best time to visit disneyland florida

Best Times to Go to Disney World

We all know that Disney World vacations are memorable and magical. But did you know that the season, month, week, and even day you choose can make a big difference in your in-park experience? In addition, the time period you visit will also have an impact on costs and your ability to make  dining and Genie+ reservations . Therefore, the best time to visit Walt Disney World is an important consideration as you book your family vacation.

Deciding when to visit Disney World will depend on variables like crowds, cost, and weather. You should also weigh other aspects like special events, seasonal festivals, and extended park hours. This article highlights the main factors to consider as you plan the best time to visit Disney World. Let’s get started!

Rather speak directly with someone?  (It’s free!)  Contact a Vacationeer today!

Crowds – Best Time to go to Disney World

Walt Disney World is the single most visited vacation resort on the planet. And with an average annual attendance of over 58 million people, you should expect to encounter crowds on any given day of the year. Sorry – this is just a fact. However, there  are  certain times of the year with fewer crowds. So if you think the best time to go to Disney World is when there are fewer people to contend with, here are a few tips.

When is Disney World the most crowded?

Generally, you can expect the crowds to be  higher  during school vacation weeks, holidays, weekends, and the summer season. In particular, the crowds swell around February school vacation week, Spring Break, Thanksgiving week, Christmas, and holiday weekends (i.e., MLK, Memorial Day, and Labor Day).

You can also expect the park to be busy right after a new section/land or attraction opens (such as  Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge ). Some parks even have days of the week that are generally better or worse than others (see  Best Days to Go To Magic Kingdom ).

When is Disney World the least crowded?

Disney World theme parks are usually  less crowded  from January 2nd until Presidents’ Day weekend (the third Monday in February), the week following Labor Day until the weekend preceding Thanksgiving week, and the week after Thanksgiving weekend until the weekend before  Christmas  vacation week.

There are also some lighter non-vacation weeks in the late winter/early spring. But it goes without saying that Disney World is less crowded when families are busy with school and work and more crowded during school breaks, holidays, and weekends.

When is the best time to go to Disney World in 2023?

The least crowded times to go to Disney World in 2023 are:

• January 9-14
• January 22 – February 15
• March 31 – April 8
• April 17-30 (weekdays only)
• June Tuesdays-Fridays (only if you must go during summer)
• August 22-31
• September 1 – October 5 Weekdays (except Labor Day)
• October Weekdays (beginning and end of the month)
• November Weekdays (not including Thanksgiving week or Wine & Dine Half Marathon)
• December Weekdays (not including the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s Eve)

The worst time to go to Disney World is during school vacation weeks, weekends, holidays, and the beginning and middle of the summer season — but if you have school-aged kids (and they’re not homeschooled ), you might be limited in your choices.

Disney theme park tickets are sold via a surge pricing model – ticket prices rise daily as the demand increases, and some parks are more expensive than others. Disney insists that this policy was instituted as a mechanism to even out the crowds throughout the year. But despite this new ticketing model, the normal seasonal patterns remain in play for the most part. So you’ll still need to factor in crowd levels when you’re  planning your Disney Vacation .

Planning a Disney World trip? Need help figuring out the best time to go?

We highly recommend contacting  The Vacationeer !

Their  expert Disney travel planners  are frequent Disney World visitors themselves, so they know all about juggling schedules and finding the best times to go. They can help you  find just the right balance  of hotel prices, ticket prices, and crowd levels.

The Vacationeer  provides free help planning your Walt Disney World vacation, and they’ll make all your reservations for you!

And best of all, there are no planning fees!  Their services are completely free  to use!

Plus, you’re  never under any obligation  to book. So contact them today — there’s nothing to lose!

Weather – Best Seasons to go to Disney World

Florida is known as the sunshine state. But while everyone loves the sun, most people dislike the heat and humidity that often accompany the Florida sun. Rain showers and thunderstorms are commonplace at Disney World during the summer months, and there’s even a  remote chance of a hurricane  from June through October. Therefore, we recommend you  pack  an array of cooler and wet clothing items in your luggage because  Disney World weather  can be unpredictable.

That said, Disney World experiences really great weather for most of the year. It’s rarely cold, and snowstorms are unheard of.

As far as weather is concerned, we think the best time to go to Disney World Resort is during the spring and autumn seasons. Temperatures tend to be warm yet quite comfortable for walking around the park. Humidity levels are lower than in the summer, and the UV index remains relatively safe. And for the record, winter isn’t so bad either. Summer is the only season that is routinely unpleasant because of the heat and humidity.

Spring at Disney World

The Spring season is short, but it’s gorgeous this time of the year. With its vibrant flowers and blooming, aromatic trees, spring is a wonderful season to go to Disney World. Low temperatures range up to around 82°F with moderately low rainfall and relative humidity of around 50%. The sun is strong for at least nine hours per day, giving you plenty of daylight hours to enjoy the park.

Autumn at Disney World

The Autumn season is near perfect at Disney World. It, too, is a short season, but it’s well worth a visit during this stretch between Labor Day and Christmas. Granted, the start of fall may be on the warm and humid side as summer drags on, but the rest of this time frame experiences crisp air, mild to warm temps, and lower rainfall. Visitors will still have up to 8 hours of full sunshine. Then evening and nighttime temperatures often drop enough for a jacket or sweater. It’s good to keep in mind Florida’s hurricane season.

Winter at Disney World

Don’t let the name scare you off because winter isn’t so bad at Disney World. In fact, it has quite a few things going for it. The average high temperatures are typically in the low 70s and rainfall is less common than in other seasons. In addition, humidity is usually around 59% and the evenings cool off considerably. However, winter suffers from a few drawbacks, including fewer daylight hours, less incentive to jump in the pool because of the cooler temperatures, and the park grounds aren’t as lush and beautiful.

Summer at Disney World

Walt Disney World’s summer is its longest season because it extends from May through September. On the surface, it may seem like the perfect time to visit the park. School is out, there are roughly 14 sunlight hours each day, and the theme parks usually have longer hours and more entertainment offerings. But the major downside is the heat. Mid-day temperatures often reach over 90 degrees and some days are even over 100 or 110! High humidity is also a factor, with an average of 61%. Then there’s the rainfall; Disney’s average precipitation of 6.4″ during the summer months, and July and August normally experience 13 days of rainfall. Yet if pools, water parks, longer park hours, and more entertainment are your top priorities, summer may be the best time to visit Disney if you don’t mind the summer crowds.

Cost – Cheapest Time to go to Disney World

When is the Cheapest Time to go to Disney World?

Generally speaking, the cheapest time to go to Disney World is when the park is least crowded. This is often over the winter months and other slow times of the year and during weekdays. Disney World often runs special promotions and discounted vacation packages during these slow times in an effort to entice more visitors. The most expensive time to visit Disney World is over the warmer-weather months, during school vacation weeks, holiday weeks, and weekends, or when Disney is hosting a popular event or festival.

Disney Theme Park Ticket and Hotel Prices

The cost of Disney World vacation packages fluctuates throughout the year. As far as nightly Disney World Resort Hotel pricing goes, the hotel rates increase during peak periods (like school vacations and holidays) and decrease during the slower, off-peak times of the year. This variable pricing policy is also in effect for theme park tickets. As demand for tickets increases, the price of theme park tickets also increases. As a result, more popular parks (or at least parks with smaller capacity and higher demand) cost a bit more than larger parks or those with lower demand. The advantage of this policy is that crowds are more evenly dispersed throughout the year (or that’s Disney’s stated reasoning, at least).

Disney World Theme Park Ticket Tiers

When Disney first introduced its variable ticket pricing model, there were three tiers of single-day theme park tickets: value, regular, and peak days. That seems like a distant memory, as tickets now have several price points and vary from park to park.

Starting Price for a 1-day Disney World theme park ticket in 2023. Exact price will vary based on which park is selected.

2023 base ticket (one day at one theme park) price ranges:

• Animal Kingdom: $109-$159
• EPCOT: $114-$179
• Hollywood Studios: $124-$179
• Magic Kingdom: $124-$189

Pick your days wisely, and you will save money! It’s always best to go to Disney World when there are fewer crowds. You usually pay less for theme park tickets and hotel stays, and have  shorter lines .

Multi-day theme park tickets work differently than single-day tickets. With multi-day tickets, the more days you purchase, the less you will pay  per day .

2023 multi-day ticket (one park per day) prices:

• 2-Day Ticket: $112+ per day
• 3-Day Ticket: $114+ per day
• 4-Day Ticket: $114+ per day
• 5-Day Ticket: $99+ per day
• 6-Day Ticket: $85+ per day
• 7-Day Ticket: $75+ per day
• 8-Day Ticket: $70+ per day
• 9-Day Ticket: $65+ per day
• 10-Day Ticket: $60+ per day

You might notice that the per-day pricing drops significantly at the five-day mark.

Of course, dining and lodging costs will greatly add to your overall expenses. So an extended stay – just to spend less per day on tickets – is not a money-saving strategy. However, it’s important to note this theme park ticket policy because most people spend more than a single day at Disney parks.

If you can afford it, we recommend Visiting Disney World for an entire week and experiencing at least one day at each theme park. There is so much to see and do!

Disney World Ticket Prices for Children

Disney world hotel prices.

There are more than two dozen official Disney resort hotels on the property. Walt Disney World Resorts are categorized into three tiers: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe.  Disney Value Resorts  are the least expensive tier, followed by  Disney Moderate Resorts  as the middle tier, and  Disney Deluxe Resorts  as the most exclusive and costly.

Like theme park tickets, hotel prices vary based on the time of year. With so many variables in play — room type, location within the resort, location of the resort itself, view from the room, amenities, time of year, and even day of the week — it’s very difficult to provide a single price range for a stay at a Disney Resort Hotel. But the same general rules we give for tickets apply to hotels, too; if it’s a more popular time of year, hotel prices will be higher.

All-Star Sports Resort – Standard Room – 2023 Base Rate

The graph above shows sample starting prices for a stay in a Standard Room at All Star Sports (a Disney Value Resort). Those regular spikes you see represent increased prices around every weekend of the year. You can also see that the prices, in general, are higher during the more popular times of year and lower during the less-crowded times. You’ll pay $113  on January 3rd, 2023; the same room costs  $255  on December 25th, 2023.

This pricing model is generally in place at all Disney Resorts. An Outer Building Theme Park View room at the Grand Floridian (a Disney Deluxe resort) costs $827  on January 3 and  $1,449  on December 25. You can literally save hundreds of dollars per night just by changing your dates; even changing from a weekend to a weekday might save you between $50 and $100.

Perks of Staying at Disney Resort Hotels

Staying at any one of Disney’s hotels is more convenient because of the free  Disney World transportation  to and from the parks. It’s also more cost-effective when you consider all of the extra perks you will receive, and you’ll be about to make your dining and  Individual Lightning Lane  reservations before non-Disney guests. You can also create a  Disney payment plan  to pay off your trip in installments.

There are tons of non-Disney resort hotels in the Orlando area. Most of them are adequate and cheaper than many of Disney’s offerings. However, when you add up all of the perks offered to Disney Resort guests, we think the benefits greatly outweigh the extra cost. Stay at a Disney World Resort and be close to the action! See our  Disney World Resorts Comparison  page for suggestions.

Confused about Prices? The Vacationeer Can Help!

Holiday Festivals and Seasonal Events

For many people, the best time to go to Disney World is during the holiday season. This is the time of year when the park dazzles with decorations, and there is holiday cheer in the air.  Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party  kicks things off in August – October. Then  Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party  takes over for November and December. Popular non-holiday events include the extensive  Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival  and the adult-friendly  Epcot International Food & Wine Festival . Let’s look at what each month offers at Disney World.

January may be the quietest month of the year at Disney World because the holiday vacation crowds are gone, and cool temperatures keep people away. The high temperatures only reach 70 degrees during January. If you don’t mind the frosty early mornings and chilly evening temperatures – and the fact that at least one of  Disney’s water parks  might be closed – then January may be the best time to go to Disney World. The pools are still heated, and the cheaper off-season rates and shorter lines make them worthy of your consideration.

January events include:

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
• EPCOT  International Festival of the Arts

With the exception of Presidents’ Day week, Disney World in February usually experiences a rather slow month. And like January, at least one of Disney’s two water parks usually remains closed during this time. In addition, off-peak pricing is in effect for non-holiday weeks. If crowds are a major concern, then February is a decent choice so long as you avoid the school vacation week (Presidents’ Day week). February might lack some of the beauty and excitement that other months at the park have — but it’s also a favorite month for locals precisely because of lower crowds and cooler weather.

February events include:

• Disney’s Princess Half-Marathon weekend
• EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

March experiences heavier crowds because of Spring Break, Bike Week, and Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival. However, the weather begins to rise in March, and the water parks re-open during the first half of the month.

March events include:

• EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival

April at Walt Disney World is characterized by heavier Spring break crowds and milder temperatures. Spring Break season and the Easter holiday are especially popular times to visit Disney World, so we would avoid these periods if possible. Temperatures rise to the mid-80s, and the flowers and trees are in full-bloom mode.

April events include:

• RunDisney  Springtime Surprise weekend

Crowds moderate during the month of May because the spring break season is over, and there are no “major” holidays or school vacations. Memorial Day causes a brief blip in crowd levels but the impact is nowhere near the levels seen at Christmas or even President’s Day. Although it’s spring and the flowers are still in full bloom, the weather feels more like summer, with temps reaching into the 90s. Thunderstorms are common occurrences during the afternoon.

May events include:

The summer season kicks off in June . While the first half of the month sees fewer crowds, the latter half experiences heavy traffic as students are off on summer break. Single-day ticket prices increase as the crowds swell, but the parks have extended hours and more shows and activities to even out the lines. June has long days of sunshine and hot weather, so come prepared with your sunscreen. A great time of the year to visit the water parks! (See our  Blizzard Beach vs. Typhoon Lagoon  page)

June events include:

Most people associate July with family vacations, so it’s no surprise that it is Disney’s peak month. Florida is sizzling hot during July, and temperatures can reach 100+ during the afternoon with lots of humidity. Rain and thunderstorms are also common. The good news is that the theme parks have extended hours. So you may want to hit the air-conditioned attractions, eat your meals, or head back to the pool during the hottest times of the day while experiencing the main attractions during the mornings and early evenings. Prices are typically higher during the summer months, so don’t expect to find any deep  discounts .

July events include:

• Fourth of July fireworks at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT
• EPCOT  International Food & Wine Festival

The  Disney World weather  can reach extremes during August , one of the hottest months of the year. You can beat the afternoon heat by seeking shelter at air-conditioned attractions and shows, restaurants, AMC movie theatre (Disney Springs), water parks, and Disney resort pools. Crowds are heavy for most of August, but the parks do thin out (a little) as kids return to school towards the second half of the month. However, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween  Party and EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival help to draw visitors during the latter half of the month. Like July, it’s a hot, humid, wet, and crowded time to go to Disney World.

August events include:

• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party begins in mid-August
• EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival

Early September at Disney World is still hot, but temperatures do moderate slightly as the month wears on. While it is  the peak of  hurricane season , storms  usually  don’t cause major impacts to central Florida. The latter half of September is one of the best times to go to Disney World because the weather is decent, and lines are manageable since most kids are back to school. Hotel rates and park tickets are also lower. In addition, EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are in full swing. September is a great time to visit Disney World!

September events include:

• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

The afternoons are still hot, but the evening temperatures drop considerably during the month of October . Disney’s parks are decorated for autumn, and most evenings showcase Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party events. The EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is still going strong, and the crowds are moderate. October may be the best month to visit Disney World!

October events include:

November would be an excellent month to visit Disney World if it weren’t for the crowd swell during Thanksgiving week. But if you avoid this week (and weekends around the holiday), you will experience pleasant weather, relatively short lines, and a festive holiday atmosphere. Cast Members are decorating throughout the month, but most of Disney’s Christmas holiday decorations are up by mid-November. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party kicks off, and guests can enjoy many holiday events during the month.

November events include:

• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
• RunDisney  Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
• EPCOT International  Festival of the Holidays

Disney’s theme parks are festively decorated in December , and holiday-themed events happen daily throughout the month. December is a popular time to visit Disney World because most people love the holidays and most children are out on school break. As a result, the beginning of the month experiences slightly lighter crowds, but the latter half of December is among Disney World’s busiest times of the year.

December events include:

• Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
• Special New Year’s Eve fireworks displays at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT

Final Thoughts on the Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World

In conclusion, the best time to go to Disney World will depend on your personal preferences. It will depend on what your budget and timing allow. There is no universal “best time to visit Disney World” because everyone’s vacation goals and lifestyle realities are different.

That said, certain times of the year have better weather and fewer crowds. This is quantifiable. Luckily, many of these periods are also less expensive.

