4. Develop a plan
There’s no excuse for showing up at a theme park with absolutely no idea of what you want to do. With a minimum amount of digging, you can find dozens if not hundreds of reputable guide books, web sites, and apps that will help you plan your vacation. Take some time and really explore your options before you arrive. Make a list of the must-see attractions you want to visit in each park. Check out the pricing, menus, and ratings for various restaurants and make reservations for special meals (Editor's note: our extensive park guides can help with this).
Depending on your destination, you may even have the option to reserve queue-jumping passes ahead of time. While you’re bound to run into unexpected delays or surprisingly short wait times that you can’t pass up, it’s a good idea to have at least a general idea of what you want see, do, eat, and buy so you can make the most of your time and money on vacation.
5. Measure children’s heights
Height restrictions are a fact of life in theme parks. You can’t get around them, so you may as well prepare for them. Measure your children without shoes before you leave so you have a general idea of how tall they are. Measuring them barefoot should give you a little leeway when it comes time to stand up to the real height stick, but even so you should be conservative with your measurements.
If your child is just 40 inches, don’t make a big deal of attractions with a 40-inch height restriction. The final determination will always take place just outside the ride and may depend on an employee’s difficult judgment call. If your child is several inches beyond the height restriction, however, you’re safe to build up some excitement for the bigger rides.
First time visitors may even benefit from a few weeks to get used to the idea of riding a roller coaster before they brave the real thing. You can often watch ride-through videos online to get a better idea of what certain attractions do, if you have nervous family members who need a little help coming around to the idea of riding.
6. Fill a first aid kit
While first aid is readily available in most theme parks, it’s still nice to have a few necessities on hand yourself. Consider the unique conditions you’ll face in a theme park and plan accordingly. Roller coasters and loud shows can easily give you a headache. Bumpy rides, greasy foods, and hot weather can leave you feeling nauseous. Head off predictable problems with preventative medications for motion sickness or heartburn if you know you’re prone to these conditions.
Aloe and vitamin E will do wonders for tender skin after a long day in the sun. Heating or cooling pads can help with sore muscles and bandages can save painful feet if you didn’t heed the warning about shoes and wore a troublesome pair anyway.
While it’s great to leave room for spontaneity and new discoveries, these important tasks will help you stay comfortable on your trip and make the most of every minute.
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