Disneyland is one of the most magical places on Earth, and it’s also a relatively expensive place on Earth. But a trip to Disneyland doesn’t have to break the bank. So I created the ultimate guide on how to save money at Disneyland California.

The Ultimate Disneyland Survival Guide

Please note this post is for Disneyland in California, but many of these tips can also be applied to a trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida

Here’s how to save money at Disneyland California!

Carefully consider whether you want to pay for Genie+, an add-on to your park ticket that lets you Lightning Lane (formerly FastPass) some rides and have unlimited PhotoPass digital downloads.

Disneyland Genie Pass Guide

Genie+ costs $20 a day per person. This gives you unlimited PhotoPass digital downloads (from the professional photographers and rides) and Lightning Lane access to these rides:

Disneyland Park: Autopia, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones Adventure, “It’s a Small World,” Matterhorn Bobsleds, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.

California Adventure: Goofy’s Sky School, Grizzly River Run, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, Incredicoaster, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!, Soarin’ Around the World, and Toy Story Midway Mania!

Genie+ can save you from having to stand in lines all day, but its cost can add up, especially if you’re bringing a large group or family. And most of the Lightning Lanes are for the higher-adventure rides.

So if your party is primarily children, Genie+ might not be a good investment.

Visit during the shoulder and off-seasons. If you avoid Spring Break weeks, the summer months, and holidays, your money will go much further.

Have flexible travel dates. Research accommodation prices for a range of dates in the month you want to travel to find the best nightly rates.

Plan to be in Disneyland on weekdays instead of weekends.

Avoid conventions. Disneyland is crowded and more expensive during large conventions and conferences. So check the city’s event calendar to see if you can avoid big events.

Disneyland typically increases its theme park tickets at the beginning of the year (usually in February). So, if possible, purchase your tickets before the prices go up.

Don’t buy the Park Hopper option. As long as you’re at Disneyland for at least two days, you can skip the Park Hopper add-on cost and just do one park per day.

Bring your own autograph book and pen. If character visits and signatures are a priority for anyone in your group, bring your own paper and pen to keep from having to buy a set in the park.

Take your own photos. The professional PhotoPass photographers want you to opt for their paid photos, but they’ll also take pictures on your phone for free. So don’t feel bad about asking them.

Don’t stay at the Disneyland resorts because they’re much more expensive than offsite hotels.

Use your points. Reward points from the best travel reward credit cards can go a long way to offset a Disneyland trip’s accommodation and/or airfare cost.

The Ultimate Guide To Earning Points and Miles

Thoroughly research accommodation options. Compare hotel prices across multiple sites to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

Book ahead of time. Booking your accommodation and theme park tickets in advance can save you money.

Eat at counter service restaurants, which will be cheaper than table service restaurants.

Choose a hotel with a complimentary breakfast, and eat a big breakfast every morning. Most hotel breakfasts also have bagels, pastries, and fruit that you can take with you to the park as snacks.

Bring your own snacks and a refillable water bottle.

Split or combine meals. Before ordering, glance at other people’s tables to see how large the portions are. For example, you can usually split an order of fries between two people, and a whole pizza is typically cheaper than ordering individual slices.

Bring your own costumes. If you’re traveling with a kid (or a kid at heart) who’ll want to dress up, bring your own outfit instead of buying a costume at the park.

If popcorn is your go-to snack for Disneyland, buy a refillable popcorn bucket on the first day to save you money on popcorn snacks for the rest of the trip.

Don’t pay for the a la carte Lightning Lanes for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ($20/person), Radiator Springs Racers ($10/person), and WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure ($10/person). Get to these rides first thing in the morning to avoid a long wait time.

Don’t rent a locker. Renting a locker adds A LOT of walking to your day, and there’s a good chance you’ll need something you don’t have with you. So opt for a comfortable backpack that can fit at your feet on rides.

If possible, bring your own stroller (if you’re going to need one).

Keep up with your expenses. It’s easy to lose track of how much you’ve spent at Disneyland. Ensure you have a system for recording and tallying your costs to ensure you don’t spend more than you’ve budgeted for your trip.

Don’t rent a car if you’re only going to Disneyland (and nowhere else). Choose a hotel with a shuttle or within walking distance of Disneyland to keep from paying to rent and park a car.

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This post about how to save money at Disneyland California is not a sponsored post, and, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this post about how to save money at Disneyland California are entirely my own. Some of the links in this post about how to save money at Disneyland California are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission.