We recently visited Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida for one day only. We managed to go in both parks and pretty much did all the rides we wanted to. Here are our top tips for getting the most out of Universal Studios in one day.
1) Buy a Park to Park Ticket
Make sure you buy the park to park ticket which will allow you into both parks via the Hogwarts Express. You could go from Universal Studios to Islands of adventure or the other way around.
2) Get an Express Pass
There is no way we could have done everything we wanted to without the express pass. This enabled us to go into a separate 'quicker' queuing area and bypass those long lines.
3) Eat Breakfast Before You Arrive
Don't waste precious time you have getting breakfast at the park. Eat before you get there and arrive just before opening.
4) Make Use of the Child Swap
If you have young children that can't ride bigger rides then be sure to make use of the child swap system. Most of the rides have an area where one parent can wait with the children whilst the other rides on the attraction. When the parent finishes the ride they simply swap and the waiting parent heads virtually straight onto the ride.
The Harry Potter child swap areas were very good as they had tv screens showing Harry Potter films.
5) Go Midweek
Both parks are always quieter during Monday - Friday. This is usually when kids are in school etc.
6) Go at the Right Time of Year
Where possible try and avoid any school holidays. Remember to check both American and UK holidays to ensure you find the best time.
7) Have a Plan but be Flexible
Have a rough plan in mind of what you want to do before you arrive including which rides you want to go and what shows you want to see. However, it's important to remember to be flexible too and be prepared to change any plans. If a ride queue is very short when you walk past it, then ride it straight away. Do not wait to follow your plan.
8) Wear Comfortable Shoes
You're going to be on your feet most of the day so make sure you have comfortable shoes. I recommend some form of trainers but wear whatever is going to make sure your feet don't hurt throughout the day.
9) Have a Quick Lunch
Don't book a sit down table service style meal for lunch (save that for a late dinner). Pop into one of the quick service style restaurants such as the Kwik-E-Mart in The Simpsons area.
10) Don't wait for the front or back seating of rides
We all love to ride the very front or the back of rollercoasters but often those lines are the busiest. If you have more than one day then yes go for it but for one day only I'd advise against it.
I hope these tips are helpful. One thing that is important to remember is that you probably won't have time to get on every single ride and do all of the shows, so go with that idea in your head. If you do manage it then, then that's a bonus but if you don't, then you won't be too disappointed if you've already preempted it.
*Disclosure - Our one day family park to park tickets with Express Passes were gifted to us by Universal Studios.*
1) Buy a Park to Park Ticket
Make sure you buy the park to park ticket which will allow you into both parks via the Hogwarts Express. You could go from Universal Studios to Islands of adventure or the other way around.
2) Get an Express Pass
There is no way we could have done everything we wanted to without the express pass. This enabled us to go into a separate 'quicker' queuing area and bypass those long lines.
3) Eat Breakfast Before You Arrive
Don't waste precious time you have getting breakfast at the park. Eat before you get there and arrive just before opening.
4) Make Use of the Child Swap
If you have young children that can't ride bigger rides then be sure to make use of the child swap system. Most of the rides have an area where one parent can wait with the children whilst the other rides on the attraction. When the parent finishes the ride they simply swap and the waiting parent heads virtually straight onto the ride.
The Harry Potter child swap areas were very good as they had tv screens showing Harry Potter films.
5) Go Midweek
Both parks are always quieter during Monday - Friday. This is usually when kids are in school etc.
6) Go at the Right Time of Year
Where possible try and avoid any school holidays. Remember to check both American and UK holidays to ensure you find the best time.
7) Have a Plan but be Flexible
Have a rough plan in mind of what you want to do before you arrive including which rides you want to go and what shows you want to see. However, it's important to remember to be flexible too and be prepared to change any plans. If a ride queue is very short when you walk past it, then ride it straight away. Do not wait to follow your plan.
8) Wear Comfortable Shoes
You're going to be on your feet most of the day so make sure you have comfortable shoes. I recommend some form of trainers but wear whatever is going to make sure your feet don't hurt throughout the day.
9) Have a Quick Lunch
Don't book a sit down table service style meal for lunch (save that for a late dinner). Pop into one of the quick service style restaurants such as the Kwik-E-Mart in The Simpsons area.
