Hershey's Dystopian Chocolate Ride

[@RubyofTrinity]

Hey there! Hershey native, here. Nice overview of the ride. As someone old enough to remember the original iteration (I had a vinyl place mat with the cocoa plantation scene on it, it is now framed and on display at the Hershey Historic Society), I'd like to add some notes and observations: - There are a lot of people who fondly remember the original iteration. Pretty much everyone local universally loathes the current version. The animatronic cows are terrifying, and we're all mad the original Worlds Fair mural in the boarding area was painted over. The test kitchen mannequin WAS animated at one time. She would turn her head, and her arm would move back and forth as if spreading frosting on the cake. - Chocolate was considered "nutritious" from its inception in the 16th c until about 1980 when people became deeply anti-sugar. It was the RedBull of its day, providing a burst of energy from the sugar and minor nutrition in the form of milk protein. To my knowledge, Hershey is still contracted to provide desserts for rations for the US military. - The cue line has also been updated multiple times along with the ride itself. The current version is three times the size it once was. Originally, it loaded near the "Make your own chocolate bar" area and took you up an incline to an elevated cue that featured jungle theming, and later monitors of people harvesting cocoa beans. It overlooked the retail area and you had to watch your head. I once had a kid drop his lunch box and it came within millimeters of hitting me. - No one likes the new "Taste the Love" song. As obnoxious as the old "Hershey's Chocolate" jingle could be, there is a fond nostalgia toward it much as there is toward the "It's a Small World" theme. - The retail area is also three times the size it once was. The atrium where the fountain and banana and cocoa trees are used to be all there was. The food court and extended retail area were all added in the early 90s. I worked there for two summers. It was not one of my better summer employment experiences. - Re Child labor: I'm sure this was an ongoing issue, but it's actually worse now than it was years ago. If you visit "The Hershey Story" museum, there is a whole sub-section about how Milton Hershey built company towns for all his workers-- this included exotic locations like Cuba and Africa. Not only did he provide housing, but also schools, hospitals, and orphanages after the tradition of the local Milton S Hershey School. Sadly, not much of these company towns survive today. I am given to understand there is only a single building surviving in Cuba, and it is currently a canteen for the Cuban military. - You used to be able to tour the original (now demolished) 1909 chocolate factory. It remained open to the public until the mid-1980s. My second grade class was one of the last public tours to go through in 1987. I still get people asking if they can tour the factory. For obvious health/safety/accessibility issues, this is no longer an option. - Hershey DOES still have a factory, but it's built behind the original site nearer to Hummelstown across the street from the Hershey recycling center. The 1909 factory simply could not be renovated any more, and was eventually torn down in 2012, much to the outrage of the locals. The HERSHEY smoke stacks and barberry bushes are still there. A delusional developer entertains dreams of turning the old cocoa bean silos into apartments. No one thinks this will actually work. - There is a tile mosaic from the old Hershey Dairy on display near the bathrooms in Chocolate world. It's become a sort of Easter Egg for those who are interested in local history. - The 1990s extension of Chocolate World is partially on land that was once the site of the old Hershey Swimming Pool (1911 - 1971). This was quite an extensive complex, and is still in place, just back filled with soil. The light house that stood near the old chute slides is still there.

[@MrSuperpiff4]

Re Military chocolate rations. “Burst of energy” ≠ healthy, the negative effects of eating sugar, especially when not paired with a military style workout regiment, were undoubtedly well understood by Hershey when they made this ride. Another big reason the military contracts with chocolate producers is because chocolate rations are used to boost moral. Also military ration chocolates deployed in combat will be made different and more food energy rich then commercial grade.

[@alllostfootage]

Do you know if the jungle theming was in the queue when chocolate world opened or was it added later? Also, the lighthouse by the old pool was knocked down about 4 years ago.

[@RubyofTrinity]

@@alllostfootageI think so but I couldn’t swear to it. My family moved to Hershey in the mid 1980s and the jungle decoration was there then. My mom grew up in Hershey (1950s-70s) and she remembers the OG version. She never remarked on the theming being different so I’m assuming it was original.

[@RubyofTrinity]

@@alllostfootageand yeah the lighthouse was quite recently torn down to make room for the new entrance to Hershey Park. No on likes that either.

[@theharvardyard2356]

Great comment! That's funny about locals hating it, lol. Obviously the 2004 version is objectively the best one, Because that's the one they had when I was a kid!

[@4doorluxurysedan]

I think it'd be a lot of fun if an "educational" ride like this suddenly turned into a thrill ride after they were done teaching you

[@ohitsstar1241]

They could call that second half “Escape from the Ivory Coast”

[@tacodraws5012]

That's basically what Test Track is at Disney World, kinda

[@mouchiecat1]

Funny!! I used to say that!!

[@BallJoinedWing]

Solid bit

[@matthewzepess5721]

@@tacodraws5012love test track, if you want a never know the next move style rides, try journey to Atlantis at sea world Orlando. Minor splash mountain style ride that turns into a roller coaster finale out of nowhere.

[@CooperE.]

Honestly, I really enjoyed this ride when I went to Hershey. It is pretty much like what the original EPCOT pavilions were when they were heavily sponsored.

[@parkds]

Agreed. As a kid, I looked forward to riding this more than any of the real rides inside the park. The rides at EPCOT were my favorites at Disney as well. I think it was so smart of Hershey to put this chocolate ride outside the park, enabling it to be free to everyone and open year round.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

It reminded me a bit of early EPCOT as well. It would be interesting to see a revival in World's Fair type of attractions.

[@ColonelCarnage]

I grew up on that ride I love it.

[@drpenguin57]

@@parkds I looked forward to chocolate world as a kid for the free chocolate bar at the end lol

[@lauriesmith4575]

Fun fact about Hershey in general: Milton S. Hershey originally booked passage on the Titanic, but cancelled at the last minute because it wouldn't arrive until later than he wanted. He cancelled his ticket, then booked passage on the German Amerika, which arrived back in America on the 7th of April instead of the 12th. In fact, the Amerika sent a warning to the Titanic that she passed several icebergs on the route Titanic would later take.

