Silver Dollar City Deals

I get asked A LOT if I know of any deals in Branson...specifically Silver Dollar City. I usually say no, HOWEVER, I found this on their website:

2011 Season Pass Rates
and General Admission
(Prices subject to change without notice.)

Buy two days and get a third day FREE with your Splash & Play ticket. The 3 Day, 2 Park Splash & Play ticket provides all the flexibility you need to visit Silver Dollar City and White Water. Plus, the Splash & Play Savings Package provides over $200 in discounts and coupons, making your family vacation even better! Come and go as you please at both parks for 3 days! (Ticket valid for 3 days within 5 days of first use at either park.)

3 Day, 2 Park Splash & Play Admission for Silver Dollar City & White Water

May 21 - September 5, 2011	Retail	Tax	Total
ADULT (ages 12 +)	$90.00	$8.17	$98.17
CHILD (ages 4 - 11)	$70.00	$6.26	$76.26

2011 One-Day General Admission for Silver Dollar City

March 17 - December 30, 2011	Retail	Tax	Total
ADULT (ages 12 - 61)	$55.00	$4.11	$59.11
CHILD (ages 4 - 11) Children 3 & Under are Free	$45.00	$3.36	$48.36
SENIOR (ages 62 +)	$53.00	$3.96	$56.96

Come After 3, Next Day FREE! From March through October, when you pass through the Silver Dollar City turnstiles after 3pm, you may return to Silver Dollar City the next operating day at no additional charge. This special offer is available with all paid tickets; not valid with complimentary or Bring-A-Friend Free tickets. After 3, Next Day Free only valid on first use of Splash & Play tickets.

Purchase tickets online, or by calling 800-475-9370. For your convenience, when you purchase your One-Day General Admission tickets online, you can print your tickets on your home printer! No more waiting for tickets in the mail, or waiting in line at ticket booths. Just print your tickets at home or any location, then once you arrive on park you can proceed directly to the turnstiles. Find Answers to Print At Home Questions Here!

2011 Season Passes On Sale Now!

A Silver Dollar City Season Pass is less than the cost of 2 one-day tickets, and offers unlimited visits for an entire season of fun! Plus, Adult Season Pass Holders save 50% on noon & 8pm cruises aboard the Showboat Branson Belle, and receive discounts at other Branson attractions. 1 Park and 2 Park Super Passes to Silver Dollar City and White Water are available online today. See information about prices and benefits below.

2011 Season Pass

2011 2 PARK SUPER PASS	Retail	Tax	Total
ADULT (ages 12 - 61)	$130.00	$11.57	$141.57
CHILD (ages 4 - 11)	$120.00	$10.83	$130.83
SENIOR (ages 62 +)	$124.00	$11.13	$135.13
Benefits

2011 SILVER DOLLAR CITY SEASON PASS	Retail	Tax	Total
ADULT (ages 12 - 61)	$85.00	$6.35	$91.35
CHILD (ages 4 - 11)	$75.00	$5.61	$80.61
SENIOR (ages 62 +)	$79.00	$5.91	$84.91
Benefits

2010 WHITE WATER SEASON PASS*	Retail	Tax	Total
ADULT (ages 12 - 61)	$85.00	$9.86	$94.86
CHILD (ages 4 - 11)	$75.00	$8.70	$83.70
SENIOR (ages 62 +)	$79.00	$9.16	$88.16
Benefits
*White Water passes are subject to Branson and Taney County taxes.

Price valid through June 30, 2011; 11pm Central Time. Season Passes are for one individual to use all season long, and are not transferable. Guests who turn 12 years of age before July 1, 2011 should purchase an Adult Season Pass. Children turning 4 years of age anytime during 2011 will need a Child Season Pass. Adults who turn 62 years of age anytime during 2011 are eligible for a Senior Season Pass.

A convenience fee of $1.00 per pass applies to all online orders. The Print at Home option is not available for Season Passes purchased online.

Getaway Packages Silver Dollar City Attractions offers a combination of packages designed to give you a variety of entertainment and lodging options for your visit to Branson, Missouri. Enjoy the convenience of special Getaway Packages with select hotels in and near Branson. Choose from a variety of Seasonal Package options to build your perfect Getaway Package!

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THEN, I found a couple of deals on their facebook page...

Two-Day tickets are available through many area hotels and also online at websites such as www.reservebranson.com or www.ibranson.com. They are not available directly though Silver Dollar City.

Silver Dollar City MomsBlog Also, March through October when you enter the park after 3 p.m. with your paid ticket you can return the next consecutive operating day on the same ticket for no additional charge. http://www.bransonsilverdollarcity.com/offers-packages/default.aspx?id=302.

Planning a Vacay

The Tightwad Family is getting geared up for our summer vacation to Orlando.

I wanted to be sure to share with you, the great money-saving tips & ideas I've found to not only help the vacation more memorable, but even the car trip there.

Road Tripin'...

I have so many fond memories of a drive "out west" just before my fourth birthday. Here's some things we have ready for our long drive.

TOTE BAGS*. Each kiddo chooses a 'reasonably-sized' tote bag. The weeks leading up to the vacay, I'm on the lookout for things to toss in each tote. Dollar store finds, garage sale goodies, freebies, toys forgotten in the back of the closet; you name it. Something new (or forgotten), no matter how 'cheesy', will be an instant hit when you're bored.

I highly recommend creating your own scavenger hunt or 'travel bingo' based on the region(s) where you'll be traveling. You can do this on the computer (just place clip art on a grid) or hand make it...you can even use stickers. Some pictures on ours include TRAIN, HORSE, MOTORCYCLE, 18-WHEELER, BRIDGE, RIVER, GAS STATION, LAKE, etc.

In my girl tote=note pad, pen set, magic pad, activity pad/board (a traveling gift from her aunt), party favors, magnetic dress up dolls, paper dolls...

In my boy tote=dinosaurs, "new" (garage sale) spiderman coloring book, activity book, bag of markers, new car, party favors...

STOP BAGS. Bubbles, jump rope, hand sanitizer, & sun block for the rest stops.

POTTY SEAT. Had we not traveled with one of these in our past road trips, our drives would've been significantly longer. This not only keeps us from having to search for a restaurant or gas station, it keeps our kids from tinkling in their car seats (which would be awful!), AND saves them from being exposed to extra (nasty) public germs.

COOLER. Keeps us from stopping & paying for overpriced snacks/drinks. Which also wastes valuable drive time.

MOVIES. Thank the LORD for dvd players. Movies can burn hours on those car trips. Borrow movies from friends. Borrow them from the library (just be careful of heat warp!) Or like us, cash in coke reward points for blockbuster coups & rent those movies you've never seen.

Stopovers...

A modest but clean/safe hotel is a load off a road-weary mind. In the past, we've used priceline.com as well as other sources. If you plan ahead, packing some muffins, bagels, etc., along w/ juice & water, save breakfast money & some time in getting back on the road.

Be sure that if you plan to stopover, you pack those things separately so that it's easy to grab & saves time 'digging through' the rest of the bags.

Amusement Parks...

Disney tickets are cheaper, the more you buy. For example, for 2 days of Disney, we're paying 74.50/day...but had we had the leisure of spending 5 days in the parks, we'd only be spending 44.40/day.

With our research, we found that the best deals for tickets were part of travel 'packages'. If circumstances were different, we would've most likely taken advantage of a package. Go HERE to check out packages & even 'on sale' trips!

Souveniers...

Like all things our families do, at places that sell overpriced souveniers, I buy ahead of time. I can find Disney 'what-nots', at the Dollar Tree, at the Dollar Spot at Target, at Walmart in the clearance aisle, for dollars. Where as, I'll be dropping $20 on an Aerial necklace for my girl if we buy it at the park.

My friend Erica was smart about her kiddos' autograph books... she bought hers ahead of time at Michael's (in the dollar section) & decorated them with Disney stickers. Team that up w/ the 50% coupon & you've got cute autograph books for 50 cents a piece.

Meals...

Staying in a hotel/condo/suite/resort with a kitchen is your best bet. Then you have some control over when you're eating out. Breakfast is the cheapest meal to eat out. Also, my in-laws found this card: http://www.kidseatfreecard.com/ which is a fabulous deal.

I have to admit that if we didn't cut corners, our vacation might not happen... or at the very least, wouldn't be near as enjoyable. Two-teacher households don't exactly equal enormous wealth & frequent elaborate trips. Our frugality has paid off. And we'll have a great vacation as a reward!

Think of any tips I've missed out on? Please share in the comments! :)

It's a Good Time to Travel

We're like most families right now & don't have much extra money. But one thing that's important to us is family vacation. Needing to get away as a family is still a high priority.
Our economic situation in this country isn't really hot right now. Thank you Captain Obvious. But that can work to our advantage right now, as certain things are very affordable.

Like planned trips.

Disney's "Buy Four, Get Three Free" offer is extended through Mar. 29th (for most dates through Aug. 15th).
Purchase 4-night, 4-day Magic Your Way package & get 3 more nights accommodations & 3 park tickets free.
That's a lot of magic!

Click on over to my favorite agent & check out the other great deals.