Summer & Fall 2021 Disneyland Ticket Deal for Californians

Disneyland is offering a new multi-day ticket deal for California residents. In this post, we’ll share info & details about the limited-time offer for the remainder of summer and early fall, plus commentary about the intersection of this promo and Halloween Time, and historical comparisons.

Let’s start with the details on the Golden State ticket deal. This is allows Californians the chance to visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure for $83 per day with the purchase of a three-day, one-park per day ticket between now and September 30, 2021.

Californians may purchase a 3-day base ticket for $249 or a 3-day Park Hopper ticket for $304. These tickets have no blockout dates, but like every other ticket, do require theme park reservations. The Golden State resident ticket deal can be purchased directly from Disneyland, or via Get Away Today for even greater savings. (Also, if you previously purchased tickets from Get Away Today, you can contact them for upgrade to the resident rates. Those who bought directly from Disneyland cannot do this.)

The Golden State ticket offer is valid only for California residents within ZIP codes 90000-96199 and Northern Baja California residents within ZIP codes 21000-22999. Proof of eligible residency, including valid government-issued photo ID, is required for purchase and admission.

Eligible residents may purchase up to 5 tickets per day with valid ID. Tickets are nonrefundable, may not be sold or transferred for commercial use and exclude activities/events separately priced. Offer may not be combined with other ticket discounts or promotions. Tickets may not be upgraded to longer durations. This promotion is subject to restrictions, change and cancellation without notice.

By historical standards, these discounts are not particularly hot. Here are Southern California resident ticket prices from the last 5 years…

2020 SoCal Resident Disneyland Ticket Deal Prices:

• 3-day, 1-park per day ticket for $201
• 3-day Park Hopper ticket for $254

2019 SoCal Resident Disneyland Ticket Deal Prices:

• 3-day, 1-park per day ticket for $179
• 3-day Park Hopper ticket for $234

2018 SoCal Resident Disneyland Ticket Deal Prices:

• 2-day ticket with choice of one park per day for $159
• 2-day Park Hopper ticket for $204
• 3-day ticket with choice of one park per day for $199
• 3-day Park Hopper ticket for $244

2017 SoCal Resident Disneyland Ticket Deal Prices:

• 3-day ticket with choice of one park per day for $149
• 3-day Park Hopper ticket for $189

(These prices are accurate–that year was bonkers due to the bonus day plus the return of Main Street Electrical Parade.)

2016 SoCal Resident Disneyland Ticket Deal Prices:

• 2-day ticket with choice of one park per day for $149
• 2-day Park Hopper ticket for $189
• 3-day ticket with choice of one park per day for $179
• 3-day Park Hopper ticket for $219.

Note that Southern California Resident tickets from previous years also included one Magic Morning early entry to Disneyland, which provided an extra hour on select days before the park opens to the general public. Obviously, that’s not the case with this deal as Magic Mornings are temporarily suspended.

Next, a couple of quirks to this promotion. First, this is valid for all California zip codes, from San Diego to Mount Shasta. Normally, these ticket discounts are for Southern California residents only, and encompass zip codes ranges of 90000-93599.

Second, the Southern California ticket deals are usually offered from January until May each year during a time when attendance is historically light and attraction closures are common for refurbishments. There are often blockouts for spring break, and the deals end before the summer tourist season starts. Previously, that was also around the time when blockouts would start limiting locals who had the lower tier APs.

Obviously, the difference this year is that there are no Annual Passholders at all. This has meant that Disneyland is now entirely dependent upon pent-up demand from Disney fans and ex-APs seeking their fix after a year-hiatus and tourists.

We’ve been wondering when pent-up demand would fizzle out and travel would start to subside, and it would seem that the answer is right now.

After being fully booked for most dates last month through Independence Day weekend (or only having availability starting in DCA), the calendar is now wide open. Starting July 7, both parks have reservations available for base or Park Hopper tickets every single day through November 3, 2021 (as far out as the reservation calendar goes).

It’s likely that Disneyland continuing to increase park capacity is another explanation as to why reservations are filling slower. Demand starting to exhaust itself plus attendance caps being raised is a recipe for exactly that.

While most former Disneyland Annual Passholders lived in Los Angeles or Orange County, there were APs throughout the state, including high numbers in the Bay Area. This ticket deal may be what’s needed to give a boost to numbers now that demand is starting to subside and the parks are increasing capacity.

It’s a good quick fix, but it’s also one that can only do so much. Most former Annual Passholders who already bought tickets once probably won’t jump at this, but it could convince casual locals and those from Northern California wanting to do a long summer weekend in Anaheim to visit. If that’s your plan, be sure to also check out our post: Save Up to 25% Off Disneyland Hotels in Summer & Fall 2021!

I’ve been adamant in my belief it was wise for Disneyland to cancel (or at least restrict) Annual Passes in the short-term due to capacity limitations, but that they’re absolutely necessary in the long-term and will likely be back sooner rather than later.

In normal times, Disneyland is dependent upon locals during the off-season—the SoCal resident ticket deal is insufficient on its own. Although Disney has tried to make Disneyland Resort a standalone vacation destination (and moved it in that direction since the debut of Cars Land), it is still reliant upon Californians and not tourists for most of the year.

While those same locals have caused congestion and crowd woes, Disneyland cannot subsist on travelers like Walt Disney World for the entire year. Spring break and summer are one thing, but winter and the fall off-season are another story entirely.

With the fall off-season and one of the slowest stretches of the year starting in mid-August after Los Angeles and Orange County school districts go back into session, it’ll be interesting to see what Disneyland does next.

Our expectations include the return of Fantasmic and one or more parades (Disneyland has an embarrassment of parade riches, with several great daytime and nighttime options scattered in Southern California warehouses), plus an announcement about Halloween Time at Disneyland–and potentially Oogie Boogie Bash.

With regard to the last point, see our Guide to Halloween Time at Disneyland. While nothing is official yet, our guess based upon past precedent is the seasonal event will begin on September 10, 2021—perhaps one week before that. Either way, this ticket deal will overlap with Disneyland’s Halloween season, which will occur this year.

Ticket deals, special events, and entertainment will help, but all of that will only move the needle so much. When all of that fails to result in Disneyland hitting attendance targets, they’ll unveil the membership program, effectively bringing back Annual Passes. The program will look different–much more like the Disney Flex Pass–and will be “healthier” for the parks, but that’s what will eventually be necessary.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Disneyland tries to hold off on announcing that program in order to sell these Californian tickets and maybe even a hard ticket event for Halloween before then. However, I would be downright shocked if some form of passes aren’t unveiled by January 2022. It wouldn’t be even remotely surprising if passes/memberships are announced before the end of this deal, possibly by mid-September 2021. So if you want to purchase a pass/membership and don’t mind waiting until the Halloween season, you might consider holding out just a little longer rather than jumping at this California resident deal right away.

Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney. For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides beyond Disney, check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and tons of other places!

Your Thoughts

Will you be taking advantage of Disneyland’s California Resident Ticket Offer for Summer & Fall 2021? Waiting for Annual Passes to return or memberships to debut instead? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!