*Please note that as of 10/2024, Dorney Park is rebranding and changes are being made to the kids' area that was once known as Planet Snoopy. I am leaving my post up for now and will update when I hear new information.
Disclosure: this is not a sponsored post (which means Dorney Park and Planet Snoopy didn't give me anything for writing this, nor did they ask me to visit or blog about my experience. I paid for my tickets just like you, and I'm sharing my honest thoughts, 'cause that's what I do).
Check out my review below to see all of the awesomely cute rides and attractions inside Planet Snoopy!
*Please note that as of 10/2024, Dorney Park is rebranding and changes are being made to the kids' area that was once known as Planet Snoopy. I am leaving my post up for now and will update when I hear new information.
2024 Free Pre-K Passes
The Dorney Park Pre-K Pass grants complimentary admission to children ages 3 to 5 years old for the entire 2024 season with the purchase of a Gold Pass. Here's what you need to do:
-Purchase a Gold Pass
-Register online before going to the park (you can't register at the park)
-Bring your child to the park to activate their pass (on any public operating day in 2024).
-Your child must be present, and proof of age (original or copy of birth certificate or travel passport) will be required.
Great Pumpkin Fest (Open Seasonally)
*Please note that as of 10/2024, Dorney Park is rebranding and changes are being made to the kids' area that was once known as Planet Snoopy. I am leaving my post up for now and will update when I hear new information. No Great Pumpkin Fest is being held this year.
Dorney Park may be known for its Halloween Haunt, but did you know they also have the ultimate fall festival, The Great Pumpkin Fest, specifically for the younger crowd? Families and kids can participate in a collection of scare-free Halloween activities for kids presented by the PEANUTS™ characters like mask making, a petting zoo with farm animals and more. It's all included with your admission to Dorney Park during the fall. Events are held during the day in the Wildwater Kingdom section of the park, so young kiddos will not have to worry about coming in contact with the Haunt creatures of the night! Here's what's happening at this year's Great Pumpkin Fests:
-Charlie Brown's Craft Corner
-Great Pumpkin Pedal Cars
-Linus Hay Bale Maze
-Lucy's Lucky Chance Games
-Peppermint Patty's Petting Zoo
-Trick or Treat Street
-Pig Pen's People Washer
-Character Meet and Greets
-Schroeder's Silent Disco
Great Pumpkin Fest Shows include:
-The Great Pumpkin Stage
-Linus Hay Bale Maze
-Lucy's Lucky Chance Games
-Peppermint Patty's Petting Zoo
-Trick or Treat Street
-Pig Pen's People Washer
-Character Meet and Greets
-Schroeder's Silent Disco
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| photo from DorneyPark.com |
Great Pumpkin Fest Shows include:
-The Great Pumpkin Stage
-Charlie Brown's Pirate Adventure
-Sally's Costume Contest
-Franklin's Spooky Dance Party
-Balloon Art Show
Where is Planet Snoopy?
Planet Snoopy is part of Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It's easily accessible from Rt 78- so easy, in fact, that you can see it from the highway. It's very exciting for the little ones when you catch sight of the roller coasters and Snoopy's head off in the distance. There is a fee for parking but I don't know exact cost. The only positive is that the parking lot is fairly close to the park entrance. You won't need to take a tram, shuttle bus or airplane to actually get to the park. Another positive is that Planet Snoopy is located right on the edge of Dorney Park, so as soon as you get into the park, just head to the left and you'll find Snoopy's giant arch welcoming you.
-Sally's Costume Contest
-Franklin's Spooky Dance Party
-Balloon Art Show
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| photo from DorneyPark.com |
Where is Planet Snoopy?
Planet Snoopy is part of Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It's easily accessible from Rt 78- so easy, in fact, that you can see it from the highway. It's very exciting for the little ones when you catch sight of the roller coasters and Snoopy's head off in the distance. There is a fee for parking but I don't know exact cost. The only positive is that the parking lot is fairly close to the park entrance. You won't need to take a tram, shuttle bus or airplane to actually get to the park. Another positive is that Planet Snoopy is located right on the edge of Dorney Park, so as soon as you get into the park, just head to the left and you'll find Snoopy's giant arch welcoming you.
Planet Snoopy and Dorney Park are both cashless parks!
What's Inside of Planet Snoopy?
It's just oozing cuteness!! There are 16 rides in Planet Snoopy, as well as a live show, a souvenir shop and food stands. The rides range in speed and intensity, so check out their website and signs before each ride to see if they are right for your child.
The park is adorable with its bright colors and characters everywhere. Snoopy and his friends visit the park throughout the day, and there is a little show they put on for the kids in an outdoor theater with dancing and music. This picture was from a few years ago, but you can see how cute and interactive the characters are!
There are slow rides and fast rides. One of my favorites was Snoopy's Rocket Express, which takes you for a slow ride high above the park. You can see everything and it's very peaceful! Sadly, that giant blow-up Snoopy pictured below is no longer in the park, but there are plenty of other things to see.
Check out the cute spinning Flying Ace Balloon Race- it's fairly mild and fun!
What's Inside of Planet Snoopy?
It's just oozing cuteness!! There are 16 rides in Planet Snoopy, as well as a live show, a souvenir shop and food stands. The rides range in speed and intensity, so check out their website and signs before each ride to see if they are right for your child.
The park is adorable with its bright colors and characters everywhere. Snoopy and his friends visit the park throughout the day, and there is a little show they put on for the kids in an outdoor theater with dancing and music. This picture was from a few years ago, but you can see how cute and interactive the characters are!
There are slow rides and fast rides. One of my favorites was Snoopy's Rocket Express, which takes you for a slow ride high above the park. You can see everything and it's very peaceful! Sadly, that giant blow-up Snoopy pictured below is no longer in the park, but there are plenty of other things to see.
