For every five twenty (they increased the donation threshold since I originally posted this) gently used books you drop off at M&I branch locations in the Twin Cities, Hudson and Prescott for the Read Indeed program you will receive a ticket for free admission buy 3, get 1 free coupon for the Water Park of America. (They changed this program – again – and it isn’t such a deal anymore, although it is a worth while cause).
Water Park of America has 12 slides, pools and sounds like a ton of fun. A full-priced ticket costs $25 with a limit of 2 coupons per family. Book trade-ins for tickets are accepted through July 31, 2009.
If you don’t have 5 20 kids books on hand to donate, then stop by some garage sales or thrift stores to pick some up for $.25 each. Even with that, these tickets are a steal.
About Carrie Rocha
Wow! What a great deal! I have to participate in this deal. We have lots of kids books. Plus, my son really loves water, and his birthday is coming up. He would love this place. Thanks for sharing about the deal.
Great find! Do you know when the vouchers for the free passes expire? The books need to be donated by 7/31, but how long do you have to use the passes?
I clicked over and saw this note….
Water Park of America
Offer Details
Must donate a minimum of twenty books or $20 to receive one free coupon. Limit two free coupons per family.
Wow ~ that’s quite a difference from when I first heard the commercial on television for FIVE books = a free ticket. I don’t see myself bringing in forty books for two free passes ~ even if they ARE purchased second hand for cheap.
That’s annoying….as my kids just said when I told them about the change “When you say something, especially on TV, you should mean it and not change your mind.”
I think it’s great that M&I Bank is helping to raise books for kids that can’t afford them. I donated 60 books, some from home, then I spent $5 at a garage sale for the other 30. I did witness a couple of parents having temper tantrums at the branch I went to because they were going to mail out the tickets. From what I found out it’s the water park that asked them to collect more books per free ticket, not the bank that just changed their mind. When you think about it, 5 books for a $25 ticket wouldn’t raise a lot of books for the kids. I would donate the books even if they weren’t giving free tickets away. I think everyone needs to remember why the book drive is being done in the first place and not be so selfish.
THE WATER PARK DEAL IS STILL GOOD. YOU WILL RECEIVE 2 FREE WATER PASSES, ON THE SPOT, THROUGH JULY 30. BRING IN 20 USED BOOKS PER CHILD. THE COUPONS EXPIRE 12/31/09.
The program has changed again! Now you get a coupon for buy 3 get one free at Waterpark of America. Not much of an deal anymore, although it is a worth while cause.
I have gone 2 times now and everytime I go they are out of any tickets. I think I may skip altogether. The first was with the 5 book min. the second with the 20 book min. I think it hurts their image rather than helps when they offer the incentive and then keep changing the requirements.
The Grand Rios Water Park has specific days that are lower cost for admission.
We went today 7/2 for a 4pm to 4 pm pass (first day is 4pm to close, next day is opening until 4 pm) for $10.95 per person – 20% off if you buy online 48 hrs in advance.
I considered it close to the cost of going to the movies or out to eat. Two days to play made it a very good value.
Grand Rios may be smaller, but the water is much warmer.. we were freezing at Water Park of America!
Mom Talk still offers free passes if you subscribe. Limit 2 per family.
http://www.momtalk.com/membersignup.php
Bernice – And the Entertainment Book has a B1G1 entree for the Beach House Restaurant attached to Grand Rios. –Carrie