The happiest place on Earth can have you feeling anything but happy when looking over your credit card statement after a trip. Disneyland’s ticket, food, and merchandise prices have skyrocketed recently. Guests even have to pay for previously free services like Fast Pass, now rebranded as Disney Genie, and it can cost you hundreds of dollars to skip the lines. So, if you feel like Disney’s priced you out of the parks, you can count on these strategies to keep you from breaking the bank at Disneyland.
Although you must go through security to get into the parks, it is NOT the same as TSA. Many guests incorrectly assume you cannot bring your own food or drinks. I bet Disney is more than happy to keep this rumor alive with how much they make off their stadium-priced meals. Nonetheless, this is not the truth. You absolutely can bring your own food and drinks into the parks, and it’s actually one of the best ways to save money. You can save hundreds of dollars a day with a large family by packing your own meals. Also, bring a refillable water bottle to avoid paying $5.50 for a single bottle!
Pro tip: If you are like me and can only drink water when it’s freezing cold, the baby changing station at Disneyland and Pym Test Kitchen at Disney California Adventure (DCA) are the only places to find ice-cold water refill stations.
Although, I know what you’re thinking: “I’d love to save money, but I don’t want to lug a suitcase full of food around the parks!” You don’t have to! Right past the entrance gates of both Disneyland and DCA are self-storage lockers where you can stow away all your personal belongings for the entire day. For only $7 to $10 per day (depending on your selected locker size), you’re granted unlimited access to your very own storage locker throughout the day. For the amount of money you’ll save, $10 a day sounds like a pretty good bargain to me.
My next tip: timing is everything. Did you know you can save almost 40% on the price of a day ticket to Disneyland by attending a less popular day? Visiting Disneyland’s “off-season” can save large families hundreds of dollars in ticket costs and even provide you with lower wait times and a better overall experience. The timing of actually purchasing your tickets is equally important. Although the prices of Disneyland tickets won’t increase whether you buy them the day before or three months before, airfare and car rentals will. It’s generally cheapest to plan as far ahead as possible regarding these transportation costs. Waiting until the last minute to find a flight can result in thousands of dollars in extra costs or even a canceled trip. Do future-you a favor and book as much as you can in advance!
My final trick involves Disney’s beloved but pricey merchandise and park essentials. If there is an opportunity to upcharge you, Disneyland will take it, especially when it comes to items you didn’t even realize you’d need. Want to go on Splash Mountain and not spend the rest of the day drenched in the Briar Patch’s smelly river water? That’ll cost you about $10 per poncho. However, if you prepare correctly, you can grab a pack of ten ponchos on Amazon for the same price. Take that, Disney! It’s also best to hit up the closest Walmart or shopping center before your first day at the parks for things like autograph books, flip-flops, glow sticks, fans, and even Minnie ears. These products aren’t exclusive to the parks, and you can find them for so much cheaper outside Disney’s magic gates.
Every Disneyland trip comes with a hefty price tag, but with these budget-friendly tips and tricks, you won’t have to be Scrooge McDuck to enjoy a fun and relaxing trip to the most magical, and costly, place on Earth.