I've been to Hershey Park and was not impressed... Although I was expecting to ride chocolate waves in a canoe carved out of a Hershey bar while it rained chocolate chips.. I think Busche Gardens will have a lot of things to do! I was there when I was about 4 and I remember it being the most awesome place on earth and I've never been big on rides.
I've been to Dollywood a couple times and had a lot of fun without going on any rides and just going to the shops and watching the bearded blacksmith.
I have no idea if you have changed since then, but keep in mind you were 4 years old. I'm 18 so there is a
slight difference.
I much more excited about the first day of the trip. We're going to take a tour of colonial Williamsburg and take a ghost tour!
I'm probably the only soon-to-be-graduating high school student on Earth who is more excited (and very thrilled!) by the idea of a historical tour rather than the idea of a roller coaster.
On a side note: The bus ride to Williamsburg will take about 3 and a half hours. The bus has a DVD player so they are asking kids to bring in school appropriate movies for everybody to watch. I am definitely going to bring in some DVDs! The only problem is nobody else will want to watch something like:
Big Trouble in Little China (I'll still try) or
House On Haunted Hill (1959). I'll bring in some more mainstream stuff, maybe
Without a Paddle or
Hellboy. I am going to bring personal books and music anyway, so I will be fine.