The dreaded, “Mom I bored!!!” I decided to nip this in the bud. I’m lucky to begin with because my husband is home for the summer. Being a teacher and all around “fun guy” he usually has some pretty great ideas and plans for the kids. Pandemic aside and all the changed/canceled plans we have had to navigate, I really wanted to make up for some lost time. We knew we weren’t going on a big traditional vacation this year since we just got back from an AMAZING Disney trip with my MIL. She took all of her grandbabies (and us) on a trip we’ll never forget. That being said, summer was heading for us like a freight train. I was starting a new job, vacation money had already been spent… Best way to get the biggest bang for our buck? Utilizing our memberships! I managed to use my “fun” money, aka second job to fund season passes for our local amusement park. The very best part? These passes granted us unlimited visits to FOUR different parks! Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild, and Dutch Wonderland!
- Includes Unlimited Admission
- Special Events, Including Phantom Fall Fest and Holiday Lights
- 20% in-park Discounts on Retail and Food Purchases
- Bring a Friend Discount Days
- Each pass provides 4 buddy passes
- Free refillable souvenir drink cups
- Free premium parking
The passes have already paid for themselves. We’ve gone to Kennywood twice, Sandcastle once, and made the trip to Dutch Wonderland where we went 2 days in a row. Summer is winding down now so we may not make it to Idlewild but the passes are good for the entire season including all of the special events. Thinking a fall trip may be in the works.
My BIL & SIL get us a family membership to the Pittsburgh Zoo every year for Christmas. $0
Jackson attended Space Voyager Camp at the Carnegie Science Center this summer. I renewed our museum membership in order to get a discount. Which then granted us access for the year to The Carnegie Science Center, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and the Carnegie Museum of Art. Brian took the kids for a day while Jackson was at camp. Coincidentally, our Museum is part of the membership is that it’s a part of the ASTC Passport Program!
Membership at an ASTC museum, such as the Carnegie Museum/Science Center, provides free admission to over 250 science and technology centers throughout the world. When planning our Dutch Wonderland trip I found out the Franklin Institute was an hour and a half away… part of the ASTC program and wait for it…
The world premier for the Harry Potter Exhibit!!! Our museum membership got us free admission to the museum and discounted tickets to the exhibit.
We made a couple of these things “mini vacations”. I became a Hilton Member and booked a hotel for an over night Sandcastle/Kennywood trip and I booked another hotel for our 2 day Dutch Wonderland trip with a stop at the Franklin Institute on our way home.
All in all, for those of you keeping up at home, we’ve gone to two theme parks (a couple of times), a water park, 2 science centers, and a world premier exhibit for less than the cost of our week long family beach vacation last year!
Planning ahead for next year, (I’ll share the link in November) there is usually a Black Friday sale for Kennywood season passes. Since we got our monies worth out of the passes this year, and went more than once (season is still going strong), it only makes sense to get the passes next year but to purchase them for less. Who doesn’t like a deal?!?!?
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Thanks.
Thanks!