Other Disneyland Discounts and Deals

LAST UPDATE: 3/28/13

Here you’ll find out how to get other Disneyland discounts on all the “extras” that can really add up when you vacation at Disneyland — items like souvenirs, parking, stroller rental, Internet access and lots more! Discounts are available for a lot of the “small” things at Disneyland, but sometimes it can be hard to find those deals. Search no more!

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FREE Maps of the Disneyland Area

Click here to get free downloadable maps of the Disneyland area and Orange County.

Provided courtesy of the Anaheim/Orange County Convention & Visitor Bureau.

Souvenirs

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Buy in Advance

If you have kids, you know that they will probably be seized with a case of the “I wants” when they get to Disneyland, because there is all kinds of neat merchandise cleverly placed at the conclusion of every ride. One solution is to take advantage of sales and outlet specials at DisneyStore.com before your trip and put your purchases away. Then pack the goodies in your suitcase and dole them out to the kids when you get there. Click here for current DisneyStore.com discount codes and coupons.

Give Your Kids a Budget

One way to do this is to give them Disney Dollars or Disney Gift Cards for birthdays, Christmas, etc. before your trip. Encourage grandparents to do this, too. You can’t spend Disney Dollars or Disney Gift Cards anywhere but Disney, and kids will have a lot of fun picking out souvenirs from their own “money.”

A variation on this comes from MouseSavers.com reader Linda: “One thing I am doing before we go, is paying my kids half their allowance in Disney Dollars. I know there will be things they want to buy and I won’t, so this way, they are saving (forcibly) to buy the things they will want. The kids love it, and some weeks request all Disney Dollars!”

FREE Pin With Purchase

On the first Sunday of each month, you will receive a FREE pin with a purchase of $25 or more in pins and pin accessories (after any applicable discount and before tax) at shops throughout the Disneyland Resort. The pin is predetermined and changes monthly. This appears to be an unpublished offer, so it’s subject to change at any time, though it’s been around for years. Thanks to Jackie for updated info.

Character Depot

This outlet store, which was formerly called Disney’s Character Warehouse, is a little over 3 miles from Disneyland. As of July 2012, the store changed its name to Character Depot. It now carries a large variety of non-Disney as well as Disney character merchandise. It no longer gets merchandise from the parks (apparently that merchandise is now going primarily to Disney’s own Disney Store outlets around the US).

If you want to visit Character Depot is located at 227 Orangefair Mall. You can call (714) 870-9363 to check hours, etc. To get to Character Depot from Disneyland, go north on Harbor Blvd and cross Hwy 91. Make a right at Orangethorpe and another right at Pomona, which is a street that goes right into the Orangefair Marketplace shopping center. Character Depot is now located near the Dollar Tree.

Printable Coupons

Birnbaum Guide Coupons

Birnbaum’s Disneyland Resort 2013 includes the following coupon that you can use toward souvenirs:

Disney’s Visa Card Discounts

Disney’ Visa cardholders can save 10% on select merchandise purchases of $50 or more at the Disneyland Resort. Offer is valid at select Disneyland Resort stores and pin cart locations for most merchandise (see below for exceptions). A $50 pre-tax minimum purchase is required.

Present and use one of Disney’s Visa cards at time of purchase. Not valid in combination with other offers, discounts, promotions or with any previous purchase.

Discount is not valid on purchases of various items including ticket media, gift certificates, Disney Gift Cards, Disney Dollars, DVDs, sundries, many collectibles and select merchandise.

Also, see below for information about a FREE souvenir available to Disney’s Visa cardholders.

Annual Passholder Discounts

Annual Passholder Bonus Discounts Through December 31, 2013

  • So Cal Select, Southern California and Deluxe Passport holders receive 10% off all purchases at select Disneyland Resort stores.
  • Premium and Premier Passholders receive a 20% discount all purchases at select Disneyland Resort stores.

Discount does not apply at the certain locations and some merchandise is excluded. May not be combined with any other discount, offer or promotion.

Disneyland Annual Passholders also qualify for merchandise discounts at many shops in Anaheim GardenWalk, within walking distance of Disneyland. All discounts are subject to change.

D23 Member Discounts

Select Downtown Disney locations offer D23 members merchandise discounts when you present your D23 membership card. Click here to see the current list.

Inexpensive/FREE Souvenirs

Disney’s PhotoPass

Disney’s PhotoPass presents Disneyland guests with a way to capture treasured moments. Using professional digital equipment, photographers take photos of guests throughout the theme parks. Guests receive a Disney PhotoPass that links all of their vacation photos together into one online account for easy online viewing and sharing. Guests can use one PhotoPass for their entire vacation or get a new PhotoPass each time they take a photo.

MouseSavers.com readers report that the quality of PhotoPass shots is highly variable, since some of the photographers are better than others. Occasionally there is a glitch and photos are lost by the system (or the photography equipment fails). So if it is really important to get an excellent shot of a particular event or experience, be sure to take your own photos, too! Also, reader David F points out that “every photographer (and just about any other cast member) was more than willing to use our camera to take a picture after they did the PhotoPass shot.  They do not seem to be restricted to only doing the PhotoPass pictures.”

