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

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! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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