tickets
Warning: Purchasing tickets online
Many tickets sold online through auction websites such as eBay or Craigslist are partially used multi-day park-hopper tickets. While this is a very common activity, it is prohibited by Disney: the tickets are non-transferable. There is also an inherent risk to you as a buyer, because you don't know for certain how many days remain on the ticket. If you are purchasing tickets online, only purchase from authorized brokers; resold tickets are subject to rejection at the gate.
Visiting Disneyland is an expensive affair. Tickets are sold at several levels: the base ticket is the Single-Day Theme Park Ticket which enables admission to only one of the two parks for a full day. By contrast, the 1-Day Park Hopper allows you to see both parks on the same day, and to move back and forth between the parks. Park Hopper tickets are also sold in increments of 2, 3, 4, and 5 days; while the ticket price increases with each day, the price per day actually decreases with each day. Multi-day Park Hopper tickets do not have to be used on consecutive days, but will expire 14 days after the first day they are used. The value of the Park Hopper ticket options should not be underestimated.
Note, only 1 and 2 day ticket options, Annual Passes, along with the Southern California CityPASS are sold at the Disneyland Resort Main Ticket Windows. To buy the longer tickets 3 to 5 days, you need to buy them in advance, such as Disneyland.com/tickets, a travel agent, or selected tickets can be bought at a local Hotel or Disney Desk.
The prices below are effective May 20th, 2012:
| Days | ages 3-9 | ages 10+ | ||
| 1-Park | Park-Hopper | 1-Park | Park-Hopper | |
| 1-Day Theme Park Ticket | $81.00 | $119.00 | $87.00 | $125.00 |
| 2-Day Theme Park Ticket | $158.00 | $188.00 | $170.00 | $200.00 |
| 3-Day Theme Park Ticket | $205.00 | $220.00 | $235.00 | $250.00 |
| 4-Day Theme Park Ticket | $225.00 | $255.00 | $245.00 | $275.00 |
| 5-Day Theme Park Ticket | $240.00 | $270.00 | $260.00 | $290.00 |
Children under age 3 are admitted free.
Discounts are hard to find, but California residents bring a driver's license or utility bill to prove residency will sometimes receive a small discount. AAA occasionally offers its members discounts, and seasonal discounts such as the "buy a day, get a seasonal pass" offer occur during non-peak seasons.
CityPass website bonus
As an added bonus to purchasing the Southern California CityPass online instead of in person at the park ticket counters, you'll also get your choice of either the San Diego Zoo or the San Diego Safari Park once used in one of these, the pass may not be used in the other.
If your schedule allows you only one day in San Diego, and you will be returning to Anaheim that same day, choose to visit the San Diego Zoo instead of the Safari Park. It is just 5 miles southeast of SeaWorld; that way you can enjoy both attractions in as little time possible.
If you're planning a multi-day vacation to Southern California with visits to multiple attractions including Disneyland, you can save significantly by using the Southern California CityPass (http://www.citypass.com/s...). For only $279 for adults, $239 for ages 3-9 prices vaild for the 2012 year, you'll receive a 3-day Park Hopper ticket, and 1 day each at Universal Studios Hollywood and SeaWorld San Diego. This makes for a wonderful week long vacation and a very attractive price with about $90 off standard prices.
And here's something even better: visiting both Disneyland and Walt Disney World in the same year is now easier with the Disney Premier Passport (http://disneyparks.disney...). For $849, the Passport gives an entire year of unlimited admission to all eight theme and water parks in both California and Florida, plus DisneyQuest, ESPN Wide World of Sports, and the Oak Trail Golf Course. The Passport may be purchased at the theme park ticket booths.
