If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you may recall that my first job out of high school was at The Disney Store. As a Cast Member, I was able to get two free passes to Disneyland each year and get a discount on an annual passport, which at the time, was less than $100 without too many blockout dates. Without aging myself too much, I acknowledge this was a long time ago. Decades of changes have taken place, but one thing remains the same. Disneyland is magical and when doing a cost benefit analysis, the and pros definitely outway the cons!
Living in Southern California, Disneyland is a must see theme park for children, families, and adults! Whether you live in San Diego, Los Angeles, or anywhere in Orange or Riverside County, Disneyland is typically less than an hour or so away. However, I know families that live in Northern California and even some from out of state that have passes! And with the beautiful sunny weather we are known for in Southern California, you can pretty much visit Disneyland every single day of the year. Even on the rare occasion it does rain, it is still a good time to go, because it never gets too cold and is often less busy!
Before I had children I would go often go with my parents and siblings and it was even a popular place to go on a date! And now that I’m a parent, experiencing Disneyland through the eyes of my little ones brings a whole new meaning behind the magic! And as an annual passholder, you will make the most magical memories with your children. Each and every time you go, you will experience true and genuine joy! I love seeing my daughter’s face when she gets hugged by a princess and adds another signature to her autograph book or seeing my son’s eyes light up in wonder when he sees the lights on the castle or excitement when he dances to the music of the parade!
The most common reason I am told that most people don’t have an annual passport is because of how expensive they are. And remember that there are five different investment tiers to choose from and they have monthly payment plans as low as $20/month! And if you go 2 times in the entire year (with the lowest tier pass) you can go to both Disneyland and California Adventure Park each time and for less than it would cost to pay for 2 separate Park Hopper tickets for 2 days! For the highest tier, you’d have to go about once a month, which is more possible because there are less or no blockout dates! And kids under 3 get in for free!! So I’m here to tell you today, that although a hearty investment, an annual pass to Disneyland is worth every penny. Here’s why:
- There’s Something for the Whole Family: What other place on earth has an activity for people of ALL AGES? Whether you are a fan of Marvel Comics, Pixar, Frozen, Pooh Bear, Star Wars, or Nightmare Before Christmas, Disneyland has rides, shows, parades, restaurants/bars, and other entertainment for everyone! And the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Pixar Fest will be built soon! Disneyland has rides, entertainment and accommodations for moms-to-be, infants, children, teens, and adults! Each park also has a Baby Center with nursing rooms, changing rooms with tables, feeding area with high chairs, a kitchen with a sick and microwave, a main room with a TV, table, and chairs/high chairs, small potties, and even a shop where you can buy formula, pacifiers, diapers, wipes, juice, baby food, sunscreen, and over the counter medication!
- Discounts: Depending on what passport you buy, you can get anywhere from 10-20% off of food, merchandise, hotel stays, guided tours, and even renewing your pass the following year! Plus on select nights, passholders can save on tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party!
- Upgrades to Walt Disney World: Florida has a lot to offer with Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom in addition to The Magic Kingdom. It is a family destination for many! And as an annual passport holder, you can upgrade your passport to go to any park in Florida year round, too!
- Mental Health: As a mom, it is difficult to find things to keep kids busy and entertained, especially with their short attention spans and with the growing age of technology. When you go to Disneyland it forces you to be outside and will help improve your mental, emotional, and physical self! Being at Disneyland will help your mental wellbeing because it truly is the happiest place in earth!!! Plus just think of all of the fun memories you will make that will last a lifetime!
- Special Events: Disneyland has events all year long! There is the Wine & Food Festival, annual Easter Egg Hunts, and the Disney Festival of Holidays to name a few, so there is always something special going on! And Annual Passport holders are often treated to exclusive activities during these events! Plus there is a week in March called AP Days where card holders receive various gifts and perks all week long! And for example, the AP Corner at the Disney Festival of Holidays included these perks!
- Have your best holiday photos taken at an exclusive photo location surrounded by merry décor.
- Discover the Sip and Savor Pass to delight in Marketplace holiday treats and refreshments.
- Browse Passholder-exclusive Festival merchandise.
- Receive a Festival Tasting Passport.
- Pick up your complimentary, collectible art button! (limit one per Passholder for event duration, while supplies last).
Plus, when you have an annual passport, you can go for only a few hours at a time and not feel guilty that you didn’t get to do everything on your list! When you don’t have a passport it can be stressful feeling like you have to get there at 8am and stay until midnight, fight the crowds, and not take any breaks because you have to get your money’s worth and get everything done in one day. Spread it out and do a few things each time you go! We have been going for years and there is always something new and things we haven’t seen or tried yet! It never gets old! And there are some things we do over and over again because they are classics that have been there for decades!
My family has an annual passport that includes parking. Parking costs $20 each time you go, so when investing in an annual pass, factor in how many times you project using your pass and much each pass will cost with or without parking. If you go once a month or even every other month, parking can cost $120-240 a year, so you may want to invest in a pass one or two tiers up just so it will include parking. The higher tier you go, the additional perks you will have, too! And remember children under 3 get in free!
And if you want to go on a day that is blocked out, whether it’s for the first time or to renew your passport, buy your passport at Disneyland and they will allow you into the park with a special day pass, even if it would be normally blocked out!
To compare the different passes, perks, and blockout dates and or to buy your Disneyland annual passport, click the link here! https://disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/today/
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