Cheap Disneyland Vacation Packages

Affordable family vacations to the Disneyland resort in Anaheim, CA are not as hard to find as you may think. Even in the middle of an economic slowdown, discount Disneyland tickets are readily available online if you are willing and patient enough to do a fair amount of Internet research and compare prices from dozens of different bargain vacation websites. So to make your choices easier to digest, here is a brief breakdown of what it will cost to take the family on a Disneyland vacation on a budget.

Travel to the Park

Obviously, travel costs will vary depending the distance you would have to travel in order to get to the resort. The five airports servicing the Anaheim area are Los Angeles International (LAX), Long Beach, John Wayne/Orange County, Burbank, and Ontario.

The cheapest flights will be through LAX, but if you are willing to extend your transportation budget, the Orange County facility is actually closer to the resort. The major airlines are constantly competing against each other for air traffic, so use this to your advantage and keep an eye out for special online promotional deals.

Once you have arrived, there are several shuttle buses you can take to the resort itself. The most affordable of the shuttle services is Greyline Anaheim, which operates in the LAX and Orange County airports. Round-trip shuttle service, for a family of five, costs less than a $100 if you reserve ahead of time.

Ticket and Package Prices

Admission cost will most likely be the largest item in your travel budget. But thankfully, both Disneyland and California Adventure have collaborated with each other to offer a wide range of different family-savings packages.

Tickets to the resort are sold based on the duration of your stay. They are sold in 3-day, 4-day, 5-day, and 6-day bundles. The price of the package deals offered by Disneyland resort may or may not include lodging. Be sure to check the details before booking any arrangements online. Often, a simple phone call answers most of the frequently asked questions.

The cost of a cheap Disneyland ticket, also known as a “3-day Hopper” (i.e. allows for admission to both the Disneyland and California Adventure parks), can average out to around $180 for adults and $125 for kids ages 3-9. However, 6-day passes cost anywhere from $200 for adults and $150 for kids depending on the time of the year you book your stay. Regardless of which option is chosen, when planned correctly, park visitors can get cheap Disneyland tickets.

As a self professed Disney geek, I take every opportunity to travel down to that magical place in central Florida, often braving the heat, the cold, the rain, and the massive crowds experience things that I have done and seen many times before.  Disney World has an appeal that spans generations, cultures, and ideologies, and is a place where a person can go to forget the cares of their lives and become immersed in an experience like no other.

When being a part of something like Disney World, though, some of the things, like the high crowds and extreme weather can be a distraction from the wonderful times that a family can experience.  Over the years, after visiting the parks multiple times, running in the Disney marathon and half marathon, and staying both on and off property, I have gotten (and given) some great Disney tips, which makes it difficult to narrow it down to the one best tip I've ever gotten, but it can be done.

To me, the best Walt Disney World (or Disneyland) tip that any family can use is to take it easy and just be a part of the whole experience.  Many people stress out about planning, visiting every major attraction, and making timetables that maximize the time spent in the parks.  Although the rides/attractions are incredible, there is something to be said for the things that you may miss by constantly doing a mad dash from one major ride to the other.

When a family takes the time to slow down and absorb all the thousands of details that imagineers go to such lengths to bring to the parks, a new perspective begins to emerge.  For example, one of these details, which can be found on the new Disney tips iphone app is to look for some special and wonderful things around Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom.  Did you know that the Disney family coat of arms can be seen about the entrance and exit arches of Cinderella Castle?  Did you know about the intricate mural painted on the inside hallway of Cinderella Castle?  Did you know that you can find Gus and Jaq in the rafters of Cinderlla Castle?  And these are just tips for you to observe in and immediately around Cinderella Castle!  There are literally dozens of great dttails to look for immediately around Cinderella Castle!

So, for my best Disney tip, the next time you are in Disney World or Disneyland, take the time to look up, down, and around you, and try to spot some fabulous details  that are often overlooked gems.

A trip to Disneyland is never cheap. However, you could lower your costs by staying in a cheap hotel. You could get a cheap hotel by going through cheap Disney vacation packages which usually include cheap hotels. You could enlist the services of a travel agency because agencies know all the cheapest hotels in Disneyland. To make sure you pay as little as possible, you should never go for the hotels that have non-refundable hotel reservations, and you should read cancellation policies of the hotels you are considering. You should not delete confirmation emails until you leave the hotel to make sure you are billed correctly and you should consider visiting during off-peak periods.

One of these cheap hotels near Disneyland is Carousel Inn and Suites. This is right across the streets from Disneyland. The hotel has 2 and 3 bedroom suits, making it ideal for families. The hotel has rooftop swimming pool and it offers free parking and free breakfast. You could stay at the Candy Cane Inn. The Inn has cheap rooms, but also more expensive ones with breakfast in bed. The Inn is a walking distance from Disneyland and you get a free breakfast, hot tub facilities, and free parking.

Another option is the Alpine Inn which is about 1-minute walk away from Disneyland. The Inn makes you feel like you are in a ski resort. The Inn has high-speed wireless Internet, free parking, and free breakfast. You could stay at The Jolly Roger Hotel. The hotel is very popular with families on a budget. The hotel is adjacent to the Anaheim Convention Center. You will get a complimentary shuttle service when you stay at the hotel.

Another cheap option is The Motel 6 - Anaheim Main Gate. The hotel is merely steps away from Disneyland theme park’s main entrance. The hotel is pet friendly, it has a swimming pool, and it has a hot tub. Another popular cheap hotel near Disneyland is Howard Johnson Plaza. This hotel is simple but clean and it is within a walking distance of Disneyland. The hotel has a pool, a hot tab, free high-speed Internet access, and free parking. You could stay at the Ramada Main Gate. Here, you get incredible customer service. The attendants at the lobby will help you buy your Disneyland pictures, they will help you develop your Disneyland pictures, and they will help arrange tours for you.