Disneyland is the perfect California vacation spot for families, friends, and solo travelers — but purchasing tickets can prove an overwhelming task for anyone who hasn't done it before. While there's plenty of information available on the theme park's website, newcomers may not know where to find deals, how far ahead tickets should be purchased, or whether certain add-ons are worthwhile. There's also the distinction between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, which may be clear to regular visitors but less obvious to those traveling there for the first time.

When planning a trip to Disneyland in California, travelers will want to get the biggest bang for their buck. That means being smart about when and where they purchase tickets to the theme parks. Fortunately, breaking down the different types of Disneyland tickets and other important offerings will help visitors make the most of their trip.

Where To Buy Disneyland Tickets

Purchase Them Directly Through Disneyland Or Through Third Parties

Disneyland tickets can be purchased directly from Disneyland.com, where visitors can also book accommodations and find the answers to the most common questions about the parks. With so much information available on the resort's website, those new to Disneyland might want to utilize it while booking their vacation. However, anyone with a Costco membership who's located in the U.S. may be better off looking for discounted Disneyland tickets through the retailer. They aren't always available, but Costco offers deals through Costco Travel. Members can also find hotel deals and event tickets there.

Anyone searching for deals on tickets can also check MouseSavers.com for discounted rates. While MouseSavers doesn't sell discounted tickets on its website, it links to deals and promotions elsewhere, making it an invaluable resource. According to MouseSavers.com, Undercover Tourist is also a legitimate seller to snag discounted Disneyland tickets from. It's worth noting that visitors will need both tickets and reservations, whether they're purchasing the former directly from Disneyland or from a third party. Reservations can by signing into one's Disneyland account.

How Much Disneyland Tickets Cost

The cost of going to Disneyland depends on what type of tickets are purchased, and there are different prices based on the number of days a person is visiting and each visitor's age. Those planning to spend one day at Disneyland will need to look up ticket costs based on the date. One-day ticket prices are split up into six different categories, from Tier 0 to Tier 6. The higher the tier is for a given day, the more a single-day ticket will cost. Visitors can view the Disney Ticket Calendar to see which days fall under which tiers.

In terms of age, children's tickets are slightly cheaper than adults' — and children who are two years old or younger don't need to pay to get into Disneyland parks. Since single-day and multi-day tickets vary depending on age, here's a breakdown of what constitutes an adult ticket vs. child's, according to Disneyland:

• Ages 10 or older: Adult
• Ages 3-9: Child
• Ages 2 and under: No ticket necessary

Standard Multi-Day Tickets

Standard multi-day tickets for Disneyland cost the same amount regardless of when they're purchased, and they grant visitors access to one park per day. Guests can determine which ticket is used for which park, but standard tickets don't allow them to move back and forth between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Find the princes for multi-day tickets for adults and children below:

Park Hopper Tickets

Disneyland also gives visitors the option to purchase Park Hopper tickets, which enable them to visit both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park on the same day. Park Hopper tickets also allow visitors to travel back and forth between the two theme parks on the same day, which isn't possible with standard tickets. Single-day Park Hopper tickets are subject to the same tier system as single-day standard tickets. Multi-day Park Hopper prices can be found below:

So Cal Disneyland Tickets

Southern California residents have access to discounted three-day, one-park-per-day tickets if they meet the right criteria. To qualify for this local offering, visitors must reside in Southern California and have a zip code in the 90000 to 93599 range. They'll be asked to show a valid government I.D. with one of these zip codes in order to purchase these tickets and gain entry into the park. Such tickets also require reservations and are dependent on availability, as there's a limited number of So Cal resident reservations each day.

Disneyland's So Cal resident tickets can be used on nonconsecutive days, so visitors don't need to book all three days at once. Up to five tickets can be purchased, per eligible person per day. As of this writing, these tickets expire on June 2, 2024. The prices for So Cal resident Disneyland tickets depend on which days they include, as those offering weekends cost more than tickets that are only applicable for weekdays:

Should You Buy A Park Hopper Ticket?

Paying extra for Park Hopper tickets can be worthwhile if visitors are only spending one day at Disneyland and want to see both parks. However, if they're spending multiple days at the resort, the cheaper option is to purchase a regular multi-day ticket. This will allow them to visit Disneyland Park one day and Disney California Adventure Park the next. While it makes jumping back and forth impossible, it winds up costing visitors a bit less to see both spots.

How Far In Advance You Should Reserve Disneyland Tickets

Those wondering how far in advance they should purchase Disneyland tickets should assume that earlier is better. Reservations aren't typically difficult to come by, but busier times of year and holidays will require more planning. In general, visitors can use the one-day ticket tiers to determine how busy the theme parks are likely to be at a given time. According to Disneyland's website, reservations for select dates and parks can be made on a rolling basis determined by Disney. For all dates, availability can be found when making a reservation on a Disney account.

Should You Buy Disneyland's Genie+ Service?

Anyone planning a trip to Disneyland is likely to come across the Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ services, which are offered as add-ons to ticket purchases and vacation packages. Disney Genie is a free app that offers recommendations so that visitors can plan their trips to the Disneyland theme parks. It also enables users to make an itinerary to utilize while at the parks. This is useful, but the Disney Genie+ service takes things up a notch. It features the recommendations and planning services of the Genie service, but it offers other compelling perks for $30 per ticket per day.

Per Disneyland's website, benefits of purchasing Disneyland's Genie+ service include:

• Special Genie+ Lightning Lane Entrances: Anyone using the Genie+ service can use it to select the next arrival time for Genie+ Lightning Lane Entrances for certain attractions. Lightning Lane Entrances allow visitors to enter theme park rides and attractions quicker, without waiting in line. Genie+ users can select one Lightning Lane Entrance at a time, and they're limited to using it once per attraction.
• Unlimited Disney PhotoPass Digital Downloads: Genie+ users can download and share the digital photos taken using Disney's PhotoPass all day. This perk is great for those looking to hold onto their Disneyland memories.
• Disney PhotoPass Lenses: Purchasing Genie+ allows users to use Disney-themed lenses when taking photos on their phones.
• Audio Features: Through Genie+, visitors can listen to park history and behind-the-scene facts about the parks during the course of their visit.

As for whether Genie+ is truly worth it, that depends on what visitors are hoping to achieve with their trip to Disneyland. Those who want photographic memories of the parks will no doubt appreciate the digital downloads and PhotoPass lenses. The Lightning Lane entrances are also a useful perk, though visitors may want to compare the price to individual Lightning Lane passes before making a decision on how they want to approach their Disneyland visit.