Some friends from my church and I thought it would be nice to take our children to the amusement park together. With the economy burning holes in pockets we thought it would be wise to contact the group sales to see what the price differential would be if we were to gather everyone as a group and go. Let me tell you there was a great difference in price. If we were to pay at the gate and meetup at the park the price would’ve been $32.99 + tax for adults and $26.99+ tax for children and 2 and under are free. With the group rates we have to mail the group payment in two weeks prior to going to the park. That might seems like a hassle but it was well worth it. The group rate was $19.95+ tax per person and two and under are free. That’s a savings of $13.04 per adults and $7.04 per child! Worth the trouble, right! Below are some other money saving tips for amusement parks
Visit on weekdays
Saturdays are parks’ busiest days, so many offer discounts for weekday attendees. AAA triples its regular $4 discount on Six Flags theme parks tickets to $12 on Wednesdays, while Wet ‘n Wild knocks $30 off the price of its season pass (regularly $80) if you want weekday access only.
Buy online
Ticket prices are often 35% cheaper, plus you’ll save time waiting in line. Online-only promotions are also more plentiful this year — because the date-specific tickets let parks estimate headcount, they can cut overhead on slow days, says Robert Niles, editor of ThemeParkInsider.com. Cedar Fair’sflagship Cedar Park launched an online specials section this year, with bargains like an “Amusement Stimulus Package” of four adult tickets for $132 (a $40 discount off the gate price) and a “Pay Once, Visit Twice” deal that gets you an additional day in the park this season for just $10 (a $32 discount). Both offers are available through June 15.
Scale back
With lots to see and do — and long lines for everything — aiming to visit multiple parks in one day is overly ambitious for many people, says Danielle Courtnay, a spokeswoman for the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Save with a single park pass for short visits. At Walt Disney World, it’s $45 cheaper than a one-day Park Hopper, while Universal Studios charges $8 less.
Pay with plastic
Discounted theme park admission is a common credit-card perk. Check with both your card brand and issuing bank for specials. Through Aug. 31, for example, American Expressoffers $10 off at SeaWorld, Aquatica or Busch Gardens, plus a $10 rebate when you buy through its Going Once site.
Go late
Arrive at the park once the afternoon rush has dispersed, and you can easily save 20% or more with so-called twilight entry passes, says Mandt. Knott’s Berry Farm cuts its $50 ticket price in half after 4 p.m., which gives you four to seven hours in the park. Disneyland charges $43 instead of $56 starting at 4 p.m. or six hours before closing, whichever is earlier.
Watch what you eat
Look for coupons on the groceries you buy, and at the restaurants you frequent, urges Ruben. McDonald’sstores in Tennessee, for example, hand out coupons for $1 Wednesday admittance to Chattanooga’s Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park (regularly $5). Or bring any Pepsiproduct to Kennywood Amusement Park in Pittsburgh to save $5 on adult admission ($32).
Consider a season pass
Passes typically pay for themselves in just two visits, and offer additional value through freebies and special access, says Niles. Six Flags Great Adventure’s $100 season pass includes free passes for a friend on 32 specific dates, free access to 15 other Six Flags parks nationwide and $300 of in-park coupons. The $100 VIP season pass at King’s Dominion provides first-in-line ride access, early entry to the attached water park, half-price deals for friends and free, specially-designated parking.
Check your wallet
Employers, banks, professional organizations and clubs may offer discounts or specially-priced tickets. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers employees $34 tickets to Carowinds (regularly $45), and a $20 discount at Six Flags Over Georgia ($40). Even your driver’s license may be helpful in securing a deal. Walt Disney World offers Florida residents discounts on both daily tickets and annual passes. A three-day park hopper would be about $148 — $100 cheaper than out-of-state visitors pay.
