What to take to a Theme Park

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What to take to a Theme Park

When planning a visit to a theme park, it’s important to plan ahead. I suggest visiting the website and looking at sites such as Groupon to see if there are any deals available on discounted tickets. Sometimes the theme parks offer discounts for certain promotions, and we purchased our Season Tickets to Six Flags during a limited time offer, scoring them at a price lower than a regularly priced individual ticket – with free parking as a bonus!

If you have children with you, write your cell phone number on their wrist then use clear nail polish to cover it so it won’t wipe off easily when they wash their hands. Make sure they know what the staff badges look like so they can ask for help if needed.

While on the website of the theme park you’re planning to visit, be sure to check the calendar so you can arrive as early in the day as possible to avoid lines and the heat of the day. Additionally, review the park map so you can have a plan of which rides you want to go on, where they’re located in the park, etc. so you can make efficient use of your time! Many suggest starting at the furthest point of the park first so the lines are shorter, then work your way to the entrance. Most people start near the front of the park so the lines will be longer, and at the end of the day when you are tired, you’ll be close to the exit! Theme Park Hacks like this help make your visit more enjoyable!

Don’t forget Sunscreen to avoid a sunburn, and lip balm with SPF to protect your lips!

You will also want to review the Park Policies on the website prior to your visit so you are prepared when you arrive. You want to make sure you’re dressed within the dress code, know if pets are allowed or not, if smoking is allowed or not (and where smoking is permitted, if you smoke) – for someone like me with asthma, breathing smoke is dangerous so I need to know where the smoking areas are so I can avoid them!

Finally, check the weather forecast ahead of time. You need to know if you should bring a jacket, sweatshirt, or poncho. My boys like to go on as many water rides as possible, and usually end up soaked. After the first time this happened, they decided they should wear their swim trunks instead of shorts. They look like shorts, so it’s not a big problem. For girls, they might want to wear theirs underneath their clothing instead of undergarments.

When you arrive, take a quick picture of our parking spot sign so you don’t forget where you parked your car 🙂 

The day before our visit, I pull out my Theme Park Checklist that I made for us, so we all know What to take with you to a Theme Park.

• Backpack for carrying items and keeping hands free – you can see the one I use for Theme Parks & Hiking above.
• Ziplock bags to protect electronics from water rides or rain
• Poncho, jacket, or sweatshirt if rain or cool temperatures are expected. You can buy them for under $4 each ahead of time, which is usually MUCH less expensive than buying them in the park.
• Hand sanitizer and baby wipes for cleaning hands after touching rails or eating sticky/messy food
• Portable Phone Charger in case battery gets low and you need to communicate with others in your party.
• Hair bands if you have long hair, to keep it from getting tangled in the wind during rides.
• Snack food, if permitted
• Empty water bottles to fill inside the park, if permitted
• First Aid items: Most theme parks have a first aid station, but we find it helpful to keep some items on hand
  • Bandages
  • Antibiotic Ointment
  • Aloe gel
  • Tissues
  • Pain Relievers
  • Antacids/Imodium
  • Motion Sickness Medication
  • Personal Hygiene Products
  • Earplugs
  • Eye Drops
  • Allergy Medication
  • Asthma Inhalers
  • Epi-Pen
  • Insect Repellent

WATERFLY Chest Sling Shoulder Backpacks Bags Fashion Cute Crossbody Rope Triangle Pack Rucksack for Hiking or Multipurpose Daypacks and School Handbag for Man Women Lady Girl Teens (Army Green)Coghlan’s 9173 Emergency Poncho 4 PackAnker Astro E1 5200mAh Candy bar-Sized Ultra Compact Portable Charger (External Battery Power Bank) with High-Speed Charging PowerIQ Technology (Black)CamelBak Chute 1L Charcoal HOD 53549

We also keep extra bottles of water/snacks in the cooler to enjoy on the ride home, as well as a change of clothes and towels for everyone. You never know when you’ll get caught unexpectedly in the rain, walking past a water ride, spill something on yourself, or have one get sick. When you have a ride home of just over 2 hours, you don’t want to endure that soaking wet or very dirty, especially if you plan to stop and have dinner along the way!

What is your MUST HAVE item when you’re planning What to take to a Theme Park and creating your Theme Park Packing List?

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Traveling in the New England area? Be sure to stop by Six Flags New England, our family has a blast there!