Visiting Disneyland is on the “must do” list for many households. It can be an entertaining and memorable experience for children and adults of all ages.

When it comes to budgeting for Disneyland, follow these pointers to let both you and your wallet smile before and after your trip to “The Happiest Place on Earth”.

Visiting Disneyland on a Budget

You can visit Disneyland on the (relative) cheap or you can do things up big, and so either way you’ll need a budget. Every Disneyland visitor has a different spending limit, but you can have a whole lot of fun no matter what. (Just be sure to get plenty of rest during your trip!)

Once you’re in California, your two largest expenses will be lodging and tickets. There are ways to save on those, and you can also save money once you get into the park itself. Here are some things to keep in mind when budgeting for Disneyland.

Travel in the Fall or Spring

If possible, try to visit Disneyland in the fall or spring months. It will be harder to find deals in the summer and Christmas holiday season when school is out. Plus, if you visit during off-peak times the crowd sizes will be smaller in comparison, which is really nice.

You’ll want to book your travel as early as possible. This will allow you to secure lodging at the lowest price as the cheapest options often get reserved first.

Compare Individual Booking to Vacation Packages

In general, there are 3 different ways to book your trip to Disneyland:

• Book your lodging separately, and buy your admission tickets at the gate. (This is what we normally do.)
• Reserve a vacation package directly from Disneyland Vacation Packages. (What we’d do if we ever decide to spring for a stay at the Grand Californian Hotel.)
• Purchase a package from a third-party site. (What we’d do if we wanted to stay in an off-site hotel.)

Booking an all-in-one package can be convenient, provide additional amenities, and save time during the planning process. The price difference between all three options can vary greatly.

Consider booking your lodging and admission separately when traveling off-season, or if you prefer to stay in an AirBnB or a campground instead. Note: If you haven’t used AirBnB before, you can get a credit toward your first stay by signing up with my affiliate link here. I love staying in AirBnBs :)

Surprisingly, third-party packages can sometimes be cheaper than booking a package directly from Disneyland. Just make sure to book from a credible travel portal like Expedia, Costco, or an accredited travel partner. (Make sure you clearly understand any cancellation policies.)

Seasonal vacation packages are usually cheaper than everyday packages. If you buy a seasonal package, make sure you know the latest you can attend Disneyland as you can often buy these packages up to one day before the package must be redeemed.

Lodging

Staying off-site can be your most affordable option. You can likely stay at a Good Neighbor hotel within walking distance for approximately $59 per night (plus taxes). Our last AirBnB stay in Anaheim cost us $184 a night (including all taxes & fees) but we got an entire 2-bedroom HOUSE for that price. That can be a big savings if you have a larger family and make meals at home, because you won’t have to rent multiple hotel rooms or eat out as much.

Staying on-site at a Disneyland Resort hotel like the Grand Californian can cost a whole lot more – in the range of $417 per night. But…you are right there, and it’s a gorgeous place (at least based on what I’ve seen from the lobby & pricey restaurant.)

If you’re booking a hotel, you can book your room directly from the hotel’s website or a booking portal. If you’re staying offsite, check to see if they have a shuttle to the park so you don’t have to walk or pay to park.

Budgeting for Disneyland: Getting Disneyland Tickets

If you’re a blogger or member of the media who writes about relevant topics, you can request 2 free one-day park hopper tickets to Disneyland & California Adventure from their Disneyland’s media relations office, which is what I did prior to publishing this post. To be considered, you need to have a relevant story planned or assigned to you, a business card, a specific date in mind, and request it in advance by providing all of the information they request in their courtesy ticket policy. We chose one of their slowest times to go and so we did receive 2 tickets for free. (Hence this post.)

If you’re a member of the U.S. military, you can usually get discounted Disneyland tickets by taking advantage of their military discount.

Other offers: Disneyland also typically has a variety of offers available on their offers & discounts page.

