Dutch Wonderland help!! Trying to plan a trip!

1. not sure what hotel to stay in

2. should we eat in the park, outside of the park, etc. (read some conflicting reviews)

3. my kids range from 0 - 4 so i am not sure how many days we need to spend there and when to leave to get there, etc. for example - leave in the afternoon, sleep there and then go there the next day? is that why people do the 'preview' plan?

4. what 'is' the preview?

5. can i go now in the summer? is it too hot? are there 'water' things there or nearby for the kids?




THANK YOU!

Message edited 7/4/2012 9:28:32 PM.

Re: Dutch Wonderland help!! Trying to plan a trip!

1. not sure what hotel to stay in

We stayed at the Best Western Eden Resort in the main part of the hotel. Our room opened onto the indoor pool. I loved that we could walk right from our room to the pool. I would bring swim floats. However if you are at all worried that a child could escape then this might not be the room for you.

The other hotel I have heard wonderful things about is Willow Valley.

2. should we eat in the park, outside of the park, etc. (read some conflicting reviews)

We ate lunch at the park and it was ok. DD liked her chicken nuggets. DS did not like his burger. DH and I had Chinese food. It was ok.

3. my kids range from 0 - 4 so i am not sure how many days we need to spend there and when to leave to get there, etc. for example - leave in the afternoon, sleep there and then go there the next day? is that why people do the 'preview' plan?

We left our home (in NJ) AT 8:45 AM and arrived at DW at 10:45. It was great because we missed the rush hour traffic. There was free parking. The park was pleasantly full.
We spent one day at the park from 10:45-5:45 pm. We then went to Strasburg and Hershey. I think two days is plenty for DW. I would go to the PA Rail Road museum and the outlets.

4. what 'is' the preview?
I think the preview is a few hours before the park closes the night before you go.

5. can i go now in the summer? is it too hot? are there 'water' things there or nearby for the kids?

I think it is only open in the summer. There is a water park inside of DW. The day we went it was to cool to use the water park.

Re: Dutch Wonderland help!! Trying to plan a trip!

You only need one day in the park. We haven't done the preview day. There are a lot of other things to do in Lancaster. We have stayed at Eden Resort and Country Inn & suites.
There is a new restaurant in the castle at DW with waiter service. We ate there. It was pretty good.