As you could imagine, planning a trip to Disneyland is not always kind on our bank accounts. From the plane/train tickets, accommodation, park tickets, food, snacks and of course that Disney merchandise we all love, it sure adds up quickly! However, if you want to make the most of your Disneyland trip while not having it cost a fortune, here are six helpful tips to keep in mind!
1. Travel during off-peak season
Choosing to visit Disneyland during off-peak season will help you save money in more ways than one. Firstly, accommodation prices will be cheaper during this time. Admission tickets for the park are also cheaper during the off-peak season. Disneyland Paris offers discounted tickets during off-peak season, as well as offering discounts with the purchase of a holiday package (accommodation and tickets) if you book in advance. You can look on the Disneyland Paris website for ticket prices throughout the year.
2. Choose your accommodation wisely
Saving money on your accommodation will make a huge difference to the cost of your trip! If you want to save money on your accommodation there are a few ways to do so.
Choose to stay at one of the Disney value Hotels (Hotel Cheyenne or Hotel Santa Fe). If you are planning to stay on-site, these 2 hotels are the least expensive Disney Hotels offered.
If you are happy to stay off-site, then go for one of the many hotels/apartments around the Marne-La-Vallee, Val d’Europe area. This area has a nearby shopping centre and is not far from Disney (5 minute drive or a 20-30 minute walk). Most of the hotels in this area will also offer a shuttle bus to and from Disneyland. You can also get the train from Val d’Europe, one stop over to Marne-La-Vallee, Chessy and arrive straight at Disneyland (the train trip is only 1-2 minutes).
3. Food
Another easy way to save money during your trip is to avoid purchasing food in the park by taking your own food/snacks. You can not take a picnic into the park, and security can also be strict on glass bottles/jars being allowed into the park, so I would avoid those(baby food jars are accepted). However, you can prepare some easy lunch and snack options to take with you!
If you make a quick trip to the grocery store before hitting the park, you can stock up on some food and drinks to take in yourself. Just a 5 minute drive from Disneyland Park – or 1 train stop over – at Val d’Europe, is a shopping mall with a grocery store called Auchan. This grocery store is huge and has plenty of choices for all types of food and snacks, anything you could think of, they will have it here. There is also a smaller grocery store right opposite the Val d’Europe train station called Mono Prix. A good idea is to stock up on some bottles of water to take with you for the day. Also, if you’re travelling with kids, or even adults, it’s a good idea to make some sandwiches to take for lunch as well as some snacks (biscuits/sweets/fruit etc). You can also grab some cereal for breakfast to save you money on eating out or paying for hotel breakfast every day. You can even pick up some food to make a quick dinner in your hotel room if you have kitchen facilities available. If you do want to eat in the park, then try to find a meal you could share. Some of the meals come with a main, a side, dessert and a drink and are large enough for you to share with a parent/child or between 2 kids!
Try to plan in advance what snacks you are willing to pay for in the park so you can be prepared with other food for your Disney day!
4. Tickets
When booking your tickets for Disneyland it’s always best to book online in advance. If you book online you can save money and time instead of purchasing tickets at the gate once you arrive. You can purchase tickets on the Disneyland Paris website or through third party websites such as attractiontix.co.uk/tickets/disneyland-paris.
If you are planning to make a few trips to Disneyland Paris within a year then it would be worth having a look at the different annual passes available. Some have certain block out dates when you cannot enter the park, so make sure to have a look at what suits you best for when you want to visit Disneyland!
5. BYO Autograph books
You can save money on autograph books by making your own or buying one from store before you arrive! You can have some fun creating your own autograph book by purchasing a note book and decorating it yourself with your favourite Disney characters, paint, glitter, markers, stickers.…let your imagination run wild! This is a great activity to do with kids to get them excited for your trip to Disneyland!
6. Park Merchandise
To avoid paying high prices for some Disney merchandise in the park, it’s a good idea to visit a Disney store and look for items on sale before your trip. A lot of Disney stores often have some last season stock for a discount price, so you can still get the Disney goodies for a lower price! If you like Disney clothing and want a fun shirt to wear, then buying one from a store/online can help you avoid park costs. Stores such as UNI QLO or ASOS have some really fun Disney themed shirts that are usually a lot cheaper than clothing purchased in the park! Even stores such as Kmart, Target or Primark have a range of Disney themed merchandise for a discounted price.
There you have it, money saving tips for your Disneyland Paris trip!
Let me know what tricks you use to save money when going to Disneyland!
xx Jade
Journey with Jade 