Family, travel, mom blog | Theme Park Mom (Leigh Caldwell)

Courtesy Photo / Wet N' Wild Orlando

The start of the school year means new operating hours at many theme parks, including Wet N’ Wild Orlando.

New park hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, effective Sept. 2 through Oct. 26.

The slide-o-riffic park also has some special admission prices, including $29.95 for Florida residents. And a $41.95 one-day ticket that gets in free for the rest of the calendar year at Wet N’ Wild Orlando.

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Photo by Fantaz

When you go to a theme park with kids in tow, the biggest key to success is having a plan to manage your time.

All kids and, let’s face it, adults, too, can’t go 100 miles an hour from the time a theme park opens until the the gates are closing. Sooner or later exhaustion, low blood sugar and foot pain kicks in, and then the meltdowns begin.

Here are the three strategies Theme Park Mom suggests for getting the most out of your day at a theme park with kids.

1. Go early.
While many of us think that vacations are the time to sleep in, a theme park vacation is usually exactly the opposite. The best strategy is still to turn in early and get up early in the morning. Besides that, your kids are probably not going to sleep in anyway, no matter how much you and the other adults in your party want to. (more…)

Photo by Joe Shlabotnik

Much has been written on choosing the best time of year to visit Orlando’s theme parks. But you don’t need to waste a lot of time researching. I’m here to tell you the simplest “secret” method to determine if Walt Disney World, Universal, Sea World and the rest will be extremely crowded on the days you go. Just consult Disney’s “rate seasons” for resorts.

To find them, go to Walt Disney World’s resort overview page. Click on the rates link for the year you want, and then look for a link to “rate seasons.”

The 2008 chart is available here.

Ideal dates to visit Orlando’s theme parks are during Disney’s “value season.” The cheaper Disney’s hotel rates, the less crowded Disney World, Universal, Sea World, etc., will be. (more…)

Photo by CKramer

1. Do a “loss-prevention” refresher course.
As you plan for your theme park trip, one of the topics you should talk to your kids about is getting lost. Remind them of those things you’ve already taught them through the years. Explain that the park will probably be crowded, and everyone needs to pay attention to not get separated. Talk in advance about guidelines that are age-appropriate and right for your child’s maturity level. For example, toddlers must be in the stroller or holding a parent’s hand. But pre-teens may just be expected to ask permission before venturing off to look at something nearby. (more…)