[@FlamingoRadio_]

I feel like Hershey doesn’t get the same amount of love like this compared to other theme park history channels, Hersheypark is super nostalgic for me since I’ve lived less than an hour away from the park my whole life. I’d love to see a Knoebels video at some point from anyone. You’ve gotten a well deserved like and subscribe!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I haven't been to the park in a decade or so. I'd like to go again sometime either this year or next, so another video is likely in the cards.

[@giveroflemons537]

I am surprised no one has done a video about Knoebels. I know it's a smaller park in comparison to that of Bush Gardens or Hersheypark, but there is definitely interesting stuff to be talked about in regards of Knoebels

[@rubiesncreme]

@@PoseidonEntertainment I went there just a couple years ago - before you-know-what - and I had a great time, though what mostly struck me was how short the waiting time was in line for every ride and how you really got your money's worth! (Well, all except for the Laff Track, I don't even want to talk about that one, but all the others were great.) And they were in the middle of expanding it, too.

[@JuriAmari]

I agree. I’m impressed by how much you get in Hersheypark and the town in general! My friends and I are going to the new Chocolatetown area in a couple weeks. I’m so excited!

[@LegoLoos2006]

Alot of my family lives either right by knoebels or Hershey so I went on this ride on numerous occasions and having a knoebels video would really cement my younger years virtually

[@marburymartian]

the queue before the 2016 changes used to be immersive into the jungle and then the docks where cocoa beans were shipped out. Now it's just industrial / brick walls and less interesting to look at.

[@agentM1991]

I grew up in Central PA (now live in Central FL), and I've done version all versions from 1990- 2016. I'm a 1990's baby and never did do the versions pre 1990. Out of all the versions, the 2006 version is my favorite. I always loved smelling the chocolate in the refining room. I vaguely do remember smelling chocolate while visiting Hershey from 1995-2005. But now it's very rare that you DO smell chocolate. What you'll smell likely is roasting peanuts at the Reese's plant.

[@NinthShinigami]

Yet again expanding your content far beyond the limits of Disney and Universal bringing more attention to lesser known attractions and theme parks. Quality channel good sir!

[@robertwatt5382]

Where is my Disney stuff?

[@NinthShinigami]

@@robertwatt5382 ?

[@robertwatt5382]

@@NinthShinigami I was just joking about where the Disney videos. Never mind that went over your head.

[@twalt]

i think i prefer the non disney content at this point! starting to feel like we know all the stories out of disney

[@bjvincent8786]

I have to agree a quality channel indeed and this is what I love about it. As you stated Poseidon Entertainment brings attention to lesser known attractions and theme parks. While not afraid to to call out and/or praise Disney and Universal when it is call for. To be honest I am not sure if I missed the review but I would love to hear his thoughts and views on the Tokyo Disney Resort seeing how this is the only Disney park; Walt Disney has no ownership of and is considered the by many the best. Instead, Oriental Land Company (OLC) owns and operates them and pays royalty and licensing fees to Walt Disney.

[@Matoro2002]

the current version almost feels like parody of a corporate themed ride

[@hawgfancolby]

As somebody who frequents Hershey, I remember what a big deal the last renovation was in 2016 and how it upset a lot of people. The original 3 cows (which had been added in the 2006 renovation) had been at the end and had a catchy song that would play until you got off the ride, but after the renovation, they were removed and the 6 new ones were added to the beginning and given a new song. That was done to make way for all the new digital projection screens which really seem unnecessary compared to the old ride. Either way, it's free so anybody that goes to Hershey/Hershey Park should check it out - at the very least just to get the free piece of chocolate at the end!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

The new version is a little too projection heavy for my taste. In some situations it seems to assist in showing how the machines work, but overall the middle portion of the ride actually seems kind of boring because of it.

[@saltpnuts]

Are you thinking of this song perhaps? kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2fWiZ6baspkla8 My siblings and I would sing it on repeat mercilessly after getting off the ride 😝

[@cooperhoffman8303]

It’s the milk chocolate!!!!

[@alandecker2886]

I had no idea they'd done a revamp in 2016. I remember the version prior to that with the other song for the cows and no screens very well. My kids loved it, and it was a nice free thing to do in what's otherwise a big store.

[@oceanmango]

The 2006 version was my childhood! I remember loving the song that the cows sang

[@MCLegoboy]

From the looks of it, the best effect in the many versions of this ride are the one way mirrors that give the illusion of a vast expansion of machines at work. That's a neat trick, and I love it every time I see something like that implemented.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I observed that to be interesting as well. The characters projected on the mirrors doesn't look great though

[@phishlipsable]

this effect made me feel something liminal and empty from the first time i rode! i'm so glad you said something- grew up less than 30 min from hershey

[@bagea]

woah mclegoboy?!

[@MCLegoboy]

@@bagea No... :smokebomb: [runs away]

[@axelford5514]

@@MCLegoboy The real MCLegoboy??? XD

[@skippermatt7939]

Oh wow, I haven't seen those original Chocolate World scenes in decades. There was another short lived version where a human worker taught an alien robot about chocolate, where each car had a small television monitor. I think it only lasted about a year in the early 90s.

[@alllostfootage]

Yeah, I really hoped he would talk about that as it’s probably the most interesting thing about the ride.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I believe that was the 1988 version, but yeah it did last a year. There only seems to be a partial video of it though, which is why I wasn't able to really cover it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2XPcpuCqJV5rq8

[@LittleLostBunny]

I remember that one too! I had totally forgotten about that. I miss the old song too.

[@gildedpeahen876]

Lmao cashing in on that sweet sweet “et” dollar

[@skippermatt7939]

@@PoseidonEntertainment I actually took part in a survey after the ride about a year before that refurb, where they gathered the families into a room and showed us various characters and asked us to rank them. I remember getting a full sized chocolate bar, and I think my parents got a gift card or voucher of some kind to use in the park. The choices included a factory worker and robot (which of course were used) but also a green alien, some kids, the chocolate bar mascot, a grandmother/mother goose type, and a 50s Frankenstein type monster. I'm probably getting some is those wrong as it's been decades, but I clearly remember ranking potential mascots on a worksheet of sorts.

