6 Ways You Can Score Discounts on Your Next Disneyland Trip

Disneyland just released a limited-time offer on a three-day pass for new and existing Disney+ subscribers, which made me think about all the other ways people can save on a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. These days some might refer to it as the Most Expensive Place on Earth, but with a little extra legwork, you can easily snag tickets for less.

Read on to learn about how you can head to Sleeping Beauty’s castle at a lower price point, and where to go for things like discounted gift cards, markdowns on hotel stays, and more.

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1. Join the Magic Key Program

If you live in Southern California, consider becoming an Imagine Key Pass holder. This is only available to Southern California residents, and there are quite a few popular dates that are “blocked out,” but per MiceChat.com, it pays for itself after just four visits to the park. (Keep in mind that at the time of publishing, Disneyland had paused new sales of all Magic Key passes, but we’ll keep our Mickey Mouse ears pricked up for updates.)

2. Visit During Off-Peak Days and Seasons

According to the Disney insiders at TheParkProdigy.com, the “cheapest” days to visit are typically the middle of the week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) during off-peak times in the year. They say January to early February and mid-September to mid-November. As a bonus, these are also often the least crowded days, so you shouldn’t have to worry about extra-long lines either!

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3. Take Advantage of Discounted Prices for Kids

In addition to their Disney+ subscriber discount, Disneyland also shared that for a limited time, children between ages 3 and 9 can get one-day, one-park tickets for as low as $50 each. If you’re planning to travel to Anaheim, you can also get up to 25% off your stay at a Disneyland Resort hotel for four or more nights. Reservations are now open for visits from January 7 to March 20, 2025. You can also explore all the ongoing discounts and offers available on the Disneyland website.

4. Plan a Vacation with Costco Travel Packages

You can typically count on Costco for better prices on everything from steak to Disneyland tickets. Right now, they’re offering several vacation packages that give you discounted gift cards when you bundle your hotel stay and theme park ticket.

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5. Military Members Can Save with Specially Priced Tickets

Active and retired members of the U.S. military can also get three- and four-day park hopper tickets at a significantly marked-down price. That allows you to visit both parks (Disneyland and California Adventure) each day, and you can add a Lightning Lane Multi Pass to save time waiting in long lines for your next ride. These are available now through December 10, 2024 for visits until December 13, 2024, and you’ll need to purchase them through a U.S. military base ticket office. (See the list of participating military bases here.) 

6. AAA and AARP Members Can Score Markdowns, Too

The American Automobile Association (AAA) isn’t just here to help with car troubles! AAA Club Members have access to tickets that can save you hundreds, and you can even get a DiningDollars.com certificate with your purchase. You can buy these online or in a AAA branch, and options range from one-day, one-park tickets to three-day park hoppers with Lighting Lane Multi Passes. Similarly, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has coupons to help members save up to $35 on tickets (Review all of their local coupons here.)