10 Best Disneyland Tips: Food and Drinks

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

This post began with the intent of being a list of tips and tricks for multiple aspects of a Disneyland vacation. One I started outlining it, though, it quickly became apparent that it would be a massively long post that absolutely nobody would want to read through.

So instead, I decided to break up the would-be gigantic post into a series, giving each topic its own space and making it easier for you, the reader, to get the information you’re after.

This particular post will focus on food, drinks and the many restaurants of Disneyland. I will offer ten of the best tips and tricks that I feel would be most beneficial to you. Some will help to save you money, others may help you avoid losing money, but all with prove valuable.

So read on to discover ten tips for food, drinks and dining at the Disneyland Resort. If you haven’t yet purchased your park tickets, be sure to read the first post in this series as it offers ten tips for purchasing Disneyland tickets.

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1) To save money, split entrees at many Disney restaurants

It’s no secret, dining at the resort restaurants is expensive, especially for a family with multiple children. One way you can save money is to split entrees.

As expensive as they are, there are entrees at many Disney restaurants that could easily be split between two kids, or even two adults in some cases.

A few examples include:

• The Monte Cristo Sandwich at Cafe Orleans ($24)

• The House Gumbo at Tiana’s Palace ($17)

• The Fried Chicken plate at Plaza Inn ($20)

• The lobster nachos at Lamplight Lounge ($25)

• The Fried Chicken and Doughnuts at Great Maple ($25)

To my knowledge, Disney does not charge a fee to split plates (with the one exception being Napa Rose). So as you can see, it could add up to significant savings.

2) Know where you can order an adult beverage

Until fairly recently, the only way you could order alcohol at Disneyland was if you held a membership at Club 33. That changed in 2019 with the opening of Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Shortly thereafter, the Blue Bayou restaurant began serving select cocktails and wine. Finally, in 2022, three additional Disneyland restaurants saw alcoholic drinks added to their menus; River Belle Terrace, Carnation Cafe and Cafe Orleans.

At Disney California Adventure, you never had to look too hard to find alcohol, as just about every restaurant, both sit-sown and quick serve, offers it in some form.

The difference between the two parks, though, is your ability to take your drink with you. You’re permitted to walk around the park with a beer in your hand at DCA but in Disneyland, you must finish your drink before leaving the restaurant.

Additionally, at Disneyland, you cannot order drinks exclusively. You MUST order a food item with it. The only exception to that rule is at Oga’s Cantina, as it’s more of a bar with only a couple food options.

3) Take advantage of the picnic area in the Esplanade

One of the main questions people have about visiting Disneyland is, are they allowed to bring food into the parks? The answer is yes, for the most part. You cannot bring glass containers or coolers in, but wrapped sandwiches and the like in your backpack is perfectly fine.

To the left of the entry gates to Disneyland Park, behind tall shrubbery, is a semi-private picnic area. It’s free to anyone to use. So if you are bringing your own food, this a great spot to take a break from the parks and enjoy your lunch.

4) Don’t forget to make reservations - 60 days out, if possible

There are many quick service restaurants in the parks where you won’t have to worry about this, but if you’re set on dining at a table service restaurant, you’ll likely need to secure a reservation or you’ll be out of luck.

Disney allows you to make advanced dining reservations up to 60-days out at their most popular restaurants. A few of these get snagged up quickly, even at the 60-day mark. So it’s important to be logged into your Disney account and be ready to go.

A few examples of the hard-to-get reservations include:

• Lamplight Lounge

• Blue Bayou

• Oga’s Cantina

• Napa Rose

• Carthay Circle

• Trader Sam’s Tiki Bar

How hard they will be to get largely depends on the time of year you’ll be visiting. If you’re visiting between January and early March, it’ll be easier. In the summer or holiday months, though, the demand is higher and much more competitive.

You could always try the easier-to-get restaurants, where last minute ADR’s are typically easy to come by. These include Wine Country Trattoria, Jazz Kitchen and River Belle Terrace, all of which are solid options.

However, if you’re dead set on a particular restaurant and you haven’t been able to snag a ADR, there is one more thing you can try, which leads me to number 5…

5) Utilize ‘Mobile Walk-Up’

Mobile Walk-Up is a feature in the Disneyland App that enables you to join a virtual wait list at select Disney restaurants that don’t have available reservations.

Virtually every Disney restaurant that accepts ADRs offers this option. Keep in mind that at Lamplight Lounge, this is only an option at the Boardwalk Dining area of the restaurant between the hours of 11:30am and 4:00pm.

What you’ll do is head to the restaurant you want to dine at. As you’re approaching it, open the Disneyland app and go to the ‘Dining Availability’ tab.

Go to the restaurant’s page on the app and select, “Join Waitlist”. If you’re not close enough to the restaurant, it won’t let you join until you are.

