A day at the theme park in the summer can bring hours of fun for the whole family, unless you are carrying a backpack stuffed almost to its breaking point. 

If that’s the case, a day of fun can quickly turn into one of exhaustion and frustration. 

It’s vital when packing your bag for the day to only bring the essentials. Keep in mind that if you carry a backpack with you, you’ll want it to be small enough that it doesn’t weigh you down and also fits inside a locker when you ride the coasters. 

THEME PARK PASSES: TIPS AND TRICKS FOR MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR PURCHASE

So, what are the essentials? 

This guide is split up into the items you absolutely can’t forget — and items that you may find helpful if you do have a little extra room to play with. Jump right in!

This guide is full of helpful items to have in your backpack for a trip to a theme park. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

Theme park essentials 

1. Sunscreen
2. Sunglasses
3. Mini portable fan
4. Water bottle
5. Slim wallet
6. Snacks
7. Hand sanitizer
8. Lip balm
9. Hair clips and bands
10. Band-Aids

1. Sunscreen

Be sure to find a spot for sunscreen in your backpack. You’re going to be spending the whole day, possibly multiple days, in the hot summer sun. 

Even if you put on sunscreen in the morning before you go, you’ll want to reapply throughout the day to ensure your skin doesn’t burn. 

Burnt shoulders will quickly make your day painful. If you don’t have enough room in your bag for a full-sized bottle, you can always get a travel size instead. 

2. Sunglasses

Sunglasses are essential for a day at the theme park. You’ll be spending the whole day outside, often stuck directly in the sun while waiting in line. 

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Just make sure not to leave your sunglasses on or on top of your head once you get on the ride, or else you’ll likely lose them once it takes off.

The best place to keep your sunglasses while you ride is safely tucked away in your bag or secured in a closed pocket. 

3. Mini portable fan

When you’re walking around with the heat surrounding you, a mini portable fan is going to save the day. 

You can even get one that you wear around your neck if you don’t want to hold it. 

These fans are a perfect way to enjoy nice cool air as you make your way from ride to ride. 

4. Water bottle

It’s so important to stay hydrated while you are at an amusement park. 

Collapsible water bottles are perhaps the best way to go, as they take up very little space in your bag. 

Make sure to stay hydrated during your day spent outside at a theme park. (iStock)

Buying water at the parks is very expensive, so having your own bottle to refill will save you lots of money.

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Many amusement parks also offer guests souvenir cups that you can refill with your favorite soft drinks throughout the day. 

These are a great option for a practical souvenir you can take home with you. 

5. Slim wallet

You’ll want to have your license, credit card and some cash with you while at an amusement park, but a bulky wallet is less than ideal. 

Find something slim that can slip into your bag with ease and fit only the essentials. 

Amazon is full of slim wallets you can choose from for your travels. 

6. Snacks

Hungry children (and adults) are no fun at amusement parks. Let’s face it, snacks at amusement parks are costly and can add a large expense to your vacation bill. 

Granola bars, trail mix and fruit strips are great snacks to pack in your bag. Think of things like those that are small and that won’t get crushed in your backpack. 

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Before packing your snacks, make sure to check the food policy of the theme park you are visiting to make sure you won’t have to dump any of your food upon entry. 

7. Hand sanitizer

Amusement parks are dirty places — so hand sanitizer is a must-have, especially before snacking. 

Railings and lap bars on coasters are hot spots for germs, among many other places. 

Make sure you have hand sanitizer and maybe even wet wipes with you to keep your hands clean throughout the day. 

8. Lip balm

Chapped lips are not fun. This is such a small, easy item to add to your bag. 

Throw lip balm in your bag with SPF in it to avoid painful chapped lips. (iStock)

Make sure you have lip balm with SPF for extra sun protection. 

9. Hair clips and bands

Your hair is bound to be wind blown after a roller-coaster ride. Pack plenty of extra hairbands and clips. That way, you can tie up your hair quickly before you ride to avoid inevitable knots and tangles from leaving it down. 

You’re also probably going to want to tie up your hair after a few hours in the sun. 

10. Band-Aids

Accidents happen. If they do, you’ll be prepared with Band-Aids packed neatly in your bag. 

Blisters are common at amusement parks from walking around all day long. 

Putting a Band-Aid over any blisters that form will keep you going through the day comfortably. 

