Merlin's Mayhem Review, Dutch Wonderland S&S Inverted Coaster | Pennsylvania's Best Family Coaster

[@Zatoka.]

This was my first ever roller coaster, and now I'll ride anything. Huge coaster enthusiast. Thank you, merlins.

[@CanobieCoaster]

This is a good coaster to start with.

[@notafurry4067]

I rode this like 25 times on my day there, and I loved it. It was kind of rough, but those two first drops are a serious gut punch.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Glad you liked it!

[@MillenniumForceMan]

Ok that reason it opened late actually makes sense, I was wondering how a family coaster would get delayed a year

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thank those near misses.

[@ethanhcomposer]

No. Oscar's Wacky Taxi is the best, but this is a great review. Dutch Wonderland was the first theme park I've been to but I was too scared to ride anything (this was before Kingdom Coaster's repaint).

[@CanobieCoaster]

I agree Oscar's Wacky Taxi is better.

[@jayducharme]

I was really impressed with this ride, and that it’s a great fit for Dutch Wonderland.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Agreed.

[@patrickwagner98]

Rode this for the first time last year. Went up one morning with the intent of getting on a couple rides on it and Kingdom Coaster. It was about 98 degrees during Covid times with masks. Kingdom Coaster had row skips so it took between 20-30 minutes to ride. Merlins queue took an hour. So many kids were miserable in the line telling parents they wanna go back to the hotel. It was brutal, but I'm glad I finally go back for the credit. I have a ticket to go back this year too that I got during a sale, so hopefully I can get in more rides on both.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Lines definitely aren't that bad normally.

[@patrickwagner98]

@@CanobieCoaster it was a half price ticket sale date. Reservations were still needed, but I didn't know what to expect. It had been a few years (prior to Merlins)

[@maxhagenauer24]

It's like the Vekoma suspended family coasters like Freedom Flyer and Dragon Flier but S&S take on it. Smooth, not super intense but intense enough for the family's, and overall a great ride for a park this size.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Agreed

[@davidlins5689]

Does anyone know why this ride was made by S&S? It is very weird to me.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Sansei wants to have S&S handle US projects.

[@davidlins5689]

@@CanobieCoaster I've heard that, but I find it confusing because Dragonflier at Dollywood opened after this ride and Freedom Flyer at Fun Spot America Orlando opened before it, and they are both Vekomas. Did Sansei change their mind in between when this opened and when Dragonflier did?

[@NorthEasternMotionProductions]

@@davidlins5689 Sansei bought Vekoma after Freedom Flier

[@davidlins5689]

@@NorthEasternMotionProductions Thanks that makes a lot of sense. I didn't know that yet.

[@lightningbot85]

@@NorthEasternMotionProductions Phoenix just opened this weekend in coney island, and that is a Vekoma family suspended model, so I don’t think Vekoma is stopping building ride in the US. I hope Sansei allows them to build thrill coasters in the US m, because they look awesome.

[@chargedonpc9989]

I wish there were more family inverts like thiis

[@CanobieCoaster]

Me too.

[@dytamic]

imagine a family coaster with a standard layout and then just 27 barrel rolls to finish it off

[@CanobieCoaster]

Sounds like a Planet Coaster ride.

[@mitchellries256]

You said you were planning to revisit a few parks in Pennsylvania including Idlewild. If you did, I am looking forward to the reviews.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Idlewild and Lakemont were postponed for now due to Rollo Coaster being closed and weather.

[@mitchellries256]

@@CanobieCoaster Rollo Coaster was closed for the second visit in a row?

[@CanobieCoaster]

I saw it was listed as temporarily closed on the website before I made my way there, so I spent an extra day at Cedar Point instead. The park had closed it in the AM for staffing, but the listing on the site scared me away.

[@jonathansima7591]

A tip for both Lakemont and Idlewild would be to try reaching out via Facebook or email a few days in advanced of your visit. Lakemont especially is rather consistent when it comes to ride closures and updates.

[@Trainmaster909]

I want to go and get this credit, but I’m afraid of looking weird and suspicious being alone at this park.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I haven't felt uncomfortable there. There are plenty of people and you won't stick out like a sore thumb. I've seen adults go without kids plenty of times because it's in a big touristy area.

[@brandtnatalie9371]

I got to ride this like 6 times in a row because of the short lines Though I did go during a less busy time

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@jtwoolley]

who is merlin? the dad in findign nemo?

[@CanobieCoaster]

A wizard

[@Joypyf]

I definitely thought this was a Freedom Flyer clone!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nope, it's a unique layout from a different manufacturer.

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

Calling it Pennsylvania's best family coaster is definitely pushing it I think all 3 goodies at kennywood and sooperdooperlooper are better

[@CanobieCoaster]

I count the ones you referenced as family thrill coasters.

[@amusementnow4416]

It's funny that the only two amusement parks along the Lincoln Highway are in PA and they're both owned by Palace.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Palace owns a lot of parks in PA.

[@nathonyxx]

hi

[@skinnyd1195]

hey

[@CanobieCoaster]

Hi

[@360coasters]

Hi!

[@CoasterNeutronPovs]

First

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@skinnyd1195]

second

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!