Below is a guest post from the lovely Felicity over at The Baby Vine – where she gives us her top tips for visiting Dreamworld on the Gold Coast in Queensland with kids under 5.
Dreamworld with Pre-schoolers
I decided to do something crazy a few months ago. Cassie was 2.5 and Vivi was just four months old, and I decided to fly to Brisbane to housesit for a friend for almost two weeks. Solo. Crazy, right?! I was on maternity leave, and had the time (my husband was still working), so I figured why not!? I knew some friends in Brisbane and the place we were house sitting had dogs, lots of bedrooms and a pool. It was worth it!
While we were there, we decided to make the most of our time and check out one of the theme parks. I hadn’t been to any since I was a kid, and Cassie was getting to the age where she would actually appreciate it. One of my friends, Alyce, lived near there and offered to join us for the day so we could catch up and have some fun – and fun we did. Here are some of my tips for making it around Dreamworld with kids.
1. Visit Dreamworld on a weekday
Honestly, if you are going to make the effort, do it properly. The park was so nice and quiet when we went on a Friday – it was utter bliss. By the time midday hit and many people had left for daytime sleeps, Cassie basically had free reign of the park to herself. She went on whichever ride she wanted and didn’t have to queue up – and she just stayed on if she wasn’t ready to get off then and there. I could stand on the side with Vivi and just watch, or even join her on rides, with Vivi clearly in my line of sight.
2. Get there early
Just the same as planning to go on a weekday, you should also plan to get there early. If you can, buy your tickets online first, as this saves a wait for you.
3. Plan your trip
There are so many awesome things to see and do, so it’s best to get a head start and plan your day. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the fun of it and run out of time to do it all. They have different shows running at different times of the year as well, so be sure to check their website ahead of time. Here are some highlights I strongly recommend:
- Dorothy’s Beach Party: this happens at 11am each day (check times to be sure when you are going) and goes for 15 minutes. Cassie just loved it and had a blast!
- ABC Kids Worlds and Wiggles World: kids can go in the Big Red Car, in Dorothy’s teacup ride, on the Playschool Wheel and more. Cassie spent most of the day here and loved it.
- Tiger Island: they even have little cubs there at the moment! Definitely worth checking out.
- Dreamworks experience: you will find a mix of older rides and younger ones here, so be on the lookout. Cassie particularly loved the Shrek Donkey ride.
- Corroboree: don’t miss this one – it’s a bit off the beaten track towards the side of the park but it’s full of animals! Kanagroos, koalas, crocodiles and more.
4. Bring your swimmers
One thing I didn’t realise before I went is that there is a big water world attached to the park. Thankfully, we ran out of time before Cassie even realised, but if you’re there on a hot day, this could be a lot of fun.
5. Bring Snacks
As you can imagine, food and drinks can add up, so I recommend bringing snacks for the day to fill up little tummies. If you are staying for the day and want to grab some lunch, the all-you-can-eat buffet was a great option at Billabong Buffet Restaurant and was fairly reasonably priced. Cassie even got to enjoy an ice cream there!
6. Don’t forget the sunscreen and hats!
Remember, there isn’t much shade at the park, so sunscreen and hats are a must. We lathered it on before we set off one our adventures.
Finding a shady spot with the kangaroos
To buy your Dreamworld Tickets click here – one day and three day passes available.
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Don’t miss this article for other great things to do on the Gold Coast with kids.
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