19 Amusement Parks That Offer FREE Admission to Preschoolers
Stretch your entertainment budget with FREE preschool passes to select theme parks!
While kids two and under usually get into most family theme parks for free, did you know that many amusement parks also offer FREE admission to older preschoolers (ages three to five)?
If you live near one of the amusement parks below, or if you’re planning a trip with young children to one of these areas, getting a FREE Preschool Pass to a family theme park would be a great way to save big on family fun!
Keep in mind that many of these offers are for year-long passes, so there is a registration deadline in most cases. Some parks offer only a limited number of preschool passes per year, so be sure to register early if you plan to visit any of these amusement parks with your preschooler(s)!
Proof of your child’s age will be required to qualify for these free preschool passes. This can be verified with either a birth certificate or a travel passport, so make sure to verify the documentation needed with the theme park before traveling there.
Here are 19 amusement parks that offer FREE preschool passes!
1. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Tampa, FL)
Kids five and under can enjoy FREE admission to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island all year long with the FREE Preschool Card. This offer is available for Florida residents only.
2. Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Williamsburg, VA)
Children between the ages of three and five years old get FREE admission to both Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA with a FREE 2-Park Preschool Pass. Registration typically begins during late January. Follow the park’s Facebook page or blog for more information and updates.
3. California’s Great America (Santa Clara, CA)
California’s Great America Pre-K Pass is FREE for kids ages three to five years old and includes unlimited visits for the entire season, including South Bay Shores Waterpark, The Great Pumpkin Fest, and WinterFest!
4. Carowinds (Charlotte, NC)
The Carowinds Pre-K Pass is FREE for kids ages three to five years old and includes unlimited visits for the entire season, including Carolina Harbor Waterpark, The Great Pumpkin Fest, Peanuts Celebration, and WinterFest!
5. Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)
The Cedar Point Pre-K Pass is FREE for children ages three to five years old. It grants FREE admission for the entire season to both Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores Water Park.
6. Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, TN)
Dollywood’s FREE Pre-K Imagination Season Pass allows preschoolers to visit Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country for free all season long.
7. Dorney Park (Allentown, PA)
The Dorney Park Pre-K Pass is FREE for children ages three to five years old. It grants FREE admission to both Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom for the entire season.
8. Elitch Gardens (Denver, Co)
The Elitch Gardens Pre-K Pass is FREE for kids ages three to five years old. It includes unlimited visits to both the theme and water park for the entire season!
9. Idlewild and Soak Zone (Ligonier, PA)
Idlewild grants one FREE Preschool Play Pass for children ages three to five with the purchase of one Adult Season Pass. Preschool Play Passes are free for the following year during a limited sales period in the fall, usually November/December. They may also be purchased at a discounted rate during other sales periods throughout the year.
10. Kings Dominion (Doswell, VA)
The Kings Dominion Pre-K Pass is FREE for kids ages three to five years old and includes unlimited visits to the park for the entire season. Also included are unlimited visits to Soak City Waterpark, Grand Carnivale, the Great Pumpkin Fest, and WinterFest!
11. LEGOLAND Florida Resort (Cypress Gardens, FL)
The LEGOLAND Florida Resort FREE Preschooler Pass grants Florida residents ages three and four unlimited admission for a full year to both LEGOLAND Florida Theme Park and Water Park.
12. SeaWorld Orlando (Orlando, FL)
Florida residents ages five and under can enjoy FREE admission to SeaWorld and Aquatica Orlando all year long with the FREE Preschool Card. There is a limited window during which you can register for SeaWorld’s Preschool Card (usually throughout the month of January).
13. SeaWorld San Antonio (San Antonio, TX)
Texas residents ages five and under can enjoy FREE admission to SeaWorld all year long with the FREE SeaWorld Preschool Card. The Preschool Card also includes the Sesame Street Party Parade in May, Halloween Spooktacular, and SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration.
14. SeaWorld San Diego (San Diego, CA)
San Diego and Orange County residents ages three to five can enjoy FREE admission to SeaWorld all year long with the SeaWorld San Diego Preschool Fun Card! A limited number of Preschool Fun Cards are distributed each year for free. After that, adults can purchase up to two Preschool Fun cards for $20 each.