10) Don't wait for the front or back seating of rides
We all love to ride the very front or the back of rollercoasters but often those lines are the busiest. If you have more than one day then yes go for it but for one day only I'd advise against it.
I hope these tips are helpful. One thing that is important to remember is that you probably won't have time to get on every single ride and do all of the shows, so go with that idea in your head. If you do manage it then, then that's a bonus but if you don't, then you won't be too disappointed if you've already preempted it.
*Disclosure - Our one day family park to park tickets with Express Passes were gifted to us by Universal Studios.*
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Today's post is a guest post by Jade (you can find out more about Jade and her blog at the end of the post. She is also a brand rep for my small brand, Magically Jasmine.
Traveling to Disneyland Paris with under 5’s had a lot of questions running through my head. The main one being ‘What rides and attractions would be suitable for an under 5?’
We’d booked this amazing adventure, but had no clue where to start with what the girls would like. Of course we could look at height charts to see what they could go on, but as Kairi was big enough for Tower Of Terror, the chats were just that, height not how child friendly they were.
So after multiple trips to Disneyland Paris with 6 Different under 5’s starting from 6 weeks old, I finally have the perfect list of rides and attractions suitable for an under 5 at Disneyland Paris.
- Ratatoulie
Ratatouille has to be one of my personal favourites at Disneyland Paris and one I get to share that love with my daughter too. You are ’shrunk’ down to the size of a mouse and taken on a 4D adventure through the kitchen visiting schemes from the Ratatouille movie. You will smell lemon as you go through the fridge, feel the heat of the cooker and some surprises too.
This ride is perfect for the whole family and one that under 5’s are sure to enjoy.
- It’s A Small World
It’s A Small World is a slow moving boat ride which takes you through various scenes and countries. The dolls sing to you in many languages and at Christmas you may get an extra surprise too.
The girls love this ride and ask for it to be both the first and last ride of the trip. Quick warning though, you may not get that song out of your head!
- Toy Soldier Parachute Drop
The ride is for those on the higher end of the 0-5 scale. You sit in ‘buckets’ hung underneath one of 4 parachutes. You are taken up into the air and dropped down quite fast.
From the top you get the most magical view of the park, the kids will love to put their feet up and when they get really courageous, their arms too!
- Slinky Dog Spin
Another Toy Story classic Slinky Dog Spin. After waiting in a fun queue, you board and sit inside part of slinky dogs tummy. As the rides name says, it spins you around and around in a circle as Slinky chases his tail! A fun family ride that will leave you all laughing.
- Carousel
Of course no theme park would be complete with a carousel and the one at Disney does not Disappoint. Embark on an adventure just outside the cast as your board your wonderful horse. Round in circles to classic Disney themed music you will go and if your little ones are on the smaller end, take a trip on one of the ‘stationary’ carriages instead.
- Alice’s Curious Labyrinth
Every now and again the kids will need to let of steam. If you are bored of the play parks, why not head into Alice’s Curious Labyrinth. From tiny doors to great photo shots the Labyrinth has plenty to do and if you have a little extra time you can make it all the way to the middle and climb the top of the castle too!
- Casey Jr
Last but in no means least, don’t forget to take a ride on Casey Jr. This classic train (as featured in Dumbo) is hidden away at the back of the park. The wait times are often quite short and this is probably one of the first ‘roller coaster’ rides your little one can go on!
Casey Jr plays the classic tune are you zoom around the back of the park taking in the exciting scenes from nearby rides. It’s one not to be missed!
Of course you could always spend your time meeting Mickey and friends or just playing around the parks and exploring! Do you agree with my picks? I’d love to hear what your top rides for under 5’s are in the comments below!
I’m Jade and I run www.mummieswaiting.com where I help parents plan stress-free Disneyland Paris holidays to make magical memories that last a lifetime!
Packing a changing bag for Disney shouldn't be another one of those dreaded, stressful tasks on your to-do list before you leave. With planning and organisation, you can pack all the essentials for a fun-filled successful day at the parks. We've visited Disneyland Paris a few times now during various seasons and I think we've now perfected packing the essentials. One season that requires more items to pack than usual is winter and that's due to the cold weather.
2) Re-fillable Water Bottle
This is the ultimate essential no matter what time of year you visit Disney. All of the parks have water fountains so you can fill up your bottle all day for free.
4) Snacks
Taking plenty of snacks in your bag can not only save you money but I also call them boredom busters whilst queuing. I usually take things like crisps, popcorn, babybells, raisons, rice cakes etc. Whenever the kids are getting bored in the queues I either whip out a snack or we play a game.
5) Ponchos
After being caught out one year with heavy rain, I now always pack ponchos. We did buy ours from Disney so we take those with us but you can buy cheap ones in places like Tiger before you go.
Here's what we pack in our changing bag for winter:
1) A large but Comfortable Changing Bag*
I've tried various bags whilst at Disney and I've finally settled on taking a backpack by Fact + Fiction. The main reason why I love it, is simply how comfortable it is to wear. Even with the amount of items I pack in it, it never feels to heavy on my shoulders. It has multiple compartments which is great for storing/hiding things in a safe place. It's also water resistant inside and out so it's great for wet rides, rainy weather and spillages.
2) Re-fillable Water Bottle
This is the ultimate essential no matter what time of year you visit Disney. All of the parks have water fountains so you can fill up your bottle all day for free.
3) Blanket*
The nights can get very cold and if your children are in a stroller they become even colder because they aren't moving. I always try and take a couple of blankets but as you can imagine they take up a lot of room in a bag. The blanket we have been using on our last few visits to Disney has been our Aden and Anais Winnie the Pooh blanket. It's a fab size for tucking around the girls whilst they are in the stroller. You can also pop it on the floor if you are sat waiting for any parades. It's made of 4 layers of 100% cotton muslin so it's nice and soft.
4) Snacks
Taking plenty of snacks in your bag can not only save you money but I also call them boredom busters whilst queuing. I usually take things like crisps, popcorn, babybells, raisons, rice cakes etc. Whenever the kids are getting bored in the queues I either whip out a snack or we play a game.
5) Ponchos
After being caught out one year with heavy rain, I now always pack ponchos. We did buy ours from Disney so we take those with us but you can buy cheap ones in places like Tiger before you go.
6) Extra Layers/Clothes
I've been caught out a few times when we haven't managed to get the children to the toilet on time. Yep this can definitely happen. I think they get so distracted through excitement that they forget to say when they need to go until it's too late. I now always pack a spare outfit for these mishaps and also for any unwanted puddle jumping.
The evenings get very cold so I always pop in a few extra layers such as vests, tees and hoodies.
I've been caught out a few times when we haven't managed to get the children to the toilet on time. Yep this can definitely happen. I think they get so distracted through excitement that they forget to say when they need to go until it's too late. I now always pack a spare outfit for these mishaps and also for any unwanted puddle jumping.
The evenings get very cold so I always pop in a few extra layers such as vests, tees and hoodies.
7) Glow-Sticks
Glow sticks are great for 2 reasons. First up they serve as great stroller locaters in the dark. If you are hiring a stroller from the parks they all look the same. If you decorate them with some cheap glow sticks you'l instantly spot yours in the dark.
By night there are lots of light up things for sale which usually cost a lot of money. Get some glow-sticks out and make them into shapes for your kids.
Glow sticks are great for 2 reasons. First up they serve as great stroller locaters in the dark. If you are hiring a stroller from the parks they all look the same. If you decorate them with some cheap glow sticks you'l instantly spot yours in the dark.
By night there are lots of light up things for sale which usually cost a lot of money. Get some glow-sticks out and make them into shapes for your kids.
8) Nappy, Wipes, Nappy Bags
Kind of an obvious one but make sure you have enough nappies and wipes.
9) Muslins*
I always take a couple of muslins as they are handy for lots of things. I usually use them to place over the changing mat areas when I'm changing my little one's nappy.
The Muslins I love are from Aden and Anais. They have adorable Disney patterns available and they wash very well.
I always take a couple of muslins as they are handy for lots of things. I usually use them to place over the changing mat areas when I'm changing my little one's nappy.
The Muslins I love are from Aden and Anais. They have adorable Disney patterns available and they wash very well.
