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saving money at Disneyland
Discount Disneyland Packages


Disneyland can be expensive! There’s really no sugar coating it.  By the time you pay for flights, park tickets and a hotel, you can plan on spending a large chunk of change!  Don’t stress about overspending while you’re at Disneyland.  There are lots of ways to save money at Disneyland! In this post we’ll cover more than 30 ways to help make saving money at Disneyland easy. 

I’ve got an episode on my podcast all about saving money while you’re at the Disney parks. Check it out! 

Saving Money At Disneyland

Let’s get going!  My hope is that all these tips for saving money at Disneyland will give you some creative ways to save money while you’re visiting the happiest place on earth.  A Disneyland trip can be so much fun, especially if it doesn’t break the bank!  Check out my post on saving up for your Disney vacation for some unique ideas to help you save money for your upcoming Disney vacation. 

Visit during the off season

You can save lots of money on hotels, park tickets, flights and other travel expenses if you visit during the off season.  Disneyland and nearby hotels raise their prices during the busiest times of the year.  Airline tickets are usually more expensive as well. So, if you’re able, travel during the off season! January or February are our favorite off season times to visit. 

Buy discount park tickets

You don’t have to pay full price for your Disneyland tickets!  We always book our tickets through Get Away Today.  Their tickets are always discounted off the gate price. They often have great sales like “adults at kids prices” or “buy 4 days get the 5th day free”.   You’ll save the most money per day when you purchase multi-day tickets. Getting a discount on your Disney park tickets is the best way to save money on your Disneyland vacation!

Visit when kids are free

Visiting Disneyland before kids turn 3 years old is a strategic and cost-effective decision for families because kids under 3 years old are free and don’t need a park ticket!  This age-based perk allows parents to enjoy the enchanting world of Disneyland with their toddlers at no additional cost.  It’s a wonderful window of time for families to introduce their little ones to the magic of Disneyland while enjoying the savings of taking little ones for free! 

Stay off property

Choosing to stay off-property at Disneyland can be a smart financial decision,  There are a bunch of nearby hotels that are available for a fraction of the price compared to the on property Disneyland Resort hotels.  You’ll be able to find something perfect for your budget.  Additionally, many off-property hotels come with extra perks, such as complimentary breakfasts, free parking or shuttle services to the park!  I always book my hotels with Get Away Today. They have the best rates and often have a “stay 3 nights get the 4th night free” option on many of the properties they offer.  Check out my favorite hotels near Disneyland if you need some hotel ideas.

Combine hotel/park tickets

Opting for a package deal that combines park tickets and hotel accommodations at Disneyland can be a strategic move and help save money! Get Away Today offers packages and we’ve found that to be a great way to save money on your Disneyland vacation.  

By bundling tickets and a hotel room, you’ll not only streamline the booking process but also capitalize on the potential for substantial overall savings! Plus, you’ll know you’re getting the very best deals.  If you book tickets and hotel through Get Away Today, you can save $10 using my code MIX10. Give them a call at 855- GET- AWAY if you prefer and tell them Mix In Some Magic sent you for the best rates!  Read more about why I love Get Away Today so much here.

Don’t park hop

Park hopper tickets are quite a bit more expensive than one park per day tickets. When we are at Disneyland on family vacations, we don’t buy the park hopper ticket. It’s just too expensive. Ticket prices are already high, so saving money at Disneyland by not adding the park hopper option is a good choice.  There’s plenty of things to keep us busy for a full day in each park!  We spend the day enjoying everything that park has to offer. 

Skip Lightning Lane Multi Pass

Genie plus is a paid upgrade that lets you skip the standby line on select attractions at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. You get to enter the attractions via the lightning lane which is always shorter.  I’ve got a lot of information about using Lightning Lane Multi Pass that will be helpful is you decide to use it.  Lightning Lane Multi Pass is great and incredibly convenient.  It will save you a bunch of time waiting in lines if you use it correctly. I love it, but it’s not necessary to have a great day at Disneyland. Skipping out on Lightning Lane Multi Pass and utilizing the standby line is a good idea if you’re trying to save money on your Disneyland vacation. 

