Disneyland Resort in California is a truly magical place, a bucket list destination for many, and an investment to visit, which is why buying discount Disneyland tickets is essential. You can do that here.
I only list legitimate Disney ticket discounts, special offers, and top deals so that you can save money and avoid promo codes and coupons that don’t work.
I’m a Disney Travel Agent who helps people plan vacations to Disney theme parks. I understand that deciding which admission to buy can be overwhelming. So, I’ll also walk you through the five things you need to think about in order to select right ones for your trip, what to be aware of before buying, and where to find the best cheap Disneyland tickets.
You can save on tickets, tours, and hotels through my affiliations. If you make purchases through some links in this post, I may be compensated. Our editorial guidelines.
What to Know About Disneyland Tickets Now
This section has helpful tips, but you can jump to where to look for Disneyland ticket discounts.
Here’s what to know before you buy Disneyland tickets. You can also read my Disneyland tips.
Reservations Are Required — IT’s Easy to Check Dates Before You Buy
Check availability for your preferred date before buying tickets. You can check dates here (this link will open in a new window so you can have it ready for when you look at cheaper ticket options below).
Next, Link your Tickets to a Disney Account
After purchasing Disneyland discount tickets, you will need to link the tickets to your Disney account to access the reservation system. You can link your tickets online.
1-Day Tickets Are Rarely Discounted
It’s very rare to find discounted 1-Day Disneyland tickets. Teachers, students, military, and a few other groups may be eligible for discount 1-Day passes through various organizations.
If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Super steep discounts on authentic Disneyland Resort tickets do not exist, especially on 1-Day passes.
Kids Ages 2 and Under Are Free
You do not need to purchase tickets for children ages 0-2 (they also do not need reservations). Children ages 3–9 need a child ticket, while ages ten and older require an adult ticket.
Be Aware Of the Terms and Conditions
Read all terms and conditions before purchasing any Disneyland tickets. Check expiration dates, refund and transfer policies, and how you’ll receive the theme park tickets after you buy them. For example, will you need to pick them up at the Disneyland ticket booths, can you go straight to the gate, or will they be snail-mailed?
Answer These Five Questions to Find the Right Ticket
Already know which ticket to buy? Jump to cheaper Disneyland ticket options.
Some decisions are necessary to make before buying Disneyland tickets, especially if it’s your first time in these West Coast theme parks.
1. Discounted Park Hopper and 1-Park Per Day Tickets — Promo Code
I work with aRes Travel, a San Diego-based Disneyland Authorized Ticket Seller where you can purchase discounted tickets without a membership or belonging to a special group. They often have the best prices for discount tickets at theme parks across the United States.
aRes Travel is also known for excellent customer service as they have agents you can call. Tickets are delivered electronically seconds after your purchase. This means you can go straight to the gate with an e-ticket or printed ticket (your choice) and skip the ticket booth.
There is a $2 convenience fee per ticket, but you will still likely come out ahead with their cheap ticket prices.
PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING
You do not need to select a start date when you purchase these tickets. Here’s how it works.
- Check park reservation availability.
- Buy your aRes Travel Disneyland tickets.
- Link your aRes Travel ticket to your Disney Account. You can do this after signing into the Disneyland app or by visiting StartYourDisneylandExperience.com.
- Create your party.
- Choose your date and theme park. (If using Park Hopper tickets, choose the first theme park you’d like to visit.)
- Confirm your reservation.
That’s it! Make sure to check the expiration dates of your tickets so you can plan accordingly!
Jump to the Tickets You Need!
Thanks to the Kids $50 tickets, there are A LOT of ticket options. So, we’ve organized your options by how many days you need a ticket.
1-Day Tickets
These 1-Day tickets are rarely discounted so grab the Kids Special Offer tickets while you can! Make sure you understand the offer’s restrictions: purchase by Feb 29, 2024 and tickets are valid from January 8–March 10, 2024.
2-Day Tickets
Use promo code SAVE5 to save an extra $5 off all 2-Day tickets (excludes Kids’ Special Offers).
3-Day Tickets
Use promo code SAVE5 to save an extra $5 off all 3-Day tickets (excludes Kids’ Special Offers).
4-Day Tickets
Use promo code SAVE5 to save an extra $5 off all 4-Day tickets.
5-Day Tickets
Use promo code SAVE5 to save an extra $5 off all 5-Day tickets.
Disneyland California Resident Tickets are for sale during certain times of the year. This is when California residents can visit Disneyland at a discounted price on specific dates of the year.
2. Seasonal Disneyland California Resident Tickets — ON SALE NOW
It’s that time of year when Southern California Resident Disneyland tickets are on sale. The options include a variety of 3-Day tickets where adults pay the kids’ price!
