A trip to Disneyland is not exactly low-cost, especially if you don’t live in California and want to take the whole family. But this doesn’t mean you’ll have to dig into your savings to take the kids to the magical kingdom.
You can totally do Disneyland on a budget and have lots of fun while you’re at it. You just need to do a bit of planning and strategizing to make sure you get the best bang for your buck. Plus, we have a few easy-to-apply tips and tricks that will make planning a Disneyland trip with or without the family a bit easier.
1. Book Your Hotel in Advance
You can’t enjoy the complete Disneyland experience if you don’t stay in one of the hotels on the resort. The Grand Californian is known for its extravagance and elegance, the Paradise Pier is seaside themed and has an amazing rooftop pool, and the Disneyland Hotel has monorail waterslides – what more could you ask for?
Now, for people on a budget, any of these hotels can be a bit too pricey. However, if you make reservations in advance and manage to book your trip in the off-season, the accommodation will be a lot more affordable.
On the other hand, if you don’t want to stay at a Disneyland hotel, you’ll find offers far more attractive at the hotels around the park. If you time it right, you may even get breakfast included in the room’s price.
2. Look for Discounted Tickets in Advance
Park tickets are also a big expense, especially if you’re bringing the entire family. But again, if you plan ahead, you can get a pretty good price.
It’s best to get your tickets a few months in advance (tickets are more expensive if you get them at the park’s box office). Also, if you want a lower price per ticket, try to visit during the off-season or during the week when the kids are in school.
Disneyland also offers discounted tickets, but it’s not always easy to know when they’ll be available. Luckily, you can use a tool like Park Savers’ calculator to find discounted Disney tickets.
3. Take Advantage of the Genie+ Service
The Genie+ service has a series of perks, but the best is unlimited access to PhotoPass downloads. This way, you can have your picture taken by Disney’s professional photographers (in iconic locations, with characters, or on rides), and it won’t cost an arm and a leg to download them.
The cost for the Genie+ service starts at $25 per day per ticket, so it’s enough to have just one person in your group get it. That person will have unlimited access to PhotoPass downloads, so they’ll be responsible for distributing the photos to the entire group.
Quick tip: If you’re going to have a photoshoot at Disneyland, make sure to get your lavender sequin ears!
4. Bring Your Own Snacks
As you can imagine, food and drinks at the parks are going to be overpriced. So, to save some money and avoid eating junk food and drinking sugary beverages, it’s a good idea to bring your own snacks and drinks.
Disneyland has no rule against this as long as you don’t bring in alcohol. Also, don’t use glass containers for drinks or snacks.
However, you’ll still have to take your main meals at one of the many restaurants and eateries in the parks or around. If you’re looking for lower prices, it’s best to eat outside the parks, but make sure to book a table before you get to Disneyland. Otherwise, you may not get seated until the lunch and dinner rush starts to fade.
Key Takeaway
All you need for a budget-friendly trip to Disneyland is a bit of planning and some time to look for discounted tickets and identify the best places to sleep and eat. Once these are solved, the rest of the trip will definitely be a blast!
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