Top products from r/Themepark

You can probably skip 1, 2, and 5 in my opinion. One and two might apply to larger families with kids and strollers but I don't need to lug around an $700+ camera all day or bother with water bottles when water fountains or free water can be found in pretty much all theme parks. Headphones in line? They'd arrest you at Universal if you had so much as a cell phone and you think your headphones will make it through the ride? Bleh. Also, do most theme parks allow you to bring outside food and drinks into the park? I just assumed it was a general rule that they did not. If the plan is to bring your own food, you're better off leaving it in the car, hopefully in a well iced cooler to protect it from the summer heat all day.

I'll tell you what to bring instead:

• Lightweight, sweat-wicking, quick-dry clothing. Good for the heat of the day and water rides. I'm pretty much a walking Underarmour ad at theme parks, I'm even wearing quick-drying mesh underwear and sweat-wicking socks.
  
• A slimmed down version of your wallet. You don't need your grocery store loyalty card or library card. You need an ID, a credit card, your ticket, and maybe some cash. Those can fit in a slim-profile wallet of some sort. If you're like me I put something like this underneath my shirt so my pockets don't feel like they're weighing me down. It also doubles as an easy way to hide your items from inspection if you intend to circumvent strict riding policies. The strap isn't coming off and the pockets are all zippers and velcro. It's secure. Usually fits the cards I mention plus my phone.
  
• Rechargeable battery pack, to be left in a storage locker. Seriously, don't bother carrying this around with you everywhere. Retrieve it during lunch, charge your phone, then return it to storage. I've seen a lot of theme parks installing phone charging stations (Busch Gardens VA has several for example) so you may not even need that pack, assuming you don't mind paying to charge. I would probably bring mine.
  
• Car keys. You probably want to get back in your car at some point. You can store these in the locker with your battery pack, you don't need them until you leave.
  
• Your phone. Entertain yourself in line with some web browsing or mobile gaming. Also doubles as a camera so you don't need to carry about your photo bag. You'll have to sort out whether or not they'll let you bring it on the ride though. I'd probably find a way to leave it in a storage locker all day with my car keys and battery pack if they made me store it before I could ride.
  
• Sunscreen and maybe some sunglasses. I've found most of the time I can keep my sunglasses with me but if you're somewhere without that option, maybe just sunscreen up before entering the park and leave the sunglasses in the car. You could also put them in a storage locker but I find that defeats the purpose. I'd rather squint all day than have to store them in a locker every time I wanted to ride something.

Wow, that would be great. Thanks!

If this isn't going to work there are also cheap USB capture devices that can help getting the videos on the pc.

John Wardley's autobiography. Not exactly a groundbreaking piece of literature, but a fun read if you are interested in amusement parks, especially Alton Towers.

I throw everything in a drawstring backpack and utilize lockers or bins/cubbies on the exit side of the coaster train. It's not weird.

I use this one from Ogio, but there are plenty of companies who make them, and you can usually find them pretty inexpensively at places like TJ Maxx, Ross, or Marshall's.

DUDE! YOU ARE AWESOME!!!! I've been looking for that movie for years! I guess I was way off on the title (and the network) but the rest I got pretty close (even the year!). Now.... where in the world can I find a copy of this hidden gem? Edit: AHA!

I really enjoyed 'Dream it! Do it!' by Marty Sklar, ex Disney Imagineer.
http://www.amazon.com/Dream-It-Do-Half-Century-Creating/dp/1423174062

Roller Coasters, Flumes, And Flying Saucers is the history of Arrow. It's a great read!

Always loved this book!

I miss the old Test Track too! I'm reading a book about Theme Park design and every so often it'll say "The original Test Track did such-and-such..." to show how a design principle was used well on the original.... it has never once used the new Test Track in that way.

Edit: Just saw your flair! I grew up on LI and went to Adventureland all the time!

There's also a book called Dream It, Do It released last year. I've got it next to my bed but yet to read it. This was recommended by another reddit user and the reviews look good.