[@ugaldk31]

I remember riding this and being hypnotized by the pure unadulterated commercialism. Hershey, PA is a really fun place to visit. I really does feel like a real world Wonka Factory, down to the smells that permeate the city. Another great video💜

[@GamerBen87]

I used to go to Hershey Park a lot and never thought of this as a dystopian ride. I always saw it as a nice ride to escape the summer heat and get a free piece of chocolate at the end.

[@backbonepictures78]

Yeah same here

[@DisneyDancer1990]

As a Central PA resident who grew up riding this and witnessing all of its transformations (1990s version will always triumph) I am so glad to see someone cover this!!!! Edit: when they got rid of the classic “Hershey’s Chocolate” song at the end and replaced it with whatever generic song plays now, I wanted to revolt.

[@formerx]

I am always disappointed when the ride ends with no classic earworm jingle. And I miss the announcer saying "disembark".

[@MatthaisUnidostres]

I know right! That song was great!

[@akcalo]

The version the cows used to sing "It's the milk chocolate" was catchy but stuck in our head for weeks after we took the kids We did get a magnet with the cows that says it. I was kinda sad it was changed.

[@hangininhershey7096]

Yes! As it stands now, many visitors leave disappointed.

[@normalhuman9878]

If you listen closely, you can hear a cover of the original song at the end. But it’s quiet and being talked over, so it’s easy to miss

[@benfowler2470]

Former Chocolate World employee here! I grew up going to Hershey basically my whole life. Everyone around there agrees the original version is the best version and HATES the cows and new chocolate animatronics. I was a cast member at Chocolate World and our dressing rooms are right behind the ride, with my area in particular being right behind those dumb cows. If you think listening to the "Taste the Love" song is rough just once going through the ride, try listening to it on constant loop, 5 days a week. It's what Milton would've wanted.

[@HunterWoodlawn]

A dark chocolate ride, if you will.

[@lyokianhitchhiker]

Dad?

[@morrigan908]

You need way more likes than this has gotten.

[@FerreTrip]

Bravo, good sir.

[@Doodlebugthegoldenhamster]

👏👏

[@sarahvanorden670]

As a Disney fan that grew up like 30 miles from Hershey Chocolate world, I rode this many many times as I couldn’t go to Hershey Park because it’s mostly rollercoasters and I can’t ride thrill rides or rollercoasters, thanks for making this on a dark ride I’ve ridden too many times to count, and for anyone coming to Hershey, I HIGHLY recommend during your stop at Chocolate World going to the cafeteria and getting a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup milkshake, they are to die for

[@saaaahduuuuude1228]

Can't or won't?

[@sarahvanorden670]

@@saaaahduuuuude1228 Can’t, I have spinal cord issues and multiple skeletal issues, if I tried I’d get hurt or die

[@saaaahduuuuude1228]

@@sarahvanorden670 I'm sorry to hear about that. Luckily parks like Hershey & Disney have a nice selection of gentler rides. Hope all is well and I'm again sorry for your condition. I have a full leg cast at the moment and thinking about wishing I could ride rides again is driving me insane!

[@JuriAmari]

I second that rec on the Reese’s shake. I’m so excited to get one in two weeks 😋 I also recommend playing some of the crane games and the water park. Even if you’re not a thrill ride person, there’s a lot of good things to do and try while you’re there. Hersheypark deserves a lot more attention - you can do so many things there!

[@Undecided0]

My mother grew up in Philadelphia & Baltimore & went to Hershey Park every summer as a kid. So she continued that tradition with me. I used to get the Skor/Heath Bar milkshake. I couldn't get the Reese's, because I have a peanut allergy.

[@MissionBond92]

Been going to Hershey Park every year since the early 90's. I love this ride as a post park tradition, it's a great way to cool down after a long day in the sun. Though I strongly prefer the pre-2010 ish renovations. Back in the 90's and early 2000's, the entire park/town and building smelled of chocolate since the actual chocolate factory was still open back then

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Honestly, the new version is kind of a bore. I like the figures they added at the end, but the actually "factory" portion could be more interesting.

[@JuriAmari]

Oh man - that’s such a throwback. I loved how the streets would smell like chocolate 🥰 I miss that so much.

[@bjvincent8786]

Very informative video; with the Omnimovers system this ride looks like what would happen if Hershey sponsored the Land at EPCOT.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

It does remind me quite a bit of EPCOT attractions, especially the earliest versions of the ride.

[@PandaWithAJetpack]

I miss Melody, Olympia, and Harmony. Rip 2006 renovation, gone but not forgotten.

[@TalonKOfficial]

I’ve heard about this attraction. The fact they can implement that many chocolate into one tour dark ride is just an amazing feat on its own. Man hersheypark looks so much fun. I’ve been wanting to go there for several years now. Hats off to Poseidon Entertainment for yet another great video!

[@sonic23233]

I was just there last summer

[@onecleangti]

It’s a great time. They’ve been updating it

[@Hopelesslittlekilljoy]

It’s my home park, you should definitely go if you have the opportunity!

[@singbike5832]

I wouldn't go to Hersheypark at this point, frankly. It used to be great, and you could go during a Saturday in summer and it was perfectly manageable. It's not that way anymore. I last went in 2019, and it was so crowded, it wasn't even fun. Food massively overpriced. Many of their recent TripAdvisor reviews are abysmal...so much so that their rating actually dropped.

[@emmettbattle5728]

when i went as a kid it was a blast and the hershey botanical gardens is across the street.

[@KarzKreated]

I lived in Maryland most of my life, so traveling a couple hours to spend the day at Hershey Park was a frequent occurrence. The Chocolate World ride is my favorite attraction there oddly enough 😅. The ride experience is embedded within my memory from my childhood trips to Hershey Park. My favorite part of the ride is the section with the chocolate scent. It smells sooooo good! 😆 One thing to note is the earlier version of the ride's oven section was actually uncomfortably warm when traveling through it. It did make you feel as if you were in a oven. I actually kinda miss that a little bit compared to the current version of the ride. It's just unsuspecting to get blasted with 100 plus degree heat on a slow moving ride. 😁

[@ashleighnichole8197]

An extra tip...if you don't like chocolate they will give you something else at the end of the ride...usually an individually wrapped twizzler.

[@shinigamiryan5837]

I remember the 2004 version. Jeez, seeing this makes me realize how time flies by and was part of going to the park. Still have a stupidly sized mug from that trip and remember the smell of that chocolate to this day.