Check out the cute spinning Flying Ace Balloon Race- it's fairly mild and fun!
My son's favorite ride by far was the roller coaster known as Woodstock Express. We rode this TEN times. Yes, TEN. Not in a row, but TEN times total. And I must say that it's a pretty fast roller coaster for such a small ride. Adults can ride it but it's made for kids, so if you go along with your little one, be prepared for some jostling. You can also buy a souvenir photo of yourself on the ride when it's done.
There are some great photo ops in Planet Snoopy. They are usually open weekends in the Fall, so you can get some cute Halloween-themed pictures with your favorite characters (but just know that Dorney Park itself is covered in monsters and zombies at that time of year, especially after dark!).
Food and Souvenirs
The food within Planet Snoopy is adorable, too. It changes each year, but one year the kids' meals were in little cardboard doghouses. A few years ago we bought these giant plastic Woodstock and Snoopy drink cups/thermos, which came with free refills throughout the day.
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| A plastic straw pops out of the top of the hat! |
The gift shop has a variety of cute Peanuts items in it. Snoopy fans can't miss this, as there are t-shirts, mugs, stuffed animals, key chains (and more) that you can't find anywhere else. We also made one of our favorite flattened pennies here. We make these whenever we see a penny machine, and we have a special book to keep all of them in. They make great little souvenirs!
How Much Are Tickets for Planet Snoopy?
*Just to note, tickets to Dorney Park and Planet Snoopy differ off-season or during their seasonal events. Ticket prices during the summer and on-season are usually higher. So if you are purchasing tickets for The Haunt or The Great Pumpkin Fest, please check their website for the most accurate pricing.
All tickets provide entrance to Planet Snoopy, Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom. There are varieties of packages and deals you can purchase online, so check their site for specific details. Please check their website for accurate pricing info, and follow them on social media for discounts and promo codes!
Jersey Momma Money Saving Tips:
*Online ticket pricing is a little cheaper, so your best bet is to purchase there. You'll also avoid purchase lines at the gate. You do have to pay a processing fee for buying online, but your total cost will still be less than buying at the gate. You can save a few bucks by purchasing their 'pick a date' ticket, which must be purchased 48 hours in advance of your visit (if available, online only).
*They sometimes offer early bird prices (before certain dates in June) and discounts to Seniors, so check all of their info before purchasing. They offer food packages and other deals, so find what's best for you!
*Some towns sell theme park tickets at discounted rates. Check into your local recreation department to see if they offer this option. It might be cheaper than the online price if you're lucky!
*I also once found a local Costco selling discounted tickets. If you happen to be near a Costco, you might want to inquire, as I don't know if they do this every year or not.
*Please note that as of 10/2024, Dorney Park is rebranding and changes are being made to the kids' area that was once known as Planet Snoopy. I am leaving my post up for now and will update when I hear new information.
JERSEY MOMMA PARK TIPS:
*food is expensive in the park (isn't it always?). They say you are not supposed to bring food in, but we saw people with very small collapsible coolers eating inside the park. But do this at your own risk because it's not really within their rules!
*each guest is permitted to bring one sealed water bottle within the park but they will make you throw out other drinks or a bottle that has been opened and refilled (like one that has a Crystal Light lemonade in it or something)
*even though we pre-purchased tickets, we still had to wait on line for a security bag check. But it went quickly and the guards were polite (pre-pandemic, so I'm not sure what the procedures are now).
*it's up to you whether or not you want to venture outside of Planet Snoopy (it's all connected, you just walk through). Just know that Dorney Park is a favorite of teenagers, especially the water park area. Most teenagers seem to stay out of Planet Snoopy. Planet Snoopy usually remains pretty calm with short, quick lines (if any). But you CAN wander into the park if you have older children with you or if you think you want to visit some other rides. There is a chaperone policy in place at Dorney Par.
*There really isn't any stroller parking outside of the rides in Planet Snoopy, so you kind of have to just leave your stroller parked by the curbs. I wore a very unfashionable fanny pack to keep my money in, so there were no valuables left in the stroller.
*I avoid crowds at all costs, so I tend to do a lot of my day trips during the week. I don't know what crowds are like on weekends, but I always suggest getting anywhere as early as you can.
*Check out the Planet Snoopy website for ticket prices, hours and descriptions of rides.
All in all, when it comes to cost, you have to remind yourself of this: your child is only this young once. There is a small window of time to visit a place like this, before it becomes too 'babyish.' So in my mind, I save up my money for the right moment, I cut corners when I can (okay, I admit that I even skipped lunch in the park to save a few bucks- I just had a pretzel) and I basically just suck it up. I think, in the end, it's worth it to see the smile on my child's face and to make some amazing memories. But you'll need to decide that for yourself.
Disclaimer: I was NOT compensated in ANY way by Dorney Park or Planet Snoopy, nor was I invited to visit. I'm just sharing my review with you because that's how I roll.
I had a reader ask me about height requirements on rides. Each ride varies but older siblings can ride with younger ones if they meet the height requirement. Adults can ride on all of the rides with their kids except the helicopter ride (and they can't go in the bounce house, but they can sit outside in the viewing area!).
ReplyDeleteThis looks absolutely amazing and I am disappointed that they don't have a Snoopy theme park here in the UK! If I ever manage to go to the USA I will be looking out for this!
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking up to the #WeekendBlogHop
Laura x x x
Thanks for visiting, Laura! We are definitely lucky to have Planet Snoopy over here. Don't you guys have the Thomas theme park? Or is that in Germany?
DeleteSuch fun for the little ones! Great review.
ReplyDeleteFun for us adults, too! Thanks for visiting and always being so supportive, Rebecca!
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