Dutch Wonderland has been a family amusement park in Lancaster, PA since 1963. Recently, Palace Entertainment, owner of both Dutch Wonderland and the Cartoon Network, purchased a motel on the adjacent property and turned it into the Cartoon Network Hotel. An overnight stay at the CN Hotel makes a visit to Dutch Wonderland easy and fun for families coming from anywhere within the DC to NY corridor. The trip described below was with a seven year old on a summer day. We also visited Dutch Wonderland when our kids were 2 and 5, which were great ages for enjoying the park. 

The Practical Takeaways for Visiting Dutch Wonderland

• Dutch Wonderland with a stay at the Cartoon Network Hotel is very affordable and convenient if you’re looking for a one-night family trip within 3 hours of DC or NY. 
• This amusement park is best suited for kids under 8 years old – older kids will not find the rides thrilling enough. It’s perfect if you’ve never taken your kids to a theme park and are looking to try it out before planning that trip to Disney (more on that here).

The Cartoon Network Hotel

I was quite skeptical about booking here after reading Google and Yelp reviews, but was pleasantly surprised and would recommend a stay (knowing what to expect). Do not come thinking this is a themed amusement park hotel like you’d find at Disney World – lower your expectations. 

Before its renovation, the Cartoon Network Hotel facility was a side of the road motel for almost forty years (think Schitt’s Creek). Now, its bright and colorful decor, open lawn with firepits, and indoor and outdoor water features give it a fresh life at an extremely affordable price (I paid $140 for the night). 

The lobby area features an arcade that is open 24/7, a cafe, and restaurant. The food is pretty standard and I’m fairly certain there isn’t anything green and/or healthy on the menu, but the space is fun and perfect for kids. What really made it special though was the staff. Adjacent to the arcade is the “toon room” with scheduled activities for kids. After breakfast my son and his friend picked up a scavenger hunt activity and staff throughout the building actively engaged with and encouraged them to find the hidden features to win a prize. Given the cost to stay here, I was surprised by the amount of activities.

One downside we found was that the outdoor pool was only open from noon until 8pm. These hours were somewhat limiting for us – we arrived at 7:40pm, so we squeezed in 20 minutes of pool time and left for Dutch Wonderland when it opened at 10am, missing out on any pool time before check out. I’d just be aware of this if you are planning a trip that is less than 24 hours. 

Dutch Wonderland

This princess and knight themed amusement park is great for families with kids under eight. At just 48 acres, it is relatively small and manageable. We accomplished what we set out to do in four hours. If not for the heat, we may have stayed another hour. We walked on to almost every ride without any wait and it was easy to move around without crowds. A train ride, skyliner, and monorail provide options for seeing the entirety of the park while resting your legs for a bit. There are also timed performances, including the impressive diving show.  

There are three coasters, all great for kids who are seeking a thrill, but aren’t quite ready for anything too scary. We particularly enjoyed Merlin’s Mayhem, the fastest coaster, which packs a lot into a 26 second inverted roller coaster. Other than the three coasters, almost all rides are somewhat slow and kids can ride them on their own. 

Given the heat, we were happy to visit Duke Lagoon’s water park. It features a spray ground and a few slides. It’s not a big water park, but just right if you’re looking to cool off.

As experienced in both of our trips here, the concession stands seemed very understaffed and required some patience. Like the hotel, this is not a place to expect high quality food. The options are chicken fingers, burgers, and fries. I did manage to find a banana to get at least one piece of fruit for the day. It was frozen and coated in chocolate and coconut (and delicious).  

A Few Extra Tips

• Consider bringing your own lunch and snacks to the park in a backpack.
• For fans of Disney World, there is a Pineapple Dole Whip Stand near Duke’s Lagoon.
• If you are staying at the Cartoon Network Hotel, you do not need to pay for parking for Dutch Wonderland. The two destinations are within walking distance, though oddly there is no pathway connecting them.
• I would not drive the distance just to go to the park or just to go to the hotel. Together though, they make a fun, kid-friendly trip. You can also add on many other family activities in and around Lancaster. Check out the Turkey Hill Experience, the Strasburg Railroad, or many of the nearby farms. There are also plenty of breweries to check out nearby, including Lancaster Brewing.  
• Think you’re ready for Disney? Here are some tips.

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