I survived a 100-degree day at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Here's what you need to know

It's summer staycation season and the teens nixed my idea of a day trip to the mammoth park and Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco for an amusement park outing at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio.

"You know it's going to be hot," I protested, eyeballing the menacing parade of sun emojis who have staged a month-long siege on my weather app. But the kids weren't trying to listen to my graphic (hyperbolic) tirades about how we might blister in the Batman line, how we could literally die waiting for Doctor Diabolical.

So we packed our water bottles, slathered with sunscreen and pretended not to notice a forecast that topped out at 102 degrees. And much to my surprise, it was... fun. Crowds were very light, lines were short and the on-site water park provided a welcome reprieve from the heat.

More: Too hot! Texans grapple with an unrelenting heat wave

Important caveat: Heat sickness is real and can be very dangerous. A full day in triple-digit heat is not for everyone and families with small children and the elderly should be particularly careful.

But if you are brave (crazy) enough to go to Six Flags in this weather, here are a five things you should know:

1. Tickets are half price online

Online ticket prices vary from day to day, but the rates you'll pay on the website are dramatically lower than the $89.99 gate price. We went on a Thursday and paid $40 for tickets. On Monday, single-day ticket prices for the upcoming week ranged from $41-$48.

The cheapest parking option is $32, so the $75 bundle that includes a ticket, parking and unlimited dining is worth it. Unless you're super fancy, the cheap parking is all you'll need. On the day of our visit, the lot was largely empty. We arrived a little after gate time at 11 a.m. and had just a short walk to the front entrance. "Unlimited dining," in this case, means one meal every 90 minutes and it does not include snacks like pretzels, ice cream and funnel cakes.

2. You probably don't need the Flash Pass

For a whopping $50 per person, Six Flags allows guests to pre-book access to shorter ride lines with a Flash Pass. I shelled out for this add-on and we were able to walk onto even the most popular rides in the park in under five minutes.

But was it necessary? Probably not. With very few exceptions (like the log ride), the Flash Pass lines did not seem to be significantly shorter than the general admission lines during our visit to the park.

3. You can pack empty water bottles to refill at water fountains

I scoured the Six Flags website looking for information about water bottles, but couldn't find anything. All outside food and drink are prohibited, but we were able to take in empty water bottles. There are no large, festival-style filling stations throughout the park, but the drinking fountains by the bathrooms do have water bottle spouts. We were also able to refill (with ice!) at soft drink filling stations.

Staying hydrated is key to surviving a full day in this heat. We drank water while in line and stowed our water bottles in the cubbies by the ride docks. Then we drank water again as soon as we got off each ride.

There is a $10 unlimited soft drink add-on for online tickets and the fountain drink offerings include Powerade if think you'll need electrolytes (or soda, obviously). If you opt for the refillable plastic cup, you won't need a water bottle, but it is definitely worth it to buy in advance. Food and drink prices in the park are predictably exorbitant.

4. The Hurricane Harbor add-on is clutch

For an extra $7-$10 online, you can buy a ticket to Six Flags' in-house water park, Hurricane Harbor. Yes, these add-ons start to add up, but this one is crucial.

After a few hours cruising on and off of coasters, we donned our bathing suits and floated the lazy river, splashed in the wave pool and rode the water slides. We spent a couple hours cooling off and, honestly, I don't know that we would have made it all day without the break.

Be sure to pack proper swimwear and leave your jewelry at home if you plan to ride the slides. Walkable water shoes with straps are ideal footwear for both sides of the park.

5. Take the heat seriously and know your limitations

Take lots of breaks, drink lots of water and plan your route around the park to minimize long walks in the sun. I'm normally all about getting my steps in, but on this trip, we used the park map and rode the train to get from one side to the other when possible.

Right now, the park is only open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. during midweek visits. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.

Eight hours sounded like a short day at the amusement park, but around hour seven, as the temperature was maxing out, I began to feel queasy. I tried to ignore it and hopped on another ride, exacerbating the nausea. At that point, I realized I was breaking the number one rule about heat safety: listen to your body and do not try to push through. I sat in the shade and drank water while the kids took their final ride.

Overall, I don't think anyone would describe triple-digit heat as ideal amusement park weather, but it is possible to pack in a lot of rides in a short period of time. I had way more fun than expected. But be diligent about safety and go in with the understanding that you might need to make it a shorter visit than usual.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Five tips for a trip to Six Flags Fiesta Texas in triple-digit heat