Tips for Getting the Most out of the Theme Park When You’re Traveling with a Group
Going to a theme park can be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, going to a theme park can be stressful too, and it seems like the more people you go with, the more stressful it can be.
It doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Going to the theme park with a large group can be a lot of fun, as long as you plan for success.
It doesn’t matter if you’re visiting Dollywood on a Pigeon Forge vacation or you’re planning a weeklong amusement park adventure in Orlando, these tips will ensure everyone in even the largest group will have a good time.
Get up Early
How you wake up and get going in the morning can set the tone for your entire day. Waking everyone up in a panic at the last minute and rushing around the hotel room to fly out the door is only asking for trouble. Everyone will undoubtedly be flustered and be grumpy before you even get there!
Instead, plan to wake up early so you have plenty of time to get ready and get to the theme park at a reasonable hour. A few tips for getting everyone in your group up early include:
- Not eating a late dinner the night before
- Making everyone put electronics away at a certain time before bed
- Setting a backup alarm just in case you sleep through the first one
- Asking others in your group to help wake others up so you aren’t stuck doing it all yourself
Pick Three Things You Want to Do
It doesn’t matter how fit you are, how determined you are, or how early you get to the theme park. There is no way everyone in your group is going to be able to ride every ride and do everything they want to do. Instead of feeling frustrated that you didn’t get to do what you wanted to, or dealing with group members who didn’t get to do what they wanted to do, ask everyone to create a list of three musts.
Your list could include rides you want to ride, shows you want to see, or places you want to eat. The promise is that everyone gets to do the three things on their list for sure, while still getting to do other things with any extra time you have.
Plan a Meeting Place
If you’re traveling with children, it is important to know what to do if you lose sight of your child. Planning a meeting place when you first arrive will make finding them easier, but this tip works well for adult groups too.
Instead of sticking together as a large group, you can divide and conquer to ensure everyone is able to do the things they want to do. After everyone gets to do what they want, you can plan to reconvene at a certain spot.
Plan for Food and Drinks
It’s easy for hunger and thirst to sneak up on you quickly when you’re at the theme park. With so much to do and see, it’s easy to go hours without a bite to eat or a sip of water to drink. That can make you grouchy, and it can even make you sick. Instead, plan ahead for food and drinks before you get there.
That could mean planning a place to meet for lunch or equipping everyone with a water bottle before you head through the gates.
Don’t want to overspend on snacks? Even Disney World allows you to bring food into the park! That way, a snack is always close at hand.
Come Prepared
What are you going to do if the youngest member of your group falls and skins their knee? What happens if you get a headache? Simple problems like these can turn into huge issues if you aren’t prepared.
Make sure you know what to bring to the amusement park. A few ideas include:
- Sunscreen
- Band Aids
- Extra socks
- Pain relievers
- Hand sanitizer
Be smart about how you pack these items too. You’re going to be uncomfortable if you bring along a bulky bag or shove everything in your purse. Instead, put items in a fanny pack or a lightweight backpack.
Don’t let the excitement of going to the theme park with a large group turn into a tragedy! Plan ahead with these tips and you can make sure you stress less while everyone else enjoys their time at the park even more.