[@phobos258]

Oh man, I love the Hershey's ride! I lived just outside of Hershey, Pennsylvania for a little while and I'd loved how the town smelled like chocolate.

[@jonmadison9137]

Growing up in Hershey PA this brought back flashbacks

[@grubby_tuesdays]

The iteration before the current one was the one I grew up with. Maybe it’s just because I was younger but the cows used to host/narrate the entire ride and it all felt a lot less… corporate? It’s kinda hard to explain in one comment but it felt a lot less like Hershey makes people happy around the world and more our chocolate is super high quality

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I'm not sure if I agree, but perhaps we have different ideas of what corporate may mean. Watching through the earlier videos of the ride, it certainly felt very corporate as well, but reflected a different kind of corporate culture from the 70s and 80s.

[@hangininhershey7096]

The ride is just empty in parts. The holographic characters that are there now feel sterile rather than the comforting feel the chocolate tries to represent. I don't know anyone who enjoys the current ride, locals or visitors.

[@tlaloqq]

Yeah the 2000s version (born in 99 ) was the best as a kid. Bethlehem represent ✌🏼🫡

[@TweetsieRailroader]

I've visited Pennsylvania twice, and I've also ridden this attraction twice, once in 2009, and again in 2017. I remember the 2009 version featuring the cows much more heavily (and one of the cows taking our ride photo.) It seems that this attraction has gone through many, many changes over the course of it's history.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

It was difficult to find information on this and there weren't too many older videos available. Were the cows moved to the beginning, or are they entirely different?

[@brycewalker3167]

There used to be a male cow in the beginning and end of the ride that would speak to guests and serve as the narrator of the ride. The cow animatronics used to have fur and seemed more life like, and there was another scene where they sang which is now the screen that shows reeeses delivering milk to the factory

[@brycewalker3167]

The scene where you get your picture taken now used to be where the banners were which was unchanged from the 2004 version and after the hersheys song and video portion the male cow would appear again to take the photo

[@brycewalker3167]

I believe this update took place around 2006-2007 I lived about 45 minutes and visited the park and chocolate world frequently with my family

[@TweetsieRailroader]

@@PoseidonEntertainment I believe they were still at the very beginning.

[@jrios29]

I completely forgot about this ride! It definitely had some Living with the Land vibes in the early 90's.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

It reminded me a bit of that as well. It makes me wonder if Disney Imagineers had taken inspiration from it.

[@kathygoodman6159]

I grew up going to Hershey. I remember the factory tour, it was HOT and the smell of chocolate was so overpowering that by the end it made you feel sick. When I took my kids to Hershey we went to Chocolate World (when it was just the ride and the shops and a small eatery). We really enjoyed the ride (I guess it was the 90's version) and looked forward to it every year. We also loved the museum, they had a clock that was amazing. We also enjoyed the amusement park until it became mostly roller coasters (we're not fans). Then my kids grew up and we stopped going. Now my kids bring their kids. My son recently went for the first time since he was a kid and was very disappointed in Chocolate World. Now that I see your video I can see why.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I know almost nothing about the history of Hershey Park. What was it like before it started focusing on coasters?

[@kathygoodman6159]

@@PoseidonEntertainment I was pretty young since we were coming from NJ and once Great Adventure opened we went there. There were lots of what I think they call flat rides and thrill rides there like the scrambler, the monster, tilt a whirl, the whip, etc. There was enough of that kind of thing that it kept us busy for a full day and into the evening. Even when my kids were young and we went every year from MD there were flat rides and thrill rides, although there were more coasters at that time. I only remember one wooden roller coaster from my childhood, but as we didn't do coasters I can't swear to that. I did the Super Duper Looper (not sure of the spelling) once with my son and when I got off I could hardly stand up and walk. My kids got scared because I was so pale and I was shaking. I can do every single ride in Disney World including Rock & Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror now, but I'm still so afraid of heights that I can't do a regular outdoor coaster at a theme park.

[@croissantqueen4415]

I grew up in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania, and while I lived there, my family really didn’t have much money. Vacations wise, to save money, every year we would visit family in Illinois, and go on a day trip to Hershey Chocolate World. I have such fond memories of being there with my family, especially riding the dark ride. Me and my family moved out of Pennsylvania at the very bringing of 2016, so most of what I remember comes from the ride’s second revamp. However, I did get the chance to go back to PA in 2018 and experience the newest version. I have never really seen a deep dive video like this about Hershey before, and this brought back so much nostalgia for me. Chocolate World really needs more internet content lol

[@luciddreamqueen812]

As someone who grew up an hour away from Hershey, I’d go in this ride in the store again and again to get that free chocolate sample they gave out at the end. Later on in my visits, they started putting an employee in charge of handing out samples so they’d be able to spot if they’d already given you some :( I stopped going in the ride as much after that and eventually stopped going entirely

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Wait, how did you get the samples before? Were people not always handing them out?

[@saltpnuts]

@@PoseidonEntertainment There were times when you'd just walk past large bins filled with the candy sample, and be able to reach in and grab one as you exited. But I suspect too many people started taking extras (heck I know me and my siblings did 😝) and so they added a person/moderator to hand the samples out.

[@Goldv0]

@@saltpnuts Came back to this video because I went yesterday. They didn’t have anyone hand them out, they were just in a big tub with a “please take 1” sign like you said.

[@TheCodeMan95]

I live about 25 minutes from Hershey and am a long-time passholder. This ride is corny as hell but is still fun from time to time. Would love to see you do more Hershey content!

[@NinthShinigami]

Just woke up and got a Poseidon Entertainment video as an awesome start to the day!

[@AvivaKitty]

I went to Hersey every summer with my youth group as a teenager. One year it started absolutely pouring rain, and group I was with got soaked before we were able to get inside. We ended up going through this ride nearly a dozen times trying to get dry from the few seconds of hot air blown on you in the roasting tunnel. Needless to say it didn’t work at all and we eventually gave up and just bought some new clothes from the gift shop.

[@Patchwork101]

Haven't finished watching yet, but I grew up going on the Chocolate World Ride and showing it to friends in college like "guys, you HAVE to see this," so I'm excited to see this quirky little piece of my childhood getting attention :)

[@andrewferrauiolo4618]

We just went to Hershey park. We loved it. It's for kids and adults. The evolution of the ride is a must. Something that Milton Hershey and Walt Disney were always about.

