1. Buy your tickets online.
Most parks offer discounts (up to 50% off gate prices) if you book tickets online and this can work out cheaper than the BOGOFs that you see around. Also if you are visiting during term time, some parks do a parent & toddler ticket for £20/£25 so these are great value.
2. Plan in advance
Most of the parks have websites with park maps so sit down and take a look at what you would like to go on so you know roughly where to head when you get there. It will make quite a difference once you arrive. Watch the various videos on this site or vlogs from parks to see what they offer.
3. Rainy Day Guarantee
If it rains for more than one hour continuously on the day you visit most UK parks offer a Rainy Day guarantee which will get you a free ticket back to the park on another day. Do check the restrictions as each park has its own rules
Parks that offer this: Chessington, Drayton Manor,
4. Parent Swap passes
Again not all parks offer this service but if they do make sure to take them up on it. If you have children in your party who can’t go on the bigger rides then these passes are for you. One parent goes and queues in the normal queue line and the ride op will sign a card to say you have been through. The other parent then takes this card either down the fastpass entrance or ride exit and the other parent is then able to ride without queuing again.
Parks that offer this: Chessington, Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, Legoland,
5. Height Restrictions
Pretty much all rides have some sort of restrictions on them. Make sure before you visit what rides you child can go on. Most rides require a minimum of 0.90m.
If you aren’t sure, pop over to guess services and ask them to measure the children. Most will give a wristband if you child is tall enough which makes the ride ops jobs much easier
6. Lockers
Pretty much all the parks have lockers. Some have a £1 charge each time you open them or you can hire for the day. We always hire a locker to put nappies, change of clothes and any bits we may need during our stay.
7. Food & Drink
Feel free to take your own food & drinks in to the park. You can carry them around with you or hire a locker. Park food & drink can be expensive especially when there are a few mouths to feed. Some parks offer children eat free after 3pm so if you think the kids can manage waiting that long then its a good deal.
We generally eat food at the park, then have a packed lunch to eat in the car whilst waiting to leave the car park at the end of the day.
8. Pack for all weathers
Unless you completely trust the Met office! Things like suncream are expensive at theme parks so if you can make sure you take your own. We always take a pack-away rain mack, suncream and sunglass or hat just in case we need them.
9. Tesco club card points (UK Only)
You can convert your tesco point in to tickets for lots of different attractions across the UK. This can make your day out a bit cheaper as you then don’t have to purchase entry tickets
For current offer, please check out Tesco’s website
10. Know Your limits
Read an attraction’s boarding restrictions before you get in line. When taking children read the boards to find out height restrictions and don't be upset if you are turned away for being too short/tall for attractions. The ride ops have a responsibility to your safety and to the other rides.
11. Social Media
Follow the park(s) on various social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc) as they often have deals and promotions running
12. Phone Apps
Most parks have apps which you can download and use at the park. Most have ride queue times and interactive maps to help you find your way around.
Most parks offer discounts (up to 50% off gate prices) if you book tickets online and this can work out cheaper than the BOGOFs that you see around. Also if you are visiting during term time, some parks do a parent & toddler ticket for £20/£25 so these are great value.
2. Plan in advance
Most of the parks have websites with park maps so sit down and take a look at what you would like to go on so you know roughly where to head when you get there. It will make quite a difference once you arrive. Watch the various videos on this site or vlogs from parks to see what they offer.
3. Rainy Day Guarantee
If it rains for more than one hour continuously on the day you visit most UK parks offer a Rainy Day guarantee which will get you a free ticket back to the park on another day. Do check the restrictions as each park has its own rules
Parks that offer this: Chessington, Drayton Manor,
4. Parent Swap passes
Again not all parks offer this service but if they do make sure to take them up on it. If you have children in your party who can’t go on the bigger rides then these passes are for you. One parent goes and queues in the normal queue line and the ride op will sign a card to say you have been through. The other parent then takes this card either down the fastpass entrance or ride exit and the other parent is then able to ride without queuing again.
