I stopped buying gifts a long time ago. Instead I take people places. I believe the politically correct term is that I give "experiences". Whatever. Bottom line is that everybody just has too much stuff. So I make memories. For my nieces/nephews birthdays—until they turn 16—we go have fun someplace. Back in the day I had a trio going. A is the last one left. At 14, he's got 2 more adventures left.
He chose Hershey Park. Almost twice the cost of Dorney and almost two hours away on the worse stretch of Route 78. I said yes because he got stiffed the two years of the pandemic.
I took him and his cousin B.
I ordered tickets on line at 35% off. Still more expensive than Dorney, but closer. I also bought my $25 general parking for $20 online. I did not pay for VIP parking which was an additional $15.
I should have know it was going to be a hell of a day when I thought the boys were being dropped off and their grandmother thought I was picking them up. We're headed out Rt. 22 and talking and the boys mention they don't like roller coasters. Why exactly are we going to Hershey Park then? Because they never were.
We're approaching the first set of construction and I'm slowing down and concentrating on the signs and lane changes. On the shoulder are two tractor trailers. One suddenly pulls out in front of me and I threw on the brakes and tried to swerve. Thank goodness the people behind me saw what was happening. The person in the other lane went mostly on the shoulder and the car behind me mostly stopped. B would have taken the brunt of it, I think.
We finally make it to Hershey. The Apple GPS (Google Maps was being a PIA) took me a different way. It was nice. I was barely on I-81 at all. The park opened at 11. We arrived at 11:20 and we were in lot 33. It was packed like sardines. I worried about Covid the whole time. I also worried about shooters. Even though we went thru metal detectors.
Everything looked different from the last time I was there. I'm thinking a Christmas event with some international students 2015, maybe 2016. I remember as you approached the gate Chocolate World was on the right and all the characters greeted you on the other side of the turnstiles. Not anymore. After hiking from the parking lot you enter Chocolatetown. Restaurants, shops, I think even an outlet mall. Brick entrance. No characters as you enter. I didn't see Chocolate World either.
You enter onto a "Main Street" which is more shopping and food. There are now restaurant chains inside the gate like Starbucks, Subway, and Chick-Fil-A. Areas are branded with sponsor corporations outside of the chocolate company. For example stroller parking was sponsored by Giant Food Stores for "future shoppers". I wanted to gag. At every turn there was a chance to be relieved of your money. Thankfully the boys were oblivious. Did I mention they don't take cash? It's a lot harder to stay on budget with a credit card.
We walked and walked and walked looking for rides that weren't roller coasters. And it turns out A doesn't like things high that spin. Limiting the choices even more.
After waiting in line and doing a couple rides, they were hungry. They downloaded the food app, studied their choices (I was impressed) and settled on a burger joint. Burgers, a soda, and fries for three was almost $70. The 20 ounce soda alone was $4.95. The fries were good. The burgers okay. At nearly $12 they weren't McDonald's quality.
We took water. But they ran out. We were almost done at the park. I told them if they could hold on a bit, out on the main highway I bet there is a Wawa/Sheetz/Turkey Hill where we can buy twice as much water for a 1/3 of the price. They agreed.
But on the way out we ended up getting Dipping Dots. My charge bill is going to come and look like the national debt.
Dog tired from the heat we took the Tram back to the parking lot.
The boys had a blast. Aunt Gayle, not so much.
PS: A huge bottle of Smart Water at Sheetz was 2/$3. We sucked those babies dry.
Weather: high 80s, humid, overcast
Surface: asphalt
SLF killed: 1
Wildlife: geese, and mallards, and mutt variations of each.
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