Disneyland may be the world’s Happiest, but it could be even happier if it knew the sweet spots on the beautiful Californian calendar. The best times to attend are when the crowds are reasonable, the weather cooperates and the hotel has even more beautiful products. Related: All you need to know about visiting Disneyland As someone who visits Disneyland in Anaheim with my family frequently throughout the year, I’ve learned the best days and times to explore the theme parks. I’ve discovered ways to manage costs and minimize tense masses while traveling. For your best moment at Disneyland, here are some suggestions to help you schedule your next trip. The best time of year to visit DisneylandLESLIE HARVEY/THE Items GUY The weather in Anaheim is not always best, despite Disneyland having several more ideal times than Walt Disney World in Orlando. Summers in Anaheim may be popular and sometimes even temperate. Unfavorably hot weather typically persists well into the first few days of the drop. In reality, August and September are the times when I’ve found myself most frequently sucked into a brutal heat wave. May, June, July and October can have some really nice time while also. Contrary to the well-known song’s songs, Southern California often experiences rain; it’s most likely to happen in January and February. However, that does n’t prevent you from coming back. Locals with annual passes ( called Magic Keys at Disneyland ) often stay away when it rains. Crowds at Disneyland can be very gentle on rainy days, and there are plenty of rides and shows to take in. When is the best time to go to Disneyland for specific events? Disneyland holds both seasonal and special events, and any other destination you, as many visitors do. Here’s what happens in every time. Summer events at Disneyland There are no recurring monthly summer events, but visitors is typically rely on a specific theme, celebration celebration, or a great opening of an attraction or land in most cases. Disneyland will host Pixar Fest in both playgrounds this summer, starting April 26 through August 4. The event is expected to offer a new festival, a returning overnight magnificent, a new food festivity and quite a few new figures from more new Pixar films. The beach will enjoy its 70th anniversary on July 17, 2025, but nothing has been specifically announced for the summer of 2025. Disneyland will undoubtedly host a number of special events in the lead up to that step, as it always does in the year of the celebration. Fall eventsRICHARD HARBAUGH/DISNEYLAND RESORTFall is all about Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort. The not so spooky decorations and fall offerings at Walt Disney World do n’t start as early as they do, but they will make their debut as early as they can in 2024 with a launch date in late August. It’s no wonder that Disneyland supporters are a fan of this time of year because Disney cast members totally change both parks in the fall period. Customers may experience drive overlays like Haunted Mansion Holiday and Guardians of the Galaxy — Monsters After Dark, meet costumed characters and Disney criminals, or practice Dia de los Muertos. Oogie Boogie Bash, a special hard-ticketed Halloween party event that takes place in the Disney California Adventure area on some nights in September and October, is also held at Disneyland. The event is extremely popular, and tickets usually go on sale almost immediately. Winter eventsDISNEYLAND RESORTThe holidays at the Disneyland Resort are another popular time to visit. A giant tree is planted on Main Street in the United States, and Sleeping Beauty Castle has lights and towers that are snowcapped. The decorations start to appear the day after Halloween as soon as the pumpkins are removed. Disneyland does n’t unveil the full portfolio of holiday decor until around Veterans Day, and the holiday season extends through early January. Disneyland holds a Lunar New Year’s Eve celebration after the new year ( mostly in late January and early February ). The event has grown significantly over the past few years, but it is n’t yet on many people’s radar. Disney California Adventure is home to the celebrations, which feature festive food marketplaces with dishes from all over Asia, as well as parades and music. The annual Disney California Adventure Food &, Wine Festival takes place in spring at Sea of Teagarden/Distney Resort. Disneyland installs about a dozen booths that serve California-inspired cuisine that is only available during the summer. The dates fluctuate, but the event usually starts in early March and runs through late April, covering most school spring break dates. The best credit cards for a Disney vacationBest time to visit Disneyland for low crowdsIf the last few years have taught us anything about Disneyland crowds, it is that they are rarely low anymore. Disneyland is incredibly well-liked both by locals and tourists, and it’s becoming increasingly uncommon to find instances when other guests avoid. That said, looking at a crowd calendar ( like the ones offered by Touring Plans ) can help. Take a look at the Magic Key blockout calendars at Disneyland. The majority of the crowds at Disneyland are made up of locals. The dates when many of the cheaper annual passes are blocked out can often offer much more room for out- of- town vacationers to play. Leslie Davidson/The Points GuyTwo months in the year are typically less crowds: January