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Tonya says, "I saw in March's posts, a couple of people talking about how they usually plan their day at SDC. I will share ours, and then see if any others would add their insight to what their family likes to do.

My children are 3 and 6, and their first visits were at age 1.

We usually get there as soon as the park opens (or plan to), and then head toward either a) a "big" ride (for us, the river ride is about the biggest we all will do) then the Grand Exposition or b) the Grand Exposition (crossing the swinging bridge a time or two on the way). We ride whatever rides we will ride as a family (tea cups, mainly, and perhaps the swing--my 3 year old's fav), then watch the boys ride the smaller rides, then divide off into parent/child pairs for awhile.

Once they are sufficiently tired, we watch a show, then eat lunch. Then, we *must* ride the Flooded Mine (if we haven't already), and then probably ride it a few more times (the lines have been short lately). We head to one of the play areas (either Geyser Gulch or Tom Sawyer's Landing), play our hearts out, then go to the Saloon Show to cool off and enjoy a root beer float. The boys LOVE it, and my 3 year old calls them "the princesses." He hams it up with them afterwards, and has taken pictures with them sitting on the bar.

Back to other rides, the other play area, one last show and a snack, and we usually finish with the train. Very last is a hilarious trip through Grandfather's Mansion, several times.

This is the first year that we go everywhere w/o a stroller. It has been amazingly freeing...I haven't done that in almost 7 years! Our boys carry a waistpack each, which we also use for camping/hiking, and they carry essentials like their own small-sized sunscreen, hand sanitizer, special toys or other distractions for the line, rocks they may have found at the hotel, change, a map (just for fun), and maybe even a disposable camera. Either my husband or I also have a waistbag, and that really is enough for us at this point. Thank God!"