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Step 1
Request a ticket at the ticket booth by saying "Quisiera una entrada, por favor" (kee-see-AY-rah OO-nah ehn-TRAH-dah pour fah-VOR). The "por favor" on the end means "please," and is a great way to ease your way politely into situations. "Quisiera" is an all-purpose word that means "I would like" and will get you through many situations in which you need something but don't know how to say it. Just use "quisiera" and point to whatever it is you would like, and they'll get the idea.
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Step 2
Determine how much the ticket costs by saying "¿Cuánto cuesta la entrada?" (KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah lah ehn-TRAH-dah). Be aware that they may use a different standard of currency, depending on which country you are in. In the Caribbean and Mexico, for example, they'll use the peso, while in Spain they'll use the euro.
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Step 3
Inquire about how tall you have to be for a particular ride—a big question for children in a theme park—by using the word "atracción," the standard equivalent of "ride" in basic Spanish. Ask how tall one must be to ride by saying "¿Cuál es la altura permitida para esta atracción?" (kwahl ehs lah ahl-TOO-rah pare-mee-TEE-dah PAH-rah EHS-tah ah-trahk-see-OWN).
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Step 4
Ask if you have to pay again if you leave and come back the same day. "Salir" is "to leave" and "volver" is "to return." Ask if you can leave and come back the same day by saying "¿Se puede salir y volver el mismo día?" (say PWAY-day sah-LEER ee vol-VARE ehl MEES-moh DEE-ah). Of course, they may simply say "yes," as anyone is able to leave and come back, so you may want to add, "Do you have to pay again?" by saying "¿Hay que pagar otra vez?" (ay kay pah-GAHR OH-trah vase).
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Step 5
Find out what time the park closes by asking "¿A qué hora cierra el parque?" (ah kay OH-rah see-AY-rrah ehl PAHR-kay). They will probably answer you with a number preceded by the word "la" (if it's 1:00 or so), or "las" if it's between 2:00 and 12:00. If you're early, ask what time it opens by saying "¿A qué hora abre?" (ah kay OH-rah AH-bray).
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Step 6
Look for something to eat by saying "¿Qué hay para comer?" (kay ay PAH-rah koh-MARE) which means, basically, "What is there to eat?"
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Step 7
Locate various rides by asking the simple question "Where is…?" with "¿Dónde está…?" (DOHN-day eh-STAH) or "Where are…?" (DOHN-day eh-STAHN). Note the "N" which turns "where is" into "where are". Here are typical names of some rides that you may want to go on: FERRIS WHEEL-LA NORIA (lah NOH-ree-ah); THE MERRY GO-ROUND-LOS CABALLITOS (lohs cah-bah-YEE-tose); THE BUMBER CARS-LOS AUTOS DE CHOQUE (lohs OUT-ose day CHOH-kay); THE ROLLER COASTER-LA MONTAÑA RUSA (lah mohn-TAH-nyah ROO-sah); THE HAUNTED HOUSE-LA CASA DE LOS HORRORES (lah CAH-sah day lohs oh-RROH-rays); THE WATER SLIDE-EL TOBOGÁN DE AGUA (ehl toh-boh-GAHN day AH-gwah); THE TRAMPOLINE-LA CAMA ELÁSTICA (lah CAH-mah eh-LAH-stee-kah); THE POOL-LA PISCINA (lah pee-SEE-nah); and, of course, THE BATHROOM-EL BAÑO (ehl BAH-nyo) which you may also see as EL LAVABO (ehl lah-VAH-boh).
