Ask Disney Adulting: Do you have to pay for rides at Disneyland?

Great news! All Disney parks (not just Disneyland) have rides and attractions included in the price of your ticket fees. However, there are a few things to note about this ticket model before purchasing tickets to Disneyland.

Disneyland “Value Books”

Today’s Disney pricing model charges for an entry ticket fee that includes their popular attractions, but that wasn’t always the case. When Disneyland opened in 1955, admission tickets to the park were just that – admission only. Guests had to purchase separate admission tickets inside the park for each attraction. A few months past opening, Disney started selling “Value Books” that would include attraction tickets labeled “A” through “C” in an attempt to streamline the pay-per-ride pricing system. The letter system was a designation for the popularity of attractions with “A” being the smallest or less popular and “C” being the most popular or big thrill attractions. Eventually, Disney added designations “D” and “E.” This ticketing system and ride designation held for almost 20 years and was even duplicated at the Magic Kingdom when it opened in 1971. By June 1982, Disney had abandoned the “Value Book” and ticket-by-attraction pricing model and replaced it with the modern-day pricing model where main gate admission includes rides and attractions.

Magic Your Way Tickets

Disney has matured its ticketing model to allow for variable access to the multiple parks (in one day) and value pricing for multiple-day passes. Here’s what tickets for Disneyland look like today:

  1. Single Park Tickets: This ticket type includes a one-day entry (with stamped reentry) into one park of your choice. You can’t enter other parks without upgrading or purchasing an additional ticket.
  2. Multi-Day One Park Tickets: Promotions run by Disney include perks for purchasing multiple days one park tickets at a time. An example of this is when you purchase a 3-day, 4-day or 5-day ticket and enjoy one Magic Morning early admission.
  3. Park Hopper Tickets: This option allows you to visit multiple parks in one day on a single ticket. This is especially convenient if you like to visit one park in the morning and another in the evening or hop parks to avoid crowd trends from special events, magic morning or see a show.
  4. Annual Passes: Disney has annual pass options available that not only provide a better value to those who visit their parks multiple times a year, but also provide special discounts, offers, invitations, merchandise, and Passholder events.

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    What Isn’t Included with Disneyland Tickets

    While rides, attractions, and shows are included with your ticket, that doesn’t mean that you won’t need to budget for additional expenses. Disney hotels, restaurants and merchandise are not included in your ticket price. The only attraction that isn’t included in your ticket price is Frontierland Shootin’, and that’s to keep guests from monopolizing the guns for lengthy periods of time.

    Upgrade for the VIP Disneyland Experience

    If doing Disney with a standard ticket isn’t’ enough for you, there are plenty of upgraded options that allow a more VIP experience in the parks such as special event tickets, special seating for shows with dining packages, and behind-the-scenes tours. Additionally, Disneyland has launched MaxPass that can be added to your ticket and will allow you to download, save and share all your Disney PhotoPass photos and reserve digital FASTPASS selections from your mobile device through the official Disneyland App.

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