AMUSEMENT PARK HINTS

Tips to Make
Your Visit
More Enjoyable

THE FOLLOWING MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED
WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR ©

• PLANNING:   Order park brochures and information about the surrounding area from the park or tourist services. Knowing ahead will reduce the time spent while there. Know your route numbers and turns. Write them on one or more Post-It notes and attach them right to the relevant part of the map you will bring with you.
  
      Check park promotions. Call to see if bringing a certain product with you will qualify you for a discount or a ride pass. If you belong to a roller coaster enthusiast group, see if the park offers discounts to it. If so, be sure to bring your membership card with you.
  
      Investigate packages which include a hotel and park admissions. Try for off-site hotels or motels. They often offer park tickets as an incentive because they are farther away from the park. Be wary, though, and contact the park to be sure that any such tickets will be honoured on the day you plan to attend. Some offers may be limited or disallowed at certain times.
  
      Ask if the hotel offers transport to & from the park. If not, be sure to check the availability of transportation. Avoid long taxi trips, if possible, due to the cost.
  
      If you are not taking your vehicle for some, or part of the trip, be sure you know your transportation and any changes required. Try to get tickets ahead of time.
  
      Make use of travel services. Although few seem to be geared for amusement parks, they still may be able to arrange packages for a given area. Ask them to investigate adding your chosen amusement park to a package of your liking. These services cost you nothing, but will be geared toward the businesses associated with the travel service. After hearing what they have to recommend, compare that with your own investigations and then select the method which is best for you.
  
  
  
• CLOTHING:   Since most of the time spent in parks is during warm weather, light weight, comfortable clothes are suggested. They will get wet, somewhat dirty, and possibly torn, so select clothes that are drip dry and ones you don't mind getting damaged. Although shorts are comfortable, pants will protect your legs from scratches and insect bites, as well as from sun exposure.
  
      Do not wear extremely loose clothing as it may get hung up on some rides. As well, loose shoes or sandals may be lost on rides where ones legs hang down. Ride safety is of great concern in the amusement park industry so loose clothing is not likely to be lethal, but there is still the odd sharp edge and pinch point that can tear or catch looser clothes.
  
      Bring a rain poncho or K-Way jacket if you don't want to get wet on water rides. See the K-Way Jacket section, farther on.
  
  
  
• SHOES:   Do not use new shoes!! You will be doing more walking than you can imagine, so only comfortable, ventilated, well broken-in footwear should be worn. They should also be able to handle getting wet. Canvas deck shoes are ideal for this. Be sure shoes are not so loose that they rub up and down on your feet, which will cause blisters the first day. Also if they are too loose you'll lose them on rides where your feet dangle.
  
  

  To prevent sweaty feet, which will eventually cause chafing and blisters, wear socks with your shoes and put talcum powder in both your socks and your shoes. It will absorb moisture and its anti-caking agent assures that it will remain a powder all day. This will keep your feet dry and allow them almost frictionless movement within your shoes.

  
  
  
  
• JEWELRY:   Wear minimal jewelry, especially loose items. On rides you may lose them. Some things such as pins or earrings may cause injury, especially on rides with over-the-shoulder restraints. There is always the possibility of theft as well. Leave these items back at the hotel, and if especially valuable, have them placed in the hotel safe.
  
  
  
• VEHICLE:   Before entering the park, fill your gas tank, as there may not be stations open when you leave at day's end; and if there are, they will likely be swamped with park traffic.
  
  

  Don't get your tank topped off! The sun's heat in an open parking lot will expand the gasoline, spilling it out the filler tube and wasting it.

  
      Face your vehicle east, and if possible lower the seat backs on to the seats. Open all windows a centimeter or so for ventilation. This way, heat problems will be reduced, and if the sun does shine inside, only the seatbacks will be warmed. An alternative is to use one of those large paper reflectors that fit in the windshield or rear glass cavities.
  
      Lock all valuables in the trunk, or stash them under the seats if you have no trunk or own a pickup truck/cargo van. Put heat sensitive items, especially audio/video tapes, in the coolest spot. Thieves are not likely to break in if there are no visible valuables to tempt them.
  
