Amusement parks
Wrote and edited: Yair Bar-Zohar
Date: 14.05.2006
Today, all the amusement parks are located on extensive areas and the load (in terms of visitors) is heavy. You need to take in account that you can't be in every location and do every ride, unless you stay for several days. If you're planning on staying for a short time, it is recommended to receive recommendations from the internet or friends prior to the visit.
The most important things you need to know in advance are:
- When is the site closed (days of the week, holidays, and renovations).
- The hour when they open and close the site (changes according to the seasons).
- Map of the site (roots to arrive the place, attractions map).
- What are the best attractions (when they start working, above what age you can enter each attraction).
- Children – check if there's no restriction for the rides (age and height) and it will save both you and your child mental anguish.
- Price – for a single person, a group, for AAA card owners, for parking, etc.
- You should check at the ticket office or at the website for the possibility to purchase tickets for several sites, it can save you some money.
- Fast pass services – in several parks in the United States there's the fast pass service that you get when you enter the site. You receive a map of the park, which marks all the rides and services available (restaurants, smoking areas, telephones, child diapers corners, bathrooms and more), and near the busiest rides ( usually the most attractive ones) you have the sign FP, which means Free Pass. In these rides you use the ticket you've received when you entered and you get to ride it without waiting in line like others that don't use the free pass. Each attraction has an hour you are permitted to use the free pass, and that way you save time by not waiting in line, and have additional time to do more rides.
- Handicap accessibility – the accessibility for the handicap in most parks, if not all of them, is very comfortable. There are elevators and ramps that are intended for the disabled and for baby carts. There is also a special parking area for the handicap, and of course, a ride with a special vehicle to take you to the entrance of the park.
If necessary, you can rent a an electric cart for an additional fee and drive with it all around the park. The use of the rides are subjected to the disability of the person, and in most parks the disabled and their escort don't wait in line, they enter first (don't worry, they won't catch your seat since every ride has special seats for the handicap only.
Important recommendations
Try reaching the attractions, parks, museums, and other places of entertainment without a hand or back beg, so you'll be able to feel free on one hand, and not worry about theft or pickpockets on the other hand. If you really have no choice but to take heavy bags with you (not a bag with personal documents and money), we recommend you to rent a storage cell. Moreover, you should wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
Avoid coming on busy days like: holidays, weekends, and vacations.
You shouldn't come during tourist season, lines are shorter, and you can do more rides.
If you visit during the tourist season, you need to consider the fact that there's going to be very long lines. The favorite time to visit the parks: from the opening till they close. At the beginning, go to the most popular rides. At noon turn around the park, rest, or watch some shows. In the evening, watch lights and sounds shows that are recommended (you should arrive some time prior to the show in order to catch good seats).
It's best for parents to split. One parent goes with the big children to their appropriate rides, and the other parent goes with the smaller children to their appropriate rides.
It is mandatory to wear sun screen, a hat, and to drink a lot of water.
The rides at night are a recommended experience, and there's sometimes light parades.
We recommend that each visitor will have a map of the park.
In order not to get lost in the park, take these measures: wear matching clothes and hats so you could locate your family easily and fast, have a cell phone with you at all time.
If one of the children got lost: first of all don't panic, go to the nearest ride and ask the person in charge to take you to the nearest central location, and to call for the child using the announcement system.
Special additional page for the visitors and the readers: all the amusement parks in the world with a link.
We recommend you print this article.
Amusement parks