Affordable Family Fun in Disneyland

Everyone knows a Disneyland Resort vacation is a surefire hit with families, but finding an affordable way to make the dream a reality can be a challenge. Undercover Tourist, a family-focused online travel agency — and theme park expert — is debuting discounted tickets for parents and kids, along with suggestions on other ways to minimize the hit to your wallet.

A family of four can save up to $100 on tickets to the park — or about $26 per ticket — according to Ian Ford, chief executive officer, Undercover Tourist, while also taking advantage of information on family-friendly hotels and car rentals.

“Whether you are driving in from a surrounding area or traveling cross country, Undercover Tourist has plenty of tips to maximize your time in the parks, along with exclusive ticket and hotel discounts to experience all that Southern California has to offer,” said Ford.

Undercover Tourist Infographic © Undercover Tourist

To help you find some of the best deals, including one- and two-day plans for the whole family, the UT site offers a Los Angeles crowd calendar that shows when the crowds are at their lowest. In general, Ford suggests families travel off-season, noting park tickets, travel and hotels are cheaper in the spring, winter and fall, except for during holidays.

Families with a little more time who opt for a three-, four- or five-day ticket can take advantage of one Magic Morning early admission, which offers special access to select attractions an hour before the park opens to the general public on select days.

Other information includes park opening hours, special events and Magic Morning information, plus more Disneyland planning guides and “insider” park information.

Families should also consider buying Disney gift cards in specific amounts, which kids can use to buy treats and souvenirs, while teaching them how to budget.

Everyone knows family dining is by definition costly, especially at theme parks, but the good news is Disneyland Resort allows parents to bring their own food into the park. Easy options include trail mix, fruits, granola bars, cheese sticks, bags of Cheerios, water and similar, easy-to-pack items.

To minimize the amount of unhealthy food your kids eat when dining at a park restaurant, UT created an infographic full of tips on this and other topics, like what souvenirs fly off the shelves, where you can store packages while you enjoy the park and where to cool off when the temperature climbs.

Undercover Tourist, which made a name for itself selling tickets to top Orlando attractions since 2000, expanded into Southern California attractions in June 2014 and since added ski resort vacations in California, Colorado and Utah.

In addition to attraction and theme park tickets, the company offers deals on hotels and car rentals, along with planning tools, park plans, Wait Time Apps and suggestions on how to skip the lines.