15. Silver Dollar City (Branson, MO)
Silver Dollar City’s FREE Adventure Season Pass allows preschoolers to visit both Silver Dollar City and White Water for free all season long.
16. Story Land (Glen, NH)
The FREE Story Land Preschool Play Pass grants children ages three to five complimentary admission to Story Land all season long. The Preschool Play Pass is NOT valid for admission to Living Shores Aquarium.
17. Valleyfair (Shakopee, MN)
The Valleyfair Pre-K Pass is FREE for children ages three to five years old. It’s good for admission to both Valleyfair and Soak City for the entire season.
18. Wild Adventures (Valdosta, GA)
The Wild Adventures Pre-K Season Pass is FREE for children ages three to five years old. It’s valid for unlimited visits to Wild Adventures and Splash Island Waterpark all season long.
19. Worlds of Fun (Kansas City, MO)
The Worlds of Fun Pre-K Pass is FREE for children ages three to five years old. It’s good for admission to both Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun for the entire season.
How did Disney not make the list? Kids under 3 are free. 🙂
Pretty much anywhere you go is free under 3, in fact I don’t remember ever paying for my kids anywhere when they were that age….. this list is nice because it lists places that are still free for 4 and 5 year olds. This will definitely come in handy!
Oh yes! I didn’t think about that. We have used the pre-k pass at Carowinds for 5 and under and it’s awesome! Well my youngest is 7 now, but we get annual passes. They just love it so much. I try to get all my friends to get the pre-k pass for their little ones.
Pretty much anywhere you go is free under 3, in fact I don’t remember ever paying for my kids anywhere when they were that age….. this list is nice because it lists places that are still free for 4 and 5 year olds. This will definitely come in handy!
That is true, and thanks for the reminder! We wanted to include older preschoolers ages three to five on this list, BBROWN.
https://www.silverdollarcity.com/theme-park/Tickets/2020-Season-Passes/NEW-Adventure-Pass
We go to Branson, MO often, this is a good deal if born in 2015 or 2016.
Also, dependents of military are always free.
Dependent children aged 3-11, receive a complementary 2 day pass with a valid military ID.
So does Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park in Denver, Colorado – Free Pre-K pass available in the spring for 3-5 year olds!
Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg PA has free parking and free admission for everyone, every day that they’re open! 😁 It’s my happy place!
We love Knoebels!
Oh wow! Small world.. we love not too far from Bloom! Small world!
I love it because the past several years I’ve either have been pregnant or just had a baby and I can just walk around while the kids get on rides!
Becky08 That’s one of the best parts, that anyone can go and enjoy themselves without paying a dime!
Surprised to see someone post about Knobels on here!! We go every year, you can’t beat the free parking and admission. They also have special offers for military personnel and their families.
When I was a kid, our annual family vacation was a week of camping at the Knoebels campground. Now it’s my favorite place to go with my kids for a day trip! If we had a camper, we’d be camping there, too. I was born and raised in northeastern PA and went to college in Bloom. 🙂
There’s a picture in this post of Abby Cadabby at Sesame Place. Sesame Place is only free under 2 years old.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has a Sesame Place inside the park where preschoolers 5 and under are free. This may be where the photo is from.
Dollywood is starting PreK passes this year too! https://www.dollywood.com/Tickets/Season-Passes/Pre-K-Pass
Thanks for the reminder! We have that here.
Wild Adventures in Valdosta GA does a Pre-K pass. Season starts in May.
Do you have to buy an adult season pass to get the pre-k season pass for free? I’m wondering specifically about King’s Dominion, but it’s probably the same at all Cedar Fair Parks (Carowinds, Cedar Point, etc.)
No, I’m not planning on sending my 4-year-old to an amusement park by himself. The last few years, Coke rewards has had contests where you can win tickets to Cedar Fair parks. I was wondering if I can still get the free pre-k pass if I’m using a free ticket from a contest win for me (provided, of course, if Coke does a similar promotion this year)?
That’s a great question, Elizabeth. I don’t find any details on how that might work. You could always contact the park to be sure. (804) 876-5000 Hope this helps!
We used the pre-K pass at cedar point Ohio last year and did not need an adult Season pass. I’m not sure about what happens with a free adult ticket. I wouldn’t think it would matter but probably you’d want to check first
Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN does too! 👍
Oh awesome! Thanks, Samantha!
Good research!