What Hersheypark Actually Offers
Hersheypark does not use Disney's Lightning Lane or Cedar Fair's Platinum Pass skip system. Their program is called Fast Track. There's no virtual queue or free reservation system — it's paid or it's strategy.
Note: Hersheypark does not have a Lightning Lane product. If you see that term applied to Hersheypark somewhere, it's incorrect. Their exclusive skip product is Fast Track only.
Fast Track: The Two Options
Fast Track (Single-Use): You skip the standby line once per featured attraction. On lower-demand days this runs around $30 per person. On peak summer Saturdays, pricing scales significantly higher — budget $75 to $100+ during the summer peak.
Fast Track Unlimited: Skip the standby line as many times as you want on featured attractions, all day. Pricing ranges from approximately $55 to $230 per person depending on date demand. During summer peak, expect to be in the $150-$230 range.
Fast Track Forward / Fast Track Forward Unlimited: The same products but discounted when purchased at least 3 days before your visit. If you know your date, buy in advance. In 2026, Fast Track returned to also being purchasable inside the park on the day of your visit, after 2025 required advance-only purchase.
Where to buy: Hersheypark.com, the ticketing kiosk at the front gate, HPGO kiosks inside the park, or any in-park Guest Services location.
Which rides are covered: Fast Track covers the major coasters — Candymonium, Skyrush, Fahrenheit, Storm Runner, Wildcat's Revenge, Great Bear, and others. The specific list is on the Hersheypark website and updates seasonally. Twizzlers Twisted Gravity (the new 2025 Screamin' Swing) is typically included.
Is Fast Track Worth It?
Yes, on peak days: A Saturday in July with a full park can have Candymonium and Skyrush at 60-90 minutes each. Fast Track Unlimited lets a group of adults ride both 5 to 6 times in a day versus once. At anything under $150 per person, the math works for a coaster-focused group.
No, on slow days: If you're visiting on a weekday in May, June before school lets out, or late August after school starts, the park is significantly thinner. Candymonium might show 15 minutes. There's no reason to spend $100 on Fast Track for that.
Single-Use vs. Unlimited: Single-Use makes sense if there are only 3-4 rides in the park you specifically want to ride more than once. Unlimited is for dedicated coaster groups who want to re-ride Candymonium and Skyrush repeatedly.
Free Strategies That Actually Work
Sweet Start (Resort Early Entry)
Guests staying at official Hershey resort properties — Hershey Lodge, Hotel Hershey, or Hersheypark Camping Resort — get one hour of early park access called Sweet Start. This runs daily during the main summer season (roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day). Full Size, King Size, and Giant Size Season Pass holders also get this perk.
During that hour, featured attractions including Candymonium and The Hollow area rides operate with no general admission crowd. You can ride Candymonium once or twice with essentially no wait before regular guests are even inside the gate. A one-night resort stay on a summer Saturday effectively eliminates the need for Fast Track for most families.
Rope Drop Strategy
Arrive 30 minutes before listed park opening. Go through security and reach the gate before it opens. When guests are released, go directly to the back of the park — Pioneer Frontier — not toward Chocolatetown. Wildcat's Revenge and Lightning Racer will be 5-15 minutes for the first hour while the crowds funnel to the front.
End-of-Day Riding
Parks lose 20-30% of their crowds in the two hours before close, especially when it's a park that requires driving. Starting at 6 p.m. on a summer day (park closing at 9 or 10 p.m.), wait times on Candymonium and Skyrush often drop from 60 minutes to 20-30 minutes. Save these for last.
Midday Water Park Pivot
Shift to The Boardwalk water park from noon to 3 p.m. when coaster lines peak. Water slide and pool wait times are shorter, you're cooling off during the hottest part of the day, and when you return to the dry park around 3:30 p.m., lines have thinned.
Weekday vs. Weekend
This is the most effective "trick" of all: visit Tuesday through Thursday. Summer weekday crowds at Hersheypark average 40-60% lower than Saturday. You'll ride more in five hours on a Wednesday than in a full Saturday with Fast Track Unlimited. If your schedule allows any flexibility, use it here.
The Real Math
For a family of four on a peak Saturday, Fast Track Unlimited at $175 per person costs $700 total. A one-night stay at Hershey Lodge (resort pricing varies) plus Sweet Start early entry gets you the same benefit on the headliners and costs less when combined with the resort experience. Run the comparison before defaulting to Fast Track.