We personally view September – Early December (minus Thanksgiving week) as the best time to go to Disney World, followed by the late winter through the short spring season. These periods have favorable Disney World weather and fewer crowds. Just avoid school break weeks, if possible. At the end of the day, you’ll have to make your own determination as to what works best for you.

We would certainly recommend staying at a Disney Resort and checking out  at least  two of the theme parks. However, you really have to stay at least 3-5 days to get the full Disney experience. And if you can go for a full week – and hit all 4 theme parks (and a water park) – even better!

Hopefully, this information will help you make more informed decisions to get the most enjoyment and value out of your trip. But whatever dates you pick, we are sure you’ll have a magical Disney World vacation!

Enjoy your trip!

Free Help Planning Your Disney World Vacation

As you’ve seen in this article, there’s a LOT to consider when trying to find the best time to visit Disney World. For personalized vacation planning help — all at  no additional cost  to you — we highly recommend contacting  The Vacationeer !

As our pick for the  best Disney travel agency  out there,  The Vacationeer  provides a dedicated agent to handle your trip from start to finish. No more  waiting on hold with a Disney call center  for you! That alone is a prime  reason to use a Disney travel agent . Then, consider the fact that they’ll help you find the best price for your vacation, even adding new discounts to your already-booked trip! Finally, add in the fact that their planning help doesn’t cost you a dime. It’s a no-brainer!

So let  The Vacationeer  handle all of your reservations for you — you won’t regret it!

We hope our Best Time to Visit Disney World has helped you decide the best week for your next vacation.

For more useful Disney World information, please review some additional pages on  MagicGuides  like our  Animal Kingdom Restaurants ,  Best Magic Kingdom Rides ,  Best Hollywood Studios Rides ,  Disney Travel Agents ,  Disney World Youtube Channels ,  Disney World Map ,  and  Adventures by Disney Reviews  articles.

Considering California? Check our Disneyland Crowd Calendar and our Best Time to Visit Disneyland article, too!

Thanks for reading, and we hope you have a magical Walt Disney World vacation!

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When to Visit Disney World

The Best Time to Visit Disney World

TripSavvy / Ashley Nicole DeLeon 

Walt Disney World® Resort

Trying to figure out the perfect time to visit Disney World  usually involves weighing many factors. If you're looking to avoid crowds, the best time to visit Disney World is in January or September when the weather is mild, crowds are thin, and prices plummet.

However, if special events and decorations are what you're seeking, the months of August, September, October, November, and December may be better options for you. While Disney's premier destination gives you reasons to visit year-round, considering the weather and monthly events at Disney World will help you figure out your best time to visit.

The Weather at Disney World

Florida is famous for its sunshine, but many visitors are not prepared for the  Florida heat  and humidity. The temperatures in the summer climb above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity can be stifling, but during the winter, the climate is more moderate. Hurricane season runs from June through October. Although the chance of a hurricane hitting Florida while you are visiting is slim, this is something to keep in mind. 

Peak Season at Disney World

Crowds will be the worst during school holidays, such as summer vacation, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break, but you can make your life easier by locking in ride times and dining experiences with the My Disney Experience app . This app lets you choose your FastPass+ attractions and dining experiences with ease, even when the crowds are large. 

In 2016, Disney introduced a surge pricing model for theme park tickets that follows its long-established practice for hotel room prices, which means that hotel and ticket prices are less expensive during slower periods, such as January and September. However, the pricing is done on a day to day basis, so you may find that Thanksgiving Day is more expensive than a Saturday in July, depending on past attendance records. 

Popular Events & Festivals

Disney has several major events throughout the year, such as the  Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival ,  Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival ,  Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party , and  Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party .

Watch Now: The Do’s and Don’ts of Visiting Disney World

As Disney World continues to draw more crowds year-round,  January is one of the last remaining months considered to be the off-season. The high peak prices from the holiday season just a few weeks prior significantly come down, and the weather is unusually mild, with high temperatures usually hovering around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 

While days are usually warm and sunny, don't be surprised if you see a frosty dew in the early morning hours or experience chilly evening temperatures, as Orlando has a sub-tropical climate. Post-New Year's Day, the hours in the parks shorten, as workers speed to remove the holiday decorations, but since the attractions lines are shorter than any other time of the year, the lessened hours shouldn't affect your trip.

While the resorts' pools and hot tubs remain heated and open year-round, Disney's two water parks, Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach are typically closed for the winter (typically open from March until October).

Events to check out:

• Every January, the park hosts  The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend , which brings in thousands of runners each year. Some of the longer race courses take competitors through each of the four Disney parks.
• The year starts off with a "bang" as Disney hosts a New Year's firework display at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios, and at Disney Springs. Keep in mind that Animal Kingdom never has fireworks.

Much like January, February  is still a slow month, except for the Presidents' Day week, which falls on the third week each year. Since most U.S. schools are closed during this week, crowds are to be expected. Valentine's Day is also a popular day for locals, especially at the onsite restaurants, so unless you have reservations, it's best to skip visiting on February 14.  

The park hours are similar to January, and the waterparks usually remain closed during February as well.

Event to check out:

• Ladies, dust off your Nikes! In February, the parks host Disney's Princess Half-Marathon weekend , which is focused on female runners.

In March , the weather in central Florida is still mild, but with spring break, Bike Week, a popular Daytona Beach event, and Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival, the traffic, in addition to park attendance can get heavy this month. Easter is also a popular day for families to visit Disney, but it is an ever-changing holiday that occasionally falls in March, but more often April. 

The waterparks typically reopen in early to mid-March, and as the days get longer (and warmer), the park hours follow.  

• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival kicks off in March and runs through the end of May. More than 100 elaborate topiaries are spread throughout the parks.
• The Atlanta Braves spend their spring training at Disney. Games take place at Champion Stadium in Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

Things begin to heat up in April  as temperatures begin to rise into the mid-80s during the day. Spring breakers continue to flood the parks, and the prices reflect this sudden surge. Avoid visiting on Easter Sunday if it occurs this month, as it will be the most popular park day.

• The Star Wars Rival Run Half-Marathon weekend takes place in April. Runners can compete in the Star Wars 10K, Star Wars 5K, Star Wars Dark Side Challenge, and the runDisney Kids Races, as well as the half marathon.

In  May , although the calendar says it's spring, you will feel like you're in the middle of summer with temps potentially reaching 90 degrees. Thunderstorms in the afternoon are a common occurrence, usually around 3 p.m. Florida is known for its flash rain showers, so while you won't win any style points, it's usually a good idea to pack a poncho if you are visiting from May through September. Crowds are moderate at this time since most schools are in session, and no major holidays or events fall within the month. 

June  is the month with the longest days, so beware of Florida's brutal sun. Though necessary year-round, you must be mindful to constantly reapply sunscreen, wear sunglasses, and bring a hat if you plan on spending the daylight hours at the parks.

The beginning of the month sees few crowds, as many schools are in still in session until mid-June, and it is too close to summer break to justify playing hooky. After June 15, however, the high summer season is in full swing, and with that comes rising prices and fewer accommodations and restaurant choices, but also extended park hours, and in-park shows, activities, and ride openings.

• June kicks off Epcot's Sounds Like Summer Concert Series , which hosts three performances nightly at America Gardens Theater. 

July is the peak month at Disney World. Just about every child in America is enjoying summer break during this month, so families flock to the House of Mouse to enjoy their time off. The temperatures at this time are sometimes unbearably high, especially midday when the sun's rays are strongest.

You can expect wait times for rides to rise well over two hours for the most sought-after attractions and finding a place to eat a sit-down meal might prove impossible if you don't have an advanced reservation. 

The good news is that the parks are open longer. Your best plan of action is to arrive at opening time, then leave and return to your resort for lunch and a refreshing dip in the pool. Afterward, you can return to the parks once the temps drop a little in the late afternoon, and ride anything you may have missed in the morning.

• Fourth of July fireworks at Magic Kingdom are a "can't-miss" for Disney visitors in July. Note that Epcot, Disney Studios, and Disney Springs all have special firework shows as well.

August  is the hottest month of the year. From noon to 3 p.m., your primary goal is to get inside, whether you make a lunchtime reservation in an indoor restaurant, or perhaps catch a movie at the AMC Theater in Disney Springs. You can also beat the heat at the water parks, Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach, or take to the sea and rent a paddleboat from your resort's dock and cruise around the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Most of the month is packed with visitors, but Florida children return to school in late August, so you might notice a slight dip in the size of the crowds at the tail end of the month. The end of the month marks the beginning of the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, so you can expect high crowds at this park.

• From August through October, the park hosts Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on select nights. The event features trick-or-treating in the park and Disney characters dressed in Halloween costumes.

September is one of the best times to visit the theme parks. The lines are again manageable since most school-aged children have returned to school, and hotel rates are the lowest of the year.

The weather is hot but milder than July and August, and the waterparks, as well as Epcot's Food and Wine Festival, remain active during the month. 

• During fall's Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, visitors can try international cuisine from more than 25 different kiosks. There are also various seminars on cooking, and food and wine. The event runs through November.

October  can still be hot during the day, but temperatures start to drop at night. It is a great time to visit since the parks are decorated for the fall season and there is a special Halloween party that happens most evenings. Other than Halloween day, you shouldn't have much crowding issues, aside from in Epcot for the Food and Wine Festival.  

November can be a great time to visit Disney, as long as you avoid Thanksgiving week. Though, if you plan to visit the day following Thanksgiving weekend, you may find no lines at all. The temperatures this month are pleasant during the day, and cooler at night. The holiday decorations won't be fully on display until December 1, but you might get a glimpse of what's to come if you visit later in November. 

• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party begins in November and runs through the holidays, taking place on select nights at Magic Kingdom. The event includes Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, Holiday Wishes fireworks, and Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration Castle Stage Show.

In  December , the parks are festively decorated for the holidays, and there are plenty of special holiday-themed treats as well as events scheduled throughout the month, such as Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Naturally, many families love visiting during this month, as many have holiday breaks, therefore, like July, it also has an extremely high amount of visitors.  

• Epcot International Festival of the Holidays brings storytellers from around the world to share holiday customs and traditions from their respective countries. 

January and September are great months to visit Disney World, because they tend to be less crowded. January has cooler weather and in September, days are hotter but the waterparks are still open.

January tends to be the least crowded month, falling between the peak holiday and spring break seasons.

With the kids back at school, September is considered off-season. This is typically when you'll find the lowest hotel rates and lower ticket prices.

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Walt Disney World Guide: Planning Your Trip

November at Disney World: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

Smart Parent's Guide to Walt Disney World

Festivals and Events in Orlando in November

September in Florida: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

The Complete Guide to Disney World for Adults

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July at Disney World: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

Your Guide to Visiting Walt Disney World During the Pandemic

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: The Complete Guide

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Best Times to Visit Walt Disney World Based on the Weather

There are a ton of things to consider when deciding when to visit Walt Disney World. Everything from work and school schedules to crowd levels can impact when you plan your trip, but the weather is an important consideration when deciding the best time to visit Disney.

When you think of Florida, you think of warm, sunny days, and that is true of Florida weather very often. It is called the “ Sunshine State !” However, there are times of the year when that beautiful sunshine is sweltering! And, believe it or not, there are some times downright chilly! Check out this information on weather at different times of the year, and how that can impact your vacation plans.

Find yourself on the wrong coast?  Visit our Disneyland Weather page .

Monthly Averages and Tips Hurricane Information Current Forecast

Monthly Averages and Weather Tips

January      February      March     April      May     June     July      August     September     October      November     December

Average High – 71ºF Average Low – 52ºF Average Daily Temperature – 60ºF Average Precipitation – 2.3 in.

January is the coldest month of the year in Florida. Yes, it does get chilly in Florida! While the average highs and lows do not sound very cold, there are times when it is quite nippy. During this time of year, a jacket or hoodie is often necessary, especially in the early morning or late evening. Gusty winter wind can be quite cold. The winter months are low in precipitation typically.

The chilly weather may mean you need a jacket, but you should not be sweating while wandering the parks. The cooler temperatures make it easier to stay in the parks longer, as they are less draining than intense heat. Many water attractions, like Kali River Rapids , may be closed for refurbishments during this time of year due to the cooler temperatures. Typically, only one of the water parks will be open through the winter months. It is occasionally possible to swim despite the cool weather because all of Disney’s pools are heated.

Average High – 73ºF Average Low – 54ºF Average Daily Temperature – 63ºF Average Precipitation – 2.4 in.

February is another cool weather month. Winter is typically the dry season in Florida, so there is less chance that it will rain. The weather can be quite cold in February, even though it is Florida. Be sure to pack socks, pants, and jackets, and even a scarf or gloves and a hat. Cold weather gear is especially necessary for the early morning or late evening hours. Gusty winds can be quite cold.

Park touring can be easier in cooler temperatures, as they are less draining than intense heat. Some water attractions, like Kali River Rapids , may be under refurbishment during winter months. Typically only one of the two water parks is open during the cooler season. It is still possible to swim if you want to, as all of Disney’s pools are heated.

Average High – 77ºF Average Low – 59ºF Average Daily Temperature – 67ºF Average Precipitation – 2.9 in.

In March, temperatures begin to fluctuate and may be extremely warm or quite cool. Springtime has arrived! Be prepared with a jacket in case of cooler temperatures, but it is also common to have really warm days in March as well. March is still in the dry season for Florida, so it is not likely that it will rain all day.

Temperatures begin to rise in March, but it can still be cool in the mornings and evenings. Water parks resume full operation in March, although they may close for the day if the weather is cold. The most important thing to note about March weather is that it can vary greatly. One week it may be very warm, and the next, quite cool. Despite fluctuating temperatures, you should be able to swim since all of Disney’s pools are heated.

Average High – 82ºF Average Low – 63ºF Average Daily Temperature – 72ºF Average Precipitation – 2.4 in.

Temperatures begin to be more consistently warm during April, and by the end of the month, it may be hot. The rainy season has not struck yet, so it is unlikely that it will rain all day long. However, it is springtime, and this can fluctuate. It is not out of the question to have a chilly day, so it is still probably a good idea to have a light jacket.

By April, both water parks are in full operation. It should be beautiful weather for swimming, especially since Disney pools are heated. Typically it is not necessary to prepare for extremely hot or cold temperatures in April. This is beneficial for park touring. Comfortable weather is very nice for spending the day outside.

Average High – 87ºF Average Low – 69ºF Average Daily Temperature – 77ºF Average Precipitation – 2.9 in.

In May, temperatures start to warm towards summer levels. It can be very hot, but not as hot as the peak summer months. You can prepare for warm temperatures by drinking plenty of water, carrying a spray fan, and having a cooling towel. May is still just on the outside of the rainy season, but as the month wears on afternoon showers are not out of the ordinary. Check out our rainy day page for tips on having fun despite the water.

As the temperatures rise, it is advisable to take an afternoon break from the heat. Get something to eat, take a swim, or even a nap to escape from the hot sunshine. The heat can be draining during park touring, so be sure to take advantage of the free cups of water available at all quick-service food locations.

Average High – 89ºF Average Low – 74ºF Average Daily Temperature – 80ºF Average Precipitation – 5.7 in.

In June, the temperatures can be extremely hot. Summer has arrived! Be sure to prepare. Check out our tips for beating the heat . Taking an afternoon break to nap, eat, or swim is a great way to escape the heat and humidity in the middle of the day. Be sure to take advantage of the free cups of water available at all Disney quick service food locations.

June starts the rainy season in Florida. This means there will typically be an afternoon rain or thundershower. Check out our tips for having fun despite the rain . This is also the start of the hurricane season . Disney World has closed only nine times in 50+ years for severe weather, so this is not a common event for central Florida.

Average High – 90ºF Average Low – 75ºF Average Daily Temperature – 82ºF Average Precipitation – 5.6 in.

July is the warmest month of the year for Walt Disney World. It can get extremely hot! Check out our tips for beating the heat . Prepare for the hot weather. Drink plenty of water and take an afternoon break from the parks to eat, nap, or swim.

The summer months are the rainy season for Florida. Typically this means an afternoon thundershower rather than all-day rain. Check out our tips for rainy days . An afternoon rain shower can be good, as it sometimes cools down for the evening following a brief shower. This is also hurricane season for Florida. Disney World has closed only nine times in 50+ years for severe weather, so this is not a common event for central Florida.

Average High – 90ºF Average Low – 76ºF Average Daily Temperature – 81ºF Average Precipitation – 5.6 in.

August retains almost all of the heat and humidity of July. It can be very, very hot! Check out our tips for beating the heat . Prepare for the hot weather. Drink plenty of water and take an afternoon break from the parks to eat, nap, or swim.

Average High – 88ºF Average Low – 74ºF Average Daily Temperature – 80ºF Average Precipitation – 5.1 in.

In September, it is still very warm, but the heat finally begins to relent occasionally. Still, prepare for the extreme heat. Check out our tips for beating the heat . Drink plenty of water and take an afternoon break from the parks to eat, nap, or swim.

September is in the rainy season for Florida. Typically this means an afternoon thundershower rather than all-day rain. Check out our tips for rainy days . An afternoon rain shower can be good, as it sometimes cools down for the evening following a brief shower. This is also hurricane season for Florida. Disney World has closed only nine times in 50+ years for severe weather, so this is not a common event for central Florida.

Average High – 83ºF Average Low – 68ºF Average Daily Temperature – 75ºF Average Precipitation – 2.8 in.

In October, temperatures begin to cool down from the extreme heat of summer. It is still very warm, however. In the case of a day that is still extremely hot, check out our page on beating the heat . Overall, temperatures are typically a touch more moderate than the summer months.

October ends the rainy season for central Florida, so rain is not typically as much of a daily event as in the summer. However, it is still hurricane season , and that can bring rain to the forecast. Disney World has closed only nine times in 50+ years for severe weather, so this is not a common event for central Florida.

Average High – 77ºF Average Low – 61ºF Average Daily Temperature – 68ºF Average Precipitation – 1.8 in.

By November, temperatures can be much more comfortable for park touring. It can get cool, so it is advisable to have a jacket, especially in the evening and early morning. Overall, temperatures should be relatively moderate. This is not the rainy season for Florida, so rain should not be a significant problem. However, it is still hurricane season , and that can bring rain to the forecast. Disney has only closed five times in 45 years for severe weather, so severe hurricanes are not a common event for central Florida.

In the case of cooler weather (which does happen in Florida!), water parks may close for the day. Swimming pools remain open and available for guests as Disney pools are heated. Be prepared for cooler weather, but be aware that it can also still reach hot, summer-like temperatures well into November.

Average High – 73ºF Average Low – 55ºF Average Daily Temperature – 63ºF Average Precipitation – 1.9 in.

December marks the start of the holidays throughout Walt Disney World. The temperatures may not always reflect the season, though. Sometimes it can be quite cold, so be sure to prepare with pants, jackets, and socks. However, it is often very comfortable in December, which is nice for touring the parks in their holiday splendor. Most often, it is cool in the evening and morning and comfortable in the middle of the day.

Winter is not Florida’s rainy season, so all-day rain is normally not a problem. Often, only one water park will be open this time of the year because of the cooler temperatures. Swimming is still an option, though, as all of Disney’s pools are heated.

Weather information above was obtained from The Weather Channel.

Current Weather

Hurricane information.

As Florida prepares for hurricanes, there will be a variety of changes and cancellations occurring. Check back here for hurricane updates, and always check with your travel provider for current policies.

  Disney Cruise Line Walt Disney World Universal Orlando

Disney Cruise Line Hurricane Updates

Currently, there are no hurricane updates at this time.

Disney Cruise Line Hurricane Policy

Guest safety is a top concern for Disney Cruise Line, and ship captains will monitor the weather and make route or itinerary changes if necessary due to extreme weather. If modifications must be made, Disney Cruise Line will make every effort to alert guests as soon as possible. If these modifications are not possible to create a safe trip, Disney Cruise Line will cancel impacted sailings and offer full refunds to all guests.

Walt Disney World Hurricane Updates

Walt disney world hurricane policy.

Below is the Walt Disney World hurricane policy for your reference.

What does it mean for my vacation plans if a hurricane warning is issued within 7 days of my arrival date? If a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area—or for your place of residence—within 7 days of your scheduled arrival date, you may call in advance to reschedule or cancel your Walt Disney Travel Company Disney Resort Hotel Vacation Package and most room only reservations without any cancellation or change fees imposed by Disney.

If you have products and services provided by third-party suppliers included in your vacation—such as airlines, hotels, car rental agencies or vacation insurance companies—you will continue to be responsible for any non-refundable payments, as well as cancellation or change fees assessed by those suppliers. The policy does not apply to certain special events or dining experiences. ________________________________________ Will I be responsible for any cancellation or change fees or other amounts if a hurricane warning is issued within 7 days of my arrival date? If a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area—or for your place of residence—within 7 days of your scheduled arrival date, you may call in advance to reschedule or cancel your Walt Disney Travel Company Disney Resort Hotel Vacation Package and most room only reservations without any cancellation or change fees imposed by Disney.

If you have products and services provided by third-party suppliers included in your vacation—such as airlines, hotels, car rental agencies or vacation insurance companies—you will continue to be responsible for any non-refundable payments, as well as cancellation or change fees assessed by those suppliers. The policy does not apply to certain special events or dining experiences. ________________________________________ If I reschedule my vacation to a different date because of a hurricane warning, will I be able to get my same accommodations? If you are scheduled to arrive within 7 days of a hurricane warning, you may call us in advance to reschedule without a Disney imposed change fee. We cannot guarantee availability of similar accommodations for the new travel dates. All amounts you paid to Disney for rooms, theme park tickets, dining plans and other Disney products and services will be applied toward your new reservation.

Any discounts or special offers applicable to your original confirmed vacation will not apply to the rescheduled vacation travel dates. You are responsible for applicable package pricing for the new vacation dates. The policy does not apply to certain special events and dining experiences. ________________________________________ I received a special offer when I booked my vacation with the Walt Disney Travel Company. If a hurricane warning is issued within 7 days of my arrival date and I reschedule, will I get the same special offer? Only if an identical special offer is available for your rescheduled vacation dates. All amounts you paid to the Walt Disney Travel Company for rooms, park tickets, dining plans and other Disney products and services will be applied toward your new reservation.

Any discounts or special offers applicable to your original confirmed vacation may not apply to the rescheduled vacation travel dates. You are responsible for applicable package pricing for the new vacation dates. This policy does not apply to certain special events and dining experiences. ________________________________________ If a hurricane warning is issued within 7 days of my arrival date and I want to cancel or reschedule my vacation, what should I do with my airline tickets? If you booked your air travel through the Walt Disney Travel Company and you want to reschedule, we will attempt to rebook your air travel. However, you will be responsible for any cancellation or change fees imposed by the airline. If you did not book your air travel through the Walt Disney Travel Company, you should contact your airline. ________________________________________

Universal Orlando Resort

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What is your policy for travel during Hurricanes? A:  In the event that a hurricane warning is issued for the Orlando area or your place of residence, within seven days of your arrival, you can contact our team to reschedule or cancel your Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations hotel accommodations and Universal Orlando theme park tickets (booked directly with Universal Parks and Resorts) without any cancellation or change fees imposed.

If you have additional questions or need to change or cancel your travel plans, please contact a member of our Guest Contact Center team by calling 800-407-4275 or emailing  [email protected] .

Additional elements including air, car rental or other theme park tickets are separate and not part of this policy.

If you booked your vacation package or tickets through a third-party travel agent or tour operator, please contact them directly for information regarding their cancellation or change policies.

Q: Will Universal Orlando Resort help cancel my airline, rental car and other third-party related elements? A:  Universal Orlando is only able to assist with cancellations on your Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations hotel accommodations and Universal Orlando theme park tickets (booked directly with Universal Parks and Resorts). Please contact airline, rental car and other third-party suppliers directly for these types of cancellations.

Q: If I booked my travel through a travel agent or tour operator will Universal Orlando help with canceling my trip? A:  Universal Orlando is only able to assist with cancellations on your Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations hotel accommodations and Universal Orlando theme park tickets (booked directly with Universal Parks and Resorts). Please contact your travel agent or tour operator directly for information regarding their cancellation or change policies.

Q: If a hurricane warning is issued within seven days of my arrival, what should I do? A:  In the event that a hurricane warning is issued for the Orlando area or your place of residence, within seven days of your arrival, you can contact our team to reschedule or cancel your Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations hotel accommodations and Universal Orlando theme park tickets (booked directly with Universal Parks and Resorts) without any cancellation or change fees imposed.

But that said, we want our guests to feel safe and always try to work with them one-on-one. If you have additional questions or need to change or cancel your travel plans, please contact a member of our Guest Contact Center team by calling 800-407-4275 or emailing  [email protected] .

Q: Are the theme parks open at this time? A:  For updates, continue to check here, Universal Orlando’s Twitter (@UniversalORL), call 407-817-8990 or email  [email protected] .

Q: If I have additional questions where do I go? A:  Please contact a member of our Guest Services team by calling 407-817-8990 or emailing  [email protected] .

If you have additional questions or need to change plans, please contact a member of our Guest Services team by calling 407-817-8990 or emailing  [email protected] .

Walt Disney World Resort Free Quote

Start planning your Walt Disney World Resort Vacation with The Magic For Less Travel . Use the form below to request a free no-obligation quote, and one of their counselors will get in touch with you to begin planning. The Mouse For Less recommends the Walt Disney World vacation planning services provided by our sponsor, The Magic For Less Travel. Their expert planning advice will help you make the most of your vacation time and money. The Magic For Less Travel is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and provides service free of charge.

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The Best Times to Visit Disney World in 2023

For many Disney fans, anytime is the right time to visit Disney World. Since central Florida typically has sunny, warm weather year-round, it’s hard to find a better vacation spot.

it can be hard to figure out when the best time to actual visit it.

Maybe too hard!

Between the great offerings, the fun festivals and the new attractions- it can get a little (ok a LOT!) overwhelming.

AND with the new 50th celebrations, there’s even more pressure to visit the parks. Between the marketing, the FOMO, and a bunch of new (and returning!) things, it’s any wonder that Disney World isn’t busting at the seems with attendance.

While these are my opinions based on a lifetime of Disney Travel, I do think that you can have a magical vacation no matter what time of year you travel BUT their are some optimal times you want to check out Disney World for lower crowds, more fun, and better on your Budget Disney trip! Ready to book right now? Talk to a Travel Agent about the best options for 2023 .

This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you, check out my affiliate disclosure for more information and all the legal mumbo jumbo.

First things first, can you be flexible? or does vacation time stand in your way?

Most families need to schedule vacation times around the kids’ school schedule but that means parks are jam packed with other families in the same boat and break time typically is in the summer when Florida temps are at their peak.

If you can be more flexible with your schedule, you can hit the parks when crowds and temps are a little lower.

There are also crowd calendars available to give you a better idea of the “crowd seasons” at the parks, that touch on specific days.

But we can predict some weeks and months that will be better than others… and we can tell those by availability, and if things are sold out.

Like strollers. Strollers get booked up and sell out all the time! It’s a big reason why I like using Kingdom Strollers (but still plan ahead!) You can always grab a stroller from the store if you needed too (oh the power of grocery delivery!) but it’s best to have things planned by reserving strollers ahead of time.

After all, you’re likely spendin 50+ dollars an hour to be at Disney between travel expenses, Resort fees, park tickets, food, and extra amenities. Those hidden Disney World expenses really add up!

So let’s talk the entire year of 2023 Disney Crowd Calendar

• January 7-11, last week
• First two weeks of February ( Princess Run Marathon usually 3rd week of Feb, avoid Epcot/Magic Kingdom because it will be packed!)
• The month of May (avoid Memorial Day weekend)
• The second half of August (even though they did Star Wars, the crowds were still decently low! This is a great time to come)
• Most days in September (My personal favorite!)
• Most weekdays in October (avoid Halloween)
• Weekdays in November (avoid the week of Thanksgiving)
• Weekdays in Early December- specifically the second week(avoiding the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s Eve)

If you are budget conscious, the best times would be Sunday to Friday/the next monday.

I really like late September because you can enjoy the lower crowds, the better prices, the food and wine festival AND the hard ticket Mickey’s not so scary halloween party! But hurricanes are pretty common in September.

January is my ‘official’ recommendation, but I know not everyone can plan for that. C onnecting with a Travel Agent is a good option – simply because they can match up your dates with activities/closures/special events at Disney World.

What is the cheapest time to go to Disney World?

Historically, the best times to visit the parks are when schools are in session.

Most families don’t do much traveling during the school year and if they do, it’s on the weekends.

So, that would mean that September through May are not as busy as the summer months of June, July and August.

If you do go in the summer- please for all that is wonderful and holy, go prepared!

I’ve got my portable fan , my portable charger for my fan, my kids have their own stroller fans (and NOT the ones from disney because they break easily #askmehowIknow) and a cooling towel… but it’s TOO MUCH. The Florida Heat is here 10 months outa the year

What time of year is Disney World least crowded?

I’m sorry to disappoint, but as a local that goes weekly, I can assure you that there is no “off” season anymore.

Why is there no Disney World off season?

Well, Disney World has 1.) been upping their marketing and 2.) been adding offerings year round that make each experience unique.

Below in the calendar I’ll outline all the weeks that would be the best for a low crowd experience!

This is a loaded question (and a good one!) that is hard to answer. It really depends on what you consider cheap, and how much you are willing to sacrifice for a Disney Vacation.

You could, right now, get one annual pass for one of your family members, get a campsite at the local campground, and spend get a multi day ticket with no dining plan for the rest of the family (using your annual pass for food and merch discounts) and come out with just a few thousand dollars spent.

You could also do a stay cation at the value resort for 5 days, spend one day in the parks, and enjoy all the free things Disney has to offer for under 1000 dollars.

But there is no super cheap option for park tickets AND staying on Disney Property. There are moderately priced ones. But not super cheap.

*** Let’s also mention that the Holidays in December are literally the most expensive times of the year! Disney World Uses Seasonal Pricing, and that means they increase prices DAILY! Weekdays are different than weekends.

I’ve watched it happen before my eyes. Sure 50 cents doesn’t seem like much, until you add up the price for a family (especially those on a big family trip) and it can easily equal thousands of dollars between the resort, food, tickets and souvenir costs. You can peep all the holiday festivities available at Disney on their official page.

Below in the Calendar you can see all the suggested dates for the lowest seasonal pricing.

Celebrating the Holidays? Good Idea or Worst nightmare?

Let’s keep in mind that Disney celebrates holidays in a BIG way.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party usually runs on select nights from mid-August until the first week of November, Magic Kingdom will close early these nights and allows only guests with separate party tickets to stay.

Although these nights will bring in bigger crowds, the heaviest of them will be of course, Halloween week. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is celebrated on select nights in November and December.

If you want to attend these nights, tickets go on sale 6-7 months before the first party.

So the Halloween Party will go on sale in January! Planning ahead to visit during the Holidays is pretty important if you have a bucket list.

The holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Eve/Day and the days surrounding them are times that should be avoided due to extremely high crowds and shortened park time for the Magic Kingdom, to accommodate party ticket holders.

Magic Kingdom usually hits park capacity on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and has to turn ticket holding guests away.

8 tips for Enjoying the Holidays at Disney World

If you do plan on attending on either of these days, get there at rope drop (park opening) and don’t leave and plan to return later, you may not be able to get back in.

If you stay on Disney Property, you are guaranteed a spot in one of the parks on the holidays, BUT they don’t say which park.

Visiting Disney World During Spring Break

Spring Break is another peak time for Disney. The crowds are little harder to predict for this season because schools having varying break times, not all of them break for Easter since that date varies from year to year. However, many of the Florida annual passholders will NOT be attending because of black out dates.

This also means that crowds are more manageable than Christmas break because breaks are spread out between March and April.

What about the Festivals and Special Events At Disney World? Should I go to those?

Disney has been adding some really fun stuff the last 10 years, and amping up the stuff they already had.

Like the Festivals at Epcot. Like insane construction at every park. Like new additions of rides and attractions.

These are so much fun! They provide a new set of foods, and lots of new entertainment (concerts and drinks anyone)

But they also mean that the parks are much busier! You should take this into account when you are planning. It’s best to come in the middle of the festivals.

January- February is the International Festival of the arts.

March- June is the Flower and Garden Festival.

September- November is Food and Wine Festival.

December(ish) has the Festival of the Holidays

These festivals run EVERYDAY and they are also included in your park ticket. It’s certainly worth considering if you want to go- just remember that the weekends at Epcot will be busier and their will be more activities to enjoy.

Inclement Weather anyone? How Hurricanes can influence your Disney Vacation

Soooooo, how’s the weather?

Just kidding. I can tell you all about Florida weather.

It’s called- “the meteorologist is wrong and bring a poncho and shorts and a hoodie because Florida can’t make up it’s mind”

Especially, hurricane season , which runs from June 1- November 30.

Though Disney World rarely needs to close during this time, they have had to close at least one day each year for the last few years.

AND even if they aren’t closing 100%, they aren’t offering as much activities, rides, shows, and offerings because the heavy rains and thunderstorms (for days on end!) put a damper on the activities.

Curious about what you can do when it rains?

