We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. While we don't cover every company or financial product on
the market, we work hard to share a wide range of offers and objective
editorial perspectives.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us for advertisements that
appear on our site. This compensation helps us provide tools and services -
like free credit score access and monitoring. With the exception of
mortgage, home equity and other home-lending products or services, partner
compensation is one of several factors that may affect which products we
highlight and where they appear on our site. Other factors include your
credit profile, product availability and proprietary website methodologies.
However, these factors do not influence our editors' opinions or ratings, which are based on independent research and analysis. Our partners cannot
pay us to guarantee favorable reviews. Here is a list of our partners.
When Is the Cheapest Time to Visit Disneyland?
Weekdays during times of the year when school is in session tend to be the cheapest times to visit Disneyland.
A Los Angeles native, Jennifer is a freelance personal finance writer and editor whose goal is to help readers get excited about improving their financial health. She loves using credit card rewards points toward airfare, and recently took a round-trip flight to Southeast Asia entirely on points. Her work has been featured by Forbes, HuffPost, MSN Money and Business Insider.
Giselle M. Cancio is a former editor for the travel rewards team at NerdWallet. She has traveled to over 30 states and 20 countries, redeeming points and miles for almost a decade. She has over eight years of experience in journalism and content development across many topics.
She has juggled many roles in her career: writer, editor, social media manager, producer, on-camera host, videographer and photographer. She has been published in several media outlets and was selected to report from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
She frequents national parks and is on her way to checking all 30 Major League Baseball parks off her list. When she's not on a plane or planning her next trip, she's crafting, reading, playing board games, watching sports or trying new recipes.
She is based in Miami.
Published
How is this page expert verified?
NerdWallet's content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and
relevance. It undergoes a thorough review process involving
writers and editors to ensure the information is as clear and
complete as possible.
This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on
NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not
been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
When visiting Disneyland, it’s not uncommon for guests to expect high admission costs or heavy crowds — often both. If you’re visiting the park to celebrate Disneyland’s 70th anniversary or generally want to plan a day at "The Happiest Place On Earth," admission tickets vary depending on the season, month and day.
Here’s a quick guide on the cheapest time to go to Disneyland, as well as the most expensive times to visit throughout the year.
Cheapest time to go to Disneyland
The Astro Orbitor ride at Disneyland. (Photo by Sally French)
Single-day Disneyland Resort tickets are based on varying pricing levels. Although Disneyland’s website states that the parks don’t have an official off-peak season, Disneyland prices its one-day admission tickets across seven tiers.
Pricing tiers start at Tier 0 (least expensive) and go up to Tier 6 (most expensive). Tiered pricing is set on a rolling schedule, with one-day admission prices available up to 120 days in advance. Typically, the busier the park is expected to be, the higher the tier.
Subscribe to our free TravelNerd newsletter for inspiration, tips and money-saving strategies, delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional
content and agree to our Terms of Use
and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Cheapest months to go to Disneyland
The cheapest time to visit Disneyland falls around non-holiday months and periods when school is in session. Specifically, this is after the holiday season, starting in the middle of January through the end of February — before California schools’ spring break months in March and April.
But also factor in climate. The cheapest months at Disneyland aren't the same as the cheapest months to go to Disney World (Orlando's warmth is extra desirable in February).
Another period that offers cheaper Disneyland ticket prices is just after summer, from September through mid-November, just before Thanksgiving break. However, during these months, the cheapest time to go to Disneyland varies depending on the week you visit.
Like other travel-related reservations, such as flights and hotel, weekdays are the cheapest days to go to Disneyland. Purchasing a one-day ticket to Disneyland is much more affordable from Monday through Thursday when many students are in school.
For comparison, going to Disneyland on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, costs $104 for an adult ticket. On the following Friday, Sept. 15, the price increases notably to $159 and then to $169 on Saturday, Sept. 16.
That’s a savings of $65 on admission alone per ticket, just by visiting the park midweek rather than on a busy Saturday.
The Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind ride. (Photo by Sally French)
If you’re looking for ways to save money at Disneyland, avoid purchasing an admission ticket during peak periods. The most expensive months of the year tend to fall on the park’s busiest months, when it extends its operating hours.
This increased pricing includes spring break, summer months (June through August) and popular holiday periods.
From mid-November through early January, guests can enjoy “Holidays at the Disneyland Resort,” which offers special entertainment such as A Christmas Fantasy Parade, Sleeping Beauty’s snow-capped castle and other elaborate decor.
For some guests, a trip to Disneyland is still a considerable expense. The best way to keep your Disneyland visit on a budget is by keeping your schedule flexible. Consider visiting Disneyland during the cheapest time to go — specifically, between February through April and in the middle of the week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest time of year to go to Disneyland? What is the cheapest time of year to go to Disneyland?
Although the cost of admission to Disneyland changes throughout the year, the cheapest time to go to Disneyland is during the off-peak season. This is generally between mid-January and February, or September through mid-November.
What is the slowest month at Disneyland? What is the slowest month at Disneyland?
Typically, Disneyland Park’s slowest month with fewer crowds is just after California’s summer season, mid-September through the weeks just before Thanksgiving weekend. Other optimal months to visit for fewer crowds are from mid-January through mid-March.
Is it cheaper to go to Disneyland on a weekday? Is it cheaper to go to Disneyland on a weekday?
Yes. Generally, the cheapest days to go to Disneyland are from Mondays through Thursdays. Fridays and Sundays typically cost a bit more, while Saturdays are the most expensive days to visit Disneyland.
Is it better to go to Disneyland early or late? Is it better to go to Disneyland early or late?
If your goal is to reduce long waits in standby lines as much as possible, consider getting to the park early on your reservation date. Ideally, arriving as soon as the park opens can help you cross off popular attractions from your list, before the swarm of crowds settle into the park.
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,
trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed
studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness
and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high
standards for journalism by reading our
editorial guidelines.