I loved the park but employees were rude I have a bf who is handicapped went to rent a scooter so we could enjoy a day with grandkids No one ever mentioned needing a pass to ride or use handicapped access to rides such as elevator or special ramps we were denied entrance and told we needed a pass from the entrance which was the other end of park (half the day was shot after we received one! Then told after waiting in line and sitting on the coaster that his braces needed to removed. Mind you the braces in inserts into shoe then strapped around his calf so when he took the time to remove them so kids could ride finally. He was told he needed his shoes on it takes him a while to do all this and by this time he’s getting upset and angry since the same guy running the ride from the previous year let him ride with braces on
The other instance was a handicapped obese person couldn’t get out of the seat and every last employee just stood there called no type of assistance at all just stood there! My handicapped bf got out of our seats pulled and pushed this person until we could assist. Freaking pathetic
I WILL NEVER RETURN and yes spoke to person in charge at customer service who was no help what so ever I had to argue for a hour
Im sorry, and I know this is going to probably piss you off, but the safety regulations are there for a reason, and they do get revised after being reevaluated periodically. Just because your bf was let on with his braces before, doesn’t mean that still applies after the park safety inspection made new guidelines. The rules are there to protect everyone including your disabled bf. Also, if your bf is so disabled that he cant get around without the braces and cant remove them for everyone’s safety for a ride, then maybe this isn’t the place for you to be going. Im sorry but I have seen a number of disabled or morbidly obese people who needed so much assistance to get on rides that it held up the ride to the extent that 5 more trains could have been run on the coaster during that time spent assisting them on and off. (On average thats 100 people)How is that fair to all the other able bodied patrons who spent all that time waiting and in some cases didn’t get to ride because it was the end of the day?(which is when most disabled folks tend to line up because the crowd thins out) People spend good money to come out to these destinations. Just because some entitled people think they should be able to do all these things like everyone else, doesn’t make it so. Then they love to play the discrimination card when it causes friction. But I’m sorry these rides and attractions have limitations as to what safety can be guaranteed. Hard edged braces and other accessories can cause injuries. Hell I had knee surgery a few times in life..and when I was near the end of my recovery but still in a hinged leg brace, it didn’t occur to me to go out to a theme park to be a liability! Just last year a disabled guy got killed in a roller coaster he shouldn’t have been on due to head trauma because he couldn’t hold himself properly. Im sorry, there are just certain things that disabled people shouldn’t be doing.. so stick to the activities that are safe and also don’t cause inconvenience to everyone else who paid good money to be there!
They need to lay them off and get new people.it too expensive now. for the people that got money. I know I can’t afford it with two kids. That’s why I don’t go to parks can’t afford it.
If you buy the season passes at the end of October it’s very doable with two kids. I pay for three people including myself and I am on limited income and we make it work. I’m gonna go to the bathroom for three king-size passes. It’s $54 a month for 10 months.
Exactly this! I am “morbidly obese” due to other medical conditions. PCOS and giving up after trying to keep weight off. However, I have enough sense to know there are limitations to what I can do and what I should even attempt. I exercise daily and have a good deal of my range of motion back but I still know everything is not for me. I am okay with that and don’t try to hold others accountable for my personal problems. Other than the crappy doctor I listened to for too many years. I should have trusted my gut and changed doctors.
I go to the park every couple years but mainly I go to the Hershey Fall Swap Meet in October every year.I hope if they do not open the park this summer that the Fall Meet isn’t canceled.
Was just at Giant Center for a skating show May 2. Parking was $35!! We could not find the handicapped lot and the parking staff were clueless. Did not know this was affiliated with Hershey, but was disappointed.
Am sure the park will open. If not I hope they would be able to workout something with the other venues. I got A Maiden show am attending.
In September.
Hershey Park, pay the people to keep the park functional. Ticket prices and amenities prices rise. Pay the workers. I want a clean park with rides working, toilets working, kitchens working, rides working and everything else working. Pay the people who make it all happen.
