Dutch Wonderland Year-Round: Rides, Tips & What to Know

Within the charming city of Lancaster, PA, Dutch Wonderland offers a magical escape for families looking for year-round fun. This family-friendly amusement park is known for its fairy tale theme, 35 delightful attractions, and wild water park. But don’t let the water park fool you; Dutch Wonderland offers seasonal delights whenever you visit. 

No matter when you plan your adventure, jump into our guide to everything you need to know before you visit. We’ll break down the important stuff like pricing and hours and give you the scoop on how to have a fun family adventure. 

Dutch Wonderland: A family adventure  

Dutch Wonderland is particularly a theme park for kids from ages 4-13. While there are some rides for more adventurous thrill seekers, most rides and attractions cater to those in the younger audience. Beyond the rides, Dutch Wonderland offers a variety of interactive shows and entertaining characters. Some Dutch Wonderland entertainment includes: 

• High drive shows 

• Adventures of the Frog Prince – Dive show and storytelling  

• Bubba Bear & the Badland Band animatronic show 

• Storytime with royal friends 

• Bubble dance parties 

• Pop-up plays 

Overall, the park’s welcoming atmosphere and dedicated spaces for family relaxation ensure a memorable experience for visitors of all ages. This park is a great opportunity for a fun family outing or a playdate with friends. 

Address, hours, & admission

If you’re planning a visit, Dutch Wonderland’s address is 2249 Lincoln Hwy E, Lancaster, PA 17602. 

The hours of this amusement park will vary greatly based on when you visit. In summer, Dutch Wonderland amusement park is open 10am-6pm, while in fall (depending on holiday specials) it’s open 12pm-7pm. If you’re looking to visit the Dutch Wonderland Water Park, this attraction typically opens after Memorial Day. For full hours, visit their website for more details.  

Admission prices to Dutch Wonderland will vary based on when you visit and promotions and discounts. Typically, you can expect to pay anywhere from $35 – $40.  

Note that the Dutch Wonderland water park is included in ticket admission during the summer season only. Better yet, this amusement park offers a rainy-day guarantee where you get a free return ticket if the weather messes with your plans! For full details on pricing and discounts, visit their website. 

Season pass details  

If you’re interested in a Dutch Wonderland season pass, you’ll have the opportunity to choose between four pass levels. Each season pass level comes with its own set of perks. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect from each Dutch Wonderland season pass status: 

Bronze Level: Allows you to have unlimited admission to Dutch Wonderland during the summer season.  

Silver Level: Unlimited admission during the summer season and the Eggcellent Easter Celebration, a 10% discount on food and lodging, admission to exclusive pass-holder events, and one free “bring a friend” opportunity. 

Gold Level: Unlimited admission during the summer season and all seasonal events including Dutch Winter Wonderland. A 15% discount on food and lodging, free general parking, and two free “bring a friend” opportunities. 

Platinum Level: Unlimited admission during the summer season and all seasonal events including Dutch Winter Wonderland. A 20% discount on food and lodging, free premium parking, three free “bring a friend” opportunities, a free souvenir cup with free refills, and unlimited admission to all US Palace Entertainment Parks. 

The specific cost for each tier may fluctuate depending on promotional offers and the time of year; be sure to check the Dutch Wonderland website for more details. 

Rides

This Lancaster PA amusement park boasts an array of rides that cater to children of all ages, making it a perfect destination for family fun. Here’s a look at what’s on the Dutch Wonderland map: 

Some of the most popular Dutch Wonderland rides include: 

• The Kingdom Coaster that offers a thrilling yet manageable experience for budding thrill-seekers. 

• Merlin’s Mayhem which features a suspended family roller coaster, features thrills, twists, and turns. 

• The Joust Family Coaster is a mini steel coaster that’s a moderate thrill. 

• The Sky Ride is a high-flying lift that takes you on a scenic route throughout the park. 

If you’re bringing little ones for a fun day at the park, don’t worry, there are intensity rides for them too. Some of the most kid-friendly Ditch Wonderland rides include: 

• The Wonderland Special – a magic train ride 

• Turnpike – motorized cars 

• Merry-Go-Round 

• Panda Party  

• Leaping Frogs 

Keep in mind that if you’re planning on visiting during seasonal events like Happy Hauntings or Dutch Winter Wonderland, some rides will not be available due to the weather.  

Dutch Wonderland Water Park  

Admission to Dutch Wonderland’s water park, Duke’s Lagoon, is included in summer admission prices. Duke’s Lagoon features multiple levels, slides, and interactive spray features that will keep you entertained for hours. Attractions include: 

• Pipeline Plunge! Featuring two large water slides 

• Splash pads 

• Kids playground with short slides  

• A dump bucket  

If you’re looking for an all-day stay at the water park, locker rentals are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Changing rooms and lockers are available near the Pipeline Plunge with additional lockers located at the front of the park. 

Food

Dutch Wonderland offers a variety of food choices for your cravings. While most dining options are your typical theme park food like french fries, pizza, and pretzels there are sit-down and quick-service locations to enjoy. 

A la carte and buffet options include: 

• Dragon’s Fire BBQ and Brews: Smoked pork sandwiches and BBQ. 

• Merlin’s Pizza & Pasta Buffet: Enjoy unlimited pizza and pasta! This location is exclusive to birthday parties and Dine with Duke events. Reservations are strongly encouraged. 

• Mill Stream Eatery: Offers personal flatbread pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, mashed potato bowls, salads, and gluten-free options available upon request. 

