Hey Everyone, it’s Kimberly with Get Away Today and my favorite season is just around the corner… Vacation season! Spring breaks have already begun and summer vacations aren’t far behind. Of course, my favorite vacation destination is the Disneyland Resort. Time spent on vacation is valuable, and even more so at Disneyland in my opinion. I’ve been to Disneyland many times over the years and always have a great time, even when it’s packed. Since spring and summer tend to be busier travel times to visit the parks, I put together some of my best tips to help you save time and money at Disneyland.

1. Be sure to use the FASTPASS system for the most popular attractions, which serves as a reservation for you to come back and ride later. Radiator Springs Racers and Hyperspace Mountain are the hottest FASTPASS attractions right now, so you’ll want to grab those first thing in the morning. You can get your next FASTPASS two hours after you get one, or by the first time printed on your FASTPASS ticket, whichever comes sooner.

2. Use Rider Switch if you have small kids that can’t ride the bigger attractions. One person stays back with the younger kids while everyone else rides. Then, the rider who stayed behind gets to go to the front and ride with up to two other riders. This will be your older kids favorite since they’ll normally get to ride twice in a row. Another way to save some time if you have older kids is to use the Single Rider line on some of the more popular attractions. You wait in line together and then fill single spots as they open up on the attractions. Radiator Springs Racers is one of the best Single Rider line options.

3. Get to the parks as early as possible. Each 3-day or longer ticket comes with one early morning into Disneyland, so be sure to take advantage of that. In addition to the official early entry, you can get past the gate and into the entry of both parks 30 minutes to an hour before the park opens. By getting there as early as possible, you’ll be able to beat most of the crowds.

4. Stay on property. True, you’ll pay more to stay at a Disneyland Resort Hotel, but if you can afford a little splurge, the perks more than pay for themselves. One of the best perks of staying on-site is that you get early entry into Disneyland or California Adventure every day that you have a ticket for. It’s the only way to get into Disney California Adventure Park early, and I will tell you, the 5-minute wait time for Toy Story Midway Mania is worth it!

5. If the Disneyland Resort Hotels don’t fit in your budget, choose a hotel that offers a free Breakfast. Many area hotels have deluxe or full breakfast options that include protein and hot items to keep you full longer. Some of the suite hotels offer dinners or snacks in the evenings, and may even have a full kitchen for you to use during your vacation.

6. Get the longest length ticket possible. You’ll pay a little more overall, but you’ll pay less per day, and have way more flexibility. That is especially important during the Diamond Celebration that has multiple nighttime shows that you won’t want to miss.

7. Pack snacks. Not only will bringing snacks into the parks save you money, it can save you time. Munch on healthy snacks like trail mix or fruit snacks while you’re waiting in lines for attractions. It will keep you occupied and energetic for a fun-filled day.

8. Book a Character Breakfast. Don’t spend your valuable park time waiting in lines to meet characters, let them come to you when you book a Character breakfast, lunch or dinner. There are five different options each with different times, characters, menus and locations. Choose from Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel for “brunch” or dinner, Ariel’s Princess Celebration for breakfast or lunch at Disney California Adventure, Breakfast at the Park with Minnie & Friends inside Disneyland, Surf’s Up Breakfast with Mickey & Friends at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, and Chip ‘n Dale’s Critter Country Breakfast at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Each has something unique and I love them all.

9. Buy your souvenirs before your trip. Park prices on T-shirts, stuffed animals, glow sticks and trinkets are much higher than, well, almost anywhere else. You can save a ton by purchasing these items before your vacation, and bringing them with you. The kids are happy because they still get fun new things that remind them of the fun you had on vacation, and you’re happy because you didn’t spend a fortune.

10. Use coupons. Our packages at Get Away Today come with exclusive coupons on dining and merchandise in Anaheim and Downtown Disney, but there are a lot of ways to save. Sign up for coupons at Earl of Sandwich, Rainforest Cafe, Subway, Wetzel’s Pretzels and more before you go. You may even want to consider buying an Entertainment book to use during your trip.

I hope these tips help you as you’re planning your Disneyland vacation! If you’re looking for the best way to save money, it starts by booking with Get Away Today. We negotiate with our hotel and attraction partners to help you save the very most on your vacation. We’d love to help find the perfect fit for your family on getawaytoday.com or by calling 855-GET-AWAY. Mention promo code: CraftingChicks to save an extra $10 off any 2-night or longer Disneyland package.

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