Theme parks: tips & tricks

/

After a six year hiatus from Six Flags it was time to get back in the theme park game. I had grown up going to Six Flags Magic Mountain and I had no idea there was one so close to the city (SF). Granted it is much smaller than I remember but a day trip is still fun if you do it the right way. 

The worst part about amusement parks:

  1. The lines. They can take up to 2 hours for 1 ride of 30-90 seconds! 
  2. The ticket price. Theme parks can cost almost $70 pp which can be expensive for a family or group
  3. The food. It is expensive and incredibly unhealthy. Although Funnel cakes, dippin dots, and frozen lemonades are a tasty tradition, they are not a good when combined with roller coasters.
  4. The temperature. Most people go when school is not in session, so if you live in CA you probably went when it was over 100 degrees

The solution:

  1. Arrive on time- yes, this is as obvious as it sounds. However, most people still do not arrive as soon as it opens. It makes all the difference! The park opens around 11am and the ride technicians offer double rides until 2pm. Because the park is not very busy not only are the lines shorter (about 15 minutes each), but you get to go twice in a row. Double the value.
  2.  Book online- Tickets are usually expensive. However, if you book in advance online you can save $25 per ticket. The caveat is that you have to make sure you attend the day you sign up for and everyone has to register so they can not be resold. However, this should not be a problem if you plan in advance. It can even be a few days in advance and still get the discount. 
  3. Pack snacks! Even if you do not like soggy sandwiches that you probably sat on during the ride, bring a bar that you can keep in your pocket or purse. The earlier you arrive the earlier you will have finished all the rides so you can leave the theme park for a decent meal. 
  4. Avoid peak season- If you do not want to go when it is very crowded or very hot then avoid peak times. Again, this is obvious, but not so obvious that people are actually doing it. Schedule in advance in late February or early March (before Spring break) and you can cross off 2 & 4. Just make sure you check the rain forecast before going in January/February to avoid rain showers in line. At least we have the CA drought to thank for something. I went in February and it was nice and sunny. 

Some other important tips:

  • Bring some cash for lockers. They no longer allow bags on the ride. Keep a few dollars and your locker combination and you do not have to go back and forth to your locker during the day. We forgot to pack cash and had to ask a stranger to open our locker to repay them. Whoops.
  • Go pro is no go. Well if you get caught. 
  • You can and will lose your sunglasses. Be careful to hold them. Even in jacket pockets they come lose. 

Enjoy the ride!

Until next time. Stay tuned.