10) Wallet, Tickets, Camera, Spare Camera Battery, Phone, Power Bank and Cable
These are fairly obvious items but sometimes when we're busy we do forget these things. Camera and phone batteries can run out quickly so I always pack a plug and power bank. I'd also advise you hide these items in your bag for safe keeping.
These are fairly obvious items but sometimes when we're busy we do forget these things. Camera and phone batteries can run out quickly so I always pack a plug and power bank. I'd also advise you hide these items in your bag for safe keeping.
11) Lip Balm
The wind and chill can cause sore, chapped lips so we regularly use lip balm to keep them moist and soft.
The wind and chill can cause sore, chapped lips so we regularly use lip balm to keep them moist and soft.
12) Hand Warmers
Hand warmers are great for using when you're standing around waiting in a queue or when you're waiting for the fireworks at night. It can honestly get really cold.
Hand warmers are great for using when you're standing around waiting in a queue or when you're waiting for the fireworks at night. It can honestly get really cold.
13) Wet Bag*
I always take a wet bag with me for multiple uses. If one of the girls' end up getting their clothes wet or dirtying them I can pack them away in those. I also use them for storing snacks and for using to carry my valuables when it's raining or when on a ride. I use the Disney themed bags from Bumkins. Their patterns are super cute.
I always take a wet bag with me for multiple uses. If one of the girls' end up getting their clothes wet or dirtying them I can pack them away in those. I also use them for storing snacks and for using to carry my valuables when it's raining or when on a ride. I use the Disney themed bags from Bumkins. Their patterns are super cute.
14) Autograph Book and Pen
The last thing you want after waiting in a queue to meet a character, is to get to the front and realise you don't have an autograph book and pen. You can either get these before you arrive at Disney or at the parks themselves.
15) Mouse Ears
Last but not least, you can't go to Disney without Mouse Ears.
What do you pack in a winter theme park changing bag?
*Items maked with an asterisk were gifted to me. All views and opinions are my own*
The last thing you want after waiting in a queue to meet a character, is to get to the front and realise you don't have an autograph book and pen. You can either get these before you arrive at Disney or at the parks themselves.
15) Mouse Ears
Last but not least, you can't go to Disney without Mouse Ears.
What do you pack in a winter theme park changing bag?
*Items maked with an asterisk were gifted to me. All views and opinions are my own*
As part of our Swimologist role with Konfidence, we were invited to stay at Alton Towers to test out some of their products in the Splash Landings water park. None of us had ever been to the water park before so we couldn't wait to try it out. We were also allowed the whole park to ourselves for a short while which was pretty epic.
Both of my girls are water babies although both still can't swim confidently. Whenever we are away they always ask to go swimming and we have a battle to get them out of the pool. It's always very difficult to keep an eye on both of them and I often worry about their safety which is why I was over the moon to be able to collaborate with Konfidence this year.
We were sent lots of wonderful things to aid them on their learning to swim journey. For the Splash Landings weekend we took the Original Konfidene Swim Jackets, Warma Wetsuits and the Flashing Blinkies to put through their paces.
We arrived at Splash Landings and Eva couldn't believe we had the park to ourselves, talk about a dream come true. She was amazed.
Eager to get in the water, Eva popped her Konfidence swim jacket on herself and she was also able to zip it up on her own. We had to help Ophelia with hers. They immediately headed for the shallower children's pool. Ophelia went straight to the slide whilst Eva splashed about. The jackets had clearly made them feel safe and secure as they were more than happy to play on their own (under our careful observation in the same pool).
The Original Konfidence Swim Jackets are designed to last from the start of your child's swimming journey until the end, when they are able to swim. As your child becomes more confident you can remove the floats from inside the jacket in pairs which therefore reduce the buoyancy.
The girls were much happier wearing their jackets than armbands. Ophelia often cries when we put armbands on her as they are uncomfortable and restrictive. With the jackets both of the girls have the ability to move their arms and therefore learn to swim.
They are available in a few different patterns which all have a bright yellow back which is ideal for us parents as it makes the kiddies clearly visible and easy to spot in a busy pool.
