A Day at Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park

Plan a trip to Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, PA, and learn packing tips for a day at an amusement park including a printable checklist!  

As many of you know today is our adoption gala! Woohoo!

This was a fun post that I wrote 2 summers ago (pre-covid) reviewing Dutch Wonderland – one of our local amusement parks.

My babies look so LITTLE!

If you have any plans to visit Lancaster County, PA and have little kids, then I highly recommend this park!

I never realized growing up that most people don’t live within an hour of world-class amusement parks let alone going to them multiple times a year. 

As a young kid my grandparents would take my brother and me to Dutch Wonderland every summer, and then when we outgrew those rides (mid elementary school) we started going to Hershey Park .

Fast forward to today, and I still end up at Hershey Park once a year.

Thanks to a fabulous friend (thanks @Karissa Davis!) our family got to enjoy a complimentary trip to Dutch Wonderland with Mom Mom, Pop Pop and Aunt Aubrey. 

It was the first I had been back to Dutch Wonderland in years, and I was pleasantly surprised at all it had to offer including a new water park!

 

A Day at Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park

Packing Tips

Amusement parks near us typically open their doors around 10am. 

Our method of packing revolves around being at the water park for the first half of the day and then changing into dry clothes for the second half and enjoying the rest of the park. 

We go to the park with our bathing suits on and a cover-up of some sort and comfortable flip-flops or sandals that can be worn to the water park but then taken on and off easily for rides later.

The key is to pack light. 

There are small lockers available for rent throughout the parks.

Our packing checklist is really simple.  Find a printable list below.

A Day at Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park

Locker Bag:

This is the bag you will stuff into a locker once you are there. 

Preferably try to find one centrally located where there is a changing room.

In the locker bag we pack 2 towels – one for the girls and one for the boys. 

You don’t need to shower after the water park, but the locker rooms give you plenty of space to dry off and change. 

It’s nice to bring a toiletry bag for deodorant, shampoo if you want to shower etc.

Lastly, a comfortable change of clothes for each person. 

Keep in mind you need to be able to sit on roller coasters in these clothes!!

A Day at Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park

Carry Bag:

This is basically the bag you carry with you throughout the park. 

At Hershey Park there are little cubbies at all the rides, but at Dutch Wonderland this just gets tossed to the side if you are riding with your kids. 

Also as a note Dutch Wonderland is very understanding about bringing snacks and water bottles into the park as this is a place for younger kids. 

Hershey Park, however, is very strict about what comes into the park, and I have never gotten away with a water bottle when checking in there. 

I just ask for tap water at the food stands.  #watershouldbefree

Sunscreen goes into this bag and then a ziploc bag for your phone and cash so it doesn’t get wet!!

A Day at Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park

Cooler:

When it is just Zach and I with friends, cousins etc we do not leave the park to eat a packed lunch.  We just grab food while we are there, but that adds up when it’s a family of 5! 

I grew up with my mom packing a picnic lunch for us and then we would leave the park to eat.  They will stamp your hand to leave, and then you show the stamp when you come back in.

Dutch Wonderland has a picnic pavilion outside of the park. 

If you are standing looking at the entrance it is to the right of the park.  We just left the cooler in the car, and then got it out for lunch. 

Much more cost effective than a lunch in the park for a family!

A Day at Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park

Off we go!  She rode most of the way there with her sunglasses upside down. 

Worn with confidence.  #mygirl

[wpvideo bOSj3juu]

The kids were telling Lily that there was water there, so Lily started a “Wawa” chant which she also did every day walking to the beach. 

This child.

Here we are!  Did you know you can also camp at Dutch Wonderland?  Check out their campground here!

For some reason, all 3 of my kids love wearing sunglasses. 

Like they actually ask me to wear them. 

Here you can see they are in their bathing suits with a dress or in Caleb’s case just a tank top.

I am honestly not sure if Caleb had more fun on the rides, or figuring out where we were on the map.

By the way, that double stroller there . . . my favorite. 

We have had it for 3 years, and I recommend it all the time. 

It is a Jeep Double Umbrella Stroller, and it has several storage pockets in the back, both seats recline, and there is a cup holder included as well as a rain jacket you can buy separately that covers the entire stroller.

When friends ask me for a double stroller recommendation this is it.  {UPDATE: two years loater we are STILL using this stroller. highly recommend}.

It folds up just like an umbrella stroller and doesn’t take up tons of room. 

I sold my bulky massive inline Graco double stroller within several months of owning it.  I just opted to carry my baby on my chest with a carrier and then used an umbrella stroller. 

This double stroller we can leave in the van, and it’s foot print is barely noticeable.  Highly recommend!

A Day at Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park

This was Lily’s first ride ever.  She was thrilled can you tell?!  She screamed for the entire minute before the ride started.  Then the ride started and she was fine.  Acted like it was no big deal. 

Gracie did a great job staying calm and talking to her.

So many fun rides!  Mommy and her favorite girls!!

Poppop and Caleb!

Aunt Aubrey and Lily girl!

Go Gracie!

My one attempt at a shot of the 3 of them before the water park. 

Lily could hear the water behind her which meant this pic was definitely not happening. 

Do you see Aubrey crouching behind them trying to hold Lily in place??  Haha.  #reallife

And finally the “wawa”!!

See those sandals?  They are Crocs and they are the best!  I had several moms at the water park ask me about them. 

They hold up so well, and I put them in the dishwasher on a quick cycle to wash them.  Find Lily’s here! 

I bought these this year for Caleb.  And they have super cute sandals for women as well. 

I have this white pair and this black pair (UpDATE: 2 years loater and still wearing these same Croc sandals)

The big kids found the water guns right away and their mission was to soak Zach and me.

Do you like how Zach is using me as a shield?  Such a gentleman.

She could have stayed here all day.

[wpvideo echYO0Rz]

So many fun water slides!

[wpvideo Wz01tCmG]

[wpvideo MiUFY5nP]

Go Lily!!  She LOVED the water park!!  The kids could have stayed here all day and been totally content.

But we wrapped it up, headed out for our picnic lunch, and then finished the day!

When your hair is so curly and you don’t need a hair tie.

Unfortunately we ended up having torrential rain for the better part of the afternoon and the only ride still operational was the bumper cars. 

We were there for probably an hour!   

Did you know that if it rains for one hour while you are at the park and you decide to leave they will give you complimentary tickets to come back another day? 

Just show them your receipt or the ticket stubs from when you entered.

Our cold and wet sad faces 🙁

On the bright side we had a ton of fun at the bumper cars without any lines.  Mommom and Caleb!

Aunt Aubrey and Gracie!

[wpvideo 0qk7M8Ey]

Poppop and Gracie.

Caleb giggled like a little girl on EVERY. SINGLE. RIDE.  It might have been my favorite thing about the day.

Well except for maybe the amazing food we got at the Lancaster Brewing Company afterward.

Caesar salad and amazing pork bbq sandwich with creme brulee for dessert.  YUM.  Find their menu here.

Such a fun day!!

Pin any of the images below for later to help plan your own trip to Dutch Wonderland!!