• Nathan’s Famous: Features hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, burgers, and their world-famous fries. 

• Penley’s Pub: A selection of beers, pretzel sandwiches, and giant pretzel creations! 

• Penley’s Paninis: Features fresh-made paninis, salads, and desserts. 

• Potato Patch: Fresh-cut fries, corn dog nuggets, & chicken tenders. 

• Sharky’s Grill: Open Labor Day through Memorial Day in Duke’s Lagoon, this dining option features chicken tenders, walking tacos, burgers, fries, churros, salads and ICEE. 

Snack options offered at Dutch Wonderland include: 

• Auntie Anne’s 

• Turkey Hill Ice Cream & Coffee Shoppe 

• The Snack Shack 

• Dippin’ Dots 

• Rita’s Italian Ice 

• Pineapple Whip Soft Serve 

• The Slush Shack 

• For more information, such as hours and additional offerings, visit here. 

How much time will I spend at Dutch Wonderland? 

The duration of your visit to Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster PA will depend on the activities you decide to engage in.  If you’re planning on tackling everything this Pennsylvania gem has to offer including the water park, you’re looking at anywhere from a 6-10 hour day of fun. This of course depends on wait times and family size. 

If you’re looking to cover everything, we recommend an overnight stay or splitting your experiences up over a weekend. 

Make it a weekend adventure: where to stay, things to do, and restaurants near Dutch Wonderland  

If you are planning on spending the whole weekend in Lancaster County, here are a few things we can help with to make your family adventure much easier to plan: 

Where to stay 

Connected to the park itself, Old Mill Stream Campground is a great place to stay if you’re coming from out of town in an RV. Those who choose to stay at the Dutch Wonderland Campgrounds get access to tent sites, partial hook-up and full hook-up sites, family cabins, restroom facilities, a laundromat, a playground area for children, and a country store. As a bonus for campground guests, Dutch Wonderland offers discounts on park tickets.  

Located directly on park grounds, the Cartoon Network Hotel offers tickets and early access to Dutch Wonderland, arcade access, indoor and outdoor pools, and character dining. 

If you’re looking to remove yourself completely from the parks at night for a more private experience, we recommend staying at one of Lancaster County’s charming bed and breakfasts. Complete with complimentary breakfasts, a quiet atmosphere, and spacious rooms, this is the way to go if you want to discover more from what Lancaster County has to offer (and it’s a lot).  

Things to do near Dutch Wonderland 

Make your stay in Lancaster more than just about the theme parks! Here are our favorite recommendations on things to do near Dutch Wonderland that are well worth the trip: 

• The Turkey Hill Experience: Take your family here to learn all about the art of ice cream and tea making! Create your own virtual ice cream flavor and bring it to life in the Turkey Hill Taste Lab.  

• The Lancaster Science Factory: Explore this interactive science center for kids Pre-K to 8th grade. Learn all about STEM and engage in a wide range of activities. 

• The Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery: Located just 24 minutes away from the theme park in Lititz, PA, take a tour of the original pretzel factory and learn how to make homemade pretzels! 

• Strasburg Railroad: Take an interactive ride on the country’s oldest continuously operating railroad! 

Restaurants near Dutch Wonderland  

• Lancaster Brewing Company Taproom & Grill 

• Huckleberry’s Restaurant & Tavern 

• Katie’s Kitchen 

• The Greenfield Restaurant & Bar 

• DJ’s Taste of the 50’s 

• Gracie’s On West Main 

Seasonal events

Dutch Wonderland is open just in the summer season, it’s open during fall and winter too! During the fall, Dutch Wonderland transforms into Happy Hauntings, a Halloween spectacular for the whole family! Featuring seasonal activities like a Halloween bubble bash, and spooky story time, this is an event you don’t want to miss! 

Happy Hauntings takes place on select days in September and October from 12pm – 8pm. 

In the winter, Dutch Winter Wonderland offers 20+ rides to enjoy and seasonal activities exclusive to this event. You can expect activities during Dutch Winter Wonderland to include an interactive light show, holiday scavenger hunt, holiday sing-a-long and more! 

Dutch Winter Wonderland is open on select days from November 18 to January 1, 2024. Dutch Winter Wonderland Hours are 4pm – 9pm on Fridays and 3pm – 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays.  

Additional tips for your visit  

Know before you go! Here are some of the tips we found the most helpful when visiting Dutch Wonderland: 

• Bring a change of clothes; there are three water rides and a full water park here! 

• Theme park food isn’t for everyone. Bring snacks for picky eaters to keep energy up on a long day. 

• There is a fee for parking. General parking is $20 while premium parking is extra and limited in space.  

• Bring comfortable shoes, there’s a lot of walking and 20+ rides to wait in line for. 

• There are height requirements for all rides. Be sure to do your research beforehand to make sure your kiddos are at the right height before you visit.  

• Bring water especially if you’re visiting in summer.  

• Locker rentals are available at Duke’s Lagoon or at the front of the park. If you’re planning on using a locker, be sure to get there ahead of time as locker space is limited. 

• Merlin’s Pizza & Pasta Buffet is exclusive to birthday parties and Dine with Duke events. If you’re not with a party, you’ll be unable to dine here. 

• Purchase your tickets online to save time and the online website often has discounts on tickets too. 

• If you have young children who can’t go on certain rides, take advantage of the Parent Swap program so both parents can enjoy the ride without waiting in line twice.