Again, please note that, Hurricane season is officially June 1st to November 30th.

However, for Orlando this usually just equates to a rainy June, July and August. The good thing is that even though there can be showers almost daily, they come and go very quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes time.

The rain water also dries quickly in the hot sun. ***HELLO HUMIDITY***

Disney had to close in 2017 for the Hurricane, and I won’t be surprised if it happens again (I didn’t have power for 2 weeks, so I’m just glad to have survived that one!)

Disney also just closed in September 2019 for Hurricane Dorian. While it didn’t directly impact Disney World, it did have impacts on the Disney Owned island in the Caribbean (and lots of other places not related to Disney!)

If you decide to come during Hurricane season, on a cruise or Disney World trip (or both!) get travel insurance!

YES! Let’s go to Disney World!

Ok, now that we’ve covered all the times that you shouldn’t go, let’s get to the happy stuff!

When should you go to Disney?

Whenever you want to!

But when is the best time, with the lowest crowd and the perfect weather?

>>> January. <<<

You should be able to make it to see all the new attractions in Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood studios and deal with low crowds and less expensive hotels + The Festival of the Arts at Epcot.

But maybe you don’t want to risk it in January in case your favorite ride is being refurbished?

Come in February! Deals aren’t quite as budget friendly, but crowd level is still tolerable.

January and February aren’t in your schedule?

Come in Mid October. You’ll be able to see all the fall festivites, get in the Holiday Spirit without the bother of snow, and weekday crowds should be very tolerable.

But what if I need to come in the Summer?

If you absolutely need to come in the summer, but want to deal with lower crowds, I’d suggest only going to the Parks during the midweek (tue-thurs) and heading to the resorts or another Theme Park on the weekends! Legoland and Seaworld have great lines with lower crowds most days, but Universal gets very packed on the weekends (and they’ve really paced themselves as a True Disney Competitor!)

If you go to Universal, be sure to check out these hacks for a fun Universal Vacation!

Have fun on your Disney World Vacation!

We know that whenever you decide to visit Disney, you’ll have a magical time!

Each season has it’s own perks, but you can find the best time to visit with your schedule. Anytime at Disney is a magical time.

The things I won’t be doing at Disney World (Ever again!)

Save money on your next Disney World Vacation!

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When is the best time to go to Disneyland Florida?

Visiting Disneyland Florida, also known as Walt Disney World Resort, is a magical and memorable experience for people of all ages. However, determining the best time to visit can be a bit tricky, as it depends on your preferences for weather, crowds, and special events. This comprehensive guide will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about when to plan your trip to Disneyland Florida.

The best time to visit Disneyland Florida depends on your preferences. If you prefer mild weather and lower crowd levels, consider visiting during the dry season from October to April, especially in the weeks after Thanksgiving and early January. If you don’t mind the heat and rain, the wet season from June to September can be a good time to visit. Special events and holidays may also influence your decision, as they can enhance your experience but may result in higher crowd levels and ticket prices. Always check the official Disneyland Florida website for the most accurate information.

Weather Considerations

Florida’s weather varies throughout the year, with mild winters and hot, sunny summers. The dry season typically begins in October and lasts until late April, with temperatures ranging from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This is generally considered a pleasant time to visit Disneyland, as you can enjoy outdoor activities without worrying about rain or extreme heat.

The wet season, from June to September, is characterized by high heat, humidity, and frequent rain. Temperatures can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which could impact your comfort and enjoyment of the parks. However, if you’re prepared with rain gear and a plan for indoor activities, you can still have a fantastic time at Disneyland Florida during this season.

Crowd Levels

Crowd levels at Disneyland Florida fluctuate throughout the year. The lowest crowd levels are typically observed in the weeks after Thanksgiving and the first few weeks of January. Moderate crowds are present during long weekends and holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day. The weeks leading up to and during Christmas and New Year’s Eve see the highest crowd levels, often leading to park closures due to reaching maximum capacity.

For a better understanding of crowd levels during your visit, consider checking crowd calendars provided by Magic Guides , Undercover Tourist , Love the Mouse Travel , WDW Prep School , Disney Tourist Blog , and The Park Prodigy. These calendars use historical data to predict crowd levels, helping you plan your visit accordingly.

Operational Hours

Disneyland Florida’s operational hours vary depending on the time of the year and the specific theme park. Generally, the parks open between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM and close between 7:00 PM and 11:00 PM. However, these hours may change based on demand, holidays, and special events.

For the most accurate operational hours for your visit, consult the official Walt Disney World park hours calendar.

Special Events and Activities

Disneyland Florida hosts numerous special events and activities throughout the year. These can range from holiday celebrations, such as Halloween and Christmas events, to themed parties, food and wine festivals, and more. Visiting during these special events can enhance your Disneyland experience, but keep in mind that they may also result in increased crowd levels and ticket prices.

Ticket Prices

Ticket prices for Disneyland Florida can fluctuate throughout the year, based on demand, holidays, and special events. Generally, ticket prices are higher during peak seasons and lower during off-peak times. For the latest information on ticket prices and available discounts, check the official Walt Disney World tickets page.

The best time to visit Disneyland Florida depends on your personal preferences for weather, crowd levels, and events. Whether you prefer the pleasant temperatures of the dry season, the lower crowd levels of the off-peak times, or the special events of the holiday season, there’s a perfect time for everyone to visit Disneyland Florida. Plan your visit carefully, and you’re sure to have a magical experience at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main theme parks in disneyland florida.

Disneyland Florida, or Walt Disney World Resort, consists of four main theme parks: Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.

Can I visit all the parks in one day?

While it is technically possible to visit all four parks in one day, it is not recommended. Each park has numerous attractions and experiences that can take a full day or more to fully enjoy.

How can I avoid long lines at Disneyland Florida?

Disneyland Florida offers a service called FastPass+, which allows you to reserve access to certain attractions, entertainment, and character meet and greets in advance. This can significantly reduce your waiting times.

Are there any discounts available for Disneyland Florida tickets?

Yes, Disneyland Florida often offers discounts on tickets, especially for Florida residents, military personnel, and AAA members. Additionally, you can often save money by purchasing multi-day tickets, as the per-day price decreases the more days you add.

What is the best way to get to Disneyland Florida?

Disneyland Florida is easily accessible by car, and there are plenty of parking options available. Alternatively, if you’re staying in a Disney Resort hotel, you can take advantage of Disney’s Magical Express, a complimentary roundtrip service that whisks you between Orlando International Airport and select Disney Resort hotels.

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Ashley is a true theme park veteran, with insights gleaned from multiple visits to every park in the US. Her goal is to provide an insider's guide to making the most of your visit to any theme park.

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The Best Times to Visit Disneyland for Fewer Crowds, Gorgeous Weather, and Lower Prices

Planning a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth? Here are the best times to go to Disneyland.

Courtesy of Disney

There’s always a reason to plan a Disneyland vacation, but deciding on the best time to go to this classic California theme park destination depends on various factors, from the weather to the events on offer. For a general idea of what to expect when, keep the following seasons in mind.

• High Seasons: Mid-March to July, plus the month of December
• Shoulder Season: January to early March
• Low Season: August to November

Picking the right time of year can mean fewer crowds, shorter lines, and great deals on tickets and hotel rooms. Whether you’re planning to visit with your family or bring some friends along for the ride, here are the best times to go to Disneyland.

Related: The Best Times to Go to Disney World for Fewer Crowds and Beautiful Weather

Best Times to Visit Disneyland for Smaller Crowds

The complexities of a Disneyland vacation range from booking accommodations and travel to navigating Disney Genie+ and dining reservations. Tacking heavy crowds onto that list can burst your magical bubble in no time.

Much like its sibling resort in Florida, Disneyland draws crowds 365 days a year — but some times are busier than others. No matter when you visit, weekdays should be less crowded than weekends, since both tourists and locals visit on days when schools are closed. Unlike Walt Disney World, Disneyland draws many guests from the surrounding region, so the local school schedule can have an outsize impact on crowd size.

With that in mind, fall can be counted on as Disneyland's least busy season. From August (when most California schools start their fall semesters) until November, crowds are typically smaller than at any other time of year — though Disneyland's popular Halloween events can lead to long lines in October. Another off-peak season to consider is winter. December is one of Disneyland's busiest months, thanks to its beloved Christmas and New Year's celebrations, but from January until spring-break season in March, things tend to be quiet.

Best Times to Visit Disneyland for Good Weather

Thanks to Disneyland’s location in Southern California, you can expect moderate weather and sunny days year-round, making almost any date a beautiful time to visit. August is typically the hottest month, and guests visiting then should note that there's not much indoor seating in the parks, particularly at quick-service restaurants. To avoid queueing for your favorite ride under the hot sun, try visiting at another time of year.

Temperatures are at their lowest in December and January — typically bottoming out at around 60 degrees — but there's often a big difference between day and nighttime temperatures at this time of year. It's best to prepare by layering clothing, and maybe by packing an umbrella, too. While SoCal is typically immune from heavy rain, winter is its wettest season.

For a trip that's neither too hot nor too cold (relatively speaking), plan your travel for the spring or fall.

Related: 42 Disney World and Disneyland Tips for a Magical Vacation 

Best Times to Visit Disneyland for Lower Prices

The two main financial factors to keep in mind for a Disney vacation are theme park tickets and hotel accommodations. Entry fees at Disneyland follow a dynamic pricing system, meaning park tickets are tiered based on demand and date of visit. One-day, one-park tickets start at $104 but can increase significantly, especially around major holidays. In the Christmas and New Year's weeks, for example, the least expensive ticket costs $179. 

Throughout the year, Disneyland offers occasional discounts at its three on-site hotels — Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel (which is currently being renovated to become Pixar Place Hotel). These discounts are typically offered during off-peak periods, including weekdays from January through March, when guests can find savings of up to 20 percent.

Unlike at Walt Disney World, there are dozens of hotels within walking distance of Disneyland in addition to the on-property resorts. Staying off-site will lose you some perks, like early park entry, but could offer substantial savings in the long run.

Related: Disneyland vs. Disney World — Everything You Need to Know About Both Theme Park Resorts

Best Times for Adults to Visit Disneyland

Though there are plenty of reasons for adults to visit Disneyland, especially during 2023's Disney100 celebration , the exciting dining options hold particular appeal for grown-up guests. Adult visitors may want to schedule their trip during one of Disneyland's award-winning food festivals. Its longest-running and largest festival, the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival , brings dozens of outdoor kitchens to Disney California Adventure Park each spring, boasting inspired bites and cocktails that celebrate the state’s vibrant food scene. The festival also offers interactive culinary and mixology demonstrations, fitting for a group vacation.

Lunar New Year also dazzles, with tasty dishes and live entertainment scattered throughout the resort at a time when it's typically not too busy. If you don't mind larger crowds, though, consider visiting during the Disney Festival of Holidays. From November to January, this event celebrates the season with delicious treats honoring a number of winter traditions.

Best Times to Visit Disneyland for Families

From classic attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean to the recently opened Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, there’s always something to keep families entertained at Disneyland's two theme parks. If you want a special treat, though, plan your visit for a time when your favorite ride is transformed with an exclusive seasonal overlay. Schedule a trip between September and January to catch perhaps the most iconic overlay of all: Haunted Mansion Holiday, which has transformed the Haunted Mansion ride with details from Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" for more than 20 years.

The holiday season is a wonderful time for families, thanks to the flurry of festive upgrades that bedeck the parks, the on-site hotels, and Downtown Disney. Be sure to check out It’s a Small World if you visit at this time of year — the ride is blanketed in snowy decor for the winter, and its facade is illuminated each evening with a stunning light display.

If planning for an afternoon pool break is important to your family, the sunny Southern California summer is an ideal time to visit. You can find great pool complexes at the Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa — and, when you're ready to hit the parks, you'll find summer perks there, too. To accommodate its flood of summer-break guests, Disneyland typically stays open longer and later in this season than at any other time.

Worst Times to Visit Disneyland

While there's no bad time to visit the "Happiest Place on Earth," school breaks can lead to above-average crowds, prices, and wait times for your favorite rides and attractions. Travelers may even want to consult the calendar of the Los Angeles Unified School District — the second-largest school system in the country lies just minutes north of Disneyland, meaning the parks can fill up rapidly when LA's students are out of class.

Fall and winter can be great times for a less-crowded trip, but budget-conscious guests should consider skipping the month of December. In addition to being one of Disneyland's busiest months, it tends to be the time when ticket prices are at their highest.

Save money, experience more.

Disneyland Crowd Calendar – Best Times to Visit Disneyland in 2024

Let's dive into when to visit Disneyland and how to avoid the Disneyland crowds. Below see the complete Disneyland 2024 calendar with crowds, holiday celebrations, and new attraction offerings to help you decide when to visit Disneyland.

Disneyland has over 18 million visitors per year and you will have the most pleasant vacation if you avoid as many of the crowds those visitors create as possible.

Note –  Currently, theme park reservations are required for all visits. Reservations are available up to 120 days in advance. Read our guide to Disneyland reservations for all details and how to make.

In this planning guide:

Disneyland Crowd Tracker 2024 – When to Visit

Two things affecting Disneyland crowd levels are the events happening throughout the resort and school holidays. These are the two most important Disneyland crowd indicators. So, let's dive into the question: “when will it be crowded at Disneyland?”

Most weekends will be busy no matter when you visit the resort. Disneyland has over 1 million annual pass holders who frequent the resort after school or work.

Take a look at our discount Disneyland tickets page for information on how to save money and info on how long you should visit.

Because Disneyland is both a vacation destination and a local hangout, it can be difficult to judge when there will be the most crowds. In the sections below we have taken into consideration the schedule from the nearby convention center and the previous year's crowd trends to create a calendar that will help you to avoid the crowds at Disneyland.

When to Visit Disneyland in 2024

Most Crowded

• The weeks before and after Easter: mid-March through mid-April, or Spring Break Season
• October which will increase in crowd levels the closer it gets to Halloween
• The week before Christmas through the first couple of weeks of January, Christmas Day and New Years Eve bring in some of the largest crowds the park sees all year long.
• If July 4th falls close to a weekend, then it will be extremely busy
• Check the Anaheim Convention Center website for large conferences. Busy in the late afternoon during these time periods.

Busy, But Not Overrun 

• End of August through Labor Day
• July through early August, during the time that schools have summer break
• The month of December, leading up to Christmas week
• Weekends throughout October and beginning of November while the theme parks are decorated for Halloween

Not Crowded

• Late January through February
• Late April unless Easter falls at that time

Read our full analysis of all the best months and specific dates to visit Disneyland and the worst, most crowded, times at Disneyland .

January through the beginning of May is what many call the “off season.” These weeks have the least amount of crowds, but a lot of the shows will not be running like   the fireworks. This is important to consider in the debate of when to visit Disneyland.

If you are considering visiting Walt Disney World in Florida, be sure to look at our guide to when to visit Disney World .

DON'T MISS THIS DEAL! DISCOUNT Disneyland tickets!  Book your Disneyland tickets now to save big and lock in the current prices before they go up with the yearly price increase! Save more than $40 per ticket when you book at Disneyland + Universal Studios combo ticket. This is one of the best Disneyland ticket deals we have ever had!  Book now >

You can read more about finding discounts and avoiding scams in our guide to   cheap Disneyland tickets .

If your Disneyland hotel prices  are coming up high during a time period that we list as not crowded, be sure to check out the Anaheim Convention Center schedule . During large conventions, the prices for hotels can skyrocket.

This time of year is a blessing and a curse. Many Disneyland rides are closed for refurbishment during the first two months of the year. Check the refurbishment calendar on the official Disneyland website, released 60 days in advance, for closures.

I spent some time putting together a Disneyland attendance calendar detailing all of the different pros and cons of the different months of the year when visiting. The information included in our best time to go to Disneyland calendar is basic Disneyland crowd levels, park hours, and weather.

Be sure to check the Disneyland calendar on the official Disneyland website for more info on closures, entertainment schedules, and other info. This will help you to decide when to visit Disneyland! You can also read our thoughts on the cheapest times to go to Disneyland .

January Disneyland Crowd Calendar and Events in 2024

• Valentine’s Month kicks off in late January- a celebration of the love of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Disneyland park will feature lovely, festive Valentine’s décor, including a new Mickey Mouse flower “portrait” on Main Street, U.S.A. Guests may also choose to partake in Minnie’s Valentine Surprise, a special scavenger hunt experience in Disneyland park.
• Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts' Nite takes place on January 23, 25, 30.
• The  Disneyland Half Marathon weekend  returns to Disneyland on January 11-14, 2024.
• Be sure to read our guide  Visiting Disneyland in January  to get a detailed description of what to expect, what to pack, what to wear, and what current events are planned.

