At Disneyland Resort, you can indulge your Disney needs for free.
Of course, nothing beats a visit to the original Disney theme park and its sister park, Disney California Adventure, where standard one-day admission for guests ages 9 and up starts at $104.
But the magic isn’t limited to park gates. It permeates the entire Anaheim resort, which includes three resort hotels and the evolving Downtown Disney shopping, dining and entertainment district.
From spotting characters to watching fireworks, here are some ways fans can enjoy Disneyland without park tickets, at a variety of price points.
Do I have to pay to meet Disney characters?
Yes and no. You can meet Bing Bong from “Inside Out” for free at Disneyland’s Pixar Place Hotel. You can also see Joe Gardner from “Soul” tickle the ivories there, also for free. And while it’s not Disney, guests can meet Santa Claus at all three Disneyland hotels during the holidays.
Paid character dining is also available. Goofy and his friends make an appearance for breakfast and dinner at Goofy’s Kitchen at Disneyland Hotel. Mickey and his friends mingle with guests for breakfast and brunch at Storytellers Cafe at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Both locations offer buffet meals starting at $55 for guests 9 and older.
It costs a lot more to dine with Disney princesses at the posh Napa Rose. Three-course Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures start at $142 for guests over age 2.
What kind of food do they have at Disneyland?
Guests can find a variety of popular Disneyland snacks at Marceline’s Confectionary in Downtown Disney, including Churro Toffee Squares and candy apples. Marceline’s is currently closed for renovations and will reopen this winter as Disney Wonderful World of Sweets. In the meantime, an outdoor cart will offer a variety of treats. Downtown Disney is also home to a wide variety of off-site dining options, including Din Tai Fung, famous for its soup dumplings, and Tiendita, a walk-up location featuring handheld snacks like Carne Asada Burritos and Ice Cream Tacos.
Each Disneyland hotel also has a variety of dining options serving everything from Mickey waffles to filet mignon. For an immersive Disney experience, grab a tropical drink at the Disneyland Hotel’s Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, beloved for its Jungle Cruise-inspired theme, theatrical waitstaff, and campy vibe. Or grab a snack from the Grand Californian’s seasonal Great Hall Cart and curl up by the fire in the hotel’s beautiful, artisan-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 is free live entertainment at 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 next to Splitsville Luxury Lanes.
Free family-friendly crafts and activities are available during festivals and other times of the year in Downtown Disney. Or, for a fee, guests can participate 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 purchase them at the Pin Traders kiosk at the Monorail station and World of Disney in Downtown Disney, as well as at the hotel gift shops. There are numerous pin trading locations throughout the three hotels.
Guests staying at Disney hotels have access to additional activities, such as drawing classes and hotel tours, included in their stay.
Is there a night show at Disneyland?
Yes. You can watch the Disneyland fireworks for free from the rooftop of the Pixar Place Hotel. There are also Pixar-themed fire pits and lawn games, and a bar called Small Bytes for snacks and drinks. However, the pool is for hotel guests only.
Fantasmic! and World of Color – ONE, which are temporarily closed for renovations, are not visible from public spaces outside the parks.
Where is the best place to park to go to Disneyland?
Theme park visitors can park daily in Disneyland’s Mickey & Friends Parking Structure, the Pixar Pals Parking Structure, or the Toy Story Parking Area for $35 per day for cars and motorcycles.
Guests visiting Downtown Disney only should opt for the Simba Lot, which charges $10 for the first hour and then accepts parking passes 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 at Pixar Place will receive three hours of complimentary parking at the restaurants’ respective hotels.
The reporter for this story was given access to Disneyland from Disney. USA TODAY retains editorial control over content.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 4 Things to Do at Disneyland Without a Park Ticket
