{The Girl Who Thinks She’s a Bird and Monkey Boy circa 1999}
Disneyland is one of those places where you can totally tell all hands are on deck to make sure your experience, is, well, magical. You would be hard pressed to find trash lying around–they are meticulous about cleaning it up, it’s obviously family friendly, and the customer service is always top notch. The only drawback, in my opinion, is the price. And while it is true, you can literally spend your kid’s college fund in the Magical World of Disney, you can also make it a memorable family vacation without breaking the bank.
Here’s a few of my favorite money-saving techniques for Disneyland:
Tickets
First off, if you are a teacher or military, you get a discount for park tickets. Second, if you are a resident of Southern California {or know someone who is and is willing to get you the tickets} you get a discount.
For the rest of us, Costco offers some pretty great deals as well, though, they are not available in every state. Do your research, it might be worth stopping off at a local Costco to get your tickets once you get to California. If you plan on doing more than just Disneyland {Sea World, Universal Studios, The San Diego Zoo} you might want to look into buying a CityPass.
Accommodations
When it comes to researching hotels, TripAdvisor gets my vote. Not only do they have traveler photos and unbiased reviews {from folks like you and me} they have been spot on every time I have stayed in a hotel I found through searching their site. I never book a hotel room without checking TripAdvisor first.
Right off the bat, the on-site Disney hotels are CRAZY expensive. BUT, if you are going to California just for Disneyland, you may want to factor in the fact that they will provide transportation to and from the airport, and you will not need to rent a car to get to the park. Also, you will already be park side, so you also won’t have to pay the $15 per day parking fee. You’ll have to crunch the numbers and decide what will yield the bigger savings for you.
Another option is to stay outside of the park and find a hotel with a small kitchenette. Food is always such a big part of a vacation budget, so the kitchenette will more than pay for itself {provided you actually use it. Ha.} Disneyland actually has a list of good neighbor hotels that typically run $150 less per night than Disney hotels. Some even provide shuttles to and from the park {with limited hours, though, so make sure to check.}
Food
Food, food, food. This is where you can truly save the most money. Disneyland is gracious about allowing outside food and drinks. You can quite literally pack in a cooler if you are so inclined. With onsite restaurants averaging $10-$15 per person, food adds up super fast. I seriously recommend eating breakfast at your hotel from food you’ve purchased at the grocery store.
Keep it simple—buy milk {provided you have a mini fridge in the hotel room}, fruit, cereal, muffins, etc. If you have a kitchenette, you can get a little more extravagant. Buy stuff to make sandwiches, etc. and pack a lunch and snacks. I know it’s not as much fun to eat a packed lunch, so when my kids were younger I let them get things from the grocery store I would never allow them to throw into the cart at home, just to make it seem like a splurge {i.e. prepared pudding cups, fancy juice, bagged kettle corn, etc.}
If you are really looking to save A LOT of cash, you can pack your crock pot {yep, I said it, go ahead and roll your eyes}, purchase the ingredients for a meal, and plug it in at your hotel room. You will come back to a ready-to-eat meal for under the cost of one plate at a restaurant. If you aren’t looking for something quite that extreme, consider eating at a restaurant off site. You will save 20-30% simply by leaving the park.
Souvenirs
Ah, nothing like that inevitable moment when you wander into the shops only to find that you may have to take out a second mortgage on your house to get every child a trinket to remember the trip by. There’s a couple of ways to save money on the souvenirs, some are extreme, some are just plain good sense, and some take a little fore-thought.
First up: tips for the extremist. Stay out of the shops altogether, and go home with just the memories permanently etched in your mind. It’s hard, for sure, but it pretty much guarantees you 100% savings. Not too shabby if you ask me.
Not your cup of tea? Then shop stores outside of the park. You will quite literally find Disney related memorabilia EVERYWHERE in Southern California and at half the price. Let the kiddos know that while they won’t be able to pick out anything in the park, there will be an opportunity to choose their treasures at a different shop.