Once you’ve joined the list, you’ll be notified through the app when a table becomes available. Try not to the stray too far from the restaurant as you only have a short time to claim your table.

6) Don’t purchase overpriced bottles of water

Bottles of water at the parks are often priced at $5 or more for a single bottle of Dasani. That same bottle at the grocery store would cost you $1.50 or less.

It simply doesn’t make economic sense to purchase these. If you’re looking for ways to save money during your trip, definitely start here.

Bringing your own reusable water bottle, such as a Hydro Flask, will save you tons of money as there are water bottle refill stations throughout both parks.

Additionally, you can get free water at any quick service eatery by simply asking a cast member. The cups are small, but you don’t have to pay for them and you can go back as many times as you like, even if you’re not purchasing anything.

7) Don’t skip the resort hotel restaurants

With so many options at both parks and Downtown Disney, many don’t realize that the resort hotels offer their own dining options, with many of them being popular amongst locals.

Trader Sam’s Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel and Villas if one of the most popular options for drinks. Though in my humble opinion, the food isn’t worth it.

My personal favorites include the GCH Craftsman Grill and Hearthstone Lounge, both at the Grand Californian. The former is fairly easy to get an ADR but if their aren’t any available, you could always sit at the bar. The latter doesn’t offer reservations but almost always has an open table or barstool.

8) Definitely use ‘Mobile Order’ to save time

Mobile Order has been a game changer for park-goers. It enables you to order/pay for your food and select your pick up time in advance. When your time comes, simply head to the restaurant’s pick up window to retrieve your order.

Virtually every quick service restaurant in the parks offer this feature, including Cocina Cucamonga, Lucky Fortune Cookery, Tiana’s Palace, Bengal BBQ and Pym’s Test Kitchen.

Remember that you’ll need the Disneyland app, plus a Disney account and stored payment method in order to use the Mobile Order feature. You can read more details about it in my 2024 Disneyland Dining Guide.

9) Plan out what you want to eat prior to going to allow for better budgeting

The Disneyland website is a gold mine of information, especially when it comes to its dining options. You’re able to see restaurant names, precise locations, menu offerings, nutrition information, prices, and more.

After deciding where you want to eat but prior to leaving for your trip, go to the website and research the menus at the restaurant you’re wanting to dine at.

I’m not saying you need to decide exactly what you want to eat, but going through the menus will give you a general idea of what it’ll cost to dine there and allow you to budget better.

10) Purchase ‘Sip and Savor’ passes during festivals

There are three food festivals throughout the year, all of which take place at Disney California Adventure. They are Lunar New Year Celebration, the Food & Wine Festival and the Festival of Holidays.

One of the main draws of the these festivals are the dozen or so individually themed marketplaces, each offering their own food options in individual sized portions.

The Sip and Savor passes come with digital allotments of four or eight. You can use your allotments for any entree or non-alcoholic drink option at the booths and select restaurants.

Remember, the higher priced the food or drink option you want is, the greater the savings. For example, the price for the eight allotment Sip and Savor pass during the 2024 Food and Wine Festival costs $61 (or $56 for Magic Key holders). That makes each allotment $7.62 each (or $7 each for the Magic Key price).

With most food options priced between $8 and $10, the savings are obvious. Due to this, it doesn’t make sense to use an allotment for a drink, which are usually priced at or under the $7 mark. It’s cost effective to use them for the higher priced items.

10 Best Disneyland Tips: Park Tickets

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

This post began with the intent of being a list of tips and tricks for multiple aspects of a Disneyland vacation. Once I started outlining it, though, it became apparent that it would be a massively long post that absolutely nobody would want to read through.

So instead, I decided to break up the would-be gigantic post into a series, giving each topic its own space and making it easier for you, the reader, to get the information you’re after.

This particular post will focus on tickets (and their accompanying add-ons). I will offer ten of the best tips and tricks that I feel would benefit you. Some will help you save money, others may help you avoid losing money, but all will prove to be valuable.

So if you haven’t purchased your park tickets yet, read on to discover my top ten tips and tricks for purchasing Disneyland tickets.

*Quick Note: If you’re looking to book a vacation to the Disneyland Resort (or Disney World, Disney Cruise, Universal and more) consider tapping/clicking the above image to visit our partners at Get Away Today. Going through them is the same as going directly through Disney only through them, you’ll receive personalized service by Disney experts and receive the absolute best price and any accompanying discounts. By going through Get Away Today, you’ll be getting the best price on your vacation and support our website at the same time.

To see their amazing deals on Disneyland tickets, go here.

1) If you have a Target RedCard, use it to save 5%

For those of you who possess a Target RedCard, you’re able to purchase Disney gift cards at a savings of 5% (when paying with said card). You can then, in turn, use those gift cards to purchase your park tickets.

