Is the Disneyland Park Hopper Ticket Worth the Cost?

Sure, Disneyland Resort is only two little parks in the center of Anaheim, California, but it’s still big enough that you may find yourself needing more days than you thought. As a result if you’re considering heading to Walt Disney’s original park on the West Coast, there are a few things to know before you go. And figuring out a budget is one of those things. Its no secret that a Disneyland trip can be pricey, but there are definitely ways to stretch your vacation dollar a little further. One of those ways can be to nix ticket add-ons like the Disneyland Park Hopper. But is it the best idea? Here are all the things to know about the Disneyland Park Hopper Ticket and if you should get it for your trip.

What is the Disneyland Park Hopper Ticket?

The Park Hopper Ticket at Disneyland Resort allows you to go to both Disneyland Park and California Adventure Park in the same day. As these two parks are right across from each other and offer completely different Disney park experiences, this could be handy, when you’re trying to shove a Disneyland Trip into One Day. It can also be a hindrance, by trying to fit too many things into a single day. 

Are Disneyland and California Adventure Connected?

There are only two Parks at Disneyland, California Adventure and well, Disneyland, but they are not connected. They are however just behind the security gates. As a result you only have to go through security once. So once you’ve gone through security, as long as you don’t leave altogether, you won’t have to worry about security lines again, which is kind of awesome. The beauty of the Park Hopper is that, since the Parks are so close to each other, you can easily hop over to Disneyland for a parade, ride your Lightning Lane at California Adventure, and then head back over to Disneyland for dinner and not lose much time. It actually makes it pretty seamless and convenient.

How Much Does the Disneyland Park Hopper Ticket Cost?

The cost of the Disneyland Park Hopper varies depending on how many days you visit. Remember this cost is above and beyond your day ticket prices, but it’s only added once. So you’re not paying an additional $90 per day, you’re just paying an additional $90 on a 3-day ticket. You can add tickets to your cart on the Disneyland Tickets Website to get a clear view of your total ticket costs. 

• 1- day: $65- $75 
• 2- day: $85 
• 3- day: $90
• 4-day: $95
• 5-day: $105

Why You May Need a Disneyland Park Hopper Ticket

We had done a poll on Instagram and it was an overwhelming 75% of votes said to get the Disneyland Park Hopper Ticket and now that we’ve had a Disneyland Visit of our own, it is easy to see why.

You’re Visiting Disneyland for a Limited Number of Days

If you’re traveling to Disneyland for 3 days or less you may want to consider getting a Disneyland Park Hopper Ticket. Mainly because just like WDW, with two parks you may not get everything in with just a 2-day ticket. Assuming you’d go to one park each day, you can plan for a packed day of rides, and restaurants and shows and character meet and greets. Check out the Ultimate Disneyland Challenge List to see all the things you can do at these parks that may take more than 3 days. 

You Want the Flexibility

Say you’re visiting Disney World during the holidays, and planning to visit the Oogie Boogie Bash at California Adventure, but have plans at Disneyland Park during the day. Or perhaps you’re visiting the Disneyland Festival of Holidays at one park and want to see the Small World lit up with Christmas Lights at night at the other. This flexibility is convenient, but we usually rely on good planning with one park per day to make the most if it. 

You’re Traveling with a Group that has Different Interests

We know how exciting and chaotic it is traveling with a larger group. We also know how important it is to not be dragging people into Galaxy’s Edge when they would rather be on the Incredicoaster. That said, you may find that your group wants to split up and do different things in each park. In cases like these a Park Hopper Ticket would be beneficial. 

Why You Don’t Need a Disneyland Park Hopper Ticket

Of course as Disney Girls on a Budget, we’re always looking for ways to save money on a Disney trip. And Disneyland is no exception. So, if we’re able to save $85 per person on our trip, we’ll take that deal. Here are some reasons why you may want to skip the Disneyland Park Hopper Ticket.

You’re on a Tight Budget

At between $65- $105 per Park Hopper Ticket, if you’re a budget, then you should consider skipping the park hopper ticket option and just go with one ticket per day. With the right planning you can still make the most of your vacation, even without the extra flexibility. 

You’re Good at Planning

Let’s just say, this is our same rule for Walt Disney World trips as well. If you’re good at planning and can get your ducks in a row, you’ll be fine  without a park hopper ticket. This means, planning for one park per day. So for your Disneyland Park Day Plan you would make sure to book any in park restaurants, check showtimes for parades and fireworks, and plan to fit rides in between. You can get a handle on all of this by checking out our Disneyland section here on the blog. Same goes for California Adventure. While this becomes a little tougher during the holiday season, or if you’re adding special events at Disneyland, you can do this! 

You Want to Make the Most of Each Park Visit

Let’s face it, both parks at Disneyland Resort have so many things to do, that you may need more than one day in each park to tackle them all. That said, making sure you have Lightning Lane attached to your tickets will help you get on the most rides. ( Lightning Lane of course also costs money). But if you’re not trying to fit in all the rides, keep in mind that there are shows, parades, meet and greets, restaurants, photo ops, and plenty of things around the park to fill your day with magic. By not having the park hopper ticket, you can take time in each park to discover all the extra fun, since you won’t be fitting a second park into the day.  

You’re Staying Longer than 3 Days

Another reason you may not need the Disneyland Park Hopper Ticket is if you’re staying for more than 3 days. For instance, a 4-Day Disneyland Trip can include 2 days at Disneyland, 1 day at California Adventure, and another day at Downtown Disney and the Resorts. With four days, you will have plenty of time to explore both parks, and won’t need to the flexibility of a park hopper ticket. 

You Plan to Visit Downtown Disney and the Disney Resorts

Another reason to skip the Park Hopper Ticket at Disneyland is because you’re adding more than just the parks. By not having the Park Hopper, you won’t be rushed to fit two parks into one day and if you have free time can explore the Free Things to Do at Disneyland too. You can grab dinner over Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, or head to Downtown Disney for special events, shopping and live music. 

Should you get the Disneyland Park Hopper Ticket?

There you have it! All the things to know about the Park Hopper Ticket Pros and Cons at Disneyland Resort. Overall, if you’re taking a short trip to Disneyland, we do recommend getting the Disneyland Park Hopper Ticket. But as you can see from this post, there are also some good reasons to save your Disney dollars instead. Hopefully this post has been helpful in your vacation planning. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.