Going to the water park for DD's bday
 

I guess this is the best place to post this. We're going to a water park for my daughter's bday on Sunday. I think this is one of the first times I've done something so big in the past year (the PN started in July 2012). I did rent a cabana!! This will allow me to sit in the shade, and sit. I have at least one other dad going with us, somebody who has high energy and I can see him going on all the rides with the girls. I think my DH isn't going. I thought we would go to one park, but found out that the state fair is going on at the same time, and one has to walk through the fair to get to the park, huge amounts of people, too far to the car for parking, etc. Found another one about 15 miles further, much smaller as it's just water and mini golf so I think it'll be fine.

I can sneak out to the car if I need quiet for a minute (I get over sensitized). I can't take food in there, but I can bring a cooler and keep it in the car. I'll freeze some water bottles. A little worried about the stairs, but I know the lines are longish and I can sit on the stairs. My calves have been locking up when I've done too many stairs or been too active, so I hope that'll be okay.

Any tips? I have a disabled parking placard now, so I'm sure I'll use it. I've been trying to only use it if absolutely needed.

We have a local amusement/water park and I always rent a scooter. I do go on a couple of rides, they offer a fast pass for disables that allow you to go up to the beginning, ask for a time and then go back and get right on. For the past several years I have been going on one roller coaster but I think I am going to beg out of that. But they have a water roller coaster that is out of this world!!!! Back in mt good old days I was a roller coaster fanatic, I didn't care if I was hanging upside down or what. I rode it. But the one my daughter loves really rattles my brains. it's a wooden one and you get a lot of air time and really feel rattled. We are going in August since that's the only time my other daughter can get up here. So I hope I can handle the heat. With a doctors order you can take a cooler in that I put my stuff in for my cooling vest. But it doesn't last all day long so it's more of a pain to carry a vest around that no longer has the inserts. They have a lot of misting stations and I always ride the river rapid one first to get good and wet. Good luck

Hope you have a good time, chaos! I'm guessing the cabana is a tent-like thing within the park? What a shame you can't take a small cooler in. Maybe you can ask at the gate, and explain your situation. For me, I would be concerned that all the cooling benefit that happens in the car would dissipate by the time I caught up with my group.

Your plan of frozen water bottles is excellent! Suggestion: put a damp towel in the cooler for an all-over cooling effect. Remember to reapply sunscreen! Wear a big straw hat. Straw, not a solid fabric one. Bodies lose the most heat off the head; you need to be able to let the heat go, not hold it in.

If there are scooters to rent, do so, as Doydie suggested! Call ahead; you might have to reserve one.

Situations like that I always map out where the bathroom is and try to "camp" near by, because sooner or later...
Use your parking permit. It isn't the going in but rather the coming out that is usually the issue as to how far one has to walk.

Wishing you a wonderful time :).

With love, Erika

Our park has a little train that goes around an picks people up and drops them off at the end of the row.

It turned out well. The cabana was right in the middle, the park was quite small so I didn't have to walk far to get anywhere. The disabled parking was full, but my DH found a spot under a tree, so it wasn't horrible. I did have to go out once to get a cold drink, some food, but the cabana kept things nice while in the park. I will never go to one of these again without renting one! The girls are old enough that they could go into the wave pool and lazy river without us, and where the cabana was we could see them in both places. Perfect. My sunscreen worked, no burn. The water felt great. We had dinner and ice cream cake after.

The only thing that would have been better would have been an entire extra day to rest. I slept until 1 on Saturday (which is usual, my body needs it after the workweek). We didn't get home until after 10pm. I am so sore, but it was worth it.

Sounds like a wonderful day chaos. Lots of memories

What fun! A nice family outing. Glad you had a good time without MS raising it's ugly head. :)

So glad that you had a good time..:)

Very happy you had a wonderful time. I no longer go to water parks as it seems ridiculous to pay 40+ dollars admission, knowing I cannot participate in any of the tubes, slides, wave pools etc any longer. I wish they had a disabled or discounted price for just plopping your fanny in a chair all day.

One park we went to years ago affectionately called it the "Grannie special" - you got in for 10 bucks and could use the main pool and enjoy the day watching all the kiddies get thier thrills. *grannie special was for anyone who couldnt or didnt use the fancy tubes, water slides etc. It was a good idea in my opinion.