How to make a mega trip cheaper?

[Tanks4me05]

To celebrate my planned graduating college with a Mechanical Engineering degree in a year, (take a wild guess what I want to do when I get out) I want to do an independent tour when I get out. I've wanted to do my own Texas/Midwest tour for a while, so that's what I'm settling on. If I get an engineering internship this summer, then it should be pretty easy to pay for. If I get a retail job around home then I could still pay for it but it will be more difficult. Either way, I want to know what can be done to make the trip cheaper. My methods are as follows:

 

-Assume gas cost of $3.50/gallon in order to allow for enough wiggle room; split gas price with one other person.

-Find hotels with Google Hotel Finder, filter for the cheapest 3 star (user rated) hotel nearby with free breakfast (to save on food costs); hotels without user ratings get ignored because I want to know that it's clean. Split hotel costs with one other person. I use AAA discounts whenever I can as I am a member.

-I made a short trip and a long trip based on costs and time, and both were listed with and without front line passes for the parks that have them.

-Assume $30/day for food.

-Assume no money spent on souvenirs; I rarely get that sort of thing and usually only do for a particularly nice shirt, or maybe a shot glass or something now that I'm over 21.

-The trip start day is only "partially fixed"; any time in the summer would be chosen, but it will coincide with the operating schedules of some of the parks that have shorter hours on the days that they are open longer. I just chose 7/1 as an arbitrary placeholder.

 

In the event that I am unable to find another friend that's able to fork over the cash to join me, I will most likely stick with the longer trip and use front line passes; although it will be more expensive, the more important factor is that I will be able to sleep more per night with the longer trip, so the driving will therefore be less dangerous. (I also love doing photography, and that can take up a fair amount of time.) I do not want to use a plane for this trip because I'll save a ton of money on not buying plane tickets or a rental car, and honestly I love driving, and there's a sort of intimacy of riding right on the ground in the middle of everything as opposed to flying up high that I have always loved. I'm going to redo the numbers and itinerary for one person right now.

 

My questions are as follows:

-What are the best sites for finding mega discounts on hotels?

-Where do you guys recommend to look for park discount tickets?

-I'll probably get weary of park and highway food for three weeks straight. Are there any good restaurants on the way or near parks (like within five minutes of driving)? I already accounted for some of this.

-I have never done a trip of this size on my own before; do you guys have any other tips for questions I have not mentioned?

 

The itineraries are as follows:

 

LONG TRIP

 

DAY 0: (6/30) (Start day is determined so that you arrive at the St. Louis City Museum on a Friday or Saturday)

-Get up at 9:00 AM (Approx. 9 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for friend's house by 4:00 PM

-Arrive at friend's house by 6:00 PM

Distance from Home to friend's home: Approx. 118 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 118 miles

Gas Money: $21.18

SUBTOTAL: $51.18

 

 

DAY 1: (7/1)

-Get up at 5:00 AM (Approx. 7 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Canada’s Wonderland (9580 Jane Street, Vaughan, ON) by 6:00 AM

Distance from friend's home to Canada’s Wonderland: Approx. 193 miles

-Arrive at Canada’s Wonderland by 10:00 AM

Cedar Fair Platinum Pass: $223.74 CAD ($175.00 USD)

Fast Lane Plus: $79.10 CAD ($61.87 USD)

Eat dinner at St. Louis Bar and Grill, 9651 Jane Street, ON

-Leave for Super 8 Toronto East (3280 Kingston Road, Toronto, ON) by 10:00 PM

-Arrive at Super 8 Toronto East by 10:40 PM

Distance from Canada’s Wonderland to Super 8 Toronto East: Approx. 28.9 miles

One Night Stay at Super 8 Toronto East: $37.67 CAD ($29.42 USD)

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 221.9 miles

Gas Money: $19.42/$38.84

SUBTOTAL: $253.84/$315.71

 

 

DAY 2: (7/2)

-Get up at 8:00 AM (Approx. 8 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

Fast Lane for both days: $154.99

-Leave for Hotel Breakers (1 Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, OH) by 9:00 AM

-Arrive at Hotel Breakers by 3:00 PM

Distance from Super 8 Toronto East to Hotel Breakers: Approx. 361 miles

Two night stay at Hotel Breakers: $324.08

-Ride coasters and shit

-Walk to Hotel Breakers by 10:00 PM

-Arrive at Hotel Breakers by 10:20 PM

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 361 miles

Gas Money: $31.59

SUBTOTAL: $385.67/$540.66

 

 

DAY 3: (7/3)

-Get up at 8:00 AM (Approx. 8.5 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Walk to Cedar Point by 9:00 AM

-Walk to Hotel Breakers by 10:00 PM

-Arrive at Hotel Breakers by 10:30 PM

SUBTOTAL: $30

 

 

DAY 4: (7/4)

-Get up at 8:30 AM (Approx. 9 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Indiana Beach (Untalulti Drive, Monticello, IN) by 9:30 AM

-Arrive at Indiana Beach by 2:00 PM

Distance from Hotel Breakers to Indiana Beach: Approx. 257 miles

All Day Wristband: $37.93

-Leave for Super 8 Gurnee (5520 Grand Avenue, Gurnee, IL) by 8:30 PM

-Arrive at Super 8 Gurnee by 11:00 PM

Distance from Indiana Beach to Super 8 Gurnee: Approx. 165 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 422 miles

Gas Money: $36.93

Two night stay at Super 8 Gurnee: $51.56

SUBTOTAL: $156.42

 

 

DAY 5: (7/5)

-Get up at 7:30 AM (Approx. 7.5 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Six Flags Great America (Six Flags Drive, Gurnee, IL) by 8:30 AM (park opens at 9:30 AM, and this is for taking photos around the park perimeter.)

