It's not really size that I'm talking about but height.
I'm the youngest of three siblings, and when I was young, that meant I was the shortest. That's to be expected, but I want you to think about it for a moment if you're traveling with kids.
I was in elementary school the first time I went to Disneyland. I was with my parents and my two siblings.
We burst through the turnstiles with hundreds of other visitors ready to ride as many rides as possible. It was so exciting. Disneyland...
My sister and brother chose a roller coaster as our first ride. I was all in and ready to go. Then we got to the ride, and I was too short. My dad took my sister and brother on the ride while I waited on a bench with mom.
Undaunted, I was ready to go on my first ride as soon as they returned, but they didn't want to go to the "baby" rides. (I did get to go on a few.)
There were some highlights. The only rides my mom truly likes are the log rides (and trains). For those I was tall enough. With a family of five, we got our own boat. We rode more than once, and I loved being in front.
We went to shows and were entertained. There was a lot of enjoyment, but I also spent a lot of time sitting on a bench because I just wasn't big enough.
If you're planning a trip to an amusement park, think about the size of your kids. Will they be able to ride the same rides? Are they big enough to ride the major attractions? Do they like the same kinds of rides?
Are there enough adults to divide and conquer? Are you willing to divide? (My childhood was pre-cellular.)
Park architects like to create a separate area for little ones. While this has its merits, it means a family can be divided by a large distance if the children are different ages. The best parks have at least a few rides for all sizes interspersed among the "big" rides.
Another thing to consider is how many children you're travelling with. If most of the rides sit two across, one child could be sent to the "one person" lane. The kids may not finish together.
Are you willing to ride the rides? If not, is an amusement park the best vacation for you?
Don't immediately say, no.
I took my two kids to Disney World, and it was great. I took them when they were both big enough to ride all of the rides. They were also old enough to know the teacups were iconic and not little kid rides.
I love rides, so I was in line with them much of the time. If we had to divide, I took the single line. It was fun.
More than once, I was the upbeat adult with someone else's "singleton." Also be aware the opposite can happen. On the ET ride in California, the seats were three across.
Amusement parks when kids are little can be fun. The photos are fabulous. But if it's your first time there, you may want to ride too. Work out how you're going to make that happen before you get there.
Going to a local amusement park before you tackle one of the big ones might be good too. How will your child know if he loves or hates a roller coaster until he's ridden one? You also might find out that an amusement park is just not a good idea.
There are many fabulous amusement parks in the US and beyond. Put some thought into who's going, if they're big enough to ride, and if they're patient enough to wait. Even with ride reservations, the lines can be long.
Check with your travel agent.
Some resorts offer early entry depending on where you stay. Others provide transportation so you can skip the monster parking lot.
Find out if the park offers all you can eat food bracelets. Knowing the price of park passes, food, and accommodations in advance can take away the sticker shock.
Go ahead. Research. You may find it would be best a couple years out. That's okay. They may add new attractions. Plan your trip. Put your hands in the air on the roller coaster, and eat a funnel cake for me.
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