Amusement parks and theme parks have continually entertained visitors for centuries. They take people out of the real world and immerse them in a fantasy setting filled with amusement rides, entertainment attractions, and plenty of dining offerings. A lot of walking is required due to the generally large areas in which the attractions are spread out. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you feel when you walk. You can reasonably expect to walk three to ten miles in a day in a large park. The biggest complaint most people have is the long lines at the wrinkle and food counters. The good news is that you can significantly reduce the amount of time you spend standing in line. All you need is a basic understanding of crowd flow and park layout combined with a little preparation before you leave home. Commit to arriving early.
The world’s first amusement park reportedly opened in 1583 in a community north of Copenhagen, Denmark. As you can imagine, their offerings were primitive compared to the high-tech attractions common in parks today. Most of the parks in the United States evolved from the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. The country’s first real “theme park” was Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Conceptualized by Walt Disney, it was designed over years by Walt and his “imaginers”. So what is the difference between amusement parks and theme parks? There are points in common: walks, entertainment and food. However, theme parks add a dimension by creating an environment centered around one theme or variety of themes, such as space travel, movies, sports, cartoon characters, or music, to name a few. Most theme parks are divided into several individual themed sections. Disneyland originally had five themed areas, each unique and rich in detail.
Successful theme parks draw huge crowds every day. Popularity breeds long lines, starting at the booth and leading to the parking lot. Go early to avoid the line of cars lining up to get in. This will also put you in front at the entry point. Avoid waiting in long lines all day inside the park by learning the lay of the land before you leave home. The easiest way is to simply visit the park’s website and check the map. Some parks are designed in a “loop” or large circle pattern. Guests move around the circuit going from one ride to the next. Other parks use a “hub and spoke” configuration, similar to that introduced at Disneyland. The hub and spoke design is used in most Disney parks. Guests enter and head down a street or path in the direction of an icon in the middle of the park. From there, guests can choose from several “spokes,” each leading to a separate themed area. There are other designs, but the two mentioned here are the most common. Most parks offer two or three “main attractions” or “main attractions”. These draw large crowds immediately after the park opens its doors. Crowd favorites are usually on opposite sides of the park or in different areas and are rarely situated next to or near each other. Most of the big parks also offer shows, concerts, parades or fireworks. Learn showtimes and major attraction locations ahead of time so you can prepare your walking route and schedule.
Maximize your family’s fun with a plan and remember these important points:
- Buying tickets online, by mail or by phone is your first time saver because you won’t have to wait in line at the box office on the day of your visit. Have your ticket in hand and get in fast!
- Special events like shows and parades draw crowds away from attractions, reducing wait times.
- Be sure to allow plenty of time to park and move to the gate. You want to be at the gate at least twenty minutes before the official opening of the park. This will help you jump on things. Most people will arrive at the park between 10 am and noon. Get there early and beat the crowds!
- On busy days in the high season, some parks open earlier than the posted opening time for crowd control purposes. Sometimes they open early out of season. Always show up early.
- If your chosen park is designed in a loop, turn left and move clockwise because most people will do the opposite.
- At the opening, move quickly, but don’t rush, to the most popular attractions. Take your first ride and quickly move on to the next big one. You may have to cross the park and walk further, but you will save time waiting in line.
- After hitting the most popular attractions, you can relax the pace.
- Most people eat lunch between 11:45am and 1pm, which means waits are longer if you join the crowd. Why not plan to eat during free times? Less time in the lunch line means more time for wrinkles.
- Typically, after 3:00 pm, the number of people leaving the park will outweigh the number of people entering the park by a ratio of 3:1. If you book an extended stay, you can apply this knowledge to future visits to the same park within your vacation package.
- Crowds are greatest around major holidays and in high season. Avoid these times when possible.
- Find out ahead of time when the park has specials geared toward “locals.” Avoid those days when possible.
- Many popular parks will shut down between noon and 3 p.m. Use this block of time to visit less popular attractions, exhibits, interactive exhibits, boating and exploring.
Do your research and plan before you go! It’s fun to do and will help you save time in lines once inside the park.