You should put out how much per hour are the workers looking for and how much hershey is offering to pay because i despise unions but think that hershey should be industry standard rates
Fair pay for good work. Unions and workers have gotten greedy. The Everyman suffers. How much do they make now, want to make, I agree they should be paid fairly because they are doing a great job. Used to love going there as a family!!
Hershey park is a park that I have always wanted to go to. Everything that they show about the park is phenomenal and it looks like a sweetest places to go to.
Milton Hershey was a great man & built these businesses up. Unfortunately, many people who inherited businesses who their parents/grandparents worked hard to build up so the common people could enjoy, don’t want to work as hard or really care about the people who are supporting their business. They just want to get richer themselves. I don’t think Milton Hershey would like what is happening to these places.
so tired of greedy unions raising the cost of EVERYTHING so lazy and mediocre workers can do as little as possible to not get fired. in modern times if you are good you don’t need a union. only the lazy and useless need a union. good employees are punished by a union as the get the same pay and benefits as the drugs.
Fire them all get new employees.unions had a time and place here and now is not it. We have labor laws u don’t need extra. Unions just keep bad employee working not help an employee who follows the rules. Firing them all would tell them how u feel.
It’s not so much a raise in pay that they want but instead better health insurance. The current health insurance they offer the family plan comes with a $10,000 deductible, and after hitting the deductible it barely covers anything.
Their mechanics spend countless hours maintaining the rides and doing the rigging for concerts. They deserve better.
I am done with Hershey park. The last three times I went it was awful. Spent all day and got on only two rides. They didn’t have enough employees even back then and that was about 4 years ago.
For the amount they charge, they should be able to give the union anything they ask for. I can no longer afford to let my kids go there.
As for people bashing the union—-if it wasn’t for them no one would have the benefits they currently have.
Unions need to and are becoming stronger.
I support a strike. These aren’t just maintenance crews. They are experts that disassemble the rides and maintain every aspect of what guests experience in the off season. They can’t be easily replaced. They are necessary for Hersheypark to function. They are being offered minimal increases in wage over the next 4 years, with a substantial increase in Healthcare deduction. For what these people do all year round to keep guests safe and prevent accidents, they deserve to be valued for their skill set. It’s Herco that is greedy, wanting to increase your ticket prices while imposing a 10k deductible on their health plan in exchange for minimal pay increases. Long gone are the days of hershey being a good company to work for that treats their employees well. For everyone that thinks unions should not exist and that these laborers are easily replaced, let them strike and see how easily they can actually be replaced and maintain those safely standards and the high standards guests and the town has come to expect. Rides operators don’t disassemble and inspect the hydraulics and tracks. Managers don’t paint signs or the carousel horses.. all of the laborers there aren’t your average maintenance personnel. Strike.
Go ahead unions, close the park for the season, how long will your strike fund put food on your table and cover your rent? 3 months, 6 months a year? Give the park a good solid financial reason to hire non-union trades, yes they are out there and very ready to work and relocate. It would not be the first time a union is pushed out for stupidity. I have seen it happen even here in California.
Comments for Hersheypark May Not Open for Summer 2026 Season, New Report Reveals
Stephanie
Good. Company has gotten away from family values.
