Stacey's Money Saving Tips!

Stacey is hunting down money saving tips!

Some call me cheap and others call me a penny-pinching tightwad.

I like to think of myself as a savvy frugal spender that is always on the prowl for a good deal.

When it comes to having fun I like to go all out but far too often I find myself on a tight budget. There are so many ways to save a few bucks here and there when taking a trip to a theme park.

Before buying your theme park tickets be sure to check online for special discounts. Check the actual theme parks website for deals and coupons. Sometimes buying your tickets online ahead of time will save you some dough. Also don't forget that Google is your friend. You never know where you will find coupons. Keep in mind that local credit unions and grocery stores sometimes sell discounted tickets as well.

Often times you can get a value on park tickets if you go during the off-season. They need to get people in the door and discounted tickets are a sure-fire way to do it. On top of that, if you have to fly to a park your plane tickets will most likely be cheaper when other people are staying at home and not vacationing.

Do you have a large group of people that you're taking with you? Most parks offer group discount rates that decrease the price of tickets significantly. Don't forget that carpooling with your friends and family also saves you a bundle on fuel costs.

If you plan to visit a theme park for more than one day, be sure to take advantage of staying at on-site hotels if available. You may be able to get a discount for your park tickets and/or gain early entry into the park. Who doesn't love the feeling of having the park to yourself?

One of the ways that theme parks take your money from right under your nose is by making you spend a ridiculous amount on generic food. Pack a lunch instead and keep the cooler in your car until your family is ready to eat. Most theme parks now have a picnic area. Try and eat a late dinner outside of the park where prices and food are sure to please your tummy and pocketbook more so than inside of the park.

Be an early riser! Those that get to parks before opening almost always have significantly shorter waits at the newest and best attractions. Take a break mid-day and then come back later. If you stay until park closing, the crowds will be virtually non-existent and the temperatures much more tolerable. Make the most out of your day. Get the biggest bang for your buck!

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Fear Amongst Friends

The following is a post from Stacey...

You arrive at the park with your friends and/or family and everyone seems to be in a great mood. Someone suggests to hit the biggest and baddest coaster in the park right away.

Only problem is, when you reach the queue, you begin to see the fear in one of your comrades eyes. Not the simple, "I'll conquer this" fear, but the, "no way, no how," kind of fear.

How do you prevent your buddy from running for the exit before you even reach the loading platform?

One sure fire way to scare them even more is to pressure them into hopping on board before they are ready. Calling them a pansy is only going to tick them off.

Try being supportive and let them know that you're all in it together. If it's someone else's first time in your party, have them sit together so they can have someone to relate to.

If the timid friend is an experienced coaster rider, remind them of all of the previous coasters they've conquered before. Tell them that if they went 200 feet, 300 feet won't feel much different. If they've reached a speed of 70 MPH, they won't even notice 10 MPH faster. It may also help to talk about the fun they've had riding coasters before.

Recently I stood in front of a girl in line who actually preferred to not talk about her fears at all. She needed to internalize her fears and block out what she was about to do.

If all else fails, give your pal a break. Allow them to sit this one out without giving them a hard time. Maybe they just need a few warm up coasters to get them motivated. Ask them later in the afternoon if they'd like to give it a shot.

Just remember... be encouraging! Not pushy!

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Stacey Remembers The Start Of Her Roller Coaster Obsession

I remember going to Six Flags for the very first time when I was six years old.

I stood in front of "Batman The Ride" in awe. I'd never seen anything like it before.

The only coaster I'd ever seen before was a single loop shuttle coaster at Fun Spot in Angola, Indiana.

Next to "Batman" that was small potatoes!

Soon, my family became consistent guests of Cedar Point. Even though I was tall enough to ride these mammoth coasters, I just didn't have the courage.

I'd become obsessed with roller coasters as the years passed on. I could rattle off facts that no normal nine year old would know.

"The Raptor has six inversions, Corkscrew started operating in 1976, and the Magnum XL-200 is 205 feet tall."

