Hershey Park, Sunset Admission Hours, Review

by EJ on 07/27/12

Hershey Amusement Park, located in adorable Hershey, Pennsylvania welcomed the Monsters and I last week during Sunset Admission hours.
Given the ridiculous heat we've experienced this summer, the less intense evening temps were much appreciated. Judging by the crowds coming in around 5 p.m. I'd say that many folks were like minded.

Upon entry, the kiddie rides (there are over 20) were immediately accessible and the kids jumped in on the fun right away. We basically worked our way around the first section of kiddie rides one by one, starting with the Balloon Flite, then headed over to the carousel, Traffic Jam, Space Age, Convoy and more.

I didn't realize what a wide selection of kiddie rides were available at Hershey Park, having not visited since I was a teenager. Although my youngest AJ didn't quite appreciate the independence provided by most of the kiddie rides (glued to my hip, what can I say), my other three had a blast hopping from one to another all night long.

In fact, Hershey Park is very little kid friendly and despite the twelve looming roller coasters packed with screaming teenagers and adults, young kiddos will find plenty of nonstop fun. Every time we thought we'd run out of rides, we'd walk a bit further into the park and find something new. Best of all, the lines were never long and moved pretty quick. The roller coasters were entertaining for the kid's to watch, especially the newest coaster Sky Rush!

Of course, there's nothing like a simple carousel either, to scare the pants off of my youngest, AJ. No, he wasn't too enthusiastic about that at all. (I managed the above shot just moments before he erupted into screams. Maybe next year.)

My oldest, KM, is at the age where kiddie rides are suddenly not her thing. As she ascended beltless on the Falcon Flyer, I was terrified from my safe seat on a wall outside the gates to the ride. I saw the look on her face as the thing started to spin - he expression seemed equally terrified. I was a nervous wreck while she was up there in the sky, completely and utterly out of my reach. When the falcon pods descended from their lofty spinning, she hopped out and did this very unexpected victory dance! She went on that ride two more times, each time exhibiting the same terrified expression on the way up. Kids!

The heat did linger later on in the night. Luckily, Hershey Park has misting stations throughout the park which I probably enjoyed more than the kids. I gulped my way through half a dozen cold drinks over the hours and lamented that my giant pregnant belly kept me off all of the major water rides that I would normally enjoy. I sent KM on the Coal Cracker a bunch of times, a hydro flume ride that she really got a kick out of.

I dragged the whole exhausted crew across the park to Tidal Force, so we could all stand under the giant wave that crashes into the splash zone to really cool off. The kids thought this was hysterical and we hung around for a good two dozen waves or so. By then we were all shivering, of course.

We all agreed that Hershey Park is very enjoyable during evening hours. The lines aren't bad and the temperature is bearable. Little kids will likely have a hard time waiting in the extremely long lines during the day so sunset admission hours are your best bet if you've got impatient tikes like mine.

Visitors to Hershey Park can enjoy reduced admission rates when entering the park later in the day. On days when the park closes at 8 p.m., visitors can enter at 4 p.m. When the park closes at 10 or 11 p.m., visitors can enter at 5 p.m. with reduced admission rates.

Sunset admission for the 2012 season is $28.95 for ages 9 - 54, $24.95 ages 3 - 8 and children under 2 are always free.

Four Little Monsters Blog received sunset admission passes for Hershey Park for the purpose of this review. All opinions belong to the blogger.