Are you planning to go to Disneyland and California Adventure Park in Anaheim, CA?
The best bet for saving money is to go online and look at the ticket prices. All tickets can be purchased online except for a single-day-single-park pass, which can only be purchased over the telephone or in person at Parks' gates. All of the other tickets allow entrance to both Disneyland and California Adventure Park. Currently, you can save $40 per person when buying a five-day pass, $30 per person on a four-day pass, and $20 per person on a three-day pass. For a family of four, you can save up to $160 just by purchasing your tickets online. In addition to these savings, you would be entitled to an early admission to one of the Parks. All other tickets, including the two-day, one-day, Southern California Attractions City Pass, and one-day-single-park pass, are at "list price." Keep in mind that a California Attractions City Pass, while not being discounted, does offer a 30% savings on a visit to Knotts Berry Farm, Sea World, a three-day pass to Disneyland and California Adventures with an early admission to one Park, and a choice of admittance to the San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park as part of the package.
Another way to save money is to plan in advance how often you are going to visit Disneyland and then buy tickets accordingly. For example, if you are a family of four and your two children are under ten years old, going on two four-day trips to these Parks would currently cost $1,152 if you purchase your passes online. However, if you are not overly picky about the days that you go, you can buy four Deluxe Annual Passports for $836. If you want to park a car at the park while you are there, simply upgrade one of the passports to a Deluxe Annual Passport with parking and your family total will be $885. This is a considerable savings.
If you live in Southern California, you are entitled to special savings. If you are a family of four with two children under ten years old, a day's pass to both Parks would cost $272 plus parking. If you spend another day at the Parks later in the year, your total cost would be $544. However, if you are flexible about the days that you attend, you can buy Southern California Select Annual Passports for your family for $396. If you include the parking upgrade on one ticket, your cost will be $445. This is a nice savings.
Are you planning on staying at any of the Disneyland Hotels? You will save a little money if you purchase your tickets while making reservations online. If you are not staying at any of the Disney Hotels but plan on staying at a nearby hotel, check Disneyland's "Good Neighbor Hotels" program to see if your hotel is included. Booking a close hotel this way can also save you a few dollars.
Finally, check to see if Disneyland has any special offers running during the time that you are planning your visit. And remember, the numbers above are all subject to change without notice, so check for current pricing as you are making your plans. Have fun!
