We stayed at a campground right next to the park so we were at the gate just 1/2 hr after it opened. I was really impressed that while the parking lot was nearly full already there was almost no line to get it. By the time we arrived the girls were really excited about being there, and waiting in a long line would have been torture for us all!
Our oldest opted to head straight through the middle of the park past Cinderella's Tea Room to the Cuckoo Clockenspiel. We were loved how easy it was to figure out who could ride with the basic information at the entrance to the ride. The basic info was at the start of each ride line throughout the park and made it really easy to determine what our 2 year old could and couldn't ride. This year was definitely a little more tricky since she still couldn't ride a few of the rides, but now at two she noticed that she was being left out. We headed to the Polar Coaster next because it is just down the hill, and again found our 2 year old wasn't tall enough to ride it so we did some cow milking and windmill visiting after to make up to it to her.
With two of our favorite rides out of the way were then on a mission to hit the attractions we didn't make it to last year the Crazy Barn being our first stop. Another ride the 2 year was too short to ride. She, the baby and I cooled off in the mist tent instead. It was a welcome treat as the day was starting to warm up, and we found ourselves cooling off in the mist tents all over the park throughout the day!
youtube.com/watch?v=Hmj6f1CVipI&feature=youtu.be
After the Crazy Barn we popped into Farm Follies Theater for a show. There are a variety of stage shows during the day and everyone loved it! Our 2 year old, who is usually the shy one, was even up and dancing! And the baby was mesmerized! The theatre is also air conditioned which made a nice retreat from the midday sun and heat.
Next the baby and I popped into a Mama's House which is for VIBs (Very Important Babies) for his lunch. Yes, they have changing/nursing/napping rooms attached to every restroom throughout the park! Kudos, Story Land for looking out for you littlest patrons and their moms! Dad took the girls on a few more rides and we met up near the Let's Pretend Costume Shop for some lunch. We had brought food for the girls, and purchased food for the adults. You can leave your lunch and snacks in the car, and someone can go get them when you are ready for them, or they have a special place just to store your coolers for the day. We found an awesome hide away behind Senor Mucheros for lunch that was shady, quiet and with a great view of the carousel while we had our lunch. It was the perfect place to hide away from the hustle and bustle of the park while we recharged and refueled for the afternoon.
After lunch we explored Los Bravos Mining Co which was something we hadn't done before a big hit with boy girls. It is easily missed so go looking for it if you need a break from the rides. We also hit up the carousel, watched a street performer, went for a ride on the Story Land Queen, spent some time in the Story Land jail, played on the pirate playground, met Cinderella, and strolled through the Storybook Animals and Little Dreamers Nursery Rhyme Play Areas. At some point our 2 year old dozed off in the stroller just long enough to take a short nap. I highly recommend bringing a reclining stroller if you have anyone who could use a quick nap during the day. The park also rents single and double strollers for $6 or $8. We rounded out our day with a ride on the Antique Cars, a wet ride on Dr. Geyser's Remarkable Raft Ride and some frolicking in Oceans of Fun Sprayground. The girls absolutely loved Oceans of Fun Sprayground, which we missed last year, and was a wonderful way to wind down our day at the park.
If you have never been to Story Land before I highly recommend heading right once you are inside the gates. This takes you to the Little Dreamers Nursery Thyme Play Area where kids get a Story Land sticker from the old lady in the shoe, learn about the park from the wise tree, and can add their name to the tree's branches. We also suggest making a list before going to the park of the must-see attractions for you family. Click HERE to read about all of the fun there is to be had during a day at Story Land and plan what your family wants to see. We have now been to Story Land two summers in a row, and there are still attractions we haven't made it to you! We find it impossible to do it all in a day and highly recommend going after XX the day before your visit if you can. You pay full price, but get a ticket to come back the next day. Or better yet if you buy a 2015 Season Pass now through the end of the 2014 season you get to use it for the rest of 2014 too!
Story Land is open 9:30AM until 5:00PM through Labor Day. It is then open Saturdays & Sundays through Columbus Day so there is definitely still time to take a trip before the season is over!
Note - My family received press passes for the purpose of this article. All options expressed are my own.
