Theme Park Survival Guide- How to get the best deal on tickets, getting the shortest lines, finding the tastiest foods, beating the drench of water rides, and much more!

Water rides are often overlooked as a source of recovery from the hot sun.

"What's the estimated wait time?"
"About 1 1/2hrs."
"I knew we should have gotten here earlier!"

Don't lie. We've all been there at one time or another. By there, I'm referring to the back of a two-hour wait, a $5.00 hotdog, or that abnormal rash on the inside of your legs from wet clothes. This guide will prepare you for possible scenarios of what to expect, how to prepare, and how to even beat the crowds on money savings, time savings, and even getting more gratitude from your experience. Follow these simple tips and you will never worry about an unsatisfactory trip to your favorite theme park.

Unless you visit the same theme park more than two times a year, chances are you're not interested in a "Season Pass." There are many ways to ensure you're not paying full price for general admission, however, only sometimes are these opportunities taken advantage of. You can begin by checking for a local state residence discount; meaning if you live in the same state as the theme park, you are entitled to a discount by showing proof of residency.

Knowing where you are going ahead of time can help you navigate the park faster and easier.

Another option is investing in a travel agency/club, such as the American Automotive Association (AAA). These vendors offer reasonable discounts, which often times can be as much as 20% savings. A final source is to check for promotions for that particular park. Such promotions can be found in travel magazine advertisements, or even in the products of parks affiliates. One example of this would be the Pepsi Corporation, a proud sponsor of Anheuser-Busch Entertainment Corporation, offers frequent savings toward the admission of an Anheuser-Busch park.

Early arrival is key. Most theme parks do not even open till sometime after 8 am, which compared to a normal day for you and I, is pretty much a while after we've already awoken. Do yourself a favor and take the extra yard by ensuring you arrive at the park gates early. This allows you to stand in the usually long ticket booth lines, purchase your tickets and then get in line for gate entry.

By arriving early, you ensure yourself a walk-on, or not waiting in line, experience at one attraction or more. You want to start with a game plan. Try and find an area you can concentrate on where there is a heaving population of attraction rides, yet doesn't draw huge number of crowds. This is commonly called the "sweet spot" of a park. If you find this location as soon as the park opens, it is very possible to get re-rides on a few attractions with walk-on lines. In addition, there normally is a part of the park that doesn't open up until a certain time. This is typically 30 minutes after the initial park opens. Once you have completed your riding in the front hand portion of the park, move to the back as soon as possible to be first again with walk-on opportunities.

When everything around you seems to be spinning around too fast, a trip on the classic Sky Ride can slow the world down.

Water rides, love them or hate them. They can turn you from champ to chump in no time by leaving you soaking wet. A few simple rules of thumb can help you beat the feat. Begin with preparation. Go ahead and pack an extra set of clothes in a clear zip-lock bag (a clear bag so the park security doesn't have to stop you at admission and check your bag). Once you enter the park, find the nearest set of lockers possible and ditch the clothes. As for what to wear initially put on something lightweight that doesn't soak up water like a sponge.

Once you start to feel dehydrated or overheated in the mid-day, that is the time to start hitting the water rides. Water rides are all located near each other. There is a reason for this; the main reason is the placement of water generators, water treatment, etc. Since all water rides are close together, try and get all your H2O riding done all at one time to prevent extended periods of staying in wet clothing. After you've had your share, hit the lockers and take a change into the pair of dry clothing you brought. You want to avoid staying in wet clothes for a long period of time primarily because it can cause chaffing, which leads to rash. The other reason is bacteria grows quickly in a moist, dark, and warm environments.

Lunchtime's starting to roll around and you're beginning to get hungry. So, what's for lunch? Well, the trick to finding the best tasting food. It doesn't come down to where the most people are at, but what kind of food preference you like. If you like pizza, don't stand around waiting for the burger line just because it has a bunch of people around it. This simple rule assures you're fulfilled by an easy meal because of your likings.

Droggy days can mentally destroy your perspective on how much you enjoy your stay.

Another tip is finding restaurants that are "dead." By this I mean restaurants where attendance is poor, such as a restaurant in the corner of the park where no one goes. Parks try and associate these areas with lower prices to attract guests, so if you are on a budget or hate paying $5 for a soggy burger, this is for you.

In closing, I'd like to leave you with a few miscellaneous tips and hints. The first tip is to prioritize what you want to achieve, then what you hope to achieve. If you end up riding a kiddy coaster instead of the new $20 Million inverted coaster, you will be disappointed. Set a game plan for the attack: which rides are you going to get done first and then work on second.

Choosing a date at which you plan to attend is also important primarily because of the possibilities for downtime. If you attend during winter months, when attendance is low, then it's possible for certain rides to be down for maintenance and repairs. However, attending during winter months can assure short lines and an overall better experience. The best bet is to go ahead and give the park a call in regards to certain rides being to be down. If you can, look for the parks local area code number, and not the 800 numbers, as chances are you will be put in contact with a machine and not an operator.

Good luck!