February Disneyland Crowd Calendar and Events in 2024

• Disneyland Lunar New Year Celebration continues until February 18th at California Adventure.

• There are special menus at some of the table service restaurants for Valentine's Day. You will also find lots of holiday-specific desserts and special treats all throughout the resort.
• Disneyland celebrates Black History Month with Celebrate Gospel including Marvin Sapp (on February 17) and Tasha Cobbs Leonard (on February 24) performing at the Fantasyland Theatre.
• In celebration of the Anaheim Ducks Hockey Club's 30th anniversary, Anaheim Ducks Days at Disney California Adventure Park will be a two-day event taking place in Hollywood Land from February 22-23
• Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts' Nite takes place February 1, 6, 8, 12 & 14.
• Be sure to read our guide  Visiting Disneyland in February  to get a detailed description of what to expect, what to pack, what to wear, and what current events are planned.

March Disneyland Crowd Calendar and Events in 2024

• The Disneyland Food and Wine Festival takes place March 1-April 22. The Food and Wine Festival features special festival food booths, cooking demonstrations, and lifestyle presentations. This festival takes place in Disney California Adventure park.
• You'll find special foods throughout the resort for St. Patrick's Day at Disneyland . Don't forget to wear your green!
• Disney Channel Nite will take place March 5 & 7, 2024.
• Be sure to read our guide  Visiting Disneyland in March  to get a detailed description of what to expect, what to pack, what to wear, and what current events are planned.

April Disneyland Crowd Calendar and Events in 2024

• Spring Break season continues in Disneyland with lots of crowds expected every day. Follow our Disneyland crowd calendar tips seen below for help avoiding the crowds.
• Pixar Fest starts April 26th and includes Pixar themed fireworks, a brand new parade, and more.

• Disney has an  Easter egg  hunt throughout both theme parks. You can purchase a scavenger hunt packet from participating shops throughout the resort, find all the eggs, turn in your packet, and then receive a prize. Disneyland's Easter Eggstravaganza will return in April.
• Dapper Day at Disneyland is on April 7th. This is a celebration of the vintage style clothing that used to be worn to Disneyland and that was featured heavily in early concept artwork. About 1/10 of the park usually participates. It is lots of fun to be in the parks during the events. The Disneyland crowds in attendance are usually bearable as those who come out for the event are typically in the parks to take photos more than they are to experience attractions.
• Season of the Force at Disneyland Park will be running from April 5 to June 2 with the return of Hyperspace Mountain, new Star Tours scenes, and more.
• Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite takes place April 16, 18, 23, 25, 30.
• Be sure to read our guide  Visiting Disneyland in April  to get a detailed description of what to expect, what to pack, what to wear, and what current events are planned.

May Disneyland Crowd Calendar and Events in 2024

• Pixar Fest continues and includes Pixar themed fireworks, a brand new parade, and more.
• Disneyland After Dark Star Wars Nite takes place May 2, 7 & 9.
• Enjoy Star Wars celebrations on May 4th in Tomorrowland like the transformation of Space Mountain into Hyperspace Mountain, Captain Phasma and her storm troopers along with Star Wars themed souvenirs and food options.
• Be sure to read our guide Visiting Disneyland in May to get a detailed description of what to expect, what to pack, what to wear, and what current events are planned.

June Disneyland Crowd Calendar and Events in 2024

• Pride Month at Disneyland will feature a variety of themed foods and merchandise including Pride Nite which takes place June 18 & 20.
• Be sure to read our guide  Visiting Disneyland in June  to get a detailed description of what to expect, what to pack, what to wear, and what current events are planned.

July Disneyland Crowd Calendar and Events in 2024

• Disneyland 4th of July can be very crowded due to the popularity of the fireworks show.
• Tickets for the popular Halloween Party  usually go on sale in July. If you have a preference for which date you attend the party you should be ready to book.

August Disneyland Crowd Calendar and Events in 2024

• Disneyland Halloween will begin August 23 and run until Halloween.
• Plaza de la Familia will run from August 23 to November 2.
• Pixar Fest runs until August 4th and includes Pixar themed fireworks, a brand new parade, and more.
• The popular CHOC Walk at Disneyland that raises money for the Children's Hospital of Orange County happens this month. The parks can open later on the day of the race.
• Be sure to read our guide  Visiting Disneyland in August  to get a detailed description of what to expect, what to pack, what to wear, and what current events are planned.

September Disneyland Crowd Calendar and Events in 2024

• The first nights of Disneyland Oogie Boogie's Bash after hours event occur during this month. The event consists of a special Halloween entertainment, an opportunity to wear costumes in the parks, and lots of meet and greets.
• Universal Studios Hollywood, another extremely popular theme park featuring the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter kicks off their Halloween Horror Nights mid September. You can read more about visiting Universal in our Universal Studios Hollywood guide and more about Halloween Horror Nights in our guide here .
• The fan-created Disneyland Gay Days are held at the end of the month. You can expect quite a few people in the parks wearing red to demonstrate they are members of the event. Disneyland offers rainbow merchandise and food offerings throughout the park in recognition of the celebration.
• Read our detailed monthly guide for  visiting Disneyland in September  to find our more details about crowd patterns, events, weather, and more.

October Disneyland Crowd Calendar and Events in 2024

• Disneyland Halloween and Plaza de la Familia continue until Halloween with special attraction overlays and decorations throughout both theme parks.

• October has increasingly become one of the busiest months of the year due to the increase in Fall breaks across the country and the growing popularity of the Halloween season at Disneyland.
• Universal Studios Hollywood continues their Halloween Horror Nights through the first week of November.
• Read our detailed monthly guide for  visiting Disneyland in October  to find our more details about crowd patterns, events, weather, and more.

November Disneyland Crowd Calendar and Events in 2024

• There is another Dapper Day event each year in early November. This day is a celebration of the classic clothing that used to be worn to Disneyland. Sometimes you can find discounted rates at the Disney property hotels for the event by looking on the Dapper Day official website.  
• Plaza de la Familia runs until November 2nd.

• Beginning Thanksgiving weekend, the parks are quite crowded all the way through the Christmas season.
• There are a wide variety of food offerings for Thanksgiving throughout the resort. The Disneyland Hotel has a large Thanksgiving buffet with characters and all of the classic Thanksgiving fixings. See our Disneyland restaurant review article for information on booking dining.
• Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates Christmas with a fantastic Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter featuring beautiful decorations, live entertainment, and a breathtaking new nighttime spectacular. They also have their Grinchmas celebration featuring characters from the Dr. Seuss classic.
• Be sure to read our guide  Visiting Disneyland in November  to get a detailed description of what to expect, what to pack, what to wear, and what current events are planned.

December Disneyland Crowd Calendar and Events 2024

• The Disneyland Christmas celebration continues and runs through the first week of January.
• Universal Studios Hollywood also has fantastic Christmas offerings with their Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Dr. Seuss Grinchmas. Both of these are fantastic additions to any vacation and warrant a drive up to Universal Studios. (You can see information on discount Universal Studios Hollywood tickets her e).

• Disneyland Candlelight Ceremony on Main Street in Disneyland during the first weekend of December. This is the retelling of the birth of Jesus with hundreds of choir singers and a celebrity narrator. You can see video from last year here .
• The two college football teams competing in the Rose Bowl visit Disneyland in the couple of days before the Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, California. The bands from both schools usually also play either marching in the parade or in Town Square in front of the Train Station.
• Disneyland is always crowded on New Year's Eve, but there are lots of special entertainment offerings including bands and the largest Disneyland fireworks celebration of the year. This fireworks show is made up of all of the fireworks shells that were not shot off during the preceding six months due to wind cancellation.
• Be sure to read our guide  Visiting Disneyland in December to get a detailed description of what to expect, what to pack, what to wear, and what current events are planned.

Disneyland Through the Seasons 

Throughout the year there are a few huge special events that make the parks extra magical! The two main holiday seasons, Halloween and Christmas, both bring special entertainment, decorations, and food to the parks. You can also find smaller themed events throughout the year. In addition to holidays, the summer months are also a popular time for guests to visit as this is when Disneyland will typically introduce new additions to the park.

Christmas in Disneyland

At Christmas time you will find Sleeping Beauty Castle lit up with icicles, Main Street laden with decorations, and the rest of the parks beautifully decorated to celebrate the season. Regular shows and experiences are altered to match the holiday theme.

The Haunted Mansion and it’s a small world each receive holiday overlays that transform both attractions. The Haunted Mansion becomes the Haunted Mansion Holiday, which is themed to the “Nightmare Before Christmas.” it's a small world becomes “it's a small world Holiday” adorned with thousands of beautiful lights and the tune of the song inside changes to Jingle Bells.

I highly recommend visiting during Christmas, but expect to be joined by lots of crowds if you are there the week of Christmas through the first week of January. The best time to visit and see the Christmas decorations is the first two weeks of December or the second week of January. You can expect to see busy weekends in December as the locals turn out in droves to see the new holiday decor.

For more information on visiting Disneyland during Christmastime, visit our sister site Disney Dose  and read my top Disneyland Christmas must-sees .

Halloween at Disneyland

During Halloween time, the parks are decorated with jack-o-lanterns and the feeling of fall and Halloween is in the air. See all of the information on Disneyland Halloween in our huge guide.

Disney turns Space Mountain into Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy. Space ghosts are added throughout this classic indoor roller coaster and also the soundtrack is switched to one a bit spookier. The Haunted Mansion is also transformed to be themed to Nightmare Before Christmas. This Haunted Mansion conversion runs from the end of September until the beginning of January.

Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney's California Adventure

Disneyland's California Adventure has taken over hosting the coveted Halloween Party! The Oogie Boogie Bash usually takes place on select dates through September-October at Disney's California Adventure. This party will run in conjunction with the Disneyland Halloween season .

The party consists of fun entertainment, attractions, and candy, all while you wear your Halloween costume inside California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort.

Check out our full guide to Oogie Boogie Bash at California Adventure>

Disneyland in Summertime

In Summertime , Disney often opens new experiences and attractions. This is the best time to “get em while they are hot,” but be careful because that is the same mindset of every visitor and new attractions often have long lines.

The rest of the year Disney has shorter weekend events going on that celebrate certain cultures or smaller holidays like the Lunar New Year, high school graduation, or the 4th of July. In the past they have also held 24 hour days where the parks operate around the clock.

Check out our full guide to summer here.

Recommended Length of Stay

The recommended length for a trip is anything between one and a half days and three full days. Anything more than three days isn’t quite necessary. When we do a trip to Disneyland, it is usually about 2 and a half days over a weekend.

Now that you know when you want to visit Disneyland, it is time to figure out the logistics of where and how you will book your trip. The benefit of staying longer is being able to see and do everything you want at a more leisurely pace. You would also have time to return to your favorite experiences.

Disneyland Crowds Specialists

Now that you have decided when you want to visit Disneyland, it is time to book your trip. We highly recommend a Disneyland package to have the best experience and save the most money while planning your Disneyland vacation. More info here>

More Disneyland Planning Tips

Be sure to subscribe to our Disneyland deals newsletter for all of the latest information on deals and saving tips to help you save money and experience more! Sign up here .

• What hotel should I stay in at Disneyland?
• Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets
• Disneyland Package: Best Places to Save Money on a Disneyland Vacation
• Every Disneyland Restaurant Reviewed
• Five Different Ways to Save Time and Have More Fun at Disneyland
• Best Disneyland Souvenirs 

Lea esta guía de mejor momento para visitar Disneyland en español .

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About Gavin Doyle

Gavin Doyle is a best-selling author and founder of Mickey Visit. He is an expert on helping families save money and experience more at Disney, Universal, and beyond. He has been featured in Forbes, ABC7, Travel+Leisure, the OC Register, Orange County Register, LA Times, Yahoo! News, and more.

Read more about Gavin.

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35 comments add your comment

Excellent information!! Thank you so much for putting all this together. You have answered all my questions!!

Will the D23 Convention August 23-25 bring more crowds before/after the event in August 2019?

It could impact crowd levels but likely we’ll see an increase that time of year regardless because of typical summer crowds and Star Wars land. I wouldn’t let it deter your trip!

Would you recommend going to Disneyland March 3-6 or the last week of April?

Either way you’re looking at good choices- the International Food and Wine Festival runs from March 3rd- April 23rd so if that’s something you want to see then I’d recommend March. If you’re looking to enjoy the Easter activities, you’ll likely still see those happening in the end of April. As for crowds- either date selection will have a similar crowd level that might be higher certain days with Spring Break season.

This is very helpful. How are crowds Jan 2nd. We ar going to the Rose Bowl and then want to go the day after. 2020. Thank you

There will be crowds because of the Rose Bowl but if you arrive early, use FastPass/MaxPass, and follow a plan you will be fine!

We’re looking at going in spring 2020, and need to book our hotel about a year in advance to get the best rates–any decent projections as to when the crowds might be lowest?

Spring can be tricky with predicting crowd levels- I would avoid typical ‘Spring Break’ periods as those weeks in late March/early April get quite busy.

I’m getting that impression–I’ve been to Disneyland more often in the fall (last time was just after Halloween, 2015), and Galaxy’s Edge is making next year all the more uncertain, but we’ve pretty much decided to go the first half of 2020, as the fall doesn’t work well for us next year. At this point, my best guess is last week April/first week May might be a good time–appreciate any thoughts!

I think that sounds like your best bet for avoiding the Spring Break crowds!

Will they have fireworks during May 12-16? Planning a trip for that week.

Yes, there will be! Check Disneyland’s daily events schedule here for times- https://disneyland.disney.go.com/calendars/day/2019-05-12/

Would it be super crowded Tuesday may 14th. I’m trying to avoid extreme crowds for my young child.

Visiting Disneyland in May: What to Bring, What to Do, What to Expect – this article will help you with visiting during May. If you arrive early, use FastPass, and have a plan for the day it will make navigating any crowds much easier.

We are visiting from Australia from the 20-24 June, I’ve just read the Star Wars is only open to public 24 June, with digital queing system? Is there anything we can do in adavance to get to see this?

If you don’t have a reservation for June 20-23rd- you won’t be able to access the land those days. June 24th is the first day it’s open to the public with no advance reservations required. I would recommend getting there as early as possible, that first day is going to be hectic. If it were me, I would line up two hours before the park even opens! Once the land hits capacity, that’s when they will move to that digital queuing system. The earlier you’re there, the better. Good luck!

What would be the be the best days, with the least crowds in November to go to Disneyland?

Disneyland will typically be crowded around any holiday weekends so you can expect Thanksgiving weekend to be busy. I would aim for earlier or later in the month, if you can.

We are visiting in January 2020, have 4 day hopper passes and looking to go 19,20,21,22,23 of January. Which days would be better to go and how busy do you think it will be given Martin Lurther King day on the 20th

Any holiday has an impact on the crowds at Disneyland plus you’re going right after the Rise of the Resistance (the new attraction in Star Wars land) is set to open so I would be prepared for crowds. Arrive early and use a good strategy each day and you’ll be fine.

Hi hoping you can help! My family and I are planning a trip to Disneyland this October. We’ve decided to either go on the days 22-24 or 29-31. We understand both weeks will have the Halloween party which we won’t be going to. My question is what would be the better week to go? The 22-24 or 29-31?

Halloween weekend will likely see larger crowds so if you’re trying to avoid crowds then I’d recommend the 22-24. But keep in mind this is a busy time of year for Disneyland regardless so you should be prepared for some higher crowd levels! Arrive to the parks early each day at opening and you’ll get plenty done before the crowds arrive.

Looking at the third week of January. How will the crowds look? In addition, will Jungle Cruise and/or Matterhorn Bobsleds be closed?

Would the 20-24th be better or 27-31st?

The new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge ride, The Rise of the Resistance, opens January 17th so I’d pick the 27th-31st to give the parks a few more days to calm down with the excitement of the new ride. Although, it may still be busy either way since this ride is much anticipated!

I have been to both Disneyland and Disney at least, I kid you not at least 30 times since I was 18 years. My first visit was in Florida , at 18, where I fell in love with, It’s A Small World. Since then I lived in California for 2 1/2 years while it under a major refurbishing. Moved back to my home and it opened within one week!Last year I made another attempt to experience it again. It was closed to change into their Christmas decorations and reopened while I was on the plane flying home! This year we moved our trip to later in Nov. but I just ran across a site that said it was closed for an indefinite amount of time. PLEASE TELL ME IT IS NOT TRUE!! trying to experience that show again, from when I was 18 to my now 67 years of age, has been such a disappointment.

When I go I usually spend a week or more in California, but I usually do more than just Disney. I usually do two days at Disney, and a day at each: Universal, Knotts, and Six Flags. I also usually throw a chill day in there to go to the beach or something like that. Or, if I want to go the San Diego route I might throw in a day at Sea World or the San Diego zoo.