Hint: when you are given PhotoPass cards, you should immediately use your cellphone camera or digital camera to take a photo of the code on the cards, just in case you lose them. (Or if you don’t have a camera, use your mobile phone to text the code to yourself.) If you lose a PhotoPass card, Disney will do its best to locate your photos based on the last time and location where you had activity in the system, but sometimes it can’t be done. Don’t take a chance on losing your vacation memories when a simple photo could have prevented it! Thanks to Margit M, who learned the hard way, for this important suggestion.

Although Disney’s PhotoPass replaces the old photo system at Disneyland Resort, guests are still able to view and buy their vacation photos at Disney Photo Centers on property.

Better yet, instead of having to wait in line at a Photo Center for their photos, guests can view, share and order their photos online at DisneyPhotoPass.com. At DisneyPhotoPass.com, guests can also add decorative borders and other Disney-themed elements to their pictures. There is no charge for obtaining a PhotoPass or viewing or sharing your photos online. The cost of ordering prints from DisneyPhotoPass.com starts at $14.95.

Be aware that you must register the serial number(s) of your PhotoPass(es) online within 30 days or they expire. Your photos are taken off the website exactly 30 days after you register, so don’t wait too long!

PhotoPass CD

You can purchase all of your Disneyland PhotoPass photos on one CD for $69.95 at DisneyPhotoPass.com or in Disneyland/DCA at the PhotoPass Centers. (That is $100 cheaper than the price of a Walt Disney World PhotoPass CD. The correct price is charged when you enter your Disneyland-issued PhotoPass number on the website.) The CD grants you a copyright release so that you can print the photos yourself. Before ordering the CD, you can crop photos, add borders and character enhancements, etc.

PhotoPass+

A new option is PhotoPass+, a package that includes all your PhotoPass photos on a PhotoCD (you get a code in the package that you can use later to order the CD online), digital downloads of select attraction photos, dining photo print packages, a gallery CD with more than 400 stock photos and a lanyard, all for $99.95.

PhotoPass+ is sold at PhotoPass viewing stations throughout Disneyland Resort, or in advance (see below). You can put up to a 14-night vacation on this package.

Participating attractions for PhotoPass+ include Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, California Screamin and Radiator Springs Racers.

Participating Character dining locations for PhotoPass+ include Goofy’s Kitchen, Ariel’s Grotto, Disney’s PCH Grill and Plaza Inn.

  • Pre-order your Disneyland PhotoPass+ and save $30! It costs $69.95 through this link.

Order AT LEAST 14 DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR VACATION! They will send you a physical package with a voucher that you need to take with you on your trip.

Parking

Parking at Disneyland is $15 per day for cars, $20 per day for RVs, campers and autos with trailers.

If you will be visiting Disneyland for 6 days or more within a 365-day period, consider buying an Annual Pass. It’s not only a good deal compared with the cost of buying regular tickets or passes, but you can save on parking. The Southern California and Deluxe Annual Passports can add a parking pass for $99 that is valid on all days except July 4 and December 31, or you can buy a Premium Annual Passport that includes unlimited free parking.

If you buy a Disneyland package (or sometimes even multi-day passes) through a California AAA office, you will receive a free parking pass.

You get 3 hours of FREE parking when you self-park in the Downtown Disney parking lot (west of Paradise Pier Hotel). Plus, if you buy a ticket at the AMC Theatre and/or eat at any of the table service restaurants in Downtown Disney, they will validate your parking for an additional 2 hours. After that the cost is $6 per hour ($30 maximum).

Internet Access

The Disneyland Resort hotels now offer both wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, free to guests.

I found that in the public areas of the Grand Californian, I could access the Wi-Fi without a password. This may be true at the other Disney hotels as well.

Internet access is also available for guests who do not have laptops at each hotel’s Business Center, where you’ll find desktop computers for your use.

Getting Cash

Need cash at Disneyland? If you have your checkbook with you, Chase bank’s location on Main Street is on the right as you go in, and you can cash a check up to $300.00 a day with proper ID. Also, most major hotels will cash a personal check if you can show a valid credit card. Thanks to Jayne G and Arnold T for info.

Otherwise, if you possibly can, try to get cash BEFORE you arrive at the Disneyland Resort. The ATMs in the parks are operated by Chase bank and they charge a significant “cash transaction fee” (somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 per transaction) unless you are a Chase customer. Thanks to Danny P for info.

Keep in mind that if you’re not a Chase customer, your own bank may also charge you a second fee on that ATM withdrawal!

You won’t be charged the “cash transaction fee” if you take cash out of a Disneyland ATM using a Disney’s Visa card, which is issued by Chase. However, using your Disney’s Visa card isn’t a good way to get around the fees, because you’ll pay a big “cash advance fee” instead. According to the fine print on my Disney’s Visa Cardholder Agreement, the ATM Cash Advance Fee is 3% of the cash advance, with a $5 minimum! Yikes.

