How much does it really cost to spend a day in Disneyland?

[Midnightred]

There is a figure out there that says $50 per person per day unless you want table service. I generally budget by that number.

Midnightred

 

[chickapin parterre]

$100.00 each at vegas will only last you a few hours, $100.00 each at Disneyland, will last you a life time!!


your Ideal day is Wednesday to visit

do you currently walk all day in your current occupation, are you in physical workout shape, because I totally agree, that a Motel 6 is better rest for you then driving from Riverside.

 

[Westcoastwild]

No experience at all, I live in Texas by the way, and... I'm hoping my wife's uncle to give us a few tips once we're there (besides from letting us stay at his place haha) but the thing that worries me the most right now is the money, I'm considering L.A. or Vegas but since she loves The Walking Dead I think she'd prefer Universal Studios and Disneyland well... that's something extra.

Okay. Well, I'd ask your wife's uncle then. Then let's say you plan three days. So I'd buy a one day park hopper for Disney. And a one day pass for Universal. And then do Disney the first day, whatever she wants to do the second day, and Universal the third day. You could upgrade the Disney pass to do a second day if you're there that first day and she really wants to go the next day. Or you could do the next two days at universal. Or (my preference) would be Disney first day, highlights of LA/beach second day, Universal the 3rd day.

That would be the cheapest way to do it. Both gas and driving wise, if hotels are out of the question.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Hola Jesús

What part of Texas are you from? I was born in El Paso

If you could swing it, I would spend 2 days at Disneyland, and 3 would be better. If you are on a budget you can get 1 park/1 day and go to Disneyland one day and California Adventure another day. I agree that Universal Studios is a one-day park. Have breakfast before you go, take some healthy snacks that will keep your energy up, and have at least one sit-down meal. Most restaurants are counter/buffeteria types, but there are a few sit-down/reservation restaurants. You can look at this site and make reservations: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/
Inside Disneyland, Carnation Cafe is decent, but if you want a special lunch (lunch is better value than dinner and you can get lunch until 4pm) try Blue Bayou - that's the restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean. California Adventure has a really nice restaurant called Carthay Circle. Note that Carthay Circle and Blue Bayou are more expensive. There are many other options, including Downtown Disney. One of my favorite restaurants is Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen.

Buy your tickets online before you go. You won't find any really good discounts so getting them online is a decent deal. Print out the tickets ahead of time and just take them to the turnstile. You will save yourself a lot of time by not standing in line to purchase the tickets before entering the parks.

You can take bottled water (plastic/not glass) into the park. If you want to eat outside the park, there are a Panera and Mimis Cafe right across the street and you can walk to them. Stay away from Captain Kidds - never a good review for that place. There is also Denny's, but I think it's a bit more $ than other Denny's restaurants.

I recommend that you learn about fastpasses - these are free passes that let you get a return time so you do not have to stand in line so long. (see below for attractions)

Pick the attractions/shows that you MUST go on so that you have a loose plan and don't miss out on an attraction you really wanted to do.


Disneyland Park Fastpass Attractions

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Haunted Mansion
• Indiana Jones Adventure
• Matterhorn
• Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Star Tours

Disney California Adventure Fastpass Attractions

• California Screamin'
• Goofy's Sky School
• Grizzly River Run
• Radiator Springs Racers
• Soarin' Around the World
• Toy Story Midway Mania!
• World of Color

Lo vas a pasar muy bien.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I would rethink the "no souvenirs" budget idea. Since this is a surprise trip for HER birthday, what if SHE really wants some souvenirs? Are you going to tell your wife that she can't have anything to remember her birthday trip?? I think you would rather have some money (it doesn't have to be an extravagent amount -- how about enough for an ear hat and a t-shirt?) in the budget just in case. If she doesn't want anything, than, yay!, you'll have money left over for something else. If you will only be doing one day at DLR, then Riverside is probably fine if you give yourself plenty of time for the drive to and from. But if you want to do multiple days, then I would really look into finding a motel near the parks. Not all places are super expensive, and the savings to your energy level and sanity can be really worthwhile.
While Disney trips are expensive (ranging from the basic to the unbelievable), don't let the budgeting steal the magic.(I know people who've done this and regretted it.) It is absolutely possible to have fun and be practical at the same time!

 

[StormyCA]

BFF and I did what we consider a 'budget' trip last Xmas. We stayed at Motel 6 for 3 nights, it was around $120.00/night tax included, no charge for parking. M6's rates can vary by day of the week and season of the year. I don't considering it walking distance, so Uber was $10.50 round trip per day which was cheaper than parking. I budget $100.00 per day in the park for food and souvenirs, but that's a very generous 'allowance'. We drive so no airfare.

We visited Universal en route for a day, it was around $105.00 per ticket, they have varied pricing depending on the day so you could try and schedule your day for one of their 'cheaper' days. I agree with PP that USH is a one day park. TBH I was 'underwhelmed' by the Walking Dead thing, I've seen better Halloween haunted houses. But the WW of Harry Potter was really something else!

 

[Jedi Mouse]

Prior to having AP's a 3-4 day trip cost us (family of four) roughly $1000/day for everything (tickets, hotel, food, gas, souvenirs).

For two people you're looking at:
$630 for 3 day hoppers or $540 for one park/day
Staying with family is free, but to be honest, driving to and from Riverside is going to be a big pain.
Parking is $20
Food for two will run $25-$40 for a quick service meal and $40-$100 for table service.
Budget for souvenirs, you will want a few from your trip, even if it's something small.


Seriously reconsider staying in riverside. You don't want to start your day fighting rush hour traffic in LA and end it with a long drive back after a full day. This is especially true if you plan on being there at rope drop.

 

[rentayenta]

We have APs and still figure $50 per day easy.

 

[Xenorye]

We have APs and still figure $50 per day easy.

You don't budget for anything besides churros?

 

[rentayenta]

^^^^ We share meals and it depends on our plans. That's per person not for the 5 of us. Surely you couldn't have thought $50 for all of us. LOL!

 

[SMD]

^^^^ We share meals and it depends on our plans. That's per person not for the 5 of us. Surely you couldn't have thought $50 for all of us. LOL!

$10 will get you a churro, a soda and a pressed penny. If you want to press a nickel, up your budget.

 

[Nevada Jen]

I always say that doing wild once you are inside the gates and not using a budget at all doesn't add much more to the trip cost than being frugal. Most of your costs are fixed so all you really need to know is what you will spend in the park. $50 per person per day once you are inside the park is being frugal but easily doable. $150 per day per person is being pretty generous. So figure, plane tickets, parking, park tickets, car reantal for one day for 2 people will run about $1200. I'm not sure there is that much difference between 1300 and 1500 that it is worth being frugal with your spending money once you are in the park.

 

[chickapin parterre]

.....well, I read here that a lot of folks struggle over the cost difference of park hoppers.....I think that park hopping is more important than eating.....

 

[rentayenta]

$10 will get you a churro, a soda and a pressed penny. If you want to press a nickel, up your budget.

$50 per person will get us much more than that.

 

[Xenorye]

^^^^ We share meals and it depends on our plans. That's per person not for the 5 of us. Surely you couldn't have thought $50 for all of us. LOL!

It was a joke... like "Oh, $50 will cover your churros for the day..." It was a bad joke, apparently. I love churros.

 

[pblack]

It was a joke... like "Oh, $50 will cover your churros for the day..." It was a bad joke, apparently. I love churros.

I got the joke. If I let my husband he would probably easily spend $50 a day on churros. He can eat those suckers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. No joke.

 

[Boku41]

So, it is a fact, you can carry food from outside to the park.
I'll totally consider this, that way we can have a meal at some of the restaurants and have meals from our backpack.
Hey do you know if this is the same for Universal Studios?

I don't know about Universal Studios. I don't think Disneyland will let you take full on meals, but they will let you take snacks for sure.

 

[chickapin parterre]

My best snack is a tortilla filled with protein, mini burrito wrapped in plastic wrap and looks like a granola bar, string cheese, celery and peanut butter,.....I have yet to see anyone eating a full blown subway meal, but can sure bring parts of the bigger whole.

 

[BayouQueen]

Fun to hear how different people get it done.
For us...we either stay at a place that has breakfast included, or else bring good protein bars to have with the coffee station in the room. So breakfast done and hitting the parks.
After that, I like to feel a little "holidayish," which for us can be just splashing out the eight dollars it takes for candy in the candy shop or some other treat around the park. Then we have a "linner" in the park -- an early dinner that kills two birds with one stone. And this we make a reservation for and know what we are getting into by looking at the DL website menus and pricing. Sometimes we splurge on a Blue Bayou or Carthay Circle; sometimes it's a Carnation Cafe or Plaza Inn.

Being that it's a birthday trip, I agree with others who say to budget in a little souvenir. Your lady will see something that catches her eye, and you'll feel good if you can buy it for her. A hat, a T-shirt, something to remember the trip.

I do agree with others that if you need to cut costs, don't cut out the park hopper. It is just so much fun to pop back and forth, and it makes the resort twice as big and with twice as many attractions.

However you sort it out, have a great time!!

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Well, my family goes a lot and we can do it for under $100/day minus the cost of admission for the entire family of 5. That being said, a regular day visitor would probably be quite a bit more.

1--FOOD--For quick service only, 3 meals/day +1-2 snacks and drinks, it's about $60-$75 per person. Table service is a bit more.

2--SOUVENIRS--If it's been a while since our last trip, I budget about $50 per person.

3--OTHER--We always forget something. Sunscreen is about $15. Cooling towels in the summer? Another $15. Try not to forget anything.

So, for a day without cost of admission, I'd be looking at $150 per person on the higher side.

If you're looking for a hotel in walking distance, expect about $150-$200/night.