The latter had become a bit of an obsession of mine. Before the Millenium Force came along the Magnum was the big daddy of the park. I remember looking up at it's first drop and thinking, "I wish I were brave."

The summer after I turned thirteen I was coaxed into riding the Cedar Creek Mine Ride by my older brother and his friends. Believe it or not, as I was walking down the exit ramp, I turned to my brother and said, "let's do it again!"

By the end of that particular trip to Cedar Point I was onto my ultimate coaster. I was nothing but a ball of bravery walking up to the Magnum. It felt so good to finally be conquering my fears.

Do you remember your first roller coaster experience? Do you remember what it felt like to be going up the first lift hill and seeing the park from high above?

I'd like to hear about YOUR first time. Please feel free to share your story with everyone on the forum.

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Stacey's Rainy Day Ideas

Imagine walking around your favorite theme park, enjoying the perfect sunny day, when all of a sudden the clouds roll in and the sky quickly becomes what can only be described as a total crapstorm.

Rain could easily ruin your fun-filled day... if you let it.

If you're at a Disney theme park it's obviously much easier to find shelter in an indoor attraction. At a primarily outdoor theme park though, you might be required to find your own fun. There's no need to leave the park and let a little rain spoil your day.

First off, come prepared!

If the weather forecast looks unpredictible then make sure you're dressed properly. Wear clothes that can dry easily and breathes well. Make sure to store ponchos or jackets in the car in case you need them. Crocs might just be ideal footwear over tennis shoes because they will dry quickly.

When the rain starts pouring try and stick it out and just enjoy your time!

If coasters are still running just take a pair of shades with you to prevent rain smacking into your eyes. The best part of a downpour in the middle of the day is watching a good amount of people leave the park and therefore, leaving you with shorter wait times. Go on the "little" attractions that you might otherwise bypass. You may discover an unknown love for the bumper cars.

Your company could quite possibly be your best and only entertainment in the event of numerous attractions being shut down. Drag your friends and family to the arcade. Give everyone five or ten bucks to snag a ton of tokens and have at it! Make it a competition even. See who can win the most tickets. Join your tickets together in the end and get something that the whole family can enjoy.

If you really don't mind walking around wet then take full advantage of it. Go on water rides over and over again. I've personally done this at Cedar Point and had a blast! Sure, it was barely 65 degrees and I got a cold a few days later but it was so worth it.

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Going To The Park On A First Date?

Editor's Note: We're really excited to welcome Stacey Lantz to the Coaster Radio team! Stacey is going to be contributing to the blog and the show and will provide a different take on things than EB and I usually give you. This is her first blog post! So make her feel welcome!

A few weeks ago, EB and Mike talked about taking a first date to a theme park. They were wondering if it would be a good idea.

It's time for a girls take on the idea.....

I think it actually has GREAT potential to be a great date! There are some requirements though before you approach the idea full force.

1. You need to actually know who your date is. It's not an appropriate date for someone you were introduced to once briefly and beyond their name you know nothing else about them. You'd be setting yourself up for a lot of awkward situations.

2. Make sure your date actually likes roller coasters. Otherwise you may end up riding the Scrambler fifteen times.

3. Keep your conversation skills up. If you know you're a shy person with very little to talk about, it's probably not the best choice for a first date. There is going to be a lot of down time where you're going to be forced to stand next to each other. You don't want to stand in silence.

I think girls (at least me) really like having fun. We want to be entertained.

It doesn't have to be expensive! A lot of parks have the "late admission" option for a significant amount less than standard admission prices. Don't feel pressured to take her out to dinner at a restaurant. But, if you chose to, some theme parks have actual restaurants or theater shows that you can grab more than just popcorn and corn dogs.

To me the point of a date is to get to know someone. I don't get to know anything about someone sitting next to them at a movie chomping on popcorn. That's more of a third or fourth date thing to me.

Just my girly two cents!! What do you guys think?

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