Dorney Park Opens 2026 Season May 8 With Regional Pass Access
Dorney Park opens its 2026 season on Friday, May 8, giving dorney park visitors the first access to rides, Planet Snoopy, and opening-day attractions. Wildwater Kingdom follows on Saturday, May 23, splitting the park's spring rollout into two dates that matter for families planning around the water park.
Ryan Eldredge on Opening Day
Ryan Eldredge, the park's public relations manager, said, "Opening Day is all about families coming together to kick off the season". That framing fits the park's draw on day one: Planet Snoopy, described as the park's dedicated children's area, with pint-sized rides, interactive play, and meet-and-greet moments with Snoopy and the Peanuts gang.
Opening day also puts the park's larger lineup back in play, including more than 100 rides, shows, and attractions and seven roller coasters. Iron Menace is among the headline thrills, while Planet Snoopy is pitched as home to the largest collection of kids rides in the area.
May 23 for Wildwater Kingdom
Saturday, May 23 is the first day for Wildwater Kingdom, which pushes the water-park side of the business back by more than two weeks. For families deciding when to visit, that gap makes Friday's opening a dry-park start and May 23 the point when the full seasonal offering arrives.
The timing also gives the park a cleaner launch window for families who want the rides and children's attractions before the water park opens. Media are invited to capture the reopening, a sign the park expects Opening Day to set the tone for the season rather than serve as a quiet soft launch.
Gold Season Passes in 2026
Gold Season Passes and memberships now include regional access for 2026, extending entry beyond Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom to Six Flags Great Adventure, Six Flags Wild Safari, Hurricane Harbor New Jersey, and Kings Dominion. The company says that regional access covers 21 amusement parks, 14 water parks, and nine resort properties across 13 states.
That gives passholders a wider set of destinations before they even step through the gates on May 8. For anyone buying for the summer, the practical takeaway is simple: Dorney Park opens first, Wildwater Kingdom waits until May 23, and the 2026 pass adds a much broader travel footprint than a single-park season ticket.
