Should You Buy Season Passes to an Amusement Park?

Taking the family to an amusement park can feel more like an investment than a day of play. Parking, food, souvenirs – it adds up fast.

Amusement Park© Digital Vision/Thinkstock

Taking the family to an amusement park can feel more like an investment than a day of play. Parking, food, souvenirs – it adds up fast. If you plan to go to an amusement park more than once this summer it may be worth it to invest in a season pass. Some parks even offer other perks for pass holders, such as discounted parking and merchandise, early access to attractions, events for pass holders only, and discounted or free tickets for friends on select days, helping you save even more money.

Plus: 4 Ways to Save Big at Disney

Here are some tips on buying season passes:

Buy early. You’ll likely get the best price and use the pass for the entire season by buying before summer starts. Or buy in the fall before the beginning of the next season.

Renew passes each year. Some parks reward loyal customers by giving discounts for renewals.

Check with your employer. Some parks give volume discounts to employers buying in bulk, and those discounts can be passed on to employees.

Find programs with reciprocal admissions. Holly Ezel from FoggyPhils.com uses a list of reciprocal members from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to find free or discounted admission at partner sites. Six Flags does the same thing, offering free admission at 13 of its amusement parks for season pass holders.

Stay local. Some parks offer discounts for local residents. Disneyland and Disney World are the best-known parks to do this, offering Southern California and Florida residents discounted annual passes.

Source: MoneyTalksNews.com

Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest