Use these Disneyland Travel Tips and Advice and Disney World Tricks to let your Disney dreams go wild!
So are you planning a trip to Disneyland or Disney World? I’ve put together a list of Savvy Disneyland Travel Tips and Advice + Disney World Tricks to help you get the most out of your time at Disney World and Disneyland!
Not only will these tips save you money and show you how to visit on a budget, but they’ll also save you time and help you get the most out of your Disney vacation.
It’s time to plan your next fabulous Disney adventures! So check out this HUGE list of tips for how to take your family on a Disney vacation without spending a fortune… and let the fun begin!
Disneyland Travel Tips + Disney World Tricks
Related:
How to Visit Disneyland for Cheap + Disney World Budget Tips:
–> Buy Your Disney Tickets Online. You will save time not waiting in the ticket lines the day you go to the park. You can also save some money if you’re planning on going more than one day and buy a multi-day pass. Get a City Pass to pay for your park passes to save both your time and money!
Southern California CityPass Discount Deal!
{Includes Disneyland, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo & Legoland}
–> Get Military Discounts on Admissions when purchased at “participating U.S. military sales outlets.”
–> Visit During Non Peak Times. Try visiting at a time of year when hotels and airfare are cheaper. Summer and Christmastime are the most expensive times. I like to visit midweek in the Spring or Fall, when school is still in session.
–> Don’t Buy Souvenirs in the Park. Save a ton of money when you buy your souvenirs outside the park at stores like Walmart and Amazon.
Frugal Tip: Purchase your Disney Mouse Ears ahead of time before you go, then pack them with you to the park. You’ll save a bundle!
–> Bring Refillable Plastic Water Bottles. I bring one sealed water bottle per person and refill at drinking fountains inside the park. You can also bring refillable plastic water bottles {not glass} and just refill those again and again! This alone will save you SO much money on drinks and is an easy way to make sure everyone stays hydrated!
–> Eat the Free Hotel Breakfast. This is an easy way to score free food without making any extra stops.
–> Pack Snacks in Your Purse. Put a few pre-packaged snacks in your purse before you head into the park. This will keep the kiddos happy between meals.
–> Eat Outside the Park. Take a break in the middle of your day, and eat a homemade meal in your hotel room, or eat at an inexpensive restaurant outside the park. We scored a great deal on Restaurant.com to eat at the Downtown Disney House of Blues just outside the park… it was delicious, fun, and a super frugal meal!
{House of Blues – Downtown Disney}
–> Use Your Own Baby Stroller to avoid paying to rent one. Disney World and Disneyland are all about lots and lots of walking, making strollers a necessity for younger kiddos.
Disneyland Travel Tips and Advice + Disney World Tricks
Now, check out more Disneyland Travel Tips and Advice plus Insider Disney World Travel Tips shared by your frugal friends here…
Kimberlee said: “We live near Disneyland and go a few times a year. My advice would be get the Adult Chicken Meal at the Plaza, located at the end of Main Street. We get two dinners and two extra biscuits, and it feeds our family of four. And when I go with my mom, we get the Alfredo Chicken at the Pizza Port to share. Don’t buy the kids meals, they are not worth the $$$!”
Tiff said: “Get drinks at Rancho Del Zocalo (at Disneyland), and go back for free refills all day.”
Disney Luggage Sets on Sale
Meg said: “We go to Walt Disney World almost every weekend & the biggest savers are to pack food, drinks, rain gear & use your camera instead of photo pass.”
Katie said: “I paid off the vacation buying Disney Gift Cards through our Giant Eagle that offers Gas Rewards. So probably we had $8.00 of 30 gallons of gas = $240 of free gas for paying for a vacation we were going on anyway. Best vacation ever!”
Stacie said: “The cheapest and best thing we did was take lots of colorful cardstock (from my stash of scrapbook stuff), and sharpie markers. Then we got autographs from all the characters we saw (and they are everywhere), and took photos with them. When we came home we put together a scrapbook with all the photos and autographs! So fun and special and almost free!”
Gale said: “Get discount tickets for admission to Disneyland. We are taking one of our granddaughters and one of our grandsons there next week or so!”
Peggy said: “We got the Flex Passes, which also include Universal Studios, Sea World & The San Diego Zoo/ Wildlife Park. It was SO much cheaper than buying directly from these parks (you can get adults & kids)!!”
Southern California CityPass Discount Deal!