Valid only for CA Residents within ZIP codes 90000-93599 and Northern Baja California residents within ZIP codes 21000-22999; proof of residency is required for admission.
- Monday – Thursday Tickets: Purchase now – 5/28/2024, Valid for 3 WEEKDAY visits 01/02/2024 – 06/02/2024
- Monday – Sunday Tickets: Purchase now – 5/30/2024, Valid for 3 visits 01/02/2022 – 06/02/2024
Blockout dates apply to Mon-Thur tickets: 1/5, 1/6, 1/7, 1/12, 1/13, 1/14,1/19, 1/20, 1/21, 1/26, 1/27, 1/28, 2/2, 2/3, 2/4, 2/9, 2/10, 2/11, 2/16, 2/17, 2/18, 2/23, 2/24, 2/25, 3/1, 3/2, 3/3, 3/8, 3/9, 3/10, 3/15, 3/16, 3/17, 3/22, 3/23, 3/24, 3/29, 3/30, 3/31, 4/5, 4/6, 4/7, 4/12, 4/13, 4/14, 4/19, 4/20, 4/21, 4/26, 4/27, 4/28, 5/3, 5/4, 5/5, 5/10, 5/11, 5/12, 5/17, 5/18, 5/19, 5/24, 5/25, 5/26, 5/31, 6/1, 6/2
SoCAL Tickets
(After you click the button below, scroll down because these deals are at the very bottom of the page.)
3. Combo Tickets with Nearby Theme Parks
It used to be that you could save more by bundling already cheap Disneyland tickets with tickets to theme parks in Los Angeles and Orange County.
However, nowadays, with so many Disneyland ticket options, you save a lot by purchasing discount tickets to other theme parks like Universal Studios Hollywood separately to build your own package. Here are links to nearby options.
FUN FACT
Did you know that Knott’s Berry Farm is only 20 minutes (without traffic) from Disneyland?
That being said, there are two combo packages worth considering right now.
4. Magic Key Annual Pass Program
Finally! Disneyland annual passes have been rebranded and reconfigured. Formerly called Annual Passports, the new Magic Key passes are available. Guests may choose from four tiers.
No matter the tier, passholders must make reservations to visit Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Only a certain number of reservations can be held at one time. And, what that number is depends on the pass type (and there are strict no-show rules you will not want to violate).
Be sure to read all of the terms and conditions of the new annual pass program before purchasing (especially blockout dates), but here are a couple of highlights per pass.
inspire Key
Available for Renewal Only.
Price: $1,649
- Up to six park reservations can be held at a time
- 20% off select merchandise
- 15% off select food & beverage
- Theme park parking included
- No blockout dates. See the access calendar.
Believe Key
Available for Renewal Only.
Price: $1,249
- Up to six park reservations can be held at a time
- 10% off select merchandise
- 10% off select food and beverage
- 50% off theme park parking
- Blockout dates include peak weekends and holidays (all of winter break, for example). See the access calendar.
Enchant Key
Available for Renewal Only.
Price: $849
- Up to 4 park reservations can be held at a time
- 10% off select merchandise
- 10% off select food and beverage
- Blockout dates include most weekends, most summer dates, and holidays (all of winter break, for example). See the access calendar.
Imagine Key
Available for Renewal Only.
This annual pass is only available to Southern California residents in zip codes 90000–93599.
Price: $499
- Up to 2 park reservations can be held at a time
- 10% off select merchandise
- 10% off select food and beverage
- Blockout dates include most weekends, Fridays, most summer dates, and holidays (all of winter break, for example). See the access calendar.
5. Book a Disneyland Vacation Package
It’s also possible to save even more money by bundling your hotel with discount Disneyland tickets in a vacation package. There are many excellent hotels near Disneyland, including the Good Neighbor Hotels that are Disney-approved.
Look for PRICE DROP alerts when you browse the packages below!
6. AAA Disneyland Tickets
Disneyland Resort offers special discounts to AAA members, such as discounts on 2, 3, 4, and 5-day tickets. Ticket prices offered by other methods on this list might be more advantageous.
7. Military Discounts
There are several substantial, special Disneyland military discounts for active and retired U.S. military personnel. The current offer includes significant discounts on rooms at all 3 Disneyland Resorts. You can also check your U.S. military base ticket office, as what they offer might be less than what you can buy directly through Disneyland.
8. Costco Disneyland Tickets
The cheap Disneyland tickets Costco sells aren’t available anymore when shopping online or in stores. Instead, they offer Disney vacation packages.
9. Group Ticket Discounts
Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park offer discounts for groups of 15 or more from qualified nonprofit organizations. You’ll need to call to secure the discount.
