Top Tips for Taking Kids to a Theme Park

Theme parks are a fun day out for all

Disney remains one of the most popular theme parks of all time

Taking your kids out to a theme park, is great way to have fun as a family and there are some great choices out there. Here are 10 tips to help make your day out enjoyable:1) Check on the weather forecast and plan accordingly. If it's hot, ensure that you have applied sunscreen before you get to the theme park, and if wet or inclement weather is planned, bring waterproofs or an umbrella. Weather doesn't have to ruin a day out, but sunburn and a thorough soaking of rain might do.2) If you can, avoid weekends and public holidays as these tend to bring the crowds to the park and queues for rides can be longer.3) Even if your kids are teenagers, it's a good idea once you enter the park to identify a good meeting spot should anyone get separated from the party. Have a rule that the moment anyone goes missing, you all make your way back to the meeting point.4) If you've got very small kids with you, you might want to consider making your child a wristband or a sticker for the inside of their clothing that has your contact details on etc, should they get separated from you. It's also a useful idea to dress your kids in brightly coloured clothing that you can easily identify in a crowd, should they wander a short distance away. Another good tip is to take a photo of your child the morning that you take them to the theme park. This way, if you get separated from them and then have to describe them to park security, you can use the picture to remember what they were wearing whilst your brain is no doubt frazzled with worry.5) Most theme parks won't allow you to take food into the park, but they are ok with water bottles, so take a bottle for each member of your family. This will keep you all hydrated, and also save you some money when you're in the park.6) Let your kids know about the theme park environment before they go. Explain that for some rides you might need them to be patient and 'take their turn' and mention that there will be lots of people in the park so they need to stay close to you. Forewarned is forearmed, and with the crowds at a theme park, kids can get a little anxious so it is good to prepare them.7) There's so much to see and do at a theme park, and you can easily lose track of time and forget about meal times. However, if you're late on meal times (or snacks) your toddler will likely let you know with a bit of a hunger meltdown and this can put a bit of a dampner on the day. A quick way to remember to have your water, or to get some snacks on board, is to set a reminder on your phone and this way no matter how much fun you're having you won't forget to take vital rest stops.8) Get a map. Everyone is excited the moment they set foot into a theme park, and it's quite easy to get caught up in the moment, and run straight towards the first ride or attraction you see. If you can, grab a map before you visit (online maps are very common at most major theme parks), and plan which rides and attractions you desperately want to see. Then plan a route around the park so that you can make best use of your time. You can also make a note of when shows or entertainment is occuring and build this into your days plan.9) Book your tickets ahead of time. If you are able to, purchase your tickets online before you visit. Not only will this save you time on the day, it also guarantees you entry on a day when tickets might have already sold out. Major parks such as Disney and Universal have a limited number of tickets per day and once they've gone, they've gone.10) If you can tear yourself away, leave the park slightly before the park actually closes. This will mean that you're not caught up in the chaos of everyone leaving at the same time.