We spent quite a few hours at Splash Landings and we were amazed that the girls didn't moan about being cold. Usually when we go swimming, after about half and hour they are asking to get out because they are freezing. This must be down to their Warma Wetsuits.
The wetsuits are made with 2.5mm flexible neoprene which makes them ideal for providing warmth when in or out of the water. The girls were able to run, walk, jump, splash and use the slides whilst wearing them.
The largest pool area at Splash Landings is Lagoona Bay which Ophelia seemed reluctant to go in for a while. I knew the Konfidence Blinkies would entice her in so we played with them in the shallow end, amongst the rocks until she was confident and relaxed enough to go deeper into the water. Be warned though, the Blinkies attracted the attention of all the other kids in the pool who were eager to play with them.
When it was time to leave we were all gutted. We had such a fantastic time and we are already looking to return. It's perfect for an all year round family getaway.
*Thank you to Konfidence for sending us to Splash Landings to try out our products. All our options are own honest views.*
Both of my girls are water babies although both still can't swim confidently. Whenever we are away they always ask to go swimming and we have a battle to get them out of the pool. It's always very difficult to keep an eye on both of them and I often worry about their safety which is why I was over the moon to be able to collaborate with Konfidence this year.
We were sent lots of wonderful things to aid them on their learning to swim journey. For the Splash Landings weekend we took the Original Konfidene Swim Jackets, Warma Wetsuits and the Flashing Blinkies to put through their paces.
We arrived at Splash Landings and Eva couldn't believe we had the park to ourselves, talk about a dream come true. She was amazed.
Eager to get in the water, Eva popped her Konfidence swim jacket on herself and she was also able to zip it up on her own. We had to help Ophelia with hers. They immediately headed for the shallower children's pool. Ophelia went straight to the slide whilst Eva splashed about. The jackets had clearly made them feel safe and secure as they were more than happy to play on their own (under our careful observation in the same pool).
The Original Konfidence Swim Jackets are designed to last from the start of your child's swimming journey until the end, when they are able to swim. As your child becomes more confident you can remove the floats from inside the jacket in pairs which therefore reduce the buoyancy.
The girls were much happier wearing their jackets than armbands. Ophelia often cries when we put armbands on her as they are uncomfortable and restrictive. With the jackets both of the girls have the ability to move their arms and therefore learn to swim.
They are available in a few different patterns which all have a bright yellow back which is ideal for us parents as it makes the kiddies clearly visible and easy to spot in a busy pool.
We spent quite a few hours at Splash Landings and we were amazed that the girls didn't moan about being cold. Usually when we go swimming, after about half and hour they are asking to get out because they are freezing. This must be down to their Warma Wetsuits.
The wetsuits are made with 2.5mm flexible neoprene which makes them ideal for providing warmth when in or out of the water. The girls were able to run, walk, jump, splash and use the slides whilst wearing them.
The largest pool area at Splash Landings is Lagoona Bay which Ophelia seemed reluctant to go in for a while. I knew the Konfidence Blinkies would entice her in so we played with them in the shallow end, amongst the rocks until she was confident and relaxed enough to go deeper into the water. Be warned though, the Blinkies attracted the attention of all the other kids in the pool who were eager to play with them.
When it was time to leave we were all gutted. We had such a fantastic time and we are already looking to return. It's perfect for an all year round family getaway.
*Thank you to Konfidence for sending us to Splash Landings to try out our products. All our options are own honest views.*
We recently visited Alton Towers and we were asked to try out the '22 Things to Do before you're 1.4m' mission. I was looking forward to seeing what was on the mission as we hadn't visited Alton Towers since before we had children and I wasn't sure if there would be much for our 5 and 2 year old to do.....I was wrong.
The challenge aims to get your children (and yourselves) to explore the park and spot fun things along the way.
To join in all you have to do is:
Image from www.altontowers.com
The challenge aims to get your children (and yourselves) to explore the park and spot fun things along the way.
To join in all you have to do is:
- Pick up your mission pack from Towers Trading (on the left hand-side of the park after the entrance). You can also download it here before hand (22 Things)
- Complete the tasks and tick them off
- Share your mission experience online for a chance to win a family stay at Alton Towers Resort
There are lots of different types of things to do in the mission such as counting how many frogs there are on Towers Street, taking photos in various places, having a ride on certain attractions and more.