Additional helpful items 

1. Individually wrapped ponchos
2. Portable phone charger
3. Sweatshirt
4. Waterproof phone case
5. Extra pair of socks
6. Travel-sized deodorant
7. Hat
8. Plastic bags
9. Motion sickness remedies
10. Cooling towel

1. Individually wrapped ponchos

Check the weather forecast before you head to the park. If there’s rain in the forecast, you’re going to want a poncho. 

Regular ponchos can take up a lot of space, but an individually wrapped poncho is slim and easy to fit into your bag. 

Even if it’s not going to rain, these are helpful to have on water rides, so your clothes don’t get soaked. 

2. Portable phone charger

This isn’t an absolute necessity, as your phone battery is likely to be strong enough to last you the whole day. But, if you are an avid phone user, or your device has a short battery life, a portable phone charger is good to have. 

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There are lots of portable phone chargers that plug directly into your phone without any pesky cords needed. These are great space savers, and you can also easily use your phone while it charges. 

If you’re going to be taking lots of pictures and videos on your phone throughout the day, packing a portable charger in your backpack isn’t a bad idea. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

3. Sweatshirt

A sweatshirt isn’t a necessity, since most likely, it’ll be hot most of the day. Consider bringing a sweatshirt only if you plan on staying in the park late, as the temperature will cool as the sun goes down. 

These are going to take up a lot of space, so if you’re willing, it may just be easier to purchase a sweatshirt from the gift shop if you get cold at night. 

4. Waterproof phone case

If you’re going to be visiting a water park during your travels, a waterproof phone case is going to come in handy. 

One of the best you can get is a clear pouch that you simply place your phone in and secure shut. These come with a lanyard, so you can wear your phone around your neck as you move about. 

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These cases allow you to still see and use your phone while it’s secure. These pouches float in the water, so if your phone comes off your neck, you’ll very easily be able to spot it. 

This may not be something you think to pack, but you’ll be glad that you did. 

There are a few different reasons why a fresh pair of socks can come in handy. The first is if you go on any water rides during your day in the park, such as a flume ride.

An extra pair of socks can be helpful after a wild water ride. (Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)

If you’re wearing socks and sneakers, and they get wet after a water ride, you’re in for an uncomfortable rest of the day. Having an extra pair of socks to change into will make you a bit more comfortable. 

Also, while walking around in hot temperatures, you’re bound to get a little sweaty. Changing your socks at the halfway point of the day can help you feel (and smell) clean. 

6. Travel-sized deodorant

Speaking of smelling clean, a travel-sized deodorant can be a lifesaver when you are feeling sweaty at an amusement park.

Swipe a little deodorant on and you’ll feel brand new. 

7. Hat

To avoid a hot scalp and the sun beaming in your eyes, keep a hat in your bag. 

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This also helps keep the hair out of your face throughout the day, while also hiding your coaster hair. 

A bucket hat is a great option to have in your bag, since you can fold it up nice and small. You can also clip a baseball hat right onto your bag to save space. 

8. Plastic bags

Plastic bags are a multi-use item that can be extremely helpful at amusement parks. 

Use plastic bags to store snacks you don’t get around to finishing. (Patrick Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

If you get a snack, like popcorn, that you don’t finish in one sitting, don’t throw it away. Instead, put the remainder in a plastic bag so you can snack on it later. 

Plastic bags are also a great holder of cash, coins and credit cards if you don’t want to bring a wallet with you. 

9. Motion sickness remedies

Just in case anyone you are traveling with gets motion sickness from all the rides, having some remedies packed with you isn’t a bad idea. 

Dramamine, motion sickness patches or bracelets are all options. 

10. Cooling towel

This is definitely not a necessity and more of a helpful tool. 

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Placing a cooling towel around your neck can fill you with relief from hot temperatures. 

These usually come in a tube or bag, so you can put the wet towel right back in its container before placing it in your backpack to prevent all your other items from getting wet. 

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.

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Remote workers seem to have lots of perks these days, including a commute-less job, a favorable work-life balance and the ability to save on a business wardrobe and other previously needed requirements for jobs. 

But beyond saving time and money in a remote arrangement, some workers are finding new ways to stretch the work-at-home privilege by taking days off without officially clearing their paid time off as vacation days. 

The “hush-cation” trend may seem amusing to some — but the consequences of this deceptive practice can have a lasting impact.

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Here’s a deeper dive into the “hush cation” trend. 

What exactly is a ‘hush-cation’?

“Hush-cations” have been trending across social media and in popular culture.

“People are often bending the rules by continuing to work remotely as agreed upon, but not from the remote location their boss expects them to be,” said Smriti Joshi, chief psychologist with Wysa in Boston. 

