
3 Secrets About the Biggest Indoor Water Park in the Country
DreamWorks Water Park in the American Dream Mall is just an hour south of the Hudson Valley. It also happens to be the largest indoor water park in North America. Yesterday, my wife and I went to see what all the fuss was about.
It's hard to know where to start, because the park was one of the most overwhelming places we'd ever been. The space was HUGE (below), and the rides were epic, but we also noticed a few details that they definitely don't mention on their FAQ page.
The first holy cow what is this place? moment came as soon as we walked inside the enormous space. It was a surreal experience to be in 80-degree weather with snow right outside the windows, but that was just the beginning of the adventure.
"Secret" #1 About DreamWorks Water Park: They Weigh You
Just like many rides at other parks, there are height requirements for certain experiences. What we had never seen in a waterpark before, however, were scales. For some multi-person tube rides, attendants ask groups to step on a scale together to make sure they are neither under nor over specific weight requirements.
"Secret" #2 About DreamWorks Water Park: The Lazy River Is NOT Lazy
This may come down to personal preference, but the Bubbly Lazy River is anything but. It had the fastest current of any lazy river we had ever experienced, and the loop is littered with water features that you'll need to expertly dodge if you're looking for relaxation.
"Secret" #3: Some of the Ride Names Will Make You Giggle
While rides like the Surfari Slider and Trolls Rainbow Racers sound innocuous, other rides will elicit a laugh from more immature minds (like ours). The hot tubs, named Forbidden Waters, sound like they belong in a romance novel, and Shrek's Sinkhole Slammer could either be a wrestling move or... something else.
BONUS "SECRET": They Have a Water Rollercoaster
One of the best surprises was the DreamWorks Dream Runner, described as "the world's longest hydromagnetic rocket coaster". The logic-defying ride uses a mix of gravity and what looks like treadmill technology to zoom you around the entire park (above), and was one of the highlights of the day.

As far as an overall experience, we had a blast. It certainly helped that the park was nearly deserted on a random Tuesday afternoon in January, which meant lines were scarce (although some food options were closed). Ticket prices are steep, but it was a day we won't soon forget.
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