Disneyland: Best Time to Go
Best times to visit Disneyland - factors crowds, weather and special events.
Are you wondering when it is the best time to go to the Disneyland Resort in California? Here is information about crowds, weather, and seasonal events to help you decide the best time to visit Disneyland. Both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have so many rides and attractions that we recommend that you allow a minimum of three days to really experience the parks if you do not live in the area or visit frequently. We specialize in Disney destinations and can help you have a wonderful and memorable vacation whenever you visit Disneyland and there is no extra charge for our help when you book your trip through us.
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Disneyland Crowd Information
The two Disneyland theme parks and hotels will typically be more crowded when the American kids are not in school and less crowded when the kids are in school. Visiting Disneyland when crowds are lower makes it easier to avoid lines and experience more attractions but, you have to balance that with the fact that that Disneyland significantly reduces park hours and may not offer fireworks or parades when crowds are at their lowest. Another consideration is that Disneyland typically schedules attraction refurbishments during low times. For this reason, I feel that moderate expected crowds give you the best balance of longer park hours and open attractions to relative crowd levels. We give Disneyland theme park touring plans that keep you ahead of the crowds and out of the long lines to all of our clients so you can have a great time whenever you go.
Low to Moderate crowds:
The second week of January through the beginning of March has low to moderate crowd levels, with the exceptions of Martin Luther King Jr., Super Bowl Weekend, Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day Weekends.
The week after Easter through mid-May
Late August – September, except Labor Day Weekend, will have some of the lowest crowds of the year.
Mid-October and early November typically have moderate crowd levels
Monday after Thanksgiving – mid-December
Weekends: During low season, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure often decrease hours and may only offer World of Color, Fantasmic!, and Fireworks on select nights – typically weekend nights. This means that weekends are often more crowded than weekdays during the low season. Your travel agent will help you plan the best itinerary for your specific travel dates.
Higher crowd times:
First week of January - it is still Christmas break.
Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend
Super Bowl Weekend
Valentines Day through Presidents Day Weekend
Spring Break: Second Week of March through Easter Week
Summer Break: Memorial Day through mid-August
Highest Summer Crowds: July 1 through mid-August
Fall Break – first 3 weeks of October
Thanksgiving Week
Christmas crowds start building December 15 – Friday before Christmas
Highest Christmas Crowds: Saturday before Christmas through the Sunday after New Years Day.
Manage Crowds and Lines with a good theme park touring plan (itinerary): You can have a great time at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks no matter what the crowd level but you’ll definitely benefit from having a good theme park touring plan that keeps you ahead of the crowds and out of the long lines if you’re going during higher crowd times. When you book your trip through us, you will receive your choice of either an online subscription to TouringPlans.com Disneyland or The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland (printed guidebook). These well-researched and highly informative resources include theme park touring plans (itineraries) that will provide the wonderful help you need to get the most out of your trip, manage crowds and minimize lines.
Best Weather for Disneyland
Some people enjoy the parks when the temperatures are cooler while others combine Disneyland with time at some of California’s beautiful beaches and want warmer temperatures.
Coolest Temperatures: December, January and February. Average high: 70-degrees / average lows 47 to 49 degrees. Definitely bring a jacket for the evenings.
Most rain: December, January and February – averaging 4 to 5 rainy days per month.
Moderate temperatures: March, April May and November – Average high: 73 to 77 degrees / Average lows: 51 to 58 degrees. October is practically perfect in every way as far as weather and crowds are concerned, though weekends will be more crowded than weekdays.
June and October: Average high: 81 to 82 degrees / Average lows; 58 to 61 degrees
Hottest Months: July, August, September: Average highs: 86 to 87 degrees / Average lows: 63 to 65-degrees
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Disneyland Holidays, Festivals & Special Events
For some people, “the best time to visit Disneyland” is during the magic and delight of the Disneyland special events. Disney California is the festival park but Disneyland park gets special treatment at Halloween and Christmas.
Lunar New Year – Special water show at Disney California Adventure, Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession, Unique holiday entertainment, special appearances by popular Disney characters dressed in colorful event costumes, delicious Asian food, special crafts and activities for the kids, and more.
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival – typically presented in March through mid-April with Festival Marketplace kiosks selling a delectable selection of small bites of unique foods, wines, and beers; Family-friendly seminars, Junior Chef activities, and live musical performances. There are also special meals, culinary demonstrations, wine and beer tastings, and Celebrity Chef events that require advance reservations.
Mardi Gras and Easter – Special character appearances, fun activities and specialty food items.
Halloween and Dia de los Muertos: Special Halloween overlays on select rides like Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Week, and Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree, Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark, Haunted Mansion Holiday, and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. Enjoy Halloween decorations at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Mickey’s Halloween Party is a separately ticketed, kid-friendly event that occurs on select nights in September and October. The parks also incorporate aspects of the Mexican celebration of Dia de lost Muertos.
Christmas and Three Kings’ Day: Special holiday overlays on some of the rides like Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl, Haunted Mansion Holiday, “it’s a small world” Holiday, A Christmas Fantasy Parade, “Believe…In Holiday Magic” Fireworks, Christmas Lights,
Don't Miss Out On Great Experiences At Disneyland!
You are probably beginning to see how helpful and valuable it would be to have someone who really knows and loves Disneyland help with your trip. Did you know that our travel agents that specialize in Disneyland add a lot of value to your experience without costing you any extra? When you book through us, you receive advice and information to help make your trip a wonderful and memorable time. We book both Disney and non-Disney hotels and we love helping our clients have a great trip.
Contact us today with your questions or to get a free, no-obligation quote.