A white, red and blue sign says "Hershey Chocolate Tour" and has an arrow pointing downward

Visiting Hershey’s Chocolate World in a Wheelchair

As a self-declared chocoholic, it would be a crime for me to not visit one of the biggest chocolate destinations in the United States… Hershey’s Chocolate World. Located next to Hershey Amusement Park, this place is a chocolate lovers paradise. I wondered however, how would it be to visit Hershey’s Chocolate World in a wheelchair?

Visiting Hershey’s Chocolate World in a Wheelchair

Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do at Hershey’s Chocolate World

There are several things to do at the Chocolate World, such as take a tour on how chocolate is made, watch a 4-D movie, make your own chocolate bar, take a trolley tour and do a chocolate tasting. In addition to all of these activities, there is also an enormous gift shop that features flavors and candy not available anywhere else. When I visited, I decided to do the chocolate tour (which is free) and the chocolate tasting. Both of which are very accessible.

a sign that says, "Hershey's Chocolate Tour" in white and red lettering. The sign hangs over a door on a brick building

The tour has a special accessible entrance and a staff person will push you across a moving platform to your tour vehicle. The specially adapted vehicles will have a ramp to get in and a large space in the front for a wheelchair (along with a seat in the back for any able-bodied people you may be travelling with). During your ride, you will learn all about how chocolate is made with fun characters narrating the tour. At the end, you’ll get a free fun-sized Hershey bar!

Hershey's characters made from a Reese's bar, a Hershey bar, and a chocolate kiss.

The chocolate tasting is part performance and part experience. You will be guided into a room that contains a small stage where your instructor will begin the lesson. There are accessible wheelchair spots in the front two rows. I won’t ruin the performance, but essentially, they talk about the different flavor components that make up various flavors of chocolate. It was a cute and entertaining performance and hey we got to eat chocolate so who can complain?

Although I didn’t do the make your own candy bar experience, I was told by staff that it is wheelchair accessible. The trolley is not wheelchair accessible (you have to be able to climb the steps to get in) but as an alternative, if you arrange it ahead of time, they will have a tour guide ride in your vehicle with you and give you the tour that way.

The whole building is flat and very accessible, with handicap parking and restrooms available. The primary issue you will run into is the crowds. I suggest arriving as early as you can to try to get a head start. It’s easy to spend as much or as little time as you want here so plan according to what you want to do. I spent about three hours doing the tour, the chocolate tasting experience and a little shopping.

If you are a fan of chocolate, you should definitely consider stopping here if you are in the area. Visiting Hershey’s Chocolate World in a wheelchair is very possible and easy. I can’t imagine a more indulgent way to spend a couple of hours while you’re travelling.

I'm Kristin and I was born with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy, which impacts my mobility and breathing. Despite this challenge, I have travelled across the United States and abroad and want to share my accessible travel information with others.