Finally, if you are great at planning, order your stuff online before you go. That way, the kids can actually wear their t-shirts to the park. Get them their favorite character stuffed plush toy before you go too and present it to them at the hotel. Kids are always excited to get presents, no matter the location—or at least mine were. Also, no matter where you fall, extremist to casually frugal, if you have little ones, order/make an autograph book BEFORE you get to the park. It’s soooo fun for the kids to collect all of the characters’ signatures, but they charge you an arm and a leg for what is essentially a notebook. Having it beforehand means your kids will be ready to go the minute they hit the gates.
Are you headed to Disneyland this year? What are you going to do to save money? If you’ve already been, what tips and tricks have you learned?
~Mavis
Jo B. says
My tips: check online before you go to see what attractions may be closed on certain days. We did this and were able to go on a couple rides our first day that were being shut down the next day for maintenance, that way we didn’t miss them.
Also, while online print out a map, and plan out some of the attractions you ‘must see’ so you can get to them early in the day before lines get long.
Best advice? We went the end of January, no lines and still had nice weather. Great time to go.
Sophia says
As I live in So Cal, I’ve been to Disneyland A LOT! Bringing food is a great way to save a TON of money. There is a family pic-nic area outside the main Disneyland gate, and you can rent a locker for the entire day to hold your main meal items and avoid having to lug them around the park.
Anaheim, California has GREAT public transportation, so you might want to find a place to “park and ride” (especially if you are staying at a less expensive hotel/motel nearby) which will save you money on the on-site parking fees, which range from $12.00 – $15.00 per day, depending on the attendance level of the park.
If you’re going to spend the money to go to these theme parks, and this is your once in a lifetime vacation, then buy the “Hopper Ticket.” This will enable you to “hop” back and forth between Disneyland and California Adventure. You’ll be able to experience more for your money.
When it comes to Souvenir shopping, SHOP around…the prices (and item selections) can vary greatly depending on which area of the park you are in. (Tomorrowland items seem to be particularly expensive) The Main shop near the front gate of Disneyland has lots of good prices; try to buy something practical (avoid the suckers and perishable items).
Most importantly, PLAN YOUR DAY! …there are wonderful attractions (World of Color, Fantasmic and the Fireworks Show) as well as the various parades. With a little planning, you can be in a good spot to catch these great shows.
It’s a lot of walking; be sure to take water and stay hydrated – you can refill your water bottles around the park at the drinking fountains.
Have fun!
tru leigh says
Bring your own food in a cooler and put it in a locker. Bring a bag or backpack with snacks and drinks. Don’t buy tchotkes that won’t mean anything the day after you come home. Work a circuit, one Land then another. Don’t jump from one end of the park to another. See if there are AAA or other discounts available. Plan for the weather. It can be really hot.
One thing that is very important with little kids. Make sure their names, your names and your cell phone numbers are pinned on each kid in case they get lost. Instruct your kids on what to do if they get separated. Stay where they are and ask for help from someone in uniform or a woman with children. Better to be on the safe side.
Heidi P says
My youngest and I went for two days in March. We had such a good time that we often look at each other and say “I wish we were at Disneyland”. We were there only two days spent 26 hours in the park. Dawn until dusk. Such a blast that we are going back in October for Halloween. Anyone ever been there at this time? I’ve heard it can be crazy but fun.
Sophia says
Halloween time is wonderful at Disneyland! The decorations are amazing! The park is very busy during this time, but well worth it. Be sure to check out the Haunted Mansion!….they re-do it for Halloween! Another fun thing to do is to call Disney Dining and make reservations at one of the park restaurants (reservations are free).
Hope your Fall trip is fun!
-Sophia
Shannon says
We stayed nearby at the Howard Johnson, only a 10 minute walk to the gates. Ahead of time, I ordered groceries from a Safeway affiliate there to be delivered to our room for simple breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. When we arrived our groceries were already there and had been stocked in our mini fridge! We ate breakfast each morning in our room, got to Disney by opening time, came home for lunch, rest, and to play in the hotel water park, then returned to Disney by 5 or 6. It was perfect. We saved a lot of money and missed the busiest times.