There are 2 sections to choose from on the last 5 challenges, one for children over 1.2 metres and one for Cbeebies land. My girls attempted the Cbeebies section.
We all enjoyed attempting to complete the challenges. Eva's favourite was enjoying the view from the SkyRide and Ophelia loved learning how to sign 'butterfly' with Mr Tumble in his sensory garden. I think this was her favourite area of the park overall. We couldn't get her out of it.
Hubby and I actually really enjoyed attempting the mission with the girls too. It was very handy as whilst one of us was riding one of the bigger rides the other one could take the girls to do one of the challenges. It was a great way to keep them entertained whilst they were waiting for us grown ups to queue for rides.
The only thing that let us down was time. Eva wasn't happy that she hadn't managed to complete her mission but as we only went into the park for one day, we simply ran out of time. However, she is now desperate to return to complete it.
If you're heading to Alton Towers anytime this summer make sure you take on the '22 Things To Do Before you're 1.4 Metres' mission. It really makes the day out fun and enjoyable for all ages of the family.
*We were given fast passes and a meal in exchange for our honest opinion of the challenge. All words are my own*
Visiting a theme park with a young family can quite often feel like more of a chore than the fun experience it should be. You usually end up taking everything but the kitchen sink and end up cramming so much into your car, you'd think you were moving home. Between changing bags, food, spare clothes and pushchairs, you end up quite stressed out before you've entered the gate.
An essential part of enjoying the day is making sure the kids are comfortable and that they have somewhere to put their feet up when their little legs get tired. The lovely people at Omnio have got that covered with their fab stroller. You may have already read about the stroller on my blog when I talked about travelling abroad with it and using it at the airport. If you haven't read it then catch up here, Travelling with the Omnio Stroller.
We took the Omnio stroller on our recent holiday to Walt Disney World Florida. It was perfect for using around the big parks. As you can imagine the parks were busy which meant there were thousands of people using thousands of strollers. We became the envy of quite a few families who often asked us about our stroller and where they could buy one.
Here's our 5 reasons why you should use an Omnio Stroller at a theme park (especially Disney World):
1) It's Unique
There are usually specific places for you to park your strollers if you are going on a ride or watching a show. There's nothing worse than coming out and seeing hundreds of strollers parked tightly together and you can't find your own one quickly. The Omnio design is unique and modern and quite different from others on the market. It's very easy to recognise especially if you have it in red or teal.
2) It's easy to Manoeuvre
Omnio have designed some super cool wheels. They even have mud-flaps and they are perfect for all terrains. They are also puncture proof. They move in all directions creating an ideal driving experience. Hubby and Eva love the fact that you can glide it to the side. This featured provided lots of entertainment.
The stroller is very easy to manoeuvre so it is great for navigating around the busy parks.
3) Quick Fold
I'll admit that we couldn't fold the stroller easily the first few times we attempted it but after watching the video it then became very easy.
There's nothing worse than not being able to collapse your stroller quickly when you are on transport or somewhere in the busy park. You also end up panicking even more when you are faced with an audience who just want you to hurry up.
The Omnio requires two hands to fold but once you've learnt how to do it, it can be done very swiftly.
4) It's Narrow
You may be wondering why i've put this down as a desirable feature. The stroller is more narrow then any others I have used. This makes it compact for storage even when it is up and not collapsed down. It's handy for manoeuvring around the parks especially when there is a parade or a show on. The narrowness means it doesn't tend to get in the way of other people much and it fits in tight spaces better.
5) It's Comfortable
1) It's Unique
There are usually specific places for you to park your strollers if you are going on a ride or watching a show. There's nothing worse than coming out and seeing hundreds of strollers parked tightly together and you can't find your own one quickly. The Omnio design is unique and modern and quite different from others on the market. It's very easy to recognise especially if you have it in red or teal.
2) It's easy to Manoeuvre
Omnio have designed some super cool wheels. They even have mud-flaps and they are perfect for all terrains. They are also puncture proof. They move in all directions creating an ideal driving experience. Hubby and Eva love the fact that you can glide it to the side. This featured provided lots of entertainment.
The stroller is very easy to manoeuvre so it is great for navigating around the busy parks.
3) Quick Fold
I'll admit that we couldn't fold the stroller easily the first few times we attempted it but after watching the video it then became very easy.
There's nothing worse than not being able to collapse your stroller quickly when you are on transport or somewhere in the busy park. You also end up panicking even more when you are faced with an audience who just want you to hurry up.
The Omnio requires two hands to fold but once you've learnt how to do it, it can be done very swiftly.
4) It's Narrow
You may be wondering why i've put this down as a desirable feature. The stroller is more narrow then any others I have used. This makes it compact for storage even when it is up and not collapsed down. It's handy for manoeuvring around the parks especially when there is a parade or a show on. The narrowness means it doesn't tend to get in the way of other people much and it fits in tight spaces better.
5) It's Comfortable
Lastly it's incredibly comfortable. Both my girls have cruised in it for long periods of time with no complaints. They also both took naps in it whilst we were in Disney World so that's a sure sign of ultimate comfort.
Oakwood Theme Park is engraved in my childhood memory. We had many school trips there and I always loved it, so when we were asked if we would like to visit with the girls, I jumped at the chance to show them something I enjoyed as a child. Both hubby and I haven't visited since we were teenagers so we were intrigued to see how it has changed.
Oakwood theme park is located in South Wales and is easily accessible by Car. We enjoyed the scenic drive which took us 1 hour 45 minutes from Cardiff. The parking is free (a bonus as other theme parks sometimes charge) and it is close to the theme park entrance which is always handy when you have children and strollers.
You can enter the park via a short train ride. I used to love this as a child. They run every 15 minutes but we had literally just missed a train departure so we took the very short walk to the park instead which took a couple of minutes.
We headed straight to the circus section of the park which is aimed at preschool age children so perfect for our girls. At that point it was lovely and sunny so they enjoyed the park area and the swings.
We then decided to sit on the grass and enjoy our picnic that we had brought with us for lunch. There are plenty of areas for you to sit down and eat your own food or alternatively there are restaurants and food outlets to purchase food from the park.
Next up we headed over to the Neverland area. This is quite a recent opening so we were looking forward to seeing this. Peter Pan is one of Eva's favourite films and one of my favourite books so we were hoping this section would do it justice.
You enter into Neverland through the London area. There are a few things to see and do here. We enjoyed the London Cab ride and we loved the journey through the home of the Darlings. Eva thought it was amazing spotting Peter Pan's shadow and Ophelia found the whole house fascinating. She was mesmerised by the lights.
Next up we ventured into 'Hook's House of Havoc' which is a giant soft play area. This was ideal for hubby and I to get a little rest whilst the girls ran riots.
The next ride we went on was a small log flume in skull rock. It's fairly safe to say we got quite wet. Our last adventure in Neverland saw Eva and Ophelia running around 'The Lost Boys Adventure' area which was a themed outdoor play area.
JM Barrie's book is really brought to life in here and represents the essence of the story. I adored having the music from 'Hook' being piped around the park. It really added to the atmosphere. This section is themed very well and captures the essence of what theme parks are all about. It takes you back to your childhood and allows you to embrace it.
We then headed towards the 'Bobsleigh' which was one of hubby's favourite rides here when he was younger. Eva thought it was fantastic and went on it twice. Apparently she preferred riding with daddy as he was much faster than I was.
Hubby and I then decided to ride 'Megafobia' which is a wooden roller coaster that we both loved as teens. Knowing that the ride was quite old we wondered whether it would still be as exciting as it was back when we first rode on it.
Luckily, it was as good as we remembered. It's fast and rickety and still has that wonderful wooden shaky sound which puts the fear inside you. It's a definite adrenaline pumper and in our opinion is still the UK's best wooden roller coaster by far.
Last up we visited 'Dahland' which will be opening fully at some point this year. As the name suggests it is themed around Roald Dahl. There is a rollercoaster based upon James and the Giant Peach and a walkthrough attraction based on Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spike's house, opening soon. This was a lovely section of the park with lots of flowers and nice decorations around.
