The Penny-Pinchers Guide to Amusement Parks

I gotta side with BeccaRaptor and Sarah Jackson here...and it's not just the cute gal factor involved.

The trips I've taken 'on the cheap' were five times better than the ones I've taken blowing cash. Why? Money don't make ya happy, that's why.

-'Playa

If you're sad, money won't make you happy.

But if you're already happy, money can make you happier. ;)

/stays at Westin or Sheraton whenever possible, even if it's $200 a night, thanks to the Heavenly Bed

---

CoastaPlaya said:
I gotta side with BeccaRaptor and Sarah Jackson here...and it's not just the cute gal factor involved.

huh?

---

Ok, I think some of you need to realize that there are still some "poor college kids" (ie. the MiG Crew) that enjoy taking more than one coaster trip a year. With that in mind, if you use up all of your money on one trip then you won't be able to take another one later on in the year.

We always take out own food. For one thing, you eat healthier. You can't tell me that a turkey sandwich on wheat bread, little carrots and a Capri-Sun is not better to eat then the Hamburger, fries and soda that you will get in the park. Next by bringing a cooler with the food in it, it allows you a break from the park. Trust me, when you go to the Magic Kingdom and spend most of the day get your legs busted up by stroller-nazi mothers with screaming children, you need a break.

As for staying on or off property, I prefer staying off. With Priceline, I have never had to pay more than $23 for a motel room (excluding tax). The motels that I stay in are mostly Holiday Inn, La Quinta, among others. While yes you can see hidden mickeys in the shower curtain while you are taking a poop at some of the onsight motels, staying off site allows you the freedom of enjoying some of the other things that Orlando/Kissimmee has to offer. I highly doubt that you would even think of going to some of the really interesting shops that the town has to offer when you are onsite.

In the end it is all about preferance. All I can say is that sometimes you can OVER DO Mickey, and coming back to reality is almost a breath of fresh air by staying OFF site as opposed to staying ON. And for the record, I have stayed at both on and off. When I stayed on it felt too overwhelming and I almost needed a vacation from my vacation.

-D

"While yes you can see hidden mickeys in the shower curtain while you are taking a poop"

LMAO! That has to be the funniest quote of the day.

---

CedarPoint82 said:

---

CoastaPlaya said:
I gotta side with BeccaRaptor and Sarah Jackson here...and it's not just the cute gal factor involved.

---

huh?

---

Critiquing comes so easy without your OWN online photo. Let the gals have a look at you, too--and not just your forehead.

-CO

*** Edited 8/16/2004 8:16:18 PM UTC by CoastaPlaya***

---

Den said:
If you're sad, money won't make you happy.

But if you're already happy, money can make you happier.

/stays at Westin or Sheraton whenever possible, even if it's $200 a night, thanks to the Heavenly Bed

---

Reminds me of that old saying.........."I would rather be rich and unhappy than poor and unhappy" or something like that. lol.

-Tina

I just don't understand how anyone can judge anyone else's value system. As many have said, different people assign different value to different things, monetarily and otherwise.

I will always vacation on the cheap:

a) because then I can take the money I save and do other trips

b) because with my limited income and earning potential in my field of work, I feel really guilty and ruin my day if I don't

I've chosen a career for myself that is way more fulfilling than any amount of money and any amount of resulting luxury could ever be for me and if that means I have to vacation on the cheap, then so be it. If you think that sucks for me, then that's nice but I still have plenty of fun on my vacation.

Some like to credit whore, some don't. Some like to lap whore, some don't. Some think S:TE is a coaster, some don't. Some thing an overbank in an inversion, some don't. *** Edited 8/17/2004 5:54:22 AM UTC by ApolloAndy***

Some people think cucumbers taste better pickled...:)

Well, duh! :)

Well said, Andy. Different people value different things. I don't think there's any judging going on here, merely stating what is already quite obvious -- we each see value in different ways.

I don't think ANY of us would pass on a discount ticket, all other things being equal. What may vary is how hard we're willing to work for that discount. For example, if I spot a coupon, I'll grab it, but I won't go driving out of my way trying to find one -- it's not worth my time.

With our trip to CP a couple of days ago, we went on the cheaper side. Stayed at a campground 15 miles away from the park, 2 day ride and slide tickets, ate 1 meal at the park, snacks in the parking lot, etc. The extra's we discovered by not staying at the park(toft's ice cream parlor, angry trout restaraunt, hobby shop with parts for my R/C cars that i can't get locally) just made the whole vacation experience a little better in our opinion. For some of use, the vacation is not completely about the park.

---

Jeff said:

---

freakylick said:
So do people who have money...and people who don't care about living their life in the red...But not everyone can "let go and have fun".

---

Sucks to be them, I guess!

