10 Amusement Park Tips for Families

Great amusement park tips for families (including a few secrets that you may not know about)!

Amusement parks became my passion the year my oldest daughter turned two, and we took her to our local children’s amusement park for the first time (Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania). The moment I saw the pure joy on her face when she rode a small version of The Whip, I was hooked. We left the park that day with a season pass, and in the years since we’ve expanded our trips to cover amusement parks from Florida to California. Not sure if I’m proud or embarrassed to say that this year we have season passes to 15 amusement parks around the country.

This article is written by Karen Bumbaugh
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Amusement Park Tips for Families

Each time we leave the house to venture to a new park, I try to think strategically. Are we going to a water park and need waterproof phone cases? Should I up our Band-Aid quantity because my daughter is insisting on wearing sandals AGAIN? How much will I be going upside-down…do I need my shorts with the zipper pocket? While the strategy may differ from family to family and park to park, here are my top 10 tips for every family’s benefit:

Arrive Before the Theme Park Opens

So important. It’s pretty typical for us to be able to ride more attractions in the first two hours after the park opens then we can the rest of the day. Crowds can peak anywhere from noon to mid-afternoon, so get in as much as you can accomplish in the morning.

Pack the Necessities for a Day at an Amusement Park

Have a supply of Band-Aids, hand sanitizer, wet naps, dry napkins. We’ve needed all these supplies during one trip or another, and it takes the stress out of the day when you’re prepared and don’t have to go searching for it. Tip inside a tip: Sometimes ride operators, especially those on the kiddie rides, will have a supply of Band-Aids at their station.

Also stay prepared by keeping a travel bag in your car. Checkout this free Car Travel Bag Checklist printable of what to keep on hand for any family outing.

Find Free Water at the Theme Park

Most parks offer tap water for free. Other parks have water fountains. We recently purchased an insulated water bottle to keep our water cold for the entire day. We also quickly fill our souvenir cups with water anytime we see a food stand with no line.

Tell Your Kids the Plan for Souvenirs and Games

It’s easier for my daughter to know before she enters a park what she’s going to get that day. We make deals based on her behavior to determine how many games she can play and if she will be allowed to buy souvenirs (with her own money).

Learn how to set expectations for your kids and improve child behavior for when going out in public.

Check Ride Heights Before Going to the Amusement Park

Before heading to a new park, I sit down with my daughter and go through the photos of the rides on the park’s website. We talk about what she is tall enough to ride, or too tall to ride (I can’t believe we’re at this point already!). This decreases the meltdowns in the park when she learns she can’t go on a certain ride (notice I said decreases, not stops…sigh).

Plan Out Favorite Theme Park Rides with Kids

This goes along with having a plan and knowing what to head to first. Go to the most popular ride OR the lowest capacity ride first. For kiddie rides, this means the antique cars in most parks. I’ve stood in antique car lines for much longer than I’d like to admit. Make sure you get in everyone’s favorites, then spend the remainder of your time in the park more leisurely deciding what to do next.

Most Amusement Parks Have a Child Swap Policy

Most parks have one, but the details can differ. Typically one adult waits with the children while the other adult rides. Then they switch places. If you want to ride some thrill rides when your children are too small or too afraid, be sure to understand this policy, and who needs to stay with the kids and where. Some parks have everyone get in line, some parks give the waiting adult a fast pass to get through the line faster at a later time.

Bring Plenty of Sunscreen for the Family

Have plenty of it with you. Some parks don’t have much shade, especially water parks. I like to apply more on my children while we are waiting in lines.

Get the straight goop on sunscreen from an expert.

Plan Ahead for Theme Park Characters

Do your children love characters or collapse in tears when Mickey Mouse looks their way? Have an idea of how they will react, so that you can quickly avoid, or quickly get in line when you see a photo opportunity with a character.

Think about Naps at the Amusement Park

In Disney, we had long talks with our daughter about how she’d need to try to nap in the stroller. We almost couldn’t believe it when it actually worked! To this day she has no idea her father and I ate a delicious ice cream sundae in Magic Kingdom while we waited for her to wake up. It really depends on the park as to how we fit in naps. Sometimes we leave and go back to the hotel, sometimes we drive around in the car a bit to give the kids a quick, re-energizing break. Mid-day naps help in the evenings when other people are leaving the park, and your children have a second wind. Make sure to get your hand stamped for re-entry when exiting the park; most amusement parks require it.

Fun Family Days

Hopefully, these tips have you excited to plan your own amusement park getaway this summer. There are so many wonderful parks around the country, you’re bound to have some great fun with your kids at your local amusement park.

And if you plan to extend your family’s outing, check out these kid friendly restaurants where kids eat free and tips for eating out with children. Enjoy 🙂

For more on this topic, check out the full Travel Tips collection

Featured Contributor: Karen Bumbaugh

Karen Bumbaugh is an Information Technology professional who enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two children, ages 1 and 5. Outside of her family and career, her passion is helping parents find places to have fun with their children. In 2014, she founded “Been There Done That with Kids” a website and blog that includes trip reports, tips, and ways to prepare for family outings.