Last summer, in one big end-of-summer foray, we took the kids on a number of day trips. The “What I did over the summer…” essays would be due soon, and that gave us some parental guilt. While we did have fun, there was nothing big for them to write about, so off we went to make some memories.
One of the kids favorite things to do was to visit a large amusement park. They had a lot of fun and still haven’t stop talking about it. Since it was such a great experience, we are going to put it on our list to do again this summer.
As always, I do my best to get the lowest prices on everything, and amusement parks are no exception. In fact, trips to an amusement park can get a bit pricey, so it is important to save money wherever you can. Here are my tips for spending less on amusement parks.
Tickets
When you are standing in line for a ride, wouldn’t it be nice to know that you spent significantly less on your entrance tickets than did the person in front of you? It is a myth that everyone pays the same price. To pay less, look for opportunities. Our township sells amusement park tickets at about $10 less per ticket than the gate prices. Coupons are available for pick up at local businesses or in the newspaper, and purchasing tickets at our local grocery store offers another discount, as does purchasing them through AAA.
Food
Once you are in that park, you are at the mercy of the inflated food prices when you get hungry. Unless of course you come prepared. Not all prices are bad, of course, you can first check with someone who has been to the park before, or you can read reviews online.
The best thing to do is to make sure that everyone has filled up with a hearty meal before you go. Bring small bags of snacks that you can nibble on throughout the day. Pack some simple lunch in a cooler and leave it in the car. Then get to the park early, so you can park close to the entrance. This way, you can leave the park, grab lunch in your car, and then head back in.