6 Tips for Planning Your Theme Park Vacation

Theme Parks are always a popular spring break destination. There are plenty of thrills and constant fun for the whole family. However, to get the most out of your theme park vacation, you have to do some pre-planning. Here are five tips to get the most from your vacation.

Save Money By Buying Tickets Ahead of Time. Part of the allure of a theme park is the multitude of attractions. There are rides, parades, shows, and characters to meet. All that fun-in-one means a hefty admission price tag. Most theme parks offer a ticket discount if you purchase from their website before you visit. Also check local visitors bureaus. For instance, Visit Orlando’s Magic Card offers discounts to SeaWorld, Bush Gardens, and Universal Studios home of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Avoid the Crowds. It’s never fun to stand in line. To truly enjoy a theme park without waiting, go early, stay late, or hit the rides during popular shows. Six Flags Over Georgia will often open their gates early and have a few roller coasters in the front of the park open. At EPCOT you’ll find shorter lines at popular attractions like EPCOT Test Track during the nightly Illuminations show. And don’t forget outside the parks too. You can see the famous Disney fireworks from several locations outside the parks and without the crowds.

Visit Water Parks First. When visiting a Theme park that also has a water park, like Wild Adventures in Valdosta, or Lake Winnie in Rossville, Ga. near Chattanooga, go to the water park in the morning. The water park areas will get a lot more crowded as the weather warms up and people get hot.

Visit with a Plan. Theme parks can be overwhelming. Get a map online prior to your visit and spend some time planning what you want to see (and what you can skip) Eliminate some rides by finding out if your children are too small (or too big) for them. Determine special activities that may require reservations or are at specific times and plan around them. For instance, the Be Our Guest Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World is very popular. Although reservations aren’t required for breakfast or lunch, they are strongly recommended.

Make it Special. Research the theme park you plan to visit to find out how to take advantage of special activities. For instance, at LEGOLAND in Florida staff trade LEGO mini-figures with guests. Bring a few of your less prized ones from home for a fun (and free) add on activity.

Consider a Themed Hotel Instead. If the idea of spending all day at a theme park is more than you can take, but the kids are begging to go, consider a themed hotel. At the Nickelodeon Hotel Punta Cana, Dominican Republic you can stay in a pineapple under the sea for the kiddos, but they also have lots of slime free activities like scuba diving, cooking classes and golf for adults.