tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13912534211770685962024-03-21T10:49:29.405-07:00Do It All - DW!<center>Unofficial News, Fun and Photos from <b>Dutch Wonderland</b> in Lancaster, PA!</center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-62574639178703969442015-07-23T08:18:00.003-07:002015-07-23T08:18:57.426-07:00Parking Toll Plaza Nearing CompletionThe construction that has been taking place in Dutch Wonderland's parking lot is starting to take some shape and illustrate what their plans are.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It appears when you enter the property at the existing traffic light on Rt. 30 you will make an immediate right and proceed along this new road that will take you all the way around to an area near the campground enterance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This road will allow traffic to stack (off the highway) while people dig in their pockets to pay for parking for the first time in 53 years. The new road leads to a toll plaza, similar to what you would find at most major amusement parks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The individual toll boths carry out the park's castle theme and hopefully when they are finished, there will be plenty of colorful and welcoming signage to build visitor's anticipation for a day at the park. There is a separate lane for busses and campground use. It's not clear if Preferred Parking in front of the castle will continue to use the toll booth already in place near the Fudge Shop.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looks like there is still more work to be done.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-62585724710212167412015-07-15T11:14:00.002-07:002015-07-15T11:14:51.820-07:00Photo Update and Orangeade Refills - 7/14<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
A few pics and some fun stuff from around the park Tuesday. We arrived to a near empty park around 1:45pm. Later on, we discovered most of the people were at Duke's Lagoon!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqCtlLmIwgw3F6mAH0QppXJvOIlQHmOKzKkR4Zwh2svmrTwwdkyx5PZED18E1SZZB-cOqMnAVDW-3mu77HPjNhzEkxwZVJBu8D1XDdxkKH3LfcBcS6AX5SYruNFf07LU-i5UJebaUZ9my/s640/blogger-image--365662804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqCtlLmIwgw3F6mAH0QppXJvOIlQHmOKzKkR4Zwh2svmrTwwdkyx5PZED18E1SZZB-cOqMnAVDW-3mu77HPjNhzEkxwZVJBu8D1XDdxkKH3LfcBcS6AX5SYruNFf07LU-i5UJebaUZ9my/s640/blogger-image--365662804.jpg" /></a></div>
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The monorail has been out of service for about three weeks. Online photos showed a section of track missing near the unused station. Rumors were flying that the track was struck by a trash truck. I'm happy to report that the monorail loop is once again complete. When we were pulling into the parking lot there was a workman on a cherry picker doing some maintenance to the replaced section of track.</div>
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Inside the park, the monorail was parked just outside the station above the service garage. There were people working on it. It was kinda cool to see the monorail out on the line with it's doors open.</div>
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A park bench serves as a reminder that the ride is closed.</div>
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Later in the day I spotted several trains running empty except for the driver. Within in hour, the monorail was back up and running for guests. The Dutch Wonderland website still lists the monorail as temporarily closed, but it was certainly business as usual for the ride in the later part of the day.</div>
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The name of the park has returned to the iconic pretzel, although if we want to nit-pick the fonts used are wrong.</div>
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A few weeks ago, Exploration Island added a second Gem Mining location to the park. The island is now home to another activity apparently having to do with cracking open a Geode. (Is a Geode something that I should know what it is?) This new activity was covered up but later on I did see some employee training happening in the area. The Geode attraction is located between the Artifacts retail space and the Gondola Boat Ride. </div>
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The cast of Decades of Dutch Wonderland, this is a really good show. We noticed several parents in the audience tapping their feet and bobbing their heads. The show features popular music from the 1960's through the 90's.</div>
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While some of our group sat and enjoyed their Dole Whip Junction goodies while waiting for the show to start, I ventured up to the Nathan's stand in the front of the park. I had seen the Philadelphia Cream Cheese Frosting Funnel Cake pictured on Dutch Wonderland's Instagram account and have been wanting to try one. A sign at the shuttered Funnel Cake Factory stated that all the Funnel Cake products were now available at Nathan's. I don't know if this was a temporary situation or the beginning of something new for the Factory/Turnpike building. The girl working at the adjacent barn games didn't know the answer either.</div>
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Anyhow, the Cream Cheese Funnel Cake was amazing...and huge! They also filled up my souvenir cup with Nathan's World Famous Orangeade for only 99 cents. That's a great deal! I will certainly take them up on that deal again. (Hopefully that wasn't just an employee who didn't know the proper policy.) </div>
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This is the sign of a day well spent at Dutch Wonderland!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-74764424288978733882015-06-11T07:53:00.000-07:002015-06-11T07:53:35.016-07:00Photo Update 6/10/15 - Parking Lot and more<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RWckpW92jIIww8n53VP7Qem9h3mMWJhT9HJcOMDYu26kXHNWbUVVXGq8CGnM7_pAMGXTjsCSHiU_UG5qEJoR-4y4fRrke7GR1ZasaRM0B2Y3n3u99HV-ecooz22PnWf6odv2B3cgya2H/s640/blogger-image--610307724.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RWckpW92jIIww8n53VP7Qem9h3mMWJhT9HJcOMDYu26kXHNWbUVVXGq8CGnM7_pAMGXTjsCSHiU_UG5qEJoR-4y4fRrke7GR1ZasaRM0B2Y3n3u99HV-ecooz22PnWf6odv2B3cgya2H/s640/blogger-image--610307724.jpg" /></span></a></div>
Some pics from around the complex this week starting with the news that some activity is happening towards the reorganization of the parking lot and entrance experience.
The parking lot access from the campground entrance has been blocked off with barricades and fencing in anticipation of denying access to the parking lot without paying the new parking fee. It also appears that the shoulder into the park is being widened and perhaps additional lanes of traffic. If there are going to be toll booths for the parking lot they need to anticipate traffic back-ups as people spend time digging through their pockets, asking questions and undoubtedly yelling at the poor 16 year old girl who will have to take the brunt of people's anger having to pay for parking for the first time in 53 years.<br />
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Large sections of the parking lot of fenced off as construction moves on. This is the area formally occupied by the Wonderland Cinema and Mini-Golf.</div>
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Also around the park...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODlCUlsIDP4A36cL7wTeflnyPw25_A44P_rf26qK8rUDI6aTkhkNgUxzOM62VCHQOw-DPbR5kdW1fYAyUKPf_ISRwTWSlcQmJlOn-cX4mSviRRIde6xMufU1GXB-4tkSZg69rFFQRIPEU/s640/blogger-image--349267678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODlCUlsIDP4A36cL7wTeflnyPw25_A44P_rf26qK8rUDI6aTkhkNgUxzOM62VCHQOw-DPbR5kdW1fYAyUKPf_ISRwTWSlcQmJlOn-cX4mSviRRIde6xMufU1GXB-4tkSZg69rFFQRIPEU/s640/blogger-image--349267678.jpg" /></a></div>
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Guests were told that parents are no longer allowed inside the Choo Choo Charlie kiddie train attraction. In the past, parents of very small kids could push their children's hand powered crank cars around the track with the aid of a big stick. Now, the employees have to push the kids if they can't pedal the cars themselves. Sometime in the last week, there was reportedly an accident/injury that resulted in the new policy.</div>
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Noticed this around 8:00pm, all the seating from the Celebration Theater had been removed.</div>
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My guess is they moved the benches to erect the tent which is usually over the theater.</div>
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Nobody can resist taking pictures of baby ducks, especially when they cut across a walkway following their mommy.</div>
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And last, a picture of an empty Monorail station. Something you would NEVER see at Disney World and quite frankly it's not a common site at Dutch Wonderland either.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-10559013435502838522015-05-26T14:19:00.001-07:002015-05-26T14:19:13.896-07:00Beyond The Map: Coloring Corner<strong>Beyond The Map</strong> takes a look at a few things around Dutch Wonderland that might go unnoticed on a busy visit to the park. These are items that aren't necessarily attractions on their own, but little diversions that are worth pointing out. First up is a neat recent addition to the park,<strong> Coloring Corner</strong>. <br />
