Splish Splash discounts? Worth a trip?

[MickeyMamma]

We are in the NYC area and are thinking about making a daytrip out east. Has anybody been to this park? (on eastern Long Island)

Are there any ways to get discounted tickets? Prices seem kind of high.

Anywhere that you would suggest going instead? We have a 5yo DS and a 16 month old DD.

Thanks!!

 

[DisneyHumbug]

Check their website, sometimes there are discounts there. It is very expensive, but (I've heard) worth it. I haven't been there in years since my kids began to work there. I would pack a cooler with lunch and leave it in your car, then return to your car to eat. The food is expensive, too.
And get there early - it gets crowded.
My DD is a manager there, and I don't even get a discount!!

 

[MickeyMamma]

Well that stinks, humbug!

I was kind of concerned about crowds. A few people have told me that it gets reeeeeeeaaaaallllllly crowded.

We were looking at going on a Friday. Maybe crowds are better then? I just don't want to get the kids hyped up and then have them have to spend hours in line.

 

[Noah122898]

Splish Splash gets crazy crowded, especially the little kids section. It is a fun park though. Sometimes there are discounts at McDonals, Wendy's, Burger King. There is a really nice Aquarium that is in Riverhead that I think your kids would love. I brought my son there once when he was 2, then again at 5. There is also the Long Island Game Farm, sort of like a petting zoo, it's small. Hope this helps you!!

 

[MickeyMamma]

Splish Splash gets crazy crowded, especially the little kids section. It is a fun park though. Sometimes there are discounts at McDonals, Wendy's, Burger King. There is a really nice Aquarium that is in Riverhead that I think your kids would love. I brought my son there once when he was 2, then again at 5. There is also the Long Island Game Farm, sort of like a petting zoo, it's small. Hope this helps you!!

How does it compare with the aquarium by Coney Island?

And neighbor!

 

[Noah122898]

There are a lot more displays than Coney Island. There are indoor tanks and outdoor shows at Atlantis Aquarium. I liked it better than Coney Island (JMO)!

 

[krismom]

We just went last Monday- it was lots of fun, but very UNDisneylike. Seriously, I am forever comparing everywhere we go to Disney- and they never come close. I would compare it to Typhoon Lagoon but with, loud blaring 80's music and people smoking everywhere.
We got our discount coupons at PC Richard- I think they were $6.00 off per ticket.I still have some if you want to PM me. It was $33.00 for adults and kids over 48" and $22.00 for little ones. The food was expensive, but at least there weren't gift shops and souvenir stands everywhere!
They don't allow any "floaties" or arm bands. Only life jackets- which we had to rent.
The kids did have fun though-
Good Luck!

PS- we also go to Riverhead aquarium at least once a summer. It's nice and small but with lots to see.Don't forget to go outside and wade int tide pool area! The McDonald's down the block has discount coupons at the counter.

 

[java]

Another water park to consider- is Camelbeach in the Poconos(I don't know how far away that is for you since I am not sure where in NY you are) but it is right over the Delaware river bridge off 80. really relaxing and much much less crowded than Splish splash imho. I wasn't that impressed with Splish Splash. But I think we had just gotten back from a Disney trip when we went.... so .... not fair. If you could tell me how far you are willing to drive I could maybe make some more suggestions. One place we are dying to try is the children's museum right near Garden City. We used to live over there and they were building this when we moved to NJ. Supposed to be cute. Honestly at the age of your kids I think even the beach would be fun (and a lot cheaper than splish splash!)

 

[summerrluvv]

We love Splish Splash. It's not as crowded during the week on Monday, Tues and Wed. The park is really shaded, so you really don't have to worry about dying of heat while waiting in the lines. Wendy's has $3.00 off coupons.

 

[crazyme5kids]

The Children's Museum is nice, but I liked the Brooklyn Children's Museum better (we haven't been there in a long time though so it might not be better anymore). The Queens Hall of Science is very nice also.

Right next to the Children's Museum in Garden City is an aviation museum called The Cradle of Aviation. I haven't been there yet but my son has and he liked it. It has lots of old airplanes and space stuff. Right next door to that is a firefighter's museum. So you could make a day of museums without having to go far.

I really like the aquarium in Riverhead. It is small, but well done and has an amazing sea horse tank that I just love.

Now I have not been to this place since my two oldest were little, but The Land of Make Believe in Hope NJ was great for young kids. I think it was exit 12 or 14 off RT 80.