The phenomenon of “hush-cations” wasn’t “feasible prior to the onset of fully remote jobs [and] is presenting a new challenge for employers” today, said one workplace expert.  (iStock)

“This phenomenon, not feasible prior to the onset of fully remote jobs, is presenting a new challenge for employers and is also quite telling of what employees are feeling they need right now.”

What has led to the trend of ‘hush-cations’?

It’s a desire for autonomy, flexibility and control over their work environment, combined with a need to feel safe while asking for time off, that is leading to trends like this, Joshi told Fox News Digital. 

“There’s a pervasive sense that the freedoms of working flexibly could soon be diminished.”

“Especially as many large organizations have begun to call workers back into the office, there’s a pervasive sense that the freedoms of working flexibly could soon be diminished,” she noted. 

To that point, Joshi said employees feel passionately about their right to work under their terms and see where they work as a decision they should have control over. 

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“Hush-cations in that sense may be a way of quietly battling back against their employer, or attempting to assert that control back to themselves,” she said.

Lauren, 29, a graphic designer in Florida, told Fox News Digital that she’s taken “hush vacation” days here and there, but is still contemplating whether she’s going to come clean to her employer about her upcoming trip plans. 

“In July, I plan to take a few long weekends and I don’t think I am going to use official vacation days. Since I work from home, or anywhere else, I feel like as long as I do my job I can bank my vacation days until I want to officially use them.” (iStock)

“I have taken a day off to move a friend or for a mental health day, and didn’t tell my boss that I was really off,” said Lauren, who has chosen to use her first name only for privacy reasons. 

“In July, I plan to take a few long weekends and I don’t think I am going to use official vacation days. Since I work from home, or anywhere else, I feel like as long as I do my job I can bank my vacation days until I want to officially use them.”

Is burnout causing ‘hush-cations’?

A lot of today’s career trends, including hush-cations, quiet quitting and other buzzy concepts, said Joshi, tie back to a similar issue: Employees are stressed out. 

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“They’re looking for ways to relieve the pressure they’re feeling at work and at times are getting pretty creative with how to do that,” Joshi told Fox News Digital. 

“These trends underscore the need for organizations to prioritize mental health and well-being initiatives, challenging the stigma surrounding discussions about mental health in the workplace.”

What else is fueling the trend?

Rosencrans said it’s all about the attention paid on social media.

“They’re looking for ways to relieve the pressure they’re feeling at work and at times are getting pretty creative with how to do that.”

“As we’ve seen with other workplace trends like this, once it starts getting talked about, the more it inspires others to follow suit,” she said.

JOB CHALLENGE: SO YOU’RE OVERWHELMED AT WORK. HERE ARE STEPS TO TAKE

“Especially with the summer coming up, I anticipate we’ll see an uptick in hush-cations with people wanting to take advantage of warmer weather while conserving vacation days for other peak seasons like Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

“I plan to use my two-week official vacation for a trip to later in the year,” one worker confided. “I don’t feel bad about doing this, as many people take sick days off when they aren’t really sick.” (iStock)

To that point, Lauren, the “hush-cationer,” shared that in addition to non-reported summer escapes, she has other PTO dupe plans regarding banking her vacation days for later in the year.  

“I plan to use my two-week official vacation for a trip to later in the year,” she confided. 

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“I don’t feel bad about doing this, as many people take sick days off when they aren’t really sick. This is a new version of an old hooky tactic.”

What should employers do if they find out about a hush-cation?

If managers find out someone on their team took PTO and didn’t officially take off, the manager should speak to the employee for clarification, experts advise.

“Seeing how an employee responds is important, as it can indicate whether this is a pattern, a mistake or an intentional move to take extra time off.”

A first step is to ask an employee directly what they were doing on the days in question, and explain it was brought to their attention that the person was not working but was instead on vacation, said Annie Rosencrans, people & culture director, Americas at HiBob in New York. 

“It’s crucial for a manager to impress upon the employee the importance of following PTO protocols.” (iStock)

“Seeing how an employee responds is important, as it can indicate whether this is a pattern, a mistake or an intentional move to take extra time off,” she said.

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Following that, Rosencrans said managers can note they are aware of the time off taken, remind the employees of the time-off policy, and make sure it is added to the company’s system as PTO. 

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.

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‘If you have not booked, book now’

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Disney World has become a repeat vacation spot and second home for a group of adults who love Disney. Now the company appears to be trying to replicate that magic at its international properties, using American influencers and bloggers to draw U.S. fans to Disney theme parks in China and Japan.

