The Boardwalk at Hersheypark has 2 new rides for the 2018 season! I’ll give you all the details about the rides, if you have to bring towels, ticket prices and more!
The Boardwalk at Hersheypark is their very own waterpark that’s located within the amusement park. It’s a separate, themed section of rides and attractions for the whole family! You can spend an entire day just splashing around the Boardwalk and making memories!
What is the Boardwalk at Hersheypark?
The Boardwalk at Hersheypark is an 11-acre waterpark that boats more than 16 attractions! The best part is that it’s all included in your regular admission Hersheypark ticket! You can read all about how to get discount tickets (and maybe even win some) HERE.
The Boardwalk has attractions for everyone in your family from the little tikes to the adventurous teenagers and on up. You’ll find everything from wave pools to a lazy river to a splash pad and even a new water roller coaster!
The boardwalk is packed with lounge chairs, but they are first come first serve so be warned! We’ve been there many times when there are plenty of empty chairs and we’re able to grab some and other times when we’ve stayed for hours and never managed to get one. There are benches scattered through the Boardwalk as well, if you aren’t able to find a lounge chair.
Unlike other rides at Hersheypark that are over in just a couple minutes, you really can spend hours at the same attraction at the Boardwalk. Just like other amusement park waterparks, it’s easy to hang out on the lazy river or wave pool for way longer than you thought possible!
Boardwalk at Hersheypark: What’s New at the Waterpark
Source: Hersheypark
Breakers Edge Water Coaster is the 1st HydroMAGNETIC with flying saucer turns! It also has 4-person family rafts so you can all get in on the fun!
It’s the 14th coaster at Hersheypark and features high speed tunnels, open- air turns and splash-filled hills. Basically everything you could want from a roller coaster and water attraction combination!
You need to be in the Jolly Rancher, Twizzler’s, Hershey’s Bar or Reese’s height categories in order to ride this ride.
![Hersheypark new water rides 2018]()
Source: Hersheypark
Source: HersheyparkThe other new attraction to hit Hersheypark’s Boardwalk this summer is the Whitecap Racer!
Whitecap Racer is the longest mat racing slide in the whole world! In Hersheypark! How cool is that?! It has a a racer-timing system and 6 color-coded lanes so you can compete against your family and friends as you wind through through tunnels and turns!
It even has a Rally Point where you can see your competitors to see who’s in the lead… or who isn’t! At the end, there’s an arena-sized Whitecap Racer Leaderboard that will display everyone’s times for that heat! Basically, if you have even a tiny bit of competitiveness in your bones, you need to grab your family and friends and head to Whitecap Racer!
You need to be in the Jolly Rancher, Twizzler’s, Hershey’s Bar or Reese’s height categories in order to ride this ride.
![Hersheypark water racer new ride]()
Source: Hersheypark
Source: HersheyparkVisiting the Boardwalk at Hersheypark with Small Kids
Don’t worry if you’re reading and thinking those 2 new rides are only for the older kids and adults. There is PLENTY for young kids to do at the Boardwalk!
Sandcastle Cove is perfect for your little kids with opportunities to splash, water curtains, jets, a pool and 2 mini waterslides for them to enjoy. The water is only 18″ at it’s deepest point. It’s made specifically for younger kids so you don’t need to worry about groups of older kids at Sandcastle Cove!
You should also plan on visiting Bayside Pier with your little ones! It’s a wave pool with an average depth of 18″ and a zero depth entry ramp. They’ll have fun with the rolling waves, fountains and tipping cones.
The Shoreline Sprayground is a fun water playground for all ages. It features spraying fountains, water bubblers, misters, tipping buckets and so much more! The best part is that it also has shaded seating so you can grab your breath while your kids play!
![Ride Height Requirements at Hersheypark]()
Source: Hersheypark
Source: HersheyparkIs the Waterpark at Hersheypark for Teens and Adults?
If you’re looking for a little more adventure when you visit the Boardwalk, you’ll find what you’re looking for at East Coast Waterworks. With 7 slides, tunnels and almost 600 interactive toys, it’s fun for all ages! It features more than 54,000 gallons of water and a giant tipping bucket! You won’t come out dry when you visit the East Coast Waterworks!
The Waverider is where you’ll find my kids when we visit the Boardwalk! You can grab a board, hop a wave and then repeat over and over and over again! This attraction is for Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers and Hershey’s Bar height categories.
The Intercoastal Waterway is the lazy river for Hersheypark. You’ll pass under bridges and waterfalls as you coast along 1,360 feet of a relaxing, lazy river. The best part is that you can go around and around since you don’t need to get off after one lap.
The Shore is the largest wave pool at the Boardwalk and covers 23,000 square feet! The water depth varies from 0-6 feet. This attraction is for all ages, however Reese’s height and under must be accompanied by an adult. The waves will last for about 10 minutes and then you’ll have about 5 minutes of calm water if you want to take a break to get out!
Does the Boardwalk at Hersheypark Provide Towels and What do I Need to Pack?
Hersheypark does not provide towels to guests so you will need to make sure you bring your own. The one exception to this is if you rent a cabana. There are lots of perks to renting a cabana and you can read about that more in-depth HERE. Be sure to reserve one early, though, because they do often sell out!
In addition to a towel, you will need to bring sunscreen, a bathing suit and flip flops or water shoes. One thing to take note of, though, is that only appropriate swimwear is permitted at Hersheypark. Revealing bathing suits, shorts w/ rivets, snaps, zippers, metal ornamentation, cutoffs and jeans are not permitted.
Hersheypark also provides life jackets in the 3 pool areas and has kid and adult size jackets.
When Is the Boardwalk at Hersheypark Open?
The Boardwalk is open from May 26th, 2018 (Memorial Day weekend) through Labor Day weekend. Keep in mind that the Boardwalk closes 2 hours before the rest of the park closes. Depending on the day you visit, that means the Boardwalk is open 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. or 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
I highly advise heading straight to the Boardwalk around 10:00 a.m. The majority of guests will slowly make their way back to the Boardwalk, stopping along the way for rides and other attractions. If you head straight back, you’ll have the best chance of grabbing some lounge chairs and setting up your spot!
What are the Dining Options at Hersheypark’s Waterpark?
You will not go hungry when visiting Hersheypark! While there are plenty of delicious dining options throughout the whole park, you’ll find you won’t even have to leave the Boardwalk when you’re hungry!
From meals to snacks to refreshing drinks, here are some of the dining options you’ll find inside the Boardwalk:
- Rita’s Italian Ice
- Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs
- Decades (burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc.)
- Famiglia Pizza
- Chickie’s and Pete’s
- Dunkin’ Donuts
- Shoreline Grill
- Waterfront Creamery
- Subway
- and so many more!
Start making your plans now to visit the Boardwalk at Hersheypark! And be sure to plan your visit so you can devote an hour day to splashing and having fun in the water!
For more information on the Boardwalk at Hersheypark, visit THEIR WEBSITE.
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