If none of those options apply or appeal to you, the next cheapest way will be buying the single park per day ticket on a non-peak day. (Disneyland does have seasonal pricing, so ticket prices vary a little depending on demand and when you go.) You will also get a lower rate if you buy a multi-day ticket. If you plan to visit a Disneyland park for five days, it’s better to purchase a single five-day ticket compared to five separate one-day tickets that cost.

Park Hopper tickets are more expensive, but they do let you visit both of the Disneyland and California Adventure parks on the same day, which can be fun especially if it’s your first visit and you want to check everything out.

If you’re going to be in Southern California for a while, you may also want to look into the Southern California CityPASS. That can give you access to Legoland and SeaWorld plus three days to both Disneyland parks.

Budgeting for Disneyland Once You’re IN the Park

In-park spending can become a huge budget buster if you aren’t careful. Cut down on that by following these tips:

• Eat breakfast at your hotel
• Bring limited snacks & meals into the park
• Instead of buying soft drinks, take advantage of the free cups of water you can get from concession stands, or bring your own water bottle and refill it at one of the water stations
• Avoid Character Meals during peak season as prices can be higher
• If you have a meal plan voucher, use the entire thing as partial balances cannot be redeemed later
• Give your kids a budget for the day, and once it’s gone it’s gone.

Snacks and Dining in the Park

A quick note about snacks. Disneyland’s official policy doesn’t allow hard-sided coolers, large coolers, or glass containers inside the park. You usually can bring in snacks and pre-made sandwiches that can save you from buying at least one meal per day.

When it comes to dining, you will pay less for visiting a cafeteria or counter-style restaurant instead of a sit-down restaurant. You might even be able to split a meal at some restaurants if portion sizes are large enough. Dining at table service (sit down) restaurants will be by far the most expensive option.

You can purchase Character Dining experiences that can cost between $15 and $59.99 per adult. If you choose a character dining experience, your best option will typically be eating lunch or dinner with a character and eating breakfast in your hotel room. It’s best to reserve everything possible ahead of time, as things may sell out.

To really save on dining at Disneyland, consider these tips:

If you’ve driven to the park or can shuttle back to your hotel, leave a large cooler packed with lunch & dinner in your car for meals. Or take advantage of the parking lot re-entry ability and run out to a fast food place for lunch. Disneyland also provides a limited number of lockers outside the park that can store coolers that are a maximum of 18″ wide x 25″ high x 37″ deep, so that’s an option as well. There are picnic areas nearby to eat at. If you’re traveling with an infant or toddler, Disneyland’s Baby Care Centers offer a kitchen with microwave and sink, so you can take advantage of those as well.

Budgeting for Disneyland Souvenirs

When budgeting for souvenirs, keep in mind that you can buy Disney memorabilia outside the park as well in regular stores like Target. You can even buy things before you leave for your trip if you find a great deal somewhere! (There’s no rule that says a reminder of a trip actually has to be purchased while ON the trip.)

If you want to buy souvenirs within the park, having a souvenir budget is key. It’s a good idea to have a fixed amount budgeted for those that includes snacks with souvenir containers. That way kids can decide what they’d like most and feel in control, while YOU can avoid pleas for multiple pricey purchases.

Regardless of your budget, remember that you’ll need to have room for the items you buy when you make the trip home. (Some of the shops will hold packages for you until you’re ready to leave, and if you’re a guest at one of the Disneyland Resort Hotels, purchases can be delivered to you there.)

Photos often make a great (and lightweight!) souvenir. Disneyland now offers a MaxPass (currently $10/day) that lets you download unlimited Disney PhotoPass photos for a day. As a side benefit with the MaxPass, you can also reserve FASTPASS tickets from your phone while in the park. (Don’t worry though, you can still get your FASTPASSes for free without the MaxPass. You just insert your Disneyland ticket into the kiosks near the rides that offer them.)

The Easiest Way to Save

While some costs are non-negotiable when visiting Disneyland, the easiest way to save money is by choosing a cheaper lodging option and limiting your in-park spending. By booking early, you can snap up good deals and travel for less. Take the time to compare your options as Disneyland vacations can vary widely in price. Remember, even budgeting for Disneyland can be fun! If you go, have a great trip!