How to keep your kids (and your wallet) happy on a theme park vacation

When you tell your kids about the family theme park vacation you're planning and they start excitedly screaming "Hip! Hip! Hooray!" you're probably not even thinking about the antithesis to their behavior: the meltdown that is likely to occur when you're waiting in a two-hour line to board a roller coaster. That's right: Long lines, tummy aches, sunburns, and more can put a damper on things. But, armed with these sanity-saving and budget-friendly tips, you should be set for fun.

1) Set boundaries.
To avoid conflict among your kids, let each child choose three to five attractions they don't want to miss. You can pick up a map of the park and circle all the chosen rides-and then develop a game plan for visiting them all.

2) Bring your own food.
Kids want something sweet? Let them decide on one treat but don't let them indulge until after they have filled up on healthy food. This way, you can avoid potential tummy aches, which don't mix well with rides that twirl and swirl. Since fruit and veggies are hard to find in parks, you might need to pack some of your own: mini carrots, boxed raisins, dried apricots, sliced oranges.

3) Beat the sun.
It's true that the early bird gets the worm: you'll find smaller crowds, shorter lines and cooler temperatures so definitely plan to arrive early. Have your sun block applied before entering the gates and be sure to reapply it as directed. Hats are always good to bring along as well to protect the little ones-just be sure to remove them before the rides!

4) Master long lines.
Waiting in line doesn't bring out the best in everyone. Your feet and back start to ache; the kids get thirsty. You need to prepare for this. A few ideas to consider: Give kids disposable cameras to take photos. Have plenty of water on hand and pack a few travel games (magnetic checkers, cat's cradle) for kids to pass the time.

5) Sleep nearby.
Sometimes the kids and you just need to relax and cool off. It's not ideal to trek back out to the parking lot, but as a parent, you know it happens. Be prepared and book a hotel nearby. Many hotels near parks provide transportation so you won't even have to worry about parking. And many hotels such as Best Westerns offer packages that include discount park tickets so you're saving all around.

6) Timing is everything.
It's no secret that parks are packed in the summer. If you're determined to go, your best bet for the slowest days is midweek, especially Wednesday and Thursday. If you go on a weekend, Sunday is best. If you're willing to postpone your theme park visit to another season, consider the timeframe between January and Presidents' Day, the day after Easter to Memorial Day, or between Labor Day and Columbus Day.

7) Save on tickets.
As mentioned in my fifth tip, when planning your trip, first look at special offers by hotels. This could save you time and energy. If there are none available, look on the theme park's Web site—many offer discounts online. Also, keep an eye out for special promotions or places where you can find coupons. Some parks run two-for-one admission coupons on soda cans and milk cartons. Most AAA and AARP memberships provide discounts, and reduced prices can be found at Costco.

If you're likely to go twice to the same park, it might be cheaper to buy a season pass than two one-day admission tickets. If your family can tolerate a late night, look for discounts for late-day admission. At Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio, the admission drops at 5 p.m. Lines for rides are often shorter at night, and you're out of the heat of the sun.

Some parks offer passes that allow you to skip long lines. At Disney, the free FastPass system issues timed tickets that bypass regular lines. Universal Orlando sells a limited number of Express Plus passes each day. At certain Six Flags parks, you can buy a Flash Pass to skip long lines.