Frugal fun: Tips for saving money on a theme park visit

NEW YORK (AP) -- Now that summer is here, several theme parks have raised their ticket prices. But don't let that put a damper on your plans. Here are several ways to control the cost of a theme park visit.

TICKETS

It's usually cheaper to buy tickets online than at the gate. Printing tickets out at home also means less time wasted at the park waiting to buy tickets.

You'll pay premium prices for one-day tickets, making multi-day tickets a better deal. Universal Orlando's one-day ticket for both of its parks runs $136, but a four-day park-to-park pass is $195.99 -- just $49 a day.

At some parks, a season pass will pay for itself in two visits. At Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles, you can trade in a single-day general admission ticket for a pass good for the rest of the year at no additional charge.

Sign up for park email newsletters, which often include exclusive deals; look for savings on sites like Groupon.com. Check park websites like Disneyworld.com for special offers and planning guides.

Christopher Elliott, a National Geographic travel expert and author of "How to Be the World's Smartest Traveler," says "a lot of travel agents -- particularly AAA agents -- have some really great deals not available online."

Some parks reduce prices during off-peak hours, like weekdays or late afternoons and evenings. Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, offers cheaper "Starlight Tickets" between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., a great option for teenagers. Lines are shorter, too.

Check with your employer, union, university and other groups to see if they have access to park deals. Many parks also offer discounts to members of the military, and many Florida parks offer deals to in-state residents. For Costco's theme park discounts, visit www.costco.com/theme-parks.html . For AAA offers, click on "Entertainment and Attractions" at AAA.com/searchfordiscounts .

Some parks partner with stores or products. Look for Six Flags coupons on Coke cans, or enter the promo code "coke" if you're buying Six Flags tickets on Sixflags.com. Fans of Pennsylvania's Hersheypark can get coupons this at participating Burger King, CVS and Subway locations; Giant Food stores in four states sell discount Hersheypark tickets, too.

FOOD AND DRINK

Some parks let you bring food and drinks in; others don't. You can always bring a collapsible water bottle and fill it from a fountain.

If you're not parked too far away, plan a tailgate picnic at mealtime.

At Walt Disney World in Florida, guests can bring a small cooler -- no bigger than 24 inches long by 15 inches wide by 18 inches high -- as long as it's not on wheels and doesn't contain any glass bottles or alcohol. Rent a locker if you don't want to carry it all day.

If you don't mind sharing, the supersized drink is always a better deal than small cups. Some parks offer large souvenir cups with free refills.

PARKING

If you're flying to Orlando or California and plan a multi-day visit to Disney or Universal, consider the cost of car rentals, gas and parking when pricing hotels. Even if rooms are cheaper away from the park, you might save money (and time) staying at a park-run hotel with free shuttles to and from the park. Packages at park-run properties may include other incentives, like meal discounts and extra hours at the park.

Elliott notes that "time is money" at a theme park. The longer it takes to get into the park from your car, the less time you have for rides.

EXTRAS

Before you go, make a budget for extras. Give the kids $10 or $20 each to blow as they please, but once you set the limit, don't budge.

Alternatively, declare all extras off-limits. Stay out of gift shops, ignore pricey souvenir photos of screaming kids on roller coasters, say no to activities with additional fees like carnival games, bungee-jumping and ziplining.

PACK WELL

Avoid rip-off prices in the park. Bring sunscreen, camera supplies and rain ponchos from home.