Type A Mom's Guide to Packing for a Day at a Theme Park

Movie making days are very long!  When filming a movie it’s common to have a 12-hour day on set where you don’t leave that one location. That shoot “day” can either be 12 hours during daylight or 12 hours overnight, and the locations are often in remote locations.  Through experiencing many of those days and nights on sets I learned that because I can’t leave the location during shooting I needed to be prepared with things that set may not offer.  I’d pack a bag filled with specific items to get me through those shoots – extra phone chargers, layers of clothing and sunscreen for weather changes, specific snacks that Craft Services may not offer, personal medical supplies, and more.  

As soon as I began taking my kids to theme parks I realized that spending a day at a theme park is very similar to shoot days on a movie set – just like filming a movie, a day at the theme park can be long and you usually don’t leave in the middle of the day! So, when I prepared to go to a theme park, I drew upon my set experiences to help me and my family have a great day.

When I first went to theme parks I was taking my kids when they were young and needed strollers. This was so helpful since I could use the stroller to carry things. But then, once they turned about 7-years-old, my kids didn’t want to ride in a stroller anymore which meant no more stroller to carry things for us!  In addition to no stroller to carry things for us, at age seven my kids couldn't carry a lot (if anything) with them and walk around a theme park all day which meant that whatever we had that day at the park had to be carried by me!

After a few visits to Disneyland and Legoland with my kids, I discovered that what I brought with me and carried around with us all day could make or break our theme park experience… I set out to figure out what was necessary and then built my bags to be as efficient (and light!) as possible and this is what I’ve found works well for me and my kids:

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TYPE A MOM’S THEME PARK BAG PACKING LIST

1. THE BAGS – The bags you bring are the foundation for the entire day and are crucial!

• BACKPACK: This is a great way to carry things you need.  You’re able to have your handsfree to hold hands with kids, carry drinks, use your phone, etc.  It’s also easy to take a backpack off quickly and put it in front of your feet on rides.
• FANNY PACK: I wear one in front of my waist for ease of access for certain items (especially my phone since now all tickets and food seems to run off each park’s app) and for safety (this is where I store my wallet so I can see where it is at all times).  I keep my fanny pack on during the rides (I adjust around the bar/belt on the ride) and that way I know those crucial items are secure!

2. CLOTHES – Yes, you need to bring extra clothes for both you and your kid! This is for so many reasons, but the ones that I’ve experienced is sitting on a wet seat for a ride and needing new pants, sticky things spilling on me or the kids, getting hot when the day gets going and cold when the sun goes down, and rain.

• CLOTHES (pack a set of these for each kid and adult): One set of easy to fold/compress pants or shorts (depends on weather and if it looks like it will get hotter or colder as the day goes on), t-shirt, thin jacket/sweatshirt, socks, and underwear.
• ACCESSORIES: Sunglasses and sun hat for everyone.
• LARGE PLASTIC BAG: You can throw wet/sticky clothes into a plastic bag and not get everything else in your backpack wet/sticky– you can also bundle each person’s extra clean clothes into plastic bags to keep them organized for when you need to pull them out to use them.

3. ENTERTAINMENT – Can you believe I said "entertainment" is needed when you're at a theme park?! I am talking about staying entertained while standing in long lines... Being entertained/busy while waiting in line is something that is often overlooked but can be crucial to everyone’s enjoyment! I found that bringing lightweight activities to have fun inline was crucial for a smooth day (and it can help avoid having kids ask to use your phone all day, argue with siblings over who gets to use it, and drain your battery).

• SMALL LIGHT SKETCH BOOK (make sure it has a hardback so it’s easy to use while standing)
• MARKERS/COLORED PENCILS/CRAYONS (just a few to keep it light)
• PAPERBACK BOOK(S)
• PLAYING CARDS

4. MEDICAL – Yes, there first aid at theme parks, but some of the below items are easy to bring with you to help with small issues that could come up throughout the day. These things are in addition to any epi-pens or medicine you and your family need everyday.

• BANDAIDS (for blisters!)
• CHAPSTICK
• BENADRYL (for allergic reactions before you can get to first aid)
• SUNSCREEN (travel size)
• HAND SANITIZER (travel size)
• DISINFECTANT WIPES PACK (travel pack)

5. FOOD/DRINK

• WATER BOTTLE for each person: Fill them ahead of time so you don’t have to stop right away to fill them up.
• SNACKS: You’ll have plenty of churro/soft pretzel/popcorn options at the park so for your bag think things with high nutrition but won’t spoil and that can be eaten while standing in line – protein bars, baggies of sunflower seeds, sunbutter and jam sandwich, homemade muffins, etc.
• ELECTROLYTES: I bring a powdered version to add into my water bottle during the day to get more energy!

6. ELECTRONICS

• PHONE!
• PHONE CHARGER (in case you need to charge up)
• PORTABLE BATTERY PACK (so you can extend your phone’s battery life)
• CAMERA (if you like to use one in addition to your phone camera)

Theme park days with your kids are such exciting days for all of you!  The days are filled with so many adventures and make memories that will truly last a lifetime. Visiting theme parks takes a lot of planning and preparation, and I hope that this list of ideas for what to bring and carry around with you all day can be helpful!