Can You Buy Disneyland Tickets at the Gate?

With the COVID-19 pandemic changing so many of the things we’ve been used to, you may be wondering if you can still purchase Disneyland tickets at the gate. 

I’m glad to say you can still buy Disneyland tickets at the gate. However, if you plan to purchase your tickets at Disneyland, you need to pay attention to the Theme Park Reservation Availability Calendar. You should check this calendar before you go to ensure there are open spaces in the park. 

Should I Buy Disneyland Tickets at the Gate?

Although you can purchase Disneyland tickets at the gate, there is still the question of whether buying them there is a good idea. 

So, let’s go through the pros and cons of acquiring your tickets at the gate. 

Pros of Buying Disneyland Tickets at the Gate

One of the biggest pros of buying your tickets at the gate is that you can pay for them with cash. 

In fact, getting your tickets at the Disneyland Resort is the only way to buy your tickets with cash since you can not use paper money when you purchase online. 

Another upside of buying Disneyland tickets at the gate is that it is easier for some people since they don’t have to navigate Disney’s online payment system. 

Cons of Buying Disneyland Tickets at the Gate 

Unfortunately, it seems that the cons of buying tickets at the gate outweigh the pros. 

For one, there is no guarantee you will be able to enter the park on the same day you buy your tickets if you get them at the gate. 

Disneyland is currently making those who buy their tickets in advance book a park reservation before they arrive. 

Thus, those who have made a reservation, which will be most people, will have priority over those who purchase at the gate. 

And since many people make their reservations weeks or even months ahead of time, it can be difficult to just show up at Disneyland and get into the park. 

Furthermore, if you buy your tickets at the gate, you may end up standing in line for a while. 

Depending on the time of year, the Disneyland ticket booths can get quite crowded between people buying tickets and those trying to resolve issues with their tickets and passes. 

So, you might lose some time you could have spent in the park if you have to wait in line at the gate. 

Where Can I Buy Disneyland Tickets at the Resort?

You can find the ticket booths on the esplanade between the gates to Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure Park. 

What Payment Methods Can I Use at Disneyland’s Ticket Booths?

Disneyland’s ticket booths accept the same payment methods as the other establishments in the park. 

Thus, you can buy Disneyland tickets at the gate using: 

• Mastercard 
• Visa 
• Discover 
• American Express 
• JCB (Japan Credit Bureau)
• Disney Gift Cards 
• Disney Rewards Dollars 
• Cash (US currency only)

Do Disneyland Tickets Cost the Same at the Gate?

Yes, whether you buy your tickets online or at the gate, you will pay the same price. 

And the 2022 prices for Disneyland’s most popular tickets are: 

• 2-day one-park per-day ticket: $255 for an adult and $240 for a child 
• 2-day Park Hopper ticket: $315 for an adult and $300 for a child 
• 3-day one-park per-day ticket: $330 for an adult and $310 for a child 
• 3-day Park Hopper ticket: $390 for an adult and $370 for a child 
• 4-day one-park per-day ticket: $360 for an adult and $340 for a child 
• 4-day Park Hopper ticket: $420 for an adult and $400 for a child 
• 5-day one-park per-day ticket: $380 for an adult and $360 for a child 
• 5-day Park Hopper ticket: $440 for an adult and $420 for a child 

You should also be aware that children’s tickets are for kids three to nine years old, while anyone ten years old or older must have an adult ticket. 

Meanwhile, children under three years old get into the park for free, meaning they don’t require a ticket. 

Do I Need to Make a Reservation Before I Buy Tickets at the Gate?

You may have heard that everyone needs to make a reservation before they can enter Disneyland’s parks. 

However, this rule doesn’t actually apply to those who buy their tickets at the gate and enter the park the same day. 

In this case, you can’t make a reservation to the park beforehand because you need a ticket to make a reservation. 

Yet, not being able to make a reservation does cause a problem since you don’t have a guaranteed spot in the park. 

Thus, Disneyland may turn you away from the gate if the park is already full for the day. 

How Can I Make a Reservation for a Later Date?

If you bought your tickets at the park but couldn’t enter on that day, you will need to make a park reservation for a later date. 

But before you make your reservation, you first need to check Disneyland’s Theme Park Reservation Availability Calendar to ensure there is a space open on the day you want to visit. 

Then, once you have chosen a date, you must add your Disneyland tickets to your Disneyland account on the app. 

To link your tickets to the app, you need to:

• Open the Disneyland app 
• Sign in to your account 
• Click on the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner of the home screen 
• Choose “Tickets and Passes”
• Select the “+” symbol in the upper right corner of the screen 
• Tap “Link Tickets and Passes”
• Scan your ticket’s barcode or enter the ticket’s ID number 

Now, you will be able to access your tickets in the app so that you can add a reservation date to them. 

And when making reservations, you should keep in mind that you have to book a reservation date for each day you want to visit the park. 

So, if you have a multiday ticket, you will need to make a reservation for each date that you want to use that ticket, not just the first day. 

Is There Any Way to Get in the Park if Tickets Are Sold Out?

If you show up at the gate to buy your ticket and then find out that the parks are full, you could be pretty disappointed. 

Yet, I’m sorry to say there really isn’t anything you can do if the park is sold out. 

But, you don’t necessarily need to pack up and drive home right away. 

Instead, you can spend some time in the Downtown Disney District. 

Downtown Disney is outside the park gates on the west side of the esplanade, and there are plenty of restaurants, shops, and some live entertainment options there. 

And the best part is you don’t need a ticket to enter Downtown Disney. 

However, unfortunately, the Downtown Disney District does not have any rides. 

So, you’ll probably still want to come back to the resort another day so that you can experience all that Disneyland has to offer. 

Conclusion 

So, in conclusion, you can totally buy Disneyland tickets at the gate. 

Yet, if you do, you should make sure the park has openings before you drive all the way to Disneyland.