My theme park tips as a former Ride Operator

I had a love hate relationship with working at a theme park but it changed how I experience theme parks to this day. Here are my tips on how to make the most of your day at a theme park.

Before you go:

🎢You should know what rides are at the park before you go. We live in the digital age nowadays so please download the app of whatever park you are visiting. These apps have information you never think about. Most of them have ride height requirements and limb requirements baked into the app. Which I find incredibly helpful when planning since I have a sister who is not quite to the big ride status.

📱Apps also usually track wait times but don’t rely on the wait times too heavily. Sometimes ride operators will give a shorter or longer wait time on accident because they are bad at math, never me though. If the wait times are awful leading up to your trip think about if skipping the line is in your budget.

🔋Charge your phones. Please make sure you bring a battery pack to help with keeping your devices charged.

👶 If you have young children talk to them about ride safety before you go. Measure them at home and get them excited for what they can ride. A lot of kids nerves can be helped if you hype up the adventure. Talk to them about what the ride does and assure them that you will respect their choices if they are too nervous to ride the rides.

👜 Check your parks bag policy. Please don’t yell at the ride operator for repeating the loose article spiel. They are legally required to say it every time. It’s not targeting you. It’s said for your safety.

While you are There:

👧 If you have young kids check if your park has a standard place for checking heights. Some parks hand out wrist bands for kids who meet height requirements. FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING DO NOT TAKE THE BAND OFF OF ONE KID AND PUT IT ON THE SHORTER ONE. Height restrictions are there for safety. Not to mention the ride operator will check if the kid doesn’t seem the right height even with the wristband.

💧Drink water. Please and thank you.

😊 Listen to the ride operators. Sometimes you can hear theme park gossip and most of the times you can hear them joke.

🎭 If the park you are visiting has any shows you should watch them. They are honestly my favorite part of other parks because they are so much fun.

☀️ Sunscreen is a must.

🎀 If you are going at opening start from the back of the park and loop around to avoid wait times. If you are going in the afternoon just be ready for wait times.

If you want to be every ride operators favorite guest:

👑 Keep an eye on who is helping you. If you think they did an excellent job tell them and then mention them by name on your visit survey that you can find in the app.

🎉 Be a decent person if you get told no. I had guests treat me absolutely terrible after they didn’t get what they want and I hated it.

🪄 Please don’t smoke in line, or outside of smoking areas. You can’t see the propane tanks but they are there, at the most bizarre places.

🎈If your kid doesn’t want to ride don’t make them. Especially if they are pulling at the restraints trying to get out. But understand that when you start moving you are going.

🎡 Talk to employees and ask about what their can’t miss things are. Ask them about if they work other rides and if they have messages for their friends. I used to prank my friends by sending my favorite guests over asking them if their rides were running.

So happy theme park season. And have fun.

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