Kim
I loved the park but employees were rude I have a bf who is handicapped went to rent a scooter so we could enjoy a day with grandkids No one ever mentioned needing a pass to ride or use handicapped access to rides such as elevator or special ramps we were denied entrance and told we needed a pass from the entrance which was the other end of park (half the day was shot after we received one! Then told after waiting in line and sitting on the coaster that his braces needed to removed. Mind you the braces in inserts into shoe then strapped around his calf so when he took the time to remove them so kids could ride finally. He was told he needed his shoes on it takes him a while to do all this and by this time he’s getting upset and angry since the same guy running the ride from the previous year let him ride with braces on
The other instance was a handicapped obese person couldn’t get out of the seat and every last employee just stood there called no type of assistance at all just stood there! My handicapped bf got out of our seats pulled and pushed this person until we could assist. Freaking pathetic
I WILL NEVER RETURN and yes spoke to person in charge at customer service who was no help what so ever I had to argue for a hour
J Waldron
Im sorry, and I know this is going to probably piss you off, but the safety regulations are there for a reason, and they do get revised after being reevaluated periodically. Just because your bf was let on with his braces before, doesn’t mean that still applies after the park safety inspection made new guidelines. The rules are there to protect everyone including your disabled bf. Also, if your bf is so disabled that he cant get around without the braces and cant remove them for everyone’s safety for a ride, then maybe this isn’t the place for you to be going. Im sorry but I have seen a number of disabled or morbidly obese people who needed so much assistance to get on rides that it held up the ride to the extent that 5 more trains could have been run on the coaster during that time spent assisting them on and off. (On average thats 100 people)How is that fair to all the other able bodied patrons who spent all that time waiting and in some cases didn’t get to ride because it was the end of the day?(which is when most disabled folks tend to line up because the crowd thins out) People spend good money to come out to these destinations. Just because some entitled people think they should be able to do all these things like everyone else, doesn’t make it so. Then they love to play the discrimination card when it causes friction. But I’m sorry these rides and attractions have limitations as to what safety can be guaranteed. Hard edged braces and other accessories can cause injuries. Hell I had knee surgery a few times in life..and when I was near the end of my recovery but still in a hinged leg brace, it didn’t occur to me to go out to a theme park to be a liability! Just last year a disabled guy got killed in a roller coaster he shouldn’t have been on due to head trauma because he couldn’t hold himself properly. Im sorry, there are just certain things that disabled people shouldn’t be doing.. so stick to the activities that are safe and also don’t cause inconvenience to everyone else who paid good money to be there!
Hank Williams
They need to lay them off and get new people.it too expensive now. for the people that got money. I know I can’t afford it with two kids. That’s why I don’t go to parks can’t afford it.
Shelly Wilkins
Skilled tradespeople are not sitting around waiting to be hired. They will not find any. They need to value their people.
Tom
Those workers need to find a new job. Oh wait they are fat lazy union workers. No one wants them
Buttrfly3
If you buy the season passes at the end of October it’s very doable with two kids. I pay for three people including myself and I am on limited income and we make it work. I’m gonna go to the bathroom for three king-size passes. It’s $54 a month for 10 months.
Nikki
Exactly this! I am “morbidly obese” due to other medical conditions. PCOS and giving up after trying to keep weight off. However, I have enough sense to know there are limitations to what I can do and what I should even attempt. I exercise daily and have a good deal of my range of motion back but I still know everything is not for me. I am okay with that and don’t try to hold others accountable for my personal problems. Other than the crappy doctor I listened to for too many years. I should have trusted my gut and changed doctors.
Khos
Read the signs, clearly tells you what kind of DME you can / can’t ride with.
Scottie
I go to the park every couple years but mainly I go to the Hershey Fall Swap Meet in October every year.I hope if they do not open the park this summer that the Fall Meet isn’t canceled.
Liz
Our daughter’s high school senior trip is supposed to be in Hershey in a couple of weeks. I hope they can stay open for that.
Linda W
Was just at Giant Center for a skating show May 2. Parking was $35!! We could not find the handicapped lot and the parking staff were clueless. Did not know this was affiliated with Hershey, but was disappointed.
Shawn
Am sure the park will open. If not I hope they would be able to workout something with the other venues. I got A Maiden show am attending.
In September.
Binghamton Ny.
Alexandra
Hershey Park, pay the people to keep the park functional. Ticket prices and amenities prices rise. Pay the workers. I want a clean park with rides working, toilets working, kitchens working, rides working and everything else working. Pay the people who make it all happen.