-Arrive at Six Flags Great America by 8:35 AM

Distance from Super 8 Gurnee to Six Flags Great America: Approx. 0.6 miles

Gold Season Pass: $164.68

Gold Flash Pass: $85.00

-Eat dinner at Timothy O’Toole’s, 5572 Grand Avenue, Gurnee, IL

-Leave for Super 8 Gurnee by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at Super 8 Gurnee by 9:10 PM

Distance from Six Flags Great America to Super 8 Gurnee: Approx. 0.5 miles

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 1.1 miles

Gas Money: $0.10

SUBTOTAL: $194.78/$279.78

 

 

DAY 6: (7/6)

-Get up at 8:00 AM (Approx. 10 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for the St. Louis City Museum (750 North 16th Street, St. Louis, MO) by 9:00 AM

-Arrive at St. Louis City Museum by 2:00 PM

Distance from Super 8 Gurnee to St. Louis City Museum: Approx. 325 miles

Admission to all venues, parking: $45.98

-Leave for Holiday Inn West St. Louis Six Flags (4901 Six Flags Road, Eureka, MO) by 10:00 PM

-Arrive at Holiday Inn West St. Louis Six Flags by 10:30 PM

Distance from St. Louis City Museum to Holiday Inn West St. Louis Six Flags: Approx. 30.2 miles

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 355.2 miles

Gas Money: $31.08

Two night stay at Holiday Inn West St. Louis Six Flags: $129.28

SUBTOTAL: $236.34

 

 

DAY 7: (7/7)

-Get up at 9:00 AM (Approx. 9.5 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Six Flags St. Louis (4900 Six Flags Road, Eureka, MO) by 10:00 AM

-Arrive at Six Flags St. Louis by 10:05 AM (park opens at 10:30)

Distance from Holiday Inn West St. Louis Six Flags to Six Flags St. Louis: Approx. 1 mile

Gold Flash Pass: $50.70

-Leave for Holiday Inn West St. Louis Six Flags by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at Holiday Inn West St. Louis Six Flags by 9:10 PM

Distance from Six Flags St. Louis to Holiday Inn West St. Louis: Approx. 1 mile

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 2 miles

Gas Money: $0.18/$0.36

SUBTOTAL: $30.18/$80.88

 

 

DAY 8: (7/8)

-Get up at 5:00 AM (Approx. 7 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Worlds of Fun (4545 Worlds of Fun Avenue, Kansas City, MO) by 6:00 AM

-Arrive at Worlds of Fun by 10:00 AM

Distance from Holiday Inn West St. Louis Six Flags to Worlds of Fun: Approx. 239 miles

Fast Lane Plus: $61.96

-Leave for Travelodge Airport Platte City (504 Prairie View Road, Platte City, MO) by 7:30 PM

-Arrive at Travelodge Airport Platte City by 8:00 PM

Distance from Worlds of Fun to Travelodge Airport Platte City: Approx. 25.5 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 264.5 miles

Gas Money: $23.15/$46.30

SUBTOTAL: $53.15/$115.11

 

 

DAY 9: (7/9)

-Get up at 4:30 AM (Approx. 7.5 hours of sleep)

Food: $50

-Leave for Silver Dollar City (Silver Dollar City Parkway, Branson, MO) by 5:30 AM

-Arrive at Silver Dollar City by 9:30 AM

Distance from Travelodge Airport Platte City to Silver Dollar City: Approx. 238 miles

Tickets: $64.49

-Leave for Fall Creek Inn and Suites (995 Highway 165, Branson, MO) by 7:00 PM

-Arrive at Fall Creek Inn and Suites by 7:30 PM

Distance from Silver Dollar City to Fall Creek Inn & Suites: Approx. 7.5 miles

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 245.5 miles

Gas Money: $21.48

One night stay at Fall Creek Inn & Suites: $30.67

SUBTOTAL: $166.64

 

 

DAY 10: (7/10)

-Get up at 8:00 AM (Approx. 11.5 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Frontier City (11501 N I 35 Service Road, Oklahoma City, OK) by 9:00 AM

-Arrive at Frontier City by 12:30 PM

Distance from Fall Creek Inn & Suites to Silver Dollar City: Approx. 318 miles

Online tickets, split parking: $41.06

-Leave for Zero Gravity (11130 Malibu Drive, Dallas, TX) by 4:30 PM

-Arrive at Zero Gravity by 7:30 PM

Distance from Frontier City to Zero Gravity: Approx. 203 miles

Two Person Thrillseeker Special (Split): $59.99

-Leave for Super 8 Grand Prairie North (402 East Palace Parkway, Grand Prairie, TX) by 11:00 PM

-Arrive at Super 8 Grand Prairie North by 11:30 PM

Distance from Zero Gravity to Super 8 Grand Prairie: Approx. 15.7 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 536.7 miles

Gas Money: $46.97

Two night stay at Super 8 Grand Prairie: $47.56

SUBTOTAL: $225.58

 

 

DAY 11: (7/11)

-Get up at 9:00 AM (Approx. 8.5 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Six Flags Over Texas (2201 Road to Six Flags Street, Arlington, TX) by 10:00 AM

-Arrive at Six Flags Over Texas by 10:10 AM (park opens at 10:30)

Distance from Super 8 Grand Prairie North to Six Flags Over Texas: Approx. 5.7 miles

Gold Flash Pass, 2 people (split): $60.00

-Leave for Super 8 Grand Prairie by 10:00 PM

-Arrive at Super 8 Grand Prairie by 10:10 PM

Distance from Six Flags Over Texas to Super 8 Grand Prairie: Approx.5.9 miles

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 11.6 miles

Gas Money: $1.02

SUBTOTAL: $31.02/$91.02

 

 

DAY 12: (7/12)

-Get up at 8:00 AM (Approx. 9 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Brackenridge Park Trail, San Antonio, TX (north end of the River Walk) by 9:00 AM

-Arrive at Brackenridge Park Trail by 1:00 PM

Distance from Super 8 Grand Prairie to Brackenridge Park Trail: Approx. 276 miles

Explore the River Walk for a while

-Leave for Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach (9542 West Interstate 10, San Antonio, TX) by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach by 9:15 PM

Distance from Brackenridge Park Trail to Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach: Approx. 12.5 miles

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 288.5 miles

Gas Money: $25.25

Three night stay at Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach: $98.60

SUBTOTAL: $153.85

 

 

DAY 13: (7/13)

-Get up at 8:30 AM (Approx. 10 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Sea World San Antonio (10500 Sea World Drive, San Antonio, TX) by 9:30 AM

-Arrive at Sea World San Antonio by 10:00 AM

Distance from Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach to Sea World San Antonio: Approx. 14.5 miles

Parking, ticket, Quick Queue Plus, Behind the Scenes Tour (10) and Dolphin Touch: $127.42

-Leave for Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach by 9:30 PM

Distance from Sea World San Antonio to Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach: Approx.15.2 miles

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 29.7 miles

Gas Money: $2.60

SUBTOTAL: $160.02

 

 

DAY 14: (7/14)

-Get up at 9:00 AM (Approx. 10.5 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Six Flags Fiesta Texas (17000 IH-10 West, San Antonio, TX) by 10:00 AM

-Arrive at Six Flags Fiesta Texas by 10:15 AM

Distance from Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach to Six Flags Fiesta Texas: Approx. 7.9 miles

Gold Flash Pass (2 people): $70.00

-Eat dinner at Chuy’s (15639 Interstate 10 W, San Antonio, TX)

Driving Distance from Six Flags Fiesta Texas to Chuy’s and back: 5.8 miles

-Leave for Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach by 9:15 PM

Distance from Six Flags Fiesta Texas to Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach: Approx.6.7 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 20.8 miles

