Visiting Disneyland can be expensive, but there are ways to save money. Travel during off-peak seasons, stay in budget motels, and consider driving instead of flying. Bring snacks and limit souvenir spending. Look for package deals and discounts through Disneyland, Costco, AAA, or local travel agents.
Visiting Disneyland can be a fun but expensive experience. There are ways to save money on a trip and plan your money carefully. A lot depends on how you plan to get to Disneyland, how long you plan to stay, and when you go.
Visiting Disneyland will always cost more during the peak season. Peak seasons include summer, spring break, winter break, and three-day weekends. While ticket prices tend to remain consistent, traveling during the off-season is definitely preferable. February or early autumn are great times to visit. The weather is usually excellent and the crowds are much lighter.
Also, housing is much less expensive. A budget motel like a Travel Lodge might charge around US$50 (USD) a night during the off-season months, but close to US$100 a night during peak season. Staying on weekday nights instead of weekends is always cheaper.
Considering where to stay is important. Look for budget motels with fairly good traveler ratings. While staying at the Disneyland Hotel would be nice, it comes with a much higher price tag than staying at a nearby hotel within walking distance of the park. Choosing cheap yet clean accommodation can really rack up the savings and keep you on budget.
Another way to cut the cost of Disneyland travel is to drive to Anaheim, rather than fly. If you live within 500 to 600 miles of the park, a family of four will still save more by driving than by flying. You can expect to pay at least US$100 per airfare, per person, from locations 500 miles away. It’s at least $400. Driving, even with higher gas prices, tends to be less expensive. Calculate the mileage and search for flight deals to see which way is most convenient for your family’s trip to Disneyland.
If you drive to Disneyland, you have the immediate benefit of being able to pack more for the trip. Packing a variety of clothes, in case of rain, will save you from having to buy any marked Disneyland clothing. Also, you can pack snacks, juice boxes, water, diapers and anything else you need. Since most of the stores surrounding Disneyland have a pretty steep price markup, the more you can bring from home the more you save. If children need to be strolled, bring along a lightweight stroller instead of renting one at the park.
You can bring small snacks to Disneyland, although they would naturally prefer you buy them yourself. However, a box of crackers and juice fits easily into a diaper bag and can reduce the desire to buy snacks from the park. The especially thrifty can even bring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to lunch rather than eat a meal inside Disneyland.
If you’re not bringing your own lunch, you may want to consider walking out of the park for main meals. There are numerous restaurants, fast food chains, and convenience stores nearby where you can purchase food for much less than it will cost inside Disneyland. You may want to consider having one meal inside the park and all other meals outside the park.
Of course most people would like a Disneyland souvenir, and especially the kids will want one. Before you leave the house, tell the kids exactly how much they can spend on a souvenir. Once in the park, stick to that limit. At least 10 USD should be counted for each child, as very few souvenirs can be bought for less.
Many rides offer pictures of your kids on rides in certain exciting locations. These images can now be sent by email, instead of forcing you to purchase an expensive print. Also bring your camera and make your own memories while visiting Disneyland.
Look for packages offered by companies like Costco, AAA, or through Disneyland itself. Disneyland may offer discounts to certain professions on specific days, as well as members of the military. Also check with local travel agents. A package deal might get you better prices on lodging that also includes park tickets. Shop around and plan ahead to secure the best deals.
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