Make a note of where you parked your car
I jot a text note on my cell phone. Other people take a digital photo of the row marker where they're parked. But you'll want some reminder when you come out of the park at the end of the day.
Let someone enter the line in front of you
Often at popular attractions, several folks arrive to enter the line at once. Why not generate some goodwill all around by letting the others go first, instead of fighting to get once space ahead?
Help someone who's lost
When you see someone staring at a guidemap, or looking around lost, why not offer help and directions, if you know the park well? Wouldn't you like someone to do the same, if you were the one in need of help?
Ask for help
Even if you've come to this park 100 times in the past, ask an employee for a tip or assistance. You'll never know what special experience can be revealed or created. Unless you ask, of course.
Compliment an employee
Make at least a mental note of the employees you speak with or watch working during your visit. Then, before you leave, stop in the park's guest or customer relations office to compliment the person you saw doing the best job for you (or for others) that day. Visitor compliments are gold to theme park employees. Don't be stingy.
Share
Save money, conserve resources and promote togetherness by sharing among the people in your group. Share guidemaps, share snacks and share meals. If you need more (food, drinks, guidemaps, etc.), you always can go get it. But sharing initially helps cut down waste and can save you money.
Set a good example and follow the rules
Seek out and follow each ride's safety instructions. It's the smart, safe thing to do. And the more people who do this, the happier and safer everyone's day can be.
Act like you're in public
We really shouldn't need to say this, but some folks seem to think that since they're on vacation from work or school, they can be on vacation from common sense, too. But you are in public at a theme park, among thousands of other people, too. So act like it. No one needs to be witness to your shouting, fighting, profanity, or PDA.
Down in front
If you're waiting to watch a parade or fireworks, and you arrive early enough to get the front-row space - sit down. The more folks who sit up front, the more kids can see from the back. Even if you're not all the way up front, if everyone in front of you is sitting, take a seat yourself. Don't be that first person standing, whom everyone else is cursing under his or her breath.
Give away your unused Fastpasses
This is a Disney-only piece of advice, but if you have any unused Fastpasses when you leave the park (hey, it happens), hand them to another guest at that attraction rather than walk out with them. In practice, the passes are good not just within their one-hour window, but at any time after that during the day. Trust me, you will make people's day by handing them front-of-the-line passes they didn't expect.
Let's hear your additions (and reactions) to this list, in the comments.
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We were the recipient of unused Fast Passes last trip and were very thankful. Definitely a good thing to do if you aren't going to use yours.
On giving away fast passes, my group of 3 was leaving Epcot and gave away 3 FPs for Soarin', what a surprise for the 3 we gave them to.
Always exchange cellphone numbers with people in your group so in the event of a seporation you get back together quickly.
Pick a meeting place in the park preferably a landmark to meet at the end of the day if you do decide to split for a few hours
It was more entertaining and funnier! Plus it made a bigger impact so we could focus on the wrong things we were doing. (If any) Thanks for the lists!
-Francisco-
So instead of nasty looks and grumbles of "....some parents..." try a little sympathy. It might even solve the problem.
Oh and Tony above makes an amazing point. Offer to take pictures for people. It will make their vacation! And often they will return the favor and take a picture of you and your group as well!
Bad behaviour, things people wouldnt to at thome? Uhm, at theme parks? No not really. Dont be such intolerant prudes. The big theme parks have a very uniform visitor makeup to begin with. Embrace at least some deviation, thats part of the fun at a holiday.
Im on the contrary always surprised how great for example the lines work.
I'll admit, I'd never thought about giving away my unused FastPasses until someone kindly gave theirs to me & my boyfriend for Test Track. Ever since then, we always "pay it forward" and have given away FPs for Test Track, Soarin', Big Thunder Mountain RR, and others. And we don't necessarily give them to the first people we see approaching that ride -- it sort of becomes a game of deciding whom to choose. (For instance, since we're affectionate ourselves, once we gave them to a young couple holding hands. Another time, I happened to like a guy's Oscar the Grouch T-shirt.) Have fun with it, and you can really make someone's day!
Compliment the staff? Vacations are for being greedy and hedonistic!
I like pushing and shoving, thank you very much.
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Oh, and do keep a shirt on, especially if you are a lady who is going on a water ride. Theme parks are not water parks, so keep bikini top under your tank top, please!