Attractions’ ticket discounts are hot this summer
As we slide into August and the back-to-school season, Central Florida theme park and attractions are offering ticket discounts. Some are straight-up BOGO; some feature “edu-tainment.”
Here are a few of the more notable offerings plus a friendly reminder to check out the fine print, especially when it comes to ticket expirations, parking and black-out dates.
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
What: Kids get in free with the purchase of an adult ticket through Aug. 31. This deal includes access to animal exhibits and the splash pad.
How much: An adult ticket is $23.95 to $25.95, depending on date. (Child tickets are normally $17.95 to $19.95.)
Fine print: The Sanford zoo considers “child” to be ages 3 to 12. Two-year-olds and younger get in free. This offer is available only at the gate. It’s a one free kid per adult ticket sale.
More info: centralfloridazoo.org
Wonderworks Orlando
What: Back 2 School Bash deal, running Aug. 2-11, with access to its interactive exhibits and attractions such as the Space Discovery Zone, Extreme Weather Zone and Imagination Lab.
How much: Florida residents will pay $22. (Tickets are normally $36.99 for adults and $27.99 for ages 4-12.)
Fine print: Tickets cannot be purchased until Aug. 2, when a discount link will be posted on WonderWorks’ social media accounts. State ID is required upon arrival.
More info: wonderworksorlando.com
Island H2O Water Park
What: Buy One Get One Free ticket off to the Kissimmee attraction.
How much: Daily admission is $49.99, so this offer gets two people in for that price.
Fine print: The sale ends at 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 11. Tickets are good for any day that the park is open through Oct. 27.
More info: islandh2owaterpark.com
‘Drawn to Life,’ Cirque du Soleil
What: Adult admission to Disney Springs’ Cirque show at child ticket prices. The offer is to Florida residents, and it also applies to the Page to Stage Signature Experience, a backstage tour available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
How much: $56 to $60, depending on date and show time. (The adult price is normally between $75 and $91.) The tour experience is on sale for $225, down from $258.
Fine print: The deal runs through performances on Sept. 8.
More info: cirquedusoleil.com/drawn-to-life
Walt Disney World
What: Florida Resident Discover Disney Tickets, four-day passes to the four theme parks.
How much: $235. (Florida resident date-based tickets for one, three or four days normally start at $109 per day.)
Fine print: Advance park reservations are required, too. Discover Disney passes expire Sept. 28. The base ticket does not include park hopping, but that option is available for $40 more per ticket.
More info: disneyworld.com
SeaWorld Orlando
What: It’s a buy one single-day ticket, get another one for 50% off.
How much: The single-day ticket is $101.99 online, making the second ticket $50.99. There’s also a two-day version for $132.99, thus $66.49 for the additional pass.
Fine print: This is an act-fast deal — it ends Aug. 4. The tickets expire Sept. 27.
More info: seaworldorlando.com
Universal Orlando
What: A two-park “Unlimited Days” ticket, which allows Florida residents to enter Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios theme parks during regular operating hours through Dec. 18.
How much: $199. (One-day, two-park tickets start at $146; two-park annual passes currently range from $299 to $765 for Floridians.)
Fine print: Ticket includes park-to-park movement on same day. The pass must be purchased online; it’s not available at the park gates.
More info: universalorlando.com
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