We recently took a family trip to Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. We’d always been curious to give it a try and decided this would be a perfect time to go. We wanted to make sure to go before the kids got too much older since it’s really set up to be more accessible than the typical amusement park for younger kids. We enjoyed going to Hershey Park last year but thought this might be a good option until the kids get a little older.
Accessibility
Beyond having more rides that younger / smaller kids can ride, Dutch Wonderland n general is very accessible for people with disabilities. There is an option for preferred parking to give you the option to park closer to the front of the park. You can also register with Guest Services (inside the castle at the entry) and will give your child and two accompanying guests priority access to rides.
Main Park
There were so many great rides to explore for both of the kids. There were the more thrilling roller coasters — two of which were for the bigger kids and another (the Joust family coaster) which could be enjoyed by the entire family.
They also had some simple shows you could catch thoughout the day. Their Celebration Theater hosts several, including Dutch Wonderful Day with Princess Brooke to kick off the day and A Royal Fiasco, a show about the Princess planning the Royal Ball. The shows are relatively short and low key — and you can either sit in their seats in the theater or stroll up in the back and keep the kids in their strollers.
They also have several shows in addition to open dive at their aqua theater. We saw The Fantastical Flute while we were there, which told the story of Prince Emilio as he hosts an exuberant festival as he tries to discover who can play the mysterious flute.
They also have The Adventures of the Frog Prince, an updated take on the story of the Frog Prince, and A Dragon’s Tale, featuring dragons, kings and, of course, divers.
Water Park
We usually forget to bring clothes for the waterpark area so I was pretty proud of myself for remembering! We brought closed toe water shoes, which could double as shoes for the entire day since they would stay on even for the rides where your feet dangle. There was one water ride in the main park area, Double Splash Flume, which offered a bit of splash without a full drench. For the latter, Duke’s Lagoon is the way to go.
Duke’s Lagoon is open from May 28 through September 5. There is a large open area with lots of structures, some interactive, streaming water for the kids to run through. It is also home to the most thrilling water attraction, Pipeline Plunge which has two slides you can choose to go through, one of which is in the dark. We skipped this one because we thought it would be too much for the kids.
Holiday Fun
Dutch Wonderland isn’t just somewhere to go during the summer months. They also have fun ways for you to enjoy the park into fall and winter.
Happy Hauntings
Saturdays and Sundays from October 1 through 30 sound like a fun time to be at Dutch Wonderland! Your admission includes their Trick-or-Treat Trail: a safe, interactive trick-or-treating experience. There are themed rides, shows and treats!
Winter Wonderland
The fun doesn’t end when the temperatures drop. The park takes a different approach beginning on November 19th with the park and its rides all decorated for the holidays!
Dutch Wonderland – 2249 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA – 1-866-FUNatDW
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