Gas Money: $1.79

SUBTOTAL: $31.79/$101.79

 

 

DAY 15: (7/15)

-Get up at 8:00 AM (Approx. 10 hours)

Food: $30

-Leave for ZDT’s Amusement Park (301 West Kingsbury Street, Seguin, TX) by 9:00 AM

-Arrive at ZDT’s by 9:45 AM

Distance from Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio to ZDT’s Amusement Park: Approx. 44 miles

Extreme Wristband: $24.99

-Leave for Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier (2501 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston, TX) by 12:00 PM

-Arrive at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier by 3:30 PM

Distance from ZDT’s Amusement Park to Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier: Approx.212 miles

All Day Ride Pass: $29.22

-Leave for Kemah Boardwalk (215 Kipp Avenue, Kemah, TX) by 5:30 PM

-Arrive at Kemah Boardwalk by 6:00 PM

All Day Ride Pass: $24.89

-Leave for America’s Best Value Inn and Suites Texas City La Marque (5201 Gulf Freeway, La Marque, TX) by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at America’s Best Value Inn and Suites Texas City La Marque by 9:30 PM

Distance from Kemah Boardwalk to America’s Best Value Inn and Suites Texas City La Marque: Approx. 16.8 miles

Total Drive Distance: 272.8 miles

Gas Money: $23.87

One night stay at America’s Best Value Inn and Suites Texas City La Marque: $42.35

SUBTOTAL: $151.45

 

 

DAY 16: (7/16)

-Get up at 8:00 AM (Approx. 9.5 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Magic Springs and Crystal Falls (1701 East Grand Avenue, Hot Springs, AR) by 9:00 AM

-Arrive at Magic Springs and Crystal Falls by 4:00 PM

Distance from America’s Best Value Inn and Suites Texas City La Marque to Magic Springs and Crystal Falls: Approx. 443 miles

Tickets and Parking: $59.39

-Leave for the B Inn (316 Park Avenue, Hot Springs, AR) by 8:00 PM

-Arrive at the B Inn by 8:10 PM

Distance from Magic Springs and Crystal Falls to the B Inn: Approx. 3.2 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 446.2 miles

Gas Money: $39.05

One night stay at the B Inn: $42.41

SUBTOTAL: $170.85

 

 

DAY 17: (7/17)

-Get up at 8:00 AM (Approx. 10.5 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Beech Bend (798 Beech Bend Road, Bowling Green, KY) by 9:00 AM

-Arrive at Beech Bend by 4:00 PM

Distance from the B Inn to Beech Bend: Approx. 467 miles

Tickets: $33.91

-Eat Dinner at Mariah’s (360 East 8th Avenue, Bowling Green, KY)

Distance to and from Mariah’s: Approx. 7 miles

-Leave for Comfort Inn and Suites Rockport (1355 N. Plaza Drive, Rockport, IN) by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at Comfort Inn and Suites Rockport by 10:30

Distance from Beech Bend to Comfort Inn and Suites Rockport: Approx. 86 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 560 miles

Gas Money: $49.00

Two night stay at Comfort Inn and Suites Rockport: $144.30

SUBTOTAL: $257.21

 

 

DAY 18: (7/18)

-Get up at 8:30 AM (Approx. 9 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Holiday World (452 East Christmas Boulevard, Santa Claus, IN) by 9:30 AM

-Arrive at Holiday World by 10:00 AM

Distance from Comfort Inn and Suites Rockport to Holiday World: Approx. 19.8 miles

Tickets: $43.86

-Leave for Super 8 Louisville Airport (4800 Preston Highway, Louisville, KY) by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at Super 8 Louisville Airport by 10:30 PM

Distance from Holiday World to Super 8 Louisville Airport: Approx. 78.9 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 98.7 miles

Gas Money: $8.64

Two night stay at Super 8 Louisville Airport: $57.35

SUBTOTAL: $139.85

 

 

DAY 19: (7/19)

-Get up at 9:30 AM (Approx. 10 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Kentucky Kingdom (937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY) by 10:30 AM

-Arrive at Kentucky Kingdom by 10:40 AM (park opens at 11:00 AM)

Distance from Super 8 Louisville Airport to Kentucky Kingdom: Approx. 2.6 miles

Tickets, parking: $56.13

-Leave for Super 8 Louisville Airport by 7:00 PM

-Arrive at Super 8 Louisville Airport by 7:10 PM

Distance from Kentucky Kingdom to Super 8 Louisville Airport: Approx. 2.8 miles

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 5.4 miles

Gas Money: $0.48

SUBTOTAL: $86.61

 

 

DAY 20: (7/20)

-Get up at 7:00 AM (Approx. 9 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Kings Island (6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, OH) by 8:00 AM

-Arrive at Kings Island by 10:00 AM

Distance from Super 8 Louisville Airport to Kings Island: Approx. 126 miles

Fast Lane Plus: $84.99

-Leave for Days Inn Sharonville (11775 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, OH) by 10:00 PM

-Arrive at Days Inn Sharonville by 10:10 PM

Distance from Kings Island to Days Inn Sharonville: Approx. 9.2 miles

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 135.2 miles

Gas Money: $11.83

One night stay at Days Inn Sharonville: $28.56

SUBTOTAL: $70.39/$155.38

 

 

DAY 21: (7/21)

-Get up at 7:00 AM (approx. 8 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Waldameer (220 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA) by 8:00 AM

-Arrive at Waldameer by 1:00 PM

Distance from Days Inn Sharonville to Waldameer: Approx. 327 miles

All day dry park pass: $28.61

-Leave for friend's home by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at friend's home by 12:00 AM

Distance from Waldameer to friend's home: Approx 155 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx.482 miles

Gas Money: $42.18

SUBTOTAL: $100.79

 

 

DAY 22: (7/22)

-Get up at 11:00 AM (Approx. 10 hours of sleep)

-Leave for Home by 12:00 PM

-Arrive at Home by 2:00 PM

Distance from friend's home to Home: Approx. 119 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 119 miles

Gas Money: $21.36

SUBTOTAL: $21.36

 

 

LONG TRIP SUMMARY:

Duration: 23 days

Total Driving Distance: 4997.8 miles

Average Daily Driving Distance: 217.3 miles

Total Driving Time: 83 hours, 10 minutes

Average Daily Driving Time: 3 hours, 37 minutes

Average Nightly Sleep: 9 hours, 4 minutes

Amusement Parks: 22

Roller Coasters (Including unconfirmed 2016 additions, excluding kiddie coasters): 135

Grand Total Price without Front Line Passes: $3,158.97

Grand Total Price with Front Line Passes: $3,788.48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHORT TRIP:

 