Cecily says
I’ve never felt the need to take the kids to Disneyland especially with awesome theme parks such as Wild Waves, Silverwood and Great Wolf Lodge so close to us. For less than the cost of 1 trip to Disneyland I can take my family of 5 to all of these parks 3 times each. I know some will say nothing compares to Disneyland, and if that is how you feel then I say go for it, but I have never been and I don’t feel deprived. I also know my kids would rather take a trip every year to one of these parks rather than have a single childhood trip to Disneyland. Just my two cents:)
Jen J says
If anyone happens to be on the East Coast (or headed that way) Disney World has awesome packages every summer. We’ve gone four times in the last four years through this package, and it is easily the cheapest vacation for a family of 4 we have ever done. They include park tickets, onsite hotel and a FREE meal plan. We actually kept track of our expenses one year (if we had to pay out of pocket for everything) and it was well worth it. We paid over 50% less than if we had paid as we went. It was also nice that you can book for package, put down a little deposit, and then keep paying over a few months until you are ready to go. Nothing like going on vacation and not having to watch the budget at all – because it’s already paid for!! woo hoo!
Just thought I’d share and try to encourage everyone to brave the Florida heat and humidity 🙂
Jen says
I LOVE Disneyland, in fact, I’m planning a trip for Halloween time at Disneyland in October right now.
My favorite hotel is the Ramada Inn Maingate. They just underwent a major renovation a couple years ago, and now they are totally redoing their hotel with new 3 bedroom suites, and superior rooms. I always stay in the deluxe rooms, which are just fine. Easy walk to the crosswalk that takes you into Disneyland, but I think their pool is by far the best in the area. They have a free simple breakfast (hard boiled eggs, cereals, Danish pastries, milk, juices, coffee, etc.) near the pool in the morning. They have free parking for their hotel guests.
I try to always have airline miles pay for my plane tickets. I fly Alaska Airlines, have the Alaska Airlines credit card through Bank of America which gives me miles, and I do surveys through e-rewards that gives me mileage throughout the year.
I love a good character meal, but not always necessary. I usually opt for the meals that will give me the best deal. My favorite restaurants are the Rancho del Zocalo by Big Thunder Mtn Railroad. And I also love the Pacific Wharf Café in California Adventure soup bowls. Both places are very filling for the price. The main thing I like to do is pack water bottles with me. Sure, they are heavy to carry around in the morning, but as the day goes on, they come in handy and become less weight to carry around. I just have a hard time paying Disneyland prices for bottled water. Allears.net is a good website for tips, and they have current restaurant menus online for you to look at. It will give you an idea of what restaurant has what food, and about how much it will cost. This will help you plan ahead if there are certain areas you want to avoid.
My biggest tip however, is to go mid- week. I know this is not always practical. But when you go, make the most of your time. If you can go mid-week and cut your wait times down, you can maybe cut a day off of your time. One less day in ticket passes can add up fast for a family. If you have early admission with your ticket, go do Fantasyland first. It is the biggest time waste in the afternoon (we actually used one of the ride scheduler programs in the past that proved this theory). And don’t go around a major holiday. Nobody wants to go to Disneyland and just stand in lines, so make your time count. When you get tired, or need a break, check out things where you can sit down like the Tiki Room or some of the movies/shows they offer around the park. Another thing is to take advantage of the Fast Pass option if you have to wait in lines. This will speed things up for you. Also, it is good to have a wait time app downloaded on your phone. They are updated pretty frequently, they are free apps, and will help you make decisions on which land to go to next based on wait times.
A huge money saver…Go to the dollar store and buy ponchos for the water rides. The Mickey Mouse ponchos = a HUGE waste of money. At the dollar store, you get a 2 pack of ponchos for $1. Plus, you get to have all the fun, and not walk around wet all day. Plus it’s nice to have a poncho to cover your camera equipment for water rides.
Buy tickets in advance online. For example, I’m buying a ticket soon for the Halloween party (a must for Halloween lovers) and buying in advance online will save me $16.00 per ticket. So plan ahead, and you might be able to take advantage of those things.
Other than that, check out mousesavers.com. They offer helpful hints, but they are more geared toward Disneyworld. They have Disneyland tips, just not as many.