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Coloring Corner could easily go undetected. It's a bit off the beaten path, it's tucked away behind a ride and it's not on the park guide map. A few years ago, DW decided to swap the locations of Huck Finn's Leaping Frogs down by the Mill Stream and the Wiggle Racers which was located directly next door to the Storytime Corner theater. I assume the reason for the flip-flop had to do with the often rising waters of the stream which can cause flooding in the back area of the park. Better to move the expensive mechanical frog ride away from the water and up into the park and relocate Wiggle Racers, which is essentially a concrete slab and some kids ride on vehicles. <br />
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So while Leapin' Frogs took up residence in the former Wiggle Racers space, the footprint of the new attraction was much smaller than the space allotted for the Racers. The area was split in half and eventually Coloring Corner was born.<br />
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While in no ways is Coloring Corner a major attraction of Dutch Wonderland, it is one of the few spots in a park geared towards little kids where kids can run around and blow off some steam. By entering through a small path just in front of the Kingdom Coaster entrance, you can enter the back half of the former Wiggle Racers space and kids can let loose in the maze structure that was once for maneuvering little Wiggle Racers through. There's no dead ends or confusing paths to navigate, it's a pretty simple maze that will have kids screaming and laughing as they race around it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_slYs7QnryF7YhYj0sDDmkduF9uYfpuGR9-LnB9UaJfxVOStsCo1TDZMuToSpbRkAL7mKhA03_9iW2-KGO4O2Ju2fNUl8Wi92qU-KiaAMWRTlwrYVfOV9wa-9uBpxfKYelB4ORAG848eP/s640/blogger-image-1002280404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_slYs7QnryF7YhYj0sDDmkduF9uYfpuGR9-LnB9UaJfxVOStsCo1TDZMuToSpbRkAL7mKhA03_9iW2-KGO4O2Ju2fNUl8Wi92qU-KiaAMWRTlwrYVfOV9wa-9uBpxfKYelB4ORAG848eP/s640/blogger-image-1002280404.jpg" /></a></div>
The back wall of the <strong>Coloring Corner</strong> space features a huge dinosaur mural in black and white that kids are encouraged to add color to. There are two buckets full of Crayola Washable Markers and plenty of space for little ones to get their artist on! I had first seen one of these huge coloring murals at nearby Cherry Crest Adventure Farm and thought it was pretty cool, so it's nice to see DW add a similar activity.<br />
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Coloring Corner is also perfectly situated in the park to offer an alternative attention grabber while big brother and sister are on the Kingdom Coaster, the wildest ride in the park.<br />
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To find Coloring Corner, walk directly behind Leapin' Frogs and look for a small mulch path on your right and under a tree to lead you to the gated spot.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-25031203611149766962015-05-24T22:05:00.001-07:002015-05-24T22:05:24.784-07:00Photo Update - 5/24/15We got to the park around 3:00 on Sunday afternoon, the weekend of Memorial Day, and the park was packed - not unmanageable, but packed. We even had a hard time finding a parking spot in the Prefered lot, but we did and headed on inside. As always, here's a few photos I snapped...<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcXz9lRcCH4VgIvD2Sa8L1iNdW-Wkr8aXa3z0UKEmwCTTbRTh1BYugzDqpZDYIRNYa6UJh3mcuPCPstXKkl5RQbtIm94boYXfyhQTFFAfNf6kacrflFqHeTx66ZS8oResxas7bdTGTG_t/s640/blogger-image--1756499985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcXz9lRcCH4VgIvD2Sa8L1iNdW-Wkr8aXa3z0UKEmwCTTbRTh1BYugzDqpZDYIRNYa6UJh3mcuPCPstXKkl5RQbtIm94boYXfyhQTFFAfNf6kacrflFqHeTx66ZS8oResxas7bdTGTG_t/s640/blogger-image--1756499985.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm not sure if any of my findings are new, or they are just things I didn't notice opening weekend but either way...they painted over the name of the park on the giant iconic pretzel! It's been a great photo op because the pretzel told you where the photo was taken! Now it's just a pretzel!? You can see where they just painted right over the Dutch Wonderland lettering, not necessarily in this picture but in person you can. I hope they replace the letters soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4C4MuXnud-OIJmPYrUEkzr0O37TyVOumznH_bKs04euHX4bjj1jUXqV4N7qV0r8oJLpZqR8joPTFOUrn4WHFQvfYCwm33tuMm3_GurvFfTTxrb6CHVQYtekiMMJuXnp38pBjislph5y10/s640/blogger-image-1896548435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4C4MuXnud-OIJmPYrUEkzr0O37TyVOumznH_bKs04euHX4bjj1jUXqV4N7qV0r8oJLpZqR8joPTFOUrn4WHFQvfYCwm33tuMm3_GurvFfTTxrb6CHVQYtekiMMJuXnp38pBjislph5y10/s640/blogger-image-1896548435.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Wonderers were out this weekend, making their debut for the 2015 season. They sounded great and noting beats some live music in the park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvkxdXQsHWya9bli3vmnvfP76jySZz0XDwQUT8lAv8dSzqWXYrO-68ci-IW4YIQ0VV9Qi_gp0N9ThdXn8WgcVqRvxkc_AQEiojHmKxdJc8Ip2Jv0Jh4GuiCGFm_AJIXFARDSOREQc1TU7/s640/blogger-image-535294080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvkxdXQsHWya9bli3vmnvfP76jySZz0XDwQUT8lAv8dSzqWXYrO-68ci-IW4YIQ0VV9Qi_gp0N9ThdXn8WgcVqRvxkc_AQEiojHmKxdJc8Ip2Jv0Jh4GuiCGFm_AJIXFARDSOREQc1TU7/s640/blogger-image-535294080.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was the insane line for Double Splash Flume around 4:00. The line filled the queue, crossed the bridge and was quite lengthy out into the little plaza behind the Aqua Stadium. Bon Voyage Balloon Chase was also hosting a full queue as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE41qFy0vZndDUrOEvSIV6hfkksp5LXW3YyxZB4t1UtI67Yau7LHgSBUKutKOpWd98YbEjirG4AwmXMqFQcZ33JKqdLHr8resFC7dlRmvaCJIgGu2tiFhf1DZg0dzvhNejiJVddGro8zgH/s640/blogger-image-887547572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE41qFy0vZndDUrOEvSIV6hfkksp5LXW3YyxZB4t1UtI67Yau7LHgSBUKutKOpWd98YbEjirG4AwmXMqFQcZ33JKqdLHr8resFC7dlRmvaCJIgGu2tiFhf1DZg0dzvhNejiJVddGro8zgH/s640/blogger-image-887547572.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Was this Rita's here before? Because I'm sure it wasn't. This is on the side of the Aqua Stadium near it's entrance. There used to be a little arts and crafts stand here which is now over by the Celebration Theater. So excited to have another food option for my kids to bug me for.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxq5zHC6H89Nx0i6M0MUgtHoRnuCCI0etK99lK0kz-rj7I56zIgKMIzOmE6PsdwnVOSWzjfWg50Tt_RTQl4CmaQaI13ZIkViZwY2MzDwL7EDq-_ub3ZlpTQEjUAUQr7jHIQK7EuL7gG-w/s640/blogger-image-753199141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxq5zHC6H89Nx0i6M0MUgtHoRnuCCI0etK99lK0kz-rj7I56zIgKMIzOmE6PsdwnVOSWzjfWg50Tt_RTQl4CmaQaI13ZIkViZwY2MzDwL7EDq-_ub3ZlpTQEjUAUQr7jHIQK7EuL7gG-w/s640/blogger-image-753199141.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I think the themeing in Exploration Island is great. The music they have playing back here really gives the park a "major theme park" <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">feel. The beginning of May was my first time experiencing the new island but since then they've added a permanent structure for the dinosaur gift shop, called Artifacts, and they've added a second Gem Mining location. The gift shop building is cute with a cartoony dig site illustration up and down the sides. My 2 year old daughter requested the dinosaurs repeatedly and the Dino Dig site (or sandbox as she calls it) is her favorite attraction in the park.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFe-DFuSp62alR2ph76ZG0cye3g4oqu2xCXvjokIR2FNKi4ouwtZwWd6fxwjIgyYPD9yyJiIQS3fvbmviCFvzK_FIu5ng0xWXojigiZmYvAFVm_km3TM6vl1Gdo5q0FOyAVjUGEsXgB_IC/s640/blogger-image--427151455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFe-DFuSp62alR2ph76ZG0cye3g4oqu2xCXvjokIR2FNKi4ouwtZwWd6fxwjIgyYPD9yyJiIQS3fvbmviCFvzK_FIu5ng0xWXojigiZmYvAFVm_km3TM6vl1Gdo5q0FOyAVjUGEsXgB_IC/s640/blogger-image--427151455.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-38822849272949398772015-05-03T12:27:00.001-07:002015-05-03T12:27:39.322-07:00Photo Update - Grand Opening WeekendWe were at Dutch Wonderland just about every week for the 2011 & 2012 season, then we took two years off while we welcomed another addition to our family. Our last visit was Happy Hauntings last year, so I'm not sure how much of what looked new to me is totally new or I just missed it last October but he're some pics I snapped at yesterday's Grand Opening for the 52nd Season:<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqyKe8oCT1EixX-7zYxHv1mFDs75XvL40NVbSVGjm6AdosrWmmUkKv8s9g4U1Bk03Qmo26ejJBTpAir_MX8py_XgDa9Pz3JGTrV7ytzY09sVr9jdtGIwP_-Ia7jGFUd3XiV4wbFriEl2-/s640/blogger-image--2035803217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqyKe8oCT1EixX-7zYxHv1mFDs75XvL40NVbSVGjm6AdosrWmmUkKv8s9g4U1Bk03Qmo26ejJBTpAir_MX8py_XgDa9Pz3JGTrV7ytzY09sVr9jdtGIwP_-Ia7jGFUd3XiV4wbFriEl2-/s640/blogger-image--2035803217.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpggTJxdCEvB3jjmKGZQVqst99AIQJeR_mZKez5i9aCYtnrjbGhMGFLG3t1uo0eXqRAuAn2R8333HSh6_Kw2qJBQu0PUjBs5yqQ4fcaa3MR-9x8XwsEZw2y9MCunv3eTlMEnwD7528l_dL/s640/blogger-image--1253073354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpggTJxdCEvB3jjmKGZQVqst99AIQJeR_mZKez5i9aCYtnrjbGhMGFLG3t1uo0eXqRAuAn2R8333HSh6_Kw2qJBQu0PUjBs5yqQ4fcaa3MR-9x8XwsEZw2y9MCunv3eTlMEnwD7528l_dL/s640/blogger-image--1253073354.