DAY 1: (7/1) (Start day is determined so that you can go to Zero Gravity on a Friday or Saturday)

-Get up at 5:00 AM/6:00 AM (Approx. 6 hours of sleep)/(Approx. 7 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for friend's home by 6:00 AM/7:00 AM

-Arrive at friend's home by 8:00 AM/9:00 AM

Distance from Home to friend's home: Approx. 118 miles

-Leave for Hotel Breakers (1 Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, OH) by 8:00 AM/9:00 AM

-Arrive at Hotel Breakers by 1:00 PM/2:00 PM

Distance from friend's home to Hotel Breakers: Approx. 325 miles

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 443 miles

Cedar Fair Platinum Pass: $212.36

Fast Lane Plus: $101.89

Two night stay at Hotel Breakers: $317.37

Gas Money: $49.61

-Walk to hotel room by 10:00 PM

-Arrive at hotel room by 10:15 PM

SUBTOTAL: $609.34/$711.23

 

 

DAY 2: (7/2)

-Get up at 9:00 AM (Approx. 9.75 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Walk to Cedar Point by 10:00 AM

Second Fast Lane Plus: $101.89

-Walk to Hotel Breakers by 10:00 PM

-Arrive at Hotel Breakers by 10:15 PM

SUBTOTAL: $30.00/$131.89

 

 

DAY 3: (7/3)

-Get up at 8:00 AM (Approx. 8.75 hours of sleep)/4:30 AM (Approx. 5.25 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Kentucky Kingdom (937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY) by 9:00 AM/5:30 AM

-Arrive at Kentucky Kingdom by 2:30 PM/11:00 AM

Distance from Cedar Point to Kentucky Kingdom: Approx. 337 miles

Tickets: $44.89

-Leave for Super 8 Louisville Airport (4800 Preston Highway, Louisville, KY) by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at Super 8 Louisville Airport by 9:10 PM

Distance from Kentucky Kingdom to Super 8 Louisville Airport: Approx.2.8 miles

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 339.8 miles

Gas Money: $29.74

One night stay at Super 8 Louisville Airport: $32.26

SUBTOTAL: $136.89

 

 

DAY 4: (7/4)

-Get up at 7:00 AM (Approx. 9 hours of sleep)/5:00 AM (Approx. 7 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Six Flags St. Louis (4900 Six Flags Road, Eureka, MO) by 8:00 AM/6:00 AM

-Arrive at Six Flags St. Louis by 12:30 PM

Distance from Super 8 Louisville Airport to Six Flags St. Louis: Approx. 299 miles

Gold Season Pass: $107.10

Gold Flash Pass: $54.30

-Leave for Holiday Inn West St. Louis Six Flags (4901 Six Flags Road, Eureka, MO) by 10:00 PM

-Arrive at Holiday Inn West St. Louis Six Flags by 10:05 PM

Distance from Six Flags St. Louis to Holiday Inn West St. Louis Six Flags: Approx. 1 mile

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 300 miles

Gas Money: $26.25

One night stay at Holiday Inn West St. Louis Six Flags: $80.98

SUBTOTAL: $244.33/298.63

 

 

DAY 5: (7/5)

-Get up at 5:00 AM (Approx. 6 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Silver Dollar City (Silver Dollar City Parkway, Branson, MO) by 6:00 AM

-Arrive at Silver Dollar City by 9:30 AM

Distance from Holiday Inn West St. Louis Six Flags to Silver Dollar City: Approx. 227 miles

Tickets: $64.49

Lantern Tour and Super Trailblazer Pass: $87.61

-Leave for Happy Days Hotel (1400 South George Nigh Highway, McAlester, OK) by 7:00 PM

-Arrive at Happy Days Hotel by 11:30 PM

Distance from Silver Dollar City to Happy Days Hotel: Approx. 266 miles

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 493 miles

Gas Money: $43.14

One night stay at Happy Days Hotel: $39.68

SUBTOTAL: $177.27/$264.94

 

 

DAY 6: (7/6)

-Get up at 6:30 AM (Approx. 6 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Six Flags Over Texas (2201 Road to Six Flags Street, Arlington, TX) by 7:30 AM

-Arrive at Six Flags Over Texas by 10:30 AM

Gold Flash Pass, 2 people (split): $60.00

Distance from Happy Days Hotel to Six Flags Over Texas: Approx. 184 miles

-Leave for Zero Gravity (11131 Malibu Drive, Dallas, TX) by 10:00 PM

-Arrive at Zero Gravity by 10:30 PM

Distance from Six Flags Over Texas to Zero Gravity: Approx. 20.3 miles

3 ride + 2 ride combo (not the 5 ride + videos): $120.10

-Leave for Super 8 Grand Prairie (402 East Palace Parkway, Grand Prairie, TX) by 12:00 AM

-Arrive at Super 8 Grand Prairie by 12:30 AM

Distance from Zero Gravity to Super 8 Grand Prairie: Approx. 15.7 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 220 miles

Gas Money: $19.25

One night stay at Super 8 Grand Prairie: $25.43

SUBTOTAL: $194.78/$254.78

 

 

DAY 7: (7/7)

-Get up at 8:00 AM (approx. 6.5 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Sea World San Antonio (10500 Sea World Drive, San Antonio, TX) by 9:00 AM

-Arrive at Sea World San Antonio by 1:30 PM

Distance from Super 8 Grand Prairie to Sea World San Antonio: Approx. 292 miles

Parking, ticket, Quick Queue Plus, Behind the Scenes Tour (10) and Dolphin Touch: $127.42

-Leave for Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach by 9:30 PM

Distance from Sea World San Antonio to Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach: Approx.15.2 miles

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 307.2 miles

Gas Money: $26.88

Two night stay at Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach: $104.02

SUBTOTAL: $288.32

 

 

DAY 8: (7/8)

-Get up at 9:00 AM (approx. 10.5 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Six Flags Fiesta Texas (17000 IH-10 West, San Antonio, TX) by 10:00 AM

-Arrive at Six Flags Fiesta Texas by 10:15 AM

Distance from Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach to Six Flags Fiesta Texas: Approx. 7.9 miles

Gold Flash Pass (2 people): $70.00

-Eat dinner at Chuy’s (15639 Interstate 10 W, San Antonio, TX)

Driving Distance from Six Flags Fiesta Texas to Chuy’s and back: 5.8 miles

-Leave for Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach by 9:15 PM

Distance from Six Flags Fiesta Texas to Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio/Wurzbach: Approx.6.7 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 20.8 miles

Gas Money: $1.79

SUBTOTAL: $31.79/$101.79

 

 

DAY 9: (7/9)

-Get up at 8:00 AM (Approx. 9.75 hours)

