Waterparks on the Cheap: 9 Ways to Pay Less for Family Fun

Growing up, both my husband and I loved waterparks. Now that we have kids of our own, we wanted to give them the same fun experiences we had as kids, but didn’t think we could afford it. From what we knew, the costs of waterparks were sky-high, and this was a luxury we couldn’t afford on our ultra-tight budget.

That is, until we did some research. Now, we’ve found plenty of ways to pay less and visit waterparks on the cheap, from discounted tickets to fan-perks and more. Here are nine ways to pay less for your wet and wild getaway:

1. Shop for discounted tickets

Target, as well as many national chain grocery stores (like Giant Eagle), offer discounted tickets to local attractions like museums, sporting events, and waterparks. Visit your store’s Customer Service Desk, or check their webpage, to see which tickets they’re currently offering.

2. Check off-season and mid-week prices

Before you purchase tickets, research your chosen waterpark. Most parks have discounted tickets or drastically lower prices during off-days (like the mid-week), or during their off-season. For example, our favorite local waterpark offers half-price tickets that can only be used on Mondays.

3. Use Facebook and Twitter

If you want cheap deals and discounts, ‘like’ a park’s Facebook page or follow their Twitter account to get notice of fans-only promotions.

4. Register for birthday clubs

Castaway Bay – a waterpark resort affiliated with Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio – offers a free one-day waterpark pass when you register for their Birthday Club. Check your desired park for similar deals.

5. Check online promotions

Great Wolf Lodge offers package deals and promotions when you purchase tickets online, like their 15% summer promotion.

6. Fundraising auctions

Every year in our town, a local school hosts a fundraising auction. At this auction, we’ve bid on waterpark passes – as well as tickets to dozens of other cultural and family fun activities – and purchased them for pennies on the dollar.

7. Check age restrictions

Many waterparks and resorts offer free admission to children two or three years of age and under. This is a great way to pay less for family admission if you can score cheap tickets for the adults, then free tickets for the kids.

8. Think smaller

There are a lot of big waterparks in the Great Lakes region; however, the price is pretty hefty. So we’ve found cheaper family-friendly options, such as the independently-run Pioneer Waterland in Chardon, Ohio. Or, since we have two kids under the age of three, we’ve found multiple free “spraygrounds” or “wet playgrounds” in our area which are perfect for young kids (and our budget).

9. Ask for gift cards

When it comes to birthdays and holidays, family and friends often ask what we or the kids want for gifts. Rather than asking for toys for the kids, why not ask for gift cards to waterparks? Kalahari Resorts offers gift cards here on their website. If you received a few waterpark gift cards for the holidays, you could afford a super cheap family getaway.

As you can see, visiting waterparks on the cheap can easily be done – it just takes some strategy. So plan ahead, do your research, and look for discounts everywhere – your family will be floating down the lazy river before you know it.