MouseSavers.com reader Craig C has a clever solution for this problem. Disney Dollars are accepted just like US currency at all restaurants, shops and outdoor vending carts throughout the parks. So simply visit any in-park location that sells Disney Dollars, and buy the amount you need with a check card or credit card. The transaction is considered a purchase of gift certificates, so the credit card and check card companies do not charge a cash advance fee. Spend the Disney Dollars in the parks, and if you have any left over when you are ready to leave, trade them back in for US currency. However, be sure to save the receipt, as that is usually required if you want to turn in Disney Dollars for real cash.

Another reader points out that you can use an ATM card at a nearby store to get cash back with a purchase. Buy a small item (gum, for instance) and when you pay at the register, do so with your ATM card. You can usually get up to $50 cash back with little or no fee. There is a 7-Eleven convenience store at the corner of Katella and Harbor Blvd, in the same block as Disneyland, where you can do this. Thanks to Arnold T for the suggestion.

If you don’t have any choice, ATMs are available throughout the Disneyland Resort, generally next to the restrooms and telephones.

Special Occasions

Don’t be shy about mentioning special occasions — honeymoon, birthday, anniversary — to the reservations agent, front desk, waiters and other Cast Members. There is no guarantee that you’ll get a special treat, but it does happen.

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Celebration Buttons

If you’re celebrating a special event (birthday, anniversary, wedding, first visit, etc.) you can go to Town Hall on Main Street in Disneyland and tell them. They will give you a special button to wear, and that may bring you some extra attention or freebies from Cast Members. (Again, no guarantees, but it may happen.)

Special Occasion Cakes

Guests at the Disneyland Resort hotels can order special cakes for delivery to your hotel room or to be served after your meal at a Disneyland Resort hotel restaurant. They do not deliver to the theme park restaurants. Cake orders must be placed at least 72 hours prior to delivery.

You can order in advance through Disneyland Vacation Planning at 714-300-PLAN (7526) or you can call Room Service on arrival.

Special Surprises: Gift Baskets and More

If you are staying at one of the official Disney hotels, Disneyland Vacation Planning can arrange for gift baskets, cookies and milk, balloons and other treats to be delivered to your room. The prices are pretty high but what a fun surprise! Order in advance through Vacation Planning at 714-300-PLAN (7526).

More Romantic Ideas

Want more romantic ideas for a Disneyland vacation? Click here for ideas on great places to propose, romantic places to eat and fun things for couples to do.

Strollers

Stroller rental costs $15 per day or two for $25. There are no double strollers. There is one central location for renting strollers, outside the entrance of Disneyland on the opposite side of the plaza from Downtown Disney. Rental strollers can be used throughout Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney, but cannot be taken off property or kept overnight.

Bring/Buy Your Own Stroller

Bringing your own stroller will ensure that you have the stroller available all the time, such as when you’re going to and from your hotel. (Bear in mind that you will usually have to take your child out of the stroller and collapse the stroller while on trams.)

Another consideration in bringing your own stroller is the hassles of getting it to Disneyland, particularly if you are flying. (You can “gate check” a stroller, which saves some of the work – just bring your stroller right to the gate at the airport. It will be tagged and put into the cargo hold from the gate.)

If you want to avoid the hassle of transporting a stroller on a plane, you might consider buying a cheap one upon arrival and giving it to another lucky family or a charity when you leave.

Or buy a stroller in advance and have it shipped directly to your hotel. This has the advantage of saving you money AND being less of a hassle (since you won’t have to transport it to Disney yourself). At the end of your trip, either give the stroller to someone or put it back in the shipping box and have the hotel ship it home for you. To ship it to your hotel, it should be addressed as follows:

Hold for guest: (write the full name under which you made the reservation)

Check in date: (insert date)

Hotel’s name and address (which will appear on your confirmation form)

Most people who bring their own stroller recommend a cheap umbrella-style one. They are lighter, making them easier to get on and off trams, and you won’t worry as much about the possibility of the stroller being stolen. (It’s not unheard-of for strollers to go missing in the parks, so it’s a good idea to put something personal on yours. At minimum, write your last name on it using a permanent marker.)

Wheelchair/ECV Rental

Disney charges $12 (plus a $20 deposit) for manual wheelchair rental. There is one central location for renting wheelchairs, outside the entrance of Disneyland next to the Kennel Club. There is no wheelchair rental available in the Downtown Disney District, and the wheelchairs you rent from Disney cannot be taken into Downtown Disney.

If you need to use an “electric convenience vehicle” (ECV) to get around the Disneyland Resort, be aware that the rental is quite expensive (currently $50 per day plus a $20 deposit). There is one central location for renting ECVs, outside the entrance of Disneyland next to the Kennel Club. There is no ECV rental available in the Downtown Disney District, and the ECVs you rent from Disney cannot be taken into Downtown Disney.

In general it’s usually a better deal to rent an ECV from an outside firm. Not only is it less expensive, it also guarantees that you’ll have the ECV available all the time. For more great info for those with disabilities who are planning a trip to Disneyland, including suppliers of rental ECVs, I recommend Teri’s Disney Travelers’ Disability FAQ.