Food: $30

-Leave for ZDT’s Amusement Park (301 West Kingsbury Street, Seguin, TX) by 9:00 AM

-Arrive at ZDT’s by 9:45 AM

Distance from Baymont Inn and Suites San Antonio to ZDT’s Amusement Park: Approx. 44 miles

Extreme Wristband: $24.99

-Leave for Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier (2501 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston, TX) by 12:00 PM

-Arrive at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier by 3:30 PM

Distance from ZDT’s Amusement Park to Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier: Approx.212 miles

All Day Ride Pass: $29.22

-Leave for Kemah Boardwalk (215 Kipp Avenue, Kemah, TX) by 5:30 PM

-Arrive at Kemah Boardwalk by 6:00 PM

All Day Ride Pass: $24.89

-Leave for La Quinta Inn Nacogdoches (3215 South Street, Nacogdoches, TX) by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at La Quinta Inn Nacogdoches by 11:30 PM

Distance from Kemah Boardwalk to La Quinta Inn Nacogdoches: Approx. 164 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 420 miles

Gas Money: $36.75

One night stay at La Quinta Inn Nacogdoches: $27.97

SUBTOTAL: $173.82

 

 

DAY 10: (7/10)

-Get up at 9:30 AM (Approx. 9 hours of sleep)/6:00 AM (Approx. 5.5 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Magic Springs and Crystal Falls (1701 East Grand Avenue, Hot Springs, AR) by 10:30 AM/7:00 AM

-Arrive at Magic Springs and Crystal Falls by 2:30 PM/11:00 AM

Distance from La Quinta Inn Nacogdoches to Magic Springs and Crystal Falls: Approx. 271 miles

Tickets and Parking: $59.39

-Leave for the B Inn (316 Park Avenue, Hot Springs, AR) by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at the B Inn by 9:10 PM

Distance from Magic Springs and Crystal Falls to the B Inn: Approx. 3.2 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 274.2 miles

Gas Money: $24.00

One night stay at the B Inn: $31.25

SUBTOTAL: $144.64

 

 

DAY 11: (7/11)

-Get up at 7:00 AM (Approx. 9 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Beech Bend (798 Beech Bend Road, Bowling Green, KY) by 8:00 AM

-Arrive at Beech Bend by 3:00 PM

Distance from the B Inn to Beech Bend: Approx. 467 miles

Tickets: $33.91

-Eat Dinner at Mariah’s (360 East 8th Avenue, Bowling Green, KY)

Distance to and from Mariah’s: Approx. 7 miles

-Leave for Comfort Inn and Suites Rockport (1355 N. Plaza Drive, Rockport, IN) by 8:00 PM

-Arrive at Comfort Inn and Suites Rockport by 9:30

Distance from Beech Bend to Comfort Inn and Suites Rockport: Approx. 86 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 560 miles

Gas Money: $49.00

One night stay at Comfort Inn and Suites Rockport: $64.94

SUBTOTAL: $177.85

 

 

DAY 12: (7/12)

-Get up at 8:30 AM (Approx. 10 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Holiday World (452 East Christmas Boulevard, Santa Claus, IN) by 9:30 AM

-Arrive at Holiday World by 10:00 AM

Distance from Comfort Inn and Suites Rockport to Holiday World: Approx. 19.8 miles

Tickets: $43.86

-Leave for Days Inn Sharonville (11775 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, OH) by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at Days Inn Sharonville by 12:00 AM

Distance from Holiday World to Days Inn Sharonville: Approx. 189 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx. 208.8 miles

Gas Money: $18.27

Two night stay at Days Inn Sharonville: $52.19

SUBTOTAL: $144.32

 

 

DAY 13: (7/13)

-Get up 8:30 AM (Approx. 7.5 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Kings Island (6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, OH) by 9:30 AM

-Arrive at Kings Island by 9:45 AM

Distance from Super 8 Louisville Airport to Kings Island: Approx. 9.8 miles

Fast Lane Plus: $84.99

-Leave for Days Inn Sharonville (11775 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, OH) by 10:00 PM

-Arrive at Days Inn Sharonville by 10:10 PM

Distance from Kings Island to Days Inn Sharonville: Approx. 9.2 miles

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 19 miles

Gas Money: $1.67

SUBTOTAL: $31.67/$116.66

 

 

DAY 14: (7/14)

-Get up at 7:00 AM (approx. 8 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Waldameer (220 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA) by 8:00 AM

-Arrive at Waldameer by 1:00 PM

Distance from Days Inn Sharonville to Waldameer: Approx. 327 miles

All day dry park pass: $28.61

-Leave for friend's home by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at friend's home by 12:00 AM

Distance from Waldameer to West Sparta, NY: Approx 155 miles

Total Drive Distance: Approx.482 miles

Gas Money: $42.18

SUBTOTAL: $100.79

 

DAY 15: (7/15)

-Get up at 11:00 AM (Approx. 10 hours of sleep)

-Leave for home by 12:00 PM

-Arrive at home by 2:00 PM

Distance from friend's home to Home: Approx. 119 miles

Gas Money: $21.36

SUBTOTAL: $21.36

 

 

SHORT TRIP SUMMARY:

Duration: 15 days

Total Driving Distance: 4,206.8 miles

Average Daily Driving Distance: 280.45 miles

Total Driving Time: 70 hours, 5 minutes

Average Daily Driving Time: 4 hours, 40 minutes

Average Nightly Sleep: 7 hours, 50 minutes/8 hours, 27 minutes

Amusement Parks: 16

Roller Coasters (Including unconfirmed 2016 additions, excluding kiddie coasters): 92

Grand Price Without Front Line Passes: $2,507.17/$3,067.91

[DirkFunk]

JMHO:

 

-Find hotels with Google Hotel Finder, filter for the cheapest 3 star (user rated) hotel nearby with free breakfast (to save on food costs); hotels without user ratings get ignored because I want to know that it's clean. Split hotel costs with one other person. I use AAA discounts whenever I can as I am a member.

 

Pick a chain and stick with it. Also get the chain's credit card. If you're really interested in saving cash, eschew hotels for AirBNB.

 

-Assume $30/day for food.

 

I think this may be a very low number given that you'll do your fair share of eating within theme parks. Even with a free breakfast at a budget motel, you're basically pricing yourself out of ever eating anywhere more upscale than Little Caesars.

 

-Where do you guys recommend to look for park discount tickets?

 

Entirely depends on the park. I just Google the park name and go from there. Club TPR actually has one of the most comprehensive lists of park discounts of any clubs, so that may be worth consideration. RE: Front of line- unless you're going on a holiday, I would specifically avoid pre-purchase of these things. They almost never sell out prior to opening. Judge the crowd and the lines and go from there if you're staying to a strict budget. Ask yourself seriously - is it worth saving 15 minutes in line for something you'll ride only once to eat good food instead of a $5 foot long?

