DARIEN CENTER — Darien Lake Amusement Park will launch a new, in-park attraction this weekend, one that asks guest to pull up a lounge chair, or float in the wave pool while watching a family film.
Dive-In Movies features children-friendly shows at 7:45 p.m. Friday nights in the water park. A new 144-square-foot video board has been installed in the wave pool and will show “Teen Beach Movie” (July 10), “Lego Movie” (July 17), “Finding Nemo” (July 31), and “Frozen” (Aug. 14). All movies are free with park admission.
“We hope our guests are really excited by it, so we can continue growing it in coming years,” said Amber Ciesiulka, events coordinator for Darien Lake. “After a day of rides, our guests will be able to relax and cool off by the pool and watch a movie.”
The idea came from Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park in Denver, which has been running Dive-In Movies for a few years. That park is showing “Lego Movie,” “Maleficent,” “Big Hero 6,” “ Elf,” and “Monsters University” this summer.
After the officials at Darien Lake saw it, they decided to add it to the events calendar for 2015.
“We thought it was a great idea, something that was different and unique,” Ciesiulka said. “Not only is it unique for Darien Lake, but it’s unique for Western New York.
“I’m really excited for Frozen, because we’re going to have some special surprises for that one.”
This new attraction is the fourth for the 2015 season. The park already introduced two new rides, “Rolling Thunder” and “Brain Drain,” and ran a series of three free, in-park concerts.
Why so many new attractions in one season?
“I think given how much is going on in the region, we wanted to give our guests something new and exciting,” Ciesiulka said. “We know people have a lot to choose from. And we offer something for everyone.”
