Annual Passport in Park food discounts...

When you travel to Disneyland, the acutal park admission fees only make up a small portion of your total costs. Hotel costs (which I will write about in the near future) are another big expence. Today I am going to write about saving money on food at the Disneyland Resort.

A family of four can easily spend $40 - $60 per meal eating in the parks. That could add up to $100 - $150 per day. Disney offers discounts at many of the park resturants which can save you 10%-15% (depending on your type of annual pass). The only thing you have to do is present your annual pass each time you order food.

Disneyland

	Passport Discount	Premium Passport Discount
Bengal BBQ	10%	15%
Blue Bayou	10%	15%
Blue Ribbon Bakery	10%	15%
Cafe Orleans	10%	15%
Carnation Cafe	10%	15%
Clarabelle's Frozen Yogurt	10%	15%
Daisy's Diner	10%	15%
Enchanted Cottage	10%	15%
French Market	10%	15%
Golden Horseshoe	10%	15%
Hungry Bear Restaurant	10%	15%
Little Red Wagon	10%	15%
Plaza Inn	10%	15%
Pluto's Dog House	10%	15%
Rancho del Zocalo	10%	15%
Redd Rockett's Pizza Port	10%	15%
Refreshment Corner	10%	15%
River Belle Terrace	10%	15%
Stage Door Cafe	10%	15%
Tomorrowland Terrace	10%	15%
Village Haus	10%	15%

Disney's California Adventure

	Passport Discount	Premium Passport Discount
Ariel's Grotto	10%	15%
Award Wieners	10%	15%
Baker's Field Bakery	10%	15%
Bountiful Valley Farmers Market	10%	15%
Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill	10%	15%
The Lucky Fortune Cookery	10%	15%
Pacific Wharf Cafe	10%	15%
Pizza Oom Mow Mow	10%	15%
Studio Catering Truck	10%	15%
Taste Pilots' Grill	10%	15%
Wine Country Trattoria	10%	15%

The Premium Annual Passport offers the higher discounts. All other Passports offer the lower discounts.

Using Blockout days to upgrade your Annual Passport

All Disneyland Annual Passports (with the exception of the top level Premium Passport) include a number of blockout days. In order to enter the parks on "blockout days" you need to purchase a blockout day pass at the main ticket booth.

Blockout Day tickets
These tickets are currently priced at $45.00. This is much cheaper than the 1-Day Park Hopper ticket ($87.00) or even the 1-Day single park ticket ($72.00) the you would otherwise have to purchase to get into the park.

Using Blockout Day tickets to upgrade your Annual Passport
One of the things many people don't realize is that the cost of the Blockout day ticket can be applied to an upgrade of your annual pass (only on the day you purchase the Blockout day ticket).

The difference in number of days which are not blocked out between the Southern California Annual Passport and the Southern California Select Annual Passport is 45 days (175 days vs 220 days) The difference in price between the Southern California Annual Passport and the Southern California Select Annual Passport is $50.00 ($194 vs $144). So if you are going to buy a blockout day ticket for $45, it often makes sense to apply the cost toward an upgrade from the Select to the non-Select Annual Passport. For only an additional $5.00 you are able to access the parks on 45 additional days per year.

Moving from the Sourhter California Annual Passport to the Deluxe Annual Passport is $96.00 for 95 additional days. After using the $45 credit from the Blockout day ticket that leaves $51 to upgrade. This is not as much of a no brainer, but could still be a good deal if you can use the additional days.

Moving from the Deluxe Annual Passport to the Premium Annual Passport is $140.00 for 50 additional days. That leaves $95 after the cost of the blockout day ticket. If you are planning to use the park in the summer this could be the way to go.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments

Annual Passport Monthly Payments option for Southern California residents

Disneyland started a new program this year allowing Southern California residents to spread out the cost of their annual passports over 12 months - at no additional cost.

This option is available at the Main Entrance ticket booths.

	Regular Price	One-Time Payment	Monthly Payment
Premium	$429.00	$72.00	$29.75
Deluxe	$289.00	$72.00	$18.09
Southern California	$194.00	$72.00	$10.17
Southern California Select	$144.00	$72.00	$6.00

This is option is available to Southern California Residents in zip codes 90000-93599.

This is a great way to keep some cash in your wallet.

Note that blockout dates do not apply for first day you enter the park to get your Annual Passport photos taken.

Southern California Annual Passes

One of the best deals around for "Southern California" residents who enjoy visiting Disneyland are the Southern California Select Annual Passport and the Southern Californa Annual Passport. These passports are available only to Southern California residents.

Disney uses a very broad definition of "Southern California" allowing residents of zip codes 90000-93599 to take advantage of this discount. This covers an area from the border with Mexico all the way north to southern portions of Monterey County and the Kern County/Bakersfield area.

The Southern California Select Annual Passport is available for $144 (adult or child) allow entry into Disneyland and Disney's Califronia Adventure (DCA) on 175 days per year. Weekends, school vacation weeks, most of June, all of July and most of August are blocked out.
Blockout Dates for Southern California Select Annual Passport

The cost is less than the $151 normally paid for an adult 2 day Park Hopper pass. For kids, the 2 day Park Hopper is normally $133, so for an additional $13 you can upgrade to the annual pass.

The less restrictive Southern California Annual Passport is $194 (adult or child). It allows entry in to both parks on 220 days a year. Saturdays, Holiday weeks and most of July and August are blocked out.
Blockout Dates for Southern California Annual Passport

The next step up is the Deluxe Annual Passport which is $289 (adult or child). This is the least expensive Annual Passport available to non-SoCal residents. It allows entry into the parks on 315 days per year. Saturdays (March-August) and holidays (July 4th, labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Week) are blocked out.
Blockout Dates for Deluxe Annual Passport

The ultimate Annual Passport is the Premium Annual Passport which is available for $429 (adult or child). This Passport allows entry into the parks every day of the year. It also includes parking at the Mickey & Friends parking structure (available for and additional fee with other Passports).

The next time you are heading to Disneyland be sure to check out the Annual Pass options.