The professional content creators are some of Disney’s most valuable fans — making a living by sharing travel tips, updates and slices of life in the parks with their large online followings.

On June 6, Tokyo Disney Resort will open a massive expansion that includes new lands and attractions modeled after its hit films “Frozen,” “Tangled” and the animated classic “Peter Pan.” For a media preview event in May, the resort invited several high-profile U.S.-based Disney content creators to see the expansion, the first time some of them experienced Tokyo Disney and shared it with their followers. In 2023, some of the same creators were invited to media previews for the “Frozen” and “Zootopia” attractions in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

The invitations to U.S. fan media indicate an evolution in who Disney appears to be trying to attract to its international parks. As they were originally conceived, Disney’s international parks were meant to “bring the unforgettable Disney magic to an international audience,” according to the company. But international park numbers have never quite caught up to the attendance figures at California’s Disneyland and Florida’s Disney World. While the international parks themselves have always taken steps to accommodate diverse audiences — providing shows and attractions in multiple languages — Disney appears to be marketing the international parks to American audiences in more direct ways.

In addition to the content creator efforts, Disney has begun to include its international parks in its own content consumed by Americans. In the Disney+ show “Behind the Attraction,” which premiered in 2021, numerous variations on American rides at international parks were discussed and digested for American audiences.

While Tokyo Disney Resort has been consistently popular with locals, Disney and other U.S.-based entertainment groups have recently found that Americans are willing to partake in familiar culture while traveling abroad, boosting numbers in both foreign and domestic markets, and creating a new target demographic for international projects.

Social media content showing the new expansions has resonated widely with Western audiences online. Some YouTube vlogs featuring the new Tokyo attractions were viewed upward of 100,000 times each on the first day they were posted by English-speaking creators. The official Disney Parks Instagram account, which posts content from all of the locations, has been repeatedly flooded with Americans commenting how eager they are to experience what the international parks offer.

“Disney gives us the opportunity to cover it and get coverage to our audience, because we do have such an important audience to Disney,” Quincy Stanford, who works for the Disney parks fan media operation AllEars and was invited to the Tokyo media preview, told NBC News.

“People who are seeking out AllEars are seeking out Disney planning information, and that means that they’re seeking out spending money at Disney,” Stanford added. “We have an opportunity outside of a broader media outlet to reach their target audience.”

Disney has been inviting both fan-run and traditional media outlets to cover its new attractions in the U.S. parks for years, but Stanford said the Tokyo invitation came as a “surprise” to the AllEars staff, which has been publishing content online since the late 1990s.

“It’s a very rare experience to see American media invited over to Tokyo,” Stanford said.

Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983, and in more recent years, social media has shown American fans just what they’re missing on the other side of the world.

While many aspects of Tokyo Disneyland are the same as at Disneyland in California and the Magic Kingdom in Florida, it has some unique rides. The other Tokyo Disney Resort park, Tokyo DisneySea, is largely unique and is considered by many fans to be the best Disney theme park in the world.

“With Covid and the pandemic, social media went further than we even thought possible, and it exposed people to a part of Disney they had never seen,” said Emma Kenner, another AllEars staffer who traveled alongside Stanford to Tokyo. Disney parks social media content experienced a big uptick in attention following the reopening of the U.S. parks in late 2020, with people eager to visit after the only extended closure in Disney history. Disney creators around the world grew their followings, and demand for content from international Disney parks rose alongside them.

“It makes people want to go and experience it for themselves,” Kenner said.

Apart from the invitations to the exclusive previews, Stanford and Kenner said, Disney has always remained “hands off” with fan coverage. They don’t get paid by Disney and the company doesn’t tell them what to cover or how to cover it. Disney fan media is known for frank and sometimes even harsh coverage of what Disney is doing, but the overall tone remains passionately positive. The Walt Disney Co. didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Disney isn’t the only American entertainment operation pulling homegrown fans into other countries, either. More than a quarter of Taylor Swift tickets in Paris were bought by Americans, Paris La Défense Arena told Rolling Stone, and social media content has celebrated the cheaper prices for tickets and merchandise for both Swift and Disney internationally.

The American influx into other countries hasn’t been without controversy. Overtourism is a serious concern in Japan, with the country taking steps to limit crowds at some popular tourist attractions. But post-lockdown international travel continues to blossom years after places like the Disney parks reopened.

“I think people find a sense of comfort in finding those American entertainers and opportunities when they’re traveling,” Kenner said. “Having that one thing that feels familiar makes a little bit of the trip more comfortable or less stressful.”

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