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHX88XhHIb7MfBUZAyA1MILAPVQ_HDJnEOYZfgPphgsbUuSMU-BMsTUwoymzBEHZrAoVFVPcNWrE7YEphfs5a32mShRWfMtCFfKNFZxW4ob01eMmpQLI3fLLu5J9GtSL6SBXxazg3h_693/s640/blogger-image--879592025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHX88XhHIb7MfBUZAyA1MILAPVQ_HDJnEOYZfgPphgsbUuSMU-BMsTUwoymzBEHZrAoVFVPcNWrE7YEphfs5a32mShRWfMtCFfKNFZxW4ob01eMmpQLI3fLLu5J9GtSL6SBXxazg3h_693/s640/blogger-image--879592025.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At 10:00 they made an announcement and shot confetti cannons off! I missed it by 45 seconds while I was stuck buying a guest ticket on my season pass.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwao2iCsGP5VRA_q5nLsHiAHCwYLGy2UVEewSyfyqliWVs-M7LW6oTnR_lgJdkCSt-ZO2DcrenoRACN3VWgW6bMUBOTpYh2aZlUbJKZF2ZU3Yi0SSI1PdX4iFpdp8tO62NRq2CBRUQriKV/s640/blogger-image-1446443153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwao2iCsGP5VRA_q5nLsHiAHCwYLGy2UVEewSyfyqliWVs-M7LW6oTnR_lgJdkCSt-ZO2DcrenoRACN3VWgW6bMUBOTpYh2aZlUbJKZF2ZU3Yi0SSI1PdX4iFpdp8tO62NRq2CBRUQriKV/s640/blogger-image-1446443153.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here's the park's new ride, Bon Voyage Balloon Chase:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnpKjbje8IMUSLyvkZ6JltOas2lCxo8FFpjVGSnuo5uobra6d0lrX5Ma0gd5fxxZOTkKmXgLExRT36fn7vUtNqbxLfQPKdjQCll40iwQxY6JCfi_R4dB_1t2TmQofOK4p-jwa2UIQSws-/s640/blogger-image--303268146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnpKjbje8IMUSLyvkZ6JltOas2lCxo8FFpjVGSnuo5uobra6d0lrX5Ma0gd5fxxZOTkKmXgLExRT36fn7vUtNqbxLfQPKdjQCll40iwQxY6JCfi_R4dB_1t2TmQofOK4p-jwa2UIQSws-/s640/blogger-image--303268146.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxum3c5y5REZLklNqygQ3pYSf0xuFETr85OoyXUf3iZdpXvYFkBPyETKoy69BN-CPgh_0ZlfsdhMuxpw04CKNiCOZvu-0tjHLG8xiN8kSIV0455zZtXRJ_fZJrahYeHsnizJMqNSP11EF/s640/blogger-image-1718460301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxum3c5y5REZLklNqygQ3pYSf0xuFETr85OoyXUf3iZdpXvYFkBPyETKoy69BN-CPgh_0ZlfsdhMuxpw04CKNiCOZvu-0tjHLG8xiN8kSIV0455zZtXRJ_fZJrahYeHsnizJMqNSP11EF/s640/blogger-image-1718460301.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxgC6ThzSY8kYhs8YSZDcfQbAxsW05Wmqg6RyHc8UZdeBh4530Yax7EKwNIfUo9TumQXeA85q-IYy6UdsDEfqXeAWavPtW65w-ALplteJjHPOWmLCJfpPzOE1cguLK5KMla7ogSOxoMX4/s640/blogger-image-616734042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxgC6ThzSY8kYhs8YSZDcfQbAxsW05Wmqg6RyHc8UZdeBh4530Yax7EKwNIfUo9TumQXeA85q-IYy6UdsDEfqXeAWavPtW65w-ALplteJjHPOWmLCJfpPzOE1cguLK5KMla7ogSOxoMX4/s640/blogger-image-616734042.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The announcements over the speaker while waiting in the queue had a girl with a French accent and said bonjour and mercy. I thought that was a nice touch. There are other themed announcements at other rides that I don't recall being there before, like a mission control announcement at the space simulator rides and a wizard at the Dragon's Lair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6tTsyOgDbwpj9perbgVvjINQwyrszY7Q8Lsy0jX7RRX4TaDgpFD41gGdhXU2Nb6wYn7LDjxCo0SPA42-T0yUfxtcy03t1kSUjcz4zFLRnTjIqTKWwAVgbYtWVbAbyuEGidJzPQM2Uxb3/s640/blogger-image--1208932649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6tTsyOgDbwpj9perbgVvjINQwyrszY7Q8Lsy0jX7RRX4TaDgpFD41gGdhXU2Nb6wYn7LDjxCo0SPA42-T0yUfxtcy03t1kSUjcz4zFLRnTjIqTKWwAVgbYtWVbAbyuEGidJzPQM2Uxb3/s640/blogger-image--1208932649.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0WS6uT_raRdaCRiKk01pEIHjFbyweJrpVGzKs6yIuKHS3b4hChlsdTfAEp2sqPTYu97vkI2J9uIL7cFgrPnSphFqTMuYxiZZ0ZaQCkZAfbT31lEdZ0X7Ww2EoI73VgtiqnHTdet7sk4y/s640/blogger-image--1840886581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0WS6uT_raRdaCRiKk01pEIHjFbyweJrpVGzKs6yIuKHS3b4hChlsdTfAEp2sqPTYu97vkI2J9uIL7cFgrPnSphFqTMuYxiZZ0ZaQCkZAfbT31lEdZ0X7Ww2EoI73VgtiqnHTdet7sk4y/s640/blogger-image--1840886581.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">They moved Bosie the Cow across the railroad tracks and closer to the barn. A bench and some flowers fills the space where Bosie stood for a long time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX1bJNpyDqij1dIR-em-2j_06HYxzuPT6MHUVglyLSDRJP7b8FL9LxHl-atUP9-0w-BuDrUeXVzrGuTC2Z_39DRSuy0_6RPecpVL48UWX4B_v-eRoDjR27dQ8TLEWQYNe_Po_mYQXI9UX/s640/blogger-image--1148200071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX1bJNpyDqij1dIR-em-2j_06HYxzuPT6MHUVglyLSDRJP7b8FL9LxHl-atUP9-0w-BuDrUeXVzrGuTC2Z_39DRSuy0_6RPecpVL48UWX4B_v-eRoDjR27dQ8TLEWQYNe_Po_mYQXI9UX/s640/blogger-image--1148200071.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sad to see the wobbly bridge across the pond in the front of the park has been removed. It was always tradition for us to cross the bride after taking the train around the park. Not only has the bridge and any indication of the bridge been removed...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNlhEdd1NQG2A09eAigSC-CAt1UemTW_2DMmkcnWKrEPKojv4GhRpmBwBo-FHNookT0dPae3jzgB61LcwTdYQlXUWen52ZoQdig49hAnQbgCtKS8xTOiZro9bEfpXwVbAvaTzEw0EGCpo/s640/blogger-image--2054136627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNlhEdd1NQG2A09eAigSC-CAt1UemTW_2DMmkcnWKrEPKojv4GhRpmBwBo-FHNookT0dPae3jzgB61LcwTdYQlXUWen52ZoQdig49hAnQbgCtKS8xTOiZro9bEfpXwVbAvaTzEw0EGCpo/s640/blogger-image--2054136627.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">...foot traffic has been rerouted to the railroad crossing and fencing prevents you from crossing the railroad tracks at any point other than the crossing. The changes do make for some nice seating space in the front by the food stands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXB99oGAB3_9VJkSMO7y1bXeDbrfQKTbMXpDJwzYZvCALzaajD-XfRxkpxF6fd3oXoP0Nh_Wl7_2nxWtI2bZViCC77NGcddht0j1OQIWqz0PzAbFFkU-EmOeV6MTWKidGdKeNfYlL4U0_f/s640/blogger-image-897518782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXB99oGAB3_9VJkSMO7y1bXeDbrfQKTbMXpDJwzYZvCALzaajD-XfRxkpxF6fd3oXoP0Nh_Wl7_2nxWtI2bZViCC77NGcddht0j1OQIWqz0PzAbFFkU-EmOeV6MTWKidGdKeNfYlL4U0_f/s640/blogger-image-897518782.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Nathan's stand in the front of the park where the PA Kosher Mart used to be was not ready for opening weekend. (Neither was the Subway)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENTbqJn9W5XLBBjnf7ue-sI5oARWegdjnR8kyIk4vUHcnqW4Wf6f1-QXnlSRn1oqfQ_mF-iR_0v8DQl0W68ywpfvcsUT8CNSeF8sK_BsTTm7decErv_e1aGTsRnc6XRIoy-Rl-mLtJHnr/s640/blogger-image-1346459714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENTbqJn9W5XLBBjnf7ue-sI5oARWegdjnR8kyIk4vUHcnqW4Wf6f1-QXnlSRn1oqfQ_mF-iR_0v8DQl0W68ywpfvcsUT8CNSeF8sK_BsTTm7decErv_e1aGTsRnc6XRIoy-Rl-mLtJHnr/s640/blogger-image-1346459714.jpg"></a></div>In the background you can spot a duck who has decided to make it's nest near this dinosaur neat of eggs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlWSqaKKIAe6Ba9YarfMLHakD8DgFFIpHSf_dUuPe6GYFq0u0qy15zQUOhLZBdXMD0o0Dp3_wFw1CfzE9lAF_XPlbgNLUf98aB05X6nMi17v7j601_E1EScCIPLBt89SNcZINPqzCq1-q/s640/blogger-image-1045395613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlWSqaKKIAe6Ba9YarfMLHakD8DgFFIpHSf_dUuPe6GYFq0u0qy15zQUOhLZBdXMD0o0Dp3_wFw1CfzE9lAF_XPlbgNLUf98aB05X6nMi17v7j601_E1EScCIPLBt89SNcZINPqzCq1-q/s640/blogger-image-1045395613.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Gondola Cruise (nor the Tugboat) were operating on opening day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkmKH0vHyHBfKmsYYkDfX67w9DPHVoOhf0IWrkdsPxuAkacYJVvIgrpI27_i2-MVYrx5v-LlsOS6OBP5yWtVH4NPc8mY3FkAKYMEdaCOHv4Y6WL0jeBwXDkuM2AR19PuYI1GGD6ihs93n/s640/blogger-image--1013962300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkmKH0vHyHBfKmsYYkDfX67w9DPHVoOhf0IWrkdsPxuAkacYJVvIgrpI27_i2-MVYrx5v-LlsOS6OBP5yWtVH4NPc8mY3FkAKYMEdaCOHv4Y6WL0jeBwXDkuM2AR19PuYI1GGD6ihs93n/s640/blogger-image--1013962300.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I like this little secluded seating area on Exploration Island that has been created near the site of the old Windmill Ferris Wheel.</div><br></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqzY91Yicv8gaHqP-W-XaLxilThkEU2uXcVLUCoMM_9m2Fq6I1yFWvoeNmQwvlaTMF_54cyi5SUIaQEvoasLszDxknOrtCA8TcO9ZDqfFvtpJWxMXX6TBNxjWCsm9AF8StSllJxPvu5re/s640/blogger-image--590076978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqzY91Yicv8gaHqP-W-XaLxilThkEU2uXcVLUCoMM_9m2Fq6I1yFWvoeNmQwvlaTMF_54cyi5SUIaQEvoasLszDxknOrtCA8TcO9ZDqfFvtpJWxMXX6TBNxjWCsm9AF8StSllJxPvu5re/s640/blogger-image--590076978.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Busy afternoon on the island. This might be one of my new favorite spots in the park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGRp3h7ihq0-Jf7rhab0cA2naceb1_TPXdnbpJlDsv2MDJEtWc43wwUpjUnF22Rb5SSSi-zdzl-NteyEk7O0cKFmWnPokDHeuf1cz7J5TjIQWXS7PFm0idR9DC-noJrLdtfHGvrFjVYGj/s640/blogger-image--43621577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGRp3h7ihq0-Jf7rhab0cA2naceb1_TPXdnbpJlDsv2MDJEtWc43wwUpjUnF22Rb5SSSi-zdzl-NteyEk7O0cKFmWnPokDHeuf1cz7J5TjIQWXS7PFm0idR9DC-noJrLdtfHGvrFjVYGj/s640/blogger-image--43621577.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We caught a performance of Really Royal at the Storytime Corner. The show had my 2 year old princess completely captivated!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4axQ_eTD0WzDzj2SNE5Je9tm_5i7H15hukh5GLG9VpueNekg1-66175yaHsm4u0yg2h_GMglc0uI4pQLNcGe4myDF_sLd0OqLdWqdW7Ww-TCKycpA-keezg477_EoPv_D4b47N4x6-7Rv/s640/blogger-image--1672625181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4axQ_eTD0WzDzj2SNE5Je9tm_5i7H15hukh5GLG9VpueNekg1-66175yaHsm4u0yg2h_GMglc0uI4pQLNcGe4myDF_sLd0OqLdWqdW7Ww-TCKycpA-keezg477_EoPv_D4b47N4x6-7Rv/s640/blogger-image--1672625181.