Shorten your vacation

Opting for a shorter Disneyland visit can be a smart financial choice and save you money. If you were planning on a 5 day vacation, why not shorten it to 4 days? You’ll save money on park tickets, hotel and food, but you’ll still get to have a great time at Disneyland.  Maybe not the funnest way to save money on your Disneyland vacation, but effective none the less

Have a non park day

Incorporating a non-park day into your Disneyland itinerary can be a strategic and money-saving choice. Taking a day off from ticketed attractions allow you and your wallet to relax for a bit! On a non-park day, you can sleep in, enjoy your hotel pool, check out Downtown Disney or head to the beach. I have a ton of idea on what to do on your rest day that you’ll want to check out if you make this part of your plan.

Decide in advance on a splurge

Deciding to splurge in advance can save you money! By identifying specific experiences, souvenirs, or treats that are non-negotiable for your family, you gain better control over your budget. This pre planed splurge enables you to plan and prioritize, so that you can spend your money in the most meaningful and memorable way for your family. It also helps prevent impulse spending. Saving money at Disneyland can include a splurge or two!

Eat breakfast at your hotel

Eating in the parks is expensive!  Skipping breakfast in the parks is one of my favorite was of saving money at Disneyland. You can save lots of money by eating breakfast before you arrive at the parks.  Many hotels include a free breakfast.  If our hotel is not serving breakfast, I pack simple things like muffins, granola bars, go gurts, apple sauce, etc.

If I’m not able to pack breakfast, I’ll use ride share to get to a nearby grocery store and buy a few things. Right across from Disneyland is a McDonalds. We stop by here sometimes.  Keep in mind, this Mcdonalds has higher prices than your Mcdonalds at home. Eating breakfast before you arrive at the parks not only saves money it saves time! While everyone else is on the hunt for breakfast as soon as the parks open, you can be off enjoying the rides! 

Bring your own stroller

Your small children are going to need a stroller.  You can save money at Disneyland by bringing one from home. You can rent strollers, but it will cost you about $18 a day for a single stroller and $36 a day for a double stroller.  That adds up quickly! Especially if you’re spending multiple days in the park. Plus, if you have your own stroller you can use it to push your kids and all your stuff right to your hotel or car and not have to unload everything/everybody when you leave the parks. 

If bringing your own stroller is not an option, you can save money by renting through a stroller rental service.  My favorite is OC Baby Gear. Their stroller rentals are cheaper than renting from Disneyland and they’ll drop the stroller off at your hotel before you arrive and pick it up after you leave!  Using them is a great option and will save you money. Use code mixin5 for $5 off your stroller rental!  

Bring your own costumes

If your kids like to dress up, bring your own costumes from home!  Meeting the princesses or the avengers?  It’s more fun if you’re dressed the part!  Costumes at Disneyland are pricey. You can find much cheaper options on Amazon or in a local store before you leave for your vacation.  Or, bring a costume that you already have laying around at home.  Your kids will appreciate it and so will your wallet. 

Bring snacks from home

Walking around the Disneyland Resort works up an appetite!  You’re going to need something to hold you over in between meals.  Disney has lots of delicious snacking options, but they come with a heavy price tag.  You can save a lot of money by bringing your own snacks. We bring crackers, chips, beef jerky, apple sauce, granola bars, candy(no chocolate) and licorice. Make sure you pack things that are non perishable unless you have a way to keep them cool. 

Bring your own water bottles

You can buy bottles of water at Disneyland, but it will cost you!  We usually bring our own disposable water bottles. We like to freeze them in the hotel before our Disney day so they stay nice and cold.  You can refill them at water bottle refilling stations or drinking fountains throughout the parks.  

You can also bring nice water bottles from home.  These ones are my favorite for Disneyland!   All the quick service restaurants offer free cups of ice water.  We’ll often use these to refill our water bottles. Bringing in your own water is a great way to save money at Disneyland.

Bring your own autograph books

If you’re planning on collecting autographs from the characters, you can save lots of money by bringing your own autograph books from home.  We like to make our own, to save the most money and my kids enjoy putting them together.  I have a cute autograph printable if you want to save time and print out your own before your trip! 

Amazon also has some fun ones here. Here’s one of my best tips for autograph books: bring a sharpie or a thicker marker for the characters to sign with.  It’s easier for them to hold something a little larger! 

Purchase Disney apparel in advance

Planning ahead and purchasing Disney apparel in advance can be a great way to save money on your Disneyland vacation because you can definitly find them at a lower price before you’re inside the theme parks! The park offers an enticing array of character-themed clothing and accessories, these items can come with a premium price tag. By shopping for Disney apparel before your trip, either online or at local retailers, you can take advantage of sales, discounts, and a wider range of options. Check out my favorite Disney shirts and hoodies from amazon here! You can also check out my favorite Mickey ears on ETSY. 

Don’t rent a car

Choosing not to rent a car during your Disneyland vacation can translate into significant savings. Disneyland is well-connected with various transportation options, including shuttles, rideshares, and public transit. By using these alternatives instead of renting a car, you can eliminate daily rental fees, parking costs, and fuel expenses. Taking that out of the equation saves a lot of money!  We prefer to stay at a hotel within walking distance of the parks. When we stay at a nearby hotel, we eliminate the need for a vehicle. 

Buy discounted Disney gift cards

Purchasing discounted Disney gift cards can be a savvy strategy to save money on on your Disneyland vacation. Many retailers and wholesale clubs will occasionally offer these gift cards at a lower cost than their face value! I’ve seen them sold at a discount at Target and Sam’s Club.  By strategically buying these discounted gift cards in advance, you can use them on all kinds of things at Disneyland, such as meals, snacks, and merchandise. This allows you to essentially get more value for your money, making it a practical and efficient way to save on the overall cost of your Disneyland vacation. 

Have a plan

Having a well-thought-out plan for your Disneyland vacation can be a key factor in saving money. A basic plan for your day enables you to prioritize attractions, shows, and dining experiences, maximizing your time in the park and minimizing unnecessary expenses.  Planning also allows you to identify budget-friendly dining options and schedule meals strategically, avoiding impulse spending. 

Take your own pictures

Opting to take your own pictures at Disneyland can be a practical and money-saving decision. While professional park photographers capture magical moments, the cost of purchasing photo pass might not fit into your budget. Bringing your own camera or smartphone allows you to capture cherished memories without the additional expense. Disney cast members are always willing to take pictures for you too, so don’t be afraid to ask one of them to snap a photo or two!

Bring your own ponchos

Bringing your own ponchos to Disneyland is a smart way to save money at Disneyland, especially during the rainy season. While sudden showers in southern California are not uncommon, purchasing ponchos at Disneyland for your whole family can blow your budget! By packing your own rain gear, you not only save money at Disneyland, but also ensure you’re prepared for unexpected weather changes or those water rides. 

Skip character dining

Skip the character dining. While character dining experiences offer a unique opportunity to interact with beloved Disney characters, it comes with a high price tag compared to other dining options. Eat at cheaper places and meet characters while you’re out and about is the best option when your on a budget. 

Grab freebies

Take advantage of the free offerings around the park! Disneyland freebies, such as park buttons, maps, and artwork from Animation Academy, can be a fun way to enhance your experience while also contributing to savings. Getting small souvenirs for free is a great way to save money on your Disneyland vacation.

Skip the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Choosing to skip the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Disneyland can be a wise financial decision for families on a budget. This fun experience offers enchanting makeovers for young princesses and knights, but it is expensive. You can ask one of the fairy godmother’s in training who work their for some pixie dust and they’ll sprinkle glitter in your hair for free! 

Split meals or order off the kids menu

Meals at Disneyland are often large.  We can get away with buying a few meals and splitting them between our family.  You can also save a bit of money by ordering off the kids menu. The kids menu often has generous portions and is plenty for many adults. Cutting back on what you spend on food is a great way to save money at Disneyland.

Skip the soda or bring it in

I love soda. I’m in a relationship with Diet Dr. Pepper. I guess you could say it’s pretty serious:)  I hate buying soda in the parks though!  It’s so expensive!  I bring my own from home or go without.  If we skip soda with our meals it saves our family of 6 $30! I don’t like skipping soda, so I make sure to pack in my own. Plus, Disneyland’s only diet soda option is Diet Coke.  It’s not my favorite. Saving money at Disneyland by bringing soda can be such a money saver! 

