Christmas at Hershey

[peterpjr]

Has anyone ever been to Christmas at Hershey?  I was wondering if any of the rides were open?

[SilverBullet]

I believe that all the flat rides open and no coasters. I couldn't find much on the site besides this:

Christmas in Hershey
It's the most wonderful time of year to visit Hershey, PA!

Christmas in Hershey is a magical time, filled with unique attractions, events, and activities. At the center of it all is HERSHEYPARK CHRISTMAS CANDYLANE, where the magic of the holidays comes to life with a million twinkling lights, a selection of rides for all ages, festive decorations, Santa and his reindeer, and shopping in our quaint village shops!

THE HOTEL HERSHEY and HERSHEY LODGE feature special packages designed for the whole family...or just the two of you! From Dining with Santa, to Holiday Tea, to ringing in the New Year...Hershey-style, we've got a holiday package for you!

To make your visit even sweeter, many holiday culinary events have been planned during this festive season. There is no place like Hershey for holiday dining at its finest!

Drive through our magical winter wonderland, HERSHEY SWEET LIGHTS, and view over 600 illuminated, animated displays from the comfort of your own car!

No visit to Hershey would be complete without a visit to HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WORLD! Ride the updated Chocolate Making Tour Ride, an exciting and informative immersive experience?and it ends with a free sample

Hershey is the perfect place to make sweet holiday memories! Start planning today!

Many area attractions share in this town-wide celebration.

[GAcoaster]

Has anyone ever been to Christmas at Hershey?  I was wondering if any of the rides were open?

I was just there last night and had a great time (posting pictures on my website tonight I hope!).   It's mostly kids rides open, but Extreme Cup Challenge was open with no lines and generally it was really nice...well worth the admission price IMO.

[darkridedan]

Peter most of the park is open with the exception of coasters and water rides and a few flats and they have rides and lights everywhere. This is a list of rides and attractions open:

Chocolate Tour
Scrambler
Balloons
Starship America
Monorail
Hershey's X-Treme Cup Challenge
Fender Bender bumper cars
The Claw
Pirat ship
flyers
Train with lighted displays
Tilt-a-whirl
Wave Swinger
Merry Derry fun slide
Antique Cars with lighted displays
Kissing Tower
Sky Ride
Carousel
Zoo America (until dark)
Music Box Christmas show

[ChuckR]

I am planning on going tomorrow! Hopefully, it wont be that packed.

[WadeJ]

Yet another Updates outing that I can't make   Have fun!

[ChuckR]

Wade, tisk tisk...

Well at least we got HHN in October!

[Bubba Z]

Hershey's X-Treme Cup Challenge is open,  freaking awesome! 
I'm really looking forward to  going now. Well that, the Claw and of course the Hot Chocolate even if it is 70 degrees out.

[peterpjr]

How come they don't open up any of the coasters?

[darkridedan]

It's probably a mix of a small employee pool and using them on rides that can operate better in the cold. I don't think they could budget to operate coasters "incase of" a warm spell. Then there is the time it takes to take apart coaster trains for rebuilding and inspection and time for work needed on track repairs. Plus the added expense of more maintenance workers to attend to the coasters is costly.

[WadeJ]

Wasn't comet open one year recently?

[GAcoaster]

How come they don't open up any of the coasters?

I think it has more to do with off-season rehab schedules than anything else.

[Bubba Z]

Two years ago I believe Wade. I remember seeing the  "tickets only" sign out front for it. Again I could be totally wrong.  I know they always hang Santa and his Reindeer off it.

[GADVwow]

With weather like it has been recently, they could almost open the . . . waterpark!

[coastersue]

I'm bored with Hershey's version of Christmas.  There's just not enough open for the older crowd.  If Dollywood and Silver Dollar City can open their coasters, there's no reason Hershey can't open at least one when the weather permits.  Even without coasters, there's still plenty of other flat rides at Hershey that are closed at Christmas.  I'd love to see Flying Falcon open which I consider to be one of their best rides.

Sue

[ChuckR]

Flying Falcon was open yesterday. Which minds me to do a Photo TR...

[GADVwow]

Please do!  Some of us would LOVE to see it!

[coastersue]

Flying Falcon was open yesterday. Which minds me to do a Photo TR...

Are you sure?  That's never been open for Christmas.  When we were there 2 weeks ago all the cars were off and there was a Christmas light display in the ride area.  Maybe you're confusing it with the Frontier Flyers?

Sue

[ChuckR]

Ok, I'm wrong it was Frontier Flyers. Sorry...

[Bubba Z]

I have over 320 crappy pictures to go through from last night and today,  so look for a P:TR  soon.

[darkridedan]

Here's a few Joe.

Chuck on Flying Falcon

Joe on Frontier Flyers


Ian goes for a shot


Jesus and Pals


Ask Chuck what you want for Christmas




Joe: I'm glad to be off the spinny ride.
Rob: My new MySpace pic
Chuck: Don't blink! Look Cool!
Ian: I bet there's some Hershey bars I can lift in here.

http://darkridedan.smugmug.com/gallery/2251093/1

[WadeJ]

Ok, I'm wrong it was Frontier Flyers. Sorry...

Way to get Sue (and me!) all excited Chuck lol

nice pics guys.  Was it a good trip overall?  Worth the money, etc.?

[Bubba Z]

Yes , for 8.75 a person  with a free game (that I never played either night) and hot chocolate. *Internet print out only!  It was well worth it. They also had live reindeer along with  decorate your own ginger bread man cookies and Chili bread bowls.


The sweet lights , which was an added $20 per car was over 2 miles long and very nice.  Hershey wins over SF, but you couldn't beat SF with the free entrance fee with a season pass.  I wish they would consider bringing it back.

Crowds were bigger on Sat than Sunday as well. 

[Bubba Z]

OK, onto the Photo's


First stop to see Milton.


Now some lights around the park.










After that it was onto some rides, First up Extreme challenge (Just wanted to point out that I only score 10k while Chuck had 41k, yeah I suck)




Next was a very cold ride on the claw.


Followed by the Flyer's. Here is where  I lost a bet because Rob did snap them. Too bad I'm old and forget what the bet was. Sorry Rob!



Then it was the Roto-Jet at 8g's. OK maybe not that fast but they were faster than I remembered



We also went on the kissing tower, ate dinner, played skee ball and did some shopping. Before we left we took the last lap on the Chocolate tour.


It's all about the Milk!


and conching


All this followed by an on ride photo, and free chocolate.


I'm glad I went, as I was debating if 4 hrs was really worth going  since I'd be back the next day as well.  Thanks guys it was fun.

[Bubba Z]

Day two was more relaxed as it was family day.
 
Step one Chocolate tour again


Step two: Chili Bread bowl again.



Step Three , New! Go see some reindeer. This is Rudolph



This was Dancer or was it ?


Step four, extreme challenge again.


No Comet running , just Santa.


Took a Lap on the carousel


scrambler


Kissing Tower



A closed Storm Runner          Taken from the monorail.


And Finally Sweet lights to close out the day.



This Storm Runner was open.


7 swans a swimming 


8 maids a milking, OK you get the point.


I have more photos to upload so I didn't go crazy  posting them all but
Hershey has more themed sections to their light show. I also remember  seeing some of the same ones  that where up at GA.  Sweet lights  seems  longer of the two but I still miss going to the park in the winter time.  Until next winter,