Where should I buy my theme park tickets?

[marc0o0o0o]

I am making a trip to Florida and I have everything ready, except tickets. I am going to Busch Gardens Africa, Islands of Adventure, Disney World and Sea World Orlando, but the ticket prices seem to be very high. I'm not expert in planning trips to theme parks (This is the first time I make a trip only to go to theme parks), so, do you have any suggestions? Should I buy the tickets online (Any site would be appreciated)? Should I buy them in the park?


Thanks.

[-SHOX-]

If I were you, I'd buy them online. This way, you'll avoid all of the lines to buy tickets at the park. Also, they may be less expensive online.

[guitarist4life]

Disney World and Busch Gardens tickets should both be bought from the parks individual online sites, as i have personal experience with both. I have no idea about Sea World orlando, but id assume its the same.

[tycooner55]

We bought our BGA tickets online. When we bought them there was a discount running if you bought them a week or two before you attend the park. Check to make sure if there are any discounts available.

[Maylene]

If you know some one in the military you can get them to buy you tickets. They have decent deals on IOA & US tickets.

Edit Here are the military ticket prices:

IOA or Universal Studios
$50.00 compared to $69.00

So you save about $40 for 2 days your going to spend there.

[SnooSnoo]

Everything depends on how long your gonna stay.

Passes to IoA/USF can be a very good price if you get them for a few days stay.. which is what worked for me last summer.

Same goes for BGA.

I've never been to the rest, but we have plenty of kids around here to help you with that.

[marc0o0o0o]

Thanks for the replies everybody!

Snoo, I'm going 2 days to Disney, and 1 to the rest.

[Rupeeman]

Only two days for Disney and one day for USF,BGA & SWF together?!

It takes more than three days to get time with all of them.:bored:

[Harpo]

A couple of places to check: If you have a AAA membership, or know someone who does, they sometimes have some good rates. Some employers have discount plans, as do some colleges, and even some community centers.

I generally will look at all those places, as well as the individual parks' websites. You can also do some searching online for discounts -- sometimes grocery stores or hotels have discount tickets for some parks.

Sometimes the work to find the discount isn't actually worth the amount of the discount. Only you can decide how much of your time it is worth in order to save a few bucks. If you really want to save time, the parks' websites usually are the fastest and most convenient methods for buying tickets.

[Alpengeist]

I would do the combo for BGT and Seaworld. ...both parks for a total of $89.95. The only catch is you have to purchase them online 7 days in advance, but you'll be saving at least $10 dollars off the single day at either Busch or Seaworld. Here's the link:
http://www.buschgardens.com/BGT/out_of_state_visitors.aspx

As for Universal, if you're only going to IOA, it will be expensive for a single day. Now if you go to both USF and IOA, you can get a combo similar to Busch Gardens/Seaworld. Here's what I'm talking about, a one day ticket to IOA is $69.99, while a 2 park unlimited (up to 7 days) is $80.98(2 days advance purchase). Here's the link:
http://www.universalorlando.com/tickets.html

But if you still only want to do the single day, AAA may be able to get you a few more dollars off. ...or the military discount mentioned above.


Now Disney is going to be the most expensive of any of the Florida theme parks. Unfortunately, unless you buy a 4+ day pass you're going to be paying a hefty amount of money with or without a discount.

Of course, I'm not that well versed on out of state discounts since being a Florida resident gives me different discount options, but I'll still help anyway I can.

[SnooSnoo]

I say, skip Disney, and ride coasters..

but thats me.. :)

[Albert Caine]

Orlando Flex ticket comes with IOA/Universal/BGA/SeaWorld
all on one ticket. Thats your best bet. ;)
Disney you'll have to do Magic Your Way.
Buy them online.

[Rupeeman]

I say, skip Disney, and ride coasters..

but thats me.. :)
Don`t you think of the children?!:p

[tycooner55]

I say, skip Disney, and ride coasters..

but thats me.. :)

I second that. As far as FL parks go....BGA FTW!

[Alpengeist]

Orlando Flex ticket comes with IOA/Universal/BGA/SeaWorld
all on one ticket. Thats your best bet. ;)

I wouldn't do that unless he's planning on hitting the two water parks and/or IOA/BGA/SWO more than one day. He can get both the BGA/SWO combo and IOA/USF combo for around a $100 less.


Marc, how are you breaking down your days and what time of the year are you going? ...because that can play a roll in which type of tickets to get too.

Example: If you go during the off-season, you can probably get in all the major attractions at both USF and IOA in a day. If it's the summer, it will take you a full day to do each. Same goes with Disney, if it the off-season, you can do Magic kingdom in one day and park-hop Animal Kingdom and MGM the other. EPCOT is also a full day either way.

[SnooSnoo]

Don`t you think of the children?!:p

I'm 21.. screw the children.. :D

[marc0o0o0o]

Ok. Thanks everybody! I'll skip Disney because it's very expensive ($79 each day!). I'll buy the BGA+SWO ticket for $79 and the USF+IoA for $69.

Thanks everybody!

[Cedar Point]

I second that. As far as FL parks go....BGA FTW!
Bah. BGE pwns n00bs. :o

Not in Florida, but it still pwns n00bs.

[The Ghost]

I say, skip Disney, and ride coasters..

but thats me.. :)

May God have mercy on your soul. :downcast: