A friend back home was recently talking about packing for an amusement park, and she had no idea what she was going to need. I rattled off a few things for her absentmindedly, and she was impressed. "How do you know to pack some of these things?" she inquired. "There have been a few summers that we've been at Six Flags more than we've been home," I said.
If you are planning a trip to Disney or Universal for the upcoming holiday season, or just need a refresher on what you need to pack for your next trip to Hurricane Harbor (it's open for two more weekends!), check out the Everything Arlington list of must-haves, thanks to Hurricane Harbor!
1. Sunscreen. Seriously. This. Is. A. Must. Even in Fall or Winter. Especially in Florida and Texas. My girls are so fair, my youngest especially, that I always pack about three times what I think I will need. Nothing ruins a trip like a nasty sunburn.
2. A wristband with your name and cell phone number. Before we went to Disney a few years ago, I ordered paper wristbands from Amazon. The kind you get when you go to trampoline parks (or bars!) and wrote my name and cell phone number on them. If my girls didn't want to wear it on their wrist each day, I put it around their ankles. This way, if one of my girls got separated from me, she could find an adult and ask for help contacting me. At a water park such as Hurricane Harbor, try writing your cell and name in Sharpie your child's wrist if you are worried the paper wristband might not hold up.
3. A portable cell phone charger. This is one of those items I don't give much thought to. Disney World made me realize that a portable battery is an absolute must. If you snap photos and use apps the way I do, your cell phone battery probably wears down fairly quickly. Yes, cell phone charging stations are becoming more commonplace in popular spots such as Disney. But it takes a bite out of your day to have to locate the charging spot and stop what you are doing for 20-30 minutes to put some juice back into your phone. Charge up your portable battery and stick it in your purse or backpack. My portable battery holds 2.5 cell phones charges, guaranteeing both hubby and I could recharge dying cell phones without disrupting the day.
4. A portable lock box for water parks. I won a portable lock box a few summers back, and it has become a summertime staple for me. It's the product I didn't know I couldn't live without. I hate getting to a water park and locking up my items in a locker and then having to go back and forth to that spot each time I want to check the time or buy a snack. Plus, renting a locker isn't cheap! When we go to Hurricane Harbor, we use my portable lock box. It accommodates two cell phones, credit/debit cards, two FitBits and car keys. We usually tether it to the chair we have our stuff on, or, at very least, to my bag or backpack. It saves me so much money and then I always have all my stuff in one place!
5. Baby wipes/ Wet wipes. No, I don't have babies any more, and I haven't had a baby in years. But baby wipes are as much a staple in my life as they were when I was actually using them to wipe tiny tushies. I love having baby wipes on me because they make life easier! We can wipe down dirty tables quickly. We can clean off hands before chowing down on food without having to find the closest restroom first. We can easily wipe sticky fingers and dirty faces. On super hot and sweaty days, I use them to wipe sweat off my own face! If a bathroom is out of toilet paper, we are good to go. I always have a package on me, no matter where we are!
6. A running belt. Hear me out on this one! I own a bunch of running belts because, well, because I'm a runner. But my husband and I visited Universal two years ago without kids. We stayed on property and walked to and from the hotel room each day. Without kids, you don't need the stuff you might need when you are with them! I didn't want to carry a purse all day or wear a backpack, but my pockets weren't big enough to hold all the things I wanted to bring with me. Enter my running belt! It was big enough to hold my cell phone, lip gloss, debit card, cash and hotel key. It fit discreetly under my t-shirts and kept my items secure. I could easily access everything but wasn't killing my shoulders with a heavy bag. You can get them for less than $10 at TJ Maxx or Marshalls and stick them easily into your purse when you travel. They are brilliant!
7. An empty water bottle. Whether you bring a nice aluminum one or an inexpensive plastic one, bring an empty water bottle that can be refilled at a soda station or water fountain. Not only is it important to stay hydrated (especially when it's hot outside), but you will save money if you aren't constantly stopping to purchase overpriced bottled water.
Other things I always bring- light jackets for everyone, if we are going to be at a park once the sun sets. My girls don't like being cold! Snacks, if parks allow them in (but check the food policy first!). Hats or sunglasses if its a really sunny day.
What did I miss?
*I received free tickets to Hurricane Harbor in exchange for this article. All thoughts and comments are my own!*
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