Congratulations to #22 Shelley for winning four Adventureland ticket vouchers! Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway!
There’s something nostalgic about having your kids experience something you’ve experienced as a kid. We had the opportunity to enjoy that this last weekend when we took our son to Adventureland. Can you remember riding the Adventureland train as a kid and the giant lollypops they had inside the train station? Did your parents get a picture of you riding on those ladybugs and in those boats? Those things are still at the Des Moines area attraction! There are still there, but also so much is different. In particular the addition of the water park Adventure Bay which is a pretty sweet addition!
What to know about the new water park before you go.
-Life jackets are available at no charge.
-Have $5 cash to rent a tube (you get $2 back when you return it, season pass holders get a full refund).
-Kids need to be at least 36″ to go down the low slides, 42″ for the high slides at the Kokomo Cove part. Most of the other big slides have a height requirement of 48″.
-Swim wear with buckles, rivets or metal studs are not permitted.
-Swim diapers are required for the little ones in the lazy river.
-There is not a lot of shade unless you would rent a cabana.
-They might have to enforce capacity limits in Adventure Bay for safety reasons so there may be a wait time in order to enter Adventure Bay.
-The room with “stalls” on the right side of the ladies bathroom are changing rooms, not bathrooms, so don’t get out of line if you’re looking for a bathroom. On the other hand if you are are looking to change, go to the room on the right side.
Adventureland is one of the best places in central Iowa for having great family fun and what could be more family friendly than that?! Creating memories and spending time with your family is always more important than any material item! They are a smoke free facility and even have attractions for the little kids. They also have their own circus performance which may or may not be appealing depending on your kid. When you need a break from the heat, you can always go play BINGO and win stuff!
The price of Adventureland can be a turn off for some, so here are my tips for enjoying Adventureland on the cheap.
-Enter to win a 2012 season pass with their “Name the new wave pool” contest on facebook!
-Locals could benefit from a season pass that can easily pay for itself if you go often enough. You can get a $10 discount on season passes at Hy-Vee or $10 less if you get them before the end of May. Season pass holders can get up to two friends a $6 – $10 discount on a daily ticket as well as other perks like FREE PARKING.
-Speaking of parking, if you are just going for the day and aren’t a season pass holder you can avoid the $5 parking charge by parking at McDonald’s across the street and going for a little walk. I’m thinking you have to show your hotel key to ride on the Trolley, right?
-Food and drinks aren’t permitted inside Adventureland but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring a picnic lunch. They have a picnic area out by the front gate.
-Group rates are available for companies, organizations of groups of 15 or more people by calling (515)266-2121 and asking for the group sales department.
-Get $4 off July/August tickets from SeeDesMoines.com HERE.
-Win 4 half-price ticket vouchers right here! Adventureland has graciously offered FOUR half-price vouchers to one lucky Frugal Playground reader! That means adults would be $17.50 and kids 4 – 9 would be $15.
How to enter to win 4 half price ticket vouchers: Simply leave a comment stating your favorite Adventureland ride or water slide and I will draw a winner using random.org next Monday 7/25/11 from among those who left a comment. I will not count facebook comments, so be sure to click on “comment” right under the title.
On another note, what is with the expressions on carousel horses?!
July 18th, 2011 - 10:02 pm
We think Adventureland is great, and I’m proud to report that my daughter and I both LOVE LOVE LOVE the Tornado. I’ve been riding that roller coaster since I was a kid, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than seeing my little one raise lift her arms at the top of the first hill, ready for an exhilarating ride!
July 18th, 2011 - 10:05 pm
My favorite Adventureland ride is the tea cups. They were my favorite growing up and now that I have kids of my own we ride them every time we are there and of course I tell my kids how I would always everytime my parents would bring me. it’s a great tradition I have kept alive.
July 18th, 2011 - 10:06 pm
the Log Ride!!! cant wait to take my 5 year old for the first time and have her ride it with me:)
July 18th, 2011 - 10:11 pm
The log ride! I haven’t been there in YEARS!!! I would love to take my boys! Is the log ride even still there?
