by Laura Falin posted in Life

I went to college 15 minutes from Disneyland.
My roommate actually had a job there, and sometimes after classes were finished for the day, we'd all pop over for a few hours. She'd sign us in, we'd go on a ride or two, and then we'd head back to the dorms. So fun. So easy. So carefree.
Fast-forward many years and four kids into the future, and well, going to amusement parks is a much different story. It requires the planning of a massive troop movement. It involves supply lists, and internet research, and physical conditioning (I'm kind of kidding about that last one, but it doesn't hurt). Taking small children to amusement, theme, or water parks is not for the faint of heart.

But when it goes well, it can be a trip your family remembers and loves for a good long time. If you're headed to a park this summer, here are a few things we've figured out to make the day go smoother: 1. Get there early. Let's face it -- the kids are going to be awake anyway. You might as well all plan to be up, and get an early start. Every park we've ever been to has their smallest crowds first thing in the morning. Add to that the fact that summer mornings are cooler, and kids are fresher and (usually!) at their best in the morning. This isn't the day to sleep in. Also, figure out the most popular ride you want to go on, and get to that first thing while the lines are shorter.
2. Have everyone pick one thing. If you have kids in a range of ages, have each person pi...