Parks that offer this: Chessington, Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, Legoland,
5. Height Restrictions
Pretty much all rides have some sort of restrictions on them. Make sure before you visit what rides you child can go on. Most rides require a minimum of 0.90m.
If you aren’t sure, pop over to guess services and ask them to measure the children. Most will give a wristband if you child is tall enough which makes the ride ops jobs much easier
6. Lockers
Pretty much all the parks have lockers. Some have a £1 charge each time you open them or you can hire for the day. We always hire a locker to put nappies, change of clothes and any bits we may need during our stay.
7. Food & Drink
Feel free to take your own food & drinks in to the park. You can carry them around with you or hire a locker. Park food & drink can be expensive especially when there are a few mouths to feed. Some parks offer children eat free after 3pm so if you think the kids can manage waiting that long then its a good deal.
We generally eat food at the park, then have a packed lunch to eat in the car whilst waiting to leave the car park at the end of the day.
8. Pack for all weathers
Unless you completely trust the Met office! Things like suncream are expensive at theme parks so if you can make sure you take your own. We always take a pack-away rain mack, suncream and sunglass or hat just in case we need them.
9. Tesco club card points (UK Only)
You can convert your tesco point in to tickets for lots of different attractions across the UK. This can make your day out a bit cheaper as you then don’t have to purchase entry tickets
For current offer, please check out Tesco’s website
10. Know Your limits
Read an attraction’s boarding restrictions before you get in line. When taking children read the boards to find out height restrictions and don't be upset if you are turned away for being too short/tall for attractions. The ride ops have a responsibility to your safety and to the other rides.
11. Social Media
Follow the park(s) on various social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc) as they often have deals and promotions running
12. Phone Apps
Most parks have apps which you can download and use at the park. Most have ride queue times and interactive maps to help you find your way around.
Safety Tips
These might seem a little obvious but you will be very surprised at the number of people who do/don't do these things.
1. Drink plenty of fluids especially if the weather is hot.
Water’s your best choice for hydration. Sugary drinks pack on the calories (and the pounds). Alcohol dehydrates you, leaving you at risk for sunstroke and heat exhaustion. (It also can impair your judgment.) If you want to drink those drinks, that’s up to you, but they’re no good substitute for plenty of water.
2. Stay away from where you don't belong
Never enter a restricted area in a theme park. Don’t climb or hop fences or walk through employee-only gates. If you drop a hat or other item that falls into a restricted area, such as under a roller coaster, ask a park employee for help.
3. Know your limits
Read an attraction’s boarding restrictions before you get in line. If you are pregnant or suffer from heart problems then it is highly unlikely you will be able to ride.
4. Don't cheat
Don’t “cheat” or ignore these rules to get on ride where you don’t belong. You might think a ride looks tame enough for you. But sometimes there are potential challenges on a ride that most visitors can’t see — a hidden drop or turn, a sudden stop, or a portable ladder that riders will have to descend if the ride shuts down. Don’t think that you know more about a ride than the park does. If they tell you not to ride, don’t.
Don’t use lifts or other tricks to make your kids look taller than they are, either. Height and safety restrictions are there for a reason.
And don’t even think about cutting in line. Nothing provokes more fights and nasty exchanges in theme parks than impatient people who won’t wait their turn. It’s not worth getting thrown out of the park just to save a couple minutes in line. Don’t take it upon yourself to enforce the rules, though. If you see blatant line-jumping, please report it to the nearest employee at the ride or, if possible, a member of the security team.
5. Help the kids!
If you are visiting with children, take a moment to explain the ride to them, and tell them how they should behave. They are depending upon you to keep them safe. Set a good example for them by following the rules above, and make sure that they know you expect them to follow those rules, too.
Tell them to stay seated, to hold the grab bar or put their hands in the laps, and not to stick their knees and feet outside a ride vehicle. Make them look to you for the okay to get on or off a ride, too.
And never put a crying child on a ride. If your child starts to cry, let others pass you in line until your child is calmed. Or, gently exit the queue and find something more relaxing to do. Young kids can’t keep an adult’s pace in a theme park. Let them take plenty of breaks.
