A Full Day at Hershey’s Chocolate World: Our Honest Review & Rankings (Winter Break)

If you’re planning a Hershey, PA trip or looking for an indoor activity during winter break, a rainy day or to escape the summer heat, a day at Hershey’s Chocolate World is a great option, especially with kids. While we visited over Winter Break, the experiences they offer are year round and would be enjoyed by kids of all ages.

Since we visited during the holiday time, we purchased the Holly Jolly Bundle, which included all of Chocolate World’s main experiences, but they offer other bundles at various levels throughout the year. Ours included:

• Create Your Own Chocolate Bar

• Trolley Works Tour

• Hershey’s Unwrapped

• Great Candy Expedition

And of course, we did the free Chocolate World ride that takes you through the process of making Hershey’s chocolate.

It was a full day, very little downtime, and a lot of chocolate. We did everything, and by the end of the day, we had clear favorites. Here’s how we ranked each experience, from least favorite to the one we’d do again without hesitation.

4. Trolley Works Tour (Holiday Version)

The Trolley Works Tour came in last for us, not because it was bad, but because it felt the most optional.

We did the holiday-themed tour, which lasted about 45 minutes and took us around the local Hershey area. When the kids boarded, they were greeted by the trolley conductor and given a chocolate bar, which immediately helped set the mood and added to their chocolate count for the day.

During the ride, characters shared stories about the area and led everyone in holiday songs, with a few special appearances along the way. It was definitely cheesy—but in a way that younger kids found funny. Our kids laughed, and it was a nice chance to sit down and warm up.

That said, if this experience isn’t included in your bundle or you’re short on time, it’s skippable. I wouldn’t pay extra for it.

Best for: Younger kids, a break from walking
Would we do it again? Only if included in a bundle

3. Great Candy Expedition

Despite the name, Great Candy Expedition isn’t a ride—it’s more of an interactive show designed to feel like one.

You start in a room where you’re given a Candy Passport and introduced to different candy destinations like Jolly Rancher Valley and Reese’s Ridge. You scan QR codes with your phone to learn about each area and get instructions on how the experience works, including audience participation.

Next, you move into an auditorium-style room with screens all around, which makes it feel like you’re on a train traveling through the candy world. Each seat has buttons that allow the audience to vote on the next destination, which keeps kids involved.

It’s a fun concept, but this one is better for younger kids. Older kids may lose interest, and it’s not something I’d pay extra for. That said, everyone gets a bag of candy at the end, which the kids agreed might be the best part.

Best for: Younger kids
Would we do it again? Only if included

2. Hershey’s Unwrapped

Coming in at number two is Hershey’s Unwrapped, and this one surprised us in a good way.

This is a live, interactive show that walks you through using your five senses to enjoy chocolate. At the start, each audience member receives a box of chocolates, all different kinds, that you’re told not to open until the show begins (which is harder than it sounds).

The host uses humor to explain how chocolate should smell, what it should sound like when you break it, and how texture and ingredients affect flavor. It’s educational without feeling like a lesson and interactive without being chaotic.

The show lasts about 30 minutes, which felt just right, and it held everyone’s attention, including the adults. There’s also a surprise at the bottom of the chocolate box, which was a fun way to end the experience.

Best for: All ages
Would we do it again? Yes

1. Create Your Own Chocolate Bar (The Clear Winner)

Our number one, and the experience we’d recommend no matter what, is Create Your Own Chocolate Bar.

After putting on a hair net and apron, you head to a touch-screen station where you choose the type of chocolate you want to make: milk, dark, or white. Then you pick your mix-ins, like pretzel bits, chocolate chips, and toffee bits. Everything is done on the screen, which makes it easy for kids to manage on their own.

From there, you move into the production area where your chocolate bar is actually made. You can watch it travel down the conveyor belt, see the mix-ins added, and even spot your name on the big screen showing which number your bar is on the line. This was a huge hit.

Next, you design your custom packaging, creating the wrapper that goes around the box your chocolate bar is placed in. You can personalize it as much as you want, which makes it feel extra special.

Finally, you watch your chocolate bar get packaged, and then it’s yours to take home (or eat immediately).

This experience was hands-on, memorable, and worth every minute.

Best for: Everyone
Would we do it again? Every time

Is the Hershey’s Chocolate World Holly Jolly Bundle Worth It?

For us, yes.

Buying the Holly Jolly Bundle made the day easy and stress-free. Having everything included meant we didn’t have to skip anything, or listen to the kids ask all day if we were doing “that one,” because they wanted to do them all.

Booking the experiences was simple, too. Since each activity runs on a schedule, you choose your time slots when you book. The online system was straightforward and automatically prevented overlaps while leaving enough time to get from one experience to the next. Because everything is in one building, having about 5–15 minutes between activities is just right.

We scheduled two experiences in the late morning, took a break for lunch at the food court, squeezed in a quick meet-and-greet with the Grinch, and then finished the afternoon with our last two. You’ll also want to leave about 30 minutes to do the free Chocolate World tour and browse the souvenir area.

If you’re visiting Hershey in the winter or want a full day without worrying about weather, Hershey’s Chocolate World is absolutely worth planning into your trip.