One of my favorite things to do with my family is go to amusement parks. We did it all growing up, and I’ve continued the tradition with my own family. I’m so excited because this year my oldest son is finally 48 inches tall! And 48″ is a huge milestone for amusement parks; he can go on like 20 more rides this year than last. It definitely makes the amusement park tickets we bought this year more worth it. Since we tend to go to an amusement park at least once a week, I just have a bag in my car that’s our “amusement park” bag. And that bag has pretty much the same things in it at all time. Visiting amusement parks this year right now is a bit different than in the past but our packing list is still pretty similar with the exception of adding masks (where required) and wipes. You can see many of this year specific items in the ultimate Disney packing list!
Things to Pack for an Amusement Park
I’ve put together a huge list of all the things you need to bring at the bottom of this post, but I wanted to highlight ten unique things that you may not have thought of! If you want the full list, skip down to the bottom for the full amusement park packing list!
1 – Cool down Items
If you’re going when it’s going to be warm out, this may be my number one item to put on your list. I absolutely love this Spice of Life Bladeless Neck Fan. It’s a personal fan that you wear around your neck. It’s adjustable, comfortable, quiet, and comes with a rechargable battery. And when it’s hot as anything outside, a personal fan to keep you cool is amazing. Other options that are also good include just regular personal fans (we have this one you can clip on a stroller), cooling towels, and of course reusable water bottles you can fill up all day long! I swear by my Hydroflask.
2 – SPIbelt
I’ve been using a SPIbelt since I started running twenty years ago. They’ve come a really long way since I bought my first at a running expo back in the day. This summer when we did our 50 coasters in 5 days trips, four of the adult women all without talking to each other brought SPIbelts to wear in the parks. SPIbelt offers different sizes, and I found that the larger size fit my phone, keys, and credit cards perfectly. All my valuables went on the coasters with me (tucked under my shirt) while my bag had to be locked in a locker or left in the stroller. And then when my parents took my son to Disney World this fall, they put a SPIbelt on him with their contact info and my contact info. We’ve been working on memorizing phone numbers and such but this way if he accidentally got separated from them, someone would be able to find them. It definitely took the nerves away from me who was back at home a thousand miles away.
3 – Non-Perishable Snacks
Speaking of food, it’s expensive in amusement parks. Some parks like Universal Studios have rules for food, check out the rules for bringing in outside food and drinks for wherever you’re going and then ask friends who’ve been to the park to see how strict those rules are enforced. For instance, our local Six Flags technically says no food or drinks but they never take them away from me when they check my bag. Their only no-go thing is candy, which is weird by the way. Assuming you’re allowed to, pack non-perishable snacks to reduce the costs of food in the parks. You’ll likely have to buy a couple of meals (especially if you’re going to try out Disneyland food for instance), so save money by bringing in your own snacks.
4 – Ziploc Bags
Tissues have so many different uses. Use them to hold leftover food. Use them to protect your valuables on water rides. Use them to keep your masks in while you eat and take them off (if masks are required at the park you’re visiting). I typically like to bring a couple of each size just to be ready for anything!
5 – Cash and Quarters
I almost always use a credit card when I’m shopping, but at amusements park I recommend bringing both cash and change. Most shops and food places will take credit cards, but often there will be food kiosks and games that only take cash. If you don’t normally have cash with you, keep some in your bag and replace it when you use it. And quarters? You’ll want them for things like renting lockers, tossing into fountains, and making pressed pennies if that’s something you’re into. My son is currently obsessed.
6 – Reusable Straws
So many places aren’t providing straws these days or if they are, they’re providing paper ones. I get that they’re better for the environment but paper straws are the worth when you’re enjoying a drink for more than a few minutes. My kids can’t really drink well without straws, especially on the move, so we pack these little reusable silicone straws to pull out whenever we need them. They come in a little carrying case, fold up to really small, and even come with a cleaning thing! They haven’t failed us yet! If you’re going with young kids, I also recommend bringing a non-breakable, non-spillable cup. We typically transfer a drink to a cup for my toddler to enjoy without having to worry about him popping the lid off or spilling it everywhere.
7 – Hand Sanitizer
This one should be pretty self-explanatory. Amusement parks are full of germs and you’re likely eating food you’ll be picking up with your hands (pizza, chicken tenders, french fries). Bring a small container of hand sanitizer that doesn’t need water. And I’ll be honest, I’ve found that hand sanitizer containers at a lot of amusement parks right now are not being kept filled, so I recommend bringing your own. It’s easiest if you just grab a keychain hand sanitizer that you can throw on a bag or a stroller rather than having to dig it out of a bag.
8 – Hair Things
I’ve never seen my hair grosser than after I got off a roller coaster. I highly recommend bringing a ponytail holder to put your hair up for coasters, when you go on water rides, and when it just gets too hot. And don’t forget a brush if you’re headed to the water park.
9 – A Towel
I always bring a towel even if we’re not planning on going to the water park. Just like Ziploc Bags, towels can be used in so many ways. Just this summer when we went to Six Flags, I used the towel to put on a seat that was hot, dried my son off after he played in the fountains, and hung it up to block my son while I changed him out of his wet clothes.
The Ultimate Amusement Park Packing List
Those are just some of my personal must-haves. If you want the full list of things to take to an amusement park, here you go! This is assuming you’re only going to the park for one day and just need day packing.
Change of clothes (for the kids at least)Jacket/sweatshirt (if you think it’ll be cold) Good walking shoes – these are the BEST travel shoes, I wear them to ALL amusement parks)SunglassesPhone Portable battery and cord to plug into your phone Cooling devices – W Fan, cooling towels, portable fanUmbrella/poncho depending on the forecastRefillable water bottleReusable strawsPark tickets/app already loaded on your phoneSunscreen Non-perishable snacks and drinks Frozen water bottles (if allowed, they’ll unfreeze and be nice and cool!)Comfortable backpack or bag Hand sanitizer and/or wipes Games/activities for standing in line – we love bringing along these BrainQuest packs! Medicine – I almost always need an iBuprofen after a day on good coasters Credit card/cash/money Season passes (if applicable)
