Hi there- looking for advice on Dutch Wonderland. We have a 2.5 year old (who is almost 36" tall!) and are looking for a fun day out. I've never been to Dutch Wonderland, my husband went as a kid but can't remember much about it. Any advice about going to the park with a toddler is appreciated.
I am the president of the PTA of a daycare here in Sanatoga and every year we do a trip to Dutch Wonderland. My daughter first went when she was 3 years old. There was a lot for her to do. And it was a lot of fun. There is a water park there. Not a big water park but something fun for the kids to cool off and the parents to catch a break. However that part of the park gets packed. We really didn't have to wait long for any rides.
My advice on Dutch wonderland with any age, is go to the water area first. Play in the water area, there is a changing room and locker room there so you can change and then do the 'dry' rides. The water area by the end of the day is sooooo busy, so if you go first, its manageable. The website says no outside food allowed and they do check your bag as a formality, but i always bring in a few granola bars because my kids need to have a snack. Dutch Wonderland is perfect for your childs age and they do allow parents on the rides. You will have a great time!
I took my daughter last month and she had a blast! We met my mom, sister and my 3 nephews/niece there, so that helped, as my daughter enjoyed going on the rides with them. She's very adventurous and not afraid of anything, so I even rode with her on the log flume! I did take a small cooler with water bottles and juice box and a few snacks, but they really only allow you to bring in one drink per person. Plan to arrive when they open. We stayed all day till about 4 when my daughter was exhausted. She fell asleep before we were out of the parking lot. I also recommend going during the week as opposed to a weekend, its less busy.
We just took our 3.5 year old this summer. He (and therefore we) LOVED Dutch Wonderland! He could go on almost every ride either alone or with a parent. The food options were decent for an amusement park. There were "healthier" options which I definitely appreciated. I did see a lot of children younger than my son as well, so I would imagine that 2.5 would be a great age for it as well.
Have Fun!
I took my daughter about two months ago (she just turned 2 1/2 last week). She had A BLAST!!! I loved going as a kid myself and couldn't wait to take her! I didn't time it well with her nap, but she didn't complain at all. She LOVED the big slide (go down on a potato sack) and a few others. She tried some and ended up not liking them - a bit scared I think, but she would try anything. I think over time, and repeat visits, she'll warm up to the other ones. There were plenty of things for her to do (she too was about 36 inches).
It was actually the first time she ate a hot dog in the bun too!
They have shows that my daughter likes as well - Thomas the Train and some prince/princess storytimes. We even caught the diving show (complete with princess, frog princes, and LOTS of big splashes). It was GREAT TIME!!!! I bet you will love it as well!
We went last summer with my daughter who was just shy of 3 years old. I would suggest double checking the height requirement to see what rides your toddler can go on alone (many rides you can go on too). My daughter is very small for her age and she was about 33inches and she was able to go on rides. It was definitely worth it! It was clean and cheaper than most amusement parks. I would recommend it. It also has a water park, but we didn't go there.
We just went a couple weeks ago with my two kids (almost 2 years old and 5 years old). We had a blast. The little one loved going on rides with us or with his brother. And there were plenty of rides that he could do with either. The big slides that you go down on the burlap sacks was probably his favorite. He rode between me or my husband's legs and each time we got to the bottom it was "MORE, MORE!".
I would recommend going to the water area earlier in the day, because it's not a very big space and it gets pretty croweded as the day progresses. My little one would have stayed in the area with the little (two-steps high) water slides and fountains all day if my big one didn't want to move on.
A friend of mine just took her 2 yr old son who is probably close to 36" tall. They spent a couple of hours there and had a blast. I really didn't ask her many details, but she would've told me if it was a diaster. As far as height requirements and ride options, I'm sure they have them listed on their web site. Good Luck! I plan on going next year when my youngest is 2.5!