 

-I'll probably get weary of park and highway food for three weeks straight. Are there any good restaurants on the way or near parks (like within five minutes of driving)? I already accounted for some of this.

 

Cooking for yourself in a Motel 6 is simply impossible. If you're that tied to a $30/day budget for food w/o any way to prepare your own hot food, I would become very accustomed to eating cold cuts and dried/cured meats. You'll need a cooler, and the bigger you get, the better off you'll be. Consider seriously that you may get sick of drinking 4 oz cups of free water at amusement parks and may want a Sprite or Coke once in awhile. It does happen.

[805Andrew]

I would book some of the hotels on Hotels.com or Hotwire. Hotels.com will give you the 11th night free ( average price of 10 previous nights off 11th night's price). Hotwire will list the price, star level, amenities, percentage of positive reviews, and area but not the hotel name until you book. Every time I've booked 3.5 star hotel or above I've gotten a really nice hotel for a 2-3 star price. Priceline can also be good if you use the name your own price tool for a 3 star or above hotel. You pick the star level, amenities you want, and name your own price, but you don't know the exact hotel until they accept your offer and book it. Once I got a Courtyard Marriott two blocks from Knotts Berry Farm for $60 a night for example. I definitely wouldn't limit yourself to the hotels you selected. If you do end up staying at several Super 8s and book through them directly, I would sign up for Wyndham Rewards which will get points for staying at their properties.

 

As far as your park line up goes, I would add Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, TX (which is near San Antonio) and drop one of the lesser parks (maybe Frontier City) unless you dislike water parks. Also you probably won't need Fast Lane at all of the parks, probably just the busier ones (maybe not at Worlds of Fun).

[Stu K]

Hotels.com great tip, Book park tickets on-line for discounts some do eating plans and pay with credit cards to get some points or cash back.

 

Have fun

 

Stu K

[thrillrider]

A few suggestions......

 

1.If your a club TPR member, you can get discount tickets to just about every park you have on your list. This will save you a bunch of cash. Also, cedarfair parks offer a payment plan on the season passes if you purchase them online. This could help you out a little as well.

 

2. If your looking to save money, I recommend skipping hotel breakers at cedar point. You can get several rooms in the sandusky area for around $50-$60 a night if you search hotel discount sites. Before booking an expensive hotel, look at how much time you are actually going to be spending there. We did a few mega trips and stayed at motel 6 most of the time as we were only there to sleep for a few hours. Your best bet is to look at online reviews of a hotel before booking it. By doing this, you can save hundreds of dollars.

 

3. I think your food allowance is low. If your planning on eating in the parks, it's going to be closer to $40-$50. A way to lower this is to either leave the park to eat, or pack a lunch in a cooler and leave it in the car. We did peanut butter and jelly sandwiches a few times to save money.

 

4. Don't purchase a flash pass until you get to the park and judge the crowds. I made the mistake of doing that a few times, and got burnt. You never know, the park may be slow enough that day to where it is not needed.

 

Also, some of the parks have a parking fee, so don't forget about that...it can add up fast. There is a cool website called aaagascalculator.com. We have used this several time to calculate our gas costs, and it has been very good.

 

Hope this helps.

[larrygator]

Bring a cooler and always leave in the car with drinks. Replenish with ice each day from the motel ice machine Also, if you order a big meal somewhere you can keep leftovers cold and munch on the rest as a cold snack the next day.

 

Check gasbuddy.com or other gas price sites. Make sure you know the average cost of gas per state (or region of the state). You could save a few dollars per fill-up this way.

Edited April 7, 2015 by larrygator

[Brassinthegrass]

This sounds very close to the same trip Idea I have in place for the summer. Although we are doing 8 days along the east coast (circumnavigating WV).

 

Tips I've found: AAA beat out every hotel price out there. I know from experience $30 is really not going to be enough for money, unless your planning on eating fast food the entire time (good luck to your colon). See if there is a family member who gets park ticket discounts through work. My sister gets them and it's saved me TONS over the years!

 

Other than that, have a freaking blast!!!!!

[coasterbill]

2. If your looking to save money, I recommend skipping hotel breakers at cedar point.

 

This... SO this. You can get a decent hotel for a very low price in the Sandusky, Milan area and with a Platinum Pass you get Early Entry to Cedar Point anyway. Breakers would be cool but if you're on a budget then this is a great way to save a few hundred bucks.

[larrygator]

Your gas costs for Day 5 are way off, by about 400%. Every time you start your car you will burn 10 cents worth of gas and it appears you are starting it at least 3 times, plus your drive.

[thrillrider]

Your gas costs for Day 5 are way off, by about 400%. Every time you start your car you will burn 10 cents worth of gas and it appears you are starting it at least 3 times, plus your drive.

 

 

And let's not forget about toll roads as well. Just about every road on the north east coast is a toll road, and it can add up real fast. You might want to budget an extra $60 plus into your budget for tolls.

[Tanks4me05]

Your gas costs for Day 5 are way off, by about 400%. Every time you start your car you will burn 10 cents worth of gas and it appears you are starting it at least 3 times, plus your drive.

 

Where'd you get that figure of error? Here's my math:

 

Assuming you're referring to the short trip, where Day 5 is SDC:

 

Distance from Holiday Inn West St. Louis Six Flags to Silver Dollar City: 227 miles (Source: Google Earth)

Distance from Silver Dollar City to Happy Days Hotel McAlester, OK: 266 miles (Source: Google Earth)

Fuel Economy: 20 MPG

Fuel Cost: $1.75/Gal -- $3.50/Gal actual price split between two people. (I chose $3.50 because that's the highest price I saw for an extended period of time around my home in central NY, which is typically one of the more expensive fuel regions in the US; it did go to $4.50 for a while, but it seems to be a bit more stable around $3.50)

 

[(227 mi + 266 mi)/(20 mi/gal)] * ($1.75/Gal) = (24.65 Gal)*($1.75/Gal) = $43.14 (rounded up to nearest penny)

My dad's Toyota Sienna that I usually drive has a range of 400 miles, so including one gas stop that would be three times I'd start up the car barring additional bathroom and stretching breaks. $43.14 + 3*($0.10) = $43.44. So according to the gas price I chose, my error is ($43.14-$43.44)/($43.44) = 0.691%. In reality, my error will be a lot more if I do not factor in the current state average of gas that I believe you mentioned (which I will probably update monthly) but I won't know that true value until a few weeks before I start the trip anyway.

