If you’re planning a trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania, don’t forget to spend some time at Hershey’s Chocolate World! Located right outside the entrance to Hersheypark, Chocolate World is home to fun activities your whole family will love. Plus, you can stock up on all your favorite chocolate treats.
Plan Your Day at Hershey’s Chocolate World
There are several ways you can work Chocolate World into your Hershey vacation. You could spend the morning at Hersheypark and stop by Chocolate World for a mid-day break. Spend some time in the air conditioning and do an activity before heading back to the park.
Another option is to set aside a whole morning or evening to spend at Hershey’s Chocolate World. In about four hours, you can do all of the activities it has to offer. I personally prefer doing it this way because you get a discount when you purchase tickets for several activities at one time. We bought the Adventure 1 Bundle with Summer Trolley and saved $17. Check out all of the activity bundles, and see which one is best for your family.
If you don’t have time to spend half a day or several days at Chocolate World, at least pop in to do the Hershey’s Chocolate Tour. This ride will show you all the steps it takes to make a delicious Hershey’s Chocolate Bar. The best part is it’s completely free, and you get a chocolate sample at the end of the ride.
If you like planning ahead like me, you can purchase all of the tickets online. Just print them and show them at each attraction. It’s super quick and easy!
Activities at Hershey’s Chocolate World
I’m going to take you through the morning we spent at Hershey’s Chocolate World. You can do the activities in any order and leave as much time as you like between them. We wanted to spend the morning and early afternoon there and make it home for naptime.
4-D Chocolate Mystery – 10:30-11:00
The first activity we did was the 4-D Chocolate Mystery. I was a little bit nervous about Maddy sitting through the 30-minute movie. We still can’t make it through a regular movie in the theater without crawling over seats, running up and down the aisles, and taking 25 bathroom breaks. Needless to say, Mommy doesn’t usually get to see much of the movie.
We entered the theater, donned our 3-D glasses, and I didn’t know I had a 3-year old with me for the full 30 minutes. The 4-D Chocolate Mystery is very interactive and not only has 3-D movie effects but also special effects that appeal to all the senses. Maddy sat on my lap, so she didn’t feel some of the things bumping against her legs. That might have scared her. She sat with her eyes glued to the screen until the lights came back on at the end of the movie. Now I need all movies to be this engaging!
Lunch – 11:00-11:30
We had a break before our next scheduled activity, so we decided to have some lunch. There are plenty of places to have lunch in Hershey’s Chocolate World. Different stations offer a variety of foods from mac and cheese to pizza to soup in a bread bowl. The last time we were at Chocolate World, we had the mac and cheese, and it was very good.
This time, I wanted to save some money, so I packed lunch for us. You are allowed to bring food into Chocolate World, and this is a great way to save money. Buying food for everyone adds up quickly. I’d rather spend my money on the fun activities than on food.
The Hershey’s Chocolate Tour – 11:30-11:45
The Hershey’s Chocolate Tour is a ride that takes you through the making of a chocolate bar from start to finish. You’re greeted by the cows who provide the milk for the chocolate. Then, you go through the factory and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the chocolate-making process. My kids loved that the Hershey characters kept appearing throughout the ride. Maddy loved the Hershey Kiss, and Jamison’s favorite was the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Of course, they both enjoyed the free sample on our way off the ride.
Chocolate World wasn’t busy on the day we were there. We were able to walk onto the ride without a line, and we were finished in under 15 minutes. If it’s busier the day you’re there, the line will be longer. It usually moves pretty quickly, though.
Chocolate Tasting Experience – 11:45-12:15
Maddy was most looking forward to the Chocolate Tasting Experience. She is a big fan of dessert, and she hasn’t met a piece of candy she doesn’t like (until today). We were given a bag with four pieces of chocolate in it as we entered the tasting room. After a lesson on how to properly taste chocolate, we were given the chance to sample each type. Did you know you should listen to your chocolate before tasting it? You learn something new every day.
After tasting the chocolate, we voted on the flavors we tasted in each type of chocolate. Then, we got to compare our vote with what the experts taste. One of the pieces of chocolate was organic with a high cocoa content. The top 3 votes said it tasted like wood, leather, and tobacco. If you haven’t guessed yet, that is the one Maddy didn’t like. The rest she gobbled up, even before we were instructed to try them. At the end of our Chocolate Tasting Experience, we were each given a certificate saying that we are Hershey’s Palateers.
Create Your Own Candy Bar – 12:30-1:15
I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the Create Your Own Candy Bar activity when I signed up for it. When we arrived, we were given an apron and a hairnet. Then, we entered the “factory”.
First, we went to computers to choose the ingredients for our chocolate bars. We were able to select dark, milk, or white chocolate and up to three add-ons. Finally, you could add sprinkles to the top.
After customizing our candy bars, we moved to the conveyor belt where our chocolate bar would be created. We watched in awe as the chocolate was poured, the pretzels, chocolate chips, and other add-ons were inserted, and the sprinkles were drizzled on top.
While our chocolate bars cooled, we used computers to design the packaging for our chocolate bars. We could custom design the boxes or use a design that was already created.
Finally, our chocolate bars were ready. I was extremely impressed with the organization of this activity. Everything was timed perfectly, and it really kept the kids engaged. Maddy and Jamison were so excited to take home the candy bars they created!
Candy Shopping – 1:15-1:45
You need to leave some time in your schedule for shopping! Aisles of every candy imaginable will surround you. You’ll find treats that can’t be found anywhere else. Be sure to stock up on your favorites to take home with you.
We also had to stop for our favorite Chocolate World treat – a chocolate milkshake. Yum!
Summer Trolley Ride – 1:45-2:15
We wrapped up our day at Chocolate World with the Summer Trolley Ride. The trolley waits for you right in front of Chocolate World. After you board, you’ll be taken on a journey through Milton Hershey’s life. Your tour guides will put on a show filled with important sites in Hershey’s life, costume changes, and sweet treats.
I wasn’t sure how much the kids would like the trolley ride. However, it ended up being Jamison’s favorite part of the whole day. He loved learning about Milton Hershey, and he even got to request a song.
A Fun-Filled Day
We had so much fun doing all the activities at Hershey’s Chocolate World. In case you were wondering, we didn’t quite make it home for nap time. This picture says it all. Maddy enjoyed a final piece of chocolate and slept the rest of the way home.
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What Do You Think?
Which of these activities would you enjoy most at Hershey’s Chocolate World?
Let me know in the comments below.
Check out the rest of our summer adventures in Hershey.
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