---

Wow...enough said.

Greg..Are you sure that there is no judging going on here??

---

CoastaPlaya said:

---

CedarPoint82 said:

---

CoastaPlaya said:
I gotta side with BeccaRaptor and Sarah Jackson here...and it's not just the cute gal factor involved.

---

huh?

---

Critiquing comes so easy without your OWN online photo. Let the gals have a look at you, too--and not just your forehead.

-CO

*** Edited 8/16/2004 8:16:18 PM UTC by CoastaPlaya***

---

um, what are you talking about? are you calling me a guy? what is going on?

I think what Captain Obvious was saying was fairly obvious. Don't start playing with the big boys until you have enough guts to post a picture on your PeopleID page. 'sides we've had more practice at it then you.

-Swoosh Shaddy

Edited to correct spelling errors that were a result of too much alcohol. ;) *** Edited 8/20/2004 12:25:01 AM UTC by Swoosh***

My dearest Swoosh,
if I had a computer capable enough of posting a picture, I'd do it.
If you really wanna check me out, let me know!!
and by the looks of your picture I wouldn't be talking about having guts and being "bog boys" and such...

See that head next to Swooshie's? That's called a girl.
I guess his looks work for somebody.

And whaddaya have, a 486 with dual floppies?
Or is the CPU between your ears too small to post an online picture?

We're listening...

-CO

*** Edited 8/18/2004 7:52:10 PM UTC by CoastaPlaya***

I've been going to parks for over 30yrs and I always bring my own food, its not because I'm cheap. When most of you have kids,carpayments, mortgages you will learn how to save money. Just because I don't want to spend 4bucks for a hotdog thats been sitting under a heat lamp allday does'nt mean I don't have fun at parks!!!!! I go to about 20 parks a year and I wouldn't be able to take my family if I didn't save money some how. Its common sense to stay at a cheaper hotel, lets face it your just going to sleep and shower there.

Swoosh is handsome.

I NEVER go on "vacation". My "vacation" consists of sitting at home wishing I had money to buy a DVD player or PS2. It consists of driving 45 minuts to visit my Mom if I have enough gas in my '88 Pontiac Bonnie, and wondering if she will cook me dinner. It consists of going online like I do every day and looking at amusement park websites and lieing to myself saying, "I think that I will go there someday". Get the picture so far...

But so what. I am happy to get to go to a few parks a year, usuially one day trips with no overnight stays. I try to have about $50 after I pay for gas and admissions. I sometimes wish I had the means to do a lot more, but I am not super depressed or angry about it.

I am now making a whopping $900 per month. I have found a lifestyle in which I can live almost comfortablely with so little money. This lifestyle doesn't include 20 amusement park trips per year. I wish that it did, but I can accept my lifestyle. I am pretty darn happy.

Work hard or whatever, and congratulations to you for making the "bigtime". It's not as easy as some of you make it to break free from the slavery we are ushered into after High School. I work really hard myself, and I still make crap for pay. Low wages don't anger me; it's when people who have money to burn start acting like they have worked harder than you and are better than you. I am happy, I just wish those people would stop pretending that I shouldn't be.

I used to be jealous of people with money. Then I realized that there is always someone else who is worse off than you. One man has no shoes, but another has no legs.

If Mr. Muchcash wants to spend a small fortune to go on vacation, good for him. It doesn't take a small fortune to make me happy on a trip. One day at, say, HersheyPark is good enough for me.

My friends and I usually enjoy ourselves more when we bring our own food into the park. We save so much more and don't have to worry about poor service or running to the restroom from a pizza or hamburger that is soaked in that yummy stuff so many americans like. We still have a great time and usually have money left to stop by a 24HR restaurant on the way home for coffee, food and conversation. I can't imagine how much a family of 4 would have to spend if they bought food in the park plus added onto that the price of gas to get there, hotel and tickets. WoW! Am I glad that I'm single.

I thought you all would enjoy this from a PM that CedarPoint82 thought she needed to send me.

---

CedarPoint82 said: Honey,
If I had a computer capable of downloading a picture, it'd be up already and you'd be drooling....trust me, I'm not the normal sterotypical computer/coaster geek.
and I don't know what a bog boy is but I'll say anything to anybody I want to.
Thank you very much.

---

Well Sweet Pea, ;) if you will read my above post I have since corrected my typos. We're all waiting to see this drop dead looking girl that we are supposed to drool over. Please, I'm engaged (to that girl that CO mentioned above). The other guy in the picture is my brother. As for not being a "big boy," I think I can hold my own on this board. Also I wasn't saying that you couldn't say whatever you wanted on this board, I was helping you comprehend what CO had said, as it was apparent that you were clueless. Oh and thanks Dexter. :)

-Swoosh Shaddy