 

[MickeyMamma]

Wow! Thanks for all the feedback!!!

Unfortunately DH Only had Fridays off for the rest of the summer, so mid-week option is out. DH found out that a colleague of his went last week so we are going to try to find out about the crowd level from him too.

krismom - I will PM you. Thanks!

The beach? Yes, that would be my first choice, but even there it seems to get crazy crowded around here.

Garden City Children's Museum - We have been there several times. It is a cute museum, but if you have seen the one in Boston you will be disappointed. It is a nice afternoon activity though. I was a member there about 2 years ago when DS was younger. Actually haven't been to the aviation museum yet, but DS is probably old enough to appreciate it.

Hall of Science in Flushing - We went to a birthday party there last month and DS LOVED all the rocket and space things so I am sure we will be going back there at some point.




Where we would LIKE to go is tough. An overnight is an option so I looked at Land of Make Believe, but really don't know much about it (originally from the south). I was also trying to figure out where all else might be good.

BTW, we did Sesame Place 2 years ago and DS loved it, I think that it may be a little much for DD, but we are considering that too at this point.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Where in NY are you? If you're here on LI (which it sounds like) you could drive to Land of Make Believe and back in one day, it wouldn't have to be an overnight trip.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Adventure Land in Farmingdale has some rides that are geared for young kids. I think you can just buy tickets for a few rides. Not far from there is Schmidt's farm (think that's the name) and they have a nice little petting zoo thing and pony rides.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

My DD said the crowds depend on the weather. If it's cloudy or overcast, it won't be as crowded. There are discount coupons at PC Richards and Wendys. If you get life vests for your children, you might see my DD, that's her department. Although it's not like Disney, they are very safety conscious. The lifeguards go thru rigorous training - I believe the same as BB or Typhoon.

 

[tor]

Splish Splash is a great park but it doesnt have the themeing on the rides like disney. The crowds are crazy any day you would want to be at a water park but the buses usually leave between 4 and 5 pm and the park is open to 6 or 7 and you can get on more rides in 15 minutes then you did all day. The park is very shaded and the water is freezing.

 

[tor]

A free place is the holtsville ecology center my kids loved it at that age small zoo you can feed the animals a big park and trails for bike riding/walking and town pool. The beach is another alternative my kids liked better at that age as the were not interested in waiting on lines for any reason

 

[LSchrow]

looks like we might be in the minority, but we love splish splash!
squeaky clean, lotsa great rides (for all "ride types")........
we actually stopped going to WDW water parks b/c we felt they didn't compare <GASP>.

 

[java]

OH NO Not the Land of Make Believe!!! We went there once(it is about 30 minutes from us) and that was enough. But I hear it has gotten better so we may try it again this year- no way would I make it an overnight though. Thanks for the tip on the children's museum-we love the Boston one so I would be disappointed if it didn't hold up to that. I even like the NYC one.
OK some other ideas... If you are willing to do the LOMB(YIKES!!) Camelbeach (on Camelback ski resort) is just about 15 minutes west of that. Check out their website. We love that waterpark. There is a Great Wolf Lodge right there too with the indoor water park. Also if you do that as an overnight about an hour south of that is both Dorney Park and the Crayola Factory(love the crayola factory but it is really only a half day thing)
And there is always Hershey Park! Check out their website. And then Dutch Wonderland is good for the under 12 crowd(but I put that one just slightly above LOMB)

 

[summerrluvv]

Splish Splash is a great park but it doesnt have the themeing on the rides like disney. The crowds are crazy any day you would want to be at a water park but the buses usually leave between 4 and 5 pm and the park is open to 6 or 7 and you can get on more rides in 15 minutes then you did all day. The park is very shaded and the water is freezing.

A couple of the rides have theming. The Hollywood Stunt Rider and the New Alien Invasion both have theming.

I willl agree with you that the water is freezing. It's best to go on a hot day with the sun out.

They have a new option like they have at Great Wolf Lodge. They will scan your credit card onto a bracelet and that's how you pay for food, etc., so you don't have to carry money around.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Don't get me wrong, LOMB is not big, nor is it real fancy, but for children the OP's ages it is a good one day place. The rides were all geared for young kids, I don't know if that has changed from when I went. If you want adult rides too I would have to agree that this isn't the place to go.

Great Wolf was so much fun for my kids. They have a nice area that is great for kids your youngest childs age.

Splish Splash was listed as one of the ten best water parks in the country on the Travel Channel.