Disneyland in Southern California is a place of magic and wonder. It's iconic: the cartoon characters, the rides, the parades--everyone, at heart, has a desire to go to Disneyland and be a kid for a day. Tickets can be expensive, though, especially during the peak season. By planning ahead and being flexible with your dates of travel, though, you can save money and have a Magic Kingdom vacation without breaking the bank.
Travel during the off-season. Each Disney resort has five official seasons: Value Season, Regular Season, Summer Season, Peak Season, and Holiday Season. If you travel during Value Season--for example, at the end of January, when fewer people are likely to be in the park--Disney will have more tickets available and will be more likely to offer excellent deals.
Buy tickets online. The most expensive place to purchase your Disney tickets is at the gate. Buying them online, even from the Disney site itself, will save you a few dollars.
Buy a family-pack of tickets. There are discounts available when you purchase tickets in bulk. If you're going alone, try to find a group of people going at the same time and buy your ticket with them.
Volunteer. During 2010, Disneyland is offering one free ticket to their park for a day of volunteer work at an approved organization. Sign up at Disney's website.
Wait for an "Adults Pay Kids' Price" day. Disney will occasionally have these in the early part of the year. If your vacation days are flexible, this promotion can save you a lot of money. You must contact a Disney ticket booth to find out when these special days occur.
Try using a Southern California CityPass. This offers access to many different attractions in Southern California--you can get into SeaWorld, Universal Studios and the San Diego Zoo or the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park for one day each--and it includes a 3-day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket. If you're planning to see more than just Disneyland, this can save you 30% of the total price of all the attractions.
If you're planning on going to Disneyland more than three times in a year, consider buying an annual pass. It costs less than four regular daily tickets and can be used over and over again.
