It may be your first time going to an amusement park without your parents and you have to think about the things that your parents normally thought out and planned for you. Here are some of the best tips and tricks to make you an amusement park-going expert this summer! I went to Carowinds this summer (which was a lot of fun!) and these are the tips that I found to be the most helpful!

1. Get a discount!

Park tickets can be expensive, so look for deals and promo codes on the Amusement Park’s Twitter/Facebook page and on websites like RetailMeNot. You can save a lot of money doing this!

2. Buy tickets online and early!

On top of searching for discounts, most parks offer better deals on their tickets online if you buy them ahead of time. It also helps you save time because you won’t be waiting in long lines trying to buy tickets the day of. You can just print out your ticket ahead of time and flash it and breeze through the long ticket lines.

3. Try and go on the best day of the week.

Weekends, Fridays, and Mondays will most likely be the busiest days of the week to go to an amusement park. If you can, aim to go on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or a Thursday if you want to go when the lines are shorter and parking will be more available.

4. Bring lots of water!

If you go to an amusement park in the summer, you are going to get dehydrated fast while waiting in long lines and walking in the heat. Be prepared by bringing a couple of water bottles in your bag. You can usually buy a whole case of water with the price they charge for just one bottle!

5. Put your phone in a Ziploc Bag.

This will help to protect your phone from any form of wetness and protect your screen from being scratched. This is especially helpful for water parks and water rides!

6. Pack a lunch!

Amusement park prices are just about as high as their roller coasters and you can save a lot of money by packing lunch and snacks like subs, sandwiches, chip bags, and extra water bottles in a cooler in your car. Most theme parks will stamp your hand if you are leaving the park in order for you to get back in, so you can easily pop out to your car for a quick bite to eat.

7. Look at a map of the park before you go.

You can mark the rides and attractions you want to go on the most and have a plan on which rides you want to go on. Otherwise you might get to the park and be overwhelmed with all of the choices. You might spend more time deciding which ride to go on than riding rides!

8. Alternate going on big roller coasters with little rides.

It is probably not the best idea to ride all of the big roller coasters consecutively, or you may get pretty dizzy. If you space out the big rides with the little rides, it will be much more enjoyable. It is also a good idea to squeeze in some indoor/air conditioned rides and attractions in between the other outdoor rides to help keep cool.

9. Dress appropriately for the hot weather and have a change of clothes!

Be prepared to get drenched in sweat by the end of the day and maybe even pack a change of clothes for the car ride home. Don’t forget to put your hair up and out of your way, you don’t want your hair getting caught on any rides!

10. Take lots of pictures!

Make lasting memories by taking as many pictures as you can. It is also a good idea to take a picture of the row you are parked in just in case. Nobody wants to waste their time trying to remember where they are parked when they could be riding more rides!

11. Having a meeting spot!

If you are going with a group of people, your family, or even just a few friends, make sure you have a meeting spot decided on in case you get separated.

12. Don’t eat before a big rollercoaster or jerky ride.

Just trust me on this one, I know from experience!

13. Wear good shoes.

You are probably going to be walking all day and you need to have a good pair of running shoes so your feet won’t get sore.

14. Don’t give in to peer-pressure.

If you get to the park and decide you don’t want to go on a certain ride or rollercoaster, don’t worry about it! You can still have a fun time even without going on the most daring rides. Don’t let yourself be forced onto a ride just because other people are pressuring you to… and don’t pressure others either!

15. Don’t forget to have fun!

With all the planning you are doing, make sure you just relax and have fun! Make the most of your time there and savor the memories you are making with friends and family!