      If you have an expensive sound system, don't advertise it. Place magazines, pillows, etc. over speakers with expensive brand names showing, and hang something in front of the player if it can't be removed for safe keeping. An open road or park map, strategically placed, can serve this purpose. Make any coverings look as innocent as possible.
  
      Do not leave pets in your vehicle as they may die from heat exhaustion. Leave them at a pet check if the park has one, or better yet do not bring them.
  
      Give the spare set of keys to someone else in your party. This means two people have vehicle access in case one group wants to get in when the other is not to be found. It's also an obvious asset should one set get lost. Put the keys in the least opened pocket of your waist wallet. (See farther on for information on Waist Wallets.)
  
  

  When accessing keys or other items, never stand over a storm drain or near any openings or gulleys. You may lose those items to an inaccessible place.

  
      Be sure to remember where you parked! Write down the row name or number if the lots are designated. Otherwise, remember or write down landmarks close to or in line with your vehicle.
  
  
  
• KEEPING COOL:   Keeping cool will conserve your energy and keep you comfortable. This allows you to do more at the park, and so get more out of your day. Most of your park visits are likely to be during warm weather, so here are some suggestions:
  
  
1. Drink Plenty of Water   Don't worry about frequent washroom trips - you'll sweat most of it out. Note that water is preferred over carbonated beverages. Since you'll be drinking a lot, soft drinks will cause you to feel bloated (and also drain your wallet). As well, some pop contains caffeine which dehydrates and leads to hyperactivity - just what you want to avoid on a hot day. Alcohol is to be avoided too. It does not really quench thirst, tends to increase the sensation of body heat, and also causes dehydration.
   
   
2. Wear a Hat   Heat exhaustion is a possibility, so a light-coloured hat is recommended to shade the head.
   
   
3. Rest Often   Seek shade or an air-conditioned theater when overheated. Drink water with a mild amount of salt.
   
   
4. Use Moist Towelettes   They come in foil packages. Open one and wipe your face & hands with it. This will cool you and clean some of the park dirt off at the same time. Be sure to reapply sunblock after washing.

Leanne DiLorenzo of
Ocean View, New Jersey
has the following "Keeping Cool" tips:

  Above All, Be Aware of
Heat-Exhaustion Symptoms:

• Flushed Appearance
• Headache
• Hot Dry Skin
• Extreme Thirst
• Reduced Sweating
• Confusion
• Increase in Body Temperature

    In the extreme, these symptoms reflect heat/sun stroke, and body temperature may exceed 40 degrees C (37 degrees is normal). Cool the victim and seek medical help immediately.

• Food:   Park food is usually expensive, so think about bringing a picnic lunch. Some parks even allow one to bring in such lunches to the park. If not, get a re-entry pass, and then lunch in the parking lot.
  
      If you do decide to have a meal at the park, compare the food stands with the restaurants. Food stands have a pretty high markup and so a restaurant may be a better deal. Think about buying a few large size orders and sharing, as opposed to each having his own small meal.
  
  
• Queues:   It is a fact of modern, large amusement parks that one will have to stand in line at some point. Here are some suggestions to avoid the lines and what to do when you must wait in one:
  
  
1. Plan to Attend the Park on its Off Days   Call ahead to find when those days are most likely to be. Ask about holidays. Contrary to what one might think, holidays are not always as bad as might be expected because people stay away thinking it will be crowded.
   
   
2. Check Promotions for Ride Discounts or Passes   Some parks will have product tie-ins. Ask the park which product you can bring which will garner a ride pass or reduced admission for an add-on attraction.
   
   
3. Arrive Early   Be at the park before opening. Plan to ride the newest attraction first before it becomes too long of a wait. Be sure to enter the park at the gate closest to this attraction and call ahead to be sure that particular gate will be open at that time. When the park opens, head immediately to the newest attraction before the line become excessive. Later in the day, that attraction will likely have much longer wait times.
   
   
4. Attend the Park right after a Rainstorm   If the forecast calls for better weather later in the day, go to the park then. Many will not attend because of the earlier rain. This also applies when in already the park and a rain squall has just passed. After a short wait while a ride dries, it will reopen with little or no line.
   
