Military discount tickets for Disneyland Anaheim and DisneyWorld Orlando

Last week, a couple of days before going to Disneyland, I read an article in the Washington Post How theme parks like Disney World left the middle class behind, which opens with the number $3.50 as the ticket price in 1971 when Walt Disney World opened. After 41 price increases in the past 45 years, the ticket price today is $105 for one day admission.

I can’t tell you many ways to reduce the cost of a trip to Disney Resorts, except perhaps to stay longer and reduce the daily ticket price.

Military Discount Tickets for Disneyland Anaheim and DisneyWorld Orlando

Military members have a fantastic deal with a Military Discount 3-Day Park Hopper ticket for Disneyland Anaheim and California Adventure priced at $132. That is $44 per day and the days can be any three dates through October 3, 2015. Tickets went on sale last August 25  and are available for purchase through October 1, 2015 for park visits September 28, 2014 to October 3, 2015. There were two blackout periods Dec 25-Jan 4 and March 29 – April 9, 2015. There are no more blackout dates for this season’s military discount ticket ending October 3, 2015.

Disneyland and California Adventure Park, Anaheim, California

• Military Discount $132 for 3-Day Park Hopper ($44 per day). Last date to purchase October 1, 2015.
• Valid for three dates September 28, 2014 to October 3, 2015.
• An eligible military buyer can purchase up to six tickets per year.

Disneyland Anaheim Matterhorn Bobsleds ride

Regular Disneyland ticket rates for adults age 10 and over and child age 3 to 9 years.

Park Hopper ticket is a fixed $40 extra per ticket, regardless if you have a one day or a five day ticket ticket. The cost is $40. Park Hopper allows same day access to both Disneyland and California Adventure Park, located adjacent to each other at Disneyland Resort with entrances to each park about 200 yards apart in a central plaza inside bag check stations. California Adventure Park has many of the fastest and newest rides in the Disney resort.

• 1 Day ticket Adult: $99  Child: $93
• 2 Day ticket Adult: $185  Child: $172
• 3 Day ticket Adult: $235  Child: $224
• 4 Day ticket Adult: $260  Child: $245
• 5 Day ticket Adult: $275  Child: $259
• Add $40 for a Park Hopper ticket.

Basically the entry fee is $100 per day per person, unless you buy a three to five day pass. One day for one adult and two children is $300 after paying $17 to park in the Disney parking lot, and only if you bring your own food and drink. We consumed gallons of water on our trip with 12 to 14 hour inside the park days. The military discount at $132 is less than half the standard ticket price of $275 for a 3 Day Park Hopper at Disney Anaheim.

Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida 4 Day Park Hopper Ticket $177

• Military Discount $177 for 4 Day Park Hopper ($44 per day). Last date to purchase September 30, 2015.
• Valid for three dates September 28, 2014 to October 3, 2015.
• An eligible military buyer can purchase up to six tickets per year.

Regular Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Park Ticket Prices

DisneyWorld standard ticket prices include ParkHopper benefits when purchasing ticket for 2 days or more.

• 1 Day ticket Adult: $105  Child: $99
• 2 Day ticket Adult: $192  Child: $179
• 3 Day ticket Adult: $275  Child: $256
• 4 Day ticket Adult: $305  Child: $285
• 5 Day ticket Adult: $315  Child: $295

Obviously, a 5 day ticket offers substantial discount on daily rate. But you are also talking $1,500 for two adults and two children. And that is only to get into the parks.

Walt Disney World castle from my May 30, 2015 visit at IPW Orlando.

My deal for Disneyland was my retired military parents bought five military 3 Day Park Hopper discount tickets for $660 to visit Disney Resorts in Anaheim last week. A regular family with three adult children would pay $1,375 for the same ticket type. Disney salutes service. The working middle class is squeezed hard on this kind of theme-park vacation.

But high ticket prices and long lines did not seem to keep the crowds down. Disneyland was packed with tens of thousands of visitors last week.

Disneyland Anaheim Splash Mountain

On our trip, we estimated around 30% of the tens of thousands of park visitors were wearing Disney branded items. My wife dropped a couple hundred dollars on Disney ears and watches.

Walt Disney World fireworks show at IPW Orlando night May 30, 2015.

We were all given free mouse ear light caps at the Orlando IPW travel convention night at Walt Disney World. Last week at Disneyland, Kelley and I were one of the few people in Disneyland to wear these lighted ear caps that cost $26 after tax. They are very cool at night, since the ears light up in sync with the Disney electric parade show.

What about the cost of hotels for the Disney theme park trip?

Are you going to spend $400 per night to stay at the Disneyland Hotel?

Last week I published a piece on using Choice Privileges points for a low cost hotel stay in Anaheim when visiting Disneyland. I stayed at the Clarion Orlando International Drive last month for 12,000 points per night. The hotel had a free shuttle to Walt Disney World.

Loyalty Traveler – Choice Privileges competitive edge is suites on points (June 3). I stayed in a suite at Clarion International Drive Orlando for five nights for 12,000 points per night.

Loyalty Traveler – Hacking Choice Privileges Reward Nights for Anaheim Disneyland (June 16) – article shows Choice Hotels around Disneyland with low reward night prices and how to buy points for reward nights at lower price than published room rates.

Last Friday, I stayed about five miles from Disneyland for 8,000 Choice Privileges points at Quality Inn Placentia-Anaheim, although it is actually across the street from the city of Fullerton. I earned those 8,000 points from my $180 spent for three nights at some perfectly suitable Choice Hotels in British Columbia with Comfort Inn Vancouver Downtown and Quality Inn Victoria Inner Harbour.

Tomorrow I plan to write an article on using Wyndham Rewards points for low cost hotel stays for Disneyland vacations in Anaheim. I’ll try and do one for Orlando too. Today, I have to work locally on a winetasting tour in Carmel, California.