Visiting the Happiest Place on Earth is getting more expensive.
Disneyland recently increased menu prices across the Southern California resort. Popcorn, for instance, now costs $7.
Of course, you don’t have to purchase food or drinks when you visit. Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World welcome guests to bring their own into the parks. However, for many guests, dining is a cherished part of their Disney vacation.
USA TODAY has reached out to Disneyland about the changes. Keeping those in mind, here’s how you can still snack and save as much as possible.
How Much Does It Cost to Eat at Disneyland?
Prices vary by item and eatery, but on average, MickeyVisit.com found that menu prices increased by 8% across the resort, with some items like the Wedge Salad jumping more than 20%.
Disney Tourist Blog shared the following examples and referred travelers to ThemeParkIQ for a searchable index of other items:
- Popcorn – now $7, previously $6.50
- Mickey Beignets – $7.49, previously $6.49
- Dole Whip – now $7.49, previously $7.29
- Bengal Barbecue Beef Skewer – $7.99, previously $7.49
- Pepperoni Pizza Slice – $9.99, previously $8.99
The latest prices can be found on Disneyland’s website and app.
Why Is Disneyland Increasing Prices?
Unlike Costco, which has kept its hot dog combo price the same for 40 years, theme parks regularly increase menu prices each year.
“In Disney World it happens about twice a year and in Disneyland we see it once or twice a year as well,” AJ Wolfe, owner of the fan sites Disney Food Blog and AllEars.net and author of the best-selling book “Disney Adults: Exploring (And Falling In Love With) A Magical Subculture,” told USA TODAY. “Usually everything goes up a few cents or a few dollars depending on the original price of the item. This often reflects ingredient and purchasing price increases that Disney is passing on to the end user, but could also reflect shipping and delivery price increases anywhere in the vertical.”
How to Save Money at Disneyland
The easiest way to avoid paying more for food or drinks is not buying any at all. Many travelers purchase groceries off property and pack their own lunch or snacks for the parks. Water is always free at water fountains and anywhere fountain beverages are sold.
If your heart is set on Disneyland’s iconic treats, you can split them with friends or family to cut costs. Dishes like Plaza Inn’s famous fried chicken and the Monte Cristo at Cafe Orleans are big enough to share, as are the oversized Choco Smash Bar from Pym’s Test Kitchen and the rich Garlic Cheesy Pretzel Bread from Maurice’s Treats or Edelweiss Snacks.
Another way to save money is to purchase Disney gift cards at a slight discount from warehouse retailers like Sam’s Club or BJ’s Wholesale Club, then use those to buy food and drinks in the parks and resort hotels.
You can also save on your overall trip by being strategic about when you visit. Through Sept. 7, kids ages 3 to 9 can get a Park Hopper ticket for $50 a day — nearly half off the starting price of a standard one-day, one-park child ticket.
Adult one-day, one-park tickets typically start at $104, but reach up to $224 on the most popular dates this year. Disneyland recently offered a special $59 evening ticket for select nights into August, but those appear to have sold out. Checking the resort’s pricing calendar and Offers and Discounts page can help you time your trip around the cheapest dates and save far more money than you would by skipping snacks.
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
