When is the best time of year to visit the resort? Kayla and I get asked this question frequently, so we thought we would share our knowledge on the manner.
There are lots of factors to consider while deciding when to visit the resort and you’ll need to decide your priorities because there are pro’s and con’s to each “Disneyland season.” Some priorities to consider: are you trying to avoid crowds? are you trying to avoid ride closures? Want to see the holiday decorations? Are longer park hours a necessity? Do you want to see the nighttime entertainment? What kind of weather do you want to see (yes, there are variations in CA weather)?
Let’s go through the pro's and con's of each "Disneyland season" throughout the year:
Winter: January-February
The Winter season typically has less crowds (especially on weekdays), but that can mean that the parks are open shorter hours on weekdays with a limited entertainment schedule. So, if longer hours and entertainment (i.e. fireworks, World of Color, Fantasmic) are a priority, plan for a weekend day as well. Federal/School holidays (i.e. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day) are an exception and come with longer hours and bigger crowds. This is refurbishment season and lots of rides will be closed as they do routine maintenance. Be sure to check the Disneyland website or app for closures when you arrive.
There is a chance of iffy weather- believe it or not, it DOES rain and get cold in Southern California! You probably won't want to ride Splash Mountain or Grizzly River Rapids or swim in your hotel's pool on these days, but rainy days are some of the best days at Disneyland! It means that the majority of crowds (aka the locals) will stay away from the parks and lines will be short! Just remember to pack an umbrella or poncho in case it does rain.
During this time, the resort celebrates Lunar New Year (January-early February), Valentine's Day, and the tail end of this season in 2020 will be the premiere of the new parade (Magic Happens) and the Food and Wine Festival, all opening on February 28, 2020. Be sure to check them out!
Spring Break season: March-April
Oh Spring! The flowers are blossoming and ducklings are being escorted by a cast member around the park (seriously the cutest thing EVER). Spring Break season at the Disneyland Resort is the heaviest from mid March- mid April, but you notice a difference all of March and April. It can get crowded as lots of families flock to Southern California for Spring Break. I don't blame them- this time of the year the weather is typically getting a bit warmer, there are longer park hours and generally fewer rides down for maintenance.
In 2020, the new parade (Magic Happens) will be up and running- we are quite excited to see this new parade! The Food and Wine Festival will be happening in California Adventure (February 28-April 21, 2020), it's a foodies heaven! Note that a lot of locals do come to parks in the evening for the festival. Soarin' over California will be back for the festival as well, so if you miss that classic, this is a good time to visit!
In years past, the resort has done an Easter Egg Hunt throughout the resort. It’s an additional cost of around $7 per map/park and it typically appears mid-late March through Easter.
Pre-Summer/The Inbetween/The Calm Before the Storm: May- beginning of June
We couldn't settle on a name for this season but basically it's the a busy season in between two busier seasons! Spring break crowds have left but summer crowds haven't arrived, so it's a little calmer and you still have the benefit of some longer hour weekdays. Note that Memorial Day is a generally busy weekend.
This is also the season of Grad Nites. It happens on select nights in May and June. California Adventure is open for high school graduate after general park hours, but some students arrive during the general hours too. Grad Nites include crowds and lots of teenagers, so be sure to pack your patience those days!
2020 Grad Nite dates: May 8, 9, 15, 16, 20, 26, 27, 29, & 30 and June 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, & 13.
Have you heard of May Gray or June Bloom? It's a real thing in Southern California so expect quite a few cloudy days these months. It doesn’t always rain, but it will be cloudy.
In 2020, We THINK this may be about the time that Avenger’s Campus is opening!! We are so excited for the first set of attractions opening in this new land- a Spiderman themed ride (think shooting webs from YOUR fingers), and an Antman themed restaurant/brewery.
Summer: mid June-August
Cue Olaf singing: "in suuuummmmerrrrr!" This is a favorite time to visit Disneyland by many (including us!). The two biggest negatives to this time of year are crowds and the weather. It can be very busy during the summer at Disneyland and it can also get VERY hot. Temperatures can be anywhere from mid 70's - 100+ degrees. So pack patience, cooling towels, water bottles and sunscreen.
The weather can be a positive thing though, too! Anyone else love the feeling of the warm sunshine on your skin? It also means that it's perfect weather for Splash Mountain and Grizzly Peak, a swim back at your hotel pool, or a jaunt to a nearby beach. Pack your bathing suit!
One of the best things about the summer season is that Disneyland is open late every night and a full entertainment schedule is running daily (as opposed to just the weekends). Generally all of the rides are up and running during the summer as well. Disney tries to avoid any refurbishments during this time due to the crowds.
The 4th of July occurs during this season. Walt Disney was very patriotic and Disneyland keeps the tradition alive. There are patriotic decorations around the park, patriotic merchandise and a special fireworks show after the regularly scheduled fireworks show! Note that the park will often reach capacity on this holiday. We recommend getting there early and not park hopping (stay in Disneyland, because if you leave there's a chance you won't get back in). Grab a corn dog or a chicken dinner from Plaza Inn to go and take a seat on Main Street early in the evening to reserve your spot for the fireworks. People tend to line up early to get a good viewing spot.
NOTE: CA schools generally start back in beginning-middle of August, so that means less locals during the DAY at the park, but gets crowded after school/evenings because a lot of annual passes are no longer blocked at this point in the season.
Halloween: September-October
We love Halloween season at Disneyland! It is full of decorations, pumpkin everything, ride layovers, special characters and costumes, and entertainment (awesome fireworks show!). Be sure to listen to our Halloween themed episode, "Halloween Party FOMO No Mo" for details on the Halloween experience at the resort. Although you may see the Halloween decor and merchandise start to arrive at the end of August, the celebration doesn't fully begin until about the second weekend in September. It continues through Halloween.
It is still generally hot (we have had many 100+ degree days in October) but cools down a bit more in the evenings. Weekdays are starting to have shorter hours, so take note of closing time on the day you go. Weekdays this time of year also tend to be less crowded, with the exception of fall breaks. Schools in Utah and Arizona each have a week off in October and it feels like the entire states come to Disneyland during that time, so watch out for those crowds! Weekends are still generally busy.
During this time of year, California Adventure closes early some nights to throw the Oogie Boogie Halloween Bash (a separate ticketed event). Be sure to pay attention to the hours when you're going and consider a park hopper if you are at the resort on a day with a party.
Holidays/Christmas: November-December
Typically the second weekend in November- the first weekend in January, the resort is transformed into the merriest place on earth! The Holiday transformation is INCREDIBLE. The parks are covered in holiday decorations, holiday music is piping throughout the parks, you can smell holiday treats baking, and you can even feel some snow (or "snope") in honor of all the major holidays during this time of year. It's a truly festive and magical place to celebrate. Check out our THREE episodes dedicated to all the adventures you can have at the resort during this time of year ("The Merriest Place on Earth," "The Yummiest Place on Earth," and "The Busiest Place on Earth").
With all of the festivities going on, this time of year can be very crowded. Veteran's Day weekend is typically the first weekend of the celebration and it's typically busy. Thanksgiving week and weekend are often crowded and the parks can hit capacity those days. The week between Christmas and New Year's can also hit capacity. The best time to visit during this time of year is on weekdays the first two weeks of December.
General tips:
Generally speaking, if you're trying to avoid the crowds, Tuesday-Thursday will be less crowded than Friday-Monday. If there's a day off from school or a federal holiday, it generally means a busy Disneyland day.
Just go in with a positive attitude and you’ll have a great time at Disneyland, no matter the season! Feel free to contact us with any specific questions you may have about your visit to the Disneyland Resort and happy vacationing!
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