Hershey - The Great American Chocolate Bar TR - Day 3, Hersheypark, update 7/28 About This Page:

[WEDway Guy]

Pre Trip

<font color="red"> Who: </font> WEDway’s Family: Me-Jeff (34), DW-Ann (??), DD1 Emma- (5 going on 18) and DD2 Maya (2.5 going on 2.6)
My DSis’s Family (hailing from WI) – Sis Terri, BiL Mark, Nephew Matthew, Neice Megan
My father aka Grandpa Tom
<font color="red"> What: </font> Visit Hersheypark and stuff
<font color="red"> Where: </font> Hershey, PA and surrounding day trips
<font color="red"> HAFH (home away from home): </font> Marriott’s SpringHill Suites – Hershey
<font color="red"> When: </font> Jun 18-22
<font color="red"> Why: </font> A chance to visit Hershey and see distant family

This trip all started a few months ago when my sister Terri told me that she was planning to take a trip with her family to Hershey and Gettysburg, PA. We were invited to join them if we wished, but that was merely a formality on her part. Everyone knows family can always barge in on family vacations. After all, you love each other, right? Riiiight?!? I’m sorry, I didn’t hear an answer out of some of you in the back left corner.

All that was needed for our family to go was a firm date from Terri so Ann and I could schedule our vacation schedules. A week or so later, Terri gave me a call with their plans to leave Wisconsin on June 17 and arrive in Hershey, PA on the 18th. So, all was set – we’d meet at a hotel in Hershey on the 18th. Easy peasy! With vacation dates set, we just needed to get rooms…but where? A quick look-see at the Hersheypark website directed us to their two premier hotels, The Hershey Hotel and The Hershey Lodge. After reviewing the two websites, I thought they looked great. Both have excellent ratings (the Hershey Hotel is 4 diamond rated by AAA) and offer Disneyesque advantages like park shuttles and early entry. Again, easy peasy, right? Well, there are always those pesky problems of price and availability. I enter our trip dates into the Hershey Hotel site and it turns out that we can’t get a room there for our entire stay. Hmmm, let’s see about the Hershey Lodge. Darn it, same problem. Well, let’s see how I can work this out. But first, a check on the price difference was in order to determine where to stay. Whoa! Okay, maybe we won’t be staying at the park hotels. The $300+/night rate (for the Hershey Hotel) was just too high for me to justify for Hersheypark. I realize that these hotels are nice, especially the Hotel Hershey. But we were talking Grand Floridian type prices. I don’t have a problem with Grand Floridian level prices – as long as I’m staying at the Grand Floridian. Now granted, the Hershey Lodge was a bit cheaper, around $200/nt, but I rather decided it was Hershey Hotel or off site.


Well, my sister was planning to stay at the Marriott SpringHill Suites-Hershey on reward points. I knew it would be a decent place, big rooms, pool, spa, free breakfast and about 1 mile from the park. All those factors added up to good enough for me. So I’m all set to make the reservation when, you guessed it, they couldn’t accommodate us for our entire stay. What in the world is going on in Hershey that’s so popular? It turns out that after talking to a few different hotels, it was a combination of factors really including a Tim McGraw (sp?) concert and basically just increased summer vacation. After visiting the SpringHill Suites website everyday for two weeks, we were able to get a room with a king bed and pull out couch. Technically, it was intended for just three occupants, but we put four in there. We’re such rebels! This vacation is now planned! Woo Hoo!

“What about Grandpa Tom?”
I’m sorry; did someone just ask a question from the back? I missed it. Say again please.
“Grandpa Tom. Your intro lists a certain Grandpa Tom is on this trip to but he’s nowhere to be found in your pre-trip. Is this how you take care of and show respect for your father– by forgetting him? Or is this one of those advertising ploys where you try to draw in an older TR reading audience for their money but don’t really have anything to offer them? Why don’t you just grab their purses and wallets too? Fraud! The nerve of people like you really pi…..”
Whoa, whoa! Easy there sir, it’s just a trip report on Hershey, PA. There’s no need to get so hostile. It’s not as though this is a WDW trip report. Sheesh! Grandpa Tom is about to make his appearance.

Okay, sorry about that folks. Now, where was I? Ahh yes, hotel rebels... Well, nothing more to say there.

