Planning a trip to Disneyland. Any tips on how to save without being cheap?

[bull]

The last time I stepped foot in Disneyland I was knee high to Goofy. Now that the kids are 4 and 6 we are about ready to dive in but I need some advice from some Disney vets. Any Disneyland vets here who can help a brother out?

[hemigeno]

What else are you planning to do while you're out there?

[bull]

What else are you planning to do while you're out there?

I dunno. Probably just stick to Disneyland and California adventure. Maybe a secret rendezvous with Drew Barrymore. Right. We'll probably only be there for three or four days.

[bluesfool]

Take your own food if you can...you'll spend a small fortune in park lunches and dinners alone. Also, make a game plan on how much time you want to spend in each section of park. Of course, you'll tweak that once you get there and see how the crowds are, but at least you'll have an idea of where you want to be and when.

[ChargerRob]

Do not go on a weekend!  Way too many people which means really long lines. Go mid-week. 

[hemigeno]

Well, if you're only going to be in SoCal for 3-4 days, my best tip isn't worth the trouble then.  We did the Disneyland thing in early June this year, and saved a bundle on a pass that gave us 3 days at Disneyland/California Adventure, and one day each at SeaWorld, Universal Studios, and the San Diego Zoo.  Way too much for you to do in 4 days though.

I agree w/ ChargerRob - go during the week (I read that Tuesdays are normally the best, but who knows for sure...).  You'll get a lot more rides in during the same timeperiod that way.

My kids (g15, g11 & b7) enjoyed Disney's two parks alright, but their favorite park we went to was Legoland.  They still enjoy the beach a lot better than any $60/head amusement park though.

[4402tuff4u]

Take your own food if you can...you'll spend a small fortune in park lunches and dinners alone. Also, make a game plan on how much time you want to spend in each section of park. Of course, you'll tweak that once you get there and see how the crowds are, but at least you'll have an idea of where you want to be and when.

Ditto! pack lunches for the kid(s) and yourself. I remember a couple of years ago that a (one) hot dog and a cola was like $ 8!!! and they were not even good old Coney Island Sabbretts!! I would also plan dinner outside the park. All I can remember from the food inside the park that it was fast food dressed up to be served in a dinning room. That's my experince from eating at Epcot in FL and Disneyland in Annaheim, CA.

You are not being cheap, you are being smart! All the meals offered at these parks are either fried or processed more than dog food! Bring some fruits, cold cuts, hard boiled eggs, cheese, raw small snack carrots/veggies, nuts, juices and water, and you'll be fine and save $$ for your Charger!  One thing that is worth is the soda mug with unlimited refills ($10). Bring a bottle of Capt Morgan or Black Seal Bermuda rum and you can have unlimited rum & cokes !!

[Neal_J]

Here's another tip - it won't necessarily save you $$$ but it will make your trip twice as enjoyable.

Here goes:  arrive at the park in the late afternoon rather than the butt-crack-of-dawn like everyone else.  I know this sounds nuts given the astronomical ticket prices (like $50/day if I recall accurately), but hear me out.  When you arrive around 4:00pm, most folks (particularly those with kids) are tired/pissed from standing in looooong lines in the blazing SoCal heat all day.  So these folks either got to dinner or leave the park.   Meanwhile, you stroll into the park (having already eaten elsewhere as suggested above) and enjoy: (1) shorter lines, (2) fewer crowds, (3) cooling/cooler evening weather.  Once the Electrical Parade parade starts, most of the rest of the park is practically abandoned and even more enjoyable.  Stay until midnight, ride the Matterhorn and Space Mountain with little if any lines, and have a blast!

We ususally stay at a cheapie motel with a pool and free Disneyland shuttle.  That way we can hang around the pool until mid-afternoon, get some reasonably-priced chow then take the shuttle (save parking $$$) to Disneyland.  Heck, I did save you some $$$ after all!

Bring me some ears, OK?

Neal J.

[Drache]

I fun but EXPENSIVE dinner is at the Medieval Dinner place that I cannot remember the name of! Universale studios is a good place and when I went I just did the "tour" ride and the "back to the future ride". The tour was a neat ride in all itself since you face off with king kong, almost get eatting by jaws, inside an avalanche, etc.

[topduarte]

We are going to Disneyworld in Florida in about 1 month.

When we went to Disneyland about 3 years ago, we did buy that all you can drink cke for whatever it costs.  Leave the park to eat at your hotel or take a cooler with sandwiches and leave them in your vehicle.

It will cost you a minimum of $50 for a family of four just to eat burger, fries and drinks!!

Get the Fast Pass tickets to save you time in line.  i stress how about 90% of the people there do not use it!!  You can get I think about two fast pass tix at a time per person.  when we went, I was the fast pass getter person.  I would go to two rides in one side of the park and get our time slots (like 1 to 2 hours later) and go back and did this every 2 hours or so.

When we were in Dineyworld two years ago, we must have passed hundreds of people to one ride and our wait was like 10 minutes versus the 45 minute wait time.

It will be more enjoyable to reduce the time in line as you know kids get tired and frustrated standing in line for 45 minutes for a 3 minute ride.

Hope this helps!!!

[Ponch ®]

THe most "common sense" tips have already been mentioned.

- Definetly get a park hopper. You might be able to both D-land and DCA in one day - but you could also get the 2 day park hopper if you plan on hanging around.

- DO take your own food. Usually when I go its just me and the gf and we still end up spending at least $30 on two slices of pizza and a salad at the Pizza joint by Space Mountain (and that's one of the cheaper places).

- Definetly get a FastPass. Here's a little not commonly known fact about the FastPass (my gf worked at D-Land for a couple of months): Even though it gives you a return window of about an hour, you can actually use it ANYTIME after the initial time. For example, if your FastPass says "Return time: 6:15 pm - 7:15 pm", you could go at 9:30 pm and they'll still let you in.

- Where are you staying? Usually some of the hotels near disneyland are ok and pretty affordable. The gf and I usually get a room at one of the places across the street. They're nothing fancy, but they'll do. Look for good deals on expedia or one of those sites. Let me know what you find - I might have stayed at one of those places and I can tell you if its good or not. Most hotels will let you park in their lots even if you haven't checked in yet, so you can just walk to the park.   

- Like someone already said, if you're gonna be around for a couple of days and if its within your budget, DO try to get one of those multiple park passes that get you in to other parks in So Cal. If that's too expensive (it is for me) and you're only gonna visit a couple of places, I'd say either do Knott's Berry Farm (which is near D-land) or Magic Mountain (about an hour north of D-land). They have some awesome rides, and you can usually get $10 off  tickets if you take a can of specially labeled Coke or Pepsi cans.

Universal Studios and Sea World are ok, but keep in mind that they don't have a lot of rides and most of their attractions are scheduled shows and you either have to keep rushing from one place to the other in order to make them or walking around for an hour while waiting for the next one to start. Tickets are almost as expensive as Disneyland (I went to Sea World last month and it was $54/adult). On the other hand, Sea World is in Mission Bay in San Diego, which will get you away from the heat and the views are awesome. Universal Studios has CityWalk, which is a promenade with all sorts of shops, restaurants, and other establishments to bleed your wallet dry. IMHO tho, you don't get enough bang for your buck. 

- Re: Crowds. If you're going during the summer, spring break, or around the December Holidays, IT DOESN'T MATTER if you go in the middle of the week - it WILL be very crowded.  I have to respectfully disagree with Neal though - afternoons evenings are the worst. While it is true that a lot of people leave the park for dinner, it is also true that yearly pass holders (such as myself - I have season passes to D-Land, Magic Mountain, Unversal) start showing up and it can get real crowded. Also, most people that leave will come back. Add to that the people that are camping out waiting for the parades or Fantasmic to start, sometimes it's impossible to get around the park and you keep bumping into people. Having said that though, sometimes I've gone on a weekend and the park isn't very crowded and there are no lines. It's a hit or miss kinda deal. This is true at most parks, but Disneyland is the worst since its the better known one.

