5 Amusement Park Mistakes Everyone Makes

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Universal Studios Beijing is opening soon, and you can bet the entire population of Beijing (or even China) will be rushing there to be first in line. But how many times have you fallen victim to the deadly traps of the consumerist world, forgetting that you had already been down that rabbit hole once or twice before? We’ve all been there, and I’m here to shine a light on the situation. Here are five things you should not do in any amusement park. Avoid them at all costs.

Driving there

This may seem like common sense, but the truth is lots of families still drive to amusement parks. And what happens is they spend 30 minutes looking for a parking spot, then 15 minutes walking to the park, then an hour trying to find their parking spot after an exhausting day of fun, and finally another hour getting out of the parking lot, resulting in a total of almost three hours of wasted time.

Do save yourself the trouble, simply take public transportation! Most parks in and around Beijing have subway lines that go directly to the park. For example, both Line 7 and the Batong Line service Universal Studios Beijing via a new transfer station, called Universal Resort station, which has entrances near the park.

Bringing scooters, skates, or other prohibited items

Parks have regulations against scooters, inline skates, and drones. Make sure you don’t bring these items or else you’ll need to store them at the front desk and pick them up when you leave. The ride locations within parks are often relatively close to each other, so after only a short walk you’re sure to be seated on an attraction and giving your feet a rest. If there are little ones with you who are tired, there are benches around most parks where you can rest for a bit before you hit the next ride.

Wearing accessories

No doubt many of us have laughed at those funny videos where a pair of sunglasses is blown off a person’s face during a ride. However, those funny moments can quickly become reality if you have accessories on you. So keep things simple when going on rides, no matter how friendly and tame they may seem. At bigger parks and rides (such as Universal’s Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey) there are cubbies where you can store your hat and sunglasses. Smaller parks or friendlier rides (like the carousels found in almost every park) have benches on which you can temporarily place your bags before you go on the ride.

So, before you get on any ride, store away all of your accessories safely, and then pick them up when you have finished with the attraction.

Forgetting the necessities for all kinds of weather

Just because you aren’t on the beach sunbathing doesn’t mean that the sun’s dangerous rays aren’t still reaching you. And just because it’s sunny now doesn’t mean it won’t rain buckets later. So, make sure you’re prepared for the weather and bring all the necessities: a high SPF sunscreen, a rainproof jacket, and a hat. These essentials will have you covered for a day in the park, and they will also take up minimal space in your backpack so you won’t be carrying a load of bricks on your shoulders.

Purchasing your tickets at the gate

Why should you buy them ahead of time? So you won’t waste money or precious time in the ticket lines! Buying tickets at the gate ensures that you’ll pay the highest possible price. Instead, check on the park’s official website and look for deals or days when admission is cheaper when tickets are purchased ahead of time. If there isn’t a website for the park, there may be deals available on Dianping. But never buy tickets from individual or sketchy sellers. You don’t want to purchase a set of fake tickets for the fam!

Images: Unsplash, giphy

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