Amusement Park Tickets in the USA: Discounted Packages, Discounts, and Tips
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
A family trip to the USA is quite expensive. Many people do a "doctorate" on flight tickets, checking, comparing, booking in advance, and saving hundreds to thousands of dollars. But one of the additional significant costs of the trip is the cost of entrance tickets to amusement parks. Park prices increase every year, usually twice a year (I have been tracking prices for 20 years and they always go up! The price of a ticket has increased since 2000 by almost 5 times!!!), and at Disney and Universal parks, they have long surpassed the $100 mark per adult ticket. In these parks, any child over the age of 9 is considered an adult, so for a family of 5 with children aged 9 and older, the cost of entry for a single day is over $500! This does not include line-shortening passes that sometimes double the price, food and drinks which are also very expensive in amusement parks, arcade games to win teddy bears, and of course, buying souvenirs in the many gift shops located at the exit of every ride.
Here too, it is worth preparing in advance, and just like with flight tickets (and accommodation), you should check, compare, and book as far in advance as possible to beat the next price increase. Booking tickets in advance helps you with the economic calculation of the trip and the distribution of costs over time, and also saves standing in long lines at the ticket booths at the park entrance or wasting travel time on comparisons and wandering between local ticket offices.
The most popular destinations for families to spend time in amusement parks are, of course: Orlando in Florida, and in California: Los Angeles and San Diego.
It is important to emphasize that entrance tickets are valid only for that specific state! Someone visiting both Florida and California cannot purchase a combined ticket for both states. There is no connection between purchasing tickets in each of the states.
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Entrance Tickets for Amusement Parks in Orlando, Florida:
Due to the huge selection of amusement parks in Orlando and the intense and long days spent in them, it is not possible and also not advisable to visit all of Orlando's amusement parks even if you are there for ten days. Depending on the parks you choose, you should examine which ticket packages are most attractive for you.
♦ Book entrance tickets for Disney, Universal, Legoland, and SeaWorld parks in Orlando:
Discounted tickets for multiple days, each day for a different park:
♦ Book tickets for amusement parks in Orlando from: Expedia
For Disney, Universal, Legoland, SeaWorld parks, and many more attractions!
Multi-Park Ticket Packages
"Ticket packages" that include entry to several amusement parks can save a lot of money. The main problem is that not all amusement parks belong to the same company; on the contrary: there are competing companies that want you to visit only their network of parks for as long as possible and not have time to reach the competing network at all, so they give extra days as a gift or for a ridiculous price for a certain number of days so that you only go to them and not the competitors.
A good example of this are the amusement parks at Disney World, Orlando.
Disney Amusement Parks in Orlando
In Orlando, Disney has four large amusement parks:
Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Additionally, Disney has two water parks and several other smaller attractions.
A one or two-day ticket for Disney amusement parks is the most expensive. A 3-day package gives a modest discount, while a 4-day package already gives a significant discount. Every additional day significantly reduces the daily entry cost to the parks. The basic package does not include the water parks, for which separate tickets must be purchased (the price depends on the date of the trip. There is a cheaper price for those arriving out of season: i.e., it cannot be used between May and August). The basic tickets allow entry to a specific park for the whole day. You cannot move to another park. There are tickets called "Park Hopper" that allow switching between amusement parks on the same day. Note that on many sites (including Disney's official site!) entry prices do not include state tax.
Universal Amusement Parks in Orlando
But Orlando is definitely not just Disney; in fact, teenagers much prefer the action-packed and innovative amusement parks of Universal: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
Another popular park that does not belong to Disney is "SeaWorld". Additionally, the two newest and most recommended water parks in Orlando do not belong to Disney: one is adjacent to SeaWorld: "Aquatica", for which a ticket can be purchased on its own, but it is more worthwhile to purchase a combined ticket with "SeaWorld", and the second, the newest of all (from June 2017), belongs to Universal and its name is Universal's Volcano Bay. You can purchase a combined ticket for the Universal water park with the two Universal amusement parks at a discounted price.
In fact, at Universal you can purchase a day ticket for one of the parks (of course the most expensive), a two-day ticket for both Universal amusement parks, or a three-day ticket that also includes the water park. Here too, it is possible but expensive and not worthwhile to purchase a ticket that allows switching between parks on the same day.
Another amusement park in Orlando, especially suitable for young children, is "Legoland Florida", which has no connection with the Universal or Disney parks. Legoland also has a water park especially suitable for toddlers.
Universal has line-shortening tickets called "Express Pass" which are limited in number. Their price depends on the date of the visit (the busier the season, the higher the price for line-shortening). The line-shortening ticket can only be purchased on the Universal website (or inside the park if tickets remain. Highly recommended in advance!). There are no "ticket packages" in Orlando that combine parks of competing companies, especially not a Disney and Universal combo. Anyone selling you a "package" that combines both is likely not reliable! Be careful!
Generally, it is worth purchasing tickets for amusement parks of all types from reliable and discounted booking sites. The prices on them are usually cheaper than on the official sites of the parks or from travel agents. The discounts are not large and amount to a few dollars per person per day per park. However, for a family of five visiting five large parks, you can save $100-$150.
The problem is that there are too many sites and not all are reliable. Do not be tempted to buy tickets at half price. There is no such legal thing! You might pay less but stay outside the parks...
Do not buy used tickets! There are many scammers who trade in them and many fall into the trap, buy invalid tickets, and lose their money. It is also illegal!
♦ Purchase Orlando tickets from Viator:
Amusement parks, attractions, shows, tours, and more: Top Orlando Tickets & Passes
♦ Book entrance tickets for Universal parks in Orlando from Expedia: Expedia
Entrance Tickets for Amusement Parks in California
In California, the number of amusement parks and options is smaller than in Orlando, but there too is an abundance of parks from competing companies.
In addition to the two Disney parks: Disneyland and California Adventure, Universal Studios, the "Six Flags" roller coaster park, and "Knott's Berry Farm", Los Angeles also has two excellent water parks, and in San Diego, SeaWorld, its adjacent water park "Aquatica", and "Legoland California" (north of San Diego in Carlsbad).
In California too, similar to Orlando, entrance ticket prices for amusement parks increase every year, and here too it is recommended to book tickets in advance online. Where possible, during the peak season, it is highly recommended to purchase line-shortening tickets.
♦ Book entrance tickets for amusement parks in Los Angeles from: Expedia
In California, a worthwhile discount card for attractions: Southern California CityPASS
Which includes a three-day entry (with park hopping) to the two Disney parks, entry to "SeaWorld" in San Diego, entry to Legoland California, and entry to the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park. Of course, the card is worthwhile only for those planning to visit all the amusement parks and tourist sites included in the card. For those interested in only some of the attractions, it is worth looking for a solution at one of the following sites:
Another excellent and worthwhile card is GO CARD LOS ANGELES which includes over 30 attractions in the city, including amusement parks, attractions, tours, and museums. The card is modular and its price depends on the number of days you wish to use it.
Shows
Tickets for theater or music shows or for sports games in the various leagues in the USA can be ordered on the following recommended site:
Las Vegas:
♦ From Viator: Tickets for attractions and tours: Top Las Vegas Tickets & Passes