and February: Crowds are lowest this time of year ( except on the three-day holiday weekends ). You might miss some of your favorite rides because Disneyland typically shuts down several of its rides for refurbishment during this time. Park hours are also shorter. Spring Break: The crowds at Disneyland in March and April are spread out over several weeks, but if you can arrive about a week before the critical mass begins, the payoff is typically good. Late April and early May: This time of year between spring break and summer vacation is typically slower but can occasionally be skewed by local spring ticket deals. This year’s spring ticket deal does n’t expire until June 2 ( later in the season than usual ), so that may help keep late April and early May quieter again. Mid-August: Many California and West Coast schools resume classes in the middle of August, which causes the parks to temporarily fill up. Although Halloween Time starts earlier than usual on August 23, expect this low-visibility period to be constrained this year because the last two weeks of August have historically had low crowds. Early and mid- September: After Labor Day weekend, there can be a lull in attendance before the Halloween parties have traditionally started. However, the dates for Oogie Boogie Bash in 2024 have not been made public. This low-crowd period may disappear if the parties begin earlier than in previous years. Mid- November: After Veterans Day but before Thanksgiving week is another sweet spot in the crowd calendar most years. Early December: After Thanksgiving, there is a lull in the crowds, but before schools start letting kids travel for the winter holidays. When choosing a date, guests can make their best effort to avoid crowds, but it’s also necessary to have a solid touring plan in case of an increase in crowd size. See TPG’s guide to skipping lines at Disneyland for suggestions. Summer HULL/THE POINTS GUY: The best time to visit Disneyland for less moneyAs a result, many visitors prefer to travel when they can get the best deals, despite the crowds and the weather. Affordable travel There are year-round deals for flights to Disneyland. According to historical data from Skyscanner, the best months to book cheap flights to Los Angeles include January, February and September. The best airports for DisneylandThere are a dozen airports in greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles International Airport ( LAX ), the largest of which is Los Angeles International Airport ( LAX ). The best and simplest airports to use are Orange County’s John Wayne Airport ( SNA ) and Long Beach Airport ( LGB ) if you have nonstop service from your home airport to airports other than LAX. Both airports have a major Southwest Airlines presence, so sometimes finding a deal to these airports is as easy as watching for Southwest fare sales. Travelers from many western states who fly or drive in for quick weekend visits to Disney are drawn to affordable hotelsSUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUYDisneyland For this reason, hotels in the Disneyland Park are typically more expensive on Friday, Saturday, and even Sunday nights. If you can visit midweek, you’ll usually find cheaper hotel prices. Take a look at the schedule of major conferences taking place at the nearby Anaheim Convention Center if you are looking for less expensive hotel rates. When a sizable conference is held in town, rates soar. According to travel agency Get Away Today, an agency specializing in Disneyland and Southern California travel, the cheapest months for Anaheim hotel prices include the following: January ( excluding the dates of the National Association of Music Merchants trade show ) FebruaryMay ( excluding Memorial Day weekend ) AugustNovember ( excluding the week of Thanksgiving ) December ( first half ) Unsurprisingly, these cheaper times roughly track with many of the time periods when Disneyland historically has lower crowds. Worst times to visit DisneylandIf you’re not trying to over-optimize your Disneyland experience, how can you at least stay away from the worst times to visit? I’d argue that Disneyland can be enjoyed for 365 days a year, but there are some rules for avoiding the priciest or most stressful times. Unless you have no other choice, I highly recommend avoiding the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day at all costs. The parks can often fill up quickly on several days during this time due to the crowd’s ability to be truly epic. Line-cuttering supplies like Disney Genie+ passes frequently sell out and run out of return times very early in the day. Prices for everything from hotels to tickets are at their absolute maximum. This time of year, early winter rainstorms can also cause vacationers to miss. The few days prior to Thanksgiving as well as the first day or two of any brand-new park attraction, especially a new ride or land debut, are other expensive and crowded dates to watch out for. Bottom lineThere’s no bad time to visit Disneyland, but there are certainly times when travelers can minimize the inconveniences and maximize their time and money. Dates that are in accordance with the weather, crowds, and special events may be some of the best options. Early December and early March are two of my favorite times to visit because of how little people are traveling, how hot the weather is, and how Disney creates its seasonal magic. Related reading:
