Best Ways to Save Money at Disneyland

Everybody thinks of Disneyland when they think of family vacations. So many people think it is too expensive for their family, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some of the best ways to save money at Disneyland. We always plan our Trip with Get Away Today to make the trip even more affordable as they will help you save on tickets, your hotel stay, and character dining.
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Budget

The best tip is to budget for all the money you are planning on spending in the parks. It’s helpful to sit down with your family and create a souvenir budget and food budget before you go. It can be easy to get a little out of control when faced with all the amazing stuff you can buy in the park. By having a limit set before-hand, you can avoid over spending and focus on enjoying rides and making memories instead.

Souvenirs

Everybody wants to bring a piece of Disney magic home with them and it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. One of the best ways to save money on souvenirs is to buy them before you go. You can get Disney merchandise at so many different retailers for a discounted cost. Make sure to watch for Disney store coupons and sales since they offer park merchandise on their website as well. Your kids won’t know the difference, but you and your wallet will! Another great option is to look for free souvenirs within the park. Yes, there are actually souvenirs that you can get for free for your family within the park! One of the most known are the celebratory buttons. City Hall or any of the shop counters can give you pins to celebrate things such as your first visit, birthday, engagement, honeymoon and anniversary. They are completely free and cast members are always sure to smile and congratulate you when they see them.
You can visit the Animation Academy in Disney California Adventure Park and take a class from a Disney animator. The best part is that you are able to keep those sketches to always remember you got to work with a bona-fide Disney animator. You can also ask a cast member at the end of the Jungle Cruise for a free map of the ride or grab a free copy of The Buena Vista Bugle at the Starbucks in DCA.
Pressed pennies can be another less expensive and fun souvenir idea. There are several machines throughout the parks and they only cost two quarters and a penny. You can choose from different characters and other Disney-themed images that are pressed onto the penny for you to keep. Out of all the collectible items within the parks, this option is one of the best priced. It’s also fun for your kids to watch for the different penny machines throughout the resort.
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Character autographs can also be almost-free if you purchase an autograph book (plain or Disney-themed) ahead of time. All it costs is the time it takes to stand in line for your favorite characters! We found autograph books from the dollar store that were Disney and Star Wars themed and the kids loved them. They don’t have to be expensive and your kids will love grabbing the souvenirs. Some of the characters will even draw little pictures with their signature and my son loved looking through them.

Food

If the Disney magic wasn’t enough, the delicious meals and snacks within the parks are even more reason to visit Disneyland! I would have to say that eating the special treats at the park is my husbands favorite part. They can seem pricey, but there are a few ways to save money on food at Disneyland. The first tip is to share meals within your family. Many of the park restaurant entrees include more than enough food for one person that can be shared between two or three people depending on how big of eaters you have.
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If you are going to do character dining, pick one of the options that include a buffet like Goofy’s Kitchen that offers a buffet for brunch and dinner or Minnie & Friends at Plaza Inn that offers a buffet for breakfast. We tried the princess dining at Disney World and honestly I wasn’t that impressed. The food was very expensive and the buffet line was too fancy for my kids. I found that Goofy’s kitchen was much more kid friendly with the food and they have princesses there as well.
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The buffet option gives you the most bang for your buck and you can save even more by buying discounted vouchers from Get Away Today. Their vouchers also include all taxes and gratuities so you don’t have to worry about paying anything at the restaurant either. You can bring in your own snacks and even meals if you really want to save. You aren’t allowed to bring in glass containers or alcohol, but anything else is just fine. If you’re staying at a hotel that offers a free breakfast, you can fill up in the morning. Keep in mind, there are a few hotels that even offer a free dinner on certain nights, or have a full kitchen. You can really save on food if you choose to stay at one of those hotels and plan your meals there.
You can also pack in lunches and snacks which saves you a lot of money, especially if you want to eat while standing in line or in between rides. I found that our kids needed time to just sit and chill so it isn’t necessarily a bad thing to stop. Packing a lunch allows you to avoid the lines and that can save you a lot of time.

Plan Ahead

One of the absolute best ways to save money at Disneyland is to take time to plan your vacation ahead of time. By booking your package earlier rather than later, you can take advantage of better room availability and nightly rates for hotels as well as special sales on tickets. Another tip is to book with Get Away Today. They have discounted hotel rates and Disneyland tickets for your trip. Plus, you can save even more by using our exclusive promo code: SYTLE15 for an extra $10 off any 2-night or longer Disneyland package. You can find their best deals at www.getawaytoday.com or by calling 855-GET-AWAY. Make sure to mention My Mommy Style send you to get your extra discount.
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Now that you know how affordable the park can be, start planning your own dream Disneyland family vacation now!
camille walker, mymommystyle.com
This post contains affiliate links and allows us a small commission for promoting this product. It in no way increases your price, and we hope you have the best trip ever!
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  • On thing most people forget about is the food costs- and I absolutely think packing your own snacks is a great way to save! I know many vacationers are not likely to bring there own meals to the park so eating healthy meals is actually another way to save money. For example, hamburger and fries is going to be about the same price as a turkey sandwich and fruit, but the higher nutritional content of the turkey sandwich meal will have the child feeling fuller (and having fun!) for longer so they don’t crash and turn into little snack monsters the whole afternoon. Options can be hard to find but I posted locations for healthy Disneyland eats on Oh My Nosh! And I agree about the souvenirs- my kids care only about the Mickey ears and souvenirs pennies from our trip a year ago! Brilliant points!
    MichelleReplyCancel

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Hello! I am Camille, a wife, mother of four, Disney obsessed, certified teacher, and reality optimist. Motherhood comes with its ups and downs, and I hope while you're here you'll find something that makes your #momlife easier!

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