Amusement parks bill themselves as suitably entertaining for all age groups. For the adventurous who meet height and health requirements, there are ultra-fast rollercoasters and other death-defying thrill rides. Those with less of a need for speed often enjoy live shows or rides which never leave the ground. Younger children often have the option of a kiddy ride section, which mirrors the adult section in a much tamer way. Even those who have no interest in rides or shows can still spend the day on quiet boat rides or in arcade rooms. Larger amusement parks may also feature villages with craftsmen and museums.
But is it possible to be too young to fully enjoy an entire day at an amusement park? The answer may lie in your child's definition of enjoyment.
Amusement park rides are designed to provide thrills, but safety is always an important issue for park owners. Ride designers always test a new attraction by using a range of test dummies in various sizes. This careful testing process results in a minimal height requirement for each particular ride. These requirements are not based on the age of the rider, but on the effectiveness of the safety equipment and the forces placed on riders. Anyone below 48 inches in height could be slammed hard into the restraints or even be thrown out of the ride. In practical terms, those under the age of 9 or 10 are probably too short for advanced thrill rides.
There is also the physical realities of a day spent at a busy amusement park. Young children tend to have boundless energy, but not always enough self-discipline to endure a two hour wait in line for a popular ride. Summer days spent on asphalt and concrete pathways can be very hot, making heat exhaustion and dehydration a factor for everyone. Add to that the long drive to the park, the waiting line for tickets and the search for a suitable picnic spot and younger children may become tired by the afternoon. Time spent in a large amusement park can mean a lot of walking between attractions and hours spent in lines. Very young children between the toddler stage and early school age may not enjoy all the downtime.
It is possible for parents to plan out an entire day at the amusement park for those unable to ride the adult attractions. Time spent in the kiddy park can be followed by live shows or IMAX movies in the heat of the afternoon. Lunch and dinner can be casual affairs in the shade or spent in the air-conditioned restaurants located in the park. Nighttime can be spent walking through the midway or playing games in the arcade.
A late train or boat ride around the park can also be enjoyed by the very young. Visiting an amusement park as a young child can create an interest to come back as a teenager and as an adult with a family.
If a child's definition of enjoyment at an amusement park is experiencing all of the thrill rides promoted in commercials, then a height requirement can make him or her too young to enjoy an entire day. If a younger child is content to spend time on a merry-go-round and walk through a funhouse or haunted house with a parent, then a entire day could be enjoyable.
