If there was an eighth Wonder of the World, it would be Disneyland.
The Original Disney park. A southern California treasure. The happiest place on Earth.
Sure it may be smaller square footage than Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, but rumor has it that it’s a small world after all…
Tell us about the Disneyland vacation of your dreams and we’ll take away your trip planning stress and get you the very best deals at absolutely no extra cost – all part of our fee-free Pixie Dust Promise!
Click below to request a quote, or read on to learn everything you need to know to plan your trip to Disneyland.
How Much Does It Cost To Go To Disneyland?
If you’re looking for exact numbers, expect to spend somewhere between $1,500 – $7,000 for two adults and two kids for three nights.
But that’s a huge range!
The real question is: what experiences do you value most?
You may find your favorites are included in your base ticket price – like the parades and fireworks.
Or your ideal vacation may mean paying a little bit more in the new Genie+ system to avoid waiting in line for your favorite rides.
Keep reading for information on all the major elements of the best Disneyland vacations so you can have all the fast facts at your fingertips:
- Ticket prices
- Resort hotels
- Ticket & hotel packages
- Things to do
- Dining
- Location
- Best vacation tips – including the best ways to plus up a Disneyland trip, like taking a VIP tour!
A magical Disney vacation is less about how much you spend and more about how much you make of the vacation, choosing possibilities that celebrate who you are and what your family loves most.
As some of the best Disney travel agents in the biz, our Vacationeers work within your budget to create the most magical experiences you can imagine.
And best of all, we keep an eye on upcoming Disney Deals and review all existing bookings when new special offers arrive. If you use our free Disney planning service and book your vacation with us, we will continually ensure you’re getting the Disneyland vacation of your dreams at the best available rates.
We are able to do that because our commissions come directly from Disney – leaving you free to receive the best service without paying anything extra, and leaving us free to use all of our knowledge to personalize and customize your dream trip.
Don’t miss the opportunity to save money and save time by having us book your Disneyland extravaganza!
Disneyland Ticket Prices
If you’ve been asking your friends (or the internet) “how much are tickets to Disneyland?” but can’t get a straight, simple answer, it’s because there are a ton of factors to consider.
Disneyland ticket costs vary according to:
- Time of year
- Day of the week
- Whether or not it’s a holiday or special event
- Age of the ticketholder
- Number of days you’ll be visiting
- Whether you want to visit both parks or just one
- Whether or not you’re staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel
A single-day, single-park Disneyland ticket can fall into one of 6 different pricing tiers, ranging from $104-164 for anyone age 10+.
If you purchase a multi-day ticket (options are available in up to 10-day packs, and they do expire but don’t necessarily have to be used consecutively), the price per day decreases.
Disney Park Hoppers
We highly recommend a Disneyland Park Hopper, especially if it’s your first visit to Disneyland!
For an extra $60 flat rate, you can upgrade your ticket to hop back and forth between Disneyland and California Adventure.
The only restrictions are that you cannot start “hopping” until after 1:00 pm and you do need to schedule a reservation to tell Disney which park you will be starting in.
Genie + at Disneyland
Disney Genie is a free park-day planning service built into the Disneyland App. It provides continually updated information about how long wait times are for all of your favorite rides so you can efficiently organize and optimize your activities.
Disney Genie+ is an additional paid service within the same app. It allows you to skip the longest lines with the new Lightning Lanes (there are no longer FastPasses) for 18 different Disneyland and California Adventure attractions. You are allowed to have one Lighting Lane scheduled at a time.
Cost: $20/day
You can also purchase additional, individual Lighting Lane reservations for attractions that aren’t included as part of a Genie+ purchase, such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racers.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are staying in one of the Disneyland Resort Hotels, you can purchase Genie + in advance. If you are staying somewhere off Disney property, you can only purchase Genie + on the day you’re using it.
Disneyland Reservations Are Not The Same As Disneyland Tickets
In order to ensure that Disneyland continues to be the Happiest Place on Earth, Disney wants to be sure they can accommodate all visitors before opening the doors and saying “Be our Guest, Be our Guest…”
Consequently, there are now two steps you need to take to get into either Disneyland or Disney’s California Adventure:
- Purchase your tickets
- Have a park-specific, day-specific reservation
Without having both a ticket and a reservation booked in advance, there is no guarantee that you will be able to purchase at the gate and get in the same day.
Disneyland Hotels
The three Disneyland Resort Hotels live up to their legendary reputation.
Each just steps away from Disneyland, they are immersive experiences of superb storytelling and magical detail that make it feel as though you never left the park.
The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Want to travel like a princess or a prince? This is where you’ll find grandeur and elegance presented with world-class service.
Splurge on spa treatments at Tenaya Stone Spa, feast on fine dining at Napa Rose, and enjoy deluxe Disney offerings around every corner.