Pack a lunch

This is probably one of our biggest way of saving money at Disneyland. A quick service meal for our family of 6 costs around $130.  That’s a lot.  So, we opt to only eat one meal in the parks on most visits.  We bring in our own food for lunch and that really helps keep your food costs down and saves us a ton of money! Find out what food you can and can’t bring into Disneyland before your visit.

We have an amazing cooler backpack that we load up with our lunch and we’re good to go! You can take back packs on every ride at Disneyland, so it’s never a problem. We pack sandwiches, string cheese, chips, fruit and treats.  When it’s time to eat we find a quiet corner, spread out our pocket blanket and we’re good to go!  This is also a time saver. No waiting in line to order our lunch or walking all around the parks trying to find something we want to eat!

Skip sit down dining

I love a good sit down restaurant at Disneyland, but they can be budget busters!  The sit down restaurants are significantly more expensive than the quick service options.  So, skipping out(or minimizing) meals at sit down restaurants will help you save money on your Disneyland vacation. 

Be prepared for all kinds of weather

Check the weather before your trip! Being prepared for the kind of weather you’ll be dealing with can save you bunches of money! You don’t want to be stuck buying expensive Disney ponchos because it’s raining all day or get sunburned because you forgot the sunscreen!  Keep an eye on the weather and plan accordingly.  You can find my rainy day tips here and my tips for beating the heat here.  I always bring an umbrella for rain and for blocking sun! 

Have a well packed park bag

Be thoughtful about what you bring to the parks.  Try to think about the things you’ll need so that you have them on hand.  I’ve got a whole post of everything I bring to the parks.  Being prepared is important to me.  I’ve thought of it all, so you don’t have to.  Find my essential park bag list here. 

Set a limit on souvenir spending

Before you arrive at Disneyland, set a souvenir spending limit. This is so helpful when you’re focused on saving money at Disneyland. This will help keeps kids(and adults) spending in check!  When my kids were little, we would not let them spend their souvenir money until the last day of the trip. We did this because they would impulsively want to to spend all their souvenir money on the first day of the trip! Then, they’d be sad when they came across something they wanted more later in the vacation and were out of spending money. Setting a spending limit is a great way to save money at Disneyland.

Pre buy souvenirs

We always pre purchase some of our own souvenirs. We bring our own Disney shirts, glow sticks and bubbles. It’s great to pull these things out in long lines or while we’re waiting for a parade or fireworks. They cost a pretty penny in the parks, but I just buy ours at the dollar store or local grocery stores before our trip. Look at us, saving money at Disneyland like pros!

 I also add some extra magic with a tradition we call “Tinker Bell”.  When our kids were little we started this tradition and we still do it today!  If the kids are good during the day while we’re waiting in line, Tinker Bell will come to visit while the kids are sleeping.  She brings them a little Disney themed souvenir like a puzzle, shirt, plushy, coloring books, small treats and toys.

 Our kids love this!  It helps them stay happy in line, but it also helps them with their souvenir spending. They knew Tinker Bell would be bringing them something that night and that helped them with the “gimmies” in the park. It also made it easier for them to wait to spend their souvenir money because they knew they’d be getting something that night while they are sleeping. I love the extra magic this brought to our vacation! 

Saving money at Disneyland is possible! You can do Disneyland on a budget and still have a great time. I hope these ideas I’ve shared about saving money at Disneyland have been helpful for you.  Need more help with your Disneyland planning? I’ve got a complete Disneyland planning guide here. 

Make sure to check out my podcast for lots of Disney planning information! You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Just search for “Mix In Some Magic” Follow me on Instagram for lots of Disney tips and fun!

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I'm Melissa, your Disney vacation aficionado and full-time mom to four. Whether it's sipping Diet Dr. Pepper or sharing unbeatable Disney planning tips, I'm all about adding a touch of magic to everyday life. Let me help turn your Disney dreams into reality with insider advice and customized planning strategies. Join me on this magical journey and make every Disney adventure unforgettable! Read more...

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