10. Discount Disneyland Tickets for Students
College students can check with their Student Union to see if there are Disneyland tickets discounts available to them. Depending on the university, college students can sometimes receive small savings on one-day Disneyland tickets.
The Disney Imagination Campus Program also offers discounts for groups of kids ages 3-22 tied to themed educational programming. Check their site for application information.
We have done this with my daughter’s Girl Scout troop. The kids spent about three hours behind the scenes with Disney chefs learning about the culinary side of Disney California Adventure. They then spent the rest of the day enjoying rides and attractions as if they had a 1-Day 1-Park Per Day ticket. Parent chaperones also received a Disneyland tickets discount but did not need to attend the class.
11. Teacher Discounts
It’s worth checking your state’s education association to see if park discounts and cheaper tickets are available to you. These tend to come and go.
The California Teacher’s Association, for example, will occasionally offer Disneyland ticket deals for its members.
12. Credit Card Rewards Programs
Occasionally, major credit card companies like Chase offer cardholders the ability to use Ultimate Rewards points to purchase Disneyland tickets and vacations.
As a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder, I can tell you this offer hasn’t been available in some time. The same goes for American Express Platinum, another of my favorite travel credit cards.
You can use your AMEX Platinum to purchase discounted tickets and then elect to use points to cover the cost of the transaction, but I find this to be highly inefficient.
However, frequent Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort visitors may want to consider a Disney Premier Visa Card. Cardholders earn Disney Rewards with purchases that can be redeemed for Disneyland tickets and vacation packages. Be sure to read the terms and conditions to understand how to earn and redeem points for Disney offers.
Special Disneyland Resort Experiences: Upgrades & Holidays
VIP Packages
For those looking for a VIP experience, Disneyland Resort offers various packages, including a concierge to plan park itineraries, priority ride access, reserved seating, and more.
Holiday Celebrations
One of the best times to visit Disneyland Resort is during the holiday season, including Halloween. Several rides, including the Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise, take on a Christmas or Halloween theme, special treats become available throughout the Disney parks, and much more.
Early entry
If staying overnight in Anaheim on a Disneyland vacation, I am a big advocate of choosing a Disneyland Resort hotel.
One of the main reasons is Early Entry. Registered guests of the Disneyland Resort hotels enter Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park 30 minutes before the parks open to the general public on select days.
See also: Theme Park Luxe: Disney’s Grand California Resort and Spa
This means that if you’re staying one night, you’ll enjoy Early Entry on the day you check in and the day you check out. Select rides, dining, and attractions in one park per day are open for Early Entry.
I advise checking the calendar before booking a hotel so that you know which park is open early on which day. Star Wars: A Galaxy’s Edge is not available for Early Entry, but again, you’ll already be in the park when it opens to the public so you will have a head start on other guests.
Reservations are required.
See also: 10 Reasons to Visit Disneyland Resort During the Holidays
Tips for Disneyland Parking
There are various parking options for guests visiting Disneyland Resort, all detailed on the Disneyland website. At the time of this writing, the fee for self-parking a standard car for the day is $35, and preferred parking (closer to the elevators and escalators) for a standard car is $55.
You can upgrade pre-purchased parking at a parking lot toll booth and pay the difference if you change your mind and would like preferred parking.
What to Expect at Disneyland Now
The information below is already covered above, based on state requirements, on the Disneyland Resort website, and similar to the health and safety measures at Walt Disney World.
The bottom line is that things are operating normally!
- Reservations are required even if you purchased a Magic Key annual pass. This helps the parks monitor and limit theme park capacity. It’s easy to make reservations through Disneyland whether you purchase admission with them or through an authorized seller.
- Face coverings for ages two and older are strongly recommended indoors but not required.
- California strongly recommends that guests are fully vaccinated or have obtained a negative COVID-19 test before visiting the park. However, neither is required.
- Due to the constant change in health and safety standards, they are subject to change anytime without notice.
- You can read more about what to expect during your visit.
FAQs About Disneyland Tickets
These questions about discount Disneyland tickets and park happenings land in my inbox the most.
Do Any Tickets Include Magic Morning or Early Entry?
It used to be that 3-day or longer tickets included an early entry option called Magic Morning. This is no longer available. To get Early Entry into the parks, stay at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels. Early Entry applies to specific days, so you want to check the park calendar and the site for all the information.
Can I use my Disney World annual pass at Disneyland?
No. You can’t use a Disney World annual pass or ticket at Disneyland. They are two separate resorts with their own ticketing systems.
How do I make a Disneyland reservation?
Making Disneyland reservations is accessible on the app or their website.
Where can I find cheap Disneyland tickets?
You can find 2-day or longer Disneyland ticket discounts through authorized ticket sellers that are available to the general public.
