Save With Dave

Save With Dave: Amusing Savings

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ― Here are some tips that'll amuse you and put a smile on your face. We've dug up eight ways to save you some cash on your next visit to an amusement park.

The economy is on its own roller coaster ride these days, and amusement parks, like Six Flags in Vallejo are wheeling and dealing to keep you visiting.

First and foremost, buy online.

Ticket prices are almost always cheaper, usually 30-50 percent off. Even season passes are less; Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is offering free admission for the rest of 2008 if you buy a 2009 season pass.

Which brings us to Tip #2: It'll pay for itself after a few visits if you buy season pass. Pay with plastic, often your credit card and the issuing bank offer specials. And also consider a meal voucher, the card discounts food and it prevents your teens from spending the money on something else.

Don't bite off more than you can chew. No park hopper passes for a short weekend of play. Go late in the day when you can, many parks offer half-price tickets.

Also, check your ID cards; discounts for clubs, associations, and California residents are common.

And play during the week, many parks are open weekdays and offer cheap tickets.

Although Discovery Kingdom is only open weekends during the fall and winter, it will be open for Halloween which should be a frighteningly fun Friday night.

And each season ticket will get you another $300 in discounts on food, games and more.

So here's the scenario.

If you were to buy your Discovery Kingdom daily tickets online, right now everyone gets in for the price of a child $29.99.

A family for four, $119.96, which is a savings of $60.

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