Overall, we had a lovely day. The kids particularly enjoyed it. There was plenty there for them to do but hubby and I felt like the park could do with a few more 'thrill rides'. Our favourite section of the park was Neverland which is perfectly themed. The newness of this area and Dahland made some of the other areas look a bit tired and in need of a facelift.
It was quiet whilst we went so we managed to go on all of the children's rides that we wanted to go on. It will probably be busier during the half term so maybe the fast pass service would be needed then.
Hubby and I didn't get to ride all of the older 'thrill rides' that are there as we found it a bit of a task whilst waiting for one person to queue up per ride. I'd like to see them offer a parent swap service where one parent can queue for a 'thrill ride' and then the other can go to the front of the queue once they have rode. This is much easier when you are visiting parks with young children.
I think the park is reasonably priced for what is there and if you book in advance then you can get some great discounts. If we lived closer then I would consider an annual pass as the kids really did have a great time. You can get more information here about them, Annual Passes.
If you want a better view of our day then make sure you watch our video on youtube.
I'm very excited to announce that I am giving away a family pass to Oakwood which includes 2 adult and 2 children's tickets. You can enter via rafflecopter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The next ride we went on was a small log flume in skull rock. It's fairly safe to say we got quite wet. Our last adventure in Neverland saw Eva and Ophelia running around 'The Lost Boys Adventure' area which was a themed outdoor play area.
JM Barrie's book is really brought to life in here and represents the essence of the story. I adored having the music from 'Hook' being piped around the park. It really added to the atmosphere. This section is themed very well and captures the essence of what theme parks are all about. It takes you back to your childhood and allows you to embrace it.
We then headed towards the 'Bobsleigh' which was one of hubby's favourite rides here when he was younger. Eva thought it was fantastic and went on it twice. Apparently she preferred riding with daddy as he was much faster than I was.
Hubby and I then decided to ride 'Megafobia' which is a wooden roller coaster that we both loved as teens. Knowing that the ride was quite old we wondered whether it would still be as exciting as it was back when we first rode on it.
Luckily, it was as good as we remembered. It's fast and rickety and still has that wonderful wooden shaky sound which puts the fear inside you. It's a definite adrenaline pumper and in our opinion is still the UK's best wooden roller coaster by far.
Last up we visited 'Dahland' which will be opening fully at some point this year. As the name suggests it is themed around Roald Dahl. There is a rollercoaster based upon James and the Giant Peach and a walkthrough attraction based on Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spike's house, opening soon. This was a lovely section of the park with lots of flowers and nice decorations around.
Overall, we had a lovely day. The kids particularly enjoyed it. There was plenty there for them to do but hubby and I felt like the park could do with a few more 'thrill rides'. Our favourite section of the park was Neverland which is perfectly themed. The newness of this area and Dahland made some of the other areas look a bit tired and in need of a facelift.
It was quiet whilst we went so we managed to go on all of the children's rides that we wanted to go on. It will probably be busier during the half term so maybe the fast pass service would be needed then.
Hubby and I didn't get to ride all of the older 'thrill rides' that are there as we found it a bit of a task whilst waiting for one person to queue up per ride. I'd like to see them offer a parent swap service where one parent can queue for a 'thrill ride' and then the other can go to the front of the queue once they have rode. This is much easier when you are visiting parks with young children.
I think the park is reasonably priced for what is there and if you book in advance then you can get some great discounts. If we lived closer then I would consider an annual pass as the kids really did have a great time. You can get more information here about them, Annual Passes.
If you want a better view of our day then make sure you watch our video on youtube.
I'm very excited to announce that I am giving away a family pass to Oakwood which includes 2 adult and 2 children's tickets. You can enter via rafflecopter below.
Terms & Conditions:
- Closing date is 00:00 am UK time on Wednesday 26th July
- No cash alternative to the prize stated
- This competition is open to the UK and Ireland only
- Entrants must log in and follow the directions given via the Rafflecopter widget
- All entries will be verified
- One winner will be chosen at random using Rafflecopter
- The winner will be notified within 5 days of the closing date. The winner must respond within 7 days of receiving the email to claim their prize
- The brand will dispatch the prize directly to the winner
- The competition is not affiliated with Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Youtube
*Thank you to Oakwood for providing us with a family pass in exchange of our honest opinions*
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