14 Money-Saving Tips for Amusement Parks

Spending a day at a theme park can be fun and magical, but it can also be stressful due to the high cost, especially if you're traveling as a family. We had four kids who all loved amusement parks, and over time, I learned different ways to save money. Here are some money-saving tips to help you not break the bank.

1. Time of Travel

Theme park ticket prices can vary depending on the time of year that you travel. The same is true for hotel prices if you're planning to stay a night or two. Going during the off-season can help cut back on the overall costs of your trip. Not only that, but lines are often shorter during the off-season, which will give you more time to do more things.

2. Off-Sites Hotels

Staying at an on-site hotel can be tempting, as often they are wonderfully themed and have extra activities for kids. However, the cost can be quite high. To give you a comparison, I just looked up the nightly cost of staying at Disney's Grand Californian during the summer months. The prices range from about $500-$1200 a night. If you have a car, add on another $45 a day for parking.

In comparison, you can stay at another hotel within walking distance for about $150 a night that not only has free parking, but free continental breakfast as well. Now, that's quite a big difference! Not only are you saving money on your hotel room, but a free breakfast means that one meal a day you won't have to pay for. Here's an extra tip: Be sure to take some fruit back to the room with you, as it can come in handy for a snack later.

3. Discounted Tickets

Tickets can be one of the most expensive items you'll need to spend money on, and there's no getting around purchasing them. Oftentimes you can save money on tickets by purchasing them in advance on the theme park's website. Besides saving money, buying tickets in advance will save you the time of having to wait in line to buy them when you arrive at the park.

You can also check with organizations like AAA, Sam's Club, and Groupon to get deals on tickets.

4. Strollers

Normally kids are done using strollers by the time they're four or five years old, but in theme parks, it's not unusual to see older kids in strollers, especially in the evening and nighttime hours. (I've seen kids up to about 10 years of age in them at night.)

Typically, you can walk several miles in just one day, so it's not surprising your child will start complaining about tired feet and sore legs. A stroller will allow your child to still remain at the park and have fun without being uncomfortable.

A single stroller rental can add up, especially if you visit a park on multiple days. Typical rental costs are about $15-$25 a day depending on the park. If possible, bring one from home and have it handy in case you need it. Another perk of bringing a stroller with you is that it can be used to carry your personal items, like jackets, purchases, etc. 

5. Theme Park Dining

Eating at amusement parks can be a quick way to eat away your money. If possible, see if there are any nearby restaurants you can go to. Besides a break in the money spending, it can also give you a break from the crowds of the amusement park and give you a chance to catch your breath.

You can also check if the park you're going to has a picnic area. To save money when I used to take my kids to Six Flags, I would pack a picnic lunch, and we would sit at picnic tables right outside the park.

6. Snacks and Beverages

Most theme parks will allow you to bring in bottled water and small snacks for the kids. Now, if you're staying at a hotel with free continental breakfast, this is where the fruit can come in handy.

Here's a little tip about bringing bottled water into the park. If the weather is very warm, the water can lose its coolness pretty quickly, and who wants to drink tepid water when they're thirsty? I suggest putting your water bottles in the freezer the night before so that as the day goes on, the ice in them will slowly melt, and you can have cooler water to drink.

7. Theme Park Sodas

Are you a soda drinker? People get thirsty throughout the day, and next to water, soda is the most consumed beverage at theme parks. To save money, check if the park you are visiting has a refillable soda cup offering. How it works is that you buy a souvenir soda cup, then you can either refill it for free or at a large discount for the rest of the day. (Some theme parks offer multiple-day and even seasonal cups.)

8. Skip the Line Passes

One of the most unpleasant things in amusement parks is having to wait in long lines. To solve this problem, many theme parks offer a skip-the-line type of pass. Tempting as this can be, it can become quite costly. While a Fast Lane Pass starts at $30 at Six Flags Over Texas and a Lightening Pass at Disneyland costs about $34, a Front of the Line Pass at Knott's Berry Farm will run you $75, while a Universal Orlando Express Pass starts at $119.99. 

The passes are convenient, but can really add to the cost of your day.

9. Theme Park Add-Ons

Besides front-of-the-line passes, often theme parks have rides and attractions that are not covered under the admission price. For example, the attraction you see above is the XtremeSkyflier located at California's Great America. It raises you 154 feet off the ground, and when you pull the ripcord, you free-fall at speeds up to 50 mph. Quite exciting, except you'll have to pay extra for it. Considering all the other rides at the park, this really isn't necessary.

Another example is the Spider-Man Adventure at California Adventure, where you fire virtual spiderwebs at targets. To enhance the ride, the park sells power bands you can wear that allow you to shoot more webs at targets. Two of my kids (adults) bought these, used them twice at the park, and now they sit in the bottom of their drawers.

10. Souvenirs

Souvenirs can definitely be a financial downfall, as there are usually so many cool things you can buy at theme parks, and if traveling with children, they'll find plenty of things to buy. (Mine always did.)

Give your kids a budget for shopping. Don't let them buy the first thing they see, as most likely they will find lots of things they like throughout the day. Instead, make a note of what the different items are and where they found them, then at the end of the day, let them pick what they want the most that fits within their budget.

Another idea is to shop at souvenir shops outside of the park. You can usually find similar merchandise, but at cheaper costs.

11. Arcade Games

Many parks have arcade games that your kids will want to play, and, depending on how many kids you have, this can start to add up, especially if it costs $5 per player per game. Also, you run the risk that one wins something and the others don't, which can cause some hard feelings.

Most of the time, the prizes won are small toys like plushies that are relatively inexpensive. An alternative to letting your kids play arcade games is to offer to buy them each a new plushie once you get home. You save money from a bunch of arcade games, and your kids still get a new toy.

12. Rain Ponchos

There are different reasons why kids can get wet at amusement parks. One way is on a water ride, like the Jurassic Park River ride seen above at Universal in Florida. Depending on the time of the day and the temperature, you might want to have them wear a poncho, so they're not soaked and cold afterwards.

Kids can also get soaked during a downpour of rain. I was in Disney World when a sudden downpour occurred, and I noticed other parents scrambling to buy plastic ponchos.

If, for any reason, you don't want your kids to get wet, purchase plastic rain ponchos before going to the amusement park. You'll pay much less money, plus you won't have to wait in line to get them once the rain begins or before getting in line for a ride.

13. Photos at Theme Parks

Several theme parks have staff photographers who will offer to take family pictures for you, which you can purchase later on. Save money by avoiding this, and instead, just ask another park guest to take a picture for you. (I've never been turned down.) I have had many great family shots over the years at amusement parks, and they've all been taken by park guests. I usually look for another parent, and quite often afterward, they ask me to take a picture of their family in return.

Additionally, there are parks that have cameras on their rides that take pictures while you're on the ride that you can buy when it's over. Rather than buying the picture, use your cell phone to take a picture of it at the photo desk. (This is very common.)

14. Annual Passes

If you plan to frequent a particular theme park, you may want to consider getting an annual pass. Rather than pay for each day you visit, you pay one price, which is good for admission for the year. (Do keep in mind that some blackout days may occur.) This can save you a bunch of money. 

Theme Park Fun

As you can see, there are several ways to save money when visiting theme parks while still having a good time and without draining your wallet. I hope these tips have been helpful. Do you have any tips to share? If so, please feel free to share them in the comments below.