8 Ways To Make Your Theme Park Visit More Fun

Every year we make a pilgrimage to Hersheypark, the theme park in Hershey, Pennsylvania that really serves as a living advertisement for the Hershey Company. We've been doing it since my son was little and a he's kind of grown up there, passing through each of the height categories which they mark with a product line. He's gone from a Miniature (kids under 36”) to a Jolly Rancher (people who are 60” plus) in the blink of an eye. But we've also gone to plenty of other theme parks, including a few Six Flags, Knobels, and many owned by Disney. 

Over the years, we've developed some “coping strategies” to make theme park visits more pleasant and definitely more affordable. Here are some:

1. Be prepared – Check the park's website for information on how to pay (one park we visited did not take credit cards and we had to run into the nearest town to find an ATM). Find out if there are discount tickets available and figure out which best fit the needs of your family. Hershey offers a Sunset Pass which allows you to enter the park the evening before and enjoy the next day at a bargain price. Whereas this wasn't prudent when my kids were little and had earlier bedtimes, it's great for now when they're older. It means we get more time in the park resulting in less rushing around to see everything.
2. Find out if you can bring in food/water – Yes, this is part of “be prepared” but it's also a money-saving tip. Water costs a lot in these parks, so if you can' bring it in, enter with an empty water bottle and plan on filling up at water fountains or in the bathroom where you can often find the coldest water. Also, in hot weather, many parks are required by law to give you ice when you ask for it. You can hydrate on ice cold water at a fraction of the cost. Similarly, bringing in protein bars and fruit not only saves money, but calories.
3. Plan when to go – Weekends tend to be busier. Cloudy days and weekdays tend to be less busy. Find out if there are any giveaways or special events planned. Those will make the park more congested as well.
4. Buy park souvenirs outside the park – We've found t-shirts and other items with the park's name on them, for a fraction of the cost, at a local Walmart and other retailers.
5. Do recon on the park and develope a strategy – Grab a map of the park, hopefully before your trip, and decide which rides are musts; then head to those first when you enter. By doing that, you'll avoid disappointment when the rides get super long, when the kids get cranky, or if inclement weather hits. If possible, make an itinerary. We always hit the attractions furthest from the entrance, so while most people are meandering through the park toward the back, we're working out way forward, thus avoiding the crowds. Know where shelter is (perhaps in a theater or arcade) and what might be air conditioned. On hot days, knowing where to find cool air will save you.
6. Pack a waterproof bag or backpack – You'll be living in your bag while you're at the park, so make sure it's durable and preferably waterproof. Stock it with hand sanitizer, cheap plastic ponchos, a first aid kit in a Ziploc bag, and sunscreen. Pack extra Ziploc bags to put electronics in to protect them from water rides, spills, or rain.
7. Take pictures of your kids when they first enter the park – In case you get separated, you'll be able to show people what your children look like and what they were last wearing.
8. Take breaks – Your visit isn't a race, it's an experience. Take into account that little feet need to rest. Don't rush the day; savor it.

Yep. We're headed to Hersheypark next month, as we have for the last decade.  The one year we didn't go, the kids missed it terribly and it was then that I realized how much they looked forward to it and how the pilgrimage had become an important part of their childhood memories.  Coping strategies won't entirely eliminate the stress of going, but will minimize it, allowing all of us to enjoy a rare day together, as as family.

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Note:  This post first appeared on the website "Is It Hot In Here?" Menopause, Motherhood & More

The Fashionista And Her Fascination With Rue21

 

 

Note:  I was compensated for writing this post, however, all of the opinions expressed are mine. 

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My daughter's awareness of fashion began when she was in preschool. All the girls had to have Twinkle Toe shoes. When I wouldn't spring for the ultra-expensive shoes and sent her in with Target knock-offs, she was mortified. Apparently the other 4-year old girls knew her shoes weren't the real deal (!!) and made fun of her for it. Since then, Diva has been extremely vocal about the latest designs and even saves up her own money to buy the trendy clothes.

So when she saw me perusing Rue21's site while searching for a gift for a teenage girl we knew, she was thrilled. “Mom, I need Aztec leggings, shortalls, printed jogger pants...”  Her list went on and on. She knew what all of those things were while I had to search the site to see what she was talking about.

I don't mind her emulating young adult fashion, as long as it's appropriate for someone in elementary school. The Aztec leggings, though not something that would fit my middle-aged body, would look cute on her. Similarly, tribal leggings would be perfect for the current weather in the

Shortalls would not fit our school's dress code

Northeast. In fact, when it gets hot and she's wearing leggings, she just cuffs them up to look like shorts.

The shortalls are another story. They remind me of the hot pants that were popular in the 70's and although cute, I can't imagine they'd be in accordance with our school's dress code where the length of shorts must be a few inches from a child's extended hand. Shortalls are simply too skimpy for school and not appropriate for a child as young as Diva, although they might be all right for an older girl. 

Rue21's jogger pants are nice, but were not what I imagined when I thought of “jogger” pants. I was thinking something baggy in velour. These look more like leggings although they do have a drawstring waist and elastic in the back. Cute for a teen, but not really fitting my image of a younger girl. Similarly, the maxi skirts are lovely but look too old for teenage girls or any girls for that matter. Once again, in a blast from the past, I thought the chevron-patterned maxi skirts looked like something I wore when I was in middle school.

Together, my daughter and I chose a striped, double-scooped neck top for our neighbor and paired it with a high-waisted midi skirt I knew the birthday girl's mom would approve of. Her mother, like me, feels that young adolescents should not show off too much of their bodies.

There's tasteful, and then there's inappropriate. Rue 21 is a site where girls can “shop 'till they drop” and embrace their inner fashionistas without causing a mother too much concern.