Top Travel Tips For Your Next Theme Park Vacation!

Over the years, my family has enjoyed many trips to various theme parks.  Most recently we took a fabulous trip to Universal Studios, where I was reminded that being properly prepared for a theme park can make all the difference in the ultimate enjoyment of your experience.  I know that this will sound a little crazy, but I approach planning for days in a theme park, at a ski slope or beach with the same planning method that I use for packing for a trip or preparing for dinner guests! 

My “Night Before” Game Plan! 

The NIGHT before you head to an amusement park, do the following:

Lay Out Your Next Day’s Outfits

For each person in your family, lay out the next day’s outfits.   Make sure that these are complete outfits with underwear, socks, jackets, and shoes. 

Designate a Family Tote Bag

Designate a family tote bag that you are willing to carry throughout the park.  Fill this bag with the following items:  

  • Sunglasses for each family member -  buy these at home to avoid overpriced replacements!
  • Sunscreen - don’t underestimate the amount you will need.  The new spray cans don’t go very far!
  • Camera with fresh batteries and memory card 
  • Guide book -  I always bring my guide book with me to the parks.  Prior to our trip, I will make reservations and check on show/parade times.  I write each date, time, and reservation number into the front cover of my guide book so that I have that information at my fingertips at all times! 
  • If your children are autograph or pin collectors, put and autograph book and pen OR a lanyard for each child in the tote bag
  • If you have children who are still in a stroller and/or diapers, my advice is to buy a second, inexpensive tote bag that you would not miss if it were stolen, and fill it with necessary baby supplies like diapers, wipes, and sippy cups.  Plan to leave this bag in the bottom of the stroller, EVEN if you are on a ride or attraction.  It’s hard enough to carry one pocketbook or tote bag with your true valuables inside, let alone a bag stuffed with easily replaceable baby supplies!

Consolidate All of Your Park Passes and Room Keys

Put ALL park passes and a room key into Mom or Dad’s wallet (whoever is the more responsible of the two!)  Don’t let the kids carry their own tickets under ANY circumstances!  Have this adult be responsible for the tickets/passes, distributing the tickets upon park entry and collecting them back IMMEDIATELY after heading inside!

If you follow this plan, you’ll get out of your hotel room with minimal fuss and you won’t be in the park without the things you need!  And I can’t emphasize this point enough -check and double check to make sure that you have your park passes and room key before you leave!! 

Final Theme Park Tip

Go ahead and let the professional photographers take your family’s picture as you enter the park!  At first, I wasn’t stuck on this idea, thinking that I’d be pressured into buying something I didn’t need.  But after giving the photographers a chance, I found that our best photos came from these sources!  I could take dozens of photos myself and still never have one that included everyone in our family and certainly not of a professional quality!  Additionally, it’s nice to get a picture when you first enter the theme park and everyone is looking clean and fresh!

Packing for Other Types of Outings

These tips are easily translated to any type of vacation.  Whether you are skiing, fishing, sailing or beaching, the “night before” approach is priceless!  Make small piles of gear for everyone in advance and you will not being running around like crazy the next morning!

Do you have a vacation packing or preparing tip you’d like to share?  We’d love to hear!

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