Theme Park Vacation? Here are Some Tips to Save You Money

A theme park vacation is a surefire way to make the whole family happy. What kid doesn’t love the idea of hopping on a roller coaster and doing loops and flips? Seriously, ask any kid where they want to go on vacation and they’re going to say Disneyland. If you’re planning a theme park vacation, here are some tips to help you make the most of it.

Theme Park Vacation Tips

Buy Tickets Online

Don’t wait until you get to the gate to buy your tickets. That’s a surefire way to overspend. If you opt instead to buy your tickets online then you can likely save a great deal of money. When you buy online, you can see what the various deals, sales and promotions are and compare them at your own pace.

After all, vacations can get pretty expensive. Why not save money on the tickets to get into the park? That’s the first thing you’ll need to spend on, so it might as well be the first thing you save on! Buying in advance online is a great way to plan ahead and save money all at once.

Consider the Hotel

Before you even get to the city the theme park is in, do some research. You likely won’t be using the hotel for much other than sleeping, so maybe you don’t need to be put up in a five-star resort. Instead, go for a more affordable hotel with less amenities.

After all, if you’re visiting a theme park with a water park, roller coasters and ample attractions, why would you need a pool and included room service? Your theme park vacation will involve much more time spent in the park and much less time spent indoors, so spend your money accordingly.

Don’t Forget Package Deals

Many theme parks offer package deals with nearby hotels. Don’t forget to compare these deals to other nearby hotels and see if they’re right for your family. After all, some of these bundle deals can result in you saving a bit of money!

Remember, you’ll often want to see all the rides the park has to offer if you’re going out of your way to visit it. As such, you’ll likely want to spring for multi-day passes. Multi-day passes ensure that you get a chance to see everything. In larger theme parks, this is critical, as it makes it so you don’t have to rush to see as much of the park as you’d like.

Many hotel deals offer multi-day stays in a hotel as well as multi-day passes for guests. That’s the definition of hitting two birds with one stone, and it can often save you a ton of money.

Make a Plan

It can be difficult to hit every attraction you want to see in the park. Before you go, consider making a plan and following it through the map of the park. If there are rides you’d like to see, try to hit them before the busier times of day. During particularly hot hours, around four or five in the afternoon, head to the water-themed attractions to cool down!

That said, you don’t need to strictly adhere to your plan. If you just follow what looks fun and make sure you’re not stressing over where you’re going and when, that’s what matters. The plan simply helps gives you some structure! These parks are designed for you to get lost in, after all, so it’s no surprise that many people don’t see all the attractions they want to.

Eat Somewhere Else

If you can help it, try not to eat in the park. The food served in the amusement park is tremendously overpriced compared to nearby restaurants. The only issue that crops up with this is that many amusement parks are so massive and have you park so far away that they are very difficult to exit and reenter quickly.

In such cases, consider packing a lunch and keeping it in a lunchbox in your car. If it’s too hot to leave in your car, consider getting a locker in the park and stashing your bag lunch there!

Don’t Forget the Basics

Finally, don’t forget the basics. You’re going to want sunglasses, sun screen and a backup battery for your cell phone. The parks are huge and you’ll be in the sun all day, so make sure you’re well protected. Not to mention, having a fully charged phone helps you get back with your group should you get separated!

Don’t forget to have fun out there! They’re not called amusement parks for nothing.