3 Tips for Saving Money on Your Disneyland Vacation

A visit to Disneyland Park in California can be done economically and still allow you to have plenty of fun with your family. Just follow my three tips on how to save money while planning your visit.

1. Pick your hotel wisely

If you really want to save money on your Disneyland vacation, accommodation expenses are the first thing you should scrutinize. You pay a lot more money to stay at a Disney-owned resort instead of staying at another nearby hotel. And the benefits don't really justify the enormous extra cost.

Instead, pick a nice hotel on Harbor Boulevard. Many of them are within walking distance of both Disneyland and California Adventure. Use some of the money you save to have a fun character meal at one of the Disneyland resorts.

There are plenty of hotels near Disneyland and by picking a hotel within walking distance, you also provide yourself another way to save money. Instead of having lunch in one of the parks each day, you can take a break from the attractions and head back to your room for lunch. Some hotels even have mini-fridges and microwaves in the room which can make lunch back at the hotel even more convenient.


2. Buy your Disneyland tickets online

Instead of waiting until you arrive at the parks, you can get a discount directly from Disney by buying your theme park passes on their website, Disneyland.com. You can save up to $20 per ticket on a three day park hopper and even more savings for additional days.

Also, right now Disneyland is offering a special bonus for tickets bought online. You will receive one day of Magic Morning early entry admission with each ticket. By using Magic Morning, you can enjoy many of the popular rides before the park opens for normal business hours.


3. Take advantage of membership or California resident discounts

If you have a membership to AAA, be sure to call them before you buy your Disneyland tickets. Depending on what promotions they have running, they can save you even more money than you can save with Disneyland's online prices. But don't just try the auto club, if you belong to another membership organization such as the AARP or the NRA or a large labor union, check their member benefits offices too. There are also Disney discounts for military as well, so if you or a family member serve in the armed forces, be sure to take advantage of them.

The biggest savings is usually for California residents. Most of Disneyland's guests live in California. It's a popular local park. So there are discounts offered throughout the year to residents of the state. So keep an eye on the advertising for Disneyland in your local paper and on television if you live in the Golden State.