Hope this helps!
Susan says
We have been to Disneyland 4 times over the years with our 3 now grown children.
The best trip was in 1988 – when I WON an all expense paid trip from the game show Win Lose or Draw! ( with Bert Convey as host) We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and when we arrived in the room, there was Disney merchandise delivered for all of us. I still have some of the coins and pins!
Part of the prize was a private tour of the Disney studios – so awesome! We had lunch there with our 2 tour guides – and Roy Disney was sitting at the next table.
Got to see the animators, but didn’t run into any “stars”. We were told there were a few around that day. Bette Midler was one – can’t remember who else.
Kris says
We’ve gone twice and had Von’s (Safeway up here) deliver to the hotel. It was so slick! We purchased breakfast, snacks and lunch and purchased dinner. I agree with the Character Breakfast. You see so many characters and the kids were in heaven with Mac n Cheese at 8am!
Madam Chow says
Beautiful, beautiful kids, Mavis.
Mavis Butterfield says
I love how they look just my husband and I did when we were that age. Uncanny really. 🙂
Susan says
You and your daughter have the same smile. Isn’t it amazing how fast time goes by??
Sarah says
My girl is 2. What’s the right age for a first (and only or rare) visit to Disneyland?
Mavis Butterfield says
If I had to choose I would say more around 5-7. But everyone is different.
Aliya says
my first Disneyland trip was when I was 2 and I remember sooooooooooooo, much! it was so long ago.
Mavis says
I’m so impressed. I can’t remember anything from when I was that young!
Ann GG says
We have spent quite a bit of time at Disneyland… so here’s my 2 cents.. We pack 2 backpacks with snacks (so if we decide to split up we can and it shares the load of goodies), one of them is a Camelback day pack so it eliminates the need for several water bottles. There are a couple filling stations around the park so it’s a breeze to refill it. We will pack Smuckers Uncrustables for a quick lunch in line or whereever we decide to eat at.
Take a few minutes and plan your day. Pick a land and do what you want in there, then move to the next one. Don’t spend your day jumping from one ride to the other that are across the park. When we plan we find out what each of us wants to see or ride and make sure we do that. Then we don’t have to worry about anyone being dissappointed that they didn’t get to do what they wanted. If you have time, check out the shows. They are really worth it and it helps to have a little ‘down time’ too.
Use the Fastpass system. It can save so much time waiting in line. We always Fastpass Space Mountain as soon as we get in the park. Then by the time we are done in Tomorrowland it is time for the ride. Also if you look at the bottom of your FastPass it will tell you what time you can get another FastPass. This is helpful on very busy days. Indiana Jones is another ride we always FastPass. For those of you with young children, then go to the Disneyland website and check out the Child Swap options for the rides they can’t ride.
There are a few restaurants you can make reservations for, 3 months in advance. If you have somewhere specific you want to eat at (that will take reservations) I highly recommend doing this. We always make dinner reservations since we don’t usually eat lunch – due to the snacks. Again this information is on the Disneyland website too.
For the fireworks, we have found it’s fun to take a break at the Plaza Inn and get a little treat and sit at a table for the fireworks.
As for eating in the park, most of the meals are more than enough for 2 people. My daughter and I share alot of the meals. There are also some snacks that are a meal in themselves too. That is another cheaper option if you are looking to save some money on food.
If you have the extra money, I totally recommend doing at least one character meal. They are always fun and the kids love having them come to your table. Make reservations!
There are also a couple must haves when we go to the park. First up is the pineapple whips by the Tiki Room. Second is the Mint Julep (non alcoholic) sold at the Blue Bayou or French Market Cafe. You can also get drink refills at the French Market, just hold onto your receipt and show it to the cashier so you can get a refill.
This is a quirky tip, but make sure you know where the restrooms are located. If you have small children, this will come in very handy.
A few websites I check out for information are: MousePlanet, AllEars.Net and MouseSavers, along with the Disneyland site.
Most of all, just enjoy your time with your family!
Karen says
How do I find out about free transportation from the airport to the Grand Californian? I didn’t know that was available.