[@kevynonvideo1643]

Chocolate World was our consolation prize family vacation for several years. Pretty cruel to drive your kids 4 hours to Hershey Park then not take them to Hershey Park if you ask me, but I do have fond memories of taking the tour ride. Free piece of candy after every ride. The version I rode did not have the anthropomorphic chocolate bars, and I gotta say they're appearance upsets me in a obvious-first-draft kind of way.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

At least it's a quality attraction for free (or was in the past I figure)

[@Mockingdragon]

I grew up in New Jersey so I spent a lot of time at Hershey Park as a kid. That chocolate song lives rent-free in my head lmao fascinating history.

[@paulm.newitt3246]

Fun Fact: Disney Imagineer Harper Goff (Jungle Cruise, Golden Horseshoe Saloon, 20K Nautilus designer)...was also the set director for the original Willy Wonka movie.

[@sc6658]

As a Pennsylvanian who lives west of Hershey and goes through the area on the way to the beach and has therefore gone on that ride a ton, this was a great watch.

[@lukesommer689]

Gotta love the effort and time he puts in to these

[@CaptainCretaceous91]

I've been visiting Hershey my entire life, so the Chocolate World tour holds a special place for me. Seeing how Hershey's Chocolate is made gives me a greater appreciation for it.

[@Detaur]

This attraction is insanely nostalgic for me despite the crazy “buy our stuff, praise Milton Hershey” overtones. I think it was the first ride I was ever on. Something interesting you missed is that they actually give you free samples of the products when you exit the ride (unless that’s been removed). I haven’t been on this latest version of the ride but it looks like they added TONS of screen based elements which is kinda lame. I think last time I was on it was like 2014. Imo the new version of the Kiss mascot looks creepy, adding hyper feminine features to a piece of candy is unsettling. Before it looked more generic. I have also been to the Milton Hershey Museum which is just as bad as it sounds. Very “praise our founding corporate overlord” esque and like painstakingly details every moment of his life while endlessly praising him.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

They still do hand out pieces to my knowledge. I suppose I should have mentioned it. I also agree that it's a little too projection heavy for my taste. I found the older versions of the ride far more interesting.

[@Ganey16]

Was just there a few weeks ago, they still do it! It's usually a small bite sized thing though, and yeah the screen elements kind of suck.

[@Dreader1962]

The main reason screen elements are bad is when they mess up, it is just a monitor screwing up (which we all know). With a physical animated element, weird things can happen when they screw up!

[@chompythebeast]

This is _exactly_ how Disney parks exalt and venerate the image and corporate character of Walt™

[@zthegreatandpowerful285]

I remember the first time my family went they gave full size chocolate bars. We went back years later and they reduced it to fun size. Truly a sad day in Hershey History.

[@eechauch5522]

I lived in the area as a kid in the early 2000s and very fondly remember this ride. Seeing the 2004 version and the factory again very much hit home. The roast tunnel probably was my favorite part, no idea why, but I remember always looking forward to that part. I honestly don’t see a problem with the ride being an obvious advertisement for the company and its products. That’s the idea behind all factory tours, seeing the completely industrialized process is interesting and kind of the point.

[@starryneitz]

The 2004 version will always hold a special place in my heart with the queue line being a walk through a cocoa tree forest and the end with the circular images and light up globe. Today, though, the animatronics barely work and it feels soulless.

[@joshseibert]

I grew up nearby and as a young child would go to Chocolate World quite frequently - mostly because it was a free activity that kept you cool from the summer heat. Plus we loved that it came with a complimentary piece of candy at the exit. Oh and I also remember the cookies and milkshakes in the food court area of Chocolate World being delicious.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

It's kind of wild that it's free. Still, I understand that it's meant to get you to buy something.

[@Undecided0]

@@PoseidonEntertainment I never felt manipulated by the ride, because my family planned on buying something anyway.

[@dnijulie]

This ride gets an update about every ten years or so. 2006 was a major refurb, so I'm surprised it's not mentioned here. That's when the singing cows were first introduced. The cows were updated in the 2016 refurb, which also added projection mapping and digital Pepper's Ghost illusions, and the three big Candy Characters (Hershey, Reese, and Kiss) were integrated throughout as projected media, onscreen content, and animatronics. New vehicles were also added for the first time ever, now with on-ride video. There was a version of the ride in 1988 that involved aliens visiting Earth, with guests learning about Hershey's chocolate from their perspective. It was short-lived.

[@scottyPsychotty]

I’m so glad I’m not cracking up and others remember the weird alien version.

[@dnijulie]

@@scottyPsychottyNot imagining it! Haha. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2XPcpuCqJV5rq8

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

There's so little information on this available, that I couldn't really develop a timeline for changes. I do know of the 1988 version, but there only appears only a short segment of it up on KZbin.

[@partyharry7585]

Loved this ride as a kid, the convey belts of Reese you showed in the video is where countless people tried to reach over and take one for themselves each time lol.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I didn't think about that, but I suppose i shouldn't be surprised.

[@ButterFlyGardenBlossom]

Hello! I’m a person who lives around an hour to Hershey and goes there twice or three times a year, I’m happy you made a video on Hershey Park, Hershey Chocolate World, and the ride there in particular, it’s probably my favorite theme park that isn’t big budget. We used to go on the ride a lot, and we enjoyed it every time, but we couldn’t last time due to time constraints :(((

[@statefarmjoke]

Man. I grew up in Central PA, with my grandparents living in Hershey. I have well over a decade of on-ride photos from around the 2000s era, and seeing the 2004 version of the ride brought back such nice memories. I have LOTS of feelings about the newer versions of the ride (bring back the old song and the physical sets!), but I’m still a sucker for it as a way to relax and sit down for a few minutes after a day in the park.

