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Monday, Jul. 20, 2009

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Five tips for visiting amusement parks for less

By ASHLEY GRIMALDO

Guess how much a one-day pass to Disneyworld costs? $67. Unless you only plan on sending one family member to the park, multiply that by three or four and then by four or five days and your trip will quickly become a burden. Is there any way to visit the world's best parks within a reasonable budget?

Yes and no. You will pay a ton of money when you go to Sea World, Disney, or Busch Gardens. Even at discounted rates, the entrance fees alone are prohibitive. But if you've been saving over the last year and are dead-set on making the trek across the country, take advantage of these money-saving tips to stretch the vacation dollar.

1. Buy tickets for multiple days.

The more days you plan on visiting a theme park, the cheaper your daily rate will be. To give you an idea of how much you'll save, a two-day pass (with fast pass) to the four main parks in Disney is $158 adult/$133 child. Enjoy the same liberties with a five-day pass for just $229 adult/$195 child. If you are going to make the big family trip, take a few extra days for virtually no additional cost. Sea World offers a second day free ticket for $73 adult/$69 child.

2. Search for tickets online.

Our favorite spots for hot tickets include Tickets2You.net, Six Flags main site, Ticket Mania, and Official Ticket Center. The most attractive reason for buying online is the low cost of multi-day passes. You'll also get reduced rates for single day visits too.

3. Use your club cards and memberships.

If you belong to AAA, Sam's, Costco, or other wholesale clubs, discount tickets are usually offered in conjunction with your membership. Many of their discounts include full package deals with hotel and attraction bundled. Check your current discounts from AAA.

4. CityPass and Entertainment Book

Don't automatically snub your nose at these offers. Depending on what you plan to do during your vacation, these may save you hundreds of dollars in food and park admission. The Southern California CityPass gives you 30 percent reduced admission to Disneyland, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and the San Diego Zoo. Review your itinerary before purchasing. Had my husband and I bought the Chicago CityPass instead of paying for individual admission to our favorite spots we would have saved $60 per person.

5. Food savings.

Plan to eat one meal at the park. It's just not fair to be at Disney or Six Flags and only eat packed tuna fish sandwiches. Pack snacks and drinks but also enjoy a lunch to avoid feeling left out. If you eat outside of the park choose a location from Restaurant.com to pay just $10 for a $25 gift certificate.

Disneyworld is the antithesis of frugal. But in exchange for a lifestyle of reasonable living habits, you have the ability to splurge and enjoy. Always save up cash for your vacation, don't bust out the credit card, utilize the tips above, and you'll have an exciting time for less.



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