Storyland NH

[scard192]

Anyone been there in the past year or 2? I'm wondering about the cost of food in the park; is it cheaper to bring in a picnic lunch? Can you do it all in one day? Also any reasonably priced clean hotels recommended? We are considering a trip up there this year with my 4 year old grand daughter and are thinking of staying at the Holiday Inn Express in North Conway. WDW is not in the budget for a couple of years.

Thanks in advance.

 

[donnajean17]

Anyone been there in the past year or 2? I'm wondering about the cost of food in the park; is it cheaper to bring in a picnic lunch? Can you do it all in one day? Also any reasonably priced clean hotels recommended? We are considering a trip up there this year with my 4 year old grand daughter and are thinking of staying at the Holiday Inn Express in North Conway. WDW is not in the budget for a couple of years.

Thanks in advance.

I took the family (I think DD was 4 and DS was 6) 2 years ago, and I would say as far as food goes it's typically priced for theme parks (though NOT as as expensive as Disney). We brought a lunch, as they have a storage area for coolers and stuff and lots of picnic tables. You can definately do it all in one day and a 4 year old will LOVE it, perfect age. Also the strollers there re FREE... which is a nice plus, you just have to get there early enough to get one.
North Conway is the ideal spot to stay as there is lots of stuff to do there also. I Believe that hotel you are referring too has a small indoor water park as well. Check with the hotel as most hotels in the Conway area have Storyland packages, where you can get your room and tickets for one price. Good luck and have fun!

 

[lindsmom]

Anyone been there in the past year or 2? I'm wondering about the cost of food in the park; is it cheaper to bring in a picnic lunch? Can you do it all in one day? Also any reasonably priced clean hotels recommended? We are considering a trip up there this year with my 4 year old grand daughter and are thinking of staying at the Holiday Inn Express in North Conway. WDW is not in the budget for a couple of years.

Thanks in advance.

Whoo hoo! We LOVE storyland!

We go every year (except this past season, I was 8 mos preg. with DS)...

You'll also hear from a few others (and try the family board, lots of people from there have been as well).

I consider the food very reasonable for a "theme" park. They also have some nice healthier choices - fruit dippers, ceasar salads, etc. You can bring in lunch, but we usually just buy. We always go to the "train station" restaurant for breakfast first - it's at the junction of 16 and 302 (?) right below Storyland - great food, reasonably priced, and a train that runs above on a track. Cute for kids, and fills you up before the park so you can make it till later for lunch and miss the crowds.

You can definitely do it in one day, but they have a deal that if you go on one day after 2:00 (or 3:00, depending on what time they're open that day), you can come the next day for free. So it's a day and a half for the price of one day.

We stay in my brother's camper, but I've had friends stay in North Conway, and there are quite a few hotels. The Holiday Inn is very nice, and I think it's reasonably priced. We've stayed at the Green Granite - if you go there, try to get a room in the "newer" section, but we were pleased but it's been a while. There's the Red Jacket, very $$$ but indoor water park. And there's Comfort Inn (mini golf on site).

Enjoy - your granddaughter will have a great time!

 

[marcyinPA]

We haven't been in a few years, but Story Land is wonderful! The food prices were always pretty reasonable I thought. I'm used to the prices at Disney, Hershey, etc., and SL's were better!

My DS10 would still go there...he's tiny, so fits on the rides still....but it's just a fun place for the whole family. It's clean, and the staff are really nice!

I don't know about hotels...we have a cottage on Lake Ossipee that we stay at (and rent out during the summer...just an fyi!) and it's only about a 40 minute drive with traffic through N. Conway.

 

[WENDYDOTS]

I have never stayed at the Holiday Inn Express but I know where it is. Just be aware that the hotel is located just as you enter North Conway from the south, so there is alot of outlet traffic to get through on your way to and from Storyland. Have a great trip!

 

[DisneyKT]

I consider the food very reasonable for a "theme" park. They also have some nice healthier choices - fruit dippers, ceasar salads, etc. You can bring in lunch, but we usually just buy. We always go to the "train station" restaurant for breakfast first - it's at the junction of 16 and 302 (?) right below Storyland - great food, reasonably priced, and a train that runs above on a track. Cute for kids, and fills you up before the park so you can make it till later for lunch and miss the crowds.

Love eating here. The restaurant is called Glen Junction.. We eat here for breakfast all the time also. It serves a good breakfast.

To OP

My family and I go in August. We have a great time. The food is priced well it is not to expensive. You can bring a cooler for snacks and sandwiches.
This park is for the younger kids. If you have older ones Santa's Village might be better. Santas Village is great for young ones to. Also not badly priced. Have great time.

 

[Debbie Jean]

We haven't been in a few years, but Story Land is wonderful! The food prices were always pretty reasonable I thought. I'm used to the prices at Disney, Hershey, etc., and SL's were better!

My DS10 would still go there...he's tiny, so fits on the rides still....but it's just a fun place for the whole family. It's clean, and the staff are really nice!

I don't know about hotels...we have a cottage on Lake Ossipee that we stay at (and rent out during the summer...just an fyi!) and it's only about a 40 minute drive with traffic through N. Conway.

I haven't been in many years, as well, but have fond memories of going as a child... I'll be 58 next summer!

 

[bamor]

If you are going to be up there, you should really check out Santa's Village as well. Food is reasonable inside either park.
We usually rent a studio at Attitash....full kitchen and a grill by the heated outdoor pool. You may be able to save a little $ this way. Loved the Red Parka for dinner, one night.

 

[C&M&C&M]

We love it. Kids 8 and 6 (who have gone to Disney every year) still ask when is the trip to Story Land.

