Things to do with kids

Gonna help babysit some kids(4,6,9) were gonna take them to CP.... Whats there to do? what do you suggest for entertainment, food, rides ect... Thanks for your help

Tina

There is plenty to do with kids at CP... Kiddy Kingdom, Camp Snoopy, Gemini Kids Area... Depending on if they like rides they can ride most of the flat rides if there with someone over 48"...The 9 year old should be able to ride the coasters if he/she wants to... There are kids meals throughout the park and the new Snoopy on Ice should be good for kids...

I would say to measure them and then go to Park Operations office (in Kiddy Kingdom next to giant giraffe) and get a height wristband. This will be your best bet on what rides they can/can not ride.

Also, if there anything like me, they will want to eat everything they see, so pace yourself there. It can get expensive if you buy everything you see, so take your time.

And at that age, they will more than likely be worn out before park closes so be prepared to carry three "backpacks" out of the park.

But you should have fun regardless (going with kids is always fun). Hope you have a good trip!

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Mantis Crew '02 - Where's the unload station at?!? ;-)

Don't forget the petting zoo on the Frontier Trail, that's always a hit with kids. Let 'em play some games also, like Skeeball. For food, the Midway Market is a great deal if you have kids. You might want to go to Challenge Park and let them ride the GoKarts or maybe play a round of Miniature Golf at some point during the day.

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It's very hard to drink all day...
Unless you start first thing in the morning.

Depending upon when you go, Soak City is always a blast for kids. It costs extra, but is well worth it, especially during the mid afternoons when the lines for rides can get a bit long. They can change into bathing suits in the waterpark.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

If they are getting tired and cranky in the afternoon, take them to the CP beach and let them go wading! It's a great break from hot asphalt. Free too!

A few "suggestions" on "How to enjoy your day at CP with Munchkins in tow..Ages 4-11"...Wow that sounds like a good title for an essay doesn't it Jeff?;)...But I digress...

Get there early and have SUN SCREEN with you...If you have a GODD SIZE WAGON bring it with you or RENT one from CP...Just to your right inside the main gate...You won't regret having the wagon along for the kiddies...

Now I know some people on the board and a few of my direct family memebers disagree (My niece worked Kiddie Kingdom one summer)...but SKIP KIDDIE KINGDOM...Save this for later in the day. It is just a bunch of Hampton spin rides nothing the 6 or 9 year old will get real excited about and even the 4 year old will be bored after awhile. Instead, check the CP website for the exact ride breakdown of height restrictions and then you will know what the kids can/cannot ride...Have your group "measured" at Park Operations if any are close to one of the height breaks. Then head for the BACK of the park and work your way forward...

Keep the kids moving...just like a good sports pratice keeps the flow going, don't have any down time....Always think one or two rides ahead so as soon as you are done with one ride you already know where you are headed next so when they ask..and they will, "what's next?" you'll have an answer.

Enjoy Camp Snoopy for as little or as long as you need a break...This is a nice area for the kids to "run free"...There are a couple of benches with some shade for you to relax on..and you can see just about the whole area....

STOP and EAT a sit down meal. I suggest Midway Market (all you can eat, FREE refills on sodas (or POP as we call it:)) or Macaroni's...Pizza and salad bar with some Italian fare. This gives you a break in the day and recharges the batteries for EVERYONE.

Try to catch a Show in the Mid Afternoon, If Snoopy On Ice is running probably the best spot or The Centennial Theatre at the front of the park. This is again for another REST BREAK...Some in your group may fall asleep but it is nice to be in the cool air conditioned area and just watching for the 30 minutes or so.

Later in the day is when you should use Kiddie Kingdom, this is also a good area to wait for someone who is tall enough to ride Raptor, WTwister or Blue Streak...

I hope some of this has helped you and not confused you too much...Having spent many of days on the Midway with children around the same age as your group, I can speak from experience....

In my opinion, it is important to keep the kids "moving" and "busy" so they don't realize they are hot or bored or whatever....The wagon will come in handy throughout the day for all of the kids at one time or another I am sure...I am also a strong proponent of letting the kids ride anything he or she wants to as long as they are tall enough...I won't force someone on something but will strongly encourage...This is how we avoid LONG stays in Kiddie Kingdom....

The last piece of advice is for you to RELAX and ENJOY your day too, It is soooo much fun to ride something with one of my munchkins. The smiles on our faces say it all. I am sure you can have the same type of day...Good luck and please let us know if any of this helped.

As a last resort, you can always drop them off at Pet Check. ;)

LOL@millrace!

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"If we go any faster, she'll blow apart for sure!"

If anything I would take all the pian in the neck parents to Pet Chek.

"HUZZAH!"

Allow me to make one counterpoint to OTT's post. Perhaps it would be better to knock the Kiddie Kingdom off first early in the day since there is so little shade in that area. Plus it could be looked at as a warm up towards the Snoopy area deeper in the park. That is the way I would do it personally. I'd rather not have my little ones baking in the hot sun in the KK area when it is still shaded back in Camp Snoopy.

-Eric

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E Blitz Entertainment
Bay City, Michigan
A Division of LCA Entertainment
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There is shade in Camp Snoopy? I think there is much more shade in Kiddy Kingdom.

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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

Hope they like spin and spues...well, you too, for that matter. Nearly all of them except Chaos and the Witches' Wheel are accessible to the kiddies. There's plenty of quality time to be had on Schwabinchen, Calypso, Troika, Matterhorn, the Monster, Tilt-aWhirl, Ocean Motion....well, you get the picture.

The same is true of Thunder Canyon, White Water Landing and all the auto rides. The nice thing about these rides is that no one feels like they're riding something 'too big' or 'too small'.

Do NOT miss the Peanuts 500 in Camp Snoopy. I'll repeat that...do NOT miss the Peanuts 500 in Camp Snoopy. You'll see what I mean.

Keep in mind that DT and Draggin' Iron have a 46" height requirement too. Maybe the 6 year-old can board.

Personally, I would avoid Kiddy Kingdom at all costs. The nine year-old can trip you while the six year-old hits you with something hard. Don't do it. If they're anything like 9 year-old CBaby, I highly advise avoiding the area. She won't even ride one of those 'circular honking' rides to pose for a picture. I swear if she didn't love me so much, she'd flip a naughty finger in my direction just for asking.

Two last pieces of advice...Don't plan or manage your day too much, if at all. Just let the day unfold on its own. And don't let them argue with you about which ride to board next. Play 'em against each other. Let them choose your rides by majority vote and opt to sit out with any kid that chickens out.

-'Playa

having worked The Kingdom and Camp Snoopy, there is more shade in the Kingdom. You will have alot of fun, just make sure you have a stroller, because they aren't going to want to walk, and it's easier on you to push a stroller than to listen to whining or carry a child around the park. When they start to get worn out in the afternoon, a couple rounds on the train might be fun. You can take a break to sit, and there is some cute stuff along the tracks.
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'00- GWT, KK, CPLERR Various others
'01- CPLERR, TC, KK, BS, DT, Various others

When I was 7, I'd never walked that much before, but I sucked it up! They should do the same. :) This was also in soggy shoes from a 2 hour long thunderstorm in the morning...our feet didn't smell very good after that. :)

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MF count: 23

CP_Bound, you may be "sucked it up" but remember these are kids Magnum Tina is babysitting...not her own. She wants them to have fun, not be miserable. And if bringing or renting a wagon helps, she should do it.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead