If you’ve ever been to Disneyland, you know how expensive it can be. For a family of four for five days, tickets alone can cost $1000. Then you have other costs. We’ll explain how to save money on those expenses in this post

Types of Expenses at Disneyland

• Tickets
• Hotels
• Transportation
• Food
• Merchandise

Disneyland is cheaper in the off-season.

Summer is the busiest time for park visitors. Holidays are easier because school is out. Because of that, ticket prices go up.

Tickets for Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as the Memorial Day holiday weekend, will be more expensive. It’s best to visit the parks during Disney’s off-season:

• Mid-January through mid-March, except during President’s Day weekend
• Mid-April to mid-May, except during spring break
• Mid-September to mid-November, except for Halloween at Disneyland Resort. 

Even in the off-season, you can attend seasonal events. Guests can enjoy all the fun Halloween decorations throughout Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. 

Halloween eats and sweets are available in both parks during Halloween. Pick up a map and foodie guide at the park’s entrance. 

Disneyland Resort guests can enjoy the last days of the Christmas season in January. The decorations, food offerings, music and shows usually last until mid-January. 

The annual holiday nighttime spectacular includes snow falling on Main Street. There is a nighttime show called World of Color at Disney California Adventure Park. 

Also, off-season travel is a good idea because the weather is better. The summers can get very hot, but temperatures average in the 60s and 70s during the off-season. 

Purchase tickets at Costco and Sams Club

Costco and Sam’s Club members can purchase Disney Resort tickets. Sam’s Club Travel and Entertainment also sell tickets online. 

Costco members have access to both tickets and vacation packages on the Costco Travel website. 

It doesn’t guarantee a discount, but if you’re a member of either store, you have another option. 

Hotel Savings

The Disneyland Resort has three hotels, classified as deluxe hotels – The Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. Of the three hotels, the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa has the highest price tag. There is a starting rate of $400 a night for rooms. Mid-range pricing is available at Disneyland Hotel. Rooms at this hotel start at about $300 a night, depending on size, location, and view. 

Prices start at $200 or more a night at Paradise Pier Hotel, the least expensive hotel on the property. Prices increase with the size of the room and the view. Disney hotels have rooms facing gardens, swimming pools, or theme parks. 

Staying on Disneyland Resort Property has its advantages, for example, extra time in the parks during “Extra Magic Hours.” But it isn’t cheap. Disney’s magic is a lot cheaper if you know where to look. 

Stay at Good Neighbor Hotel 

There are many hotels in the Disneyland Resort area. More than 50 Good Neighbor Hotels are nearby. A few of them offer transportation to and from the theme parks, sell Disneyland Tickets, and book through the Walt Disney Travel Company. 

Different Good Neighbor Hotels have different amenities, so compare them according to your needs. Guests can filter their search results on the Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels site to find hotels that offer features such as continental breakfasts, free parking, and free transportation to theme parks. Airport transportation is available at some Good Neighbor Hotels. 

At Good Neighbor hotels, you can enjoy a free continental breakfast. The cost of eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the parks can quickly add up if you spend long days there. By eating a continental breakfast at your hotel, you can save money. You can also eat some food before going to the parks to give yourself some energy. 

Book a Vacation Package, with or without Disney 

Disneyland usually offers some kind of package deal, which can save you a lot of money. Visit the Disneyland website to see what packages are available. There are many different packages available, so just because you saw one before doesn’t mean it will be the same when you book.

When you book your Disney vacation package, you can add airfare and a rental car. Family members can customize their vacation packages based on their preferences. 

Disneyland offers vacation packages that combine accommodations with theme park tickets and special benefits. You can customize your vacation package by adding airfare, a car rental, ground transportation, Disney Character Dining, Disney MaxPass, and Southern California destinations. 

Good Neighbor Vacation Packages 

You can save some money on your Disney Vacation when you book a package with a Good Neighbor Hotel. Several Good Neighbor Hotels do not offer Disneyland vacation packages. 

At some hotels, such as the Anaheim Marriott, children’s meals are free with the purchase of an adult entree. If you book a certain number of days, other hotels may offer a discount or a free night. Check with the hotel you intend to book with to see what vacation package deals they are offering during your stay. To get the best deal, you might have to shop around. 

Disneyland Transportation Savings

Disney has a lot of locals, but there are also a lot of people who travel out of state or live so far that flying is easier. Getting to the hotel from the airport is a concern when you fly. 

You may think renting a car is the best way to get from the airport to your hotel, and then to the park. You can easily do without renting a car if you’re on a budget, since it can cost a lot of money. 

Getting to the hotel from the airport

Several airports can take you to your hotel to begin your Disneyland vacation. The largest airport, but also the one furthest from Disney, is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

There are several shuttle companies you can book to take you from LAX to your Disneyland Resort Area Hotel. Some companies offer shared shuttles, or for a higher fee, private shuttles or cars. It may cost more upfront, but you won’t have to worry about daily rentals. 

Another airport guests frequently fly into for their Disneyland vacation is the John Wayne Airport. It’s only about 15 miles from Disneyland and the closest to the Resort. Because it’s closer to Disneyland, shuttles and private cars, such as Uber and Lyft, will not cost as much to take. 

Here is where your God Neighbor Hotel can also come in handy. A Good Neighbor Hotel that provides free transportation to and from the park may also offer transportation to and from certain airports for an extra fee. You will have to check with your hotel to see if this amenity is offered and which airports are part of the program. 

What to consider if you rent a car.

Having a car may seem like a good idea, however, the cost of the rental car will not be the only one you incur. Some hotels in the Disneyland area, such as the Fairfield Inn, charge you to park your car on their lot, even if you’re staying there. If you rent a car, you’ll have to check with the hotel to see if they will charge you to park your car there or if parking is complimentary. 

If you want to rent a car and drive to Disneyland, remember also that parking at Disneyland isn’t free. Base parking at the Mickey and Friends Pixar Parking Lots are $25 per day. Preferred parking costs $40 per day. 

Another thing to consider is if you’re traveling outside of the Disneyland Resort. There are many other Southern California theme parks, such as Universal Studios Hollywood, Legoland, and Sea World in San Diego. If you plan to go to any of these locations or visit cities like Los Angeles, then it will definitely be in your best interest to rent a car. 

While all these locations are in Southern California, they aren’t close to each other. Renting a car will ensure you can make your own timetable for visiting places outside of Disneyland. 

Do you need a rental car for your Disney vacation? 

In short, not really. If you’re only visiting Disneyland, you don’t need a rental car. There are so many hotels in the Disneyland Resort area that are close enough to the theme park that it’s possible to walk. There are also a lot of Good Neighbor Hotels that will give you free transportation to and from the Disneyland Resort. Some charge a small fee and some are complimentary. 

Generally, it will be cheaper to take the hotel transportation to and from Disneyland and California Adventure than to pay for transportation to and from the airport. Taking hotel transportation will mean that you save on the daily rental car fee, possible hotel parking fees, and parking at the Disneyland Resort. It’s a great way to save money. 

Save on Dining at Disneyland

There are many dining locations and snack stands at the Disneyland Resort. If you are not careful, dining costs can get expensive. Luckily, there are ways to save money on dining at Disney. 

Eat your first meal off-property.

If you are staying off property, there are plenty of Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels, as well as non-Good Neighbor Hotels, that offer their guests continental breakfasts. Continental breakfasts have evolved over the years. Continental breakfast buffets oten have waffle makers, scrambled eggs, bacon, and roasted potatoes, among other things. 

Eating your first meal at your hotel not only saves you money, but it gets you fueled up before you even get to the park. You also won’t have to waste time waiting for food at the park – you can go straight there and head to your favorite ride. 

Don’t eat at sit-down restaurants.

To maximize your park time and reduce your spending, don’t go to sit-down restaurants. They tend to be more expensive and take more time than a quick counter-service restaurant. However, you should do one character meal during your trip because it’s a fun and memorable experience. 

There are many counter service restaurants in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Some offer full plates of delicious food and others offer mouth-watering meals you can eat as you walk. 

Guests can use the Disneyland App to find cheaper restaurants, or go on the Disneyland website to see restaurant prices. They’re ranked from $ to $$$$, with one $ being the cheapest. 

Some cheap, but still tasty dining locations at the Disneyland resort are:

• Award Weiners
• Smokejumpers Grill
• Cocina Cucamunga Mexican Grill
• Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
• Galactic Grill
• Hungry Bear Restaurant

These are just some of the great affordable locations you can eat at in the Disneyland and Disneyland California Adventure. 

Never pay for water. 

It can get very hot in Southern California during the day, so staying hydrated is important. There are many beverage carts throughout Disneyland and Disneyland California Adventure. However, if you’re on a budget, you don’t have to pay for bottled water. All Disney dining locations provide free cups of ice water. They’re not large, but they are free, so you can have as many as you want. 

Bring a water bottle if you don’t want to carry a cup of water around the park all day. Bring your own water bottle, and you can fill it up for free with water from the restaurants. There are also water bottle refill stations in various parts of the park, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland. 

Split an entree.

Adults may not be able to eat all of some Disney entrees because they are very large. Plus, there is so much great food at Disneyland you’ll want to eat it all. By splitting an entree with another adult or even your child, you can save a great deal of money. Guests of The Plaza Inn at Disneyland can enjoy a three-piece fried chicken meal that also includes bread, mashed potatoes, and a vegetable. It’s one meal that two people can easily share. 

Another large meal that’s easy to split is the Monte Cristo Sandwich at Cafe Orleans in Disneyland Park. There is a cult-like following for this dish at Disneyland. It’s massive, fried concoction that’s divided into four segments. It also comes with fruit. 

Enjoy delicious snacks – It may seem odd not to eat a full meal at Disneyland, but there are so many delicious appetizers and snacks that you won’t miss it. 

One of the best snacks to get at Disneyland is their hand-dipped corndogs. They are huge, delicious, hot, and filling. They come with either ketchup or mustard on the side, plus a bag of chips, or mandarin orange. Best of all, this filling meal costs less than $10. 

Buying Disneyland Merchandise

Disneyland doesn’t have many merchandise deals. The biggest key to buying Disneyland merchandise is setting a budget and sticking to it. Also, check out shopDisney.com before you go and see what kinds of merchandise you and your family are most interested in.

That way you can see what the price range is for the type of Disney gear you want. Certain merchandise is worth the money because it will add to your Disneyland experience. For example, a character autograph book, a fun pen, or a pair of ears you can wear during your trip can enhance your experience at the park, and give you a souvenir to have when you get back home. 

Earn Disney money before your trip.

If you have a Disney Rewards Visa card, you can earn cash back on everyday purchases, such as food and gas. Then, you can put the cash back on a Disney Rewards card that you can use throughout the Disneyland Resort.

New card holders can also receive up to $300 on a Disney gift card if they make a certain amount of purchases within the first months of having their card. Guests can also save money in many different ways while using their card on their Disney trip.  Guests who book their Disney vacation package with their card will receive no interest payments for 60 months. At the park, Disney Rewards Visa cardholders can save 10% at not only select Disney merchandise locations but also select restaurants. 

Planning ahead helps the most

Disneyland can be quite expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Planning ahead and setting aside money for different aspects of your trip can help keep expenses down. I hope this post helps guide you when it comes to planning and budgeting your Disneyland vacation.