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Visiting the Happiest Place on Earth is getting more expensive.Disneyland recently increased menu prices across the Southern California resort. Popcorn, for instance, now costs $7.Of course, you don’t have to purchase food or drinks when you visit. Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World welcome guests to bring their own into the parks. However for many guests, dining is a cherished part of their Disney vacation. Disneyland tells USA TODAY they continually evaluate their offerings and prices and make adjustments. They note their updated prices are aligned with the industry, with many items priced lower than competitors.But as costs increase, here’s how you can still snack and save as much as possible. How much does it cost to eat at Disneyland?Prices vary by item and eatery, but on average, MickeyVisit.com found that menu prices increased by 8% across the resort with some items like Wedge Salad jumping more than 20%. Disney Tourist Blog shared the following examples and referred travelers to ThemeParkIQ for a searchable index of other items: Popcorn – now $7, previously $6.50 Mickey Beignets – $7.49, previously $6.49 Dole Whip – now $7.49, previously $7.29 Bengal Barbecue Beef Skewer - $7.99 from $7.49 Pepperoni Pizza Slice - $9.99, previously $8.99 For perspective, popcorn costs $7.59 and a personal size pepperoni pizza costs $10.99 at Universal Studios Hollywood.Disneyland's latest prices can be found on the resorts’s website and app. Why is Disneyland increasing prices? Unlike Costco, which has kept its hot dog combo price the same for 40 years, theme parks regularly increase menu prices each year. “In Disney World it happens about twice a year and in Disneyland we see it once or twice a year as well,” AJ Wolfe, owner of the fan sites Disney Food Blog and AllEars.net and author of the best-selling book “Disney Adults: Exploring (And Falling In Love With) A Magical Subculture” told USA TODAY. “Usually everything goes up a few cents or a few dollars depending on the original price of the item. This often reflects ingredient and purchasing price increases that Disney is passing on to the end user, but could also reflect shipping and delivery price increases anywhere in the vertical.” How to save money at Disneyland The easiest way to avoid paying more for food or drinks is not buying any at all. I’ve taken many Disney trips, where I’ve purchased groceries off property and packed my own lunch or snacks for the parks. And water is always free at water fountains and anywhere fountain beverages are sold. If your heart is set on Disneyland’s iconic treats, you can split them with friends or family to cut costs. Dishes like Plaza Inn's famous fried chicken and the Monte Cristo at Cafe Orleans are big enough to share. I’ve also shared the oversized Choco Smash Bar from Pym’s test Kitchen and rich Garlic Cheesy Pretzel Bread from Maurice's Treats or Edelweiss Snacks. Another way to save money is to purchase Disney gift cards at a slight discount from warehouse retailers like Sam’s Club or BJ’s Wholesale Club and then use those to buy food and drinks in the parks and resort hotels. You can also save on your overall trip by being strategic about when you visit. Through Sept. 7, kids ages 3 to 9 can get a Park Hopper ticket for $50 a day. That's nearly half off the starting price of a standard one-day, one-park child ticket. Adult one-day, one-parks tickets typically start at $104, but reach up to $224 on the most popular dates this year. Disneyland recently offered a special $59 evening ticket for select nights into August, but those appear to have sold out. If you check the resort’s pricing calendar and Offers and Discounts page, you can time your trip around the cheapest dates and save much more money than you would by skipping snacks. This story was updated with new information.
