Hershey Park vs Busch Gardens

[CurlyQ284]

I have a ton of vacation time and H does not. I'm thinking of a little road trip with my 10yo son to visit my parents in NoVa and then stopping at Hershey Park before heading home to Michigan. He doesn't like big roller coasters so I feel like Hershey might be better than Cedar Point. Think Slinky Dog, he didn't want to go on Space Mountain or the Yeti at Disney and CP seems heavier on the extreme coasters.

Is Hershey Park a good fit for him? I haven't gone since I was maybe his age which was SO long ago 🤣 I also see they have a water park now, is it worth getting 2 day tickets?

ETA I guess maybe I could also consider Busch Gardens Williamsburg? Bit more out of the way for us but if that's a better fit than I could probably work it out?

[tacokick]

I think Hershey Park would great for a non big roller coaster rider. We are not roller coaster people and my husband’s company has had family day there multiple times in recent years and it’s great to walk around in and there are plenty of other rides.

There is a little zoo that is nice to walk though as a break and there is a lot of plants and trees in the park which sounds like a weird “perk” but I find it isn’t as hot to walk around in as other parks.

I don’t feel like it’s a two day park but if he’s really into the water park maybe? They also in the past done a thing where if you arrive late in the day the first day you can pay that day and return the next for free which I’ve done a few times. I don’t know if they are doing that this year but might be worth checking out.

I don’t think Kings Dominion is worth a detour if you’d be passing Hershey. The biggest complaint I hear about Hershey is that they don’t have enough big roller coasters so that wouldn’t be your issue!

[CurlyQ284]

Hmmm looks like I can do 2 park days 2 hotel nights at Hershey for $491, or the same plus 3 meals per day at Busch Gardens for $445

So....that's definitely a factor to consider, food included is a big help on pricing everything out.

I would do Hershey on the way home, so probably Thursday check in, Saturday check out.

If we did Busch Gardens I think I'd drive to NoVa on Saturday, hang out then drive to BG on Monday, check out Wednesday, then hang out and drive home Saturday.

[CurlyQ284]

Nope nevermind, I think you're right and that Hershey is the way to go. Browsing BGs website and there don't seem to be any smaller coasters, I'm trying to edge him up and there looks to be a couple small ones and maybe 1 -2 medium thrill ones at HP that I might be able to get him on.

[CrazyLucky]

I've been to both in the past couple of years. I loved Busch Gardens, but I am a huge roller coaster person. (Although they had one that rattled me a little too much!) My kids did do their first upside down roller coaster at Busch Gardens (Loch Ness Monster). But overall, Hershey Park is a better park for a 10 year old. Mine are 10 and 13 right now. I hope you have a blast.

[mrsslocombe]

I used to work at Hershey Park Definitely a lot to do for a non-coaster kid. Personally I would only do 1 day if you aren't doing the big coasters, unless you really love water parks and want to spend most of a day there. It is extremely crowded though in the part of the park, I personally find it unbearable.

In terms of the less intense coasters I would try:

1. Trailblazer (more mild than Slinky
2. Wild Mouse
3. Laff Tracks (it's indoors and a bit dark)
4. Sooper Dooper Looper-yes, it goes upside down, but if he wants to try that, it's an extremely mild one, I think it's every kid in the tristate regions first upside down roller coaster
5. Comet-it's a traditional wooden coaster with a big-ish drop, but less intense than the other coasters. I'd call it a gateway coaster

Everything else is intense to extremely intense. Storm Runner is my favorite, Great Bear is a close second. Sky Rush and Farenheit are terrifying.