So, how does Grandpa Tom get in the picture? Well, it turns out that Terri invited him as well as my other sister and her family along on this trip as well as us. The problem was, Grandpa Tom has a lot going on in his life right now. Apparently it’s scheduling “H-E double hockey stick” when you’re semi-retired. We’d been trying to get him to come out to Massachusetts for a visit (He lives in Illinois.), especially for Emma’s dance recital which was scheduled for the day before we left for this vacation. After much hemming and hawing, we finally convinced him to both come visit us and go on the trip to Hershey too. He was going to get from St. Louis to Massachusetts via Madison, WI because it was cheaper to fly from there. Now, don’t forget that it’s probably a 6hr drive from his place to Madison, WI but that’s not really a problem for him. He loves to drive.

So now, all was set…almost. I turns out Ann had an important meeting on Monday the 19th that she couldn’t miss. What this meant was that either we drive to Hershey on Sunday as planned without her or we wait until Monday after she finishes work to leave. Her suggestion, and our decision was that the kids, Grandpa Tom and I would leave Sunday as planned, and Ann would get a one-way rental car to join us on Monday. Not ideal, especially for Ann, but that was that. As good fate would have it, the week before we left, she found out that the meeting had a good chance of being cancelled. So being optimistic, I rented a minivan in anticipation of all of us being able to head for Hershey together. We might have been able to all squeeze into the CR-V, but for a 6 hr drive, it wasn’t worth the risk. Two car seats and an adult in a back seat do not make for comfy conditions no matter how short the trip. The Thursday before we leave, Ann confirms that she can go with us – woohoo!

So, we have a nice weekend with Grandpa before we leave for Hershey. He arrived on Friday to be here for Emma’s dance recital. I know they are not trip related but here are a few pics of Emma in her dance costume. She was so proud and so were we.





Well, that’s it for the pre-trip. In this TR timeline, we leave tomorrow after a big Father’s Day Breakfast. I promise TR related pictures next time and not so many words.

We’ll see you next time on the Tappan Zee!

[Eeyoresmom]

I'm really enjoying your TR so far . . . especially that guy in the corner!

[ QUOTE ]
Whoa! Okay, maybe we won’t be staying at the park hotels. The $300+/night rate (for the Hershey Hotel) was just too high for me to justify for Hersheypark. I realize that these hotels are nice, especially the Hotel Hershey. But we were talking Grand Floridian type prices. I don’t have a problem with Grand Floridian level prices – as long as I’m staying at the Grand Floridian.


[/ QUOTE ]

Just wanted to let you know - I would say that GF and HH are on equal playing fields. HH is totally worth the price they get. Although, it's not a place I'd stay all the time either. It's very nice for special treats and special occasions - just like GF.

Neither the Lodge (also quite lovely, with tons of stuff for the family) nor the Hotel are 'on site' the way the resorts are in Disney. But both offer quick shuttle rides off to the park.

[lauren-roxy]

Great start!!! Your daughter is absolutely adorable!! Can't wait for more!!

[Colexis Mom]

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]

Great start Jeff [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] Love the pictures of Emma at her recital [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] She's beautiful!

More please [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

[magic mickey]

Your off to a good start Jeff. Hope you all had a good time. Hershey is a fun place with lots of good chocolate. Your DD's picture is adorable.

[Shell_of_the_South]

I'm looking forward to hearing more about your trip!

[WDWfan]

Jeff - [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] your pretrip report! Emma is adorable in her dance costume! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Can't wait for more.

[RobDVC]

Very entertaining start, Jeff. I'm glad we were able to convince you to write it! I can't wait to read more.

[WEDway Guy]

Day 1 – Travel Day (6/18)

Happy Father’s Day! (to me). [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/poze.gif[/img] What do you mean that’s already passed? No, no, no. You need to transport yourself back into TRland where time isn’t so – linear. (I could get all Star Treky here but I think I’ll confuse myself if I do that.) Anyhoo….
The plans for today are to wake up late, eat a nice breakfast prepared by Ann and the girls, pack up the car and head for the pasturelands of central PA. Lord knows, that growing up in Wisconsin I’ve seen my fair share if dairy cows. I can’t imagine the cows here are that much different. Possibly a different accent on the “Mooo!” is about all I figure. So, if we happen to run smack dab into a world of chocolaty goodness on our journey, then so be it. The cows will wait.