July 18th, 2011 - 10:48 pm
I love the gallion (sp??) I love how my stomach does flips! Reminds me of when I was little and went to Adventureland with my sister
July 18th, 2011 - 10:57 pm
The log ride is a hit! That and the semi-truck ride near the bumper cars. We hope to go before school starts. Great pics
July 19th, 2011 - 12:12 am
Our family loves the Raging River. It’s so much fun!!
July 19th, 2011 - 12:14 am
My favorite ride is the Raging River! I would love to create those memories for my kids just as I had when I was a kid! I would love to win this to take my family to Adventureland!!!
July 19th, 2011 - 12:30 am
WE L O V E the “Silly Silo”! I like the rides that go around & around, but still ride the up & down ones, too!
(Love the log ride on a hot day.) Thanks!
July 19th, 2011 - 12:43 am
Hmmm…It’s been so long since I’ve been to Adventureland, but I did used to work there as a teenager! I can never remember the name of my favorite ride; I always call them “The Eggs.” It’s that ride where you spin and spin and spin on those egg-looking things while they spin around the track. They make me laugh and laugh and laugh! I would LOVE to win half-price tickets!
July 19th, 2011 - 12:59 am
I love the Raging River! I especially give the rest of the family the giggles when I am the one that usually gets soaked!
July 19th, 2011 - 1:17 am
Frantic Freeway FTW!
July 19th, 2011 - 2:06 am
My favorite ride at Adventureland was the old “Der Flitzer” roller coaster….disappeared several years ago. It was the smallest of the original coasters, but oh so fun. It always looked/felt like you were gonna sail right off the side! I remember as a teenager scrambling to get the very back seat on the Tornado. Now, as an adult the thought of that seat terrifies me!
July 19th, 2011 - 2:39 am
We love the Galleon!
July 19th, 2011 - 3:59 pm
I hurry to the Space Shot first at Adventureland, but the Tornado is always my favorite ride there. As a whole family we love the bumper cars!
Fun giveaway! We only get to go to Adventureland when we have free or discounted tickets!
July 19th, 2011 - 5:04 pm
My family and i do not have a favorite ride as we are from fl. we moved here 3 years ago, my kids want to go instead of getting presents. but i lost my job 2 weeks ago so it is hard. but they always talk about the roller coaster that you can see from the street. not sure the name and not sure if i am a fan of it but it would be nice for them. to win this would help so much, we have came so far in the past 3 years, we were in the ames flood of 2010, we lost alot but learned to live without alot. so this would be something nice for my girls. thanks christene
July 19th, 2011 - 5:59 pm
My lil guy loves the bumper cars, semi trucks and airplane ride!!
July 20th, 2011 - 3:58 am
hmmmm….hard to choose! I think I like the carousel!
July 20th, 2011 - 1:07 pm
As a kid, I would’ve said the Silly Silo, ‘course now as an adult, I can’t get on that thing! I don’t know, maybe the Tornado or the Dragon. I’m definitely a roller coaster girl.
July 20th, 2011 - 3:32 pm
We absolutely LOVE the raging river. The hour+ line is totally worth the excitement on Connor’s face when we go under the waterfall!
July 20th, 2011 - 3:54 pm
My favorite ride is the Dragon. Gotta love those roller coasters!
July 20th, 2011 - 6:19 pm
My girls love the Frog Hopper but I’m hoping to get them to try out the roller coasters this year. The entire family loves the Raging River. We go in a few weeks and we are all very excited!
July 24th, 2011 - 4:03 am
My kids and I love the teacups. They enjoy having me ride with them and shift my weight around to get us spinning as fast as possible.
July 25th, 2011 - 1:04 pm
Adventureland has always been a fun place and my favorite ride has always been the Tornado! With the new waterpark I have to say that entire area may be tied with the Tornado now as far as favorite attractions go.
I can’t wait to take Jackson! I’m sure Jackson may be a bit too young for many of the rides in the park but I know he would love the waterpark.
July 27th, 2011 - 12:12 am
Yes, the log ride is still there!!!