Are annual passes worth it?

We are annual pass holders. We own annual passes to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, Disneyland and The Discovery Science Center. Our annual pass to the San Diego Zoo (also good for the Wild Animal park) has expired and we decided not to renew it.

How we got the passes?

We were pass virgins until we got our first annual pass from the San Diego zoo. When DD was about 9 months old, that Christmas we received a couple of tickets for the San Diego Zoo as a gift. DH did not want to go, so I decided to to take DD there on a playdate with couple of other mommies. Amy, one of the moms who joined us, brought a ticket and decided that the zoo was not a place she would visit anytime soon. I asked if I could use her ticket toward my annual pass, she did not have a problem with it. So, I ended up getting a $35 discount on my annual pass (I paid $47 dollars for it, I believe). When I purchased the pass, it also came with 2 free tickets which I gave away as gifts to my friends so they can take their kids to visit the zoo.

Not long after that, we also brought a pass to Disneyland. For a while, my friend Irene was getting us into Disneyland for free because her husband works there and her family pass from Disneyland allows her to take 3 people in with her each time. It was nice to get in for free because paying $89 per ticket was not worth it when your kid gets burn out in 2 hours and then you have to head home. Later, I decided to get my own pass because then I don't have to rely on her to get me into Disneyland. Also, someone she knew brought a ticket and I was able to use that ticket toward my annual pass-- saving me $56.

I don't have any interesting stories for my pass for Aquarium or The Discovery Science Center. DD enjoys these places, and the annual passes are 100% tax deductible.

Are they worth it?

Yes, they are worth it if you really use them. We decide not to renew our San Diego Zoo pass because gas price has gone up so much that, it would be too expensive for us to make the 1 hour drive there and an hour back home for it. Though while we had it, we did make it out there at least 6 times, so our pass more than paid for itself.

We also go to the Discovery Science Center and the Long Beach Aquarium once a month. DD loves the rides at Disneyland, so we are there 1 to 2 times a month. The mommies from the play group DD belongs to also go to Disneyland for mommies night out once every couple of months.

Because we only buy passes for the places we know we will go, so it is 100% worth it to us.
I know seveal moms who decided to buy passes but only gone to the amusement parks once or twice-- not worth it in this case for sure.

Tips

* If you know someone who has brought a ticket or is going to buy a ticket, ask if you can use it after they are done. Most of amusement parks will allow you to use the price of that ticket toward your annual pass. Check the policy though-- most places require you to buy annual pass the same day you use your ticket. Sometimes it is worth it to meet up with the person when they are done with the pass to get your discount. For example, my friend Marie had a family member visiting from out of town. The family member brought a $94 ticket at Disneyland. Marie met up with the person that night at the Dineyland park entrance to pick up her used ticket because it needs to be used the same day for annual pass. She saved $94 that way.

* Do not buy a pass if you are not going to use it. Sounds easy, but not so. Many people make the mistake thinking that if they use the pass so many times, it will be cheaper than a regular ticket price. This is only true if you actually use your annual pass. Be sure to think long and hard about how often you would use the pass and if you have the time to use the pass. For us, the decision is easy because I am a full time stay at home mom. My job is to take care of DD. I have the time and the energy to take her to these amusement parks. But, I don't know if I would have the time and energy to do these things with her if I work full time.

* Save money by packing lunchs. We almost always pack lunch to amusement parks-- except for special occasions. For example, I typically pack some sandwiches or lunchables for our trips to Disneyland. DD rather be on the rides than eating lunch anyhow. Also, this way, we don't have to wait in line for food. We can just sit down and eat whenever we are hungry.

* Buy a parking pass when it is possible. If you know you are going to use your annual passes regularly, it is a good idea to buy a parking pass (if there is a parking fee). San Diego Zoo did not have a parking fee, so there is no need to worry about that. Disneyland Theme Park parking is $12. A parking pass is $59. Since we knew we would be there more than 5 times a year, we did not hesitate to buy the parking pass also.