Money in the Bank

Art! Science! Even roller coasters! All at bargain prices!

The secret--if you can call it that, given the rising numbers some venues are reporting--is membership.

Here’s how it works: In exchange for a relatively small chunk of change up-front, many arts and entertainment venues offer unlimited admission for a year. As a perk, most throw in discounts at their gift shops (typically 10%) and/or restaurants, plus advance notice of, and discounts on, special events, workshops, concerts and classes.

Members often receive colorful newsletters to keep them in the know and occasional invites to members-only activities that bring them deeper into the inner circle.

In some cases, reciprocal agreements with similar organizations also net members free admission to scores of venues around the nation. Members of the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, for example, are admitted free to more than 220 science centers around the world, including the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego’s Balboa Park.

Even with thousands of participants, family memberships (most run $50 to $75) don’t add up to really big bucks toward the venues’ operating expenses. That’s what the high-level corporate or individual gifts are for. Still, membership directors maintain that folks who buy a $75 family membership are just as much a part of that venue’s extended family as the firm that drops a $25,000 gift. And, as such, those families enjoy insiders’ benefits not available to John Q. Public.

A $70 membership to the Discovery Science Center includes unlimited admission for two adults and up to four children, six laser show tickets, a discount in the center’s store, a quarterly newsletter with notice of upcoming events and invitations to members-only events, including an after-hours tour scheduled for April.

The center’s one-time admission ticket price is $6 for children, $8 for adults. For those not inclined to do the math, it takes a family of six two visits to make up their membership cost.

Member families are endorsing that venue’s mission, whether it’s educating folks about science, marine biology or history, notes Mary Lynn Humes, membership manager for the Discovery center.

“You’re saying, ‘Yes, this is an important addition to our community,’ ” Humes said.

Water Worlds

Folks confronted with the huge crowds during the opening months of the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific last year found another reason to sign up.

“Members figure out when the less crowded times are,” noted aquarium spokeswoman Ilysha Adelstein. “They can drop by at 4 or 5 in the afternoon, stay for a couple hours in one part of the aquarium, then come back another day and do another exhibit.” A plus at the aquarium: Members have their own entrance, which means skipping any entry lines, even at a peak time.

In March, added Adelstein, the aquarium will also offer members-only, behind-the-scenes tours, demonstrating “how the animals are cared for, the life-support systems and a lot of the inner workings” of the state-of-the-art facility.

Closer to home for South County families is the Orange County Marine Institute. A $40 family membership (up to two adults and two children) nets discounts on the institute’s marine wildlife boat tours and other educational programs such as day camps and tide-pool walks.

Art Museums

The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art and Bowers Kidseum in Santa Ana sweeten the membership deal with a two-for-one package, a policy that also applies to its single ticket buyers. A $50 household membership admits two adults and up to four children under 18 to both venues for a full year, plus affords them the usual fringe benefits of a newsletter and gift shop and program discounts. Up it to $100, and the museums will toss in six guest passes and access to two members-only events.

In Newport Beach, the Orange County Museum of Art tempts potential family members ($65 for up to six family members) with discounts on its popular children’s and adult art classes, plus first shot at special events, such as a series of sold-out excursions to the Van Gogh touring exhibit in Los Angeles. Discounts at other local arts venues, including South Coast Repertory, are also offered to OCMA members, Brian Langston said. And, points out Langston, although it won’t save gobs on your income taxes, memberships at the art museum and other nonprofit organizations can be partially tax-deductible.

Amusement Parks

Tax breaks aren’t a perk at places such as Disneyland or Knott’s Berry Farm, but the kids won’t care. These annual pass packages include unlimited or slightly limited park admissions, discounts and other goodies, such as parking breaks.

Depending on your clan’s appetite for theme parks, that can translate into hefty savings. To fully exercise the unlimited admission benefit of Disneyland’s $199 Premium Passport would workout to about $1.83 for each of the 365 days of the year.

At Knott’s Berry Farm, the rate would be even less; the tariff for unlimited admission is $49.95 for kids ages 3 to 11 and $109.95 for adults. In both cases, the flexibility of being able to come and go as you please can prevent the meltdowns caused by trying to wring too many hours of amusement from a single-day ticket.

And that, alone, just may be worth the price.

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Here’s how to reach the venues listed in this story, plus a few others with membership programs.

* Bowers Museum of Cultural Art and Bowers Kidseum, Santa Ana. (714) 567-3600.

* Discovery Museum of Orange County, Santa Ana. Hands-on history museum housed in turn-of-the-century Kellogg House. Includes unlimited admission, newsletter and advance notice of and discounts on special members’ and public events. Family membership: $40. (714) 540-0404.

* Discovery Science Center, Santa Ana. Family membership: $70. Call (714) 542-2823, then press 2 for membership office.

* Disneyland, Anaheim. (714) 781-4565.

* Fullerton Museum Center. Advance notice of and discounts on public events, concerts and classes, including many geared toward families. Some members-only events. Also a gift-shop discount and quarterly newsletter. Memberships start at $50. (714) 738-6545.

* Irvine Fine Arts Center. Discounts and advance notice on children’s and adults’ classes, excursions, plus members-only artist receptions. (949) 724-6880.

* Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park. $49.95 (ages 3-11) to $109.95 (general admission). (714) 220-5200.

* Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific. Family membership: $105. (562) 437-3474.

* Mission San Juan Capistrano. Unlimited free admission, discounts on special events and summer activities, many geared to children. Family membership: $60. (949) 248-2048.

* Orange County Marine Institute, Dana Point. Members-only events, discounts on excursions, programs and day camps. Newsletter. Family membership is $40. (949) 248-0503.

* Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach. Unlimited admission, advance notice of events and classes, many for children, plus discounts to participating area arts organizations. Family membership: $65. (949) 759-1122.

* Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa. Advance notice of preperformance seminars and other educational programs. Benefits start at $100 gift level. (714) 556-2121, Ext. 349.

* San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. Unlimited admission to both parks, discounts. Benefits increase at higher levels, including access to behind-the-scenes events. Adult membership: $57 (two adults in same household, $70); kids, $15. (619) 231-0251.

* Santa Ana Zoo. Unlimited admission, plus admission to more than 100 participating zoos around the country, including those in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Members-only events. Discounts in gift store and for public events. Family membership: $39. (714) 953-8555.

* South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa. Benefits include discounts on tickets, theater store and lobby bar, plus admission to preshow seminars and a newsletter. Additional benefits as gift level rises. Starts at $50. (714) 708-5500.