Now that the summer is winding down, I thought is would be a great idea to wrap up the season with an amazing theme park vacation. As the fifth installment to our Family Fun Summer Series, my hubby and I decided to take the kids to Sesame Place in Pennsylvania. Here’s a wrap up along with some tips on how to plan a trip of your own.
Best time to plan a visit
We probably chose the worse time to go. We thought we’d dodge the crowds by planning our vacation during the middle of the week in August. Boy, were we wrong! We waited about 45 minutes on average for each ride on the first day of our trip. You’re better off planning your trip early in the season when school is still in session to avoid huge crowds.
Research
Whenever your traveling with kids, it’s important to make sure you have all your ducks in a row. Reflecting on my recent excursions, one web-based resource stands out for its user-friendliness and wealth of information. This site has become my go-to for planning weekend adventures. If you’re curious, find out more here to start your own journey of discovery. It’s amazing how many hidden gems are waiting to be found, just a short journey from home. My hubby checked the website for restrictions, times of operation, directions, and hotels to name a few. We were also able to purchase tickets on line for a discounted rate. We also looked into our options for monthly parking if we decide to bring our car to the airport. Those who won’t be able to bring their vehicle may consider booking a Chauffeur service.
Lodging
If you can swing doing it all in one day, be my guest. But keep in mind that you may not get the full experience. We wanted to spend at least two days at the park, so we checked for hotels close by. I recommend choosing a hotel that’s kid friendly that offers shuttle service throughout the day to and from the park. You may have to pay a little more than the usual hotel room, but it’s well worth it. Besides, you can save in other ways.
Food
I’m a foodie. But when it comes to eating, I prefer to make healthy choices whenever possible – especially when it comes to my kiddos. There were some healthy options to choose from at Sesame Place. The hotel also had a free continental breakfast. However, I thought it would be a great idea to pack a few healthy meals and snacks just in case. Plus, you can save a ton by bringing your own food. I saw some families with coolers filled with sandwiches, fruits, and veggies. We left ours behind on the first day and ended up buying lunch, which cost about 35 bucks. We bought our own snacks the following day and later went out for dinner.
Don’t forget to bring lots of water. With warm temps and lots of sunshine, it’s important to stay hydrated. We bought a case of bottled water for the three of us. But, I’ve always had a tough time finding good sippy cups for Baby O. They tend to leak all over the place. Munchkin makes a cup called Latch. It’s great for transitioning from bottle to a cup. It features a flexible soft spout and is also spill-proof. So, we didn’t have to worry about everything getting wet inside the bag.
Things to Bring to the park
Be sure to leave all your valuables at home. You’ll need to wear a swimsuit, and water shoes for water rides. Also, bring towels and a cover up. If you have small children make sure you have stroller, preferably the heavy duty kind that can hold bags underneath. Baby O spent some of the time asleep in his stroller. You can also rent one and for about 3 bucks, you can rent a locker to stores items too. Don’t forget to tote the camera to take lots of photos. Other must have items include sun hat, sun glasses, sunscreen, waterproof purse so that your money doesn’t get wet from the water rides.
Strategize
Theme park can be pretty overwhelming. There is so much to do in very little time. We had two days to fit everything in. We looked over the map of the park and planned our activities for each day. There was a slight chance of showers on day two, so we took advantage of all the water rides on day one. We saved all the dry rides for day two. My hubby and I took turns accompanying Princess on each ride. There are also cool things to do like make reservations to dine with Elmo, check out the parade, and see shows. A date with Elmo was out of the question because seats filled up quickly. The earlier you make your reservation, the better.
Following these steps could save you time and money. I hope that you find them to be helpful. After three days and two nights, we were pooped. If you have any more tips, please share them in the comments section below.
Disclaimer: I was given the Munchkin Latch sippy cup and asked to review the product. All opinions are my own.
