Annual Passes: Should We Buy One?

Pretty much every family attraction has an annual pass or membership for sale.  It's great for the attraction because you pay up front and every time you come, you are likely to spend more money at the snack bar or gift shop.  It is potentially great for families because you can go to your favorite place as often as you want and you will often pay for the pass within about three visits.  We have purchased several family memberships over the past ten years and here some considerations that help us decide when to buy.  It always boils down to BANG FOR OUR BUCK.  Here are the passes we have purchased and why.

Ogden Eccles Dinosaur Park - We have been to dinosaur sites and museums inside and outside Utah and this Dinosaur Park is unique.  There are better museums out there, but it's the park with the life-size dinosaur statues that sets this park apart.  The grounds are attractive and pleasant to walk through and the whole family can learn about dinosaurs along the way.  Our kids also spend quality time unearthing dinosaur bones in the sand pit and playing on the dinosaur-themed playground.  Last year, we bought a pass through Groupon for $30.  It was such a great deal I called all our friends to tell them about it, since it would cost our family $24 for one full-price trip.  At the regular price of $60 per family, this pass will pay for itself in 2-3 trips.  Plus, the Dinosaur Park membership will also get you into the Tracy Aviary, Ogden Nature Center, and Ogden Union Station  museums for free on weekdays.  BONUS: This week, March 26-31, 2012, you can get a Dinosaur Park membership for 20% off.



Tracy Aviary - For us, this "bird zoo" offers a lot of the fun of the zoo, but without the crowds or the exhaustion of an all-day excursion.  It is a peaceful place where you can admire beautiful and exotic birds.  They also offer bird shows and feedings where you can participate.  I admit that we would not normally love our feathered friends enough to buy a membership, but the first time we bought one - five or six years ago - it was only $35.  That got us into the aviary 2-3 times and they had reciprocal agreements that allowed me to take my toddler to the Dinosaur Park on weekdays and the Hogle Zoo on the first Thursday of each month for free.  We definitely got bang for our buck from those benefits.  We enjoyed them so much we bought another membership two years later.  Apparently Tracy Aviary found out what a great deal they were and raised the price of their membership, but it was great while it lasted.  Even at its new price, you could make it pay for itself before long.



National Parks - When we were first married, National Parks annual passes were $50.  Since we visited Zion a couple of times per year at $25 per visit and visited other Utah National Parks too, it quickly paid for itself.  Now the pass is up to $85.  We could still make it work, but we can't be sure at the beginning of a year that it will pay for itself, so we haven't bought an annual pass since.  If you are over the age of 62, or travel with someone who is, a lifetime pass to the national parks is only $10.  Golden years, indeed.

We do not have any active annual passes right now, but I am keeping my eyes open for our next great deal.  The last time we visited the Treehouse Museum in Ogden, I nearly purchased membership because they were discounted.  They may still be.  Lagoon Amusement Park is near our home and it is likely that we will get annual passes there one of these years.  We are considering a Red Butte Garden membership right now because we want an advantage when their concert tickets go on sale next month.  The Hogle Zoo pass is always tempting, but we haven't done it yet. The Seven Peaks Pass of All Passes is a great deal, but most of the venues included were not near enough our home.  These are the factors I consider when we buy an annual pass:

• How many visits will it take for this annual pass to pay for itself?
• Would we want to visit that many times if we didn't have a membership?
• What other benefits or reciprocal agreements that we would use are included in the membership?
• How close is this attraction to our home?
• Are there regular coupons or specials for this attraction that we could use instead?

Do you have any annual passes for your family?  Where?

Do you have any great deals to share?