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Good day at a crowded event takes planning

With children, a family trip requires organization, advanced planning and utilizing the venue’s safety features

Spectators watch preparations Friday, July 16, for the Vectren Dayton Air Show, which will be held today and Sunday at the Dayton International Airport. The main attraction is the U.S. Navy Blue Angels aerial demonstration team and its support aircraft, a C-130T Hercules cargo plane known as

Ty Greenlees Spectators watch preparations Friday, July 16, for the Vectren Dayton Air Show, which will be held today and Sunday at the Dayton International Airport. The main attraction is the U.S. Navy Blue Angels aerial demonstration team and its support aircraft, a C-130T Hercules cargo plane known as "Fat Albert." Staff photos by Ty Greenlees

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By Kim Margolis, Staff Writer Updated 11:46 AM Sunday, July 18, 2010

Planning is the key word to remember when considering a trip this summer to a big theme park or a crowded outdoor event. This simple act of organizing in advance can save you time and money and make for a smoother, more enjoyable day. It can even help keep your children safe.

Before leaving home

Consider paying for admission and parking before you go. At Kings Island, an adult ticket is $46.99 at the gate, but $33.99 if you purchase online. There is no parking discount online, but paying in advance can save you time.

“You can save money on tickets and you’re going to save time when you get to the park,” said Don Helbig, public relations manager.

Some events have smart phone applications that can help you navigate your day. This year, the Ohio State Fair is offering a mobile phone download of the daily schedule. The application also will include daily discounts and even free items, said Christina Leeds, fair spokesperson.

Text ‘‘FAIR’’ to 82672 to get the daily download before you head to the fair. It is free, but standard text rates from your carrier will apply.

Leeds said the fair also is planning an application which will let you type in what type of fair food you’re hungry for and let you know where the nearest stand featuring that food is. The address for that application is not yet available but will eventually be on OhioStateFair.com.

If you’re taking your children on an outing, it is important to set some ground rules before you leave, said Jessica Saunders, community relations manager at Children’s Medical Center of Dayton. The ground rules will include proper behavior, an agreement to drink water or wear sunscreen and an explanation of what will happen during the outing.

“By the time you get there the kids are so excited,” Saunders said. “You have to be really prepared for those days.”

Children also look at a trip to a theme park as idyllic, but it can be hot. They look at fireworks or an air show as fun, but the noises can be loud and scary. Saunders said it’s important to prepare a child for that beforehand.

Once you get there

Stop at the gate and see what the venue has as far as convenience and safety. Many places offer locker rentals. Many venues offer services to help if for some reason your child gets separated from you.

Fairs and amusement parks usually have areas near the entrance that provide a method of identification for your child so if he or she gets lost, you can be reunited easily. At Kings Island, for example, a band with the parent’s cell phone number is placed around the child’s wrist, Helbig said. It’s also smart to pick a designated area to reunite if anyone you’re with gets separated. At Kings Island, most people pick the Eiffel Tower.

If the place offers some sort of shuttle or a ride that travels across the whole venue, use it to scope out what you want to see during the day. Leeds said one could also use it at the end of the day to see if there’s more to see on another trip.

“The reality of the situation is we have 360 acres and you likely are not going to see everything in one trip,” Leeds said.

Also, don’t go with the flow. When people hit a theme park, they usually want to get in line for the most popular attraction immediately.

“Everybody wants to go to Diamondback and The Beast,” Helbig said of Kings Island. “Pick out ones with no wait time. Diamondback and The Beast lines area shorter after the lunch hour than they are between  10 a.m. and noon.”

It’s summer and it’s hot. While everyone knows by now that people should wear sunscreen, wear light clothing and drink a lot of water, Saunders said it’s worth emphasizing. Even if you or your child are not thirsty, stay hydrated by taking small gulps of water throughout the day.

Also, children’s skin is particularly sensitive to the sun because it is thinner than the skin of adults. Infants six months and younger should not be in the sun at all if it can be avoided, she said.

Another thing a hot day can lead to is a grumpy child or even a child with a meltdown.

“Keeping your cool and calmly working through a frustrating situation lets you show — and teach — appropriate ways to handle anger and frustration,” Saunders said. “Speak calmly, clearly and firmly — not with anger, blame, harsh criticisms, threats or putdowns.”

Lastly, don’t forget to ask if a venue or event has a handstamp policy that will let you leave for a few hours and return. At Kings Island, families have been known to take breaks for hours and then head back for fireworks and a Snoopy light show, which starts at dusk.

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