We just returned from our visit to Dutch Wonderland. Located in Lancaster, PA, the park is only a couple hours from our home in New York. We had heard that Dutch Wonderland is good for young kids so we decided to head there straight from our larger family vacation at the New Jersey shore.
Everything we heard was right. Dutch Wonderland is totally worth the trip, especially if you live in the North East!
From taking a walk through time at the Prehistoric Path to steering our own cars on the Turnpike, we had so much fun.
There are so many reasons Dutch Wonderland is the perfect amusement park for young families.
[If you already know how great Dutch Wonderland is, click here to be directed straight to discounted Dutch Wonderland tickets.
Preview Night
Have you heard of Dutch Wonderland’s preview option? Dutch Wonderland allows ticket holders to visit the park for the last three hours of the evening before their full-day visit.
First-time visitors, like ourselves, can use the bonus hours to get a lay of the land and plan how they want to spend the following day. Veteran guests can simply score more time at their favorite attractions.
Because of our late arrival to Lancaster, we were only able to take advantage of the last 45 minutes of our preview night. I imagined the rides would begin turning us away a few minutes before closing. But to our surprise, the operators happily allowed us to board until the very last minute of the park’s opening. The same was true the following evening.
Convenient (and Sparkling) Rider Height System
Outside the castle entrance stands a helpful chart to measure your child. The chart creatively designates your child’s height by gemstone and is adorned with sparkling faux stones. Colton was emerald and Tighe was aquamarine.
The height charts are clearly positioned in front of each ride. I loved how large the charts were. Their size made it easy for us to check the height requirement from a distance before asking our boys if they were interested in riding.
Rides For The Whole Family
One of my favorite things about Dutch Wonderland is how many rides we were able to go on as a family. Our family loves carnivals because of all the kiddy rides. But we learned this summer that while Colton is happy to ride by himself, Tighe is not.
Dutch Wonderland has a bunch of rides for kids and parents. Without a doubt, this made our visit more enjoyable!
Our favorite family rides were:
- Balloon Chase
- Wonderland Special
- Off-Road Rally
- Monorail
- Turnpike
- Gondola Cruise
Balloon Chase 
Off-Road Rally 
Off-Road Rally 
Wonderland Special
Variety of Amusements
My husband and I kept saying that Dutch Wonderland is so great because it has something for everyone.
Featuring over 35 rides, Duke’s Lagoon water play area, live performances, the Prehistoric Path, carnival-like games, character breakfasts, Royal Friends meet and greets, and 20 places to grab a bite, there is no doubt that every member of the family will find something to enjoy.
Claw Game 
Dino Dig 
Skee-ball
Family-Friendly Accommodations
As it is, life with little kids can be stressful. Add hot sun, missed naps, over-excited children, and things can get even more overwhelming. But thankfully, Dutch Wonderland is well-versed in the challenges that may arise from spending a day at the amusement park with young kids.
These are some of the not-so-little accommodations Dutch Wonderland offers to make the day more enjoyable:
- Child-height toilet and sink in restroom
- Mother’s Nursing Station equipped with rocking chairs, privacy curtains, sink and changing table
- Convenient vertical water re-filling station
- Awnings and fans over ride lines
- Stroller-friendly grounds and stroller parking near each ride
- Ample shady areas and benches
- Largely smoke-free grounds
Convenient water refill stations 
Awnings and fans over ride lines 
Nursing Mother’s Station for those who prefer a quiet or private setting
Rides That Showcase The Park
A few of the rides we enjoyed served as mini-“tours” of the park. These had tracks that navigated around other attractions which provided views of the park that we had not yet discovered.
Some of the rides that showcase the Dutch Wonderland grounds and attractions are:
- Wonderland Special (Train)
- Monorail
- Gondola Cruise
- Turnpike
- Sky Ride
Food Around Every Corner
With so much to do, guests are bound to work up an appetite. As such, Dutch Wonderland offers several dining options from snack stands, like Dippin’ Dots, to full-service spots like Merlin’s Restaurant.
In addition to classic amusement park food, we were able to order fresh paninis from Bean Sprouts at the Mill Stream Eatery, which serves healthy meal options for kids and adults.
Guests are welcome to bring one water bottle per person but outside food is not permitted in the castle walls. I am used to packing snacks for the boys to hand out quickly. So admittedly, it would have been nice to be able to bring some of our own food into the park.
However, it was not a big deal and we were very happy with all of the food we purchased. That being said, if guests prefer to pack their own lunch and snacks, a large, shaded picnic area is conveniently provided just outside the castle doors.
Mill Stream Eatery 
Bean Spouts offers healthy meal options
The Perfect Size for Families
At 43 acres, Dutch Wonderland is the perfect size amusement park for young families. We found this to be the case because it is not too small to get bored nor too large to be overwhelming. Guests can cover a lot of ground in one day but can just as easily entertain themselves for multiple days.
Even in the height of the summer season we only had to wait on two lines. Additionally, the park was not over stimulating or noisy.
Family Favorites
Dutch Wonderland has so much to offer and our family had a few favorites:
- Prehistoric Path
- Aside from the fact that Colton is obsessed with dinosaurs, the Prehistoric Path is very impressive. The dinos are life-like and the attraction feels as though you are truly in the Jurassic Period.
- Off-Road Rally
- The boys love trucks so it is no surprise that we rode this monster-truck attraction multiple times.
- Duke’s Dozers
- Little boys get to ride pint-size bull dozers, need I say more?
- Turnpike
- The ride allows guests to “drive” a car around the park (anyone notice a theme, here? #boymom)
Dino hatching! 
Prehistoric Path 
Triceratops encounter 
Duke’s Diggers 
Turnpike
Until Next Time…
With 43 acres of family amusements, Dutch Wonderland has so much to offer that we are already thinking about our next visit.
Here are a few of the things we look forward to experiencing in the future:
- Sky Ride
- Offers a scenic route of the park from above!
- Duke’s Lagoon water play area
- Duke’s Lagoon includes a toddler area and multi-level play platform as well as kid-sized slides.
- Old Mill Stream Campground
- The Old Mill Stream Campground offers modern camping amenities steps from the Dutch Wonderland castle doors.
- Merlin’s Mayhem
- Introduced in 2018, it is Dutch Wonderland’s first suspended roller coaster. The new coaster takes guests through an enchanted journey in search of Merlin’s new dragon friend, Mayhem, who has flown into the park.
Merlin’s Mayhem 
Sky Ride during sunset
See For Yourself
After exploring Dutch Wonderland, it is no surprise that it has repeatedly been voted “One of the Top 5 Best Kids’ Parks in the World” by Amusement Today magazine.
If you are looking for a little family getaway or a great amusement park for young kids, Dutch Wonderland is absolutely worth a visit.
Dutch Wonderland Discount
You can save $5 off each ticket by using this link for discounted Dutch Wonderland tickets or using the promo code summerblog19.( The promo code is valid until the end of their summer season on 10/13/19).
[We were not compensated for this post and do not receive any commission when you purchase tickets using the coupon code or discount link. We did receive complimentary tickets in exchange for sharing our experience. We paid for our expenses inside the park. All opinions are our own.]
