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Many people look forward to trips to Disneyland, but dreadthe cost of going. We took our boys fortheir first visit in 2008, when they were 3 and 4 and I searched high and lowfor how to get the best deals. I hadn’tbeen to Disneyland myself in 14 years at that point and had no clue what I wasgetting our family into.
That year we saved and budgeted and took our boys on amemorable first trip.
We fell in love with Disneyland at that point and now areseason passholders. Even though the parkis about 6.5 hours away, we still try to make it down 4-5 times a year. That includes my annual ladies only trip Imake each February.
To travel down to Disneyland that much costs money and addscalories, so after a couple of visits, I started taking note of how to maketrips more affordable for our family.
Here are some of my tips for saving money while in “The‘Land.”
1. First, make sure you plan your travel datesoutside peak season. We have found thatsummer is unbearable, due to high crowds, heat, and increased prices. Fall is best, before the Halloweenfestivities begin, but after school has started back up. The week after New Year’s is also a low-crowdtime and Christmas decorations are still up.The next best option is in the Spring, but well away from SpringBreak. Disneyland operates on a 6-week“spring break” and those weeks surrounding Easter are very packed.
Update 10/5/17: Lately, I am finding that Tuesdays and Wednesday's in early-mid October, early November, mid-January are also good times to head into the parks.
2. Avoid thePhotopass. Disney offers this servicewhen taking photos in the parks. You aregiven a plastic card, similar to a credit card, and each time you take a photowith a character or at a scenic point, the photographer scans your card andyour picture is magically added to it.These little babies can range from $45 to $200! Do you know what is FREE? Bringing your own camera and having thephotographer use yours instead. They doit gladly. They will still hand you thephotopass card to which you just file away with a smile. It only costs money when you go to order thephotos on it or purchase the CD with all of your photos.
3. Pack yourlunch and snacks. Disneyland allows youto bring in a soft-sided cooler up to the size that would fit a 6-pack ofsoda. As long as there are no glasscontainers, you are welcome to bring in your own foods. We typically pack sandwiches, chips, juicepouches, granola bars, craisins, crackers, etc. into a small cooler and bringit in with us. Meals get expensive inthe ‘Land and are packed with calories.We like to avoid these things and enjoy finding a quiet spot to eat(like the back of Hungry Bear Restaurant.)
4. Bringbreakfast foods to your hotel. We packoatmeal, cereal, and other easy to make breakfasts with us when we travel. Some of the hotels like Quality Inn on S.Manchester (which is right across the street, a 10 minute walk) offer freecontinental breakfasts. Quality Inn evenhas a waffle station. Yum! If you ever get to stay in a room with akitchen (The California Grand has amazing suites), you can order groceries fromVon’s and cook a hot breakfast before you enter the parks.
5. Souvenirs. My all-time favorite souvenirs are the silhouetteson Main Street. These run just $9 to getdone and a little extra if you want the frame.My brother and I had them done on our first visits and I did the samewith my sons. Wealways pick up Disney shirts at the Disney store before our trips to save usmoney as clothing prices in the park are outrageous.
I I also love collecting Disney pins. The best way to save on these is to get them on Ebay (make sure they arelegitimate Disney pins.) Then, while you are in the park, you can trade them with any Cast Member wearing pins on a black lanyard or black hip board. I buy pins for a few dollars each, and then trade for pins that I like better and are worth more. Cast Members wearing teal lanyards are only for kids to trade with.
6. Tickets. There are two different ways I prefer to savehere. Keep in mind, discounts on ticketsare difficult to get unless you are a California teacher or in themilitary. My first choice is to weighthe cost of the annual passes to how long/how many trips you will take in ayear. I find it is much more affordableto get the Deluxe or Premium AP for how often we go. My trips work out to about $16 per day when a1-day ticket is around $100. If you areonly going once, for less than a week, the best prices can be found atGetAwayToday.com. You can find lots ofgreat deals on their site and you can pick up your tickets at the Disneylandticket booth. GAT offers lower pricesthat even Disneyland!
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| I won a Dream Fastpass during The Year of a Million Dreams |
7. Hotels: Myfavorite hotels are right across the street from Disneyland. In order offarthest to closest, here are my picks:
a. Quality Innon S. Manchester. The rates are veryreasonable, the hotel is clean, and they offer free continental breakfast whichincludes homemade waffles. This is abouta 12 minute walk to the parks.
b. HowardJohnson on S. Manchester and Harbor. Therates are a bit pricier, but if you have an AP, Entertainment Book, or keepyour eye open for deals, you can score a great rate. The rooms are spacious, there are amazingpools for the kids and grownups, and there is a convenience shop on site. No breakfast is available, but there is afridge and microwave to cook meals from home.10 minute walk to the parks.
c. CarouselInn on Harbor. If you go during off-peakseason, you can get great rates, spacious rooms, and there is free breakfast(your standard motel faire – pastries, cereal, milk, juice, and hard-boiledeggs.) 6 minute walk to the parks
d. Desert Innon Harbor. Directly across the streetfrom the park, this hotel also has low rates during off-peak season. Parking there isn’t free though, you must paya daily rate if you drive in. 3 minutewalk to the parks.
I hope my tips have helped!If you have any questions, feel free to post them below.