{Includes Disneyland, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo & Legoland}
Laura said: “Eat at Pecos Bill’s Cafe in Frontierland at Walt Disney World. They have a free toppings bar where you can get caramelized onions and sauteed mushrooms and cheese sauce for fries.”
Frugal Tip: Avoid sunburns on your face by wearing a hat during the day. Purchase your Disney Hats before you go, and you’ll save big by avoiding the high souvenir hats sold there.
Rebecca said: “Book through Disney. They have the best rates, and sometimes they give away the dining plan which is an amazing value.”
Cheryl said: “We often shared meals and brought our own water bottles to refill instead of buying beverages in the park.”
Tiffany said: “I always stop in the quick service restaurants to get cups of water instead of paying for bottled water.”
Frugal Tip: Skip the expensive souvenir tees at the park, and order your Disney T-Shirts to wear during your stay ahead of time!
Myra said: “Several restaurants from Disneyworld participate in Restaurants.com. I’m not sure if Disneyland offers the same, but it’s worth checking. Also if you are a AAA Member you can get discounts on the rental car, park tickets, hotels, etc. Have fun!”
Ashley said: “Disneyland Travel Tips? We try to eat outside of the park, especially at ‘All You Can Eat’ buffets for lunch. It is usually cheaper, and you can have a big meal and a light snack at dinner time. You can go in and out of the park all you want.”
Christine said: “Go off season if at all possible with a special. Don’t buy souvenirs until near end of your trip, after you have really decided what you want. Set a budget for gifts, and take a list of people who you are buying for. You can get free water at any place in the park, so take Crystal Light Packets to make it taste better. Enjoy the free things like monorail rides, boat rides and touring some of the resorts.”
Karen said: “Pack food and drink! I didn’t know we could take into the park, but we stocked up with food from Walmart and ate our snacks and lunches from what we had packed – we saved TONS of money!”
Amy said: “I take all of our own “glow” toys. Glow Bracelets, Glow Wands and Glow Swords are perfect for a little Tinkerbell or pirate. We also did pin trading this year for the first time.”
Lori said: “Bring a loaf of bread and PB&J to make sandwiches to take with you to the park. It is easy to eat a quick lunch while in line. If your kids are “I want” kids, hit the dollar/discount stores before you leave for Disney. Pick up little trinket Disney items to give the kids each day. Could be candy, bracelets, shirts, toys, etc.”
Michell said: “We went with the grandkids and for snacks I made homemade Rice Krispy Treats that I wrapped individually. They were great snacks for waiting in lines, they packaged easily and everyone loved it.”
Maura said: “We pack up one suitcase with snacks, bowls, cereal, spoons, foam coffee mugs and lids (and coffee/ filters), juice boxes, and eat breakfast in our room in the morning. Then we have an empty suitcase at the end of the week for any souvenirs we may want to bring back. We fly Southwest Airlines so we don’t have the extra bag charge.”
Mary said: “Buy your souvenirs at Downtown Disney rather than inside the park. Buy your autograph books before you go into the park.”
Brooke said: “There is a discount store in Downtown Disney that has everything under $10 if you have kids that want something small to bring home.”
Lori said: “I went to a local Disney Outlet Store and stocked up on shirts for the whole family to take along… only $4-6 per shirt there, rather than $20 in DisneyWorld!”
Becca said: “All the Walmarts near Disney carry many isles of Disney merchandise. T-shirts are $5.00… not $20.00! The products are all authentic Disney merchandise! Before the parks open, head to Walmart and make it a “that day” event! Buy everyone a shirt to wear to Disney that day, a hat, and a toy for after, or a stuffed Mickey to carry that day!”
Nikki said: “Buy trading pins and a lanyard on eBay!! Save major $$ and it does not matter what pins you get, since you will be trading them in the parks!! Buy tickets from local hospital, Disney donates them and the hospital discounts them to make money for the hospital!!”
Lauren said: “The Free app Undercover Tourist gave accurate wait times for rides, parade times and restaurant menus!!”
Shannon said: “Just went in July. Download Ridemax – totally worth the money ($15). It prints you a schedule – we didn’t wait more than 20 min. for any ride!”
Lela said: “If you want something really cheap you can Camp in a Tent for around $50 a night.”
Monica said: “If you haven’t found a place to stay, check out Homeaway. We got our OWN house with a pool for $500 a week (all taxes & cleaning included!). Three bedroom, two bath, ten minutes to the parks!”
