OT-Darien Lake Advice?

[Hug the Mouse]

Hi folks,

Just starting some summer vacation planning and thinking of heading to Darien Lake. We've visited for the day several years ago, but are thinking of staying on site for a couple days and maybe taking in a concert at the performing arts center.

For anyone who's stayed in the past, would you recommend either the hotel or an RV/trailer?
Are there big name hotels close by that are better value?

It seems that a 2 night minimum stay is required during the summer, which makes it a little expensive. We found it to be a nice smaller park--less crowded than Wonderland. We haven't been there since it was sold by Six Flags. Has the park been kept up?

Thanks in advance for any tips!

HTM

 

[MamaLema]

No help from me, but our family is also interested so I am bumping this!

 

[disneyfan2]

i haven't been there is in about 3 years, and i was disappointed then. Hoping that things are much better now. The 2 night night stay was quite high. i wish they had 1 night stays,. But would like to know if anyone had better experience the past few years.

We stopped going to Wonderland because the crowds are unbearable in the summer, and the staff was terrible. We had seasons passes a few years back and i could not find helpful staff the entire season, but then i am now spoiled by Disney

 

[formill]

Have you seen their new "brown bear cabins" on their web site- they look really nice. http://www.staydarienlake.com/cabins.aspx We have stayed in the hotel which seemed like a really long walk around the lake to the park entrance when you wanted to just go back there for something-in reality I guess it did take maybe 10 minutes or so to walk. The hotel had good sized rooms-2 beds and sofa bed. We have stayed in the rental trailers too-I would only stay in the newer ones some of the old ones are just shabby and can be VERY far from the park entrance. I hate that you have to take all your own bedding and cooking stuff-there is nothing in the trailers. The rental trailers were nice to be able to cook for yourself and have a place to sit outside and have a campfire(check though many just have microwaves no oven-we take a BBQ). We found there are not a lot of eating options at the park and what there was - was expensive and not so great. We love Darien Lake but would not pay what they ask for at peak times- we have always stayed there in the fall and there are many weekends they do allow you to stay just one night as the park is only open on the Saturday and Sunday. When you stay in the fall they let you keep your room or trailer all day on the Sunday as no one is coming into them- in peak season you have to check out on your last day but you can still go in the theme park for the whole day. I would love to take the kids again this year- and we all LOVE the laser light show they have at night.

 

[LuvDisney3]

We go to Darien Lake camping once a summer for the weekend and love it. We either rent a RV or tent it. We have never stayed in the hotel or the cabins so I can not speak about those. We go in June as it is cheaper as it is not "peak season" and if you book before March 31st you get 20% off.

I love how you can wake up in the morning, have breakfast and get ready and then just walk into the park. You don't have to worrk about packing a lunch as you can walk back to your campsite to eat lunch and have a little break before going back in. The same goes for dinner.

The past few years there has been a laser/fireworks show at 10:00pm, which is fun, and this year I rec'd a notice that the Imagination Movers will be preforming daily at 3:00pm on the same stage.

The park is a small park, but my DS8 and DS6 love it!!!!

If you have any specific questions, please let me know.

 

[mlegerto]

I went last summer (in aug) with 3 other friends...so 4 of us in total. We stayed on site in the hotel (we thought it would be nicer to have relief from the heat during the summer months). We had a great time. The hotels were clean and the staff were very helpful and nice to all of us (no disney tho LOL).

Anyways...you have to remember that when you book the hotel the cost of your room also includes your park passes for the entire length of your stay. SO the day we were checkin in we were able to go in the park all day and the day we checked out we were allowed in the parks as well (even though we had already checked out).

We got an amazing deal. We got one of there promo codes (that they advertise right on their website) and ended up paying like $53 USD a night. Keep your eyes open for advertisements on their website (but i believe they being offering them later on in the summer to fill up any open rooms).

 

[Hug the Mouse]

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts and experiences. As much as I'd like to stay onsite, I can't justify the cost when it is a minimum 2 night stay.

We're going to a Paramore concert (DD graduation gift + first real concert) so the park tickets are just a $10 add-on, and I booked a room in Batavia for $120. I'll keep checking the Darien site for deals, but I suspect with the number of concerts happening in August, there won't be many.

 

[Hug the Mouse]

Just back from a great time at Darien Lake. Found a meal deal to stay at the Lodge on the Lake. I booked it through Genesee County tourism website. It included a voucher per guest, per night stay, for a combo meal at numerous stands in the park. It was about an $80 value for our family of 5.


http://geneseeny.com/orgMain.asp?orgid=22&sID=&storyID=1518&storytypeid=4

It was nice to stay onsite as we could easily walk 8 minutes back to the hotel.

The park had a nice assortment of rides and our longest wait was maybe 40 minutes for the MotoCoaster. Often the wait was 10 minutes or less. It was busier on Saturday and Sunday due to carry over crowd from Tim McGraw concert Friday, and Paramore concert Sunday night(which we attended and was a great show---nice 15 minute stroll through the deserted park back to the hotel).

We went to the waterpark area, Splashworks, on Sunday afternoon and it was packed. The usual assortment of beach towels enjoying their own lounge chairs, while my bum had to settle for a hard peice of grass We did a lap in the lazy river (which was nice as they don't let people swim/walk like Great Wolf---bum needs to be in tube floating along) We only stayed an hour as it was clouding over and too busy.

The kids were asking when we can go back, so I guess it was a hit. I feel we definately got great value for our visit.