Think Valleyfair isn’t for your littlest kids? Guess again!

The ultimate guide to Valleyfair for parents with younger children.

When you think of Valleyfair, you probably think of the big roller coasters and death-defying drop tower...rides older kids might enjoy. You might think you need to wait for them to grow a bit more to visit us. You also might have run out of ideas for fun places to take kids in Minneapolis or the Twin Cities. 

What you may not know is that Valleyfair has so much to offer for your little kids, too! In fact, as a Gold or Silver Pass member, you receive two FREE Pre-K passes! Be sure to come enjoy some of the best toddler and younger child friendly activities in the Twin Cities. 

So, let’s take a little tour through all that Valleyfair has to offer to make your littlest kid’s best day ever. Warning: If you take them once, they will want to come again and again, so save yourself some money and purchase a Gold or Silver Pass—it pays for itself in just two trips! 

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• The park is pretty big. If your kids are very little, feel free to bring your own stroller or rent a single or double stroller when you arrive. There are also manual and electric wheelchairs you can rent for anyone in your party that has mobility challenges. These can be found at the main entrance.
• The park is cashless, so bring a credit card with you. If cash is your only option, we have cash-to-card stations located throughout the park.
• Download the mobile app before you arrive! The app has a full interactive map, performance times, and ride wait times. It even has a car finder so you don’t need to remember exactly where you parked. It’s free and will be a lifesaver for you when trying to navigate where to go first.
• Located in Planet Snoopy™ is the Family Care Center and Sensory Room for the ultimate convenience between shows, rides, and breaks. The Family Care Center provides an area for parents to change diapers, feed a baby in a private room, or just relax with small children in air-conditioned comfort. There is also a Sensory Room for those on the spectrum. 

RIDES

Planet Snoopy is our entire dedicated ride and entertainment area for young kids. It features 15 Peanuts-themed attractions over 3.5 acres including roller coasters, live shows, character meet-and-greets, and more! Some rides have no minimum height requirement (like Linus’ Beetle Bugs) while the rest are for smaller heights. In fact, many of our rides are smaller version of our bigger rides, like the Cosmic Coaster, Charlie Brown’s Wind Up (get them ready for North Star!), and the Kite Eating Tree (just like our Power Tower…only petite). Lines also tend to be much shorter than our large thrill rides, so kids can ride again and again…and again!

Outside of Planet Snoopy, you can also find rides that are great for the under 6 crowd. Take a drive together with our popular Antique Autos, Minnesota River Valley Railroad, or classics like our Carousel, which is right by the entrance of the park.  

When you check out our Rides and Experiences page, select Attraction Types: Kids and Family, and see ALL that there is to offer.

SOAK CITY

Soak City is THE Twin Cities fun waterpark that you could spend the entire day enjoying with your kids! There are lockers and plenty of family changing rooms and showers. Small children can enjoy Barefoot Beach, an epic splashpad and our Splash Station. These areas are full of beach chairs so parents can kick back and relax while kids splash around. Families can float down our Ripple Rapids, a nice slow moving lazy river together. 

They will also enjoy Breakers Bay Wave Pool, which offers a zero-depth walk-in area that kids can play in. We have plenty of life jackets, so you can leave those at home! There are plenty of food and drink options as well as Cabanas (for a rental fee), so just relax and enjoy that warm weather! Forgot something? Splashdown Supplies and Breakers Beachwear have all that you could need for a day at the park including other merch and apparel options like sunglasses, flip-flops, towels, and more!

ENTERTAINMENT

The fun doesn’t stop at the rides. We offer must-see live entertainment for every age group spread across multiple stages in the park. Head on over to Peanuts Showplace in Planet Snoopy to experience engaging kid's shows starring Snoopy and all his friends. The music doesn't stop when you enter the waterpark. Loon Landing stage is home to some of the coolest beats that will make you feel like you've got your toes in the sand. So, load-up on snacks, grab a good seat, and clap to the beat of Valleyfair's fantastic live entertainment.

FOOD

Speaking of snacks, we all know that a day at Valleyfair can work up an appetite, and there is no shortage of food options for even your pickiest eater. Throughout the entire park are plenty of places to grab a snack, a full meal, or just dessert! From Auntie Anne’s® pretzels, to chicken tender baskets, to kid's meals, bellies will be full. No park visit is complete unless you have shared a funnel cake together.

There are also plenty of beverage options, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, too! Do note however that we do not allow outside food in. If you choose to bring your own food, you can certainly exit the park, eat, and then come back in. We also offer a wide variety of options for those with special dietary needs. You can find that information here. 

GAMES AND ACTIVITIES

While in the Planet Snoopy area, take a break from the heat inside our Peanuts Playhouse. Cool off in the AC while your littles blast foam balls from toy cannons, slingshots, and slides in a two-story interactive play area. Kiddos will love Peanuts Playhouse, the perfect place to let their imagination roam free. It’s sure to leave you and your kids feeling refreshed and ready for more rides!

 

There are SO many games to play all throughout the park (and so many more prizes to win!). As you wander and see our 23 different games, be sure to try favorites like Top Glo and the Ring Toss! In fact, visitors won over 125,000 prizes playing games last season alone!

What little kiddo doesn’t love getting their face painted? We offer body art stations around the park as well as caricatures and custom airbrush apparel!

Located near our Gazebo Stage is an incredible Hi-Test Arcade filled with video games for all ages. Have a blast, collect tickets, and win prizes.

EVENTS

Throughout the season, Valleyfair has large-scale, key events such as Tricks and Treats, Latin Days, and Corn Fest, and fireworks on the Fourth of July, which are perfect fun for your little ones. Special events are included with admission!

SHOPPING

Located at various points in the park are eight stores where you can find souvenirs, toys, apparel, candy, treats, essentials and so much more! Your littles did such a great job today—so why not treat them with a Snoopy plushie or Squishmallow? And while you are at it, get yourself something too—you earned it!

WHEW!

As you can see, there is certainly far more to enjoy than one trip could possibly offer. And as I warned at the beginning, your kids (and you!) will want to visit more than once. Save some money and get your Season Pass today!