- Call me up and we'll have a beer.

That's all I can think of for now - PM me or post any questions you might have about D-Land or if you want to know of other nearby places to visit.

Drache - You're thinking of Medieval Times. It is a great time, but pricey. I believe its something like $50 per person - though the entertainment and dinner are included. There are several "dinner theme" places like that in Buena Park near Knotts, on Harbor Blvd.

[bull]

Thanks guys. So far it's all very helpful. Neal, you've got me thinking about that swing shift deal. No one in my family really likes getting up that early so it might work out pretty good for us to wait until later in the day. It takes me until noon to wake up anyway.

Have you guys ever purchased tickets off Ebay that had a few days left on them, or bought tickets, used a few days and then sold them on Ebay like this guy: http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Adult-Disneyland-Park-Hopper-Tickets-199-Face-Value_W0QQitemZ300005273910QQihZ020QQcategoryZ16071QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Also, can you upgrade regular tickets to fast pass tickets, or is the fast pass a seperate thing from entry tickets?

[Ponch ®]

Thanks guys. So far it's all very helpful. Neal, you've got me thinking about that swing shift deal. No one in my family really likes getting up that early so it might work out pretty good for us to wait until later in the day. It takes me until noon to wake up anyway.

Have you guys ever purchased tickets off Ebay that had a few days left on them, or bought tickets, used a few days and then sold them on Ebay like this guy: http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Adult-Disneyland-Park-Hopper-Tickets-199-Face-Value_W0QQitemZ300005273910QQihZ020QQcategoryZ16071QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Also, can you upgrade regular tickets to fast pass tickets, or is the fast pass a seperate thing from entry tickets?

Just buy the tickets at the Gate or online directly from Disneyland. I wouldnt trust any of those eBay sellers.

You don't have to pay extra for FastPass. When you go to the rides, they each have a FastPass dispenser. You insert your park ticket in, it scans it, and then it prints out a receipt that tells you what your return time is. Basically, it gives you an appointment to come back later in the day and you don't have to stand in the long line. Usually the waiting time in fastpass lines is 15 minutes or less.

BTW - read what I wrote about the afternoons/evenings in my last post.

[Ponch ®]

Oh yeah...and you MUST check out the Aladdin show at California Adventure. It's hillarious!

[bull]

Whoa! Looks like Ponch knows his Disney. Let me sift through all this and come up with some questions. One thing I can think of right off is when are the best times to go to miss the crowds? We were thinking of going sometime in the fall or winter. I saw a posting on another website that talks about it. http://travelwithkids.about.com/cs/disneyparks/a/whenvisitDL.htm

"Best bet: If your kids are preschoolers, or you're willing to take them out of school for a few days, September is a fine time to visit: the park is still open until midnight on weekends, the show schedule is still rich, and the weather will be cooler than in summertime.

Another highly recommended time is right after Thanksgiving: the crowds are gone, the Christmas decorations are up, and the park is often open late in the evenings (--but be sure to check the hours for your specific dates.)"

[Ponch ®]

Whoa! Looks like Ponch knows his Disney. Let me sift through all this and come up with some questions. One thing I can think of right off is when are the best times to go to miss the crowds? We were thinking of going sometime in the fall or winter. I saw a posting on another website that talks about it. http://travelwithkids.about.com/cs/disneyparks/a/whenvisitDL.htm

"Best bet: If your kids are preschoolers, or you're willing to take them out of school for a few days, September is a fine time to visit: the park is still open until midnight on weekends, the show schedule is still rich, and the weather will be cooler than in summertime.

Another highly recommended time is right after Thanksgiving: the crowds are gone, the Christmas decorations are up, and the park is often open late in the evenings (--but be sure to check the hours for your specific dates.)"

the fall might be a good bet. The weather can still be pretty warm in September though, so I'd shoot for October/November. Disneyland is beautiful during the Holidays and your kids would really feel "the magic". If I could recommend a time, that would be it, just for the atmosphere. After Halloween and through the end of the Holidays, they re-do the haunted mansion with Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" theme. It will be crowded but manageable - unless you go on Christmas Eve/Day or New Years Eve/Day, which I've done - big mistake!

