4 Theme Park Upgrades Experts and Families Say Are Actually Worth the Extra Cost
Spending time at a theme park can mean fun for the whole family, and there are usually a variety of upgrades to choose from to make the experience even more fun and meaningful.
To find out what’s actually worth the extra cost, we talked with frequent travelers Dawn Allcot and Megan duBois who gave us their inside info on the best upgrades for families.
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Meal Plans
Dawn Allcot, a travel and finance writer and founder of GeekTravelGuide.net, did the math for us on a meal plan from Cedar Point.
“A Cedar Point dining pass is $145 and allows two meals per visit,” she said. “At $18 to $22 per meal, you’d need three or four visits for it to pay for itself and eat two meals at the park.”
Allcot said her family prefers to leave theme parks around mid-day, so it takes a little longer to pay it off, but she said it’s still worth it for parks that are known for their cuisine or have character dining experiences.
On-Site Hotels
Allcot emphasized that staying on-site when possible is worth it. On one trip to Hersey, she said they opted for an off-site hotel and regretted it after fighting traffic to and from the park. Perks include early entry or late hours, free shuttles or being within walking distance to the park.
At Universal Orlando Resort, Megan duBois, a theme park journalist with a decade of covering parks, said that the biggest upgrade is to book one of the Signature Collection resorts, though she specifies not Helios Grand. The booking includes Express Passes to skip the line.
An exception to this however, according to duBois, is the on-site hotels at Disneyland.
“There are only three options,” she said, “And they can be pretty pricey.”
For a family that just wants a spot to sleep and shower, she recommended one of the Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels nearby for nice rooms and maybe even free breakfast.
Skip-the-Line Passes
Different theme parks have their own version of a skip-the-line pass, but this upgrade is often worth it, especially for families with young kids — or even with teens who want to pack the day full of rides.
Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World offer the Lightning Lane MultiPass and Universal Orlando Resort offers Express Passes. DuBois cautioned against getting one at Walt Disney World, saying it’s “really only worth the added cost for Magic Kingdom, since the other parks have a much more limited inventory of attractions that utilize the service.”
Upgrades That Make Sense for Your Family
We know this is vague, but both duBois and Allcot agree that the upgrades that are “worth it” depend on each individual family. Booking a character lunch won’t make sense for families whose kids have outgrown the excitement that comes with seeing Mickey Mouse — if that’s even possible.
Upgrades like a cabana at a waterpark, for instance, provide a great place for multiple families to gather and for small children to nap. Allcot recommended splitting the cost if you’re vacationing with family or friends.
Some families love after-hours events, and duBois shared that there’s a wide range depending on the theme park, including Disneyland’s after-hours parties, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights and Dollywood’s new fall-themed event.
She said, “These events often have shorter wait times for rides and exclusive entertainment offerings, making them feel pretty special."
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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