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">New structure on the path heading over to Duke's Lagoon. Based on it's neighbors, I would assume this will be used for a game.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2M0lgFv4W1i6M4fgm_e-WqKf28hGXEZNwXD8RSCveaeNt59hSEGkl9fuh2ha2UKoEvUaGXqCyJsde1GmMQ2GZLMjY2QxxNCI5tiiTGSDKvNY9F9eynfT6E-SFs_y_GKbLHJA-B8PrkEg/s640/blogger-image--1377999461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2M0lgFv4W1i6M4fgm_e-WqKf28hGXEZNwXD8RSCveaeNt59hSEGkl9fuh2ha2UKoEvUaGXqCyJsde1GmMQ2GZLMjY2QxxNCI5tiiTGSDKvNY9F9eynfT6E-SFs_y_GKbLHJA-B8PrkEg/s640/blogger-image--1377999461.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There was nothing in bloom in the flower bed at the old Turnpike site.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3w2HZqxgG33TMn8R9DuuIawSEK57rfdH1bw1PSG749z4Edt3Msy8wVs_8TeXBv6vmqXLJFvDTKIu13DzBHWTfcKFvj-KImi08691UkdkRJv70xAk6wTA_jSVgdFuRgKMCN0D9sPhAcys/s640/blogger-image-2127198246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3w2HZqxgG33TMn8R9DuuIawSEK57rfdH1bw1PSG749z4Edt3Msy8wVs_8TeXBv6vmqXLJFvDTKIu13DzBHWTfcKFvj-KImi08691UkdkRJv70xAk6wTA_jSVgdFuRgKMCN0D9sPhAcys/s640/blogger-image-2127198246.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The birthday party room inside the park is now a third Breyer's Ice Cream location. There is seating inside however, there are not names on the ice cream. There were maybe 8 tubs of ice cream in the cooler but none of them identified. Most of the flavors were in the chocolate family, so it wad basically several different shades of brown. My wife had a Cookies and Cream as that was the only identifiable flavor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">While we are on be subject of odd things, there was also Christmas Music playing from the Sky Ride station and we had some disagreement on my daughter being allowed on the Silo Slide because of her height...or lack of. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But all in all we had another Dutch Wonderful day and I'll leave you with a shot of DW's very own Backside of Water:</div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WRxS_LyZl4kueBY2IO_PiGAmzN3gZ_JLWlDcRiuQmSfqgwO-Xc5L-v_1zlJyFSpml63WAFx7ZEArgd3_-9dYOB4OnFSCbkxsMuGuwNvWv-nXBv0Za3cakeReXzTUBzs_AL9D8YQ6nS5Q/s640/blogger-image-818704593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WRxS_LyZl4kueBY2IO_PiGAmzN3gZ_JLWlDcRiuQmSfqgwO-Xc5L-v_1zlJyFSpml63WAFx7ZEArgd3_-9dYOB4OnFSCbkxsMuGuwNvWv-nXBv0Za3cakeReXzTUBzs_AL9D8YQ6nS5Q/s640/blogger-image-818704593.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div></div></div></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-47280681816118567292015-04-18T13:59:00.001-07:002015-04-18T13:59:34.721-07:00Pre-Season Photo Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQC6T2Jcd8pu5myrG7o4BxJlIwKPu6ZB76y5lKXPWrRoLHiGuvOn-G_OwgGK7lV0edn6VQAiZUQU7PyxEXTMn0QIVWitzVLQP1lqNCd_H3kYYIe2IO5j4ENlIFFJgrPPNevU_9A98ISjC/s640/blogger-image-808954707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQC6T2Jcd8pu5myrG7o4BxJlIwKPu6ZB76y5lKXPWrRoLHiGuvOn-G_OwgGK7lV0edn6VQAiZUQU7PyxEXTMn0QIVWitzVLQP1lqNCd_H3kYYIe2IO5j4ENlIFFJgrPPNevU_9A98ISjC/s640/blogger-image-808954707.jpg"></a>My kids and I are pretty excited to be Season Pass holders again for the 2015 season. We went dozens of times in both 2011 & 2012 as pass holders, but we welcomed our third child in 2013 and decided to take a couple years off of spending half the summer at an amusement park. Now, with my daughter 2 years old and walking and just about talking - we figured the passes would be a good investment at least one last time before the boys completely outgrow the park. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We went up to the park today to visit the Season Pass office and take care of business before opening day May 2, so we could maximize our fun once the park is open. I was happy that my older boys were excited to be back at the park and can't wait to get back inside in a few weeks. My daughter was very excited too. You could hear the music from the carousel and the sound of the train running as we were in the courtyard catching a peek into the park. She wanted to go in and "go rides!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here's some pictures I snapped because I'm an amusement park nerd and this is my park...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzWLavLJ2KnrwiJE6ELEZq3irWwHytBdkgNVZ6Fsbm5BeccPkt1znvQqAOCSbhGbAdou6c_0kaahnvTQfr-XzxurqXS4JXqw8Me91YP1HI1AtT8PN6hdwA7rydPBu9bRGDxn0dlD1MmVb/s640/blogger-image--412992763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzWLavLJ2KnrwiJE6ELEZq3irWwHytBdkgNVZ6Fsbm5BeccPkt1znvQqAOCSbhGbAdou6c_0kaahnvTQfr-XzxurqXS4JXqw8Me91YP1HI1AtT8PN6hdwA7rydPBu9bRGDxn0dlD1MmVb/s640/blogger-image--412992763.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here's boxes of Christmas decorations sitting by the main gate <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">awaiting a visit to storage. It looked like many of the winter decorations were just being removed. The kids spotted a giant candy cane in the park.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2fFRSVpXhZ2GfZjY4DRge1Y4COU9tlJv_qizVaVarPo0hMzXP9eg5HXKpRia8G_BTvFLwPNKr3mwWdZ-ucyqu41wL2vohVlL9v5dyyq-FdA9B1obUjNLjn2KSnn7SXzfA77wp_YuJp8M/s640/blogger-image-94648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2fFRSVpXhZ2GfZjY4DRge1Y4COU9tlJv_qizVaVarPo0hMzXP9eg5HXKpRia8G_BTvFLwPNKr3mwWdZ-ucyqu41wL2vohVlL9v5dyyq-FdA9B1obUjNLjn2KSnn7SXzfA77wp_YuJp8M/s640/blogger-image-94648.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The castle gift shop not exactly roped off to visitors passing through to the season pass office, but in the process of stocking up for all the guests.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3m6_Ejok9sqZ6DEr-3kueyhPLtIVU3UJeMtxBxEK0-_Al8e3OmPL9K-YR24gR2ZwHhOucsOdqSCkkYNzThEjCdQ943rFiJNRQVAee18OQYCUwrSYbUQBH2QGSdr6SA2eeGeULPw5SgdtR/s640/blogger-image-1024877923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3m6_Ejok9sqZ6DEr-3kueyhPLtIVU3UJeMtxBxEK0-_Al8e3OmPL9K-YR24gR2ZwHhOucsOdqSCkkYNzThEjCdQ943rFiJNRQVAee18OQYCUwrSYbUQBH2QGSdr6SA2eeGeULPw5SgdtR/s640/blogger-image-1024877923.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The castle moat must have just been cleaned out. We were the very first visitors of the season to toss a coin and make a wish! (My daughter wasn't too sure about the crocodiles in the moat.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraD00VtiV1qO-p8RMlgr9OAb6qqqONNB4tdSSEhowJbS6OEwJo3Kmk2_voC9Kz7T0L0XIqkQW-dqzfLvxonYvX5g9G5nAGgPWyuECNpNuSZTCf-v2Sa7inNUCC5lZJuIAHiQTc3rUB3co/s640/blogger-image-392608181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraD00VtiV1qO-p8RMlgr9OAb6qqqONNB4tdSSEhowJbS6OEwJo3Kmk2_voC9Kz7T0L0XIqkQW-dqzfLvxonYvX5g9G5nAGgPWyuECNpNuSZTCf-v2Sa7inNUCC5lZJuIAHiQTc3rUB3co/s640/blogger-image-392608181.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The boats from the Gondola Cruise in dry dock behind the human resources office.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6atQA8s3wBtAgAjHVOfhMkkyzvgNVDL3HX33N-3TmgSU_D2-xtEJfkdvDlaVV4D3ssrwHoRoRskaXZacUMxX-z3D0jjO26vC4lZrjYVzMF2Cf73BmShnxLsZlgqQWPfZjM4E7cJmJKuH/s640/blogger-image--686293241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6atQA8s3wBtAgAjHVOfhMkkyzvgNVDL3HX33N-3TmgSU_D2-xtEJfkdvDlaVV4D3ssrwHoRoRskaXZacUMxX-z3D0jjO26vC4lZrjYVzMF2Cf73BmShnxLsZlgqQWPfZjM4E7cJmJKuH/s640/blogger-image--686293241.jpg"></a></div><br></div>We also spotted the knight from the Joust Coaster hanging out in pieces nearby.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsDIwopJrbC3JVIy87PEqKpBUDTlhwEtYk1hgzGZDrAq3abu5U1TS4PlhSM-o3ue-AJxnrHpZoi5gwxjsPDI6k-65SVC47hBI6UyKozo8ckjlO_SFe6T85Vp8maX885R6VZLPPMItCPXP/s640/blogger-image-1621774117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsDIwopJrbC3JVIy87PEqKpBUDTlhwEtYk1hgzGZDrAq3abu5U1TS4PlhSM-o3ue-AJxnrHpZoi5gwxjsPDI6k-65SVC47hBI6UyKozo8ckjlO_SFe6T85Vp8maX885R6VZLPPMItCPXP/s640/blogger-image-1621774117.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I always see this truck with old artwork from the park in a backstage area while on the monorail. I can never get a good picture of it from up above, and I'm not sure I got a great picture of it from my car either.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizU_nO_VTKtfXZdqz2oK2CPJJs5xTYnkwx6zR_O4UFzUgaNW0ov-T76LNutFYY527mBUwNESg4mUIXO8UwXesD7sx555ZJkpzTtUZGNMmtVFqyx33wjKilxdkG1UyjwO4bIU9WC-jqJgRZ/s640/blogger-image--2032334378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizU_nO_VTKtfXZdqz2oK2CPJJs5xTYnkwx6zR_O4UFzUgaNW0ov-T76LNutFYY527mBUwNESg4mUIXO8UwXesD7sx555ZJkpzTtUZGNMmtVFqyx33wjKilxdkG1UyjwO4bIU9WC-jqJgRZ/s640/blogger-image--2032334378.jpg"></a></div></div>So, they demolished the old Wonderland Cinema building, which was more recently used for mini-golf and storage. They are making way for much needed additional parking. They are supposedly also creating a new entrance to the Dutch Wonderland property. These new changes are the reasoning behind the park charging for vehicle parking in the first time in 52 years. However at only 5.00 it seems like a bargain compared to Six Flags' $20.00 parking fee. (Knoebels might be the only park in Pennsylvania to be able to claim Free Parking now!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUILbLkQvGty7UUNo8KCC6gWgof2PUmfnnYnaBlSUcuihcQROkMaDtISmF5uwhPYZPAnCjnmYnorRV58qksM4LFudb5Kxx26i-dBQs3aCI1OoiTL49KhmuU4zhyphenhyphenwdBW25B2ezfy1tPiGyk/s640/blogger-image--1169945192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUILbLkQvGty7UUNo8KCC6gWgof2PUmfnnYnaBlSUcuihcQROkMaDtISmF5uwhPYZPAnCjnmYnorRV58qksM4LFudb5Kxx26i-dBQs3aCI1OoiTL49KhmuU4zhyphenhyphenwdBW25B2ezfy1tPiGyk/s640/blogger-image--1169945192.jpg"></a></div>One last photo, taken from the Mill Stream Campground, you can see on this beautiful preseason day they were running empty cars on the Kingdom Coaster. Just the sound of the chain lift was enough to take us all right back to those wonderful hot summer days at the park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">See ya at Dutch Wonderland for opening day, May 2, 2015.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></span></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-5395804879693315812015-03-10T10:44:00.001-07:002015-03-10T10:45:26.737-07:00Bon Voyage Balloon Chase to Open!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSm7O4hXpYHrVBvW67ncUuAiTkjgoSLxoCR4wD-9aQXwoI3KgdYu7vUbmcid_Ku3Lh1ws3E4LD6Wktzkp-zBMciaqlrzSJeNnnfWM2jyo-6cbwnr86HPFNobi5bo-g48CG_A2hQPELky9/s1600/balloonchase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSm7O4hXpYHrVBvW67ncUuAiTkjgoSLxoCR4wD-9aQXwoI3KgdYu7vUbmcid_Ku3Lh1ws3E4LD6Wktzkp-zBMciaqlrzSJeNnnfWM2jyo-6cbwnr86HPFNobi5bo-g48CG_A2hQPELky9/s1600/balloonchase.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="releaseDateline">
Lancaster, PA (PRWEB) February 25, 2015 </div>
<div class="releaseDateline">
<br /></div>
Dutch Wonderland will introduce Bon Voyage Balloon Chase, a new family
ride for 2015 featuring eight hot air “balloons” that fly in a circle
rotation while riders in the balloon gondola baskets control their
individual balloon’s spin. The ride is scheduled to open with the Park
on May 2, 2015.<br />
<br />
Bon Voyage Balloon Chase tells the story of Princess Brooke, the
Princess of Dutch Wonderland, who receives the ride as a gift from a
fellow royal whom she met during her winter travels – “Empress Emille
from the Kingdom of Dania” from faraway France. The ride is a symbol of
their friendship and their mutual love of adventure and fun.<br />
<br />
“We are thrilled about the addition of this new family ride,” said
Rick Stammel, Dutch Wonderland’s General Manager. “We are excited to
receive this gift and very thankful to Princess Brooke for sharing this
ride with us and our guests. It’s going to be a wonderful addition to
Dutch Wonderland,” Stammel remarked.<br />
<br />
<br />
As a proposed family ride, Bon Voyage Balloon Chase will accommodate
riders of all heights. Riders fewer than 36 inches will need to be
accompanied by a responsible rider. Hand-held infants are not permitted
on the ride. Each balloon can accommodate up to four riders, based on
height and weight. <br />
Ride Specs for Bon Voyage Balloon Chase
<br />
<ul class="releaseul">
<li> Manufactured by Zamperla</li>
<li> Horizontal rotating vehicles (balloon gondola baskets) are
attached to arms, which are attached to a hydraulically lifted center.
The center is tilted at the top giving the feel of a rotating wave</li>
<li> Maximum capacity per ride cycle: 32 riders</li>
<li> Height of the ride structure is 17’ 6”. Extended height is 21” 6’.
Ride circumference is 24 feet. Balloons will soar between 5-8 feet off
the ground as they ascend and descend during rotation.</li>
<li> Ride speed: 7.5 RPMs.</li>
<li> Ride time: approx. 2 minutes (end of Press Release)</li>
</ul>
<br />
It is rumored that the ride comes from the very recently closed Boomers! park in Dania Beach, Florida. Here is a picture of the ride as it was situated there:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxawV3qGEn6yKq_NUiPD32jRfygSUN55UYapDz8j4M2JeqmOyZBhcDmw7oKyr4k9XegPbySxV0Inrz5KfSy4XFbR8Irez7HkD4hr7A8vrAhAKUkU2tg7yifiDKlILmT7-ULVXZzU8uY8TK/s1600/balloonride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxawV3qGEn6yKq_NUiPD32jRfygSUN55UYapDz8j4M2JeqmOyZBhcDmw7oKyr4k9XegPbySxV0Inrz5KfSy4XFbR8Irez7HkD4hr7A8vrAhAKUkU2tg7yifiDKlILmT7-ULVXZzU8uY8TK/s1600/balloonride.jpg" height="251" width="400" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-42656499555537735242015-03-10T10:11:00.002-07:002015-03-10T10:11:36.075-07:00Wonderland Cinema Hosts Fire DrillsHere's a link to an interesting article about the defunct Wonderland Cinemas which sat on the Dutch Wonderland Entertainment Complex property: <a href="http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/yelling-fire-in-a-movie-theater-wonderland-cinema-due-to/article_f7f84b0a-c1cb-11e4-ba1e-636fdbf6ff27.html">Yelling ‘Fire!’ in a movie theater: Wonderland Cinema, due to be razed, used for firefighter training</a> (via :Lancaster Online)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-71644385028751433002014-03-14T14:29:00.001-07:002014-03-14T14:31:27.305-07:00Major Construction at Chocolate WorldYou wouldn't even notice the place when you walk into Hershey's Chocolate World right now. There is some major renovations going on at the moment.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwYLqKWRWGNwsI2Y0_WbxzZPF8tjePg7sL0_A6qLa-RA1M8mL37spXXfhcODP6C8N9Xwp5O3qkUcuL6W7ZLGgMV7n2PYk1BcBlUXDFLJbUbwb1OM2EVfrmnHQKWUE3STlvM4pJmrsRHbg/s640/blogger-image-1929114487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwYLqKWRWGNwsI2Y0_WbxzZPF8tjePg7sL0_A6qLa-RA1M8mL37spXXfhcODP6C8N9Xwp5O3qkUcuL6W7ZLGgMV7n2PYk1BcBlUXDFLJbUbwb1OM2EVfrmnHQKWUE3STlvM4pJmrsRHbg/s640/blogger-image-1929114487.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The entire lobby area is blocked off with a construction wall. To enter the Factory Tour Ride you need to enter through the upstairs cafe in the Bake Shoppe area. Once upstairs, you are directed to an unassuming door and then down a hallway before stumbling upon the area where you walk down the stairs to enter the ride vehicles. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Upon exiting the ride, you travel up the entrance staircase and head down another flight of hidden stairs where you receive your free sample of candy in a fire escape area. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The ride itself has not been altered but an employe told me that the ride is scheduled to get an overhaul soon. My guess is they will incorporate the newly redesigned Hershey product characters who are now featured in the 4D movie.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs70Ox1h9vthpoJSy_3eg_I0nxuvZ7vIGfn4Kq2XUQnAPkIpUf-ukQ-JTGTbWnLKHsnr1Lx14x9w7YywxaGiAqL5jBPxiQUBylc3BIup_fjlH2ugVduU74nfRxu47hvzNeON1zLNuANdYp/s640/blogger-image--524412723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs70Ox1h9vthpoJSy_3eg_I0nxuvZ7vIGfn4Kq2XUQnAPkIpUf-ukQ-JTGTbWnLKHsnr1Lx14x9w7YywxaGiAqL5jBPxiQUBylc3BIup_fjlH2ugVduU74nfRxu47hvzNeON1zLNuANdYp/s640/blogger-image--524412723.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This new Kiss fixture stands where the Trolly Works ticket booth was. At this point, the hallway behind it is the only way to access the back portion of Chocolate World. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are construction walls up in the Food Court area which cuts off the retail space at the end of the ride.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4cvGdWloT6Sd9gncEFbftQ1A21VS1qnTnqQPspTzHI9T6VEsvswhSg3a6Tgd7bIxuzAdjTwvMktCPvKPKTPGsZKoFooIsN4OvG2CIrdKYzcfiIyYQAzLhj8knkmCWVwRk9AjWoULUB7D/s640/blogger-image-1651414994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4cvGdWloT6Sd9gncEFbftQ1A21VS1qnTnqQPspTzHI9T6VEsvswhSg3a6Tgd7bIxuzAdjTwvMktCPvKPKTPGsZKoFooIsN4OvG2CIrdKYzcfiIyYQAzLhj8knkmCWVwRk9AjWoULUB7D/s640/blogger-image-1651414994.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZs4g_XMKToYW3JGJMTGUl4uB16KfVQDNPuvobGIgMDmwutPgKIFADSPGFrmPqYeEr-tAOU7GzwYku7VIsQLBBehLyVntwU8bXenqWSuttmcE5vKpXo1j7ePB94rP6GgPHUg6b0QKmoZNk/s640/blogger-image--1633570722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZs4g_XMKToYW3JGJMTGUl4uB16KfVQDNPuvobGIgMDmwutPgKIFADSPGFrmPqYeEr-tAOU7GzwYku7VIsQLBBehLyVntwU8bXenqWSuttmcE5vKpXo1j7ePB94rP6GgPHUg6b0QKmoZNk/s640/blogger-image--1633570722.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>A large amount of retail merchandise has been relocated to the area between the 3D Movie exit and the Ice Cream Shop. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's neat that Hershey Foods constantly pours money into this attraction. It will be exciting to see what changes are in the future.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-5075776944636986112013-04-23T13:25:00.001-07:002013-04-23T13:25:24.965-07:00New Entertainment Announced<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With opening day less than a week away, Dutch Wonderland has announced their <strong>Entertainment Lineup</strong> for the 50th Anniversary 2013 Season. <br />
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<u>New Shows include:</u><br />
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<strong>Decades of Dutch Wonderland</strong> - Travel through time with two Dutch Wonder-ful explorers as they rock through the last 50 years of Dutch Wonderland! Along the way you’ll meet up with Princess Brooke, the Knight of Safety, and the lovable Duke the Dragon! Tap your feet to timeless tunes and dance to today’s hottest hits!<br />
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<strong>Really Royal: The Story of Princess Brooke</strong> - Ever wonder how Princess Brooke began her reign over the Kingdom for Kids? Well join Brooke and two of her dearest friends as they tell the magical tale of everyone’s favorite Princess! Brush up your curtsies and bows and be a part of the most Dutch Wonder-ful story ever told!!