How To Visit Disneyland and Disney World On A Budget:
So You’re Planning a Trip to Disneyland or Disney World? I’ve made so many fun memories at both parks, and still love visiting again and again. There’s just something so sweet and nostalgic about a day spent at Disney! Let the magical kingdom trip planning begin!
Now to visit Disney Parks without spending a pretty penny, the first step is to start stashing money away now for your trip! Even just a few dollars here and there will really start to add up over time, and you’ll never regret having that nice stash of cash when it comes time to head off on your Disney vacation! Here are my favorite tricks for ramping up your travel cash stash…
25+ Side Hustles Ideas
How to Get Cheap Flights To California and Florida:
Wondering how to get cheap flights? My favorite trick is to load up on free mileage points and airline gift cards, then use them to dramatically cut the cost on airfare! I’ve scored so many free flights this way! Are you ready to start earning your free airlines miles and gift cards? Here’s what you need to do…
Best Travel Hacking Credit Cards! {How I Get FREE Flights and Hotel Nights}
35+ Southwest Airlines Hacks! {What To Know BEFORE You Fly}
25 American Airlines Flight Hacks {Weird Tricks Everyone Should Know}
23 Delta Airlines Travel Hacks {Savvy Travel Hacking Ideas}
Where to Stay in and around Disneyland & Disney World:
Wondering how to plan the perfect hotel stay for your next vacation? It’s so much easier than you think! Don’t book your next hotel without knowing these secrets shared by Hotel Staff and Frequent Travelers…
75 Hotel Hacks Everyone Should Know
In addition to hotels, I also recommend staying at a VRBO when visiting Disneyland and Disney World to save BIG on your trip. VRBO has so many vacation rentals listed by owner, and they can be such a great way to find nice lodging that is way less expensive than the hotels. I’ve personally stayed at multiple VRBO’s, and loved every one. Not only were they often significantly cheaper than the nearby hotels, they also came fully stocked with convenient amenities that saved us SO much money!
Now do you want to know my favorite tips and tricks for saving BIG on a VRBO? These little known hacks will save you SO much money! Check this out…
How to Slash The Cost of Your Next Trip Using VRBO
More Budget Disney Vacation Tips:
If you don’t have a rental car or your own car with you, you’ll want to consider staying at a location close to DisneyLand or Disney World with Free Shuttle Service. Keep in mind… you’ll save a bundle if you stay at a non-Disney hotel outside the park. You won’t be spending much time at your hotel, so this is an easy way to save. Most days you will spend up to 12 hours in the park.
20 Ways to Save Money on Rental Cars and Rideshare
How To Save On Gas {20 Genius Hacks}
Military Discounts for Travel
30 Eat Out Cheap Ideas! {How to Save Money Eating Out}
How to Travel for Free or Cheap {20 Brilliant Budget Travel Hacks}
What To Pack for Disneyland & Disney World:
19 Carry On Must Haves for your next flight
Make the most of your time and money spent to get to Disney World and Disney Land by visiting some of the other local attractions.
Check out these fun travel tips for destinations near DisneyLand and DisneyWorld.
When your Disney adventure is over, there is still so much to see and do…
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30 Eat Out Cheap Ideas! {How to Save Money Eating Out}
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How to Travel for Free or Cheap! {20 Budget Travel Hacks}
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So now that you’ve scored all of these Disneyland Travel Tips and Disney World Tips, don’t miss out! Get all the latest fun new Frugal Girls Tips, Recipes + more here…
So what are your favorite Disneyland Travel Tips or Disney World Tricks?
We’d love to hear. Leave a comment and share!
Jess Munday says
I love Disneyland these tips are very useful thanks!
Heather says
Disneyland no longer has free coffee refills now that Market Place coffee is a Starbucks. Good news is, the coffee is tastier now!
Katharina says
Very helpful thaks
Linda says
My uncle worked at Disney World for many years, so my aunt had lots of little tips for getting the most out of your Disney adventure! Here are a few that she taught us & a few we learned on our own:
#1 – when you arrive in the morning at whatever park you are going to, don’t start your experience at the FRONT of the park. Ride the monorail, ferry, train, or just walk to the back of the park & make your way forward…the majority of people start at the beginning so it’s very crowded in the a.m.!
#2 – eat your meals at “off” times – Noon & 5:00 – 6:00 pm are the WORST times to eat! Most people eat then & the lines are LONG!
