Theme parks are having a moment, as they say. Following the openings of Universal Epic Universe in Florida and Six Flags Saudi Arabia in 2025, Disneyland Paris’s World of Frozen and Universal Kids Resort in Texas will throw open their gates imminently, while work has started on a Disneyland outpost on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island.
It means big theme park holidays will be big business for the foreseeable future. But if you give in to pester power and book one, how can you ensure it goes smoothly – without tears and tantrums from children or adults? Read on for crucial tips and advice…
1. Scour the internet for deals
This is a holiday that’s often better booked through a tour operator, thanks to the discounts and extras they can often offer. In 2025, for example, Virgin Holidays gave a free Disney Dining Plan (a pre-paid meal pass recommended by children’s author Sarah McGeough, who has visited Walt Disney World more than 10 times) to customers booking selected future trips.
If you’re going it alone, look for ticket price offers – from 2-for-1 deals on cereal packets for Merlin Entertainment’s UK theme parks, to seasonal 25 per cent discounts on Walt Disney World’s 14-day tickets, booked through the official site.
2. Download apps ahead of time
The relevant theme park app is a necessity on the day but, by downloading it ahead of time, you can access maps, wait times and show schedules to help plan your day. Get acquainted with other benefits too: Disney’s app lets you pre-order fast food for collection, for example.
3. Budget for the unexpected
Pricey extras range from parking (€30/£26 per day at Disneyland Paris) to overpriced snacks. Frequent theme park visitors advise budgeting around £150-£300 per day for a family of four, on top of the ticket price. “You can save money with free refills on some snacks and drinks at Universal Studios,” adds Portia Jones, theme park fan and host of The Travel Goals podcast.
4. Get to grips with queuing systems and fast passes
All theme parks have ways of skipping queues (such as Disney’s Lightning Lane passes), but some charge extortionate amounts for the privilege. It’s worth checking whether the benefits outweigh the expense. If not, look for single rider lanes or embrace “family switch” (a system which lets those with small children queue for coasters together and take turns to hold the baby).
“Off peak, outside of the school holidays, you probably won’t need fast passes quite as much,” says Jones. She sometimes employs a “rope-drop” strategy, which involves getting to a park before it opens and heading to the area featuring a chosen ride to wait for access (“the jet lag works the right way because you’re bouncy at 5am,” says McGeough). “But if you’re like, ‘I absolutely must do Guardians of the Galaxy’, it’s worth purchasing a fast pass. Ditto if this is a once-in-a-lifetime family trip,” adds Jones.
If your children aren’t set on a big-brand park, alternatives such as Germany’s Europa-Park or Efteling in the Netherlands operate free, virtual queuing systems for some rides and can make for more relaxing breaks, especially outside mainland European school holidays.
5. Book meals ahead
Disney parks in particular are notoriously difficult to eat at. To ensure you don’t exist on panic-bought doughnuts and fries, it’s worth booking ahead: restaurants take reservations around 60 days in advance. Otherwise, look at food court options before arrival and plan to eat during quieter periods as it can be hard to find free tables. Social media accounts are a great source of inspiration: on Instagram, try @disneyfoodblog; McGeough recommends the Facebook group It’s Orlando Time for general tips on Florida parks.
6. Drill your children in case they get lost
Theme parks are well equipped to deal with lost children but, to save your sanity, put your own protocol in place – including an AirTag. “Teach them to go to a member of staff and say that they’re lost: show them what uniforms they’re wearing,” says Jones. “Have a wristband with your phone number on the inside. Take a picture of them on the morning of your visit so you’ve got the most up to date outfit that they’re wearing as well.”
7. Consider an on-site hotel
If you have the budget, a stay in an on-site hotel usually allows early entry to the parks, before crowds start to build (although Disneyland California instead offers a one-ride Lightning Lane pass per person per stay). You can access character breakfasts and quieter character meets too, as well as hotel attractions such as fan favourite Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Walt Disney World’s Polynesian Resort. Meanwhile, at Universal Orlando’s three premier-tier hotels, guests get a free Universal Express Unlimited Pass for Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure.
8. Pack a bag
Theme parks require a survival pack, unless you want to pay through the nose for forgotten items. On the list? An extra smartphone battery pack (official apps are a big drain on phone power), waterproofs for wet rides, sunscreen, queue entertainment such as Uno or Top Trumps, snacks and a water bottle.
9. Factor in walking and queuing
Both can be hard on little legs and boredom-inducing for everyone but, without fast passes, you will have to wait in line – sometimes for two hours at the Disney and Universal parks, and even the most popular UK ones. For Jones, it’s all about avoiding “long waits, low reward. Top offenders for me are things like ET Adventure – though I know it’s the oldest ride at Universal – and the Snow White ride at Disneyland Paris. Sometimes I find a lot of the ‘family friendly’ rides require tons of queue time and are not worth it.”
She suggests waiting a couple of years before visiting if you have very young children. “I think taking a three-year-old to a theme park is the worst idea ever, because you’ve got all the walking time, all the waiting time, all the things that little children don’t want to do, and these things cost so much money. Wait until they’re older, around seven. They can go on more rides. They can stay up a bit later. There are no nap times or pushchairs to worry about.”
10. Embrace the 3-2-1 rule – and take breaks
In the bigger parks, seeing and doing everything is impossible. Some aficionados recommend the 3-2-1 rule, first popularised on TikTok: enjoy three rides, two shows, parades or character meets and one sit-down meal or must-eat treat per day to avoid overwhelm and/or missing out on key must-dos. If you’re on an extended theme park trip, rest days are crucial too.
11. Avoid impulse buys
The temptation is strong (especially as theme parks often make riders exit through gift shops), but prices are sky-high: Mickey ears at Walt Disney World cost around £25-£35; a popcorn bucket at Universal Studios Japan is around £30. Set a daily spending limit for children and prime them well in advance to avoid issues. For Disney, Jones advises buying secondhand ears on Vinted before flying. “In places like Orlando, they’ve also got gift stores in some of the shopping malls where products are discounted,” she adds.