How to Make the Most of an Amusement Park

So you only have one day to see and do it all? Here are some tips that will help you get the most out of your day at the park.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Athletic Shoes
• Straps For Sunglasses
• Sunglasses
• Warm Jackets Or Sweaters
• All-terrain Strollers
• Strollers
• Amusement Park Maps
• Moleskin
• Sunscreen
• Amusement Park Tickets
• Fanny Packs
• Small Backpacks
• Water Bottles

Planning Ahead

1. Buy admission tickets in advance to avoid ticket lines.

2. Make reservations for a hotel near the park to take advantage of shuttle services.

3. Check to see if you should bring a stroller for your infant or toddler or if the park will provide one.

4. Set up a timetable that includes arrival, lunch, rest at the hotel, return, dinner, shopping and departure. If you have young children, make sure that your schedule includes a midday nap.

5. Obtain a park map (call guest relations or visit the park's Web site) and decide in advance which attractions you want to see or ride. Work this itinerary into your schedule.

6. Set a limit on the amount of money you will spend on food and souvenirs.

The Big Day

7. Wear comfortable shoes.

8. Arrive 30 minutes before the park opens; eat breakfast beforehand so that you can start the day immediately.

9. Arrange a meeting place in case someone gets separated from the group.

10. Turn left instead of right when you enter the gates, and start at the back of the park.

11. Begin the day with older attractions; newer rides tend to be more crowded earlier on.

12. Eat before or after typical mealtimes to avoid crowds at restaurants, and go for the rides during typical mealtimes or during parades to avoid longer lines for rides.

13. Visit air-conditioned shows during hotter midday hours.

14. Save games for later in the day so that you won't have to carry prizes during most of your visit.

Tips & Warnings

• Entertain children with games such as "Twenty Questions" while waiting in long lines.
• If you can, avoid peak visiting months, holidays and weekends.
• Rainy days make for smaller crowds, so don't let a few rain clouds chase you away from an amusement park.

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on 11/22/2005 Wait until the very end of the day, a little before the park closes, to get in line for a ride with a super long line. At Cedar Point, they close the lines when the park closes, but the ride keeps going. You might be there until midnight, so it's not great with kids, but it's less of your day spent standing in line.

on 11/22/2005 Buy and print your tickets online. Plan which rides to ride first. Get there early when the gate opens and run to the most popular rides. Usually, you can ride them twice before the crowds arrive.

Always go when school is in session. You will get to ride and do so much more.
I will actually let my kids miss a day of school and take them then.

Summers are HOT here. If you go, be sure to pack an ice chest with cold drinks. Drinks are expensive at the park, and the water fountains are not cold.

on 11/22/2005 Be one of the first to the park and ride the more popular rides first. You can knock out the most popular rides before 1100 usually and not have to worry about their long lines later. The shortest lines for these rides will be early in the day.

on 11/22/2005 The day before you leave, plan out the rides you'll go on, and in what order.
That way you won't have a hard time on deciding when you're there and you'll save a lot of time.

on 11/22/2005 Before you get in line for a ride, make sure everyone in your group meets all requirements to ride: height, age, and lack of casts or other medical problems that will make it unsafe for you to ride. Follow the rules so you don't get hurt.