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Derrick and I are roller coaster enthusiasts and content creators.
We go to a lot of amusement parks every year with our two kids and we’ve learned a thing or two about what to bring to make our days run as smoothly as possible.
In general – we try to bring as little as possible into amusement parks. After all, who wants to lug around a backpack full of “stuff” when you’re supposed to be having fun?!
But, we do bring a few things to make our days run efficiently and as fun as possible.
(All of these things fit into my small backpack that I bring to amusement parks!)
5 Things We Take To Every Amusement Park
- A “Bendy-Legged” Phone Tripod – This is my secret weapon AND NO, I don’t mean that I use this as a “weapon” in amusement parks! Nothing against park photographers (I worked at Walt Disney World as a PhotoPass Photographer one summer, I have so much respect for them!) but having this phone tripod with us allows us to take family photos at each park we go to.
I wrap phone tripod around our stroller handle and leave it there! And whenever I see a cool spot in the park, I simply attach my phone, set the self-timer, and it works PERFECTLY every time!
Don’t have a stroller? You can easily set this tripod up on a bench, table, garbage can, or wrap it around a fence! That’s what I’ve done when Derrick and I have taken a solo-trip without our kids!
*Just be aware: there are a FEW parks that will not allow you to bring a phone tripod in. So far, Six Flags Over Georgia has been the worst (forcing us to take it back out to the car and leave it there), but I know more and more parks are cracking down on tripods in general. - Liquid IV – Liquid IV has saved our butts on more hot days than you can imagine! It’s the most incredible pick-me-up that you likely don’t even realize that you need until it’s “too late” and all you can think about it taking a break and sitting down in some shade. It’s so easy to quickly become dehydrated while walking around amusement parks (especially on super hot summer days), so this stuff will change your life!
Plus, sometimes it’s nice to just add a little flavoring to your water. We LOVE this stuff! - Collapsible Water Bottles – Speaking of water, even if we’re going to a park that we have souvinier cups at, we still bring water bottles along! (Trust me, drinking soda all day long is just gross and sure to leave you feeling even more sluggish than ever.) These collapsible bottles are super easy to travel with and I love that they have the clip on the side. That way, instead of them just getting tossed into the bottom of the stroller, we can clip them to the side for easier access! They’re light, easy to fill, and so convenient!
*Just make sure after you’re done for the day, that you wash and set these bottles out to dry completely before you collapse them and put them away. These make me slightly paranoid about mold growing in them that I can’t see – so I’m a little crazy about making sure they get cleaned and dried thoroughly after each use! - A Portable Phone Charger – We use our phones A LOT at amusement parks. Between checking maps, ride wait times, show performance times, mobile ordering food, digital tickets, taking photos and videos – our phones are used constantly! Even if you have a newer phone with a fresh battery, having some backup power to get you through the day is crucial.
I love this particular charger the most because you don’t have to bring additional cords to charge your phone – they’re all built in! Additionally, you don’t need to carry an extra cord to charge the charger – the plug is built right into the back! - Lollipops – Trust me: lollipops will not only save you money from having to constantly buy snacks for little ones (I don’t know about you, but my kids are always hungry), but they are the best and easiest way to distract kids (and adults too)! Whether you’re waiting in long lines, waiting for older members of your party to ride “big” rides, or just need a little distraction – lollipops are the best! Plus, they don’t melt like other candy in the heat.
I like these lollipops in particular, because who doesn’t need a little extra Vitamin C, especially when traveling and hanging out in large crowds!
Want to know what we bring with us on every road trip? Find that list HERE!