Anonymous
You should put out how much per hour are the workers looking for and how much hershey is offering to pay because i despise unions but think that hershey should be industry standard rates
Tom
From google 30 to 42$ a hour for skilled people. And 17 to 26 for workers.
Bev
Fair pay for good work. Unions and workers have gotten greedy. The Everyman suffers. How much do they make now, want to make, I agree they should be paid fairly because they are doing a great job. Used to love going there as a family!!
Keith Bruns
Unions are job killers. Abolish them all.
Jason
Unions are terrible no need anymore with all the government regulations. So abolish government or abolish unions!
Teresa Bidwell
Hershey park is a park that I have always wanted to go to. Everything that they show about the park is phenomenal and it looks like a sweetest places to go to.
Nikki
Milton and Kitty Hershey would be so mad. However, most unions I have seen recently are horrible.
Anonymous
Milton Hershey was a great man & built these businesses up. Unfortunately, many people who inherited businesses who their parents/grandparents worked hard to build up so the common people could enjoy, don’t want to work as hard or really care about the people who are supporting their business. They just want to get richer themselves. I don’t think Milton Hershey would like what is happening to these places.
Kevin
so tired of greedy unions raising the cost of EVERYTHING so lazy and mediocre workers can do as little as possible to not get fired. in modern times if you are good you don’t need a union. only the lazy and useless need a union. good employees are punished by a union as the get the same pay and benefits as the drugs.
Sally
Fire them all get new employees.unions had a time and place here and now is not it. We have labor laws u don’t need extra. Unions just keep bad employee working not help an employee who follows the rules. Firing them all would tell them how u feel.
Anonymous
It’s not so much a raise in pay that they want but instead better health insurance. The current health insurance they offer the family plan comes with a $10,000 deductible, and after hitting the deductible it barely covers anything.
Their mechanics spend countless hours maintaining the rides and doing the rigging for concerts. They deserve better.
Shelly Wilkins
I am done with Hershey park. The last three times I went it was awful. Spent all day and got on only two rides. They didn’t have enough employees even back then and that was about 4 years ago.
Stephen
I love roller coasters.
I’m not going 50mph upside down in an open car kept together by cheap unskilled workers.
MJ
For the amount they charge, they should be able to give the union anything they ask for. I can no longer afford to let my kids go there.
As for people bashing the union—-if it wasn’t for them no one would have the benefits they currently have.
Unions need to and are becoming stronger.
Tom
What benefits? 90% are mandated from state. Why are union people always fat and talking about 1940s
TATYANA
I support a strike. These aren’t just maintenance crews. They are experts that disassemble the rides and maintain every aspect of what guests experience in the off season. They can’t be easily replaced. They are necessary for Hersheypark to function. They are being offered minimal increases in wage over the next 4 years, with a substantial increase in Healthcare deduction. For what these people do all year round to keep guests safe and prevent accidents, they deserve to be valued for their skill set. It’s Herco that is greedy, wanting to increase your ticket prices while imposing a 10k deductible on their health plan in exchange for minimal pay increases. Long gone are the days of hershey being a good company to work for that treats their employees well. For everyone that thinks unions should not exist and that these laborers are easily replaced, let them strike and see how easily they can actually be replaced and maintain those safely standards and the high standards guests and the town has come to expect. Rides operators don’t disassemble and inspect the hydraulics and tracks. Managers don’t paint signs or the carousel horses.. all of the laborers there aren’t your average maintenance personnel. Strike.
Herm
Liberal company mismanaged. Shocking.
Rw
Unions are getting more and more greedy. I think ups is a prime example,massive layoffs. Well you could be seeing it happen here.
Pat
Go ahead unions, close the park for the season, how long will your strike fund put food on your table and cover your rent? 3 months, 6 months a year? Give the park a good solid financial reason to hire non-union trades, yes they are out there and very ready to work and relocate. It would not be the first time a union is pushed out for stupidity. I have seen it happen even here in California.