[Angle O. Descent]

1. Go camping instead of staying in hotels

2. Eat fast food outside of the parks instead of full service restaurants or anything inside the parks

3. Don't buy alcohol

4. Take lots of photos instead of buying souvenirs

5. Floor it right to the first destination or right home instead of staying an extra night or two out

 

And if you feel like splurging:

6. Choose 4 out of the 5 above.

[larrygator]

Your gas costs for Day 5 are way off, by about 400%. Every time you start your car you will burn 10 cents worth of gas and it appears you are starting it at least 3 times, plus your drive.

 

Where'd you get that figure of error?

 

DAY 5: (7/5)

-Get up at 7:30 AM (Approx. 7.5 hours of sleep)

Food: $30

-Leave for Six Flags Great America (Six Flags Drive, Gurnee, IL) by 8:30 AM (park opens at 9:30 AM, and this is for taking photos around the park perimeter.)

-Arrive at Six Flags Great America by 8:35 AM

Distance from Super 8 Gurnee to Six Flags Great America: Approx. 0.6 miles

Gold Season Pass: $164.68

Gold Flash Pass: $85.00

-Eat dinner at Timothy O’Toole’s, 5572 Grand Avenue, Gurnee, IL

-Leave for Super 8 Gurnee by 9:00 PM

-Arrive at Super 8 Gurnee by 9:10 PM

Distance from Six Flags Great America to Super 8 Gurnee: Approx. 0.5 miles

Total Driving Distance: Approx. 1.1 miles

Gas Money: $0.10

SUBTOTAL: $194.78/$279.78

[theymitbgi]

you may want to look into purchasing a six flags dining pass. They are running about $80, but cover 2 meals and a snack a day at the park. Looks like your hitting 4 SF parks so that would bring those food costs down to $20 a day. Just make sure they are valid nationally. I know theme park food isn't the best, but it may be a step above fast food and you'll leave yourself with more time at the park.

[chadster]

^Those are park specific.

 

I use hotwire almost exclusively when I travel. You can normally nail down the exact hotel utilizing betterbidding.com

 

Priceline now has a similar option as to hotwire if you don't like bidding which allows you to pick a hotel via star rating and user rating.

 

The iPhone and Android app 'hotel tonight' and the website lastminutetravel.com are also excellent alternatives.

 

Sure you take a small gamble on what you get, but out of the 200+ room nights on hotwire and 100+ room nights on Priceline, I've only had 3 hotels that I didn't care for. One was in Atlantic City so I'm not sure I'd count that against them

 

Additionally the price difference between a SFSTL season pass and SFGA pass are significant. Might check into a single day discount ticket at SFGA and getting a SP and SFSTL, you might save a few bones.

[technfxrick]

When i have done mega trips (though i have never done anything this long by myself) i find that if you plan too much it takes the fun out of it. Now i give myself a "rough" itinerary, and then if i hit bad traffic and dont get in until 4AM, i am not driving myself crazy keeping to some crazy schedule.

 

I also dont book hotels more than a day or 2 out. Most times (unless i am getting a great discount) i book day of. Then if i am getting tired i can adjust as needed. I have all the major hotel apps on my phone, and so after finding a good deal i just check trip advisor to make sure its not sketchy. In the grand scheme of things this is not going to cost HUGE amounts more, but will save your sanity.

 

Good luck! looks like a killer of a trip.

[bbomser]

You really are an engineer huh?

 

Talk about planning though. Sounds awesome. Don't forget about things like laundry. Additionally, I have to agree with the low amount of food. Is it feasible, yes. But as mentioned before, you will get tired of the same thing over and over and over and over and... you get the point.

 

That being said, good luck with everything. I myself am an Aerospace Engineer and also aspire to move into the theme park industry.

[Bedholm]

As I'm doing a very similar trip with my mom this summer having a fuel efficient car using hotels.com and eating cheap is very important. We bought Cedar Fair platinum passes with the food pass and for me eating 2 meals at a park and the free breakfasts at hotels is easily enough food. So $30 a day might easily be enough unless you eat a lot.

[grsupercity]

[Tanks4me05]

When i have done mega trips (though i have never done anything this long by myself) i find that if you plan too much it takes the fun out of it. Now i give myself a "rough" itinerary, and then if i hit bad traffic and dont get in until 4AM, i am not driving myself crazy keeping to some crazy schedule.

 

The thing is, I actually like doing the planning. I'm looking at the park websites to plan even what I want to eat at each park to get as accurate of food pricing as possible. (Unfortunately, a lot of the parks don't put the prices online, though.) Besides, it'll save time at the park if I choose now, because I'm infamous for taking forever to choose what to eat as I thoroughly comb through the menu to find the most unique item possible.

 

EDIT: You know what, I'll probably reply to this thread again after I look through the menus of the parks that don't have the prices listed and ask if anyone knows where to obtain those prices. If no one on TPR will be able to come up with those numbers, then I bet I could get an answer from the parks themselves if I email them directly.

[thrillrider]

Regardless of what foods you choose, remember that you are in a theme park and it's not going to be cheap. You might as well plan on spending roughly $15-$18 or more on a meal(burger, fry, drink). That's just for one meal. I assume that you will eat at least 3 times a day, and also need a few drinks as well. Just for arguments sake, lets say you eat twice a day in the park, that brings you to at least $30 right there. Then if you add in a drink or two, you can add another $5-$8 more. And then you will need to eat one more meal outside the park. Let's say Mc Donalds. Add another $6. Do you plan on getting snacks/drinks for on the road also?

 

An idea on saving a few bucks on drinks is to buy a six flags refillable cup. I think they are $12 each, and you get unlimited free refills on the day of purchase, and $1 refills after the first day. Most six flags parks have the same cup, so you can bring it from park to park. Cedarfair parks also have these mugs, but the cups are different at each of there parks.

 

A simple google search will find "some" pictures of the actual menus. Here is some for six flags......

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=six+flags+food+menu+prices&ei=UTF-8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-002

 

Here is a list of food options at cedarpoint with prices.....

http://cpfoodblog.com/cedar-point-food/

 

 

Hope this helps you some.

[beenagins87]

Regardless of what foods you choose, remember that you are in a theme park and it's not going to be cheap. You might as well plan on spending roughly $15-$18 or more on a meal(burger, fry, drink). That's just for one meal. I assume that you will eat at least 3 times a day, and also need a few drinks as well. Just for arguments sake, lets say you eat twice a day in the park, that brings you to at least $30 right there. Then if you add in a drink or two, you can add another $5-$8 more. And then you will need to eat one more meal outside the park. Let's say Mc Donalds. Add another $6. Do you plan on getting snacks/drinks for on the road also?

 

An idea on saving a few bucks on drinks is to buy a six flags refillable cup. I think they are $12 each, and you get unlimited free refills on the day of purchase, and $1 refills after the first day. Most six flags parks have the same cup, so you can bring it from park to park. Cedarfair parks also have these mugs, but the cups are different at each of there parks.

