A Day at Hershey Park
A few weeks ago, my family and I took on Hershey Park. It’s a place we’ve visited since I was a teenager, and we usually go in the spring to beat the heat. But this year, schedules meant a summer trip was our only option. And let me tell you, that summer sun came to play.
If you know me, you know I always try my best to turn a difficult situation into a positive one—or at least get a decent story out of it. And this day was a prime example of putting that mindset to the test.
The Challenges of the Day
Our family is big, and while I wouldn’t trade that for anything, it does come with its challenges. Coordinating everyone’s wants and needs is a puzzle on a good day, especially with children who have emotional and cognitive disabilities. Communication can be a whole other level of difficulty, so I’ve learned that if they’re well-rested and comfortable, we can usually make things work. This is why the disability access at Hershey Park is a huge help; our travel time from one ride to the next is triple what it would be for the average family, and the program helps us manage that.
Even a simple trip to Chocolate World before the park opened turned into a two-hour adventure. The kids have mastered the "scatter and herd" technique, and it took a while to wrangle everyone for a family photo. Since I rarely get in the family picture myself, I bought the photo pass at Chocolate World to ensure we’d get some good shots. That’s why when Ra made a crazy face on the chocolate tour ride, I cried a little inside—but had to laugh. Seriously, kid? But that's just part of our family's unique charm.
Finding the Fun
We eventually made it to our first ride, Candymonium, which was a blast. We had to use the ride-swap option for my daughter, Illa, who wasn’t tall enough. We then hit the Comet, which Illa could ride—a huge win! We followed that with Sky Rush and Superdooperlooper before grabbing a much-needed bite and a drink.
Next, we rode the new Twizzler Twisted Gravity. Illa was so scared, and it turns out she was right—it was the highest swinging ride ever! Next up was Great Bear, which is my daughter Grace's absolute favorite ride. I was so excited for her to experience it. Brian, Ra, and I rode first so we could swap with the others. But as we were getting off, the girls came running over—they had shut down the ride because of an incoming storm. My heart broke for Grace, who doesn't like to do much, and this was the one thing she wanted to do.
All the kids were ready to give up and head home, but I managed to convince them to wait it out. We split up and did different things while the rain came down. The storm was short-lived, and once the all-clear was given, Grace, Ra, and Brian headed back to the Great Bear. While they were on the ride, I managed to pitch one more ride to the rest of the crew. When we all met back up, they agreed, and a crew member told us that Wildcat's Revenge was the best.
The walk to the other side of the park was filled with some classic complaining, but it was all worth it. We all agreed (except for Priscilla) that it was a great ride. To end the day, my three oldest took the youngest to re-do the chocolate ride and grab a better photo while Grace and I made the giant Reese's—a must-do every time we visit.
The heat was tough, and it definitely tested everyone's patience. The kids were more ready to leave than I would have liked, but despite all the challenges, we found moments of pure joy and made some great memories. The day was a perfect reminder that even when things don't go according to plan, the most important thing is being together.
