I’ve worked at Disneyland Resort in California for seven years, and while I’ve watched guests drop a lot of cash at the parks, I’ve also picked up a bunch of ways to trim expenses.
Don’t worry — this Cast Member (that’s what we call employees) is here to show you how to save on your visit!
1. Get the Most from Your Ticket
Yes, tickets can be expensive, but if you were to purchase admission to comparable shows and attractions elsewhere, you’d likely spend far more.
I could easily blow a ton of money on ride wristbands at a county fair or pay big for a Broadway performance. Yet for roughly the same cost as a Broadway seat, a Disneyland ticket delivers Broadway-level entertainment and some of the best ride engineering around.
The trick to maximizing your ticket value is to pack as much Disney into your day as possible.
Start early and finish late. Arrive about 30 minutes before the gates open — very few people show up that early. You can hop on Space Mountain and Star Tours multiple times before lines form. (Okay, maybe not a dozen times, but you get the idea.)
Opening hours vary by date, season and park. It’s simple to check park hours on the Disneyland site and see when Extra Magic Hours are offered. (Extra Magic Hours let Disney resort guests enter a park an hour early.)
That schedule is handy whether you’re staying on property or not. When hotel guests enjoy Magic Mornings in one park, you can pick the other park to start in; then when both parks open, the lines at your chosen park will still be light.
It’s also wise to visit on low-attendance days. You’ll breeze through queues if you go on a weekday in September or January (when schools are in session), whereas the same lines can take hours during mid-summer.
Check the Disneyland website before your trip. The site is well-organized and will help you see what’s available. Browse attractions and dining, and list what you want to prioritize.
Map out your day so you know showtimes for “Frozen Live,” “Fantasmic!” or other performances you want to catch. When you look back on your action-packed day, you’ll feel like your ticket purchase was worth every penny.
2. Find Rooms That Make Sense
The three Disneyland hotels are lovely, but they come with steep price tags. Even the most affordable room can run $269 or more. Luckily, there are excellent options just across the street.
A row of “Good Neighbor” hotels sits directly across from the park, the same walking distance to the gates as the Disney properties. The Castle Inn & Suites even has a castle-like appearance.
3. Keep Food Costs Down
Food at Disneyland can add up fast, but there are plenty of ways to curb spending.
Before you head into the park, eat at a nearby fast-food spot or take advantage of thefree breakfastat your hotel.
Even after one meal, you’ll likely need to eat in the park at some point. Fortunately, you can bring as much food as you want into the parks. Pack snacks and refillable water bottles — bottled drinks can cost $3.29 at carts. I’ve seen guests bring full meals and relax at tables to eat. Smart move.
Sometimes you can’t avoid dining at Disney restaurants. That’s fine — just choose quick-service spots when possible.
Table service is roughly twice the cost and includes tipping. For instance, the Blue Bayou has Monte Cristo entrees starting around $28, and Ariel’s Grotto lists prices near $37 for breakfast, $41 for lunch and $45 for dinner.
I recommend Royal Street Veranda, Rancho Del Zocalo Restaurante, and Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port. They’re satisfying and budget-friendly.
I love the giant bread bowl at Royal Street Veranda for about $10.99. The $9.49 pasta at Pizza Port is generously portioned, and Rancho del Zocalo’s burrito for $11.99 with rice and beans keeps me full all day.
There’s an all-you-can-eat option at Plaza Inn. It’s pricier ($35 to $59.99 for adults and $14.99 per child), but if you eat a lot, it can be a good value.
4. Drink Smarter
One perk of Disney California Adventure is the availability of alcohol. Parents, rejoice. Still, it helps to know how to make your dollars count.
Beers and cocktails cost considerably more than at home, and some mixed drinks, like those at Rita’s Baja Blenders, have minimal alcohol.
At Bayside Brews on Paradise Pier, a 20-ounce beer runs $7.25 to $8.50, sparkling wine is about $10.50, and still wine is typically $9 to $11.
Those prices are similar to a premium cocktail at Carthay Circle Lounge. If you plan to buy a drink, consider doing it there. The lounge sits on the ground floor of Carthay Circle (beneath the restaurant).
Try the Carthay Martini for $13.50, Ernest’s Daiquiri for $12.25, Pimm’s Punch for $11.75, or the Derby for $10.75.
At Carthay Circle Lounge you get the restaurant’s upscale vibe without the hefty food prices. Cheers to a Tequila Daisy!
5. Save vs. Souvenir
Souvenirs are everywhere — there’s a shop at the exit of nearly every attraction, and the merchandise is irresistibly cute.
A useful tactic is to remind kids (and yourself) that most merchandise is sold at the front of the park on Main Street and at the World of Disney in Downtown Disney. If you still want the item later — and you still can’t live without it — you can buy it there. That way you avoid carrying things all day and the impulse-buy trap.
Disney’s shopping app is handy if you plan to purchase many items for family and friends, since you can order and ship them home. This prevents overstuffing your suitcase or lugging bags around the park.
Keep in mind you’ll pay shipping, so if you only want a few small items, it’s probably cheaper to buy them in the parks.
The least expensive keepsakes are pressed pennies, which cost just 50 cents plus the penny. Pressed nickels, dimes and quarters run 75 cents plus the coin.
Each land has pressed coin machines — hunt them down to collect themed coins from every area. Pick up a discount penny holder on Amazon before your trip for an affordable, fun memento.
I suggest bringing change or small bills for penny pressing, though carrying lots of coins can be a hassle. Your best bet is small bills you can trade for change at shops during the day.
If you forget cash, ATMs are located throughout Disney as well as outside the park and in hotels. I’d still recommend bringing your own pennies so your pressed coins are nice and shiny!
While Disneyland might not feel like a budget getaway at first glance, there are plenty of ways to make your money stretch — and in the end, those memories will be priceless.
Riley Marsh is a fiction and nonfiction writer from Southern California. They have an MFA in creative writing, a cat named Kierkegaard and a knack for spotting deals.