 

A simple google search will find "some" pictures of the actual menus. Here is some for six flags......

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=six+flags+food+menu+prices&ei=UTF-8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-002

 

Here is a list of food options at cedarpoint with prices.....

http://cpfoodblog.com/cedar-point-food/

 

 

Hope this helps you some.

 

Six Flags actually has a cup that is refillable for free all year long, it's green and it costs like $5 more to purchase it, but you save a lot more than that $5 with free refills all season long, and I'm assuming it's good from park to park as well.

[thrillrider]

Regardless of what foods you choose, remember that you are in a theme park and it's not going to be cheap. You might as well plan on spending roughly $15-$18 or more on a meal(burger, fry, drink). That's just for one meal. I assume that you will eat at least 3 times a day, and also need a few drinks as well. Just for arguments sake, lets say you eat twice a day in the park, that brings you to at least $30 right there. Then if you add in a drink or two, you can add another $5-$8 more. And then you will need to eat one more meal outside the park. Let's say Mc Donalds. Add another $6. Do you plan on getting snacks/drinks for on the road also?

 

An idea on saving a few bucks on drinks is to buy a six flags refillable cup. I think they are $12 each, and you get unlimited free refills on the day of purchase, and $1 refills after the first day. Most six flags parks have the same cup, so you can bring it from park to park. Cedarfair parks also have these mugs, but the cups are different at each of there parks.

 

A simple google search will find "some" pictures of the actual menus. Here is some for six flags......

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=six+flags+food+menu+prices&ei=UTF-8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-002

 

Here is a list of food options at cedarpoint with prices.....

http://cpfoodblog.com/cedar-point-food/

 

 

Hope this helps you some.

 

Six Flags actually has a cup that is refillable for free all year long, it's green and it costs like $5 more to purchase it, but you save a lot more than that $5 with free refills all season long, and I'm assuming it's good from park to park as well.

 

In all my visits to several six flags parks, I have never seen a refillable cup for only $5. It's more like $12.99. Look at this menu picture and you can see it here(look at the funnel cake menu to see prices)...

https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0LEViUG8CVVv6gAa14nnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTB0b2ZrZmU3BHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1lIUzAwMl8x?p=six+flags+food+menu+prices&back=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Dsix%2Bflags%2Bfood%2Bmenu%2Bprices%26ei%3DUTF-8%26hsimp%3Dyhs-002%26hspart%3Dmozilla&w=640&h=480&imgurl=www.thecoasterguy.com%2Fwordpress%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F02%2FSix_Flags_Season_Dining_Pass_7.jpg&size=45KB&name=Six_Flags_Season_Dining_Pass_7.jpg&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecoasterguy.com%2Findex.php%2F2013%2F02%2F05%2Fsix-flags-season-dining-pass-overview%2F&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecoasterguy.com%2Findex.php%2F2013%2F02%2F05%2Fsix-flags-season-dining-pass-overview%2F&type=&no=1&tt=117&oid=5293f15be89bf8156eda8b789899e921&tit=Six+Flags+Season+Dining+Pass+Overview&sigr=12ov7j98q&sigi=12tp03t14&sign=1128a57bb&sigt=103g3v28q&sigb=1369625lj&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-002

[beenagins87]

Regardless of what foods you choose, remember that you are in a theme park and it's not going to be cheap. You might as well plan on spending roughly $15-$18 or more on a meal(burger, fry, drink). That's just for one meal. I assume that you will eat at least 3 times a day, and also need a few drinks as well. Just for arguments sake, lets say you eat twice a day in the park, that brings you to at least $30 right there. Then if you add in a drink or two, you can add another $5-$8 more. And then you will need to eat one more meal outside the park. Let's say Mc Donalds. Add another $6. Do you plan on getting snacks/drinks for on the road also?

 

An idea on saving a few bucks on drinks is to buy a six flags refillable cup. I think they are $12 each, and you get unlimited free refills on the day of purchase, and $1 refills after the first day. Most six flags parks have the same cup, so you can bring it from park to park. Cedarfair parks also have these mugs, but the cups are different at each of there parks.

 

A simple google search will find "some" pictures of the actual menus. Here is some for six flags......

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=six+flags+food+menu+prices&ei=UTF-8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-002

 

Here is a list of food options at cedarpoint with prices.....

http://cpfoodblog.com/cedar-point-food/

 

 

Hope this helps you some.

 

Six Flags actually has a cup that is refillable for free all year long, it's green and it costs like $5 more to purchase it, but you save a lot more than that $5 with free refills all season long, and I'm assuming it's good from park to park as well.

 

In all my visits to several six flags parks, I have never seen a refillable cup for only $5. It's more like $12.99. Look at this menu picture and you can see it here(look at the funnel cake menu to see prices)...

https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0LEViUG8CVVv6gAa14nnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTB0b2ZrZmU3BHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1lIUzAwMl8x?p=six+flags+food+menu+prices&back=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Dsix%2Bflags%2Bfood%2Bmenu%2Bprices%26ei%3DUTF-8%26hsimp%3Dyhs-002%26hspart%3Dmozilla&w=640&h=480&imgurl=www.BLOCKEDSITE.com%2Fwordpress%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F02%2FSix_Flags_Season_Dining_Pass_7.jpg&size=45KB&name=Six_Flags_Season_Dining_Pass_7.jpg&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.BLOCKEDSITE.com%2Findex.php%2F2013%2F02%2F05%2Fsix-flags-season-dining-pass-overview%2F&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.BLOCKEDSITE.com%2Findex.php%2F2013%2F02%2F05%2Fsix-flags-season-dining-pass-overview%2F&type=&no=1&tt=117&oid=5293f15be89bf8156eda8b789899e921&tit=Six+Flags+Season+Dining+Pass+Overview&sigr=12ov7j98q&sigi=12tp03t14&sign=1128a57bb&sigt=103g3v28q&sigb=1369625lj&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-002

 

It's new this year.. I got one at SFOG they're $19.99 and they're a different color from your regular souvenir bottles, this way

no more wrist bands etc.. Also, the $5 I mentioned wasn't the price of the bottle itself, it was the difference between a regular sports bottle and the all season sports bottle, sorry for the confusion I may have caused.

[Tanks4me05]

In terms of the Six Flags parks, even though I'm going to SFGAM first, SFFT's gold season pass is the cheapest of all the parks I'd be visiting. I never bought a season pass from any park before, so can I theoretically order an SFFT gold pass and pick it up at SFGAM first, or do I have to pick it up at the park I bought it from? (Thus meaning that I'd have to get the extra money for SFGAM's pass.) Or can I get the pass mailed to me thus not having to worry about any of this in the first place?