Tips on saving money @ Disneyland?

[Alice42]

How to Save on Lodging

Go in the off season times. September, after Labor Day is a good time.

Also, call hotels directly for their rates and ask if they'd be giving any special discounts for the off season. A lot of times (like my hotel) we'd give extra discounts to get the customers to come to our property, like a 20% off during the down season. The "Manager's Specials."

If you go during weekdays, rather than weekends, you can save even more money.

Those are the biggest cost savings that I can think of right off the bat.


Tickets

Don't ever buy tickets from the gate if you can help it. Good neighbor hotels near by sell them, and if you do some searching, you may be able to find hotels that sell their tickets even lower

Also, AresTravel.com sells them online, and of course, there's always Ebay and CraigsList (if you're willing to take the risk).

Has anyone used AresTravel.com to buy tickets? Are they pretty reputable???? We are going to DL for the first time next week and are looking for ways to save money.

 

[DangerMouse]

Has anyone used AresTravel.com to buy tickets? Are they pretty reputable???? We are going to DL for the first time next week and are looking for ways to save money.

Yes, I've used them. They are a great company to work with and you get your tickets fast.

 

[Califgirl]

I paid 3 bucks, minus my discount once I got a few of them, for these really cool water bottle holders, they are not the lanyards, they are a clip that the kids clip to their belt loop, me to my fanny pack or belt loop and no one is complaining about holding a water bottle, you cannot even feel it unless you sit and forget you have it! well worth the 15 bucks I spent for 5, that is 5 bottles of water I get everyone to carry and we have plenty of water for awhile.

I love these clips! They are called AquaClips and available online at Aquaclip. com They come in lots of colors so everyone can get their own different color. Brian, the owner is super nice. Try these clips, you'll love them! It's great not having to juggle a water bottle (or soda bottle) and they easily fit any size. It really does make the bottle almost weightless, and soo easy to carry with you.

 

[brenda1966]

White Water Snacks inside the Grand Californina Hotel is a good choice.

If I'm not staying at a Disney Hotel, can I use the back way out of CA to get the Grand Calif Hotel?

What's the fastest way to get the Grand Calif hotel? I might like to eat there as a change of pace next trip.

What we do to save money is split meals. If DD wants a kid meal, then I will usually get a kid meal as well. If there's something good in an adult meal, we'll split that (counter service). We only do one sit down meal. We also pack snacks and bring a water bottle.

The hardest part for us is convincing DD that we don't buy $60 costumes in the parks! We can buy princess dresses at home for much less. I usually give her $20 to spend and she struggles each time, asking if she can buy a dress.

 

[melancholywings]

My DD loves the princess dresses too. I picked up a bunch of the official park ones off of ebay, so they are the exact same ones in the store (or near enough) and I was able to get like 5 dresses for the cost of 1 new.

 

[pixiewings71]

I love these clips! They are called AquaClips and available online at Aquaclip. com They come in lots of colors so everyone can get their own different color. Brian, the owner is super nice. Try these clips, you'll love them! It's great not having to juggle a water bottle (or soda bottle) and they easily fit any size. It really does make the bottle almost weightless, and soo easy to carry with you.

That website isn't working. I'm looking for something like this so we can all carry our own water bottles. These would make great stocking stuffers!

 

[brenda1966]

What's not working about the website? I am able to put things into my "cart". Have you tried to check out? I just checked out and all is working fine.

 

[funnygarcia]

White Water Snacks inside the Grand Californina Hotel is a good choice.

If I'm not staying at a Disney Hotel, can I use the back way out of CA to get the Grand Calif Hotel?

What's the fastest way to get the Grand Calif hotel? I might like to eat there as a change of pace next trip.

Yes, you can exit from DCA into the Grand, follow the signs down the hall and to the left to White Water Snacks.

You can go back into DCA through the same exit... had only ONE Cm tell me that I needed to be a hotel guest to use the special entrance.

You can enter the Grand thru DTD as well, a hallway next to Sephora's. It's a longish walk to White Water Snacks.. but a very nice one.
If you want somewhere cozy to relax, in the lobby of the grand is a fireplace, next to the fireplace is a door leading outside. There is another fireplace OUTSIDE (benches, rocking chairs, heaters above your head). Nice place to hang in the chill of morning/ evening with a cup of cocoa from White Water Snacks. You will likley have it all to yourself too, not too mnay go out there.. very peaceful.

hmmm, now that I think of it.. not usre what area they are doing construction... might not be so peaceful now.