The Disneyland Hotel
Feeling nostalgic? Relax for the evening in the hotel that mixes modern designs with the original Disney themes and lands.
You can find festive cocktails at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar or indulge in a sweet & silly character breakfast in Goofy’s Kitchen.
Paradise Pier Hotel
Craving whimsical celebration? Embrace the charm of old-fashioned seaside resorts, complete with easy access to shopping and a lot of relaxation or recreation possibilities.
The Paradise Pier Rooftop Pools are a particular treat for all ages – with waterslides, a whirlpool, a Children’s Pool, and more!
Beyond the fact that staying at a Disneyland Resort is an exceptional experience whether you’re by yourself or with a group of friends, there are also bonus perks that you can only get from staying on Disney property:
- Discounted Disney Package pricing so you can save your money to purchase extra souvenirs and more of the amazing food you love
- Early entrance in the parks before everyone else, with the Extra Magic Hour
- The ability to purchase Genie + in advance and secure your chance to avoid the lines on your favorite rides (scroll down for more information on Genie+)
And the perks don’t end there!
Let us book the magical vacation of your dreams so you can enjoy the benefit of our money-saving and time-saving knowledge, at no extra cost to you.
What Are The Disney Packages?
A Disney Package is a combination of park tickets and hotel room reservations, giving you both the best deals and the greatest vacation experiences.
Be your favorite Avenger during the day and Sleeping Beauty at night for less cost, less distance to travel to your bed at night, and less overall stress.
At this time, Disney packages are only available if you are staying for at least 2 nights in a Disneyland Resort Hotel and spending at least 2 days in the parks. For a shorter stay than that, you’ll need to purchase your park tickets and hotel reservations individually.
But even if you are just planning a day trip, don’t worry.
Ear To There Travel can always find you your own special Disneyland offer – and we will keep our Mickey ears to the ground for you even after you’ve booked.
If you book through us and a lower price comes along, our Vacationeers can apply that better price to your booking. We will work tirelessly to make sure you get the Disneyland vacation of your dreams and make the most of your money.
Don’t miss out on this great way to reduce costs by having us book your Disney tickets, Disney rooms, or packages that include both!
Things To Do At Disneyland
Special Events and Annual Festivals
As if rides, parades, musical shows, your favorite characters, amazing light shows, great food, and comfortable accommodations weren’t enough, Disneyland redefines magnificence year after year by adding new rides, fun festivals, fabulous fireworks, and special events of all kinds.
If you’re looking for something a little more, here are some Disneyland delights you might want to consider:
- Halloween at Disneyland
- Jack Skellington’s Haunted Mansion Holiday decor
- Oogie Boogie Bash
- Characters in autumnal attire
- Main St. pumpkin festival
- Halloween Scream-or-Sing-Along light show, sometimes with fireworks
- Spooks and snacks galore
- Christmas at Disneyland
- A Christmas Fantasy Parade
- “Believe… In Holiday Magic!” fireworks show, featuring falling snow on Main Street
- Beautiful holiday-specific, land-themed decor
- Special, multi-cultural feasts and treats
- Seasonal shows
- The Disney Festival of Holidays at California Adventure
- Whimsical light show displays at both “Small World” and Sleeping Beauty’s Castle
- Food & Wine Festival at California Adventure
- 3 days of gourmet, wine-focused pairings in elegant receptions at Carthay Circle
- Wine, beer & mixology education & tasting seminars throughout March and April
Downtown Disney
You don’t even have to go inside either park to have a wildly wonderful time.
With fun shopping, plenty of food options, and a festive Disney atmosphere, there is plenty to do at Downtown Disney.
Disney VIP Tours
Sure, Star Tours is great and all – but ever thought about taking the pixie dust up a few levels and getting your own Private VIP Disneyland Tour around the entire park?
You’ll be able to get into your favorite rides faster, see backstage, enjoy private transportation, learn insider information, customize your whole day – essentially, get the star treatment that very few others have experienced with your own private VIP Disneyland Tour Guide.
Some tours even feature a glimpse of Walt’s life with a tour of his private apartment above the Disneyland firehouse!
For guests who want to savor every Disneyland experience they can pack into their visit, a Disneyland VIP Tour is the best way to maximize the magic.
Costs are $425-825/hour, depending on the season. (Minimum of 7 hours with a maximum of 10 guests.)
Expensive? Yes.
Worth it? Unquestionably.
VIP Tours are a once-in-a-lifetime treasure trove of magical moments for any Disney fan.
They are also incredibly popular and book up fast.
So if it’s something you’re even remotely thinking about, get in touch with a Vacationeer today and start planning to make a private Disneyland tour possible for you.