Dude - I've been going to Disneyland several times a year as far as I can remember - of course I know it inside out!

[BB1]

I been there like 100 times. Your going to lose your shirt, so don't sweat it.

Get there as early as you can, and For The Love of GOD, take the train and get off at the next station (New Orleans Station)
This will by pass the BIG MOB that wants to walk down Main Street. Just like cows they clump in hoards. Taking the train will beat them all to the most popular rides, "ie" Ghost house, Pirates, Splash Mountain, Jungle Cruse, and Indiana Jones. They're all in Adventure Land, also Big Thunder Railroad.
Hit them in order:
1. Pirates
2. Ghost house
3. Splash Mountain
Double back to Indiana, Jungle Cruse and Big Thunder

The fast pass is the best way to keep ahead of crowds. They are your enemy, also eat at diffrent hours if you plan on eating in the park. Not at noon and so on.

After that you can hang out at river of America, take a boat ride or visit Tom Sawyers island. Kind of a kid island not much to do there, but run off some steam, especially kids.

Head to the Castle; Fantasy Land is for toddlers up to maybe 13 years old. Plenty of stuff to do there just see if your kids think its lame, if so move on. The Monorail doesn't do much but take people to the Hotels and back, so unless you like to kill time, avoid it.

Toon Town is cool and silly at the same time. It's a Small World is to be avoided at all cost. 

The Matterhorn is by the Castle so hop on. Tommorrow Land is next to that, gee wizz bang, stuff to look at. There is a like a 360 film, Star Wars, Autorama, faster people mover, and Space Mountain.

If you have time, return to Adventure land in the evening, I think they have a show on the water there still. Then on the way out head down Main Street, there are no rides there just shops.

Your done! 

[Ponch ®]

I been there like 100 times. Your going to lose your shirt, so don't sweat it.

Get there as early as you can, and For The Love of GOD, take the train and get off at the next station (New Orleans Station)
This will by pass the BIG MOB that wants to walk down Main Street. Just like cows they clump in hoards. Taking the train will beat them all to the most popular rides, "ie" Ghost house, Pirates, Splash Mountain, Jungle Cruse, and Indiana Jones. They're all in Adventure Land, also Big Thunder Railroad.
Hit them in order:
1. Pirates
2. Ghost house
3. Splash Mountain
Double back to Indiana, Jungle Cruse and Big Thunder

The fast pass is the best way to keep ahead of crowds. They are your enemy, also eat at diffrent hours if you plan on eating in the park. Not at noon and so on.

After that you can hang out at river of America, take a boat ride or visit Tom Sawyers island. Kind of a kid island not much to do there, but run off some steam, especially kids.

Head to the Castle; Fantasy Land is for toddlers up to maybe 13 years old. Plenty of stuff to do there just see if your kids think its lame, if so move on. The Monorail doesn't do much but take people to the Hotels and back, so unless you like to kill time, avoid it.

Toon Town is cool and silly at the same time. It's a Small World is to be avoided at all cost. 

The Matterhorn is by the Castle so hop on. Tommorrow Land is next to that, gee wizz bang, stuff to look at. There is a like a 360 film, Star Wars, Autorama, faster people mover, and Space Mountain.

If you have time, return to Adventure land in the evening, I think they have a show on the water there still. Then on the way out head down Main Street, there are no rides there just shops.

Your done! 

that sounds like a pretty good plan, actually. Its pretty much what I do, except I don't do the train and I try to make tomorrowland one of my priorities.

BTW - I love Jungle Cruise. It's so lame and outdated, but that's the fun of it - the 'tour guides' spend the entire ride poking fun at it. "oh look...there's an elephant. yay."

