Not long ago, our family enjoyed a wonderful trip to an iconic theme park. As a psychologist, I’m invested in mental health, wellness, and self-care strategies for all types of settings. So I started noticing several “psychologically healthy” choices we made during our visit that helped make the experience more fun and enjoyable for all of us. I thought you might like to see my list of 10 of these tips so you can consider using them for your next theme park vacation.
1) Planning
I definitely think some advance planning goes a long way to make your theme park trip better. We read through one of the popular guide books to get an idea of the main attractions we wanted to experience. It was also helpful to see some of the tips on how to navigate through the park to reduce some of the time spent waiting in line.
2) Flexibility
Despite all the planning we did, we found it very helpful to be flexible throughout our time at the theme park. For example, when we encountered one ride with a very long line, we opted out and went to a ride nearby that had almost no line at all. Be open to going with the flow and not feeling like you have to stick to a strict schedule.
3) Acceptance
Ultimately, we never made it back to that first ride and we missed a few others we hoped to see, but we accepted it and moved on. This wasn’t a major setback, as we had experienced most of our planned attractions. Accept that you often can’t “do it all,” as sore feet, tired kids, and just not enough time are all real obstacles that can get the best of us sooner or later.
4) Patience
Speaking of waiting in line, yes, we did some of that. We found that time to be great for chatting with one another, surfing social media, people watching or just being in a shady area out of the sun. Recognize that some delays and waiting are an inevitable part of the experience. (We did find, however, that we reduced a lot of the wait time with the park’s mobile app for advance passes to some of the most popular rides.)
5) Physical activity
Here’s a good example of the “glass is half empty” (pessimistic) versus “glass is half full” (optimistic) mindset. We walked and walked and walked as we toured the park. We could have gotten stuck on just how tiring all this walking was. But we soon realized we were getting tons of steps in on our fitness monitors. Several miles a day in fact! Score a big one for lots of great physical activity.
6) Escape
There are few better places than theme parks to immerse yourself in the wondrous environment and escape for a little while from reality. We saw pirates, mermaids, spaceships, cartoon characters, talking birds, and more during our theme park adventures. Allow yourself to mindfully observe and take in all the fantastic sights and sounds and lose yourself in the experience.
7) Rest and nourishment
We found it so helpful to take breaks to sit down, have some water and a healthy snack, and just to recharge a bit amid all the walking. We even took a long break for a sit-down lunch in a nice restaurant which really gave us renewed energy for the rest of the day.
8) Inspiration and joy
Inspiration and joy in a theme park? Well, yes, if you look for them. We found many of the shows, music, and attractions very joyful and inspiring with their uplifting songs, characters and themes. Also, just look at all the little children meeting their favorite characters in person and being so delighted and awestruck in the moment. Tell me that doesn’t get you.
9) Quality time
Generally you go to theme parks with family or friends, sometimes even with folks you haven’t seen for a while. Don’t forget to relish this wonderful quality time together. I have a friend who talks about the importance of “shared history,” where you have spent meaningful time together with those you care about. Build that shared history and don’t forget to take lots of pictures and videos!
10) Gratitude
Take a few moments after your theme park trip and be grateful for all the good things you experienced: the sights and sounds, the interesting food and attractions, the fun times with family, and your ability to have the resources (time, money, health) to make the trip happen. Experiencing gratitude can solidify these positive thoughts and feelings and help you feel happier and more satisfied.
I hope you will consider trying some of these ideas on your next theme park adventure. You might be surprised at how well they can work for you too.
Here’s a question: What other tips have you used while on vacations to help focus on your health and wellness? Please leave a comment. Also, please subscribe to my blog and feel free to follow me on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram, “like” my Facebook page, or connect on LinkedIn. Finally, if you enjoyed this post, please share it with a friend. Thanks!