7 Habits of Frugal People To Apply Every Time You’re at a Theme Park
The “baseline” Disney vacation at one of the theme park’s “value” resorts costs an average of $6,895 for a family of four, as previously reported by GOBankingRates.
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But summer travel doesn’t have to break the bank. There are many less expensive parks to visit than Walt Disney World Resort. Learning how to cut corners in areas where you won’t feel like you’re sacrificing can leave you with more money for souvenirs, better hotel accommodations, or even an extra day at the park.
Spring for Season Passes
With the exception of Disney World Resorts and Universal Studios, the price of a season pass at most roller coaster and theme parks equals the price of two or three visits. Plus, season passholders often gain perks like merchandise discounts. In many cases, you can get interest-free, monthly payment plans to spread out the cost, as opposed to purchasing your tickets on the day of your trip.
If you plan a family vacation at Cedar Park, Six Flags Great Adventure, or Hersheypark, consider splurging for season tickets.
But you’ll want to buy them early, warns Marc Fass, a frugal theme park enthusiast and moderator of the Facebook group Six Flags Dining Tips. “Some parks or chains have sales at certain times of year: Labor Day, Black Friday, Presidents Day…. By the time the parks open prices have increased,” he said.
Pack Snacks
Apart from ticket prices, food and drinks are the biggest cost of your park visit. Theme park veterans know it’s a good idea to stash some snacks in your bag or pack a cooler to keep in your car. But running back to your car when you’re hungry is not always convenient. Balance saving money with enjoying the full park experience.
“Of course, eating before and after the park is always going to save money,” said Fass. “But sometimes the value of a funnel cake or a kettle corn is just worth it, especially when you can’t put a price on your kid’s smiles and core memories.”
Get the Meal Plan
A meal plan provides the best of both worlds – saving money and enjoying park fare. But not all meal plans are alike, Fass said. Some won’t allow you to order through the mobile app, while others don’t honor all menu items.
“Everything has a cost, either time or money,” Fass said. “Doing some pre-planning to get an idea of what’s available or suggested at the parks you’re visiting can go a long way to getting the most for your money.”
For instance, an all-day dining plan seems like a good value, but most park-goers won’t maximize the savings. An All-Day Dining Deal at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, offers a meal every 90 minutes for $33.99. But can you really eat that much in between riding roller coasters?
“People generally think they’re going to get five or six meals (every 90 minutes) in a 10-hour park day, but three to four is more realistic and sometimes only two. You still come out ahead financially,” Fass said.
Split Meals
One solution, according to Fass, is to buy just one or two dining passes for the whole family and share meals. “Meals are often large enough to share,” he said. “Do you really want to weigh yourself down with a platter of lasagna? Or an entire steak sandwich? Taco salads are great but split it with your family. Sharing is caring.”
Share Drink Cups
You’ll want to make sure you stay hydrated. Some parks include refillable drink cups as part of the meal plan. You can also buy a drink cup separately. As with meals, you can share two drink cups between a family of four.
If you don’t mind drinking tap water, most parks allow you to bring a reusable water bottle into the park. “Bringing flavor packets can make water more tolerable,” Fass said. You can even add electrolytes to your drink to help with hydration and give you more energy for your adventures.
Book a Hotel Onsite
It may seem counterintuitive, but you may save money by staying at an onsite resort hotel if it is available. You’ll also gain convenience and perks like early entry into the park and free shuttles, so you can avoid paying for parking. Theme parks like Legoland in Goshen, NY, Hersheypark in Pennsylvania, and Cedar Point have onsite hotels within walking distance of the park entrance. Kings Dominion in Virginia has a few affordable hotels across the highway, although these are not affiliated with the park.
If you have younger children craving a midday nap, staying onsite can save time and cost the same as a hotel farther away.
Shop for Souvenirs Locally
If cost is no concern, it’s fun to splurge on themed hoodies, toys, and exclusive merchandise you can only find at a theme park. But you can save money shopping at stores local to the theme park and find equally fun items. Even Dollar Tree has a line of Mickey Mouse merch, including hats and t-shirts, to help you get ready for your family vacation.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Habits of Frugal People To Apply Every Time You’re at a Theme Park