I’m wondering would Disney be less full on the 31st of October or on the first of November

Halloween is always a busy day to visit but it’s also a great day to spend at Disneyland- either day could be a bit busy due to the seasonal decorations for Halloween.

What days in October or November will maybe be less full

In all honesty, most of October and November will be busy since the holidays are a popular time of the year to visit! If you arrive early each day, make dining reservations and have a solid plan you should do just fine.

What about the 27 of October or should I just avoid that week all together?

When would be the best time to go to Disneyland around November/December 2021?

You can’t go wrong either of these months- with the holiday celebration it’s one of the best times of the year to visit. The parks will get more crowded the closer it gets to Christmas so that is something to consider.

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2024 Best & Worst Months to Visit Disneyland

Planning a trip to Disneyland and trying to determine the best month to visit in 2024? We analyze crowds, weather, seasonal events, park hours, and other factors to rank every month of the year for Disneyland in this post, plus our 3 favorite weeks to visit.

It’s been a wild ride since Disneyland and DCA reopened. There have been waves of pent-up demand made for a busy summer, followed by attendance fizzling out, and that process repeating itself multiple times. The debut and subsequent suspensions of Magic Key Annual Pass sales has further complicated crowd predictions, as have ticket deals for Southern California residents.

The good news is that things have started getting back to normal in the last 8 months. Looking forward to 2024, this should be the first normal  year at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure since 2018. (Due to the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, 2019 was anything but normal. Ditto the following two-plus years, for obvious reasons.) Pent-up demand is already starting to exhaust itself, and it’s forecast to slow even further in 2024.

With that said, there’s no such thing as a totally normal year at Disneyland Resort. While we are fully expecting familiar patterns to return to the attendance dynamic over the course of the entire year, there are some monkey wrenches thrown into the mix due to differences in the the  Full 2024 Calendar of Events at Disneyland as compared to last year and the exhaustion of pent-up demand.

Accordingly, we’re ranking all months of the year. Even if our expectations about crowds are slightly off, weather, seasonal events, and other factors are consistent from year to year, making this resource equally useful for planning a trip to Disneyland in 2024 or 2025.

A lot of resources already exist to help planners choose the best time to visit Disneyland, but they do so from an objective, statistical perspective. While crowd calendars are a great resource, we believe in a more holistic approach to planning a Disneyland visit.

To be sure, everyone loves low crowds, but those low crowds don’t tell the whole story. When it comes to Disneyland, low crowd levels are sometimes accompanied by shorter operating hours, poor weather, additional refurbishments, and a lack of seasonal events. Few people evaluate their vacation’s success by some statistical ‘fun quotient’, so we feel it only makes sense to approach the best months to visit Disneyland from a similar qualitative approach.

That’s our belief, at least, and one that has proven popular with readers of our Disneyland Crowd Calendars: When to Visit & Avoid . We’ve had a lot of questions for greater guidance in that post, so we thought we’d provide that here. In this, we provide the pros & cons of every month at Disneyland and rank the best and worst times to visit accordingly.

As such, the point of this post is to rank every month of the year for visiting Disneyland in light of all relevant considerations . After ranking each month with accompanying analysis (so you can determine whether you’d weigh the factors differently) we also cut to the chase and choose our 3 favorite weeks of the year for visiting Disneyland.

In order of worst to best, here’s how every month of the year at Disneyland ranks…

12. June – Due to the summer tourist season mixed with pent-up demand (people making up for lost time and taking trips), June has become one of the busiest months of the year. It has been busier than July, which used to be the busier summer vacation month.

June being busier than July actually makes sense for one big reason: lower tier Magic Key passholders are not blocked out earlier in June, causing them to descend upon the park. That means there’s a dynamic with both tourists and  locals in June, whereas July has fewer of the latter.

The only other major consideration for the summer months is weather. While June is one of the hottest months of the year in California, it’s typically not as hot and humid as Florida. Beyond that, it comes down (mostly) to luck whether June, July, or August will have the “worst” weather. Click here to view our June Disneyland Crowd Calendar .

11. July – Pretty much the same story with July. This is often the peak of California’s summer tourist season, but it has more narrowly-tailored Magic Key blockouts. With pent-up demand exhausting itself, we expect to see June and July 2024 crowds die down quite a bit, making the summer far less busy than a lot of other months.

We could end up being “wrong” and misjudging the new crowd dynamic, but it doesn’t really matter. Regardless of what happens with summer crowds, we’d pick a different month if visiting Disneyland as tourists. There’s too much downside and not enough potential upside. The summer just doesn’t have enough selling points, even if you set aside crowds for some reason.

In general, July is not as bad at Disneyland as Walt Disney World. You still have the potential for hot weather, but it’s not nearly as humid. There’s also an influx of summer tourists, but far fewer than Florida. The days around Independence Day are an exception, as they are exceptionally busy despite the blockouts. The upside to July 4th at Disneyland is added entertainment and special fireworks. Click here to view our July Disneyland Crowd Calendar .

10. October – As Halloween becomes increasingly popular, October has become–on average–the second-busiest month of the year. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, as October had become increasingly chaotic in “normal” years. In large part, this can be attributed to Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party at Disney California Adventure and more demand for all things Halloween at both parks.

On top of that, October has a surplus of “crazy” holidays–half of which I think Utah and Nevada are making up just to mess with Disneyland crowd levels. Nevada, you don’t get your own holiday . I’ll sooner recognize “Whacking Day” as an official holiday. Aside from this nonsense Utah and Nevada are celebrating, there’s also Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day. While not major holidays on their own, many school districts use that as a proxy for fall breaks. And the schools that don’t typically have their breaks scattered throughout other long weekends in October.

Then there’s Halloween, and everyone knows that those heathens in California celebrate by taking 13 days off work. 😉 Seriously, though, October has become a really busy month at Disneyland. The weather and seasonal entertainment are both great (just check out our Ultimate Guide to Halloween at Disneyland ), but crowds are too unpredictable and heavy. Click here to view our October Disneyland Crowd Calendar .

9. March  – This month will be much worse than last year due to Easter falling on March 31, 2024 (as opposed to in April). Due to that, Los Angeles County and most Orange County school districts both have their Spring Break in the last couple weeks of the month, and out of state schools will be scattered throughout the month.

Nevertheless, the first ~3 weeks of the months should not be that bad. Then there’s weather, which is starting to improve in March. It’s also the first full month of Disney California Adventure’s Food & Wine Festival , which usually runs through April. It’s an enjoyable event that does not really draw crowds, but provides a nice way to get a taste of California’s diverse cuisine.

8. April – Even though Easter isn’t in April 2024, there are still a ton of school districts throughout California and other western states that have spring break during the month. That means you’ll have a mix of locals and tourists who are on vacation descending upon the parks during the first half of the month.

This makes for the first couple weeks of April one of the busier times of year, and also most expensive dates of the year at hotels near Disneyland Resort. This is especially frustrating at Disneyland, a park that was simply not built to accommodate as many guests as cram into the parks during the month of April.

Normally, there would be two silver linings. First, that the last two weeks of April should be quieter as Spring Break winds down. Second, April weather in Southern California is great, with little precipitation and warmer temperatures–but not too warm . Click here to view our April Disneyland Crowd Calendar .

7. February – Crowds in February 2024 shouldn’t be as bad as they were last year. This year, there’s no ‘100 Years of Wonder’ celebration, new nighttime spectaculars in both parks, or a new ride. All of that elevated crowd levels in February last year.

However, there’s still the week of Presidents’ Day, which will significantly spike crowds (avoid that entire week). Even before that, there’s an uptick earlier in the month due to the Lunar New Year celebration…causing increased crowds the first half of the month.

All of that is the downside of February. The upside is fewer refurbishments and warmer weather than January. Click here to view our February Disneyland Crowd Calendar .

6. August – This month has seen its stock soar in the last two years, driven largely by the new dynamic of summer vacation crowds dropping precipitously towards the start of August, rather than halfway through. There’s no reason to expect this trend to change for August 2024. This year, the added wrinkle is that the D23 Expo will run August 9-11, 2024–and it’ll spike crowds in the lead-up to that event.

The biggest downside is the potential for really hot weather, but you still have that reprieve from locals. The additional upside to August is that you don’t have the Independence Day spike. While the entirety of August has improved, crowds get  really good mid-month, as that’s when schools start going back into session.

While it didn’t make the cut for our best weeks of the year, there’s a fourth “sweet spot” in the exact middle of the month that has long operating hours, reduced crowds, and Magic Key passholder blockouts. Strongly consider this week if you’re thinking of doing a late Summer 2024 vacation at Disneyland. Click here to view our August Disneyland Crowd Calendar .

5. December  – This month slips a bit for our Disneyland rankings for one reason and one only: crowds . Everything else about December at Disneyland is great: cool weather, beautiful decorations, wonderful entertainment, and great food. (See our Ultimate Guide to Christmas at Disneyland for more on why this is the greatest time of year at the parks.)

We spend a lot of time at Disneyland in December, and love every minute of it. If we had no choice but to visit during this month, we absolutely would. So don’t let that ranking discourage you too much–it’s mostly that November is superior to December. Even this comes with an asterisk, as the first week of December is typically the least-busy of the holiday season. (That’s a relative term–it’s still usually around 5/10 on the crowd calendar.)

That ‘confluence of greatness’ at Disneyland in December means that a lot of Magic Key passholders prioritize visiting in December, as do locals who are not passholders but visit once or twice per year. Add to that tourists, who are drawn to the parks this time of year, and it’s a recipe for heavy attendance. About the only times that are not chaotic are the couple of days after most blockouts take effect–but before Christmas vacation crowds arrive–and any day that it rains. Click here to view our December Disneyland Crowd Calendar .

4. January – The first month of the year ranks highly and is once again the winter doldrums, filled with refurbishments and low crowds. With that said, there are some important caveats to that, as January 2024 will most definitely be a month of high highs and low lows .

First, you do not want to visit in the first week of the new year. That’s because Los Angeles and Orange County schools do not go back into session following their winter breaks until January 8, 2024. Up until then, it’s still the holiday season at Disneyland–especially since ALL Magic Keys were blocked out for (at least) the 12 days before that. Expect crowd levels on par with the worst of Christmas as a result.

Second, the Disneyland Half Marathon returns for January 11-14, 2024. As a result, we’re expecting the week leading up to this to have elevated crowds, as the runDisney crowd tends to travel for events. So in other words, the low crowds won’t really  arrive  until January 15, 2024. The first half of the month will range from slightly elevated to very busy.

However, just about everything after should have low crowds. After January 15, it’ll feel like the true off-season at Disneyland. The only other things to be mindful of are the Martin Luther King holiday weekend (which mostly coincides with the Disneyland Half Marathon) and Southern California ticket specials typically converge to spike crowds a bit in mid-January. There’s also the start of the Lunar New Year Celebration at Disney California Adventure , which causes a spike to attendance at DCA. It still will be one of the best months of the entire year when all is said and done. Click here to view our January Disneyland Crowd Calendar .

3. May  – Normally, May is a “sweet spot” for Disneyland. It’s before schools are out for summer and also before Magic Key passholders who are blocked out for the summer start making their “last visits.” As such, May normally sees a lull in demand before the arrival of summer tourist season, and everything that brings with it.

This year, the only things to be mindful of are the return of Fantasmic (May 24, 2024) and the approximately two weeks leading up to the expiration of the Southern California resident ticket deal (ends June 2, 2024). Basically, the last couple weeks of the month will see elevated crowds as people rush to race their unused days before those tickets expire, and try to see Fantasmic for the first time in about a year.

The first half of the month will once again be the sweet spot between spring break and summer seasons. This was one of the very best times of the year last year, and that should be true again in May 2024. On top of that, May is also usually a strong month weather-wise, with mild temperatures. The downside is that Grad Nites can throw a wrench into crowd levels on any particular evening. Click here to view our May Disneyland Crowd Calendar .

2. September – Disneyland in September shares the same low crowd levels as Walt Disney World, but what it doesn’t share is humidity and hot weather. September has been getting busier, but still typically has the lowest or second-lowest average wait times of the year. It also helps that the D23 Expo will not occur in September this year.

Halloween Time will run for the entirety of September 2024, and that’ll cause a bit of a bump to crowds. However, that’s mostly a plus as the added seasonal entertainment far outweighs the increased attendance. Moreover, the spook season crowds shouldn’t show up in full force until October. September is reliably off-season, as school has just gone back into session and California’s summer tourist season has come to an end. Weekends can still see higher crowds, but weekdays tend to be great. We expect the same for September 2024.

As an added bonus, September is typically warm but totally bearable in Anaheim. On top of the crowds and pleasant weather, you have the Halloween entertainment, special food, and attraction overlays, which we highly recommend seeing. Click here to view our September Disneyland Crowd Calendar .

1. November  – Christmas is the absolute best time of the year at Disneyland from a qualitative perspective. The sweet spot for enjoying the holiday season entertainment is the beginning of November and right after the popular Veterans Day holiday in mid-November until Thanksgiving.

With that said, it’s important to note that from a quantitative perspective, November 2024 is not #1. Average wait times will almost certainly be lower in January, May, August, September, plus maybe February and April. If this were purely a crowd calendar ranking, November 2024 would be middle of the pack.

However, the elevated attendance is not that pronounced until Thanksgiving week (one of the very worst weeks of the year), and early November (minus Veterans Day weekend) can be relatively relaxed. Moreover, this is not a simply a ranking of the months based on crowds–it’s qualitative, and no month is better than November from that perspective.

Unlike the Florida parks, the holiday season all starts in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on the same day, so there’s no disadvantage in going early. This entertainment is exceptional, and makes the higher crowd levels totally worth it. The festive atmosphere, attraction overlays, decorations, and seasonal foods–plus typically good weather make mid-November an unbeatable time to visit, even with only so-so crowds. Click here to view our November Disneyland Crowd Calendar .

Want to cut past all of those rankings and simply looking for a point-blank recommendation as to when you should visit Disneyland? Here are our 3 favorite weeks of the year, followed by some explanation:

• Thanksgiving “Bookends” (November 12-22, 2024 or December 1-7, 2024)
• Last week of August or first week of September (August 25 through September 7, 2024)
• Early May (May 1-12, 2024)

Our first (and favorite) times to visit are the weeks before and after Thanksgiving week. Typically, Christmas season at Disneyland starts the weekend before this, meaning you have a week gap between the start of Disneyland’s holiday season and the start of actual holiday travel. This is a ‘sweet spot’ for low crowds, perfect weather, and seasonal entertainment.

The early Fall 2024 offseason is trickier because Halloween is starting earlier (August 23, 2024) and there are a couple of holiday weeks in the second half of the month. While those don’t have a major impact on crowds, we’d still skew towards late August and early September 2024 as a result. We’d definitely opt for the earlier window here, as Halloween Time at Disneyland will be fully kicked off by then.

Finally, we like just about any dates in late April or May 2024 up until the end of the month, when locals will be scrambling to use the remainder of their SoCal tickets, which expire on June 2, 2024. This is after the madness of Spring Break and Easter, but before summer tourist season. It’s also before locals try to get their last visits in before the summer blockouts. With nothing new of import debuting in May 2024, it should be a great month to visit.

All in all, this should be a useful guide to strategically plan your visit (or visits) to Disneyland Resort in 2024 or even 2025. While some of the dates will shift–and any impact of things debuting or returning in 2024 won’t be relevant, the general contours of these rankings remain (mostly) consistent from year to year.  Even if you only follow this guide loosely, we think you’re bound to choose a good time to head to Disneyland!

Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets . Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings . For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews . For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney . For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide . Finally, for guides  beyond Disney , check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and tons of other places!

Your Thoughts

What do you think about the best and worst months to visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in 2024? Any specific ideal months/weeks of your own that you’d recommend people visit Disneyland? Do you think weather plays any factor when it comes to the SoCal parks? Do you think crowds have increased over the last couple of years, across the board? Any questions? Hearing from you is half the fun, so please share your thoughts in the comments below!

Written by Tom Bricker

Hi Tom, Thanks for your thoughtful and entertaining analysis as always! Our family is scheduled to visit Disneyland (first time in 5 years, first time ever for three of my kids) the week after Easter April 10-15 during their Spring Break which it appears may still have substantial spring break crowds. Our alternative option would be the week of May 22, after their school is out, which looks also complicated by end of the local ticket deal and Grad nights. Which do you think would be the better option between the two in terms of crowds? Thanks!!

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These are the best times to visit Disneyland

Editor's Note

Disneyland may be the Happiest Place on Earth, but it can be even happier if you know the sweet spots in sunny California's calendar. The ideal times to visit are when the crowds are manageable, the weather cooperates and the resort has even more magical offerings.

