Exactly How Much We Spent on a 2-Day Disneyland Trip as a Family of 5
If you’ve ever searched “how much does Disneyland cost for a family?”, you’re not alone. Before our recent trip, I went down a deep rabbit hole trying to budget for Disneyland with kids, and the numbers online were all over the place.
So today, I’m sharing a realistic breakdown of exactly how much we spent on a 2-day Disneyland trip as a family of five, including park tickets, food, lodging, transportation, and all the little extras that add up.
This post is meant to give you a realistic idea, and show you that there are ways to keep costs down and make Disney more affordable, especially if you’re not a hardcore theme park family like us.
Note: We visited during early January of 2026. We also used credit card points & miles for the cost of our hotel & flights, however I converted the price we paid in points to the equivalent cash price to give you a more clear idea of the total cost. Read more about how we use credit card points to lower our out of pocket travel costs here.
Our Disneyland Trip at a Glance
- Family size: 2 adults + 3 kids
- Length of trip: 2 park days (Disneyland Park + Disney California Adventure)
- Time of year: Peak season / holiday timeframe
- Park strategy: Lightening Lanes, no Park Hopper
- Style: Comfortable but still budget friendly
Disneyland Park Tickets (2 Days, no Park Hoppers)
Park tickets are by far the largest expense for most families visiting Disneyland. They literally cost more than our flights! We did one day at each park, which felt like the perfect amount of time. Park Hoppers are definitely a good option here, but be aware that they will basically double the cost of your park tickets. For us, we choose to skip park hoppers and add Lightening Lanes instead.
Our cost:
- 2-Day, 1-Park-Per-Day tickets for 5 people (2 adults, 3 children)
- Lightening Lane passes for both days
Our total: $1,955
Cost-saving tip: Prices fluctuate based on dates. Visiting mid-week or during off-peak seasons can save hundreds. Also, kids under 3 do not need a park ticket, which is a huge savings as well.
You can find more about how we used our Lightening Lane passes and why I recommend them in my Disneyland Tips & Tricks post.
Hotel Costs Near Disneyland
We stayed off-property but within walking distance, which saved money while still being incredibly convenient for our family. We stayed 3 nights at the Hyatt Place Anaheim, and it was the perfect location, plus offered free breakfast and rooms that sleep 6.
Our cost:
- 3 nights at Hyatt Place Anaheim near Disneyland
- Average nightly rate: ~$180 plus parking ($40/night)
Our total: $750
Pro tip: One huge way to cut costs for this trip is to not rent a car! Read more about why you don’t need one below.
Transportation Costs
We flew into LAX, and out of John Wayne Airport on Southwest. Even though we flew during the holiday season, I was flexible on our dates, and scored roundtrip airfare for our family during a summer sale for less than $1,500. My best tips for finding cheap airfare: Look at budget airlines, always keep your eyes open for sales, and be flexible on which airports you fly into and out of. It’s worth driving 2 hours to a nearby airport to save a thousand dollars (or more!) on flights for our family.
Our cost:
- Flights for 5 people (roundtrip): $1,500
- Rental car for 4 days: $375
Our total: $1,875
Pro tip: If you are just doing Disneyland, there really is no need to rent a car, especially if you fly in and out of John Wayne Airport. It’s 15 minutes from the park, and you can Uber or taxi there for much cheaper than the price of a rental car + parking. We spent our first day and a half exploring Los Angeles and Channel Islands National Park, so that’s why we chose to rent a car.
Food & Drinks at Disneyland
This category can be as high or low as you want it to be. We packed lots of snacks and our own water bottles, but did eat basically every meal in the park, and said yes to most of the Mickey shaped treats. We chose not to do any sit down or character dining, as that would have greatly increased our food cost.
Our total in-park food cost: $240
Miscellaneous Expenses
This category covers all the little things you don’t think about until you’re there.
Our cost:
- Stroller rental: $36/day for a double
- Individual Lighting Lane for the Cars ride on California Adventure: $120
- Ponchos/umbrellas: $35 (bought beforehand)
Our total: $227
Total Estimated Cost for Our 2-Day Disneyland Trip (Family of 5)
Here’s the full breakdown:
- Park tickets: $1,955
- Hotel: $750
- Transportation: $1,875
- Food: $240
- Miscellaneous: $227
Our Grand Total:
$5,047
So, is the price of Disneyland worth it for families?
That’s totally dependent on each individual family.
We’re definitely not a “theme park every year” family, but Disneyland felt special and magical in a way that worked well for our kids’ current ages. Knowing the costs upfront made the experience more enjoyable, and planning intentionally helped us avoid unnecessary spending. I hope this breakdown helped you better determine how much Disneyland will cost for your family to visit!
If you’re planning your own trip, be sure to read my companion post:
