A slew of kid-oriented deals will make entertaining the kids this summer a lot more affordable.

Families looking to take a week-long vacation can find packages that include free meals, activities and accommodations for children. Restaurants and movie chains are sponsoring days of the week when kids can either eat a meal or see a movie for free. Even Broadway shows are cutting kids some slack on admission prices.

Appealing to families with children is yet another way struggling companies are hoping to lure customers. After all, parents are a good target audience. A recent study by consumer market research firm Mintel International found that even as parents cut back on expenses, they "are not willing to deprive their children." Families are still spending on kids, but [when] they are, they re looking for bargains, says Chris Haack, a senior analyst at Mintel International.

See 15 kid-friendly deals

With fewer international tourists and business travelers, travel-related businesses in particular, are relying on leisure travelers to help maintain their bottom line, says Bjorn Hanson, a professor of hospitality and tourism management at New York University. If consensus forecasts are correct, this will be the best year for discounts in this economic cycle," he says.

From vacation packages to free meals, here are some of the latest kid-friendly deals being offered:

"What Will You Celebrate?" at Disney theme parks
Savings: $63 for a child (ages 3-9), $75 for anyone age 10 and up.

Celebrate your birthday at Disneyland or Disney World parks and gain free admission. Season pass holders or those purchasing a multiday pass, can receive a one-day Fast Pass to skip the lines, or a gift certificate for park stores equal to the value of one day s ticket.

Rules and restrictions: Must show a government-issued photo ID or, for kids, a birth certificate to prove date of birth. Offer is good for adults, or children older than 3.

Offer expires: Dec. 31

The Hyatt Classic Family Vacation
Savings: About $640 for a four-night stay, plus 15% off meals.

Get a second room for the kids at a 50% discount, with free breakfast for up to four kids. In hotels with Camp Hyatt kids activities such as nature walks, scavenger hunts and hula dancing, one child gets a free half-day. Plus, the whole family can enjoy a 15% discount on dining and spa services.

Rules and restrictions: In the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, kids under 18 are eligible. In other parts of the world, kids must be under 12. Over 175 Hyatts world-wide are participating, but it s not available everywhere. So check for availability first.

Offer expires: Sept. 7

Kids Stay Free at Club Med Resorts
Savings: About $600 for a child age 4 to 15, staying for a week.

Kids under 15 stay and eat for free at four Club Med Resorts, in Florida, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Rules and restrictions: Kids must be under 15 years old and stay at least three nights. One child per adult may qualify for a maximum of two children.

Offer expiration: Travel must be booked by June 30 and occur before Dec. 19.

Kids Fly Free on Cayman Airways
Savings: About $515 for one child flying round-trip from New York and staying three nights at a participating hotel.

With this deal from Orbitz, kids fly free to the Cayman Islands. Stay in a participating hotel, and the kids get to stay for free, too.

Rules and restrictions: Kids must be 11 or under. One free child per paying adult. Flights leave from New York, Miami or Tampa for a two-night minimum stay.

Offer expiration: Book by Sept. 2 for travel between June 1 and Sept. 7.

Save on Summer Travel With Amtrak
Savings: $26 for an adult and two children traveling from Boston to New York.

For travel on Amtrak s Northeast Corridor adult tickets are 25% off, and two kids can travel with each adult for half of that discounted price.

Rules and restrictions: Tickets must be bought 14 days in advance. The offer only applies to coach seats. Kids eligible for the discount must be between the ages of 2 and 15.

Offer expires: Sept. 3

AMC Summer Movie Camp
Savings: $7 (based on the approximate price of a matinee ticket).

AMC Theaters offers $1 family films Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Proceeds from tickets and concessions go to Variety s Children s Charity and the Will Rogers Institute.

Rules and restrictions: At participating theaters only.

Offer expires: Aug. 5

Regal Cinemas Free Family Film Festival
Savings: $8 (based on the approximate price of a matinee ticket).

See selected G- or PG-rated movies for free every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Rules and restrictions: At participating theaters only. First-come, first-served seating.

Offer expires: Aug. 12 or 19, depending on location

Clearview Cinemas Kids Club
Savings: $8 (based on the approximate price of a matinee ticket).

Clearview Cinemas in New York and New Jersey are running eight weeks of free family films Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.

Rules and restrictions: At participating theatres. First-come, first-served seating.

Offer expires: Aug. 20

Student Rush Tickets for "Billy Elliot"
Savings: $80 for two tickets.

The multiple-Tony-winning musical offers day-of student rush tickets at half price for its New York shows.

Rules and restrictions: Show a current school-issued student ID. Tickets must be purchased at the box office on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

No expiration date.

Kids Night on Broadway
Savings: $130 for a kid s ticket to "Shrek," plus a free kid s entree at participating Times Square restaurants in New York.

The first Tuesday and Wednesday of every month kids get free admission to participating plays. Tickets go on sale two months in advance. Some local restaurants also offer free entrees for kids as part of the promotion. Currently "Guys and Dolls," "Mamma Mia," "Hair," "The 39 Steps" and "Shrek" are participating, although shows may not participate every night, so check with the theatre first.

Rules and restrictions: Kids must be 6 to 18 years old and accompanied by an adult.

No expiration date.

Kids Eat Free at Applebee s
Savings: About $5 for one kid s menu meal, including one side dish.

On Monday nights, some Applebee s locations offer a free meal for one child and $1 meals for any children beyond that. This offer is not available at every location, so check with your local restaurant first.

Rules and restrictions: One child per paying adult. Additional kids meals cost $1. Not available everywhere.

No expiration date.

Kids Eat Free at IHOP
Savings: About $3-$5 for one kid s entr e.

Some IHOP locations let kids eat free every day from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Individual franchises set up their own promotions, so check with your local IHOP first.

Rules and restrictions: Kids must be 12 and under. Not available at all locations.

No expiration date.

The D-Zone at Denny s
Savings: About $3 (based on the price of an average kid s meal).

Kids eat free on Tuesday nights at Denny s from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. In some locations the deal is offered on Saturday nights as well. The promotion isn t available everywhere, so call before you go.

Rules and regulations: Kids must be 10 and under. Two free kids meals for every paying adult. Not available at all locations.

No expiration date.

Family Fun Night at Chick-fil-A
Value: About $3 (based on the price of one kid s meal).

At some Chick-fil-A locations, kids can eat free on Tuesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The deal isn t available everywhere, so check with your local restaurant.

Rules and restrictions: Free kid s meal when an adult combo meal is purchased. Not available at all locations.

No expiration date.