Guest Author - Kimberly Button

Planning a trip to a theme park? The following are the eight must-have items that theme park visitors should bring with them:

• A pen for making dining reservation notations, getting character autographs and making notes on your park map, such as marking off attractions that you have already done and circling the times of shows that you would like to see.

• Bottled water is expensive inside theme parks so stock up before visiting. The lines to purchase beverages can be lengthy, too, so save time by bringing your own. You will want to avoid dehydration any time of the year, but it is especially important to drink plenty of fluids during the warmer weather months. Refill your bottles at water fountains for free. Bottled water is usually allowed to be carried onto attractions, unlike cups of water or other beverages.

• An inexpensive plastic rain poncho (about $1 in discount stores) or a waterproof jacket can prevent you from being miserable after a sudden rainstorm or in cooler weather. Even if it never rains, the poncho or jacket is ideal for sitting on while waiting for parades and fireworks, protecting yourself from getting drenched on water rides and shielding yourself from the harsh rays of the sun if you’re stuck outdoors with no cover.

• A camera with plenty of film or memory space and enough battery power to get you through the day. You don’t want to miss any memorable moments because your camera decided to quit an hour after you enter the theme park.

• Sunscreen to prevent being miserable on your vacation because of a sunburn. You’ll spend more time outdoors at a theme park then you might realize and the hot rays of the sun will reflect off of the sidewalks and asphalt to scorch your skin.

• Bring your own snacks to save time and money.

• Bring cash to pay for any food that you purchase from snack carts and souvenir stands that might not be equipped to handle credit card transactions.

• Use a backpack or belly bag to carry the items above plus anything else that you might purchase throughout the day. Putting everything in one bag will reduce the chance of losing personal items while boarding and disembarking vehicles, safely secure your items while on fast moving attractions and protect items from water damage on water-based attractions.



Kimberly Button is the author of The Disney Queue Line Survival Guidebook, the only Walt Disney World® Resort theme park guidebook that features scavenger hunts, trivia questions, word puzzles and hidden Mickey searches tailored to each attraction to alleviate boredom while standing in lines. For more information and to read an excerpt, visit www.disneysurvivalguide.com