After reading other TA reviews we got our tickets online for first thing on a Tuesday morning. We walked across the street from our hotel a bit before it opened and were first in the doors.
We had a teen, an 8yo and a 14mo with us and planned to take our time; we did everything available minus the polar bear photo in about 2.5 hours. The staff were very friendly and helpful. My kids liked the surprise at the end of the 6min video when the whole wall lifted up to reveal the entrance to the rest of the building:)
Once inside the rotunda/main area, the staff outside the vault door said that was the best time to do the vault tour before they got busy so we did. Our boys actually had fun learning about the history, trying to write the logo on a touchscreen, playing the “farthest away” coke bottom game, and then at the end when you supposedly see the actual vault, a lady had our family and one other person step into the middle and closed the doors behind us and the room moved into a 360 theater! It was really neat for our baby who could finally crawl around safely as we watched the “video” all around us.
After the vault we weren’t quite sure the most efficient way to go as it isn’t really marked, and another friendly staff person gave us their recommendations which were spot on. So we walked to the other side of the rotunda (would’ve missed it if she didn’t suggest it) where we used digital screens to mix our own beverage. This isn’t the tasting part, but we each ended up making something different and took pics as suggested so later upstairs we could try our mixes. Weird but cool!
After that we did the scent room, our least favorite actually. It can be overwhelming for sensory-sensitive folks; our 8yo said it made him feel woozy and “off” for a while. Lots of people were there at that time so it was also getting more crowded.
There was a random little room with ads and things we walked through but wasn’t interesting lol, so we kept going to the elevator with our stroller upstairs. I think the tasting room is the only thing upstairs, if there was something else it wasn’t memorable! The floor wasn’t too sticky yet. We did discover that even though we were literally the first ones inside that day, not all the machines were 100% ready to go-
Like the first manzana I went to was pure syrup, and the other side of that same station was pure carbonation! Good grief. Some other reviews said the flavors were not from around the world, that’s not true- they ARE all labeled with their country of origin BUT they do not have COKE from other countries- I think maybe that’s what those reviewers expected? But wouldn’t that mean different recipes, when clearly the whole museum boasts just one secret recipe that they’re known for worldwide? The unique flavors from around the world that Coke sells or makes are beyond the original Coke flavor, that’s what you’re sampling. We were quite happy with the tasting room and enjoyed sharing reactions and opinions with other guests.
The gift shop does not have a penny press machine sadly, but they do sell a couple Coke medallions. Hubs and I collect pins and magnets on all our travels so we got those. The 8yo found a cool fake Coke can you can store secret small things in but was super excited to find it had a collectible polar bear stuffed inside! The teen wanted a glass bottle with a special Atlanta wrapper (he doesn’t want to drink the Coke).
Go early, ask for help often, and plan to take your time and rub elbows with fellow travelers. It was a fun time, just not sure it’s worth the price, hence the 4/5. Oh- we also planned to go back to the hotel to rest and have lunch before heading to the aquarium at 5, highly recommend building in a rest!! (: