Okay, so its not Disney but...........

19 posts / 0 new

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 14:31

MrHub

Offline

Joined: 10/29/2009

Posts: 9504

Okay, so its not Disney but...........

We had a wonderful day today with our son and two Granddaughters. It also sort of quenched our ever growing Poly withdraw, but only for a day or so.

Our youngest son just went through a divorce and is has been having a few rough weeks, so to get his mind off things, he came to stay at our house for the weekend with the granddaughters and we went to Dutch Wonderland.

Its the first time I was ever there and its very cute, but its hysterical how they try to copy Disney, in every way. They have a Castle with a Princess, a Monorail, a train, they have two different types of boats you can take a ride on, there is a log flume type ride and there are roller coaster. They have carnival games too. They also have a photographer in different places that will snap a picture of you then give you a ticket with a number on it to go look at the photo to see if you want it or not. The one thing I really loved was this!

The Skyway ride! Man did that bring back memories. Wish Disney never got rid of theirs. This didn't have seatbelts of anything on it. just a bar that came over you.

Here was the first ride we went on, The Dragons Lair!

.be

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 14:55

MrHub

Offline

Joined: 10/29/2009

Posts: 9504

Oh and the best part for me this whole day, other than being there with the family, was that they have this:

And yup, I had it twice!

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 15:03

MrHub

Offline

Joined: 10/29/2009

Posts: 9504

Oh, and by the way, anyone that wants to complain about the food prices in Disney, go to this place, $60.00 for 3 adults & 2 children (7yo & 2yo). We each got 2 cheeseburgers with fries, chicken sliders w/fries, 1 mac & cheese and a hotdog and 4 waters. Hows that for a hefty price.

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 15:08

MrHub

Offline

Joined: 10/29/2009

Posts: 9504

We did have a really good time though.

Preview	Attachment	Size
	dscn1726.jpg	3.13 MB
	dscn1731.jpg	3.42 MB
	dscn1746.jpg	3.44 MB
	dscn1747.jpg	3.41 MB
	dscn1755.jpg	3.46 MB
	dscn1756.jpg	3.53 MB
	dscn1783.jpg	3.34 MB
	sany0001.jpg	2.04 MB
	sany0012.jpg	1.81 MB
	sany0006.jpg	338.72 KB

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 15:12

Vettelover

Offline

Joined: 03/28/2009

Posts: 4658

Wow! that "monorail" looks a little on the fragile side.

__________________

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 15:38

JanJ

Offline

Joined: 07/14/2013

Posts: 1681

Looks like you guys had a great time. I too miss the Sky Ride at Disney - that's one of the things I remember best from being there as a child.

__________________

September 2015 Trip Report

April 2015 Trip Report

January 2015 Trip Pics

September 2014 Trip Report

January 2014 Trip Report

September 2013 Trip Report

First Eastern Caribbean Cruise with NCL April 2014

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 15:42

AnnielovesDisney

Offline

Joined: 09/12/2013

Posts: 887

We never left PA for vacations when I was a kid so we either went to Dutch Wonderland, Hershey Park, or Kennywood. Glad you all had a good time and your grand daughters are cuties!

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 16:27

Magic Mirror

Offline

Joined: 09/18/2012

Posts: 2994

That was so nice of you to take the granddaughters & son out for a good time!
It is amazing the Disney touches they have replicated...I noticed even the ducks
are imitating THE Main Street Ducks!

__________________

www.facebook.com/balancedinnature

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 16:32

KenJ

Offline

Joined: 07/19/2013

Posts: 1562

Looks like a lot of fun MrHub!

Really interesting to see the Disney similarities and differences. I too wish they had the sky ride at WDW.

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 16:45

Ollie

Offline

Joined: 12/28/2011

Posts: 1039

That looks like a fun time!! I, too, grew up with smaller, local theme parks. We didn't go often (family were farmers without much free time or extra $$), but the few times we did go I still remember fondly.

Of course the two times in my childhood that we went to Disneyland are ETCHED in my memory. . . And continue to feed my love of all things Disney!!