   
5. Ride near Typical Meal Times   Many people are regimented and will eat around noon and at about 5 PM. Attraction lines tend to be shorter then.
   
   
6. Try Queues just before Evening Admission Discount Time   Some parks have reduced admission prices for evening hours. People will arrive just before the time this pricing starts and will wait at the gate. If you can get rides in just before this time, chances are the lines will be shorter. This is because some of the day crowd will have gone home, but the evening crowd has not yet been admitted to the park. After this time, numbers will swell once again with the evening crowds.
   
   
7. Use a Time-Dependent Pass   Some parks offer a time pass whereby one may arrive at a certain time later in the day and wait a shorter period. These systems are still controversial, with some reporting they work well and others not having good experiences. You may want to try asking some of the locals for their recommendations before trying a given park's system.
   
   
8. Use the Single-Rider Lines   Some attractions have a queue for single riders. This is because some parties contain an odd number of people and one person ends up alone in a car. It is good if that empty seat beside this alone person could be filled. When these seats become available, a person from the single-rider line is used to fill that position.
   
     You won't have a choice of seats with this method, and will be riding with a stranger, but it often means a shorter wait. This works doubly well for attractions which have four or more seats abreast. In some cases, two empty seats will be side by side. As for the stranger, one can often meet fellow enthusiasts this way - sometimes resulting in lasting friendships.
   
   
9. Start Conversations with Those around You   If you do end up in a line, you may often meet persons from some far-away places, and learning about someone else's homeland or area is always good as a time passer while waiting.
   
   
10. Bring a Video Game or Book   If conversation is not your forte, a small pocket book or portable video game can help pass the time. The book should be something which would not be spoiled by an interruption. The best titles for that are non-fiction or guide books. The park brochures are a possible choice because you can further plan your day.
    
    
11. Bring a Personal Organiser   Perhaps you'd like to be more productive in line. If so, bring a personal organiser or palm-top computer. It's great for note taking, or if you keep a park diary, it's a perfect time to type in your review of that last attraction. Be sure that this item, or the video game mentioned above, has a hard-shell case to protect it while you ride.
    
    
    
• WAIST WALLETS:   You may keep your stuff in a purse, or windbreaker pouch with a zipper or velcro closure, but we suggest a waist wallet. It's like a purse but has a locking strap that goes around your waist and is curved so it hugs your body. This makes for hands-free use and great security. A purse or windbreaker is prone to being left somewhere, and has to be carried at some point, which becomes a nuisance especially when walking, eating an ice cream, and taking pictures at the same time.
  
      Waist wallets are available in a number of styles and materials but we recommend a waterproof nylon in a lighter color. Nylon to repel water on the flume rides, and a lighter color to prevent sun-baked contents. (This is especially important regarding film and video tape.) Not too light a color though, as dirt will show - even on nylon.
  
      Get one that has at least three zippered (not velcro) compartments. The first should be able to fit paper money without folding and be the pocket at the back (against your body). This way if you leave it unzipped the pressure of it against you will likely keep your money and credit cards in place even on Drop Rides! Also, it would be harder for pick-pockets to steal from this compartment. It's important that your paper money be unfolded. With folded money, you must remove the entire wad to make a purchase which can contribute to loss and it's an advertisement to thieves. Unfolded bills can be riffled through and only the bill you require need be removed.
  
      Note that you should try to steer clear of velcro enclosures. They don't hold as well as a zipper and when they get dirty, they don't stay closed at all.
  
      One of the remaining two pockets can be used for a small camera and film, the other to hold the balance of items suggested earlier. Keep hotel, locker, and vehicle keys in the pocket opened least to minimize the risk of loss. I actually use a waist wallet with 5 pockets. In addition, there are two smaller pockets on the ends of the main compartments. I use them for a chap stick and moist towelettes.
  
      Get the type with double zipper pulls. These can be adjusted to zip/unzip from either direction which is handy if you wear the waist wallet on your hip. With the option to zip/unzip from either direction, there is no disadvantage to wearing it on one hip or the other.
  
      Check the quality before you buy. Some have poor materials and badly sewn seams that are prone to opening up with the stress of the rides. The strap must be tightly attached to the purse and should have a quality locking buckle that can be easily opened to facilitate access to the money pocket.
  
      Wear your wallet tightly enough to always be able to feel it around your waist (but not so that it's uncomfortable), and loose enough to access the rear pocket. When opening it, move away from crowds to reduce the risk of theft. Do not stand near, or on storm drains and bridges, nor near gulleys. This will lessen the risk of loss should an item be dropped.
  
  
  
• K-WAY JACKETS:   For those of you who don't like to get wet I suggest a K-Way style of jacket. It is similar to a windbreaker in that it's made from nylon and it has a pouch, but the nylon has been lightly rubberized so it's waterproof. It has a hood with a drawstring around the face and the bottom also has a drawstring at your waist so you are pretty-well protected in a downpour or on a flume ride. I like it because I can also use it to keep my camera dry.
  
      The best part of it is that the hood rolls up into a zippered compartment and by reversing the pouch, the jacket and hood can be stuffed into it. There is a zippered closure, and on what is now the outside of the pouch, two elasticized straps with a quick-closure fastener. Therefore, it can be worn about the waist out of the way, but be at the ready to protect you from moisture at a moment's notice. Plus, when it is being worn around the waist the pouch becomes another handy storage compartment. (Note that "K-Way" is a Canadian brand that may not be imported to your country, therefore if your local store doesn't recognise that brand name, try describing the above and they may have a similar brand available.)
  
  
  
• ATTRACTIONS LOG:   This is something some members like to take on tour with them. It consists of a folding pamphlet with spaces to write in the park name, attraction name, and blocks to check off each time ridden. At the end of a long tour you will be able to look back and see what attractions and rides were done.
  
  

Below is a CEC Attractions Log
Designed by Rob Puchyr of Ottawa.

Exterior of the Log

Interior of the Log showing one of the three unfolded panels.

END OF THE SEASON

Once you have stopped visiting parks for the year,
you should tie up loose ends and wind down your
park accessories. Then, for the next season, you'll
be steps closer to being ready, and actually may
eliminate some work. Here are some tips which
should help towards that end.

• REMOVE MEDICINES:   From your trip cases or waist wallet, take out medicines and any items which have a shelf life of less than a year. For any which you will not be using throughout the off-season, they will have to be thrown out, or in the case of medicines, return them to your local pharmacy for safe disposal. Throwing these out, puts them into the environment, which is not good.
  
      I suggest that even for those which can survive over the off-season, that they be replaced, anyway. This gives fresh medicines for your next park season. Don't forget to keep a list of those items which must be replaced. Then be sure to arrange a calendar or computer reminder for a date a few weeks before the start of the next season so that these will get replaced.
  
  
  
• UNPACK CLOTHES:   This may seem logical, but some who have specific park clothes sometimes forget about them once the last park has been visited for the season. These, and any other personal items, should be removed from their cases, washed, and then returned to be ready for the next season.
  
      Before returning them, be sure to clean and air out the cases/bags used to hold them. This is a chance to remove that sticky candy about which you kept forgetting; it could only get worse if left for the off season. Repairs may be made to all items at this time. Don't leave this to the day before the start of next season!
  
  
  
• RECEIPTS:   Peruse all receipts. Some throw them out, but I suggest keeping them, not only for possible merchandise return purposes, but as a record of what was bought and how much was spent. As well, they are a record of which shops/booths were visited and in which park a specific item was purchased. You may be happy to see these when looking back from some far distant time. This leads to the next item...
  
  
  
• SCRAPBOOK:   For the true park-goer, all items are meaningful. Make them a pleasure to look through in future times by putting them into a scrap book. At the very least, get a file box and folders in which to place each park's items. Again, at some distant time, you'll be happy to have even the smallest reminder of a great (or even no-so-great) trip.

Doing all this now may seem tedious when all you want
to do is bask in the season just passed. However, a
little time spent now will bring great rewards at
the start of the next season when most items will
have already been checked off!

Now,
See Park Etiquette
For Suggestions on How to Act
While in an Amusement Park