A day at the waterpark can be a very fun filled day for the whole family. Who doesn’t love a good water slide and a relaxing dip in the cool refreshing water while the hot summer sun lingers in the sky? Waterparks have always been a staple destination for families looking to beat the heat and spend some quality time together laughing and creating memories to talk about on the car ride home and for the rest of their lives. To this day, I still talk about the time where my cousins and I flipped out of our tubes in one of the slides and how much our parents, and the lifeguards, laughed when we came tumbling out of the end of the slide seconds behind our tubes. 

With that being said, a day at the waterpark can be very overwhelming if you aren’t properly prepared. There are so many things happening that day from the huge crowds to the blazing sun, and you have to navigate these things all while keeping an eye on your little ones who may not be as cooperative as you would like! We can all use a guide with important reminders to help get you through this day. A guide kind of like this one!

Researching the Park

Every park is unique. From rules to parking to even the way tickets work, it is important to understand the location you are going to in order to have the best experience possible. For example, some locations may charge for parking and only take cash. If you were to not know this ahead of time, you can end up in quite a predicament when you arrive with no cash and a car in need of parking. Some locations also have very specific rules on what you are allowed to bring into the waterpark. 

Researching the park you’re going to before also helps you to develop a sort of game plan for the day. You can get a feel of what kind of attractions they have, where it’ll be most crowded, and the food options. If you have very young children, you’ll know where the child play areas are. If you are a more adventurous family, you can see ahead of time where the more thrilling rides are. 

The great thing about this process is you can do it all from the comfort of your home. You don’t need to call anyone unless you just want further clarification. It also does not take a long time. A lot of websites nowadays make it very easy to navigate and find out everything you need to know! 

Important Things to Bring

Who doesn’t love a good checklist? It’s the perfect way to organize yourself and make sure you don’t forget anything. Remember, every park is different so some parks may or may not allow some of these items, so make sure you do your research. With that,  here is our checklist of things to consider taking with you on your next trip to the waterpark:

• Tickets or Phone with Online Tickets
• Towels
• A Change of Clothes
• Flip Flops/Water Shoes
• Sunscreen
• Cooler with drinks/snacks
• Sunglasses/hats/visors
• Bandaids
• Swim Diapers
• Portable Charger
• Cash/Credit Card
• Floaties

Other Things to Consider

Once you’ve done your research and have gone over your checklist, be prepared to now go and have fun! Make sure your kids eat a hearty breakfast and drink plenty of water, then load them in and get an early start to your day to beat the rush and get the most out of your time. As the parent, you may feel the need to have to play the role of the secret service, hovering close by ready to be of assistance the moment anything goes wrong. While it is very important to keep a watchful eye on your children, it is also important that you enjoy the day as well! Instead of watching from afar, go on the rides with your children. Laugh with them and enjoy your time together. You’ve done all this preparing. It’s only right that you enjoy it with your children as well!