Related: Everything you need to know about visiting Disneyland

As someone who visits Disneyland in Anaheim with my family multiple times a year, I've learned the best days and seasons to visit the theme parks. In my travels, I've discovered how to avoid stressful crowds and manage costs. For your best time at Disneyland, here are some suggestions to help you plan your next vacation.

Best time of year for weather at Disneyland

If you aren't from Southern California, you might think the weather is perfect year-round. Although Disneyland has many more ideal weather days than Walt Disney World in Orlando , the weather doesn't always cooperate in Anaheim.

Summers in Anaheim can be hot and sometimes even humid. Unpleasantly warm weather usually continues well into the early fall. In fact, August and September are the months when I've found myself most often caught by a brutal heatwave. May, June, July and October can have some extremely warm days as well.

Contrary to the lyrics in the well-known song, it does occasionally rain in Southern California — rain is most likely in January and February. That shouldn't keep you from visiting, though. Locals with annual passes (called Magic Keys at Disneyland) often stay away when it rains. On rainy days, crowds can be incredibly light, and there are plenty of rides and shows at Disneyland to experience inside.

Best time to visit Disneyland for special events

Disneyland does seasonal and special events as well as any destination can, so many visitors plan vacations around holidays, festivals or grand openings. Here's what happens in every season.

Summer events

There are no recurring annual summer events at Disneyland, but visitors can usually count on a special theme, anniversary celebration or a grand opening of an attraction or land most years.

This summer, Disneyland will celebrate Pixar Fest in both parks from April 26 to Aug. 4. The event is expected to offer a new parade, a returning nighttime spectacular, a new food festival and quite a few new characters from more recent Pixar movies.

Nothing has been officially announced for summer 2025, but the resort will celebrate its 70th anniversary July 17, 2025. Disneyland will certainly hold several special events around that milestone, as it always does in anniversary years.

Fall events

Fall is all about Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort . The not-so-spooky decorations and autumn offerings don't start quite as early as they do at Walt Disney World, but they will debut earlier than ever in 2024 with a late August launch date.

Disneyland cast members completely transform both parks in the fall season, so it's no surprise that this is a favorite time of year for many Disneyland fans to visit. Guests can experience ride overlays like Haunted Mansion Holiday and Guardians of the Galaxy — Monsters After Dark, meet costumed characters and Disney villains, or experience Dia de los Muertos.

On certain nights in September and October, Disneyland also hosts a special hard-ticketed Halloween party event in the Disney California Adventure area called Oogie Boogie Bash . The event is incredibly popular and always sells out almost as soon as tickets go on sale.

Winter events

The holidays at the Disneyland Resort are another popular time to visit. Main Street, U.S.A. gets a giant tree, and Sleeping Beauty Castle features snowcapped turrets and lights. The decorations begin to go up the day after Halloween as soon as the pumpkins are put away. Disneyland doesn't unveil the full portfolio of holiday decor until around Veterans Day, and the holiday season extends through early January.

After the new year (usually in late January and early February), Disneyland also has a Lunar New Year festival. The event has grown substantially in the last few years, but it isn't yet on the radar of many visitors. 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.

Spring events

Spring is when the annual Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival takes place. Disneyland sets up about a dozen booths featuring California-inspired cuisine that is not offered at any other time of year. The dates fluctuate, but the event usually starts in early March and runs through late April, covering most school spring break dates.

Related: The best credit cards for your Disney vacation

Best time to visit Disneyland for low crowds

If the last few years have taught us anything about Disneyland crowds, it is that they are rarely low anymore. Disneyland is extraordinarily popular with both tourists and locals alike, and it's increasingly rare to find times when other guests stay away.

That said, looking at a crowd calendar (like the ones offered by Touring Plans ) can help. Also, take a peek at Disneyland's Magic Key blockout calendars. Locals make up a huge portion of the crowds at Disneyland. 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.

Times of year when crowds are traditionally lower include:

• January and February : Crowds are lowest this time of year (except on the three-day holiday weekends). This is also the time when Disneyland traditionally takes several rides out of service for refurbishment, so you may miss some of your favorites. Park hours are also shorter.
• Early March : Spring break crowds are spread out over multiple weeks at Disneyland in March and April, but if you can come about a week before the critical mass begins, the payoff is usually solid.
• Late April and early May : This time of year between spring break and summer vacation is traditionally slower but can sometimes be skewed by spring ticket deals for locals. This year's spring ticket deal doesn'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 : A lot of California and West Coast schools go back in session in the middle of the month of August, and the parks can empty out for a short while as a result. The last two weeks of August have historically had low crowds, but with Halloween Time starting earlier than usual Aug. 23, expect this low-crowd period to be compressed this year.
• Early and mid-September : After Labor Day weekend, there can be a lull in attendance before the Halloween parties have traditionally started. The dates for Oogie Boogie Bash in 2024, however, have not been announced. If the parties start earlier than in past years, this low-crowd period may disappear.
• Mid-November : After Veterans Day but before Thanksgiving week is another sweet spot in the crowd calendar most years.
• Early December : There's another lull in crowds after the Thanksgiving travelers go home but before schools start letting kids out for the winter holidays.

Guests can do their best to avoid crowds when picking a date, but it's also essential to have a good touring plan as a backup if you stumble into a higher-crowd time. See TPG's guide to skipping lines at Disneyland for suggestions.

Best time to visit Disneyland for lower prices

The cost of a Disneyland vacation can be substantial, so many visitors want to travel when they can get the best deals — crowds and weather notwithstanding.

Affordable airfare

There are year-round deals for flying to Disneyland . According to historical data from Skyscanner , the best months to book cheap flights to Los Angeles include January, February and September.

Related: The best airports for Disneyland

There are half a dozen airports in greater Los Angeles, the largest of which is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). If you have nonstop service from your home airport into airports other than LAX, the best and easiest airports to use are Orange County's John Wayne Airport (SNA) and Long Beach Airport (LGB). 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.

Affordable hotels

Disneyland draws travelers from many western states who fly or drive in for quick weekend visits. For this reason, Disneyland-area hotels are usually more expensive on Friday, Saturday and even Sunday nights. If you can visit midweek, you'll usually find cheaper hotel prices.

If you are on the hunt for less expensive hotel prices, also take a look at the schedule of major conferences held at the nearby Anaheim Convention Center. Rates soar when a large conference is in town.

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)
• May (excluding Memorial Day weekend)
• November (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 Disneyland

If you aren't trying to over-optimize your Disneyland vacation, how can you at least avoid the absolute worst times to visit? I'd contend that it's possible to have fun at Disneyland 365 days a year, but there are some guidelines on how to avoid 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. Crowd levels can be truly epic, with the parks often reaching capacity on several days during this time. Line-cutting tools like Disney Genie+ passes can often sell out and run out of return times early in the day. Prices for everything from hotels to tickets are at their absolute maximum. Early winter rain storms can derail vacationers this time of year as well.

Other expensive and crowded dates to watch out for include the few days right around Thanksgiving as well as the first day or two of any brand-new park attraction, especially a new ride or land debut.

Bottom line

There'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 when weather, crowds and special events all align can be some of the very best options.

Two of my favorite times to visit are early December and early March; this is when the crowds die down, the weather is great and Disney spins its seasonal magic.

Related reading:

• How to use points for Disney tickets
• Where to stay at Disneyland: On vs. off-property hotel comparisons
• Skip the lines at Disneyland: 10 line-busting tips for less waiting and more playing
• Best restaurants at Disneyland
• Save money on Disney resort stays by renting points

Best Time of Year To Visit Disneyland (2023 and 2024)

Posted on Published: 09/12/2023

Walt Disney World, located in Central Florida, definitely has better times of the year to visit. Disneyland in Anaheim does as well, but perhaps to a slightly lesser extent.

The Central Florida annual weather patterns vary quite a bit more than those of Southern California, but weather can still play a part in choosing when to visit Disneyland. While we don’t think there’s ever a wrong time to visit, we’ve put together our thoughts on the best time of year to visit Disneyland.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you. I have received complimentary admission to Disneyland as part of my participation in a conference and have also paid my own way.

Save money on your Disneyland California park tickets and your Southern California vacation by booking through  Get Away Today . You can also save $10 on your  Southern California  vacation of 2 days or more with the code FTM10, and it will include the discount Disneyland tickets.

Best Time of Year To Visit Disneyland

When choosing the best time of year to visit Disneyland, there are some factors to consider. It’s important to note that there really isn’t a bad time – if you have a specific time that you need to visit Disneyland – for an occasion, one of the seasonal events, or other reasons, then you should definitely visit whenever you’d like. You can have a good time whenever you visit.

Since the reopening in 2021, both Disneyland parks require park reservations as well as valid tickets to enter the parks. This does require a little bit more advanced planning, especially if you are visiting Disneyland Resort during peak time.

Be sure to check the availability calendar before planning your trip, and make those reservations ASAP. Park reservations are expected to go away in 2024.

Because of this, theoretically, the parks shouldn’t be as busy as they were before the shutdown. However, they still can be crowded, with long lines, especially for the most popular attractions.

Weather Considerations

Do you want to plan your vacation around general weather patterns? Southern California has more consistent weather than other parts of the country, but there is still some seasonality. For the warmest days, visit in the summer months of July, August, and early September.

I’ve been in July, and while it’s hot, it’s not nearly as humid as other parts of the country. Winter months aren’t cold, but you may need a sweatshirt, especially when the sun goes down.

Rain is typically not too much of a factor, as it doesn’t ever rain too much. February is typically the rainiest month, but even then it’s just a few rainy days a month.

Crowd Considerations

If you are hoping to visit Disneyland when it’s less crowded, you’ll want to avoid peak season when there are typically large crowds. This would include any long weekends (like President’s Day weekend, Memorial Day weekend, and Labor Day weekend as well as summer vacation, school breaks, spring break, and holidays (especially the Christmas holiday weeks and Thanksgiving week).

Sometimes, however, when the crowd levels are high, the park hours are extended a bit. So that could be an important factor in your decision.

Slower times tend to be late August (when school is back in session), late January, and early May (before school gets out).

In most cases, if you are planning a vacation (any vacation) over a school vacation or holiday, you really don’t have a choice. If you work in a school or have kids in school, school holidays are often your only option.

There are lots of things you can do to maximize a visit during a busy time – including purchasing Genie+ to minimize wait times, arriving at the parks early (when you will typically see short lines for most of the rides), and getting the park hopper option on your theme park tickets to provide more flexibility.

There are some unofficial crowd calendars online, and those are typically based on historical data. Lower crowds are never a guarantee.

Event Considerations

Disneyland hosts many seasonal events throughout the year, and you may want to time your visit with one of these events. Here are some of the most popular events, along with the timing associated with them.

The Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival is one of the most popular events of the year and is my favorite. It exclusively takes place at Disney’s California Adventure . Dates vary by year, but in the past, it started in late February/early March and runs through April. Dates for next year have not yet been released.

The Food and Wine festival includes seminars and cooking demonstrations, as well as food booths offering small plates and drinks for a nominal fee. I enjoy making a meal out of these samples, going from booth to booth rather than reserving lunch or dinner in the parks. The first time I visited Disneyland, I visited during this time and had a great time at the festival.

The holidays are also a popular and Magical time to visit. At Halloween time, you can expect a variety of fun activities, including Halloween costumed characters, a special Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas-themed Haunted Mansion, Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark, and Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween. These events typically take place starting in early September and running through October 31st.

There’s also the Oogie Boogie Bash, a special ticketed event that is held after hours on select nights. It takes place at Disney’s California Adventure and includes admission three hours before the event, as well as five hours of the actual party. It can be lots of fun with limited capacity, special entertainment, and more, but it does sell out fast. Attending one of these special ticketed events is often a great way to visit the parks with fewer people.

The parks also host Christmas season events. At Disneyland, these include holiday lights, a festival of holidays, and Christmas overlays on popular rides like it’s a small world, the Haunted Mansion, and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters. Other events include a themed parade and themed fireworks. The holiday season at Disneyland generally starts right after Halloween ends in early November and runs until New Year’s Day.

Other smaller special events take place at Disneyland throughout the year. These include the Eggstravaganza, Lunar New Year (at Disney’s California Adventure), and Grad Nites (for high school seniors).

Overall, if you aren’t interested in the events, it may be worth planning around them. However, if you love Halloween and/or Christmas, these particular events can be so fun to experience. I always love seeing the parks decorated – especially at Christmas time.

If I were to choose the best months to visit, I’d probably choose either March (for the Food and Wine Festival, May (for overall nice weather), or October (for Halloween events).

What is your favorite time to visit Disneyland?

Visiting  Disneyland CA? Click  to see all of our Disneyland posts with reviews, tips, overviews of the best rides, and more.

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Best Time for Disney World, Orlando Attractions

Many of our guests wonder as to when is the best time to visit Disney area theme parks and attractions in Orlando, Florida. Generally, periods in early winter, late spring, late summer and most of the fall dates are considered to be low season. Other periods of the year, such as late winter, early spring, including dates around Easter holiday, dated between June and August are of higher demand. In addition to these seasonal factors, you may want to keep in mind the following facts and decide as to what is the best time for you. (It is your vacation after all).

We all visit Disney for the sake of our kids even though, guests of all ages can have great fun at the many theme parks that Orlando area has to offer. You best time to travel depends on whether or not you are traveling with school-aged kids. Generally speaking, the parks are packed when the schools are out. That translates into higher rates for vacation villas as well as long queues at the attractions within each park. At the end, you get done less for more money. Not a winner! However, what choice do you have if the kids are in school and cannot be pulled out for a whole week? Well, at least you are saving by renting a villa as opposed to stepping into a cramped hotel room.

In fact, even our villa rates also follow the crowds. Busy seasons of the year are priced higher than the slow seasons. So, if at all possible try to make a reservation for non-peak seasons and you can save hundreds of dollars and visit more attractions in less time. At the same time, if you want to celebrate the New Years Eve at the parks you can do that too.

If you are not traveling with school-aged children, you should consider planning your vacation during the lowest attendance periods, which are:

• January second week to the week prior to Presidents' Week in February.
• Between week after Labor Day and the week before Thanksgiving.
• The week following Thanksgiving until mid-December.

Peak Attendance periods are:

• Presidents' Day week in February (3rd Monday in February)
• Mid-March through Late April ("School is out - Spring Break")
• Memorial Day weekend (Last Monday in May)
• Mid-June through Labor Day (First Monday in September)
• Thanksgiving Day and the following weekend (Fourth Thursday in November)
• Christmas week (December 25th) through New Year's Day.

To review a list of all US holidays, please check our " List of US Holidays and Celebrations ".

The following graph shows the average temperatures and the average number of guests who attend Disney World parks by month.

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Disneyland Tips: Best & Worst Times To Visit [Day + Month Breakdown]

If you're planning a trip to Disneyland you'll absolutely want to know the best, and worst times of the year to visit.

We've broken down the best and worst days of the week, months and overall times to totally avoid Disneyland in this guide to help you plan your next trip!

Questions We'll Answer About The Best Times To Visit Disneyland:

What is the best day of the week to visit disneyland, what is the worst day of the week to visit disneyland, what are the worst months to visit disneyland, what are the best months to visit disneyland.

• Days Of The Year You Should Avoid!

Let's start with the best days of the week to visit Disneyland.

You'll typically find  Monday ,  Tuesday and  Wednesday to be the best days of the week to visit Disneyland.

Disneyland is quite widely known as a "locals park", so you can expect to see bigger crowds on the weekends and in the evenings when residents of Southern California are off of work.

With Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday being early in the week when people tend to be more busier with their jobs, these three days are great for visiting Disneyland.

Thursday  will see more moderate crowds, but not to the same extent of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays. As it gets later in the week, people are more inclined to visit Disneyland as a break from the week or a way to wind down from their day jobs as the week slows down.

Holidays excluded, you'll likely have the best experience at Disneyland in terms of shortest lines and smallest crowd levels Monday through Wednesday! 

If there's one day better than all others it's going to be Tuesdays which in our experience are consistently the slowest day of the week at Disneyland!

On the contrary,  Friday ,  Saturday and  Sunday are going to be the worst days of the week to visit Disneyland.

Saturday takes the crown as the single worst day to visit Disneyland as most Southern California residents flock to the park on the weekends, with Saturday being the most popular day.

Those from out of state or driving in for a quick weekend trip will typically arrive throughout Friday with Saturday being their first full day at the park, only making it even more crowded. 

Fridays will typically see moderate crowds until later in the day as when we see a combination of Southern California residents getting off of work to visit the parks, as well as tourists from all over arriving for their vacation.