You may have certain memberships that offer cheap tickets, such as Costco or AAA. Alternatively, some guests may also qualify for a military discount or resident discount.
How do I use my aRes Travel Disneyland ticket?
Before purchasing, check advanced reservation availability for your desired dates. Purchase your discount Disneyland tickets and then link them to a Disney account to access the reservation system. Select the day you want to visit, and you’re all set!
CAN YOU BUY DISNEYLAND TICKETS AT THE GATE?
You can buy tickets at the main ticket booth in the esplanade between the park entrances. Gate prices are not discounted, and there is a risk that you won’t be able to enter the park you like if reservations are sold out.
I strongly recommend that you purchase admission in advance online to guarantee your reservation and pay less!
How do I get free Disneyland tickets?
Free Disneyland tickets are difficult to come by. Media members are eligible for two free Park Hopper tickets every 12 months (with some date restrictions) for journalistic purposes. You might be in luck if you know a Cast Member with courtesy tickets.
Disneyland Resort occasionally gives out free tickets via radio, news, and other media promotions in its primary markets. You can also redeem Disney Rewards points earned with the Disney Premier Visa Card for free tickets.
How much are tickets for Disneyland?
Four things influence the price of Disneyland tickets:
The date you choose to visit matters, as there are now six pricing tiers tied to anticipated occupancy.
How many days you choose to visit the parks (choose one through five days).
Whether you choose 1-Park Per Day or Park Hopper tickets.
Whether you add Disney Genie+ to the cost of your ticket (I recommend this).
How much ARE one-day Disneyland tickets?
The price will vary based on the day you visit and whether you choose a 1-Park Per Day ticket ($104–179/ages 10+) or a Park Hopper ticket ($169–244/ages 10+).
How much does a three-day ticket to the park cost?
The cost of a three-day ticket will depend on where and when you purchase it. The current gate prices are:
3-Day 1 Park Per Day: $390/ages 10+ or $365/ages 3–9
3-Day Park Hopper: $460/ages 10+ or $435/ages 3–9
What kind of annual passes are available?
Annual passes are called Magic Keys! There are four Magic Keys: Dream Key, Believe Key, Enchant Key, and Imagine Key. Each one had its unique perks, including discounts on dining and merchandise. All Magic Keys are available for renewal only, except the Inspire Key.
How much are tickets when you go through AAA?
The AAA Disneyland tickets discount is slight, often $8–$14 off the regular price for members only.
Does Disneyland offer senior or AARP discounts?
Unfortunately, Disneyland does not currently offer senior discounts or AARP discounts.
Is There a Canada Resident Discount?
At the time of this writing, there is no special Canadian resident offer for discount Disneyland tickets. There was a special offer back in 2020 that was 20% off of a 4-day or longer ticket.
What is a Park Hopper ticket for Disneyland?
A Park Hopper ticket grants you admission into both Disneyland Park and Disneyland California Adventure Park on the same day so that you do not need two separate tickets to visit the two parks.
Your Park Hopper ticket will be scanned by gate attendants every time you enter a park, which can be as many times as you please throughout the duration of your eligible ticket.
Park Hopper hours are 11 a.m. to closing, which means that you can switch parks during these hours only. Make reservations for the first park that you intend to visit.
How else do I go to Disneyland for cheap?
Purchasing discounted tickets is a start, however, I have additional advice for ways to save money at Disneyland that include dining, souvenirs, budget management tips, and more discounts.
Can you buy Disneyland tickets at the Disney store?
You can buy Disneyland tickets at select Disney Stores. Availability varies by location. You’ll need to check with yours to make sure that you can purchase in-store.
Will there be a price increase in 2023?
YES. A price increase was announced on October 11, 2023. The price of Disneyland tickets over the years has done nothing but go up.
Where can you park for free?
General Disneyland parking costs $30. If you want to save on parking, see if your hotel offers a free shuttle to the park. Also, some Magic Key levels include free parking.
Can I Buy a Combo Ticket with Universal Studios Hollywood?
At the moment there is no combo ticket with Universal Studios Hollywood that we are aware of. You can buy discount Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood tickets separately.
How do you buy cheap Disneyland tickets? Be sure to read my full Disneyland Resort Guide.
See also how to buy:
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- Discount SeaWorld San Diego Tickets
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Katie Dillon is the managing editor of La Jolla Mom. She helps readers plan San Diego vacations through her hotel expertise (that stems from living in a Four Seasons hotel) and local connections. Readers have access to exclusive discounts on theme park tickets (like Disneyland and San Diego Zoo) and perks at luxury hotels worldwide through her. She also shares insider tips for visiting major cities worldwide, like Hong Kong, London, Paris, and Shanghai, that her family has either lived in or visits regularly (or both).
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