Kids get tired. And tired kids make parents even more tired. When you are tired, you are more likely to get hurt, either physically and emotionally. Consider a mid-day break, perhaps a swim or nap back at the hotel, to avoid mid-day heat and crowds.
6. Potential issue/problem
If you see something wrong — a broken restraint, a person jumping the line, or anything else that could jeopardize the safety of a park guest — alert a park employee immediately. They are there to help keep you safe. So help them when you can, too.
7. Cameras & Camcorders
Most parks have rules on cameras & camcorders - please respect them. Pretty much all parks don't allow camera's on the rides this includes Go-Pros on sticks or chest mounts. Go-Pros are allowed to be used on sticks but please think about other people when using them and don't stick them in to ride areas!!!!
If you do see some one using one then is is possible they have had permission from the park to do so. For any of the footage we have on this website, we have obtained permission from the parks prior to our visit.
1. Drink plenty of fluids especially if the weather is hot.
Water’s your best choice for hydration. Sugary drinks pack on the calories (and the pounds). Alcohol dehydrates you, leaving you at risk for sunstroke and heat exhaustion. (It also can impair your judgment.) If you want to drink those drinks, that’s up to you, but they’re no good substitute for plenty of water.
2. Stay away from where you don't belong
Never enter a restricted area in a theme park. Don’t climb or hop fences or walk through employee-only gates. If you drop a hat or other item that falls into a restricted area, such as under a roller coaster, ask a park employee for help.
3. Know your limits
Read an attraction’s boarding restrictions before you get in line. If you are pregnant or suffer from heart problems then it is highly unlikely you will be able to ride.
4. Don't cheat
Don’t “cheat” or ignore these rules to get on ride where you don’t belong. You might think a ride looks tame enough for you. But sometimes there are potential challenges on a ride that most visitors can’t see — a hidden drop or turn, a sudden stop, or a portable ladder that riders will have to descend if the ride shuts down. Don’t think that you know more about a ride than the park does. If they tell you not to ride, don’t.
Don’t use lifts or other tricks to make your kids look taller than they are, either. Height and safety restrictions are there for a reason.
And don’t even think about cutting in line. Nothing provokes more fights and nasty exchanges in theme parks than impatient people who won’t wait their turn. It’s not worth getting thrown out of the park just to save a couple minutes in line. Don’t take it upon yourself to enforce the rules, though. If you see blatant line-jumping, please report it to the nearest employee at the ride or, if possible, a member of the security team.
5. Help the kids!
If you are visiting with children, take a moment to explain the ride to them, and tell them how they should behave. They are depending upon you to keep them safe. Set a good example for them by following the rules above, and make sure that they know you expect them to follow those rules, too.
Tell them to stay seated, to hold the grab bar or put their hands in the laps, and not to stick their knees and feet outside a ride vehicle. Make them look to you for the okay to get on or off a ride, too.
And never put a crying child on a ride. If your child starts to cry, let others pass you in line until your child is calmed. Or, gently exit the queue and find something more relaxing to do. Young kids can’t keep an adult’s pace in a theme park. Let them take plenty of breaks.
Kids get tired. And tired kids make parents even more tired. When you are tired, you are more likely to get hurt, either physically and emotionally. Consider a mid-day break, perhaps a swim or nap back at the hotel, to avoid mid-day heat and crowds.
6. Potential issue/problem
If you see something wrong — a broken restraint, a person jumping the line, or anything else that could jeopardize the safety of a park guest — alert a park employee immediately. They are there to help keep you safe. So help them when you can, too.
7. Cameras & Camcorders
Most parks have rules on cameras & camcorders - please respect them. Pretty much all parks don't allow camera's on the rides this includes Go-Pros on sticks or chest mounts. Go-Pros are allowed to be used on sticks but please think about other people when using them and don't stick them in to ride areas!!!!
If you do see some one using one then is is possible they have had permission from the park to do so. For any of the footage we have on this website, we have obtained permission from the parks prior to our visit.
