddie Swap Policy in effect that allows you to swap with your partner in the event that your little one wishes to ride a height restricted ride that he or she isn't tall enough for. "One parent may ride while the other stays with the child. At the conclusion of the initial ride, the parents may "swap" places. Similarly, if one parent has two children who meet the height restriction but must be accompanied by a responsible rider or who wish not to ride alone, the parent may ride with one child while the other child waits in an appropriate area of the ride. At the conclusion of the initial ride, the parent may remain on the ride while the children "swap" places."







We ended our visit with a ride on the monorail. It was a great way to wind down our first day in Hershey and see the park, Zooamerica and downtown Hershey all with a birds eye view!

Now you can enter below for your chance to win not only FOUR 1-day Passes to Hersheypark valid until September 25th, 2016 but also a Games Value Pack worth $29.00! 



Be sure to check some of these other great posts about all that Hershey has to offer! 

1. Best of Hersheypark A-Z from A Parent in Silver Spring
2. A post about Zooamerica from Susan's Disney Family
3. Learn more about Hershey Lodge accommodations from This Roller Coaster Called Life
4. Check out The Butterfly Garden from All Things Fadra
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44 comments :

  1. Chocolate. That's what would excite me about visiting Hershey. All the chocolate!

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  2. I'd be excited to see how my youngest reacts. She was only a year old the last time we went and didn't ride much.

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  3. I hope I win so we can leave Hazel at home! 🙌🏻

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  4. We would love this! I have 2 girls who have never been to Hershey and they would have so much fun!

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  5. My girls would be so excited for the rides and games!

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  6. what would excite us most is visiting somewhere new with our kids and seeing them enjoy the rides and of course the chocolate!

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  7. I love hershey, it is one of my most favorite places, the coasters a re the best!

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  8. My little one LOVES looking at pictures of Hershey park on my iPad. I know when we go he will love everything about it! He has never been, but we are excited to hopefully take him later this summer.

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  9. I would be so excited to see my middle little on all the rides for the first time and see my oldest splashing away on the boardwalk :)

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  10. I would LOVE to eat all the chocolate my heart desires haha..Of course sharing with Harp and Steve...sugar high smiles are the best ;)

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  11. Looks like so much fun! My kids would love it!

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  12. My husband and I LOVE going to Hershey park! It would be a great little family day trip! And who doesn't love the smell of chocolate in the air ��

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  13. My kids have never been to an amusement park, and both love chocolate... Seems like a great combo to me! Would love to visit a park so close by

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  14. chocolate and rides...perfect!

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  15. I love that it offers so much for little ones!!

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  16. I would like to take my two to Hershey to enjoy it. I grew up going there every summer.

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  17. It's been 5 years or so since my last trip; we had a wonderful time - rides and chocolate, what's not to love?

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  18. visiting the chocolate factory for sure :)

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  19. My son is excited about the chocolate "factory tour"

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  20. My boys would be so excited! They keep asking to go. They love the ride at Chocolate World, all the rides at Hershey, the Hershey Museum, and more. Sweetinsahmnity at gmail

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  21. Thank you for all that info! Will for sure save this post. We're in NJ so we'll definitely go soon! Looks awesome :)

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  22. OMG I have been wanting to take our kids here so badly! They love amusement parks AND chocolate, so does it really get any better than that? If I were to win tickets this would be the perfect pre-baby getaway for the four of us. :)

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  23. Definitely the chocolate! My daughter would be so excited to go:)

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  24. I have not been to Hershey in so many years. My little chocolate lovers would enjoy it very much!

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  25. I have the most fond memories of my visit to Hershey as a child. I want to so much to bring my boys to the park. Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate everywhere!!!!

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  26. the super fun coasters and chocolate!!

    Linda

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  27. I really love watching the chocolate being made

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  28. I would love to take my 3 kids to enjoy the rides and of course the Chocolate!! Obviously second part is for me too.

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  29. I have never gone with my kids and would love to!

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  30. Such a sweet place to visit!! We live close but have never taken our 4 year old. I know he would love it! He's crazy adventurous and loves a good ride! That monorail ride looks like a little favorite for sure! It looks like you guys had the best time

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  31. I've been wanting to visit but was nervous with taking 4 under 6. Thanks for this post.

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  32. I'd be excited to see all that chocolate!

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  33. I'd love to take my 7yo; he's never been to Hershey Park!

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  34. S'mores and chocolate bingo--- yes please!!!

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  35. My sister just moved to Pennsylvania so I am excited to visit her this fall.

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  36. Our family loves Hershey!! I can't wait to try Harvest sometime.

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  37. We have been wanting to visit for sometime! Who doesn't love chocolate?

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  38. We have been wanting to go for some time! Now that my girls are old enough, it's time! Who doesn't love chocolate? I am anxious to try out their Spa!

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  39. Hershey Park - the rides AND the chocolate!

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  40. We've never been to Hershey, but we're excited to visit a new theme park, and possibly the chocolate factory.

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  41. We have talked about visiting HersheyPark!

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  42. The free chocolate excites me the most about Hershey Park. Thanks for the giveaway. I hope that I win. Bernie W BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com

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