This post was made possible by Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom who provided us with passes at no charge. We appreciate their support of Jersey Family Fun that allows us to share with families information about amusement parks we think families will enjoy.

 

 

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom: A Great Destination for the Whole Family

 

My family and I recently had the opportunity to visit Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, an amusement park I hadn’t visited since I was a child myself. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much of the park is now dedicated to the family experience. While the park still boasts several of the most state-of-the-art thrill rides around, they also have a huge children’s area, called Planet Snoopy, as well as several kids attractions in the waterpark. As a mom of a 19 month old, a 5 year old, and a daredevil of a 6 year old, this made Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom an ideal park for my family.

 

 

The day we visited the Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, we knew it was going to be a hot one! We arrived when the park opened at 10 am, and headed straight for one of the most popular coasters, Steel Force, knowing that the line to ride it would grow longer throughout the day. My 6 year old was just tall enough to get on, and enjoyed the ride with my husband.

 

 

Next, we visited Planet Snoopy so the younger kids could get in a ride or two before it got too hot. After visiting Woodstock for a photo op in the character spot, they both enjoyed riding the Camp Bus and Peanuts Road Rally. Lines in the Planet Snoopy area were very reasonable, only waiting a few minutes for each ride.

 

It was Kids Fest when we visited, so there were special shows and activities in Planet Snoopy throughout the day, as well as community organizations that were set up to talk with the children and even hand out goodies like coloring books, and badges. By this time, it was getting HOT! We decided to head over to Wildwater Kingdom to cool off! The water park entrance was located just inside the main park entrance, making it a convenient spot to visit throughout the day. We splashed in both of the park’s wave pools, as well as the Lazy River. There were several tube slides and body slides as well as splash pad areas for the younger visitors. After cooling off, we were back to the dry rides for a few more thrills before calling it a day.

 

 

My kids were all disappointed to leave, but we assured them that we would be back again soon!

 

Some things to know before you go to Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom…

• As with all amusement parks, I recommend checking height requirements before you visit. This will give you an idea of which rides will be appropriate for which children in your party. For me, it helps avoid disappointment when I know ahead of time which rides my oldest will be able to ride, so she doesn’t get too excited over rides she might be too small for.

 

• Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom does not allow coolers to be brought into the park. This is a challenge for me because my middle child is a very picky eater. I always try to check restaurant menus for places like this to see where they might have something she will eat, so we can avoid the battle when mealtime comes. Another good idea for picky eaters is to pack something they will eat that does not require refrigeration. For us, granola bars, fruit snacks, and peanut butter crackers always save the day.

 

• The water park entrance is located right inside the main entrance of the park, so on a hot day, I recommend wearing your bathing suit under your clothes, for easier access back into the water when it gets hot! We were able to pop back into the water park twice to cool off. Dorney Park does require guests to wear shoes and shorts in the amusement side of the property, so a bathing suit and a coverup was the best solution for us. Also, remember the water park closes earlier than the amusement park, so plan accordingly.

 

• Toward the back of the park is a new exhibit called Dinosaurs Alive, which is not included in regular park admission. It is $5 per person, and the hours are not the same as the regular park hours, so if this is something you’ll want to check out, make sure to check the website for hours.

 

 

View more of our Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom photos in our Facebook album. Here’s a preview.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153746522655745.1073742407.71658875744&type=1&l=56922173f8

 

To arrange a feature on your location contact Jennifer Auer, Jersey Family Fun publisher.

 

This post was made possible by Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom who provided us with passes at no charge. We appreciate their support of Jersey Family Fun that allows us to share with families information about amusement parks we think families will enjoy.