[Drache]

Thanks Ponch! I was wracking my brain trying to remember what it was called and I knew it was something simple! Yeah it's expensive as call but if you can afford it, kids love watching the knights duke it out! (pun intended) 

[last426]

C'mon, youse guys are beginners, for sure.  I have been a Disneyphile for so long it is hard to remember, but I have to admit that I have not checked out Cal Adventure.  On the other hand, when I did a one year clerkship for a federal judge in Santa Ana I made sure that the apartment I rented was close enough to Disneyland to hear the fireworks each night.  In the 60's I played miniature golf at the Disneyland Hotel (long, long gone), around the same time rode the flying saucers in Tomorrowland (google that, they were neat bumper cars) and saw that guy in the rocket suit fly around the newly made Matterhorn -- hey, remember when there was only one track at the horn?  Heck, when I first stayed at a non-Disney hotel (way before the Convention Center was built) outside was a huge orange grove.  Oh, and I did Anaheim and Orlando back to back on a Monday and Tuesday.

Credentials aside, I agree with Ponch and cudahob3.  But one thing that I would suggest is look for hidden mickeys.  Do a google for hidden mickeys and you will be surprised at the results.  And, dang-it, try to get into Club 34 (is that the number?).  It used to be located at the end of the Pirates, after you go through the gift store, and to the right, if I remember correctly.  The only place where booze is sold in Disneyland.  Most of all, have fun.  Kim

[BB1]

Dang, that's where the booze is sold. I knew it was some wherez. 

[REDNECK]

dont go

[Ponch ®]

C'mon, youse guys are beginners, for sure.  I have been a Disneyphile for so long it is hard to remember, but I have to admit that I have not checked out Cal Adventure.  On the other hand, when I did a one year clerkship for a federal judge in Santa Ana I made sure that the apartment I rented was close enough to Disneyland to hear the fireworks each night.  In the 60's I played miniature golf at the Disneyland Hotel (long, long gone), around the same time rode the flying saucers in Tomorrowland (google that, they were neat bumper cars) and saw that guy in the rocket suit fly around the newly made Matterhorn -- hey, remember when there was only one track at the horn?  Heck, when I first stayed at a non-Disney hotel (way before the Convention Center was built) outside was a huge orange grove.  Oh, and I did Anaheim and Orlando back to back on a Monday and Tuesday.

Credentials aside, I agree with Ponch and cudahob3.  But one thing that I would suggest is look for hidden mickeys.  Do a google for hidden mickeys and you will be surprised at the results.  And, dang-it, try to get into Club 34 (is that the number?).  It used to be located at the end of the Pirates, after you go through the gift store, and to the right, if I remember correctly.  The only place where booze is sold in Disneyland.  Most of all, have fun.  Kim

I have mixed feelings about DCA - overall the park is pretty lame and the atmosphere just doesn't seem that genuine. However, they do have a couple of pretty cool rides - Soaring over California (I love the Muroc/Edwards AFB theme of Condor Flats, the section of the park its in), Tower of Terror, and a roller coaster that looks like its for kids but the quick 90 degree turns will snap your neck (Mullholand Drive). Also, the Aladdin show is worth your while. Other than that, there isnt much to write home about.

I've heard about that Club too, but never been. I guess having a place that serves alcohol there isn't that big a deal nowadays, when you can get your hand stamped, leave the park, and go have drinks at one of the restaurants in Downtown Disney and then come back. Food, drinks, etc at DD are still expensive, but not as much as in the parks themselves.

[Lowprofile]

Save your money and go to Magic Mountain. My kids had the time of their lives! They even have a kickin' water park too!


Just my 

Whatever you decide, I hope you & the family have a great time. 


btw, I can't wait to see you in your Mouse Ears.

[Ponch ®]

Save your money and go to Magic Mountain. My kids had the time of their lives! They even have a kickin' water park too!


Just my 

Whatever you decide, I hope you & the family have a great time. 


btw, I can't wait to see you in your Mouse Ears.

yeah...you go to Magic Mountain for the thrill rides...you go to Disneyland for the 'experience'.