Can you really afford to take a dream vacation this summer?
In some parts of the country, kids are still in school and parents are busy crunching numbers to see if a family escape to the beach, mountains or theme park is financially feasible.
Unfortunately, it seems the travel industry is working against frugal families this summer. Especially the ones who enjoy the mega thrills and chills found at popular amusement parks. Look at Universal Orlando. The Florida theme park just raised its single-day, single-park ticket price to $88.
The park’s attractions may be friendly, but the price of admission sure isn’t.
And just when you picked your jaw up from the floor after learning about that price hike, Disney drops this bomb: Visiting the House of Mouse in Florida will cost you $89 per person, an increase of $4. That means you will have to dig even deeper to purchase a multi-day Disney ticket. The four-day pass now sits at $256, while five- and seven-day passes cost $268 and $288, respectively.
Sadly, the price hike is not reserved exclusively for Disney World visitors. New attractions, including the 12-acre Cars Land at Disney’s California Adventure triggered a boost in admission prices there too. This summer, daily passes for the Anaheim Disney parks — Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park — will cost you $7 more than last year. The price of single-day tickets recently rose from $80 to $87. In addition, premium annual passes which include parking skyrocketed from $499 to $649.
That’s a steep price to pay for summer family fun. However, if you are determined to visit a major theme park while the kids are out of school, then look for ways to save on other elements of your vacation. For example, if you are flying to your summer vacation destination, travel experts maintain that you will get the best deal by purchasing a ticket on Tuesday. The third day of the week is traditionally a slow time, which is why companies reduce fares to increase traffic. Another option is to delay your summer trip until late August when prices tend to drop in anticipation of kids heading back to school. Finally, be flexible to ensure you are getting the best possible fare. If you are willing to take an overnight flight or one that includes a couple of connections you may be able to save at least $100 per person.
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