Hey Thrill Seekers,
If you’ve already ticked off the must-do rides and snapped your castle selfie, it’s time to level up your day at the parks. Theme park challenges are a fun, creative way to experience attractions, discover hidden gems, and make unforgettable memories with friends or family.
Whether you’re visiting Disney, Universal, or SeaWorld, here are some exciting challenges to try on your next trip.
🎢 1. The Alphabet Challenge
A fan-favourite for a reason! The goal is simple: ride attractions in alphabetical order.
Start with rides beginning with “A” and work your way through the alphabet. It sounds easy until you realise how much backtracking and strategy it takes.
Pro tip: Plan ahead and use park maps or apps to avoid crisscrossing the park all day.
🍔 2. Around-the-World Food Challenge
Perfect for foodies! Set yourself the goal of trying a snack or drink from different “countries” or themed areas within the park.
Examples:
- One treat per land
- Only trying items you’ve never had before
- Sticking to a budget (e.g. £20 challenge)
This works especially well in parks with diverse themed zones.
🐭 Explore Epcot Drinking Around the World for a great example of this.
🎯 3. Ride Every Roller Coaster Challenge
Thrill-seekers, this one’s for you. Try to ride every roller coaster in the park in a single day.
Make it harder:
- Ride each coaster twice
- Sit in a different row every time
- Rank them by the end of the day
📸 4. Photo Scavenger Hunt
Turn your park visit into a visual adventure. Create a checklist of photos to capture, such as:
- A hidden detail most guests miss
- A character interaction
- A unique snack
- A ride vehicle
The person who completes the list first (or gets the most creative shots) wins.
📸 Discover the best places to take selfie at the Orlando parks
⏱️ 5. Wait Time Challenge
Test your planning skills by aiming to ride the most attractions with the lowest total wait time.
Rules idea:
- Track every queue time
- Set a maximum wait limit (e.g. no queue over 30 minutes)
This challenge rewards smart use of apps, timing, and crowd awareness.
🎭 6. Show & Ride Combo Challenge
Instead of focusing only on rides, mix it up by experiencing:
- A certain number of rides
- At least two shows
- One parade or live performance
This ensures a more balanced day and helps you experience the park more fully.
🍦 7. Snack-Only Day Challenge
Could you survive a whole day eating only snacks?
Skip full meals and build your day around:
- Quick bites
- Seasonal treats
- Iconic park snacks
It’s surprisingly fun and surprisingly filling.
👣 8. Step Count Challenge
Turn your day into a fitness goal. See who can rack up the most steps while still hitting top attractions.
Bonus twist:
Set mini-goals like:
- 10,000 steps before lunch
- 25,000 steps by park close
🎢 9. Ride Re-Ride Marathon
Pick your favourite attraction and see how many times you can ride it in one day.
Make it competitive:
- Track total rides
- Compare wait times
- Try different seating positions
🎟️ 10. The “No Plan” Challenge
For a completely different experience, ditch the itinerary.
Rules:
- No checking wait times
- No mobile app
- Choose your next attraction on instinct
It’s chaotic but often leads to unexpected fun.
Final Thoughts
Theme park challenges are the perfect way to bring something new to your visit, whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro. They add structure, excitement and a bit of friendly competition to your day.
The best part? You can customise these challenges to suit your group, your budget, and your energy levels.
So next time you visit Disney, Universal, or SeaWorld, don’t just do the parks challenge yourself to experience them in a whole new way. 🎢✨
Smiles included…
Jamie