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<strong>Enchanted: A Star Studded Parade</strong> - Princess Brooke is calling all Princesses and Knights in the Kingdom to be a part of her Royal Parade! This is your chance to be seen by everyone in the park as you join your favorite characters and march to the Celebration Theater for Funsation “50 Year” Celebration! Don’t miss your chance to be Dutch Royalty! It’s a magical moment for the whole family!
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<strong>Funsation "50 Year" Celebration</strong> - Funsation Celebration is back, brand new, and celebrating 50 wonderful years! That’s right, new songs, new dances, and even more chances for you to be part of the show! Join us as we celebrate your visit here at the park, including a special tribute to 50 Years of Dutch Wonder-ful Fun! Don’t be tardy for the party!
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Sounds like a unique and fun collection of shows that will join returning favorites:<strong> Adventures of the Frog Prince, Dragon's Tale, Open Dive, The Wonderers, Storytime With Princess Brooke</strong>, and who can forget <strong>Bubba Bear and the Badland Bears</strong>.<br />
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The Kingdom For Kids lowers it's drawbridge for another Summer of fun this Saturday at 10am!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-53737543178974710582013-02-18T08:58:00.002-08:002013-02-18T08:58:49.500-08:002013 Brochure Is Here<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2013 Brochure</td></tr>
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Once again this year, instead of a full open up brochure, Dutch Wonderland has chosen the cheaper route of using a double sided card to promote the park. I found the new brochures in a hotel lobby in Gettysburg. The new fliers feature the 50th Anniversary logo and tagline and also play on the park's history selling "vintage" attractions like the Wonder House and the Lady Gay Riverboat. In addition, the brochure hits at a new show coming to the Kingdom, "<strong>Decades of Dutch Wonderland</strong>" which promises to be "A Spectacular Stage-Show Celebrating the Park's 50 Years!"</div>
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The back of the flyer features information on Birthday Parties and Season Passes, but does not have an operating calendar for the new season. The 50th Season of Dutch Wonderland kicks off April 27.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-82637476665411193462013-02-07T06:30:00.000-08:002013-02-07T06:30:05.206-08:00Happy 50th!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn208Gs_DpbU9QdBGTcds96DfhghWPhcWWuCXMPdkwNf1QTh171BtUbkHeIetgri0DcgRBAs7nb8HDgRAeYaM30eNoexet4oYe3neTykA5dd6il-lYhJ4n1wffhFsyVHCQbzUVsnXxeg-7/s1600/dw50logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn208Gs_DpbU9QdBGTcds96DfhghWPhcWWuCXMPdkwNf1QTh171BtUbkHeIetgri0DcgRBAs7nb8HDgRAeYaM30eNoexet4oYe3neTykA5dd6il-lYhJ4n1wffhFsyVHCQbzUVsnXxeg-7/s320/dw50logo.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
Here's a look at a new 50th Anniversary logo that the park unveiled at the end of last year. Dutch Wonderland enters into it's 50th operating season, and they've hinted at some big surprises in store to celebrate. It would be nice to see that new logo used on a few merchandise items. The park begins weekend only hours from April 27 until Memorial Day weekend. There has been no official word on any new attractions debuting at the park this year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-54653320237413465632013-01-24T04:33:00.001-08:002013-01-24T04:33:23.751-08:00Dry FlumeHere's a look at Double Splash Flume with the water shut off for the season. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmu4PfTE1_XVYWWx6rPISr8l5WiSt3AeajTqxhpYDb0uOlorqjC76jKgknTqH4Wirdxs8fBvAezhed0iMOcdQtCawLUg6meNOacJmp3uaAroyBPkbgcovB0J9a0YGzHIxTAvn5GfBJ0vu/s640/blogger-image--1597318123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmu4PfTE1_XVYWWx6rPISr8l5WiSt3AeajTqxhpYDb0uOlorqjC76jKgknTqH4Wirdxs8fBvAezhed0iMOcdQtCawLUg6meNOacJmp3uaAroyBPkbgcovB0J9a0YGzHIxTAvn5GfBJ0vu/s640/blogger-image--1597318123.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-82624716345133546292013-01-14T07:00:00.000-08:002013-01-14T07:00:04.639-08:00Yabba Dabba DW!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspK2Sxxjhyphenhypheny7rsSOA1tkoB0cSgYs6eDxSjnxQXqUvxr-02C-_qc0PVCtvdF3mRmgcyaZFtBjM0B4i6I2JI3QAtrE03mt8i8SUEQIMHzC7OlMParFh_PWatNwf22Xj31R2Vavd8UsmicXq/s1600/dwflint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspK2Sxxjhyphenhypheny7rsSOA1tkoB0cSgYs6eDxSjnxQXqUvxr-02C-_qc0PVCtvdF3mRmgcyaZFtBjM0B4i6I2JI3QAtrE03mt8i8SUEQIMHzC7OlMParFh_PWatNwf22Xj31R2Vavd8UsmicXq/s400/dwflint.jpg" width="391" /></a></div>
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I found this photo of my brother and I at Dutch Wonderland, the picture is dated 1980 on the back. This statue of Fred Flintstone was located on the path along the back of the park behind the area that now houses the Frog Hopper ride. Other cartoon characters that appeared in statue form at the park included Popeye and Smurfs.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-57429642465461557132012-11-15T20:54:00.002-08:002012-11-15T20:55:52.160-08:00A Visit From Fox 43<iframe src='http://widget.newsinc.com/single.html?WID=1&VID=23888823&freewheel=69016&sitesection=wpmt&w=579&h=325' height='325' width='579' scrolling='no' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0'></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-3930553322022461122012-10-20T19:18:00.000-07:002012-10-20T19:18:52.834-07:00Happy Hauntings Report<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ntvJzfC_auwxmIFJ7b61fWrSmmUUGNsBa0K6GEPQpM5iUtvvW6prTrFzjXxt9Pc9NNTzHciLTuvHRg41YTZq_Suw_I6JvaXHVn6IG9lAyuQRdE4NwkB50RuOHFhhZR-PlRCu-yIIIgs/s1600/HAPPYHAUNTINGS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ntvJzfC_auwxmIFJ7b61fWrSmmUUGNsBa0K6GEPQpM5iUtvvW6prTrFzjXxt9Pc9NNTzHciLTuvHRg41YTZq_Suw_I6JvaXHVn6IG9lAyuQRdE4NwkB50RuOHFhhZR-PlRCu-yIIIgs/s200/HAPPYHAUNTINGS.jpg" width="200" /></a>As a Season Pass holder for the last two years, I can easily say I've been to Dutch Wonderland at least 30 times in those two years. This evening was without a doubt...the most crowded I have ever seen the park! The lines for rides at Happy Hauntings was insane!<br />
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We got up to the area around 5:00pm and noticed from the parking lot that attendance was high, so we decided to go grab some food and let some of the toddler audience dwindle out of the park. The nearby Fuddrucker's is now closed, which I didn't know until pulling into the parking lot. It wasn't on our radar, but I'll just add that the Texas Roadhouse next door was mobbed with a huge crowd waiting outside. We ventured over to Red Robin across the street which displayed a "00 Minutes Wait Time". We were handed a pager and told a 10 minute wait when we walked inside. Luckily, we didn't wait more than two minutes and to top that off - the food was ready in record time.<br />
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So, we headed back over to DW at 6 and while parking was still crowded we managed to find a pretty good random spot on the field in front of the Kingdom Coaster. Inside the park, walkways were manageable but every ride had a huge line waiting to get on. The people waiting for the train filled the queue and made a long line down past the loading platform. The line for the Turtle Whirl was all the way back past the swings! Huge waits at the Turnpike, Monorail, even VR Voyager had a ship full of people waiting in line. <br />
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The Trick or Treat Trail this year has moved to the path along the back of the park. The line starts near the Bumper Cars. There was a long line to get into the Trail, but it did move quickly. The Trail benefits from it's new location as it's very scenic and less twisty turney than over at Duke's Lagoon. Another nice touch that Dutch Wonderland does is giving each adult a ticket good for one trick or treat of their choosing. If you are like me and trying to hold out for the biggest piece of candy, may I suggest you cash your ticket in for the Reese's Pumpkin which on this night was being handed out the the Disco Shack. If you were at Happy Hauntings last year, you may have seen the Disco Shack from the train, this year you can actually go into the Shack and get your groove on if you desire. As a Dutch Wonderland historian, it was nice to be able to go inside the former Hobo Shack again, even if there is nothing in it besides some lights.<br />
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Our game plan was to ride the crowds out, hoping attendance would drop later in the evening and we could get a few rides in. We caught the 7:30 performance of the Halloween show, "Molly's Wacky Witch's Brew" at the Celebration Theatre. Afterwards, still plenty of crowds. A huge wait at the train. We went back to the Kingdom Coaster - excited to grab a ride in the dark - and the line filled the queue on the ground behind the station. In fact, I have never even seen the queue set up the way they had it to accommodate large crowds. We've done every ride in that park at least 50 times, and the kids and I just decided to leave and call it a night. They had a bag full of tricks or treats, so they were happy.<br />