Last year we rented a Condo at Attitash. It was great. We have also rented at the Seasons.

Do not stay at the STORY BOOK INN right next store to StoryLand. It was a pit. We stayed in the INN. The rooms were all slanted and covered with dust. The tubs did not even drain.

Take a look at the RED FOX for dinner or Sunday brunch.

 

[marcyinPA]

I haven't been in many years, as well, but have fond memories of going as a child... I'll be 58 next summer!

Me too! (I'll be 42 in June!) I have vague memories of being terrified of the Old Lady in the Shoe!

 

[Bren's Mom]

Anyone who lives in NH or plans to travel there, I'd highly recommend Breathe NH's 'Fun Pass'. You spend $25 to get a pass. There is a list of participating attractions. You buy one get one ticket free for nearly all of them.

Storyland is buy one adult, get one child admission free. So you'd pay $25 for a Breathe NH 'Fun Pass' and with that get a $26.99 over age 3 child's admission to Storyland FREE! You've already save $1.99 AND you've helped a great cause. Any other attractions you visit that participate in the 'Fun Pass' are just 'gravy'...total savings.

http://www.breathenh.org/Page.aspx?pid=328

List of participating attractions:

http://www.breathenh.org/Page.aspx?pid=732

My sister lives in Southern NH. She bought 2 last year just before a trip to Storyland and they paid for themselves. She's used them over and over and over since then...and just bought 2 more for 2010.

 

[marcyinPA]

Anyone know what they did with the Heritage NH property since it closed? I always thought it would make a fun "water park" extension for Story Land....

 

[donnajean17]

Anyone know what they did with the Heritage NH property since it closed? I always thought it would make a fun "water park" extension for Story Land....

The property is still there, with the buildings on it and it remains unoccupied... waterpark would be ideal.... though there is one not to far away in Lincoln, NH.... (The Whale's Tale)

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

We stayed in the holiday inn last summer. Free breakfast, clean rooms and staff very friendly... In the afternoon the gm greeted kids in the lobby coming back from the park. Pool is small but fine for kids. Just no fridge in the room unless you get a suite. This summer we are doing 5 nights in no Conway at the new residence inn that opened in sept.
We also did the go in the afternoon and get a free day... Perfect amount of time. DH and I thought food was very reasonable.

 

[3boymthr]

My co-worker owns a condo at Nordic Village in Jackson. If you are looking for something close these condos are really really close. They are litterally walking distance to Storyland - they own season passes to storyland and are so close that they will walk over for an hour ride a ride or two and head home. They are also all really nice based on the photos I've seen.

She raves about how cheap Storyland is compared to many other theme parks but was very disappointed that they changed ownership last year and the prices did go up.

One thing about storyland that hopefully they'll still do this this summer - last year and all prior years if you arrived late afternoon and bought a one day ticket you could get in the next day for free - from the website: "Great value: We do our best to provide a great value to our guests every day, with an all-inclusive (rides, shows & attractions), reasonably-priced admission ticket, FREE parking, FREE stroller use, and FREE pet kennels. For an even Better Value, guests may enter the park during the last 3 hours of any day (after 3pm in July & August or after 2pm in the other months), purchase full admission, and receive a free pass to come back the next day, or any other day in the 2009 season." So you can get a day and a half for the price of one day. Which is a pretty good deal.

 

[MinnieForMe]

We went to Storyland and Santa's Village last July. I prefer Santa's Village which is an hour from Storyland. I love the fact that there are little to no lines there! You can do Storyland easily in a day. I felt the food prices were very, very reasonable. I guess I'm use to the Orlando theme parks pricing. It's not often that my kids will ask for snacks throughout the day and I let them buy them.

If you also go to Santa's Village, there is a little bakery in the park where you can buy homemade Gingerbread cookies. You then walk to the back of the store and they have low tables and various icings for the kids to decorate them. It was one of the best $2 snacks I have ever had.

We also stayed in North Conway although in my parents fifth wheel at the Family Campground. It was a different experience as I'm a luxury girl! LOL.

 

[merrily]

I have stayed at both the Comfort Inn and the Golden Gables Inn in North Conway. Both are clean and well maintained. I think the Golden Gables was the cleanest hotel I've ever stayed at. It is very inexpensive.

 

[MickQuinn]

My ds (7) has loved both Storyland and Santa's Village. As a pp said, the deal of getting the next day free if you enter the park after 3pm is great. It helps you enjoy the park at a slower pace. We also like the Glen Junction restaurant for breakfast.

The food prices in the park are reasonable IMO, with the exception of the flat, yucky fried dough!

The Holiday Inn is a nice place to stay. The past few trips we have camped at Green Meadow campground right next door to the park. It was clean, and had a nice pool and big playground for kids.

We searched a website called shorthikes.com (if memory serves) and it lists a number of great easy hikes/walks in the N. Conway area. Diana's Baths are incredible to see and a drive to Cathedral Ledges is definitely worth the view from the top.

 

[lindsmom]

We searched a website called shorthikes.com (if memory serves) and it lists a number of great easy hikes/walks in the N. Conway area. Diana's Baths are incredible to see and a drive to Cathedral Ledges is definitely worth the view from the top.

We were amazed with Jackson Falls - we have beautiful photos taken there, stunning! And we parked right at the falls - we didn't enjoy the hike to Diana's Baths with a little one with us.

 

[BuzzPrincessMom]

I second the going at 3pm and getting a day free. They will even do that if you use the Breathe - Fun Pass a pp mentioned.
The Fun Pass has placed in NH, VT and MA - well worth the money.

The Comfort Inn near the Mini Golf is nice - close and not right near outlet traffic.

I second the Red Fox!