This is a collaborative post. All opinions are my own.
Taking a Disneyland Vacation as an Adult
As a BIG fan of Disney, Disneyland is one of those places you need to go to at least once within your lifetime. Although it’s very similar to Disney World in Florida and I’m sure the other Disney Parks around the world, Disneyland is the original.
In fact, Disneyland Park, the first of two theme parks at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, was opened in July 1955, and the only Disney park completed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney.
We went to Disneyland as part of our honeymoon in early October 2018. Cody proposed to me on the bridge in Italy at Epcot in Disney World in September 2017. It was only fitting that while we were on the West Coast for our honeymoon (first Hawaii, then Anaheim and finishing with San Diego), that we take in the original Disney resort.
In case you are skeptical about traveling to a mouse-themed amusement park as an adult, it truly is a wonderful place to visit, and whatever age you are, you will feel the magic of childhood once again.
Even though we thoroughly enjoy our Disney parks, I’m by no means an expert Disney traveler. I know there is a ton of wonderful information out there from folks who know Disney inside and out. This guide is merely a helpful start based on my own experience. Please do your due diligence in booking any travel and do your own research based on your individual needs.
Here are 4 tips when booking a vacation to Disneyland
Try To Avoid The Disney Hotels
While Disney hotels may look like the best way of making your trip extra special, you will definitely find it more expensive if you decide to stay within the grounds of the park. Since Anaheim is a very busy area surrounding Disney, there are plenty of brand name hotels very close to the theme parks. You may also want to find somewhere that’s slightly outside the resort area because it will be a lot more affordable.
Just a word of caution, be sure to review the hotels before booking as the quality may vary along with the lower price tag. You can find some of the best hotels in Anaheim as an alternative to hotels near the resort.
When we went in 2018, we made the mistake of booking a hotel without doing much research. Although it looked nice in the photos, we were in a section of town that didn’t feel very safe and the room was a little dirty. It happens to the best of us, but do some research to find a hotel that both fits your budget and delivers a clean, safe stay.
Look Out For Deals
You’ll often find there are ongoing deals both on third-party sites and booking through the Disney website itself. Check out the deals that are on offer now and see if any are going to help to save you money.
Depending on the time of year, there might be special offers on vacation packages or getting a few extra days free when you buy a 5 or 7 day pass. Be sure to check out everything that’s available before going with a general option that’s not giving you a good value.
Shop Around For Cost Comparison
I would also suggest looking for discounts through your local travel agent, work discounts or other third-party discount vendors. I was able to save some money by booking through AAA because they found me the best rate. Again, doing a little research can pay off in the long run by finding you the best deals.
It also depends what you need when booking your vacation. If you just need hotel and park tickets, you might be better off purchasing things separately. If you’re also looking for flights or car rentals, sometimes there are package deals that can save money all around.
Figure out everything you’re looking to book for your vacation and then start to compare different prices. I find it’s easier to look at your total cost for the entire vacation and then compare apples to apples.
Travel Outside Of School Breaks
There are multiple reasons to avoid peak Disneyland traffic, which is typically similar to school breaks. First, you will avoid the high volume of crowds, as more families tend to travel when the kiddos already have off from school. Keep in mind that Disney is always busy, no matter what time of year you go. You can never entirely avoid crowds, but there are definitely times that are far busier when school is on break.
Second, you may be able to save some money if you go at non-peak times. Like any vacation, rates fluctuate when the destination is busier. If you can avoid going during school breaks, you may catch some deals for at least part of your trip.
Final Thoughts
As much as I love to travel to see the world, Disney will always have a special place in my heart. There is something to be said for feeling like a kid again, riding the rides, eating everything shaped like Mickey Mouse and experiencing the overall magic.
While Disney World and Disneyland do have many similarities, there are also many differences. It’s fun to experience both parks and find the small quirks for each.
Being a Disney fan, though, I will admit that costs can really add up when booking a vacation. By taking some time to find an off-property hotel, search for deals, compare packages and find an off-peak time, you can save yourself quite a bit. As with anything, research is key and knowing what you want out of your vacation will help you plan the right trip for you.
Planning your Disneyland trip should be fun, not stressful! Try these tips to save some money and headaches and keep the magic alive.
Is Disneyland on your travel bucket list? Or have you visited before and have a tip to share? Let me know in the comments below.