In my recent Six Flags America (SFA) trip report, “Six Flags America – Wet Not Wild,” I mentioned stepping back from focusing on roller coasters once in a while, instead enjoying a park as a whole. Well, yesterday’s trip to Dutch Wonderland was the perfect place to do just that. Sure, a few months ago when Sam, Greg, and I purchased our tickets, we did so with the intent of getting them three new credits. In the days leading up to this trip, however, I told them that I didn’t want to do just a credit stop and head out. I wanted to stay and enjoy the park. Much to my happiness, they both felt the same.
Yesterday’s trip allowed the three of us to not only ride some roller coasters, but appreciate some smaller flat rides as well. On top of that, with Dutch Wonderland’s focus on kids and family, the visit was a break from the norm of extreme thrills and intensity. And do you know what? We loved it! It let us appreciate what we loved about amusement parks growing up and let us be kids for a day.
We Came for the Coasters
My first visits to Dutch Wonderland came in the 1980’s before the park had a coaster in its ride line up. I was 13 years old when the first one would come to the park in Custom Coasters International’s (CCI) first installation, Sky Princess, now Kingdom Coaster. I got my first rides on it as a teenager, but was still visiting the park with my family at the time. My brother, Brian, who is five years younger, was still in that age range that was perfect for Dutch Wonderland, so we still made semi-regular visits in those days.
Over the decades that followed, I’d return to Dutch Wonderland only a few times. One of those visits was with my niece, Dalila, cousin, Dan, and my father, Bill. I’d pick up my first ride on Joust that visit. I finally was able to obtain the Merlin’s Mayhem credit last year, on August 27, 2020. Yesterday’s visit would be the first where I’d get to ride all three in one visit.
Merlin's Mayhem
I was so happy to see that the line for Merlin’s Mayhem yesterday was nothing like last year’s visit. Last year I was in line for over an hour on a scorching hot day, when masks were still mandated. It was miserable waiting, but the ride was quite enjoyable. I only rode it once, however, due to that dreadful wait time. You can read more about that visit in the trip report, “Dutch Wonderland – My 1 Hour Wait for Merlin’s Mayhem.”
This year’s trip allowed us to get in two rides, but we could have easily gotten in more had we desired. Our actually started the day with Merlin’s, sitting toward the front. Sam and Greg were surprised to see the theming inside the station, which I also took a liking to last year. The ride was fun, but less forceful than I remember it being – at least that first ride.
When we came back for our second ride, we sat toward the back. The ride had a little bit more pull going through its many turns. I’m not sure if it was due to where we sat, or if the ride had just warmed up. It was only in the 80’s yesterday, so that might have contributed.
Kingdom Coaster
I’ve raved about Kingdom Coaster’s amazing paint scheme on the site’s Instagram (@We_Were_Inverted_IG) as well as in a few blog in the past. I’ve always thought it was one of the most interesting paint schemes on a woodie. I even visited Dutch Wonderland back in February after a snow shower just to photograph the purple and teal coaster capped off with white snow. I knew it would look stunning. Check out the blog, “Dutch Wonderland – Snow Day Photos, Part 1,” if you’d to see those pictures.
Kingdom Coaster isn’t just nice to look at, however. It’s also a fun little ride. This junior-sized woodie has a nice layout that takes you out to the front of the park, has a small tunnel segment, and then travels back around before ending in a helix around a large tree. Depending on where you sit, you’ll feel some extra pull or airtime pops with the buzz bar and seat belt combo inside the trains. Don’t expect to be tossed out of your seat, but your backside will rise a time or two and you’ll surely be leaning sideways when the coaster turns around to head back toward the helix finale.
Joust
This coaster is such a popular ride with the little ones. Thankfully adults can also take it for a spin. When we walked from Merlin’s toward Kingdom Coaster upon our arrival, we saw that Joust was just about a walk on, so we got in line. I told Sam and Greg that since this can draw quite a line, we should just get it done.
Joust is in many ways, a great coaster for the park. It takes up very little room and helps get younger/smaller riders ready to move up to Kingdom Coaster, which sits right next door. I just wonder… What happened to the knight seen in the center of the course that is found on some of the ride’s older photos on the Roller Coaster Database (RCDB)?
We Stayed for the Rest
Growing up in the 80’s and visiting a lot of smaller and boardwalk parks, I’ve always had a fondness for your more basic, themed rides. Whether it’s a dark ride, boat ride, or random flat ride, I always feel that childlike nostalgia come over me whenever I’m presented with a chance to ride something along those lines. Dutch Wonderland is home to several rides of that ilk too. Sadly, some have moved on as I did not see the old Astro-Liner or Voyager space-themed rides during our visit.
One of the rides that has provided many rides over the years is Dragon’s Lair. If you’ve driven past Dutch Wonderland, you’ve surely seen this water-based attraction to the left of the iconic castle entrance. It’s not in any way a thrilling ride, but rather just a leisurely ride around the water and under the waterfall. Best of all, you can just feel the history of the park as you traverse the ride and take in its theming.
Without going into details about each and every non-coaster we rode, I’ll leave you with the ride count box below. A few of the rides were similar to Dragon’s Lair in that they were just a casual ride that traversed the park and allowed you to take in the views. And you know what? Each and every one of them were fun and relaxing at the same time.
Final Ride Counts
Double Splash Flume (1)
Dragon’s Lair (1)
Fun Slide (1)
Gondola Cruise (1)
Joust (1)
Kingdom Coaster (4)
Merlin’s Mayhem (2)
Sky Ride (1)
Turtle Whirl (1)
Twister (1)
Wonderland Special (1)
Back to Adulting Now
After our visit to Dutch Wonderland it’s now back to being adults again. That’s right… Work, taxes, rising gas prices, and all the other things we can’t stand dealing with every day. Want my advice? If you have a park like a Dutch Wonderland in your area, take one of your free days and go unwind. If you have kids, take them along so maybe they too can fall in love with the park and rides like we did. If if you don’t have kids, go anyhow. You can have yourself a nice, relaxing day that lets you focus positive memories from your past. It’s quite fulfilling, believe me!
Dutch Wonderland Photo Gallery - August 3, 2021
If you would like to use any of the images in the gallery above for your commercial and/or non-commercial projects, feel free to do so. I ask that you credit We Were Inverted whenever they’re used. I also ask that you do not alter the image or remove the watermarks. If you need any images/video resized or without the watermarks, please contact me directly.
CREW MANIFEST
The following flight crew members attended this park, & earned the respective credits below:
Patrick
CAG
New Credit(s): n/a
Sam
Admiral
New Credit(s): Joust, Kingdom Coaster, Merlin's Mayhem
Greg
Captain
New Credit(s): Joust, Kingdom Coaster, Merlin's Mayhem