[@Wolf_Mama]

I remember going on this when I was younger! I My family went to Hershey for a chorus competition and we went on this ride. It was interesting to say the least. Unfortunately, I don't remember much from when I went on it, but seeing the older versions of the ride brought some of them back. I do hum Hershey's song from time to time - it's weirdly catchy lol

[@Katesaprincess]

I live near Hershey and I have been going here since I was a kid. I’m a season pass holder so I’m here very often and sometimes ride this ride when it rains as something to do. I definitely think the ride is kind of bs and Hershey’s chocolate isn’t that good. But it’s still a fun little dark ride.😭 I was low key shocked you did a video on a ride at my home park!😭 Also Hershey park is actually a very good park and has focused on detail and even started hiding Hershey kisses in chocolate town, making spirit jerseys, and re-theming rides. I’ve been impressed by its growth. I’m so happy this park is getting into the public eye!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Chocolate Town looks great, and I'm highly interested in Candymonium. I can see myself visiting within the next few years.

[@clogiz]

I absolutely love this ride. I think it's cute, simple fun that educates you on the products

[@larrackell]

I've never heard that theme song in my life, but it's going to be stuck in my head for days now.

[@Jaheartsjonas]

Crazy you released this video today, I was literally just on this ride for the first time less than two weeks ago, keep in mind it's not a local attraction for me so the chances were pretty low that the timing would work out so perfectly lol. I live in FL but am from MD, I visited for the first time in years this month and went on a weekend trip to PA with my friend while in the area and we went here (last time I was in the Hershey Park area was probably around 2004/5). But yeah the ride wasn't bad to me, just mid. Not bad for something free. Great video, interesting to learn about the history of the ride! I agree with the commentary as well

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

It seems fine, and I remember it being just kind of fine whenever I last visited as well. I think that it could definitely be a bit... weirder though.

[@DKGifford19608]

I grew up in the area and the Chocolate World ride was a big part of my childhood. Now I have lots of family in Hershey and we often take guests (or ourselves) to Chocolate World. The ride is free and silly. I'm not quite sure where your dystopian angle is coming from. I recognize the depressing realities of globalism, agribusiness, and consumerism. Though all realities of entertainment and food in the US corporate system carry these issues. Is it propaganda marketing? Yeah. But you are at a theme park that is entirely chocolate themed in a town that is chocolate themed. My sister lives on Cocoa Ave for example. It's not like you have to go on this ride to enter the park. There's no subcontext to any of the themeing or this ride itself- it's all very direct. We're Hershey, we make chocolate, people seem to like it. The Chocolate World ride always felt like an EPCOT ride (which were all sponsored and a bit future rosie too). Much like Disney or Busch Gardens or WB-owned Six Flags, these attractions serve multiple purposes including being brand builders and an opportunity to sell products. Dystopian is a pretty loaded summation. While Hershey is a big corporation that is driven by profits over good-doing, the company has done great things for the area and gives back in positive ways (see Milton Hershey School, Hershey Gardens, free events for locals). The company has also tried to better vet their suppliers in recent years. Let's hope those efforts made some positive changes. Again, Hershey is a big corporation operating within an evil capitalist system so I get being cynical about any celebration of that, but we also live in that world and joy needs to be found where it can be found. For me, part of finding that joy is this stupid free ride with singing cows.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

After having written the script, I realized that the context I framed it in was rather thin. I was reminded of Brave New World's corporate worship and distantly related consuming a Hershey bar to soma. I know that it's not even an apt comparison, but I wanted to see how people would interpret it.

[@themechanic58]

Couldn't agree more with your comment about product sentimentality. It's both amazing and a little disturbing the things some companies will do to convince you that their version of a benign, everyday product is somehow revolutionary and life-changing. Bonus irony points if the product itself isn't all that great to begin with.

[@jamy8103]

I've been on three different versions of this ride. In the early 2000s, when was I still in grade school. My family always took a trip up to Chocolate World the day after Christmas. I remember slowly watching the village turn into a more "modern" theme. The first few years it was a cozy place full of plants and stellar restaurants, over the years, Hershey added more "attractions" to the venue for outrageous prices. It was wild watching, year by year, the place become less authentic and more of a gimmick. The best part of the dark ride was walking thru the queue..it was a "jungle type" area that led to a shipping dock, where you boarded the vehicle. At the end of the ride, you were given a free sample of Hershey's newest product. We spent hours as kids riding the dark ride as there was never a line. The year the added the singing cows, I remember my parents begging to leave. Before that edition, there was a more realistic cow, and I would always try to pet it. I think the dark ride worked. As Hershey is ingrained in my head as the "Great American Chocolate Bar". I find myself craving their Take 5s (my favorite they sampled before marketing) or just a regular chocolate bar as it gives that 'nostalgic' taste. Some products we tried never made it anywhere, like the Pumpkin Hershey Kisses or some weird Kit Kat. I find myself every now then humming their song...at one point I HAD to learn it on piano. I'm just now realizing, how conditioned this place made me. Kinda like how as kids, we used to love to PLAY at McDonald's, in attempt for McD's to condition our brains to associate their locations with that same joy. The trips I took as a kid, hands down, turned me into the theme park enthusiast/chocolate loving adult I am now. The dark ride version from the early 2000s, pre-singing cows, has a really special place in my heart. Despite its subliminal messaging, it was a place that brought my family together. My father would always fly home from Iraq or Aghanistan and would INSIT on going every year. I think a lot of people really hold this place to high standard & it means a lot to a lot of different people. Thank you making this video!

[@SansDemStrings]

I first went on the Chocolate World ride in the late 90s, and again after the 2004 renovation. I grew up in Western NY so Hershey was a lot closer to get to than other parks. I always liked this dark ride the most. Taking my husband this summer as his family never went. So interesting timing to be sure.

[@michaeltaylor1603]

I rode it with my friend in 2000. It was actually a "bucket list" item of mine to visit Hershey, PA. We did the trolley & rode the ride. Went up on a hill to see Hershey Park before we left for another attraction. It was a "railroad vacation". I work in a restaurant. Hershey's kisses or any "sweet" keeps us going. It's a cheap "guilty pleasure" the Milton Hershey wanted to present to the masses. He went bankrupt 6 times b4 he got it right. Hershey Park is AmazING! We also had some delicious Yankee Pot roast near the ride. The new "Disneyfied" version looks pretty cute. Yes! That chocloate smell is a thin slice of heaven. Great video! We actually did train ride @ Gettysburg (Diesel train after explosion of the steam) & Hershey the same day.

