by Kimberly Stevens

Created on: April 06, 2009

For people that have to travel long distances to visit America's theme parks, there is always the issue of lodging. If you have visited one of these parks and had to stay at a hotel away from the park location, then you are well aware of the hassle that comes along with getting the family up, having breakfast, getting the family dressed and out the door, and hoping that you remembered everything you need to have with you such as sunscreen and a camera, batteries and film, if necessary. Then you have to pack the family in the car and drive the distance to the park. Once you get to the park, you will need to drive around and find a parking spot. Then you have to get to the park entrance and probably stand in a long line to get admission if you hadn't already acquired it and, FINALLY, after half the morning, you are inside and ready to enjoy a few hours before doing the same steps in reverse to get you back to the hotel.

For those parks that have hotels within the park, you can easily get there and get checked-in, have a good nights rest, get up the next morning and get dressed and just walk out the front door and you are in the park already. Then you have the whole day to enjoy before entering the hotel again. Also, if you have older children, they could be in the park when you are ready to go back inside. Furthermore, if you were to forget anything, like a camera for example, you could just run back in and get it. Another positive thing about an in park hotel is that most parks have water rides that most kids especially are drawn to. If you have to enter the car with wet bathing suits as opposed to just going back inside to change, then you have the added responsibility of remembering towels and a change of clothes.

As an individual who has frequented theme parks all over North America, I appreciate the parks that have built lodging accommodations within the park itself. I am well aware of the preparation that comes along with taking a family on a vacation and I, personally, would choose a park that had lodging over a park that doesn't. I have found, over the last several years, that most parks are changing in order to better accommodate families and most parks now have on-site lodging. There are so many benefits to being near your "home away from home" and more and more people are understanding these benefits and how important such a small detail can be to make an enjoyable vacation experience.

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