You can satisfy your Disney cravings for free at Disneyland Resort.
Of course, there’s nothing like experiencing the original Disney theme park and its sister park, Disney California Adventure, where standard one-day, one-park admission starts at $104 for guests over age 9.
But the magic isn’t bound by park gates. It permeates the entire Anaheim resort, which includes three resort hotels and the evolving Downtown Disney shopping, dining and entertainment district.
From character sightings to fireworks viewing, here are some of the ways fans can enjoy Disneyland without park tickets, at a range of prices.
Does it cost money to meet Disney characters?
Yes and no. You can meet Bing Bong from “Inside Out” for free at Disneyland’s Pixar Place Hotel. That’s also where you can watch Joe Gardner from “Soul” tickle the ivories, also for free. And while not Disney, guests can meet Santa at all three Disneyland hotels over the holidays.
Paid character dining is also available. Goofy and his friends appear at breakfast and dinner at Goofy’s Kitchen at Disneyland Hotel. Mickey and his pals mingle with guests during breakfast and brunch at Storytellers Cafe at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Both venues offer buffet-style meals starting at $55 for guests over age 9.
It’ll cost much more for character dining with Disney princesses at fancy Napa Rose. Three-course Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures start at $142 for guests over age 2.
What type of food do they have at Disneyland?
Guests can find several popular Disneyland snacks, like Churro Toffee Squares and candy apples, at Marceline’s Confectionary in Downtown Disney. Marceline’s is currently closed for refurbishment and will reopen this winter as Disney Wonderful World of Sweets. In the meantime, a cart outside offers assorted treats. Downtown Disney is also home to a wide array of third-party eateries like Din Tai Fung, which is famous for its soup dumplings, and Tiendita, a walk-up venue with hand-held snacks like Carne Asada Burritos and Ice Cream Tacos.
Each Disneyland hotel also boasts a range of eateries serving everything from Mickey waffles to filet mignon. For an immersive Disney experience, grab a tropical drink at Disneyland Hotel’s Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, which is beloved for its Jungle Cruise-inspired theming, theatrical servers and campy vibes. Or grab a snack from Grand Californian’s seasonal Great Hall Cart and curl up by the fire in the hotel’s stunning craftsman-style lobby. Themed snacks are available during festivals, resort-wide celebrations and holidays.
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How can I enjoy Disney without rides?
On select nights throughout the year, there’s free live entertainment on the Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage. During Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month, performers include a mariachi quartet and Pacifico Dance Company. Live music is also available nightly at Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio and The Alley courtyard besides Splitsville Luxury Lanes.
Free family-friendly crafts and activities are available during festivals and other times of year in Downtown Disney. Or for a fee, guests can take part in scavenger hunts like Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, which costs $9.99 and comes with a pumpkin sipper completion prize.
Another activity that can be cheap (or expensive) is pin trading. Guests who don’t already have Disney pins to trade can buy them at the Pin Traders kiosk near the Monorail station and World of Disney in Downtown Disney, as well as hotel gift shops. There are numerous pin trading locations across the three hotels.
Guests staying at Disney hotels have access to extra activities like drawing classes and hotel tours included with their stay.
Is there a nighttime show at Disneyland?
Yes. You can watch Disneyland’s fireworks for free from the rooftop of Pixar Place Hotel. There are also Pixar-themed firepits and lawn games up there, as well a bar called Small Bytes for snacks and drinks. The pool, however, is only for guests staying at the hotel.
You can’t see Fantasmic! or World of Color – ONE, which is on temporary hiatus for refurbishment, from public spaces outside the parks.
Where is the best place to park to go to Disneyland?
Daily parking for theme park guests is available in Disneyland’s Mickey & Friends Parking Structure, Pixar Pals Parking Structure or Toy Story Parking Area for $35 a day for cars and motorcycles.
But guests who are only visiting Downtown Disney should opt for the Simba Lot, which charges $10 for the first hour, then accepts parking validation from Downtown Disney shops and restaurants for an additional three to five hours.
Guests dining at Storytellers Cafe, Napa Rose, Goofy’s Kitchen, Small Bytes or Great Maple Modern American Eatery in Pixar Place get three hours of complimentary parking at the restaurants’ respective hotels.
The reporter on this story received access to Disneyland from Disney. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 4 things to do in Disneyland without a park ticket
