We have two kids, ages 9 and 5. This is what we do:
1. We carry a backpack into the park, full of necessities.
2. We freeze bottles of water several days before we leave for SDC. We keep them in the cooler or fridge at the hotel, and every morning as we head out to the park, we put several bottles into the side pockets of our backpack, and as the frozen water melts throughout the day, we have cold, fresh tasting water. (I know, you can get free water in the park, but let's be real here, it tastes NASTY!)
3. On days we are going to do water rides, we wear our "wet clothes". Swim shorts and light cotton t-shirts for my guys, nylon running shorts and light cotton t-shirt for me, swimsuit and nylon shorts for my daughter. We wear our tennis shoes into the park, but change into water shoes/flip flops when we are ready to ride the water rides. We store our backpack in a locker, ride the water rides until we are soaked to the bone and have had our fill, then we make our way back to the locker, change into dry socks and shoes, and go on about our day. Our clothes dry quickly, and we don't have to worry about walking around all day in wet shoes! We also make sure we have ziploc bags in the backpack to store any wet stuff in.
4. We stay at Deer Run! The free shuttle is a lifesaver. It drops you off at the entrance to SDC. It picks you up at the exit at SDC, and basically drops you off at your motel room door.
5. Best advice ever: Get to the park at rope drop, leave by mid-afternoon. Go back to your hotel room and swim/rest/cool off. Go back to the park after dinner.
6. I get in line for shows up to an hour early, and my husband takes the kids to do a couple of rides while I'm waiting. That way, the kids don't get restless and bored.
This is all I can think of right now! Hope this helps someone!