Cheap thrills are thriving in summer

Amusement parks across the nation have cobbled together discounts and deals to get consumers on roller coasters and merry-go-rounds.

Disneyland has offered up a three-day, $99 pass for Southern California residents (one-day passes usually cost $69).

At Hersheypark in Pennsylvania, customers on a budget can buy flex tickets for two or three days of admission any time this summer or Sunset tickets, a way to enjoy the park for the last three or four hours of the day at half-price. Hersheypark's parent company has enjoyed robust candy revenues as well, echoing the sweet sales seen during the Great Depression.

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