With full tummies and packed bags, we head out on our journey only and hour behind schedule. Along with his clothes and such, Grandpa Tom brought out his GPS system to use on the trip. Grandpa Tom, like many guys, me included, are electronic “toy” junkies. He loves this GPS thing. Hasn’t used a paper map since he got it a year or so ago. Anyway, he gets the unit all hooked up and programmed before we leave. On our way out of town, we stop at McDonalds/gas station for some drinks and some trip obligatory Combos – pretzel w/cheddar cheese. Well, I pull out the cup holder in the dash to hold my iced coffee and “bbbzzztt!” I knocked loose the AC adapter for the GPS. No biggie, I just plug it back in. Only now, it can’t acquire a satellite signal anymore and only shows a purple screen. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] Doh! After many attempts to resets the whole thing and endless fiddling with the AC adapter, he finally gives up trying to make it work. I feel so bad. Not much is sadder than seeing a man kissing a favorite electronic toy goodbye. (Okay, so there are many things sadder than that. I’m just learning how to be more dramatic from Emma.) I know I didn’t necessarily break it, but I was the one who knocked the adapter loose. Sorry Dad. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/pout.gif[/img]

So, how do we get to Hershey now? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img] Use a, dare I say it, a paper map? Quelle horreur! I can’t believe I even mentioned it. Since we basically knew the way there from our house, a map wasn’t really needed. However, one would come in hand later on in this TR. (Foreshadow alert, foreshadow alert!) The trip goes pretty smooth and eventually the girls doze off. I can’t remember if they watched Mulan II before or after they slept, but either way, they handled the trip pretty well. This was the first time Grandpa Tom had travel these roads. He remembered that the GPS direction had routed us thru NYC to cross the Hudson at the George Washington Bridge. When we veered from that course, he may have gotten a little nervous. I assured him that Ann and I basically knew the way. (What’s the worst that could happen? If we got lost, we’d just use the G… oh, I forgot, that’s busted. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]) Instead of the GW Bridge, we crossed at the Tappan Zee Bridge to avoid some possible traffic. Grandpa had to be sure to catch a picture as we made the crossing.


Zee Tappan Zee Bridge crossing the Hudson River

He remarked at how wide the Hudson was when compared to the Mississippi River, at least at this crossing. I had to agree. Although the shipping lane bridge is very large, the amount of bridge that covers the rest of the river without trusses is equally impressive. Three hours down, about three to go. The remainder of the trip was as smooth as the beginning. No real traffic at all. Around the bridge crossing, there were many signs directing people for parking at the PGA U.S. Open. Now I knew they were playing it in NY, but I had no idea we were right near by. It would be hours later until I’d find out that Phil Mickelson would choke – again – and lose the tournament. (Still painful to see that last hole replayed.)

Terri and family had arrived at the hotel about 2 hours before us. Around 7 o’clock, we pull in to the hotel, check in, throw the bags in the room and head out for dinner. (Sorry, no room pictures, I completely forgot.) Since Terri had arrived earlier, they found a local restaurant for us all to dine at. We all piled in the vans and headed to Pavone’s Restaurant. There was a little wait for our table, so we just hung around outside to let the kids burn off some energy.


Notice the new position of Emma's Lilo &amp; Stich visor.

Dinner was okay, nothing really to write home about but apparently good enough to write in a trip report about. I’m not really sure what that means. I had a big, tour if Italy, type platter with lasagna, crab stuffed cannelloni and fettuccini alfredo. Yeah, it’s a lot of food, but I hadn’t eaten in a while. So, with dinner over, our family decided to call it quits for the night. The girls were getting a little tired/crabby so we thought it best just to turn in for the night. Grandpa and Terri’s family had a little more gas in their tank so they went out for a wild night of miniature golf. Hopefully, they had better luck than poor Phil. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/snore.gif[/img]

Day 2 – “It’s the milk chocolate, can’t be beat. Hershey’s milk chocolate”

[disneyfan2183]

Aw you drove right through my area! And on your way to one of my favorite places, also. I'm loving the report!

[Irene]

Love your report ....

[DyanKJ130]

crab stuffed cannelloni??

Sounds interesting! Must have been delish!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/facelick.gif[/img]

[jblrn2b]

Keep Going!!! I can't wait!!! Thanks. I was told to go the tappan zee myself!!! Great report! So funny about the GPS Sorry Grandpa.

Judith

[WishIwasinDisney]

Great start Jeff, can't wait to hear all about Hershey Park. I'm going to have to talk to Ann about not sharing the recital pictures at work! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img] There really isn't anything cuter than Emma in her dance outfit! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img]

[lauren-roxy]

Great update!!!