Reportedly, the largest amount on a Disney gift card Target sells is $50. So you would have to purchase them en masse in order to have enough to buy multiple tickets. This is where you’ll need to do some legwork.

Disney won’t let you use multiple gift cards to purchase tickets online. So in order to use them, you’ll need to consolidate them on the Disney Gift Card website. There, after submitting all of your gift cards, you’ll be issued the combined total on ONE card.

From there, you can take that card and use it to purchase your tickets. Conversely, you can keep it stored on the Disneyland app and use it to pay for mobile orders at quick service restaurants, pay for merchandise or nearly anything else at the resort.

It may be a bit of a pain, but that 5% will add up to some decent savings. Especially if you’re purchasing tickets for multiple family members or friends. Remember, every dollar counts at Disneyland.

2) Take advantage of military discounts

Disney offers significantly discounted tickets to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. If you’re active duty, a reservist, retired or dependent, and have access to a base that sells them, you’re good to go.

My Grandpa was retired Air Force and growing up, he would often purchase these tickets for us as birthday and/or Christmas. Of course, back then, they were far more affordable than they are now, but you’ll save a lot of money regardless.

In 2024, the Disneyland ticket military prices are:

• 3-Day Park Hopper: $269 (a savings of $191 when compared to an adult, three day ticket)

• 3-Day Park Hopper w/ Genie+: $359

• 4-Day Park Hopper: $315 (a savings of $200 when compared to an adult, four day ticket)

• 4-Day Park Hopper w/ Genie+: $435

These prices are the same whether you’re purchasing an adult or child ticket. While the larger savings comes from the example of an adult ticket, your savings are still significant when purchasing for a child as their three day park hopper normally costs $435 (a $166 savings).

Of course, if you’re visiting before March 10th, 2024, you can save even more on a child’s ticket by taking advantage of Disney’s $50 a day kids ticket promotional offer. You can read more about that promotion here.

Otherwise, if you’re eligible, definitely visit the military base closest to you and see about purchasing these tickets. If that particular base doesn’t sell them, they should be able to point you in the direction of one that can.

3) Purchase Genie+ ahead of time

If you’re not familiar with Genie+, it’s a service guests can utilize to virtually hold their place in line and bypass the stand-by queue when their time is called, allowing them quick access to some of the most popular attractions.

While it isn’t perfect, Genie+ has proven to save park-goers a significant amount of time by helping them avoid standing in queues for long periods of time. You’re able to enjoy other aspects of the park while waiting your turn.

This service comes at a cost, though. In order to use it, you’ll need to pay a minimum of $30 per person, per day on your ticket. So if you’re a group of two adults and one child, each with three day tickets, you’ll pay a total of $270.

The reason I recommend purchasing it with your tickets is because when doing so, you’ll pay the flat $30 price. If you don’t, but change your mind later, you’ll have to purchase it each day. After you’ve purchased your tickets, there’s no other way to add Genie+ to them.

The downfall to that is unless it’s purchased in advance, Genie+ is subject to dynamic pricing (much in the way single day tickets are). Meaning, based on demand for that particular day, you could end up paying upwards of $40 per person, per day.

If you’re someone who hasn’t been to the resort in a while or it’s your first time, I highly recommend purchasing Genie+ and doing so at the time you buy your tickets. You’ll likely increase the amount of attractions you’ll get done in a day and save yourself from needlessly paying more for the same service.

4) Take advantage of Disney’s ticket promotions

For the last couple of years, Disney has been offering special ticket promotions, mostly during their “slow” season, but also one or two that have ran through June. Depending on your eligibility, the savings can be great.

In 2024, there are two official ticket promotions offered by Disney. They are:

1. The $50 per day kids ticket

2. The SoCal Resident 3-day ticket offer

If you’re visiting between January 8 - March 10 and you have a kid (or several), the $50 per day kids offer is a no brainer. You’re able to purchase up to three days on this ticket, but you’ll need to use ALL of the days on said ticket by March 10. Otherwise, you’ll lose them.

The SoCal resident offer is only available to Southern Californian residents and offers a three day ticket that breaks down to just $75 or $92 per day, depending upon the variant you choose. One is good for weekdays only while the other is good for any day of the week.

Normally, you have thirteen days from first use to use all days on your ticket or they’ll expire. With this ticket, you can use it any time between January 8 and June 2. It’s a great option for locals who aren’t Magic Key holders.

I’ve written an extensive post about these ticket deals (and more) in this post here.

5) Screenshot your tickets

Unless you’ve purchased your tickets at the ticket booth, over the phone or requested one at checkout online, chances are, your ticket is in digital format on your phone. Unlike days past, you’ll never(ish) have to worry about losing your ticket.

As great and convenient as technology can be, it does fail from time to time. Imagine this - you arrive to the Disneyland gate in the morning and pull out your phone to get your tickets ready, all to realize your phone carrier is experiencing a data outage.

Now, Disney does have customary WIFI for guests to use, but if the outage is effecting a large enough carrier, such as Verizon, all of those customers are going to connect to it all at once, clogging it up. Even under the best of circumstances, Disney’s WIFI is notoriously slow and buggy.

To avoid these issues all together, simply take a screenshot of the barcode side of your tickets. It doesn’t take WIFI or data to access your pictures, so you’ll be able to access them no matter what. There’s no guarantee Disney will be able to scan them, but at least you’ll have proof and can possibly get printed tickets at the booth (more on that below).

6) If purchasing single day tickets, check the calendar for the lowest price

Many people, either by choice or scheduling conflicts, choose to visit the resort for just one day. If that’s you, be aware that single day tickets are priced according to demand. Meaning, if the particular day you want to visit on is historically slow, you’ll pay a lower price.

Conversely, if Disney feels that day is going to be busy, that same ticket will cost you more. If budgeting is important to you, it’s imperative that you check the park calendar on the Disneyland website to check ticket prices for your day.

Weekdays are almost always priced lower than weekends. One exception to that is when a holiday, such as Independence Day and Christmas, falls on a weekday. Another example - Thanksgiving - is always on a Thursday. So expect these dates to be priced at the high end.

In general, though, you’ll want to stick to weekdays, whether you’re visiting for one day or a few. Even with covid seemingly changing guests trends forever, they seem to still be less crowded (and priced accordingly) than weekend dates.

7) Request a paper ticket

Above, I discussed screenshotting your tickets in case you’re unable to access them in the app, but what happens if your phone suddenly dies? Whether it’s battery or hardware related, that’s a real issue. So what do you do?

It’s simple, really. Ask for a paper copy of your ticket. You can request one when purchasing online or by asking a cast member at the ticket booths or gate. Do this right away and not after your phone dies. You’ll need to be able to prove the existence of your tickets to get a paper one.

Having a physical back-up of your ticket is never a bad idea. You can simply keep them in your wallet or purse. Better yet, you can keep them in a sealable, waterproof sleeve like this one.

8) DO NOT purchase your tickets on Ebay or Craigslist

The stories are all the same; an unsuspecting ticket buyer starts scouring the internet looking for deals on Disneyland tickets. Eventually, they come across an Ebay or Craigslist listing, claiming to be selling unused, legitimate tickets at an unbelievable price.

I’ll save you time and a lot of money - they’re likely scams. They’ll either offer tickets at a huge discount compared to Disney’s price or they claim to be selling their unused days. An example of this is someone who’s claiming to have a five day ticket, but only used two of those days. So they’re selling you the remaining three.

The reason why it’s a bad idea to purchase these is because there is no way to know for sure if those three days they’re claiming to be unused, are actually unused. You won’t find out for sure until you’re at the gate and trust me, Disney won’t have any sympathy for you if that ticket turns out to be no good.

I’m not saying every one of those people are scam artists, but it’s not worth the risk. Play it safe and only purchase tickets directly through Disney or through an official Disney travel planner, such as Get Away Today.

9) Really consider if park hopping is worth it to you

Sure, being able to bounce back and forth between parks has its benefits, but those benefits come at a cost. Depending on how many days are on your ticket, you’ll pay anywhere between $60 to $75 MORE for the privilege.

For many, that money could make or break a Disney trip as depending on how many tickets you’ll be buying, it can really add up. At minimum, it could mean sacrificing another aspect of the trip. If you’re looking to save money, start here.

Park hopping isn’t a requirement to enjoy your time at Disneyland. You’re not going to lose out and if anything, it’ll enable you to focus solely on the park you’re in that day and get more done.

10) Take advantage of Get Away Today’s ‘Extra Day Free’ promotion

Get Away Today is a fantastic company with a solid reputation thanks to their knowledge of all things Disney. They offer all-in-one vacation packages and, because they’re authorized by Disney, they also sell Disneyland tickets, often with deals attached.

One such deal I always recommend to my readers, specifically those looking to spend four or five days at the resort, is their ‘Extra Day Free’ promotion. Under this promotion, when your purchase a five day ticket, you’ll get it for the price of a four day.

The only catch is, this deal is only available through Get Away Today. Disney is not currently offering this deal but remember, purchasing through Get Away Today is no different than purchasing through Disney as they’re an authorized seller.

The savings aren’t the only benefits of this deal. I discuss this promotion in greater detail in a separate post that you can read here. If you’d like to visit Get Away Today and see what they’re all about, you can do so at the link below.

CLICK/TAP THIS LINK TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GET AWAY TODAY’S OFFER