[@davidfitzsimmons2451]

Another thing to add regarding the town of Hershey and vacationing is the Hotel. The Hershey Hotel puts chocolate in damn near everything including using it in the spa parlor. Back rubs using chocolate scented oils, chocolate infused mud bath, you name it, it has chocolate in it somehow. And no don't think you can consume any of the stuff used in the treatments.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Welp, didn't know that.

[@davidfitzsimmons2451]

@@PoseidonEntertainment it's definitely on my bucket list of places to visit. Not everything they serve to eat incorporates chocolate but they do use the cocoa powder as part of dry rubs for some of the meats. For as much flak as Hershey gets for being bottom of the barrel chocolate, and not unwarranted I admit, the town itself and the company involvement is absolutely amazing and very much something I feel Disney could take some notes from. There is a very good sense of community there.

[@beneciotheperson]

I've stayed in both the hotel and their moderately priced Lodge. Both are surprisingly clean and well kept, and I like getting free tickets to Hersheypark I never use everytime I go.

[@sararobinson6571]

@@davidfitzsimmons2451 Milton Hershey and his wife did a lot for the community as far as employing people and taking care of them and their families :) they even opened a boarding school for orphaned boys that’s still there today, although I believe it’s a general boarding school now

[@sararobinson6571]

Actually it’s still free boarding school

[@late921]

My mom walked through the factory as a kid, I rode the chocolate ride as a kid and now I take my kid on there. It’s a nostalgic must-do every time I visit. I’m glad they brought back the old song for their 50th.

[@jacobcox4565]

"Wherever you go, no matter how far, you're always near a Hershey bar!" That one seems unintentionally threatening. It's like they always know where you are and they won't leave.

[@ChrisPMuffin]

Great video man, I remember going there a few years back.

[@alexperkins3705]

I was born about 30 minutes away from Hershey so this ride was apart of my childhood, along with the whole Hershey Parks/Chocolate World experiece, so seeing this pop up on my recomended made my night. My family moved far away from Pennsilvania so this video brought me back.

[@KingHarambe_RIP]

Somehow the more recent refurbs make the ride feel more dated as the messaging feels very safe and even more corporate. The screens feel cheap and sterile when compared the animatronics that had an interesting retro style to them.

[@memethyst]

"wherever you go, no matter how far, you're always near a hershey bar" that line sounds like the hershey bar is stalking you like you're about to be it's prey

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

It would make the ride a lot more interesting if this was the context.

[@memethyst]

@@PoseidonEntertainment they should do a halloween overlay about the killer hershey bar apocolypse... i don't think that would make people want to eat their chocolate though

[@donvid8969]

I remember going on this ride with my Mom during a visit to Hershey for the Hella Mega Tour a few years ago, and by the end of it, we were both confused, scared...and crying laughing. At least we got a free chocolate bar out of it.

[@OlafMetal]

I remember this ride fondly from when I was 11, mostly because I was a fat kid mesmerized by the chocolate. And then the huge store that sells nothing but candy. I was literally a kid in a candy store.

[@engelisch777]

lol here two years later... it was popped up in my recs. I just wanted to say I noticed how nicely you asked for likes, and I don't see that often. Really appreciated. I generally remember to like videos that I enjoy anyway, but I liked that it was gentle without any in-your-face animations.

[@seekittycat]

Ahhh love the smell of dystopia in the morning /breaths in chocolate smell

[@laureladelle]

At some point in the late 90s the combining room was alien themed. It was bizarre.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I believe you're referencing the 1988 version? Is this it? kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2XPcpuCqJV5rq8

[@laureladelle]

@@PoseidonEntertainment yes!!!!!!!! It almost feels like I imagined it.

[@sof2392]

my mom lived like 5 minutes from the factory, and i’ve been on this ride so many times. it’s really nostalgic but i’m happy someone is talking ab the dark side of it

[@KCTheHedgehog]

I lived in Hershey up until I graduated high school. Me and my friends liked to got to Hershey park at least once every summer. We would get there before the park opened and would always ride the chocolate world ride while we waited. It’s always been a ham fisted ad since I first road it with my parents, especially with the rest of the building being covered in Hershey’s merch and candy. It’s still fun and a staple of any Hershey park visit.

[@CMWaters910]

Wow, that is drastically different from the last time I went to Hershey Park....

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

It seems to change every 10 years or so

[@kyliesmith2004]

I grew up in the early 2000s and went to (and still go to!) Hersheypark billions of times with my parents, grandparents, friends, and friends families. Those product banners at 7:33 have so many memories for me. Thanks for covering Hersheypark, I rarely ever see South Central Pa talked about!

[@KingKuuga]

I was just at Hershey Chocolate World for the first time last week so it's very surreal that this video came out now. I remember thinking it was very.... odd. Trying to be a little bit disney with the singing cows, and then the whole pseudo-chocolate factory thing they got going on where it's clearly not a real factory so it's just weird enough to be noticeable. I shouldn't be surprised to know it used to be even more tactless. Great video!

[@tabby5228]

I remember going on this ride repeatedly with my cousins when we were kids because we weren’t going to the park next door, it was free and at the end of the ride, you would get a piece of candy.

[@thattailsguy8142]

I rode this when I went to Hershey in 2015. I remember enjoying most of it, but those animatronic singing cows still haunt me to this day.

[@VSpoodle]

This was a good ride and one of the best gift shops I've ever been in.

[@tarabrianne3589]

This is so nostalgic to me, I've grown up with this ride and seeing all of the changes even just throughout my lifetime has been awesome! I never saw footage of even older ride iterations before, it's so cool to see how the ride has evolved yet also stayed relatively similar. The ride also smells AMAZING, one of my favorite scents ever to be honest. And the best part is that it's completely free, and you get a free chocolate sample at the end!! Definitely a must-do experience every time I'm out in Hershey!

[@SooperEggs]

Glad you were able to make great use of the old archival footage of the ride that I posted. A bit disappointed though that you didn't cover the brief Robot refurb (my fav when I was a kid), or the hidden crock pot that's used to create the smell of chocolate wafting through the ride. There is 1980s footage of the robot version on youtube, if it ever goes down I'll preserve it.

[@pinoarias8601]

As an ecuadorian I am at least pleasantly surprised that they included us by name, even showcasing one of our volcanoes.

