How to Save Money on a Disney Trip
- Angelica Lynn
- Apr 25
- 4 min read
Heads Up: Post may contain affiliate links that earn me a little pixie dust if you purchase through any of them! 💖
Money-Saving Hacks for your Disneyland Vacation
It's no secret that I love going to Disneyland, and how to save money in Disneyland is an important topic for families planning a trip to Disney. Disneyland magic doesn’t have to blow up your budget. Over the years I’ve compiled dozens of tricks for visiting Disneyland on a budget while still soaking up every ounce of magic. So here are some of the best ways to save money in Disneyland that I share with my clients (and use on my own trips!).
Table of Contents:
1. Get Water for Free in Disneyland
Ask for free cups of ice water at any quick‑service restaurant or the Main Street Starbucks—no purchase needed.
Pack a lightweight, refillable water bottle. Bottle‑filling stations are sprinkled throughout both parks (Click here for their locations on the Disneyland map).
Pro Tip: The bottle filling station inside the Baby Care Center on Main Street is the only one with COLD water! ❄️💦
2. Bring Packable Snacks
Stash a few snacks in your park bag to curb hunger (and impulse churro buying) and spend the savings on a splurge like the Fantasmic Dinner Package!
My go‑to snacks to pack for Disneyland:
Babybel cheese rounds
Granola or protein bars
Beef Jerky
Applesauce pouches
Trail mix in zip bags.
Pro Tip: Security is totally fine with sealed, handheld snacks—just skip glass containers and loose ice.
3. Save 10% with a Disney Visa card
Perks of the Disney Visa Rewards Card include:
10% discount when shopping in the parks or disneystore.com
Free character photo
Earn reward dollars you can use toward Disney vacations and shopping
4. Get sharable Disney snacks
Split one or two of these and everyone’s satisfied:
Quantum Pretzel - $13.99
located at Pym Test Kitchen; feeds 3 easily.
Loaded Outpost Fries - $13.49
Located at Galactic Grill; sharable and delicious.
Sampler Box - $17.99
Located at Golden Horseshoe; includes Hot Honey Tenders, Mini Corn Dogs, Fries and Beer-battered Onion Rings.
5. Book Through an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner (👋🏻Hi, that’s me!)
Yes, there are perks to booking a Disney trip with a Travel Agent, including:
Automatic price drops: If Disney releases a better promo after you’ve booked, I apply it for you—no hold music, no hassle.
Only $200 down: When booking with me, you can secure your vacation with a small deposit and pay the balance off on your schedule (final payment isn’t due until 30 days before arrival).
Zero service fees: Disney pays me, so you keep every penny of your savings. Using my pro booking services doesn't add anything extra to your cost!
6. Stay Off‑Property—Strategically
Yes, the on‑site hotels are dreamy, but you can shave hundreds off your total cost by:
Booking a Good Neighbor or Harbor Boulevard hotel within walking distance.
Choosing properties that include free breakfast or shuttle service (saves time + Uber/Lyft fares).
Pro Tip: I have a running list of clean, kid‑friendly hotels that routinely run $150–$220 a night—ask me!
7. Get a Locker for the Day
A favorite hack of mine is to rent a locker. If you're visiting Disneyland when the weather is questionable, bring your own jackets or sweaters (or extra shoes if you plan on water rides!) and stash them in a locker until you need them. If it gets too chilly for the kiddos, this tip will save you from spending $50 on a sweater in the park or having to Uber back to the hotel!
This is also a great idea if you plan on purchasing a lot of goodies in the park because you won't have to haul them around all day!
(I used this hack during Oogie Boogie Bash and stashed all of our Halloween costume pieces in it until the party started in the evening 🎃)
Pro Tip: If you're park-hopping, rent your locker from the area to the left of the Disneyland entrance; that way it's located in between both parks for your convenience!
8. Discounted Disneyland Tickets
If you’ll visit 4 days or more, multi‑day tickets drop the per‑day cost dramatically. Add Lightning Lane Multipass only on your heaviest touring day instead of every day to save another $20‑$30 per person. Or book during slower times of the year and skip the Lightning Lanes altogether.
9. Use Disney Gift Cards for Built‑In Budgeting
Grab discounted Disney gift cards at wholesale clubs or with certain credit‑card cash‑back portals (often 4‑5% off). Load your planned food/merch budget onto cards. Once they’re empty, you’ve hit your cap.
Pro Tip: My personal favorite for discount Disney Gift Cards is Target! If you have a REDCard, you get a 5% discount and there are always some cute Disney goodies to pick up for your trip while you're in the store!
10. Pack Your Own Essentials
Toss these in your suitcase so you’re not buying them in‑park at theme‑park prices:
Portable phone charger
Rain ponchos (dollar‑store versions work)
Sharpie (for autographs)
Mouse‑ear headbands from Etsy, Amazon, or DIY some!
11. Budget Friendly & Free Souvenirs
Celebration Buttons
Free!
Located at City Hall
Ask about additional personalization at Plaza Point!
Park Maps & Event Guides
Free!
Find at the park entrance
Use for scrapbooking and DIY crafts at home
Pressed Pennies
Low-cost
Find machines throughout the park with varying designs and characters!
Splurge on a cute Pressed Penny book for display
Collector Medallions
Low-cost
Medallion machines are located throughout the park
Stickers from Cast Members
Free!
Not guaranteed, but interacting with cast members at various attractions and being pleasant definitely helps!
Autograph Book
Minimal cost
Collect character autographs from all around the park
Find them in gift shops inside the park or along Harbor Boulevard
Ready to Save on Your Disney Vacation?
Let me sprinkle extra pixie dust on your plans—for free. As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, my Disney Parks booking and planning services are completely free to you. I’ll watch for promos, build a custom payment plan, and share even more of my pro Disney tips with you (yes, there’s more!)
👉🏻Click here for a quote, tell me your budget and let’s make the magic happen without breaking the bank! ✨
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