Any parent who's walked through a few theme-park turnstiles knows that you shouldn’t ever have to pay full price on park admission—the key is just finding the right coupon or discount before you set out. The Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego is dangling such discounts with its Suites, S’mores and Spa package, good for travel this spring.

Set in the laid-back, surfer-friendly Mission Bay and Pacific Beach area, the Hyatt  is a short drive from SeaWorld and not too far from both the San Diego Zoo and Legoland. The hotel has a large pool complex, waterslides and a marina with access to jet skis, sailboats, kayaks and even whale-watching excursions. This time of year, the hotel also offers SeaWorld-themed character visits, poolside games, scavenger hunts and weekend dive-in movies.

The package starts at $269, and includes:

• One night in a waterfront or corner suite, with separate living and bed areas (normally $279)
• $25 spa credit
• S’mores kit (worth about $10)
• 20% discount off four tickets to one of the following:
  SeaWorld (Normally $264/family of four. Discount = $52.80)
  San Diego Zoo (Normally $140/family of four. Discount = $28)
  San Diego Safari Park (Normally $140/family of four. Discount = $28)
  Legoland (Normally $246/family of four. Discount = $49.20)

The value of this package varies considerably, depending on which park you want. For travel in late March, we found a rate of $289 a night with the special—just $10 more than the regular rate for a waterfront room.  So what does that extra $10 really get you? The s'mores kits adds a bit of fun, and you have to spend to save with the spa credit. The real savings potential  is in the theme park discounts—and on that count, you might be able to get a much better deal on your own. 

At Legoland, for example, that 20% discount amounts to $49, and you can still upgrade your tickets at the park for about $10 per person for a second day’s admission—a nice double-dip if you’re traveling with Legophiles. At SeaWorld, your AAA card gets your kids in for free and adults in at the kids’ rate, which saves you more than 20%.  And then there's the San Diego 3-for-1 Pass, which gives you unlimited entry to the Zoo, Safari Park and Sea World for five days for $456 for a family of four—only $91 a day for the whole crew—and a good value if you came to San Diego to see a lot of animals.

Deal or no deal? Bottom line: It pays to browse the theme parks’ sites, as well as the hotel’s Special Offers page. The Hyatt’s Sunshine on Sale deal, for instance, offers a third night free for limited dates. Plus, when we talked to a Hyatt Mission Bay concierge, we learned that any guest can get a 10% discount on theme park admission. So if you're staying more than two nights, it's better to forfeit that extra 10% off an admission ticket and take the free night instead.

The Suites, S'mores and Spa offer is good for stays from March 1 through April 30, and you can book the deal as late as April 29. The 20% discount applies to one theme park. Use corporate code 78443 when booking online, or mention the offer when calling 888/591-1234.