Extra Magic Hour at Disneyland
You should definitely consider staying in a Disneyland Resort Hotel if anyone in your group could benefit from one of the Disney Hotels’ greatest perks: more time in the parks.
Extra Magic Hour allows Disney Resort Hotel Guests early entry into one of the two parks an hour before everyone else!
Here’s the schedule for Extra Magic Hour:
- Early Disneyland access is Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
- Early California Adventure access is Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Want to know more? Overwhelmed with all this info? Give a shout to one of our Vacationeers who’s ready and happy to help you!
Disneyland Food
There are more than 160 different places to procure excellent eats in Disneyland, and everyone seems to have a favorite that’s unlike anything offered anywhere else in the world – including the other Disney destinations.
Disneyland is committed to providing the best and most delicious options for every type of diet.
Disneyland Character Dining
Reservations are not only welcome but definitely recommended for these delightful and delicious, unique one-on-one experiences that are fun for the whole family.
Everyone’s gotta eat, right? Why not eat with your favorite Disney characters?!
- Minnie & Friends (Breakfast at the Plaza Inn in Disneyland)
- Mickey’s Tales of Adventure (Breakfast at the Storyteller’s Café in The Grand Californian Hotel)
- Disney Princess Adventures (Breakfast at Napa Rose in the Grand Californian Hotel)
- Goofy’s Kitchen (Breakfast or Dinner in the Disneyland Hotel)
Disney Dining Reservations
You are able to make dining reservations at Disneyland starting 60 days before your desired reservation date.
If you are considering any of the following (and we would recommend you do because they’re all delicious and fun!), definitely make reservations in advance:
- The Blue Bayou
- Carnation Cafe
- Carthay Circle
- Napa Rose
- Any Character Dining
Where is Disneyland in California?
Disneyland is in Anaheim, located in Orange County just south of Los Angeles.
What’s The Closest Airport to Disneyland?
All the airports within driving distance of Disneyland have convenient, easy transportation options to bring you to your chosen Disneyland Resort destination.
Technically the closest airport to Disneyland is the John Wayne Orange County Airport (SNA).
But flying into the smaller Long Beach Airport (LGB) is nearly the same distance.
Most people choose to fly into Los Angeles Airport (LAX), as it certainly offers the best deals, has the most airlines, the most rental cars available, and fantastic shuttle service.
Disneyland Tips
There’s no end to the insider Disney tips our Vacationeers can provide, but here are some of the high points.
The Best Time To Visit Disneyland
The possibilities for creating a great vacation are so endless, that the best time to visit Disneyland is whenever you want to go.
But if you have a specific goal in mind, Ear To There Vacationeers can help you navigate the stuff you’d like to avoid.
Below are rough guidelines, but it really takes a conversation with our amazing Disney travel agents to figure out your best time because there are many factors to consider and Disney is constantly changing up the details.
- Avoiding the heat? Best: October – March | Worst: End of May – Early August
- Avoiding the crowds? Best: Weekdays, End of January- Early February, September | Worst: any weekend with a Monday holiday, any special events but especially Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s & Easter breaks, summer
- Avoiding the cost? Best: Weekdays, End of August – Early September, Sunday – Thursdays | Worst: Halloween, Christmas, and any time there are special events, like Grad Nights (late May-early June) and the Food and Wine Festival (March – April)
If you’re thinking about the age of your young ones and when the best time is for them to visit, it’s never too early to take your kids to Disneyland.
- Children under 3 are always free.
- There is no height or age requirement for having fun at Disneyland. There are truly rides, shows, restaurants, experiences for every age, every need, and every preference in every park and at every hotel.
- Family photos last forever. You’ll be able to show your kiddos spectacular photos of all your smiling faces for years to come.
Make magical family memories that they may not remember, but you will never forget.
Our Vacationeers are some of the best Disney travel agents in the business, so they know just how to design a dream vacation for your family, regardless of everyone’s age.
If you aren’t ready to book yet, no problem. Sign up for our newsletter to be alerted when special deals go live so you can get in on all the magic whenever you are ready.
Ear To There Travel is EarMarked by Disney. What does that mean?
It means that our Vacationeers are some of the best Disney travel agents in the biz, so we officially represent Disney.
Ear To There is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planning company. Disney destinations are our specialty, our focus, our passion.
In order to become EarMarked, you must maintain a multi-year track record of booking a high volume of Disney vacations and demonstrating your Disney expertise. You must also maintain the highest of standards in providing fantastic service for the discerning Disney guest that has come to expect a detailed, well-structured, easy experience.
4 Great Reasons To Work With A Disney Authorized Travel Agent
- You’ll save money.
- You’ll save time.
- You’ll save energy, effort, and emotional distress.
- You’ll feel confident being in the know and having easier access to the vacation of your dreams.
Don’t settle for excellent. We can provide you with extraordinary.