Disneyland just raised ticket prices again, but you can still take a family of four to the Anaheim theme park for about $300 if you have a flexible schedule and a nose for cheap deals.
Bargain-hunting Disneylanders looking for a budget vacation will find 15 days in January and February where a family of four with two adults and two kids can get into the park for $308.
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Disneyland has kept its cheapest adult ticket at $104 since 2019 and the park just announced a $50 ticket deal for kids ages 3 to 9 that’s good for one-day, one-park visits on Jan. 7 through March 20.
Those rock bottom prices will save frugal Disneylanders almost 80% off a day at the park during the peak season with all the bells and whistles.
Disneyland can cost $1,428 for a family of four who wants to do it all — parkhopper tickets on the most expensive days with Lightning Lane front-of-the-line passes for all the best rides. And that’s before you pay for a hotel, parking, food, souvenirs and other perks and upgrades.
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“There continue to be options for guests to prioritize a budget vacation over the most optimally timed vacation,” Mickey Visit founder Gavin Doyle said via email. “If you are willing to travel on weekdays during the less popular months of the year or be reactive to Disney’s deals throughout the year, you’ll be rewarded with lower prices on tickets and deals on hotels in the area.”
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure offer 15 dates in January and February when tickets cost $104 — the lowest price available.
The $104 adult tickets are available on Jan. 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28 and 29 and Feb. 4, 5, 25 and 26.
Those cheap dates fall mostly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with a few Mondays and Thursdays thrown in.
Mickey Visit forecasts crowd levels will be “Below Normal” at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on Jan. 14, 21, 22, 23, 27 and 29. Crowds are projected to be “Below Normal” at Disneyland on Feb. 5 and 26.
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There are plenty of other ways to save money on a Disneyland vacation beyond cheap tickets.
Avoiding parkhopper tickets and sticking to a single park is the best way to get the most out of your day. Bouncing back and forth between parks wastes time and diminishes your focus.
It’s best to have a detailed plan of attack while remaining flexible if your goal is to tackle Disneyland or DCA without Lightning Lane Multipasses for the family. Arriving before rope drop, monitoring the Disneyland app for lowest ride wait times throughout the day and hitting attractions while the crowds are waiting for parades and nighttime spectaculars will maximize the number of attractions you can hit during your visit.
You can save money on food and drinks by bringing your lunch and dinner. You can stow a small cooler in the lockers near the park entrance and eat at the picnic tables just off the esplanade.
Surprise the kids with lightly used lost and found Disneyland souvenirs you can buy at the Goodwill store in Santa Ana — available at a fraction of theme park prices. Stuff the souvenirs in your backpack and give them to the kids when you get to the park.
You can avoid the $35 parking fee at the Disneyland parking structures by using park-and-ride lots in Anaheim or Fullerton and taking a bus to and from the parks. You can also find cheaper parking options at hotels around the park if you’re not keen on putting the kids on a bus at midnight after a long day at the park.
Speaking of hotels, there are more than 50 Disneyland-approved Good Neighbor hotels that offer nightly rates way below what you’d pay at the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian or the new Pixar Place — which commands $500 a night.
The Motel 6 Anaheim Maingate — a Disneyland Good Neighbor hotel — offers rooms that sleep four for $107 per night. All of the Good Neighbor hotels offer discounted Disneyland ticket packages.
One final tip: It’s best to warn the kids before you head to Disneyland that the family is taking a budget vacation and that the goal is to have fun while saving money. Think of it as a teaching opportunity with churros, roller coasters and Disney characters.