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Don't take any of this as complaining. I'm glad to see Dutch Wonderland doing such a great business. If anything, I was shocked to see the crowds that were there. I spent last week in Walt Disney World and didn't see lines for rides like I saw tonight at little ol' DW! I suspect a Sunday night would be a bit less crowded. If you plan on going, I would get there at 3:00 when they open and do as many rides as you can before the park fills up! There's plenty of Not-So-Scary fun to be had all over Dutch Wonderland, even with a crowd it's still a fun place to be!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-46081475060549698662012-09-05T05:59:00.001-07:002012-09-05T05:59:17.142-07:00Lady Gay Riverboat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvYglJinJB0yI5oqttG_UJmiy2-2dHT659J1SUszD8rzcsO93Q1KSZ7anfG4rTn3cbkOXElbF5sDk48eSrhPX0fTiVUaSUBh-wMCz90p8xVTbCKy72xfBMLL9a0ORGU02UD8J1HSHjwu6/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvYglJinJB0yI5oqttG_UJmiy2-2dHT659J1SUszD8rzcsO93Q1KSZ7anfG4rTn3cbkOXElbF5sDk48eSrhPX0fTiVUaSUBh-wMCz90p8xVTbCKy72xfBMLL9a0ORGU02UD8J1HSHjwu6/s400/042.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Lady Gay River Boat was constructed in 1963 and has</div>
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undergone two rebuilds, one in 1988 and another in 2002. It hails its name from the</div>
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riverboat located at the former Rocky Springs Amusement Park in Lancaster, Pa.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mDSSiBINiwKSGaNxWIyyiAnx0uMT-cnl8JoXvaKAqx_OBajfjJEij17Xbe_npBRW4m_NL6gs0AGVxo2HNgByIzqqqzNInEPWkhtb9N2R9jL2e0XXdA8KF_Qlg1CXTxdaHd1X5_8PVTJH/s1600/lady_gay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mDSSiBINiwKSGaNxWIyyiAnx0uMT-cnl8JoXvaKAqx_OBajfjJEij17Xbe_npBRW4m_NL6gs0AGVxo2HNgByIzqqqzNInEPWkhtb9N2R9jL2e0XXdA8KF_Qlg1CXTxdaHd1X5_8PVTJH/s400/lady_gay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Postcard of the original Lady Gay Riverboat at Rocky Springs Park. John B. Peoples, who owned a competing bathing resort across the river, transported people to both parks on the Lady Gay steamerwhich ran a mile long circuit from Witmer's Bridge at Bridgeport to the bathing resorts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</span></span></i><span style="font-family: PalatinoLinotype,Italic; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: PalatinoLinotype,Italic; font-size: small;"></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJfXVZ_u58pEz2V_Iu6PCEC8UqfC7uPPKPr0vs0R53Hez1_w66YRKouIrSU0ILlmifmB3dQct4OzyYyUkIufdFn_0QtHzpsk8NhJl61YXox_o-nIQTukUkIMh7sRWT05HfJOutTuM1UJd/s1600/rs_brouchure_-_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJfXVZ_u58pEz2V_Iu6PCEC8UqfC7uPPKPr0vs0R53Hez1_w66YRKouIrSU0ILlmifmB3dQct4OzyYyUkIufdFn_0QtHzpsk8NhJl61YXox_o-nIQTukUkIMh7sRWT05HfJOutTuM1UJd/s400/rs_brouchure_-_small.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">brochure from Rocky Springs Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-13222025533188522092012-08-31T14:45:00.001-07:002012-08-31T14:46:02.357-07:00September at DW<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZnJvZwYdRhCEco6uEeFmmg7CeccfZv_XRqzwz6TOddr69IcptEMyyX_Rroohhu8Ov0eJLhI-lCVVIYdRA-Xp07_KfYqAzfl6ahvf7LGNvsmqIpOH-Sa5n3vwtccfUhhx1drNllYaANTt/s1600/DUWO_2012_9.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZnJvZwYdRhCEco6uEeFmmg7CeccfZv_XRqzwz6TOddr69IcptEMyyX_Rroohhu8Ov0eJLhI-lCVVIYdRA-Xp07_KfYqAzfl6ahvf7LGNvsmqIpOH-Sa5n3vwtccfUhhx1drNllYaANTt/s1600/DUWO_2012_9.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Dates - Open until 8:30<br />
Yellow Dates - Park Closes at 6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Saturday 9/1 & Sunday 9/2 are the last two days of the season that Dutch Wonderland is open until 8:30pm. Monday 9/3 (Labor Day) is the last weekday of the regular season, closing at 6:00pm. Labor Day weekend is traditionally very crowded with Monday being the most busy day. The Kingdom will be open 10-6 weekends through the rest of the month.<br />
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This is also the last weekend of operation for Duke's Lagoon. After Monday the water will be turned off until Memorial Day 2013.<br />
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The Entertainment Schedule has also made a change from it's original announcement in the Spring. Swingin' Safari was scheduled to return September 1 but instead Superstar Funfest will be held over at the Celebration Theatre. DW's own Duke the Dragon will be the special guest star until October 7.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-30285053681258367912012-07-18T18:41:00.002-07:002012-07-18T18:41:58.116-07:00New Sandcastle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGIlTVnzl0T1qdOzOoUjqkRmQfcm3QR8ZP0_06To9wpWBaANLI4P2yDztzmeDXo5rvcedO-qw5x077feNLWWAkO0SmXzorgmkx7VOx2Y4G7yptUZWPy9maGDYzRbXif3vQ21Y43nDwCxR/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGIlTVnzl0T1qdOzOoUjqkRmQfcm3QR8ZP0_06To9wpWBaANLI4P2yDztzmeDXo5rvcedO-qw5x077feNLWWAkO0SmXzorgmkx7VOx2Y4G7yptUZWPy9maGDYzRbXif3vQ21Y43nDwCxR/s640/095.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Look for this new Sandcastle structure that replaced the smaller one in the toddler section of Duke's Lagoon. The new larger sandcastle is more interactive, and you can even go inside it!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-60146974495870267192012-06-24T08:36:00.002-07:002012-06-24T08:36:34.567-07:00Your DW Pass at Hersheypark<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dco0Yz4UxAUYnsRKLojKSMfhmECTYzSRS-gSaPBJkVFlblZXcbeDifd6rSrc4SjAMnG8poxbESBcFHVlU9LASRkhhqwoaVTs2Pi2eLITHzg8P_ErUlxkc5gUOxx4mhYQqxlBslkitv7K/s1600/hersheypark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><em><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dco0Yz4UxAUYnsRKLojKSMfhmECTYzSRS-gSaPBJkVFlblZXcbeDifd6rSrc4SjAMnG8poxbESBcFHVlU9LASRkhhqwoaVTs2Pi2eLITHzg8P_ErUlxkc5gUOxx4mhYQqxlBslkitv7K/s1600/hersheypark.jpg" /></em></a><em>I was curious to see if my Dutch Wonderland season pass would offer me any benefits once inside Hersheypark...</em><br />
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Dutch Wonderland is no longer owned by the Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, but there is still some association between the two parks. Both parks offer a Gold Pass as a Season Pass option which entitles the holder to unlimited admission to both The Sweetest Place on Earth and the Kingdom for Kids for a whole calendar year. Beyond that offer, regular season pass holders of Dutch Wonderland can receive $10.00 off a full-day admission to Hersheypark. <br />
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We went to Hershey this past week. I had Comp. tickets from last year, but figured it wouldn't hurt to see if my DW pass would allow me any other discounts or benefits once at Hersheypark. It was a hit or miss affair, but mostly hit!<br />
<ul>
<li>I received free parking in the Hersheypark parking lot. That's a savings of $12.00!</li>
<li>We got a discount on lunch at Minetown Restaurant. (I forgot to check exactly what the discount was, but it was considerable.)</li>
<li>I also got a discount on treats at the Turkey Hill Ice Cream Parlor in the Boardwalk section.</li>
<li>The only time I was denied a discount was at one of the large gift shops just before you exit through the turnstiles.</li>
</ul>
Even though the Dutch Wonderland Season Pass Privileges and Guidelines states only the $10.00 discount for tickets, it's obviously worthwhile to bring your DW pass along and just ask. It can't hurt.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-27715651661386066082012-06-01T08:09:00.000-07:002012-06-01T08:09:07.361-07:00Merlin's Restaurant Opens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspes3bldn3FPkagfXTiDuL329N_7osAhj8Qcf2_e4ilKc5BKztFYAEhzUyTwluzpUg7UmbOLyaX3z8J3bQc0H_yoruRYOyPvBUCFlH1ihlnkiEOEPiXqg1SzEYKeP6rlrdqGD3FPD4Xye/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspes3bldn3FPkagfXTiDuL329N_7osAhj8Qcf2_e4ilKc5BKztFYAEhzUyTwluzpUg7UmbOLyaX3z8J3bQc0H_yoruRYOyPvBUCFlH1ihlnkiEOEPiXqg1SzEYKeP6rlrdqGD3FPD4Xye/s400/005.JPG" width="400" /></a>As we've already mentioned several times, Dutch Wonderland enters the business of full-service restaurants with the debut of <strong><span style="color: magenta;">Merlin's Restaurant</span></strong> - located inside DW's iconic Wonderland Castle. The new dining facility replaces half of the Castle Gift Shop as well as a portion of the former Castle Cafe. Merlin's offers a slightly more relaxed dining experience than the hustle and bustle of the Mill Stream Eatery. You enter the restaurant through an entrance located next to the Royal Family Photos booth in the front of the park. During construction, it looked as if you would be able to visit the restaurant without admission to the park, but that is not the case.