Dutch Wonderland this weekend- what to expect

[Anonymous]

DW, DH and 3 yr DS going for the first time what should we expect? We're going on Saturday and wondering how crowded it gets, and the weather is suppose to be awesome. We have overnight accomodations (Marriot) and bought our tickets online with a coupon.

[Anonymous]

We were there a couple weeks ago on a Monday. It wasn't too busy but I imagine a Saturday may be more crowded. My best piece of advise, which goes for all amusement parks, is to get there as soon as you can when it opens.

- A couple more things - not sure how it works with online tickets, but if you buy tickets there the day before after 5:30 you can do a "preview" the night before. i.e., we went Sunday at 5:30 pm and were able to go to the park from then until closing then went back all day Monday
- my 3 yo is right at 36 inches which is the minimum for many of the rides. Someone there recommended going to guest services and having them "officially" measure him - they gave him a green bracelet which meant that he didn't have to be measured at each ride.

Have fun. My 3 yo loved it, especially the water park.

[Anonymous]

that you will see us there

We go frequently, we have annual passes, and are also planning to go tomorrow.

This summer thus far we have not found it crowded. The quietest hours definitely are the hours right after opening, 10-12, and the evening hours-- really anytime after 5:30.

The food in the park is very expensive, and not very good. We personally think that Noble Roman's pizza is the best food in the park.
Merlin's restaurant, which is a sit down restaurant, has essentially the same prices for equivalent things as the counter service restaurants. If you are getting hot, it can be a nice break. It can be rather slow.

Many people (including unfortunately my children) love Duke's Lagoon. I personally find it extraordinarily stressful. It is all splashing and small water slides. It is well guarded, so I don't worry about my kids drowning safety, but it is hard to keep track of them.

Some rides- like the train at the front of the park, and some of the boats, tend to have long lines b/c they are slow to load. I would not do the train first, b/c so many people do-- its line will shorten as the day goes on.

If your child gets on a ride and starts crying the operator will stop the ride and let them off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:that you will see us there

We go frequently, we have annual passes, and are also planning to go tomorrow.

This summer thus far we have not found it crowded. The quietest hours definitely are the hours right after opening, 10-12, and the evening hours-- really anytime after 5:30.

The food in the park is very expensive, and not very good. We personally think that Noble Roman's pizza is the best food in the park.
Merlin's restaurant, which is a sit down restaurant, has essentially the same prices for equivalent things as the counter service restaurants. If you are getting hot, it can be a nice break. It can be rather slow.

Many people (including unfortunately my children) love Duke's Lagoon. I personally find it extraordinarily stressful. It is all splashing and small water slides. It is well guarded, so I don't worry about my kids drowning safety, but it is hard to keep track of them.

Some rides- like the train at the front of the park, and some of the boats, tend to have long lines b/c they are slow to load. I would not do the train first, b/c so many people do-- its line will shorten as the day goes on.

If your child gets on a ride and starts crying the operator will stop the ride and let them off.

How long does it take to get there?

[Anonymous]

2hrs and 15 mins from Arlington if you can avoid having to stop to let anyone use the bathroom.

[Anonymous]

It's fun! Pace yourself, bring a lunch you enjoy. Water is FREE...so just ask for ice water!
Do not ever stay across the street at the Host hotel. It's got a creepy The Shining vibe to it. And it's dank.

[Anonymous]

We went last year with our then 6 and 4 year olds. We were surprised and a little annoyed to discover our 4 year old refused to go on any of the rides, even the mild baby bulldozer rides, the merry-go-round etc. She was scared to get on! One of us ended up playing with her at the swan boat playground by the giant slide or going to get her a soft pretzel while her sister rode the putt putt cars with Dad. You can feed the fish at the pond where they have model boats, and there is a nice creek that circles the park where you can feed the ducks and look at the water.
I would agree that the food there looked meh. We had a nice late lunch at the Iron Hill Brewery in Lancaster before doing the late entry ticket. I was able to go back and use the tickets with my older kid on another weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Many people (including unfortunately my children) love Duke's Lagoon. I personally find it extraordinarily stressful. It is all splashing and small water slides. It is well guarded, so I don't worry about my kids drowning safety, but it is hard to keep track of them.

This is PP who mentioned that my kid loved the water park. I'd agree with this. My kid (almost 3) was running around like a crazy man and it was hard to keep an eye on him. I have no advice though. Depending on how much of a hoverer you are, you may need to sort of follow him around. I wanted to just sit and relax while watching him but it was tough.

[Anonymous]

Our kids just got hand foot & mouth disease from there a few weeks ago...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids just got hand foot & mouth disease from there a few weeks ago...

Responses such as these are so ridiculous. You have no way of knowing where your kid was exposed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids just got hand foot & mouth disease from there a few weeks ago... [/quote

Good, now they're immune for the rest of their lives from that strain.

[Anonymous]

My daughter has been there twice. We first took her when she was 21 months old and she had a blast. I can't even remember the second time b/c I just had a 2nd baby and my brain is turning to mush. It's pretty good for parents w/ young kids and it's close enough to DC that you can do it in a day which we did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DW, DH and 3 yr DS going for the first time what should we expect? We're going on Saturday and wondering how crowded it gets, and the weather is suppose to be awesome. We have overnight accomodations (Marriot) and bought our tickets online with a coupon.

Which Marriott? The Marriott in downtown Lancaster has bedbugs FYI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DW, DH and 3 yr DS going for the first time what should we expect? We're going on Saturday and wondering how crowded it gets, and the weather is suppose to be awesome. We have overnight accomodations (Marriot) and bought our tickets online with a coupon.

Which Marriott? The Marriott in downtown Lancaster has bedbugs FYI.

Oh good lord people

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids just got hand foot & mouth disease from there a few weeks ago...

Responses such as these are so ridiculous. You have no way of knowing where your kid was exposed.

I am pretty sure my kid caught a bug there too - possibly HFM. We were there on a Monday of a week his daycare was closed and he was sick by about Thursday. Wouldn't stop me from going back but I do think it is a bit of a germ factory.