__________________

If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
J. R. R. Tolkien

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 17:41

PirateGirl

Offline

Joined: 08/01/2012

Posts: 2037

It looked like you had a great day with your family. I noticed that the music playing in the background was "Under the Sea". Every year our family went to our local amusement park, "Kennywood" for our community day. It was and still is the first Wednesday in August.

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 19:09

crazycatperson

Offline

Joined: 09/19/2011

Posts: 3718

Wow. I haven't been to Dutch Wonderland since I was a teenager, although I've driven past it since then. Once, back in the 1990s, we spent a day with relatives who were doing Christmas stuff in Lancaster County and staying at the campground adjacent to Dutch Wonderland, so I got a glimpse of parts of the park (closed for the season at the time). It's sure not Disney World, but maybe we should give it a go again.

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 21:54

JoAnn C

Offline

Joined: 05/20/2011

Posts: 6757

Looks like a fun day. Your granddaughters are cute.

__________________

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 22:35

JMed

Offline

Joined: 02/16/2014

Posts: 3849

Love the "monorail"! Looks like a great time was had by all. The girls are adorable!

I too had a "It's not Disney" weekend but managed to work it in!!! Went to Charlotte NC see Justin Timberlake for the 2nd time (Mickey Mouse Club kid) and went shopping at the Disney Store in Pineville!!!!

__________________

"I do not like the cone of shame."

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell."

"It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell."

Jennifer Huotari | Create Your Badge

The Huotari's Disney Adventures | Promote Your Page Too

Mon, 07/14/2014 - 01:36

alicemouse

Offline

Joined: 10/22/2013

Posts: 2832

Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Mr. Hub!! It's been about 20 years since I've been there. It looks much like I remember--a little bit updated here and there. I can't see all of your pictures for some reason. DO they still have the giant slide and the house that you go in and sit on the bench and the whole house spins around you? Those were my favorites! Ooh and there use to be a cow that you could milk and a diving show! There was a ride--I think it was near the train--called Engine 99, another childhood favorite, but I think I remember being very disappointed that it was gone on our last trip there, so maybe it's not there anymore.

We noticed the same Disney plagiarism at Hersheypark a few weeks ago. I guess it makes sense--everyone tries to imitate the best, but I feel like these parks used to be original and unique. I don't like that they are trying to Disney-fy themselves. It just makes them look so shabby by comparison. They have great local marketshare, especially since Hershey and Dutch Wonderland have a business relationship. I'm not sure if Hershey actually owns DW, but I know they offer a single ticket with admission to both parks. I hope they don't lose their identity in pursuit of charging higher and higher admission rates and food prices!! We actually thought the food was cheap and really delicious at Hershey. I was shocked because I remember the food there being expensive and not tasty. I'm surprised that the same didn't hold true at DW.

Glad you enjoyed you trip to central PA. Let me know if you'll be over this way again--maybe we can have a WDWFG local chapter meet-up!

__________________

Be good at something. It makes you valuable. Have something to bring to the table because that will make you more welcome. --Randy Pausch

Find me on Facebook

Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.

Mon, 07/14/2014 - 13:29

Kris1971

Offline

Joined: 08/10/2011

Posts: 2350

Wow, I drove right by Dutch Wonderland the same day you were there. We were headed to my mother in-law's in Lancaster for a picnic! Looks like you had a great time! And now that I know they have Dole Whips, I may just have to stop next time!

__________________

Mon, 07/14/2014 - 13:30

jhugo

Offline

Joined: 01/11/2014

Posts: 717

Oh my gosh love the pictures! I had never heard of this place and now I may have to visit. Looks like you guys had a blast.

Mon, 07/14/2014 - 16:18

designedbydisney

Offline

Joined: 08/24/2013

Posts: 591

Your $60 for food complaint makes me chuckle on this side of the pond that would have been nearer to $100 for that order in one of our attractions. Looks like you had an awesome day though

Mon, 07/14/2014 - 19:08