My apologies for being a day late on this post. Anyways, weather can be unpredictable depending on where you live. Some places are 95 degrees and sunny every day, while other places can be 75 degrees one day and 40 degrees the next. So the question is, what factor should weather take when planning a trip?
DISCLAIMER: I live in the midwest, so these tips most likely will reflect weather in the northern half of the United States.
First, if you’re just visiting a park once or twice in a year, you should pick a day where you can get the most bang for your buck. In other words, try to pick a day where little or no rain is in the forecast. While most parks sell rain gear and will normally operate most rides in light to moderate rain, riding a ride in the rain can be painful and walking around with wet shoes is not fun at all. Thus, little precipitation will definitely be your best bet.
In terms of temperature and humidity, in the summer I would suggest a day in the mid-60s to mid-70s with low humidity. If it’s lower temperatures, some guests may stay away. However, personally some of my best days have come in those weather conditions. Crowds aren’t as heavy and I’m not nearly as exhausted. Even better, conditions in the 50s are also not bad as well. Crowds are significantly lower (if it’s not during a fall event), and as long as you bring the proper clothing, you would be fine.
As for parks with a waterpark, I have found that temperatures in the 70s are the best way to go. Some people find temperatures in the 70s to be too cold for swimming, so many time’s they will stay in the dry park. Whatever you do, however, make sure you avoid the waterpark with temperatures in the 80s and 90s, because they will be packed.
Verdict: Cooler temperatures with little precipitation is one of the best routes to go for visiting a theme park, and temperatures in the 70s are best for waterparks.
Next, if you have a season pass, visiting the park can be much different. For the most part, if you are visiting your home park a few times a month, weather conditions won’t likely hurt you much. Personally, precipitation when going to Six Flags Great America hasn’t been a big concern, as long as it’s not a torrential downpour or threat of lightning. Additionally, I have had many visits where I had to wear a jacket in June. Plus, living close to a park gives you an opportunity to visit the park for only a couple hours and leave; so you can go before or after it rains and still get some money’s worth.
If you’re traveling more than one hour and may not visit the park as often (maybe once a month, or having a season pass for a park out of state), try to follow the guide I gave for visiting once or twice a year. Since your trips are more spread out, you will definitely want to get more out of your day.
Verdict: It doesn’t necessarily matter much, depending on when you go.
All in all, depending on the frequency of your visits can be a big factor in when you want to visit. Additionally, it’s important to note that many parks are in locations surrounded by other businesses and ways of entertainment, so if the weather gets bad, you can always go to somewhere else outside to still make your day worth it. Think about these tips next time you plan a trip to the park