Hershey's Great Candy Expedition - Exclusive FIRST LOOK
Hershey’s Great Candy Expedition is an all-new multi-sensory theater attraction located at Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, PA. Park Rovers was invited to an exclusive media preview of this one-of-a-kind attraction before it’s grand opening on May 19. We got to experience the attraction and spoke with Danny Byerley, Creative Director, about the need for this attraction at Chocolate World.
To call Hershey’s Great Candy Expedition a “theater attraction” would be accurate but a total disservice to the experience itself. Designers incorporated all five senses (yes, even taste) into this re-imagining of the previous 4-D show. Guests first enter an art-deco train station with larger-than-life posters of six Hersheyland destinations, all anchored by a signature Hershey product. Everyone receives an Adventurer’s Guide filled with trivia, puzzles, and links to recipes and more fun. While waiting for our train to arrive, we were treated to a sample of either Creamy or Crunchy Reese’s Cups. The Creamy Reese’s Cup was delicious and felt upscale and luxurious compared to a standard Reese’s Cup. Eventually, the conductor informed us our train had arrived and to make our way to the platform.
As we move to the Departures Platform, we are met with our first scent of the experience. The combination of chocolate scent and engine sounds against a backdrop of a beautiful train car provide a delightful experience as we await to enter the theater. This area is full of Hershey-specific Easter Eggs for guests to discover while they wait to “board” the Hersheyland Express.
Once we are invited to board the train, guests are whisked into a completely renovated 125-seat theater where we are greeted by Ginny, our Sweets Expedition Co. Engineer. She is a wonderful and energetic character who guides us through our journey through Hersheyland and introduces us to each world’s residents. She also cues us to vote with buttons on our armrests for the destinations we want to visit as well as when to use the action button to trigger events. The inclusion of interactivity is a unique way for guests to feel connected to the story Danny and his team are looking to share.
This is no ordinary theater experience. As your train rolls through it’s journey, we can feel the subtle movement of the train as well as any changes to our mode of transportation like “flying”. Scents are plentiful and align to each world we visited, with coconut scents in Almond Joy and Mounds Cove and roasting peanuts in Reese’s Ridge. Immersive sound combines with wind effects and other physical effects (fake snow in the summer is always fun) to engage all of our senses, including a bag of Hershey treats upon exiting. Throw in 270-degree crystal-clear 4K projections and a charming story to boot, and Hershey’s Chocolate World has a world-class experience on their hands.
We spoke with Danny Byerley, Creative Director, about the need to update the 4-D attraction for Chocolate World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. He stated after the events of 2020, he was driven to create a heart-warming attraction for families to enjoy together using the latest and greatest technology. Due to the lack of new projects in the themed entertainment industry during the development of Great Candy Expedition, Hershey was able to partner with industry leaders to create the most immersive experience possible for their guests.
We want to thank Hershey’s Chocolate World for the initiation to share Hershey’s Great Candy Expedition with you. The team has created a wonderful attraction which will begin delighting guests on May 19, 2023. Tickets can be purchased for $19.95 per person with ticket packages available (I suggest the Build-Your-Own Candy Bar). Hershey’s Chocolate World will officially celebrate it’s 50th Anniversary on June 30. We suggest a trip to experience the Great Candy Expedition as soon as you can!
