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10 tips: Theme parks, more frugally

By LAURA T. COFFEY
Published July 23, 2006

By LAURA T. COFFEY

It's summertime, and your kids are bored. Are you thinking about braving one of Florida's many theme parks? If so, brace yourself: You could have more fun than you've had in years, or you might just endure hours of frustration followed by a whopper of a credit card bill. To avoid the latter outcome, consider these tips.

1. Choose the right destination. Check the parks' Web sites to get a sense of what each place offers. Your teen may care only about fast roller coasters. Not your preschooler. Decide in advance what your family puts a premium on.

2. Play up your home state advantage. Many of the parks' Web sites feature online-only coupons for Floridians, so print them before you go. Always ask whether discounts apply for Florida residents.

3. Look for other discounts. You could save by buying annual passes if you know you'll return several times. Additional online discounts can be found at sites such as WDWinfo.com, MouseSavers.com, ThemeParkInsider.com and Themeparks.com. You also could score a discount of 10 to 20 percent by buying your tickets online and printing them at home.

4. Want to be part of the show? If you visit Universal Studios Florida or Disney-MGM Studios, check to see whether a TV program will be taping that day as you enter the park, or check in advance at TVtickets.com. You can ask for free tickets to join the audience during the taping.

5. Don't break the bank on a hotel stay. The resorts tied to theme parks in the Orlando area are notoriously pricey. You can find an abundance of hotels right near the parks that cost $30 to $60 a night.

6. Think about food before you enter. You're not allowed to bring your own packed lunches into the parks, but you can bring light snacks and bottled water. Try to get by on that during the day and grab breakfast or dinner elsewhere.

7. Timing is every-thing. Show up early and blast straight to the back of the park - then work your way toward the entrance instead of the other way around. This will help you avoid the crush of summer visitors who won't think to do that. Plan to visit the most popular rides and attractions right after the park opens, right before it closes or while a popular show is drawing lots of people.

8. Know when to tackle a potentially scary ride. Some rides can be much scarier for a little kid than you might think. Simulated rides also can make hardy adults nauseous. Try attractions like this at the end of the day, just in case they hold the power to make your entire day miserable.

9. Plan for special needs. You can rent strollers and wheelchairs and arrange for babysitting and supervised children's activities by paying daily or hourly rates. Figure out the pricing before you go and factor that into your overall trip budget.

10. Avoid arguments. Talk with your kids about ride and purchase restrictions before you leave the house. Let younger children know that they won't be able to go on certain rides if they're not 48 or 54 inches tall. Limit what they can buy there.

Sources: Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org); Walt Disney World (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com); Theme Park Insider (www.themeparkinsider.com)

[Last modified July 23, 2006, 06:40:53]