It’s a dream destination for many families, but a trip to Anaheim – home of Disneyland Resort in California – doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some ways to get the most from your magical holiday.
Opening image: Knott's Berry Farm PEANUTS Celebration
If you’re looking for a great “flop and drop” destination, look no further than Anaheim! California’s theme park capital offers great value for money, so there’s no need to fork out more money to travel to other, more expensive cities. In fact, the longer you stay, the better value your holiday becomes!
It’s a dream destination for many families, but a trip to Anaheim – home of Disneyland Resort in California – doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some ways to get the most from your magical holiday.
Opening image: Knott's Berry Farm PEANUTS Celebration
If you’re looking for a great “flop and drop” destination, look no further than Anaheim! California’s theme park capital offers great value for money, so there’s no need to fork out more money to travel to other, more expensive cities. In fact, the longer you stay, the better value your holiday becomes!
Where to stay
There are literally dozens of hotels to choose from in and around Anaheim, making it more affordable than many other Southern California destinations. With so much competition, you are sure to nab a bargain if you do a bit of research.
There are loads of budget options for families who know they are going to be out and about most of the time. Alternatively, opt for a hotel with free facilities for guests to use, such as pools, water parks and games rooms, to save money on extra activities. Some popular options include the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground, Best Western Plus Stovall’s Inn, and Cambria Hotel & Suites. Or look for options that include kitchenette facilities where you can save by having some meals in the comfort of your apartment. Some options that offer these include the Clementine Hotel & Suites, Element by Westin, and Desert Palms Hotel & Suites.
Images: Waterslide fun at Cambria Hotel & Suites, Clementine Hotel & Suites, A family room at Cambria Hotel & Suites
Family-friendly restaurants
Rest assured; cheap eats abound in Anaheim. American staples such as Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., The Cheesecake Factory, Denny's Restaurant, IHOP Restaurant, In-N-Out Burger and Raising Cane’s all have outlets in the area. Anaheim Packing District, which centres around a restored 1919 fruit-packing building, has some excellent eateries and Taco Tuesday deals, while Steelcraft Garden Grove offers a fun place to dine outdoors amid repurposed shipping containers.
Mimi’s Café is a favourite for Aussies looking for American comfort food, while Little Saigon has the largest collection of Vietnamese restaurants outside of Asia. In Downtown Disney District, Earl of Sandwich serves sandwiches, salads and wraps.
There are also some enticing rooftop restaurants which offer a fantastic vantage point for the Disney fireworks. Check out The FIFTH, RISE Rooftop Lounge, and Top of the V.
Image: Anaheim Packing House Interior
How to save on theme park tickets
The trick here is to avoid weekends. If you can time your visit to be mid-week (Monday to Thursday), you can often get three-day passes at a much cheaper rate. But if you prefer the flexibility of visiting both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park in the same day, you’re going to pay more. If visiting mid-week isn’t an option, aim to buy a longer pass. For example, the five-day Park Hopper pass costs from US$96 per adult per day, compared to $104 to $194 for a single day pass, depending on the date. It also works out much cheaper to avoid US holiday periods, like Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Keep your eye out for specials at local travel agencies or websites such as Klook or Attraction Tickets as well.
California’s first theme park, Knott’s Berry Farm is another awesome day out, and offers great value for money. You can buy one-day tickets from US$59.99 if you buy online in advance, which is up to US$40 cheaper than buying at the gate. It also offers a Summer Dining Bundle ticket, which includes admission and meals, from US$77.99. LEGOLAND California Resort offers a limited number of discounted Resort Hopper tickets for kids aged two to 12 from US$39 each day, and from US$94 for adults. Again, the cheapest days to visit are Monday to Thursday.
Images: Mickey Mouse in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park © 2024 Disney-Joshua Sudock-Disneyland Resort, Ghostrider rollercoaster at Knott's Berry Farm, Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure Park © 2024 Disney-Pixar
“If you can time your visit to be mid-week (Monday to Thursday), you can get three-day passes at a much cheaper rate”
Sporting tickets
Seeing a baseball or ice hockey game is one of those quintessential American experiences that Anaheim does so well. They are also a great value family activity! You can nab tickets to cheer on the Angels at their home stadium in Anaheim from as little as US$6 each, while Anaheim Ducks ice hockey tickets cost from US$36.
Image: See the Los Angeles Angels play at Angel Stadium
Free things to do in Anaheim
There are some fabulous parks and gardens where kids can burn energy in the area. Step aboard the bright orange Great Park Balloon – a tethered helium balloon which carries up to 16 people at a time – at Orange County Great Park. Located on a former air base, it also has a vintage carousel and a rock-inspired playground. The Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Cal State Fullerton is a lovely place to wile away a few hours, learning about plants that grow in everything from desert to sub-tropical habitats and looking for colourful hummingbirds. While it’s free to visit, a donation of US$5 is requested.
Children aged 12 and under can get free admission to Bowers Museum, which celebrates art and culture from around the world, while adult tickets cost US$18. A free family festival is held in the courtyard on the first Sunday of every month. Each month has a different theme, with activities such as face painting, cultural performances and art.
If you’ve hired a car, spend a day beach hopping along Orange County's stretch of Highway 1 from Seal Beach to Dana Point for some spectacular views. And many Anaheim hotels offer discounted or free car-parking, so basing yourself in Anaheim whilst venturing further North to Los Angeles for a daytrip is incredibly convenient and more affordable than shifting hotels.
Image: Performers at the Day of the Dead family festival at Bowers Museum, The helium balloon and carousel at the Great Park in Orange County © City of Irvine, Face painting at Day of the Dead family festival
Outlet shopping
Forget Rodeo Drive – you can save 30 to 50 per cent off of the normal retail price when you shop at Anaheim’s incredible outlet shopping malls. Citadel Outlets, which is built in the style of an Assyrian castle, is home to such stores as Coach, Calvin Klein and Michael Kors, while the open-air Outlets at Orange boasts H&M, Gap and Levi’s stores. Outlets at St Clemente, meanwhile, has everything from ASICS to Vans outlet stores.
If you have a free day before your flight home, the Shop Until You Drop Off… At LAX day tour of Citadel Outlets includes complimentary luggage storage, all-day access to the centre’s VIP lounge with Wi-Fi, snacks and drinks and a US$20 gift voucher for adults and US$10 for kids aged three to nine, plus a transfer to the airport when you’re done.
Images: Citadel Outlets © Visit Anaheim
ANAHEIM TRAVEL TIPS
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