#3 – if it’s a super-hot day, plan an attraction where you can sit down in the A/C around 2:00 pm. The Hall of Presidents was always our fave – I’ve taken more than one cat nap in there! LOL
#4 – If you are staying in a time share or any place that has a freezer/frig, freeze partial bottles of water to take with you. Top them off with water before you head out for the day + take extra bottles of water to continue topping off the ice bottles. Put everything in a back pack [insulated if you have it]. Even though Disney doesn’t want you bringing in your own soda & stuff, they don’t say a word about water! I loved the idea that someone else posted about taking the Crystal Light or Kool-Aid sticks to add flavor – some of those are “energy” drinks too…always a good thing on a Disney day!
#5 – I agree w/ other commenters about taking your own snacks – apples work great [but not bananas], and INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED protein bars, nuts & salty snacks. Having snacks & water makes waiting in line…and staying on BUDGET sooo much easier!
#6 – Remember sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, fold-up rain ponchos, band-aids for cuts/blisters & your own tylenol/advil…yes, everyone will need a backpack to help carry all that! lol Don’t get discouraged at Disney World if it rains in the afternoon during the summer – that’s just a Florida thing & it will most likely clear up within an hour – it’s a good time to eat lunch! 🙂
#7 – I know this is a repeat, but I do this all the time: Shop at Dollar Tree, Wal-Mart, Disney Outlets, Downtown Disney, online, etc. for cheaper than in-park prices on souvenirs & trinkets! I always get glow sticks at Dollar Tree for cheap & fun nighttime parade/firework-watching. We even shared with some little kids beside us waiting for the Laser Light Show at EPCOT…they were thrilled & it made my kids think a little about sharing during the overwhelming glut of entertainment & materialism that unfortunately accompanies the “Magic”. 🙂
#8 – If they are still doing it this way, follow this tip: When you go to Hollywood Studios, if your kids want to be in the Jedi Training Academy [they wear brown capes, get toy light sabers & “fight” Darth Vader], sign up for a time ASAP before you do ANYTHING else! It fills up sooo fast but it is an amazingly fun & FREE experience for the kids…get a couple of cameras going if you can – for video & snapshots! When my older boys were into that, they just picked from the audience – we never got picked – and that was sooo disappointing. Two years ago, my youngest son actually got to participate because they were doing the sign-ups!
#9 – Take some time before hand to go online & see what attractions you just HAVE to do – you WILL NOT have time to do everything!
#10 – This goes w/ #9 – PLAN an itinerary so you aren’t criss crossing the park a hundred times & wasting your time & energy walking! But remember that the itinerary should be FLEXIBLE!!!! 😀
That’s all I can think of now…except I’m thinking I should write one of those “Tips for a Disney World Vacation” e-books! LOL
Logan Hartley says
If you intend to take your child out of school for your Disney vacation, look into the Disney YES! (Youth Education Series) programs that Disney offers throughout the year (not during summer months). You can score a big discount on your whole family’s park tickets for enrolling your child in an educational program run by the park (and maybe even some overdue “parents only” time!
Summer says
A Disney World tip for everyone:
Disney world hosts national cheer competitions during the months of January-April. They are only 1 or 2 weekends per month. Unless you want to get completely overrun by loud cheerleaders everywhere you go: in the parks, in the hotels, on the buses, in dining areas, DON’T GO when there is a cheerleading competition. Check the UCA website for information when competitions are held.
Rachel says
And it’s the same at Disneyland too! So check that!
Susie says
As a Disneyland Annual Passholder, I want to share a warning about this: Nikki said: “Buy trading pins and lanyard on eBay!! Save major $$ and it does not matter what pins you get, since you will be trading them in the parks!! <>
Also, regarding this tip: Laura said: “For free coffee refills, get them at the Market House on Main Street. You *must* keep your receipt to show the cast member each and every time you stop by for a refill.” <>
Susie says
Whoopsie! I lost my remarks to these tips. As a Disneyland Annual Passholder, I want to share a warning about this: BEWARE OF SCRAPPERS, aka counterfeit pins. If the eBay price seems too good to be true, it probably is. These pins are worthless. This goes both ways – beware of what you are trading for in the parks. Many people unknowingly pass on scrappers without knowing they are fakes (or knowingly trade them to gain real pins).
Disneyland’s Market House is scheduled to close for refurbishment/transformation into a Starbucks. They will no longer honor free refills with a receipt.