[@KyleSinclair]

Your channel slowly crept its way into my recommended feed and has become a mainstay. I LOVE these deep-dives into other parks as well as your commentary on Disney and Universal. Your scripts and delivery are also on-point, sharing information dispassionately and making it clear when something is just your opinion rather than fact. This displays an intellectual humility that I respect in the reactionary world of algorithm-chasing. I look forward to your posts.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I'm not quite sure if you're being sarcastic or not. I titled this video in such a way as to catch the algorithm. I never try to produce click-bait, but I do have to play the system.

[@KyleSinclair]

@@PoseidonEntertainment 100% genuine. I appreciate your work. And I know that every creator has to play the game, but I think you do it in a way that respects your audience.

[@katieshinkle9005]

this ride was my entire childhood and no ride will ever trigger as much nostalgia for me as the warm roasting tunnel or the piped-in chocolate scent 🥹

[@CoolExcite]

Used to pass by chocolate world every day on the drive to my university. I'd carpool with some friends and one time we convinced each other to spend 20 minutes riding it just for the free sample at the end. Worth it

[@onyourleft5648]

I remember riding it and not thinking much of it but, the day stuck out as I loved theme parks as a kid and went to quite a few. However, when I watched the South Park episode on smoking as a teen and kinda disagreeing with the ‘death sticks are ok to sell, and anti-smokers are assholes narrative’ stuff. But what was so eery to me was is I got the same vibe from the factory tour song that was given to the kids in the show to the vibe of that Hershey ride has. From the product they sell being extremely bad for the consumer, the cheery family friendly vibe using animated bad child-targeted mascots. When you look into the research of how bad processed sugar and how addicting it is the comparison holds more water than one would think. I was very obese as a kid and teen that grew into healthier habits and ruminations like these were what helped me stop thinking of chocolate and other sweets as ok things to consume on any regular basis and helped in my journey towards a healthier body, and healthier relationship to food. Nice vid pretty standard for you always delivering informative content! Only thing to note, to avoid being ‘clickbait’ one must properly explain the thesis statement that the title implies. While you motion towards how it’s dystopian sounding, you assume too much from a reader imho. Something that notes the below information in short section so that when you mentioned them later in the video as part of the ride the watcher of your video can see how your argument flows: “… a free ride which propagandizes the rider with neat factoids about chocolate and the making process of it, while slipping in notable falsehoods, misleading phrasing, and purposeful omission that creates a much cleaner, nicer and false image of chocolate as a substance that effects the human body, and the working conditions of factory workers and cacao harvesters…” This note is only so your argument is clearer from the start, in no way negative!

[@FeebleSaturn3]

I grew up in the area and used to visit Hershey/Hersheypark area at least twice a year from like 1996-2011. I remembered how the interior was covered in foresty plants inside, but never put 2 and 2 together that it was supposed to be like a village where cocoa beans were farmed, I always just thought it was an odd choice to break up the floor layout haha! Also, of all the iterations and re-doings of the "tour" ride, I haaaate the new one with all the stupid screens. I miss the mid-2000s version, the one before they completely redid it and added those animatronic cows (only 3 to start then they added more and other animals too). I miss the dark room at the end too where there was like a disco ball spinning and it showed various cities around the world (and an image of a dancing Elvis circled around the room for some reason) while their little theme song played.

[@ashleighnichole8197]

Chocolate World was actually my very first job when I was 15(around 2003/4). Then I worked at Hershey Park till a little after I was 18. A lot of people don't realize that the two are completely different companies. I agree that Chocolate World is propaganda 100%... But it is nice to live near by due to it being free. My kids loved riding that damn ride over and over. I do definitely recommend the trolley ride. It is actually super cool and worth the money! We moved out of the area a few years ago and our home parks are Six Flags Great Adventure and Dorney Park. Awesome video, as usual!!!

[@jasminekostenbader306]

This ride is so nostalgic to me that I sang the song before you even played it. Thank you for this in-depth look without completely trashing this very weird ride haha

[@opo3628]

This is an interesting educational piece...it didn't need the clickbait title and thumbnail.

[@brianblumenreich9026]

HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE RIDE is a great dark ride!!! One of my favorites!!!

[@stinky59]

Ah man I remember this, i saw it once as a kid it would’ve been like 2007 or something, so it would have been the 2004 update that i experienced! we drove through Pennsylvania on some long trip i don’t remember the full details of and stopped at hershey park. this ride was the only thing we did though. because my parents didn’t want to pay for park tickets, since i was too small to ride all of the coasters and my dad was under the impression you needed to ride EVERY RIDE if you got a ticket? i remember being super disappointed but whatever lol. i ended up thinking this ride was a little bit boring but at least i got to go on a ride at all, and i liked the free chocolate at the end haha. the 2016 version actually looks good tbh! it’s pretty decent for a smaller park’s dark ride, the animatronic characters, especially the cows are actually pretty cute and nice looking! it can be difficult for lower budget rides to get animated character figures which arent creepy so actually kudos for that. i also like the wide variety of props/scenery and the relatively small amount of screens lol. no opinion on the actual idea of the ride itself, just typical corporate marketing nonsense tbh. but i can appreciate decent theming when i see it so good job on that hershey

[@Mrrbigg]

I love this channel! Keep up the amazing work! THANK YOU!

[@dec0mposiex]

I feel the sudden need to incorporate something like this into one of my throw away dystopian novel ideas

[@MSmithNYC]

I agree with just about every comment here - the Hershey's Chocolate World ride isn't dystopian at all. The Chocolate World ride is a fun, family friendly ride that shows the process of making chocolate and they even give you a free chocolate bar at the end. You must have had a dystopian childhood. I almost never dislike videos but this one has earned it.

[@animefanE26]

As someone who goes to Milton hershey school I find it cool to see people talking about Hershey's amusement rides lol

[@LaLaLaLaNom]

Personally I think the concept of ‘Chocolate brings people together’ is actually a think that is absolutely true! My father and I still to this day bond over our love for chocolate and go out of our way to visit ‘gormet’ chocolatiers, and I also have friends with whom chocolate is also something we bond over. While I wish that thing wasn’t commercialized like it is, I defdjnitly believe it’s true.