Travel with Rachael

I absolutely love a family theme park break. In fact, we visit theme parks at least twice a year, and over the years I’ve picked up lots of little tricks that make the day run much more smoothly.

Whether you’re heading to Chessington, Alton Towers, Paultons Park, Efteling, Europa-Park or somewhere completely different, these tips will help you make the most of your day.

1. Always Take Water and Sun Cream into the Queue.

Queues can be much longer than you expect, especially on warm days. Keep a bottle of water and a small bottle of sun cream easily accessible so you can stay hydrated and top up while you’re waiting. There’s nothing worse than reaching the front of the queue with thirsty, overheated children, and nothing ruins a trip more then sunburn!

2. Pack a Picnic.

Theme park food can be expensive, especially for families. Taking a picnic not only saves money, but also gives you more flexibility throughout the day. You can stop whenever it suits your family rather than searching for somewhere to eat. Plus taking time out to find a table, order, wait for food, then eat it, takes so much time out of your day. Time that could be spent enjoying the park.

If you’ve stayed the night so you can’t bring a picnic with you, this would be my tip. We either purchase ready made sandwiches from outside the park, or if we’ve stayed on site research the park. Some of the eateries may serve sandwiches, sausage rolls etc, which although still pricey, can be purchased for a lot less than a sit down meal in a resturant inside the park.

3. Eat While You’re Queuing.

This is probably my favourite tip!

If you’re joining a longer queue around lunchtime, let everyone eat their sandwiches or snacks while you wait. You’re making use of time you’d already be standing around, leaving more time for rides later. Just avoid doing it before a roller coaster that could potentially upset a full stomach.

4. Carry a Small First Aid Kit

This is probably the thing that I always end up using. Whether its a plaster for a blister, or calpol for a sudden sore throat, or Paracetamol for a headache (for the adults).

You don’t need to take a full medicine cabinet, but a few essentials can make all the difference.

I always pack:

Plasters
Children’s pain relief, such as Calpol. (You can purchase travel calpol in easy to carry sachets).
Paracetamol for adults
Antacids (I always seem to get heartburn after a busy day!)

Any regular medication your family may need.

Hopefully you won’t need any of it, but you’ll be glad it’s there if you do.

5. Keep the Children Entertained in the Queues

Even the most exciting ride can feel like forever when you’re waiting with children.

Some of our favourite queue games include:
I Spy
Counting screws or fence posts
Heads Up! on your phone for older children.

Also consider small, easy to carry fidget toys.

Sometimes the simplest games create the best memories.

6. Think About Hiring a Locker.

Carrying bags all day can become exhausting. Many parks offer lockers, which can be a great option if you’ve packed a picnic, spare clothes or waterproofs. It also means you’re not lugging everything around between rides.

7. Divide and Conquer.

My children are 4 1/2 years apart, so we often do this.

If you’re visiting as two adults with children of different ages, don’t feel you have to stay together all day.

One adult can take the younger children on family rides while the other heads off with the older children for the bigger attractions.

Swap over later so everyone gets a chance to experience the rides they love.

8. Use the Single Rider Queue.

Many larger theme parks have single rider queues on selected attractions.
If the adults are happy to ride alone, this can be a brilliant way for both parents to experience the biggest thrill rides while the other stays with the children.

It usually means shorter queue times, do the other adult isn’t left on their own for too long, and avoids costly fast track passes.

9. Give Children “Turn Points”

If your children can never agree on the next ride, this little trick works wonders.

Give each child a set number of “turn points” for the day. Each time they choose the next ride, they use one point. It keeps things fair and helps avoid arguments.

If behaviour slips, you can, if you wish, remove a point. It’s a consequence you can easily carry out, and not a big threat you’re unlikely to follow through, such as leaving the park. I always make sure there’s an opportunity to earn it back through good behaviour. Positive reinforcement usually works much better at encouraging good behaviour.

10. Manage Expectations.

It’s almost impossible to do absolutely everything in one day, especially during busy periods.

Choose your must-do rides, enjoy everything else as a bonus, and remember that the goal is to make happy family memories—not to tick every attraction off a list.

Let Me Help You Plan Your Next Theme Park Adventure.

Theme parks are some of my favourite family breaks, and because we visit at least twice a year, I can help with much more than just booking your trip.
From choosing the right park for your family to sharing practical tips that make your visit easier, I’m here to help you plan a fun, stress-free short break so all you have to do is enjoy making memories together.

🎢 Rachael’s Travel Tip.

I always say that a little planning goes a long way. Spending just a few minutes preparing before your trip can save hours of stress on the day itself. It’s not about giving yourself more jobs to do—it’s about making life easier so you can relax, enjoy the rides and focus on making special memories with your family.

“Helping families spend less time worrying and more time making memories”

Until the next ride

Rachael