Don't Pass On Getting A Pre-K Pass: As Told By The Playful Parent

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Park: 11 AM - 8 PM
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Park: 11 AM - 8 PM
Waterpark: Closed
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Don't Pass On Getting A Pre-K Pass: As Told By The Playful Parent

Kristy from The Playful Parent |
May 15, 2019

Thanks to the Kings Dominion’s Pre-K pass, our kids have enjoyed free access to the park for a total of three years and counting. As a busy mom of two energetic boys, I’m always on the lookout for ways to keep the kids entertained while staying on budget and the Pre-K Pass has helped us achieve that. I can’t help but share all about why we love the Pre-K Pass and Kings Dominion!

Both my husband and I grew up in the DMV area and have fond memories of coming to Kings Dominion as kids and enjoying our favorite rides like the Avalanche and Grizzly, and are excited to be able to take our kids to the same amazing park.

We find Kings Dominion to be the perfect park for our Southern Maryland family since it is close enough to be a day trip and there is something fun for all ages. One of the best parts about the park is that there is a plethora of rides that are great for families. Our favorites are the Blue Ridge Tollway, Eiffel Tower, Americana and Shenandoah Lumber Company.

One thing that they have added to the park since I was a kid is Planet Snoopy, a newly renovated section that is built special for littles. You could easily spend an entire day in this one section because there is just so much to do! From great rides for kids, to special events, kid-friendly food options, and entertaining shows, you will find everything you need in this one section.

I’m impressed with the amount of effort and thought that Kings Dominion has put into making sure that families have a great experience. One of the great amenities that has been very helpful for our family is the Family Care Center in Planet Snoopy where you can change diapers, nurse your baby in privacy or warm a bottle up (there is even an area for older siblings to play while waiting for younger sibling’s needs to be met!). We have used the family center many times for potty emergencies and even just to unwind and take a break from the crowd. We were even surprised to see that the Family Care Center also has private rooms that have sensory integration toys, which is something that you don’t find very often at theme parks!

Throughout Planet Snoopy you will find Smart Beginning signs that teach social & emotional skills, which is perfect for learning while at play. I love that Kings Dominion understands that little ones are working on building attention spans and social and emotional coping skills that go along with waiting in line. It’s great that they have ideas on helping parents assist their kids in learning these skills, as my youngest son has some difficulty with sensory processing and being in a crowded situation can make him feel uneasy. We have utilized the Family Care Center and Smart Beginnings Program which has been a huge help in making attending the park comfortable. Kings Dominion is a highly adaptive and inclusive park, perfect for individuals of all abilities.

Having a Season or Pre-K Pass to Kings Dominion is like having a pass to two parks for the price of one. All year round you can enjoy Kings Dominion an unlimited amount of times, as the park is now open all four seasons. We stay entertained all year!

 The Great Pumpkin Fest is my favorite time to come to the park. The kids love doing fun fall activities, going trick or treating around Planet Snoopy and even get to bring home a pumpkin. Just this past year they added WinterFest which is amazing. The entire park is transformed into a winter wonderland where you can enjoy millions of spectacular lights, watch a dozen shows and even go ice skating on the park’s fountains. There’s even a 315-foot tall Christmas tree!

The best parts about being able to enjoy all these wonderful things is that it’s been free for our children the entire time! Taking advantage of this limited time offer has saved our family hundreds of dollars for the past three years. If there is one thing that our family won’t be passing up this year, it’s passes to Kings Dominion!

WHAT IS THE PRE-K PASS?

The Pre-K Pass offers kids ages 3 – 5 free admission to Kings Dominion and Soak City for the entire 2019 season, which includes a full year of fun… spring and summer of course, and then The Great Pumpkin Fest in the fall and WinterFest during the holidays. One of the biggest questions and concerns is about kids who are five on the day of activation but turn six later in the year. No need to worry, if your child is five years of age on the date you come to the park and activate the pass, they can use the pass for the entire 2019 season!

GETTING YOUR PRE-K PASS

Getting a pass is as easy as 1-2-3. Here’s how it works:

Step One: Register your child online for their free Pre-K Pass any time between now and May 27, 2019. I suggest doing this now before you forget, as it takes less than five minutes! This offer is not available at the front gate, so be sure to register ahead of time online. Once you are registered you will be sent an email with an e-ticket.

Step Two:  Bring your child to the park’s Season Pass Processing Center and present your e-ticket to activate their Pre-K Pass by June 23, 2019. Your child must be present and proof of age (original or copy of birth certificate or travel passport) will be required.

Step Three: Enjoy the park all season long! I recommend getting season passes for the adults too.

ADDITIONAL PERKS

The Pre-K Pass is super amazing and functions like a season pass and includes admission to Early Ride Times (including special Early Ride Times in Planet Snoopy!), early entry to Soak City and admission to exclusive Passholder events. It’s important to keep in mind that the Pre-K Pass DOES NOT include free parking, bring-a-friend discounts or in-park discounts on food and merchandise. You can, however, add on All Season Dining, Season Pass Drink Plan and/or All Season FunPix once the pass has been activated.

We’re so glad to have had the free Pre-K Pass for our boys and we hope you and your family will take advantage of this limited time offer, too!

A little about the author:

Kristy is a mother of two energetic boys. She has a bachelor’s degree with a focus on Secondary Education and a Masters in Clinical Community Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. She is the creator of The Playful Parent, a non-profit (501c3) that provides free resources and events to the community that advocate learning through play and promote family bonding. “I believe that children learn through play! I love to do fun things with my children and hope that sharing our adventures provides other families with inspiration and resources that lead to quality time together and a love for learning!”