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQm-0sr6g9j-awo8-XAOCmTiwx-VUOL9x4MALBAHxnd-NQKf8c7Hi3wkocoxaW-7Gphob0ane8duTS37tNp2SAvKtPcS0_3aJJv3j-93sBcwnbw493NAJCaSB0O_AF05zv87OTHHn3lnd/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQm-0sr6g9j-awo8-XAOCmTiwx-VUOL9x4MALBAHxnd-NQKf8c7Hi3wkocoxaW-7Gphob0ane8duTS37tNp2SAvKtPcS0_3aJJv3j-93sBcwnbw493NAJCaSB0O_AF05zv87OTHHn3lnd/s320/001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Merlin himself now resides at DW. On this particular day, he was pretty much stationed right inside the main entrance all day greeting guests to the park. Merlin will also be part of the park's new reservations only Character Breakfast experience which will be held at Merlin's Restaurant beginning in July.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPUn1zrUn1V5wRBk-7q0X4txhmV3UP0u3RoHdWE9HvRVYYGZT9hP2VKKsWnYBZ739mYy1DWKzBF1GUPcs9VSPlaicIo2jiSBnJn3TDlcImaB4J9_GemvRZ-VJJhmcbREpdCH5BbuA5Is7/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPUn1zrUn1V5wRBk-7q0X4txhmV3UP0u3RoHdWE9HvRVYYGZT9hP2VKKsWnYBZ739mYy1DWKzBF1GUPcs9VSPlaicIo2jiSBnJn3TDlcImaB4J9_GemvRZ-VJJhmcbREpdCH5BbuA5Is7/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A nice overview of the menu, posted outside the restaurant's doors.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Crt49aLJ7ca8bJbiTkmGLkBjvP6UT2gzD0C-vM3r9fPRkbU42dotUlEgwyTuWSJk6svFSCf2M0uRwCMNuiooAgLCJU0ILhAXd3jnEmA6ZdGrnWOARk4aTy1GKYnWliVMIfn-GojdhUAs/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Crt49aLJ7ca8bJbiTkmGLkBjvP6UT2gzD0C-vM3r9fPRkbU42dotUlEgwyTuWSJk6svFSCf2M0uRwCMNuiooAgLCJU0ILhAXd3jnEmA6ZdGrnWOARk4aTy1GKYnWliVMIfn-GojdhUAs/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This insane sandwich seems out of place on the menu at a park geared towards 2 to 10 year olds.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1MRKoQqPRPwVkUxouFMBKa_Co5nuoVaYZA9y0A5i4WyZiT7VXIPEm4e2FRfnKTKoBnyyHgJoAzIy8MVOInLIn6XCnGGB7Awh5PAjDcmzvLfz6MB3ug5A7MRn2dGjMR7gB3MxaPU2I7x-/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1MRKoQqPRPwVkUxouFMBKa_Co5nuoVaYZA9y0A5i4WyZiT7VXIPEm4e2FRfnKTKoBnyyHgJoAzIy8MVOInLIn6XCnGGB7Awh5PAjDcmzvLfz6MB3ug5A7MRn2dGjMR7gB3MxaPU2I7x-/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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During construction it did not appear that the venue would seat many people, but the actual size of the restaurant should accommodate large crowds with a minimal wait time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMgxHGVPCsXeBwucWAYP7lYNqWDWGBRbGEhHGud_p6yUYVnfqJ70foKFeSlB7Nch8I8WT9n6Zcnd7sGyZwRU2FgmUHHKjswVwXcbEqK2TAOwfdQKwlAdTN1SWEIV6OYS_X_Wfh5c8Pz4G/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMgxHGVPCsXeBwucWAYP7lYNqWDWGBRbGEhHGud_p6yUYVnfqJ70foKFeSlB7Nch8I8WT9n6Zcnd7sGyZwRU2FgmUHHKjswVwXcbEqK2TAOwfdQKwlAdTN1SWEIV6OYS_X_Wfh5c8Pz4G/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The layout is comprised of tables and chairs and booths which could easily hold 6 people.</div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kljEiv7gzpyJ55Rc1neUXxNFDf1gU6ETsR-eou2MjWaumR8v7a1D3qqz78w9wOOHBpHYde-NyFalpq8RymfQlZWuQFuBMTC1Cm17v6tKE0Kqmi_LvQ0lymDf1dGAR7MpkaNysATPyNow/s320/022.JPG" width="240" /></div>
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On to the menu...the offerings are an attempt to step up a notch from the normal amusement park food. Their signature dish is the <strong><span style="color: magenta;">Dragon Fire and Ice</span></strong>. It's a goblet of creamy Mac n' Cheese served with buffalo chicken bites and crumbled blue cheese on top. (They were out of the blue cheese on my visit.) The mac n' cheese was really good and the buffalo bites were tasty as well. They mixed nice together, and I'm sure the blue cheese would have added the Ice to the Fire & Ice. It's kind of a small portion for $10.99, it comes with two sides - I had fries and a garden salad.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLdMuMFpQv1kN-qqvPoGf6uUygcSDifowgzP78vCjSl07ww4R5n62vF5OopawsdoCYvJb0ZFO-86FljjdNDCkJc-pNeBNk0EN41kItcZ1ZZ7QVOqG20UC0po_Gp4SWcfEr4woj9xduV0m/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLdMuMFpQv1kN-qqvPoGf6uUygcSDifowgzP78vCjSl07ww4R5n62vF5OopawsdoCYvJb0ZFO-86FljjdNDCkJc-pNeBNk0EN41kItcZ1ZZ7QVOqG20UC0po_Gp4SWcfEr4woj9xduV0m/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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There are had been some preopening hype that Merlin's was to offer Gluten Free menu options...here's the option: A plate of <strong><span style="color: magenta;">chicken tenders and star shaped tater tots</span></strong>. I believe this was the exact same offering at the Castle Cafe. It's also the most kid friendly choice on the menu, but does not come in a kid meal size - so you'll be paying $9.99 which is a bit high for a child's meal.</div>
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A nice touch at the new restaurant is the use of Souvenir cups. Not only do they sell them, but they also honor the 99 cents refill policy of the park. So drinks don't need to set you back three bucks a person.</div>
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Overall review: The room has nice atmosphere. It does feel like you are eating in a whimsical medieval castle. Bright colors and interesting lighting fixtures help to sell that story. The menu offers some unique dishes but too unique for kids. In a park geared toward children, ordering off a simple kids menu of staples like pizza, chicken tenders, hot dog, hamburger ect. ect. would make things alot easier for a parent who has had a long day in the park. The upcoming character breakfast should add a nice touch to the park's lineup of experiences.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-26819505292907752072012-05-30T04:37:00.000-07:002012-05-30T04:37:16.130-07:00Vintage Brochure<div style="text-align: center;">
Today we have for your viewing pleasure, a very old brochure announcing the wonders of Dutch Wonderland! I would imagine this publicity material is from one of the very first few seasons of the park as there are not many rides listed as attractions. See if you can pick out what's gone and what's still kicking!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3QYeKgntvwiST_X2PzOuyDnQ7EsAOvC0ncMtpsBYaMg2hkDMqckeYE79ztmlKmCuWQB2pjaahjVWRsfEjr3S5e3KY3VrO-2aAadhq_djOTAK4JxbUu62g4eWeHBMkEXY11fQ_H01nb_f/s1600/oldbrochure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="499" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3QYeKgntvwiST_X2PzOuyDnQ7EsAOvC0ncMtpsBYaMg2hkDMqckeYE79ztmlKmCuWQB2pjaahjVWRsfEjr3S5e3KY3VrO-2aAadhq_djOTAK4JxbUu62g4eWeHBMkEXY11fQ_H01nb_f/s640/oldbrochure.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-31485015420876259652012-05-22T07:18:00.000-07:002012-05-22T07:18:38.632-07:00Merlin's Opens, Bikes For Dad<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF13mvovIgJCtokNKhHhkF6Q_UJEk-WRD88K4LOewF_nHq06YIyS9JFgNRCOplyRefiMwurgrxhgxkqK9HfCK8H6yES7MMcmF2oh9A5pLs9kxNFd6UqobSP-m1WXUZNkevSfvLrtg7mGV-/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF13mvovIgJCtokNKhHhkF6Q_UJEk-WRD88K4LOewF_nHq06YIyS9JFgNRCOplyRefiMwurgrxhgxkqK9HfCK8H6yES7MMcmF2oh9A5pLs9kxNFd6UqobSP-m1WXUZNkevSfvLrtg7mGV-/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Progress at Merlin's as of 5/12/12</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This was the scene just a few weeks ago at the future home of Dutch Wonderland's first full service restaurant, <strong><span style="color: purple;">Merlin's</span></strong>. Now, according to the DW website, Merlin is scheduled to host his first guests this Saturday - May 26th. I assume a table at Merlin's will require a little more than just walking up and grabbing a table. The space appears to be somewhat small but more importantly, Dutch Wonderland has a very dedicated Season Pass crowd that is probably anxious to try out this new experience. Given that character meals at Walt Disney World are hugely popular, one can only assume that the same magic (demand) will be felt on a smaller scale at the Kingdom For Kids. Anyone who is lucky enough to snag a table on opening day will also be entered into a drawing for a Free Character Breakfast in the near future.<br />
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Also just announced for Father's Day, the <span style="color: purple;"><strong>OCC Sunoco Chopper</strong></span> motorcycle will be on display at the park. The custom-built bike is the first to resemble a vintage board-track racer and reflects the key elements of Sunoco’s history. I know nothing about cars, yet alone motorcycles, so that last sentence meant nothing to me but the bike will be near the Fun Slide <strong><span style="color: purple;">Sunday, June 14 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m</span></strong>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391253421177068596.post-88971310879306309142012-05-21T07:25:00.000-07:002012-05-21T07:25:14.695-07:00Duke's Lagoon Opens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are three things you need to know about Dutch Wonderland this weekend:
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<ol>
<li>Duke's Lagoon opens!</li>
<li>Saturday and Sunday are the first days of the season the park is open until 8:30pm</li>
<li>Daily operations begin Memorial Day, however the park is only open until 6:00pm until June 8 (except for the weekends)
</li>
</ol>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0