When planning a trip to Disneyland, one of the first things you’ll need to do is purchase your park tickets. Disneyland offers tickets with various start dates, so you can buy them well in advance of your actual visit. But just how early can you purchase Disneyland tickets? Here’s what you need to know about how far in advance you can buy tickets for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
Up to 60 Days Out
You can purchase single and multi-day Disneyland Resort tickets up to 60 days in advance of the start date printed on the ticket. This 60 day window applies to both single and multi-day ticket purchases.
So for example, if you want to visit the Disneyland Resort starting on June 1st, the first date you could purchase those tickets would be April 2nd. Any date after April 2nd would be within the 60 day advance window for a June 1st visit.
Purchasing tickets within this 60 day window allows you to take advantage of current ticket prices and options. Disneyland does not allow you to purchase tickets more than 60 days in advance.
Why 60 Days?
Disneyland’s 60 day advance window for ticket purchases helps accomplish a couple goals:
- It allows Disney to manage ticket inventory and availability for upcoming dates.
- It prevents guests from stockpiling tickets and taking advantage of price increases.
The 60 day window gives Disneyland a chance to review upcoming demand and make sure there is enough ticket availability and options for guests planning trips in the next couple months. It also prevents guests from buying a large number of tickets far in advance to avoid price increases.
Buying Tickets Earlier Through Packages
While individual ticket purchases are limited to 60 days out, there is way one way you can buy Disneyland tickets earlier – through vacation packages.
Disneyland Resort vacation packages allow you to bundle hotel accommodations, tickets, and other extras into a single booking. These packages can be booked up to 545 days in advance.
By booking a Disneyland Resort vacation package, you can select your theme park tickets as one component of the overall package. This allows you to reserve and guarantee ticket availability for dates further out than the 60 day window for individual ticket sales.
For example, if you book a Disneyland package in January for a trip in July, your package reservation would include tickets for your July trip dates. This allows you to purchase theme park admission outside the typical 60 day advance window.
Downsides of Booking Packages Early
While vacation packages allow you to reserve Disneyland tickets earlier, there are some downsides to booking a full package 545 days in advance:
- You have to pay a deposit for the entire package upfront
- Ticket prices may change before your trip dates
- You are less flexible to change dates or cancel plans
If you know for sure you want to visit Disneyland on set dates that are over 60 days out, a vacation package can guarantee admission. But otherwise, it usually makes sense to purchase tickets within the 60 day window unless you need the security of a guaranteed reservation.
Annual Passes
In addition to single and multi-day tickets, Disneyland offers Annual Passes for frequent visitors. Annual Passes can be purchased at any time, for any future start date.
Unlike regular tickets, Disneyland Annual Passes are not date-specific. You choose a start date for the pass when you purchase it, and the pass expiration will be one year from that start date.
That means Annual Passes can be purchased more than 60 days in advance. For example, you could purchase an Annual Pass today that has a start date of December 1st. Even though December 1st is more than 60 days out from the date of purchase, you can buy an Annual Pass for a future start date any time.
Why Annual Passes Are Different
Disneyland allows Annual Passes to be purchased earlier for a couple reasons:
- They want to allow flexibility for locals who use Annual Passes.
- Passes aren’t date-specific so there’s less inventory management required.
- Passholders plan to visit frequently, so Disney benefits from early passport purchases.
Annual Passes are designed as a convenient option for locals and frequent visitors. Allowing them to be purchased any time, even beyond 60 days, gives Disneyland a source of revenue from avid fans.
Discounts on Multi-Day Tickets
In some cases, Disneyland offers discounts on multi-day tickets purchased in advance. These discounts are usually around $20-$30 off the regular price. Some common discounts include:
- Early purchase discounts when buying tickets 60-90 days in advance
- Southern California resident ticket offers
- Military discounts on park tickets
- Packages or add-ons that bundle in discount vouchers
When these types of discounts are offered, they generally apply to purchases made 60-90 days in advance. Disneyland wants to encourage guests to plan their trips ahead of time and book early. Offering small discounts is a way to incentivize early ticket purchases.
Changes and Cancellations
Disneyland tickets are non-refundable, but if your plans change you do have some options:
- Unused multi-day tickets can be partially refunded if unused days remain. You can receive a prorated refund based on the number of unused days left on the ticket.
- Tickets can be upgraded to annual passes. As long as you upgrade before visiting the parks, you can pay the difference to upgrade your ticket to an Annual Pass.
- Unused tickets can retain value towards future tickets. The original value of unused tickets can be applied to the purchase of any new tickets for a future trip.
While refunds are not offered, these options allow you some flexibility if your travel dates need to change after purchasing Disneyland tickets.
Does it Matter When I Buy?
Aside from small early purchase discounts in some cases, it generally doesn’t matter too much whether you purchase Disneyland tickets 60 days out or a week before your trip. Buying sooner helps lock in current prices, but otherwise timing has little impact.
If you’re looking to take advantage of a military or Southern California resident discount, you will need to buy tickets in advance within the specified discount windows. And for popular peak periods like Christmas, purchasing well in advance can help secure availability.
But otherwise, the easiest option is often to purchase Disneyland tickets within the standard 60 day advance window. This gives you time to plan and lock in admission, while allowing flexibility in case plans need to change.
Third Party Sellers
While Disneyland tickets can only be purchased directly from Disney up to 60 days in advance, some third party sellers like travel agents or ticket brokers offer longer booking windows. This is because they are allotted ticket inventory further in advance.
If you are looking to guarantee tickets for Disneyland more than 60 days out, going through an authorized third party seller is one option. Keep in mind that availability may be limited, and prices are not always guaranteed until booking.
Is Buying from Third Parties Risky?
Booking through third parties can allow you to reserve Disneyland tickets earlier. However, there are some risks to be aware of:
- Prices may increase after booking, requiring additional payment
- Inventory is limited and not guaranteed until booked
- Make sure seller is reputable and authorized by Disney to avoid scams
- Changes and cancellations are usually still subject to Disney’s policies
For peace of mind, buying directly from Disney is lower risk. But authorized third party sellers can be a good option for early bookings if planned properly.
Tips for Buying Early
If you want to purchase Disneyland tickets more than 60 days in advance, here are some tips:
- Book a vacation package through Disney to bundle tickets with hotel, up to 545 days out
- Consider an Annual Pass if you plan on multiple visits over the next year
- Check for advance purchase discounts within 60-90 day window
- Use an authorized third party ticket broker to book more than 60 days out
- Aim to purchase at least 60 days out for best prices and availability
While early ticket purchases have some benefits, for most travelers, buying Disneyland tickets within the standard 60 day advance booking window is the easiest option.
Conclusion
To summarize the key points:
- Disneyland single and multi-day tickets can be purchased up to 60 days in advance of the start date.
- Vacation packages allow you to book tickets earlier by bundling with hotel and other components.
- Annual Passes can be purchased any time for any future start date.
- Third party authorized sellers may have earlier inventory than Disney’s 60 day window.
- Aside from small discounts, there is little financial incentive to buy tickets too far in advance.
While getting tickets early can provide peace of mind, 60 days is generally the ideal booking window for most Disneyland visitors to balance convenience and price. With smart planning, you can make sure you have locked in your place at the Happiest Place on Earth!