Can I Buy Disneyland Tickets At The Gate? 2024 Updated Info

Whether you have engaged in a spontaneous trip to Disneyland or are hesitant to engage with Disney's online payment system, a question for many visitors is “Can I buy Disneyland tickets at the gate?”

While you certainly are able to buy Disneyland tickets at the gate, there are some factors to consider when deciding whether or not you should do this.

We will break down everything you need to consider when buying Disneyland tickets at the gate in order to make the most of your time, including park reservations, payment forms accepted at the ticket booth, and our recommended alternatives to buying tickets at the gate.

Park Reservations and Buying Disneyland Tickets At The Gate

Disneyland's Park Pass Reservation System was introduced during the COVID era, and it requires guests to have both tickets and a valid park reservation for their visit. This encourages guests to make plans ahead of time (up to 180 days in advance), as those who buy a ticket and secure a reservation ahead of time have the assurance that there is space for them and they won't be turned away at the gate if the parks have reached its maximum capacity. However, the Reservation System is the biggest drawback of buying tickets at the gate, especially during the busiest seasons at the parks. You can read about what to do if you find yourself in a situation where Disneyland reservations are sold out on the date you are planning on visiting.

Because you need tickets in order to make a park reservation, buying tickets at the gate is risky because you might not be able to get into the parks if there isn't space. The majority of guests who have booked their tickets in advance will already have park reservations, so they will have priority over those purchasing tickets at the gate when it comes to being let into the parks.

This is the most significant disadvantage of buying tickets at the gate, as it would be extremely disappointing to go all the way to Disneyland and then be told the parks are at maximum capacity for that day. Make sure to check the Theme Park Reservation Availability Calendar before you head to Disneyland, as there is no guarantee you will be able to enter the parks if you show up at the gate. If there is no space for you, there unfortunately isn't anything you can do to get into the parks, and you will need to return another day.

Should You Buy Disneyland Tickets at the Gate?

While you do have the potential to buy Disneyland tickets at the gate, we do not recommend it, largely due to the risk that you can be turned away if there is no space at the parks along with the hassle of waiting in potentially long lines that will eat into your park time. Especially if you are traveling quite a ways to visit the parks or are visiting during peak crowd seasons, this is not a risk that is worth it to take. It can understandably be a bit intimidating for those who are wary of navigating tickets and reservations online to get them ahead of time, but the process is quite straightforward and much more convenient and reliable.

Additionally, if you are planning on buying Multi-Day tickets at the gate, you will be missing out on discount prices that you could have accessed if you purchased tickets beforehand. Get Away Today offers unbeatable prices on 2-Day, 3-Day, 4-Day, and 5-Day Disneyland tickets. When you purchase through Get Away Today, you'll receive your tickets via email, and you can conveniently scan them on your phone to access the park without needing to print them. You will not be able to access this option if you wait to buy tickets at the gate. You'll also miss out on other discount Disneyland ticket options you could have looked into.

Another reason to avoid buying tickets at the gate for a spontaneous trip is that we recommend researching ahead of time so that you are aware of the parks' current offerings. Be sure to check out seasonal offerings, ride refurbishments and closures, ticket pricing, and crowd levels so that you aren't caught off guard if you decide to plan an impromptu trip to Disneyland.

How To Buy Disneyland Tickets At The Gate

If you do decide to buy Disneyland tickets at the gate, you can purchase them at the ticket booth in the Main Entrance Esplanade between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, less than a minute's walk away from each of the park's main gates. The ticket booth opens about one hour before the theme parks open.

Keep in mind that you may be subject to a long wait in line if you decide to buy Disneyland tickets at the gate, as others might be waiting to buy tickets or sort out issues with their tickets. If you are planning on making the most of the short wait times with the Disneyland morning strategy, which we would strongly recommend, long wait times at the ticket booth might eat into this valuable morning park time. Read more on if Disneyland tickets are refundable.

Forms of Payment For Buying Disneyland Tickets At The Gate

The biggest advantage of buying Disneyland tickets at the gate is that you can pay for them with cash. The ticket booth accepts the same form of payment that all other areas of the park do, including cash, most major credit cards (including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, etc.) major debit cards, Disney Gift Cards, and Disney Rewards Redemption Cards.

Do Disneyland Tickets Cost The Same At The Gate?

A common question is “Are Disneyland tickets more expensive at the gate?” Tickets purchased directly from Disneyland will cost the same whether you buy them online or at the gate. At the gate, you can buy the same types of tickets you can get online:

• 1-Day 1 Park Tickets
• 1-Day Park Hopper Tickets
• Multi-Day 1 Park Tickets
• Multi-Day Park Hopper Tickets

However, as mentioned before, if you are planning on purchasing Multi-Day tickets, you'll be missing out on the savings offered by our exclusive Mickey Visit pricing through Get Away Today if you decide to buy tickets at the gate.

Buying Disneyland Tickets On the Disneyland App

To avoid the long wait in line at the ticket booth, you also have the option of purchasing tickets on the Disneyland app. If you engage in a spontaneous trip to Disneyland, you could do this on the way to the park or when you arrive. This could save you substantial time waiting in the ticket booth line that you could be enjoying in the parks!

To buy Disneyland tickets on the app, first download the app if you don't already have it and sign into your account, then:

1. Tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right hand corner of the screen
2. Tap “Tickets and Passes”
3. Tap the + button, which will lead you to the option “Buy Tickets”
4. From here, you'll have the option to select the age and number of guests, how many days you'd like to book, and the option to add on Park Hopper.

If there is no park space on the day you go but you still decide to buy tickets at the gate, you can link your tickets through the Disneyland app and then make a park reservation for another time. To do this:

1. Tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right hand corner of the screen
2. Tap “Tickets and Passes”
3. Tap the + button, which will lead you to the option “Buy Tickets”
4. Tap “Link Tickets and Passes”
5. You can either use your camera to scan your ticket's barcode or type in the ID number

After you add the tickets to your app, you'll be able to add a reservation for your visit. You need to make a park reservation for each day you enter the parks, so if you have a Multi-Day ticket, you will be required to make a park reservation for each date of your visit.

Buying Disneyland Tickets Ahead of Time Online

Even if it's the difference between buying tickets the day before or hours before you go, we still recommend getting them ahead of time for less of a hassle instead of buying Disneyland tickets at the gate. To do this online:

1. Start at the Disneyland Reservation website and click “Select Ticket.”
2.  Choose the number of days for your visit, number of tickets and guest ages, and ticket type (1 Park Per Day or Park-Hopper)
3. Select a date and park (Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure) for your reservation
4. Choose whether to add on Genie+ or parking vouchers in advance with your ticket purchase
5. Complete payment

You can then make a Disneyland Park reservation for each date of your visit.

You are also able to buy Disneyland tickets ahead of time at your local Disney store. These tickets are sold at the same gate pricing, and you can purchase them with valid ID and payment in the form of cash, card, or Disney Gift Card. You will receive physical tickets when you buy them at a Disney store.

Planning ahead is the best way to dodge the risk of being turned away at the gates, so we recommend getting your tickets ahead of time so that you don't have to worry about this. If you do decide to engage in a spur-of-the-moment trip the day of, be sure to check the Theme Park Reservation Availability Calendar before starting your journey.

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