<p>Its been along time since i’ve been to a water park (i think i was like 11 the last time i went). I’ve gained quiet a bit of weight as well. I don’t like wearing a swimsuit because of it. Is it okay to wear a tank top and light weight shorts instead?</p>
<p>For those kind of outings, I wear a tankini consisting of a tank top and skort. Both from LLBean’s swimsuit line but you can get similar pieces at lots of place these days. The swimsuit material dries so much faster and I find it very comfortable for days when I’ll be in and out of the water. </p>
<p>Also, I would check with the waterpark, just to make sure what their policy is about swimsuits.</p>
<p>I have a tennis skirt from Target made of swimsuit material that dries very quickly. It has the little bike shorts attached underneath. It’s ideal for activities like kayaking where I end up in the water, but it would be great for a water park too. Target has a lot of good athletic wear, and you can often find plus sizes.</p>
<p>If you’re going on all those crazy water rides where you get soaked–be sure to wear comfortable sandals or crocs for your feet. There is nothing worse than having to walk around park in water logged sneakers and drooping wet socks with water squishing out of the shoes.</p>
<p>I typically wear my bathing suit with a pareo, I am very conscious of my legs. Most water parks have a little drop off point by the end of the ride to put your shoes, I put the pareo in the bin with my shoes, go on the ride and slip it quickly back on. I also wear the skort bathing suit to cover up my thighs. The only reason I don’t like it is because I hate wet things around my body, so the pareo is dry and I don’t feel water logged.</p>
<p>You guys are all way more body aware than most of the people I see at water parks! I have seen some very large people in very small bathing suits.
Tankini is a great idea…I don’t think you will be comfortable in a tank top and shorts. The tank top will show everything on top when it’s wet unless you wear a bra underneath it and I would find a wet bra annoying.</p>
<p>Second what pugmadkate said about needing to check with the waterpark on their policy. Some will not allow cutoffs, for instance. Others may only allow swimsuits. </p>
<p>And I second ebeeeee on body consciousness and water parks. I see far more body shapes and sizes at our local water parks than at the beach. </p>
<p>Final piece of advice: if you go on one of those drop-off type rides, the kind that’s almost vertical, remember to keep your legs tightly crossed until the very end. :)</p>
<p>I am working this summer as a lifeguard in a Florida water park. My park doesn’t allow folks to wear jorts (jean shorts) on the fiberglass slides because the steel rivets damage the slides. Sorry Florida Gators! One thing I see people wearing that I never knew so many people had–tattoos. Too, don’t leave any of your stuff at end of rides–creeps will steal it and I can’t watch it for you.</p>
<p>lizard-Thank you. I always said the creeps and pervs go to water parks to skeeve on unsuspecting people.</p>
<p>ebeeeee, I would not consider myself body aware so much as always on a quest for comfort! Believe me, if a too small swimsuit did the trick, I’d wear that. </p>
<p>I find that the older I get, the less able I am to ignore things that used to bother me just a little. Like being in a wet bathing suit all day. It used to annoy me but now I cannot do it. I’ve not even turned 40 yet and already I’m surpassing my parents and grandparents in my demands for comfort on vacation!</p>
<p>Most important. When you get home, take a really good shower with hot water and soap. The water that is in all the tanks, slides, and waterways at the water parks is like bathtub water that 25,000 dirty, sweaty people and kids took a common bath in. Don’t drink any of the water either!</p>
<p>Board shorts and a rash guard tee?</p>
<p>BB is spot on as usual. Wish I’d thought of that. Also I forgot the water parks around here are the same about the cutoffs due to the rivets…</p>
<p>Am I the only one who has never set foot in a water park?</p>
<p>You can wear a t-shirt and some type of soft shorts or capris. As several people have mentioned, no metal or other doo-dads that might scratch the plastic surfaces.</p>
<p>Also be very aware that clothing can get surprisingly sucked up or down by the force of the water and your body sliding, so beware of tube tops. Leave your jewelry at home, of course.</p>
<p>There was a major impetigo outbreak at Sesame Place a few years back, then a child who died from an e-coli infection contracted at a water park, so I boycott them and don’t allow my kids to go either.</p>
<p>I don’t like to show off the unfortunate thigh area either. We used to go to a Water Park connected to a theme park so had to be dressed for both. You can buy undergarments made out of that quik-dry stuff (like underarmour). If you had that and some nylon shorts and quik dry material tank top, you’d be all set. I wore this sort of outfit kayaking last summer . It dried out pretty quick.</p>
<p>I consider it a part of my polite duty to society to never, ever wear a skimpy swimsuit in public. Kind of like bathing regularly and brushing one’s teeth. 
I’ve worn UnderArmour: men’s shorts and a substantial sports bra, both in dark colors, sometimes augmented by a tank top. As PackMom noted, it dries quickly. It’s also comfortable and it covers well, and it’s nice to have pockets at a water park.</p>
<p>mom60, years ago I took a group of kids to a waterpark in the LA area. You know the one. I did not get in the water. I took one look at the clientele and the water and grossed out. I had a book and spent the day searching for shade. I later described it as hell with water and I stick by that description to this day.</p>
<p>At the water park I am constantly reminded of the Robert Burns line (which I hope I am quoting more or less correctly):</p>
<p>O wad some gift the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us! :eek:</p>