An accessible park guide
Hershey Park stands out from other amusement parks because… well… it’s the sweetest place on earth! With a candy themed height guide, peanut butter cup laser battles, and endless chocolate creations, it’s a different kind of experience. The park is just a part of what feels like a chocolate themed town, with Hershey’s kisses for street light covers, and the smell of chocolate wafting through the air. You can find plenty in the area for an accessible getaway that stretches beyond your park experience!
Parking
Just keep driving! If you have your handicap placard, follow the signs for handicap and priority parking. This used to confuse me, because we didn’t buy priority parking, but your handicap placard gets you into the special lot all the way up front. You’ll see someone monitoring for passes, but your placard will do the trick.
Accessibility Program
In order to utilize the park’s accessibility program, you’ll need to register with Guest Services. They’ll take official measurements and have you fill out a form on physical needs and abilities. Based off of these two things, they’ll issue you a photo pass for the disabled guests and up to three others. The number of the party will be printed on the pass.
Pro-tip: there are Guest Services offices both outside the gate and inside. The inside line is usually significantly shorter. Enter the park gates, then head straight to Guest Services – just on the right. You are welcome to use your own wheelchair in the park, but they also have rentals available ($15 for the day).
There are no disability discounts available.
Ride Accessibility
The first ride you come to after Guest Services is the carousel. This is the only ride that you can ride in your wheelchair. They have a ramp that goes right up to the platform, and an open space for your chair in the carriage.
Your access pass allows you to enter through the exit on most other rides, but you’ll need to be able to transfer from your chair to the ride. Your pass will state which rides have alternate entrances, but each ride entrance is also clearly marked for accessibility.
The park has a well thought out program in place, but the ride attendants are not always on the lookout for guests at the alternate entrance. Don’t be shy. It’s ok to let them know you’re there. Speaking up when you arrive at a ride will help the attendant to do his/her job… and keep you from waiting through multiple cycles before getting your turn.
Water Park Accessibility
The water park has a large splash pad section that’s easy to roll through. There is also a large wading pool with 0 entry.
The slides and pools are not accessible. They also have aquatic wheelchairs, now, similar to the ones we loved at DelGrosso’s!
Find the full details (and fine print) on the accessibility of each ride here.
Park Accessibility
If you’ve visited the park in years past, you’ll be pleased to know that the treacherous hill after the entrance has been mostly leveled out. There are still some hills throughout the park, but only one that our five year old needed assistance wheeling up.
Dining
All park eateries are wheelchair accessible. Many of them are stands designed for grab and go, so it’s easy to roll up for your food and find a place to eat.
Restrooms
Restrooms are conveniently located throughout the park. All restrooms have accessible stalls and changing tables.
Chocolate World
This is technically outside the park, so I wanted to make sure I mentioned it. Don’t miss this!! Chocolate World is one of the things that really sets the park above. When you enter the ride/tour line, the attendant should offer you the wheelchair entrance. If, for some reason, they don’t see you, the entrance is just to the left when you enter the doorway for the ride. This is not a ride where you’re alternate entrance is just to save you a wait. There are steep steps at the end of the regular line. Take your entire party, regardless of size, through the accessible entrance.
You’ll wait for an attendant who will push your chair onto the ride, and hand guide the rest of your party. You cannot wheel independently (or walk, for that matter) onto the ride for safety reasons. The ride cars can comfortably fit one wheelchair user and four other guests. Don’t worry – you’ll still get your candy after the ride.
Enjoy the Sweetest Place on Earth!
Hershey is a great place to extend a trip beyond your park day. Check out all the local favorites, or make a whole trip out of it by visiting nearby Harrisburg and Lancaster County. It’s a different kind of tourism out here, and you won’t be sorry.