Better Ask Barry: Amusement park savings

The wait is almost over. Star Wars “Galaxy’s Edge” is making its debut at Disneyland at the end of May — another reason for people to visit the happiest place on earth

Another family hotspot is Universal Studios, where the Jurrasic Park adventure opens this summer.

Of course, any trip to an amusement park can cost you, but there are ways to save money.

“There’s not one single person, it doesn’t matter if they’re statying at a 5-star hotel or a vacation rental, they all want to save money.”

The so-called Krazy Coupon Lady’s biggest tip is to never pay gate pricing.

“For most Southern California theme parks, you can find authorized sellers of tickets that will sell these tickets at a little bit of a discount,” she said.

Let’s consider admission prices at Universal Studios. For a family of four, general admission will cost you $556 for a weekday trip. If you purchase it online it drops to $436. Book through a company like aRes-travel, and it’s $420.

But how can you save once you get your ticket? Experienced guests have some ideas.

“Try not to eat in the park, because the restaurants are really expensive,” said one park-goer.

“I pack a lot of our snacks and food,” said another. “And then a lot of our souvenirs, we usually get those and watch for sales from the dollar store.”

The Krazy Coupon Lady put out 40 Disney vacation hacks that will save you hundreds. While it focuses on Disneyland, many of the tips can be used at other parks.

They include:

Eat your sit-down meal at lunch — not dinner. It’ll be about 15-20 percent cheaper. Bring your own drinks, refillable water bottles, and snacks. If Disneyland is your destination, consider buying Disney gift cards with a Target Red Card. That’s a 5-percent savings.

Here’s a link to the Krazy Coupon Lady’s other savings secrets: Click here.

If you have a question for Better Ask Barry, call (831) 784-6400, email barry.brown@kion546.com, or use the share tab at kion546.com.