2024 update: so we had our 9th visit to Darien Lake this season on Sunday. We’re legacy diamond members. I’d like to say this years staff are the best we’ve ever seen at a theme park from concessions to ride attendants customer service is some of the best I’ve seen. These days anywhere you go it’s hard to find a worker who cares. From helping with a food order to buckling a seat belt on a ride the workers go above and beyond.

Also, Brews and Bites is amazing. Love how for $45 you can get 6 beers and/or food items. Best deal you’ll find at a theme park!

August 26th update: if you’re allergic to bees you may want to consider not going here atm. Darien has always had a yellow jacket and wasp issues the last month or so being open. This is the worse I’ve seen it. Yellow jackets are around you from leaving your car to going back to it. Also, when we ate we had at least 6-20 yellow jackets flying on our food, hands and faces the whole time. Every table was like this at least in the Oktoberfest area.

Oktoberfest has tons of potential, and just hoping the first day was just a let down. They only had 4 of like 10 beers tapped. We were able to try an Oktoberfest beer we never had and love the mug, but since there was signs for another beer we wanted it was a let down we couldn’t purchase it due to “tap lines” not being ready. My nephews brautworst he said was amazing. However, he waited a half hour for it cause the workers let 2 entitled families jump in front of him to get their food when he had paid first and had been waiting 10 minutes before they even got there. Also, I got the brisket poutine. It was ice cold, and brisket was long strips that was impossible to cut and eat with the ice cold gravy and cold non melted cheese. Outside of that the theming, music, and games were really cool. Probably go back in a few weeks to see if it was just a really bad first day opening in regards to food and alcohol. Also, the T-shirt merchandise is awesome, and you can use your membership discount. Food you can’t.

Viva La Fiesta update. If you’re going for a festive feel Darien failed here. At first they had festive Latino music on, which was cool like all the other Six Flag parks. All of a sudden a country band took the stage though, and began singing depressing country music. Would have been cool to see a more cultural appropriate and festive band that fit the festival. Kind of confused by the country band choice.

So glad Darien reopened. We’ve been season pass holders since Six Flags took back over a few years ago. Best value especially if you get a meal plan. This year they’ve added so much to the meal plan!! Including anchor bar! Today we got wings for a meal, ice cream sundae for a snack, and then burritos for a meal. This would of cost $50 each easy, and we paid around $80 each for the meal plan. We were able to use it in Six Flags Maryland last weekend too!! We still have months to go this season too of free food!

I wouldn’t recommend buying tickets and buying food here. Darien is definitely feeling the affect of covid. They social distant rides, and seem severely understaffed. Due to this you’re going to wait 2-3 times longer to ride rides than you did in 2019 (went on a Sunday). Staff are extremely friendly and professional! Food lines are extremely long too, and food quality is hit or miss. Loved our anchor bar food, but wings were cooked well but luke warm. I’d of been furious if I paid full price for Luke warm wings after waiting a half hour. However, our dinning plan was paid for by meals visits ago.

Also, I can’t justify buying a fast pass here or membership. People with fast passes and membership skip the line passes were easily waiting over a half hour in line for some rides, so I’m fine with experience.

We’ll definitely be back to Darien Lake many more times this season, and visit other parks. Being a season pass and dinning pass holder makes it a 5 star experience.