While you might not be able to avoid visiting Disneyland on certain days of the week, you may at least be able to skip some of the worst months of the year to visit the park!

Day of the week is certainly a big factor in determining how busy Disneyland will be, but the actual month you visit may be even more important!

If possible, you'll want to avoid the hot summer months of June, July and August. These are the busiest three months of the year for Disneyland with July being the busiest every single week.

Schools are out across the country for a majority of these three months, so you're going to see consistently high crowd levels with families flocking to Disneyland to take advantage of summer break. 

March and  April are also going to be quite busy with Spring Break drawing families and tourists to the parks. Early March and late April are going to be much more manageable, but the rest of these two months will typically be quite busy.

Finally,  November and  December can be quite a rough time to visit Disneyland as well.  

Early November and early December are typically great times to visit, but the closer you get to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve the crazier the parks will get. 

If you can make it to Disneyland the first two weeks of either November or December, you'll likely only experience moderate crowd levels, but outside of these two weeks it'll be packed!

Now let's get to the better news - the best months to visit Disneyland!

February ,  May ,   September and October are going to be you go-to months for Disneyland.

While February, May and September do have holiday weekends, the rest of the time these months are the slowest at Disneyland. The weather is also very enjoyable throughout these months, though it can get chilly in February even in Southern California! 

In the months of February and September, school has just restarted after long breaks, so most families will not be traveling, which really lightens the crowds at Disneyland.

October is generally slow at Disneyland, but because of the popular Halloween event,  Oogie Boogie Bash ,  California Adventure closes as early as 5PM. Because California Adventure closes so early, crowds will flock over to Disneyland to enjoy the evening at the only park open to guests without an Oogie Boogie Bash event ticket. 

Mornings and early afternoons during October are great to visit Disneyland, but the evenings may get quite crowded with only one park being open!

May comes right after the Spring Break travel season and just before Summer travel, so most families have either just finished their visit to Disneyland or waiting for Summer break to travel again. 

Aside from the some of the lowest crowd levels, the weather is also great in May, making it the best month to visit Disneyland! 

January and August   are going to see more moderate crowd levels throughout the month.

January will be extremely busy around New Year's day and Martin Luther King weekend, but the rest of the month should be relatively slow.

Schools will be starting up again throughout August, so the beginning of the month will be quite busy, but begin to taper over each week later into the month. 

Days Of The Year You Should Avoid!

If you're looking to avoid some of the longest long lines of the year and huge crowds, then you should mark the following days of the year off of your vacation calendar! 

• January 1st - 5th : New Years day and the following few days are among the most popular to visit Disneyland!
• July 1st - July 7th : July is crazy at Disneyland throughout the month, but especially bad around Independence Day. 
• The week of Thanksgiving : The Thanksgiving holiday week is another incredibly popular time to visit Disneyland and will see huge crowds!
• December 22nd - December 31st :  The few days before Christmas and following weeks into January is one of the busiest stretches of the year to visit Disneyland. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT DISNEYLAND

Are Disney Tickets From Sam's Club A Good Deal?

Costco Disneyland Tickets: Things To Know Before Purchasing

The Ultimate Disneyland Parking Guide

How To Get Free Parking At Disneyland

10 Best Disneyland Tips for Adults

Best Disneyland Tips For Toddlers That You Can't Miss

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A Guide to Finding the Best Time to Visit Disneyland

Posts on Mix In Some Magic may contain affiliate links, which I earn a small commission from. These are provided for your convenience at no price increase to you and help me provide you with great content.

Finding the best time to visit Disneyland can be tricky, this guide will cover what you can expect during each season and will help you decide when would be the best time for your family visit.

Disneyland Park is undoubtedly one of the world’s most popular and beloved theme parks. Located in Anaheim, California, it is a dream destination for many children and adults, offering a unique combination of thrilling rides, magical experiences, and a nostalgia-inducing atmosphere.

However, with its immense popularity, Disneyland can often get overcrowded and overwhelming, leading to long lines, wait times, and a less-than-magical experience. This is why choosing the best time to visit Disneyland is crucial, as it can make a significant difference in your overall experience.

In this guide, I’ll take you through the various factors to consider when choosing the best time to visit Disneyland, including weather and seasonal events, crowds and wait times, park hours and unique offerings, and personal preferences and priorities. By understanding these factors, you can plan ahead and make the most of your Disneyland trip, resulting in a stress-free and magical experience for you and your loved ones.

Make sure you check out my  Disneyland Crowd Calendar  to help you pick the best time to visit Disneyland.

Table of Contents

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After you pick the best time to visit Disneyland, you’re going to need tickets and a hotel! Please be aware that all Disney parks require park tickets and a theme park reservation. Make sure you have both! Please don’t pay the full price for your Disneyland tickets or hotel. My partners at  Get Away Today  have the very best deals on tickets and hotels. Their customer service is top-notch, and they even have layaway plans. You can find them by clicking on the image below or by calling  1-855-GET-AWAY . Make sure you tell them Melissa from Mix In Some Magic, sent you the best deal!

They have great deals on hotels! Many of their properties offer a free night with a stay, free parking, extra discounts, or a complimentary breakfast! You save the most money when you purchase a vacation package and bundle your hotel rooms with one of their discount resort ticket offer.

If you book a package with park tickets and a hotel room, you can use my code MIX10 to save an extra $10. That’s more churro money, friends!

I have a bunch of hotel reviews that might be helpful for you if you’re still trying to decide where you’d like to stay.

What Is Disneyland’s Least Busy Month?

When looking for the best time to visit Disneyland, People are always wondering what is the least busy month. Finding a slow time for your Disneyland vacation these days is tricky. Disneyland is a popular place and is usually crowded. However, there are lower crowds in January and February(if you avoid holidays); Early March is a good time(before Spring Breaks and  Grad Nites  get going). You can also find low crowds on Halloween day and the first week of November. If those times of the year don’t work for you, don’t stress! Even when it’s crowded, you can still have a great time at Disneyland. 

What is Disneyland’s Most Busy Month?

Summer break at Disneyland is jam-packed; if you’re able to avoid summer vacation, you’ll have lower crowds. You’ll also find high crowds during all major holidays and school breaks. The worst time to visit Disneyland(if you’re trying to avoid crowds) is between Christmas and New Year’s Day. The parks are bustling during Christmas break. During this time of year, wait times for popular attractions can get quite long. Avoid it if possible.  The best time to visit Disneyland for my family is avoiding the most busy times of the year, if possible.

Check out my podcast episode where I discuss the best time to visit Disneyland. In it, I cover each month of the year and talk about what you can expect and how to plan!

If you’re looking for Disneyland planning tips, and the latest Disneyland park news you’re in the right place! I also talk about Disneyland park history, the storytelling behind the attractions, and my latest Disney park adventures. I’m here to help you plan your Disney vacation with a little extra magic mixed in. Join me!

In this episode, I talk about the best time to visit Disneyland in 2023! There are some pretty big things happening at Disneyland next year and I talk about them all. Plus, I have a giveaway happening for my podcast listeners! 

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Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Time to Visit Disneyland

• Weather and Seasonal Events: The weather in Anaheim, California, is usually warm and sunny, but it’s essential to keep in mind the seasonal changes and how they can impact your experience. For example, summer tends to be the busiest due to summer vacations, and temperatures can get scorching hot. Spring and fall offer milder weather but also the possibility of rain. Additionally, Disneyland hosts various seasonal events throughout the year, such as  Halloween  and  Holiday celebrations , which can impact crowds and ride availability.
• Crowds and Wait Times: The number of visitors at Disneyland can vary significantly from day to day and season to season, so it’s essential to research crowd levels before planning your trip. Holidays and weekends are the busiest, with longer wait times for rides and attractions. On the other hand, weekdays during the off-season tend to have lower crowd levels and shorter wait times. I recommend using  Disney Genie Plus  to skip the long lines no matter when you’re visiting. 
• Park Hours and Special Offerings: Disneyland has varying park hours throughout the year, with some attractions and events only available during certain times. It’s important to check the park’s schedule and plan your visit accordingly. Additionally, Disneyland offers special promotions and deals during off-peak seasons, such as discounted tickets or hotel rates.
• Personal Preferences and Priorities: Everyone has their own unique preferences and priorities when it comes to visiting Disneyland. Some may prioritize character meet and greets, while others prefer thrill rides. Some may prefer a quieter, more relaxed experience, while others may thrive in the hustle and bustle of the park. It’s essential to consider your preferences and priorities when planning your trip to ensure you have the best possible experience.

Considering these factors when planning your Disneyland trip, you can choose the best time to visit Disneyland that aligns with your preferences and priorities, resulting in a memorable and stress-free experience.

 Best Time to Visit Disneyland by Season

One of the most significant factors to consider when planning a trip to Disneyland is the time of year you visit. The seasons can significantly impact the park’s crowd levels, weather, and events. Here is a breakdown of the best times to visit Disneyland by season:

• Winter (January-March): Winter is generally considered one of the best times to visit Disneyland, as the park experiences lower crowd levels and shorter wait times. The weather is mild, with occasional rain, but you’ll have the chance to experience festive seasonal events, such as the  Lunar New Year celebration . Additionally, Disneyland’s Christmas decorations typically stay up until early January, so you can still experience the magic of the holiday season.
• Spring (April-June): Spring can be a great time to visit Disneyland, with mild temperatures and the blooming of flowers throughout the park. However, spring break and Easter can bring in crowds, so it’s essential to plan accordingly. The park also hosts the popular  Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival  during this time, which can be a highlight for foodies.
• Summer (July-September): Summer is the busiest time to visit Disneyland, with crowds at their peak due to summer vacations. Temperatures can also get extremely hot, so staying hydrated and taking breaks in the shade is essential. However, the park offers extended hours, with nightly fireworks and the popular Fantasmic! Show.
• Fall (October-December): Fall is a fantastic time to visit Disneyland, with festive Halloween decorations and seasonal events like the  Oogie Boogie Bash . The park also transitions into its holiday season in November with festive decorations, holiday-themed rides, and the popular “it’s a small world” holiday overlay. The crowds tend to be lower during this time, except for the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The best time to visit Disneyland will depend on your preferences and priorities. If you prefer lower crowds and milder weather, consider visiting during the off-season of winter and fall. If you want to experience extended hours and nighttime shows, summer may be the best time for you. Regardless of when you visit, planning and considering these seasonal factors can help ensure you have a magical and stress-free experience at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Tips for Avoiding Crowds and Long Wait Times

Even if you pick the best time to visit Disneyland, one of the most significant challenges is dealing with the crowds and long wait times for popular rides and attractions. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can use to minimize your wait time and make the most of your visit. Here are some tips for avoiding crowds and long wait times:

• Using  Genie Plus : Genie Plus is a service offered by Disneyland that allows you to reserve a spot in line for certain rides and attractions. Genie Plus is a paid service that allows you to reserve Lightning Lanes from your mobile device. Using these services strategically can minimize your wait time and make the most of your day at the park.
• Choosing the correct day of the week: Crowd levels at Disneyland can vary significantly depending on the day of the week. Generally, weekdays tend to have lower crowds than weekends, while Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the least busy. Sundays have also had lower crowds lately. It’s essential to avoid holidays and special events when crowds tend to be at their peak.
• Arriving early or staying late: Another strategy for avoiding crowds is to arrive at the park before it opens(Rope Drop) or stay until it closes. Many popular rides and attractions have shorter wait times during the first and last hours of the day. Additionally, if you stay late, you can take advantage of shorter wait times during the park’s nightly entertainment shows. I prefer to arrive early because it is one of the best ways for you to maximize your time at Disneyland. I have a complete guide to  rope-dropping at Disneyland . 
• Taking advantage of Early Entry: If you’re staying at a Disneyland resort hotel, you are eligible for early entry, allowing you to enter Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park 30 minutes early. Select attractions are open during this time. This can be a great way to experience popular rides and attractions with shorter wait times. Check out my complete  guide to early entry  for tips and strategies. 
• ​Make A Plan: Have a basic outline of how you’d like your Disney days to go. So many people waste valuable time deciding what to do next. Figure out what rides are most important to your group and prioritize them. Are you planning on meeting characters? Are there any shows you’d like to see? Give these things some thought before you arrive, and it will help save you time once you’re in the park. I have  touring plans  that utilize Genie Plus and give you a step-by-step Disneyland itinerary that will be helpful for you if you’re looking for a premade plan that you can easily follow. 

Using these tips and strategies, you can minimize your wait time and maximize your visit to Disneyland. Remember to plan, prioritize your must-see attractions, and be flexible with your schedule to ensure a magical and stress-free experience at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Choosing the best time to visit Disneyland can make all the difference in ensuring a magical and stress-free experience at the park. By considering the weather, crowds, park hours, and personal preferences, you can select the ideal season to visit and plan your trip accordingly.

Remember to prioritize your must-see attractions, take advantage of Genie Plus, and use strategies such as arriving early or staying late and taking advantage of Early Entry to avoid crowds and long wait times. And most importantly, plan ahead and be flexible with your schedule to make the most of your time at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Whether you’re visiting Disneyland for the first time or the hundredth, I hope this guide to finding the best time to visit Disneyland was helpful for you! There’s always something new and exciting to discover at Disneyland! By following these tips and planning, you can make your visit to Disneyland an unforgettable experience for you and your loved ones. So what are you waiting for? Pick the best time to visit Disneyland and start planning your dream Disneyland trip today. Prepare for a magical adventure!

Make sure to check out my podcast for lots of Disney planning information! You can find it on  Apple Podcasts ,  Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Just search for “Mix In Some Magic” Follow me on  Instagram  for lots of Disney tips and fun!

I'm Melissa, your Disney vacation aficionado and full-time mom to four. Whether it's sipping Diet Dr. Pepper or sharing unbeatable Disney planning tips, I'm all about adding a touch of magic to everyday life. Let me help turn your Disney dreams into reality with insider advice and customized planning strategies. Join me on this magical journey and make every Disney adventure unforgettable! Read more...

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Best Times to Visit Disneyland Resort

by Professor Heather | Oct 10, 2023 | Disney California Adventure , Disneyland , Disneyland Park , Homepage Featured , News , Uncategorized |

We just got back from an incredible time visiting the Disneyland Resort! It got us thinking… What is the best time to visit Disneyland, and when would we return? Well, we took a look at all of the events and happenings at the Disneyland Resort and broke them down here for you! Sit back, grab some popcorn, and read along as we bring you our breakdown of the best possible times to visit the Disneyland Resort!

There is a very short Lunar New Year celebration that takes place in January at Disney California Adventure Park. This festival is short but features tasty bites inspired by the Lunar New Year celebration. There is special merchandise and fun for all as well including a parade, musical performances by authentic Asian dancers and musicians, fun merchandise, and even special character meet and greet opportunities.

Aside from that, this time of the year is great to visit because the crowds often decrease after the holiday season. The weather is also a little cooler, with layers recommended during the morning and evening. The average temperature for this time of year ranges from 47° to 69°. This makes for cool mornings and evenings but the perfect temperature for walking around the parks. The California sun will warm you up during the days and in the evening when it gets chilly, you can warm up inside on rides since the wait times are much shorter!

Early Spring

Every year the Disneyland Resort celebrates the flavors of the Golden State with the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival. The festival dates move around but typically you can visit in March and April and hit the festival. The festival marketplaces feature delicious dishes inspired by the state of California.

In years past, guests have been able to purchase a Sip and Savor Pass, allowing them to pick and choose items for the menus using entitlements that can be redeemed for food and non-alcoholic beverages. In addition to the food and beverages, there is some great entertainment at this festival. Examples may include Tasting Seminars, live music, and more. Kids will love meeting Chef Goofy and attending special culinary events designed for younger guests.

The weather is quite comfortable during the day and cooler in the evening with temperatures ranging from 52° to 75.°

Dates to avoid:

• Feb 11 (Sun): Super Bowl Sunday
• Feb 13 (Tue): Mardi Gras
• Feb 14 (Wed): Ash Wednesday
• Feb 14 (Wed): Valentine’s Day
• Feb 19 (Mon): Presidents Day
• Mar17 (Sun): St. Patricks Day
• Mar 31 (Sun): Easter Sunday
• Apr 1 (Mon): Easter Monday

*Avoid from March 25-April 8th to stay in a low crowd zone

Late Spring **After Easter Break

If you can travel without kids or don’t mind taking them out of school… We really suggest visiting right after Easter and Spring Break. Crowds are very low, and the weather is incredible.  Although Disneyland Resort is very popular with local visitors, you won’t find the spring break crowds in early May that you did a few weeks prior.

The weather is also gorgeous. It is warm during the day and often cooler in the evening, but not terrible. The hotel pools are open and you can take advantage of the beautiful California sunshine! Temps range from 65° to 78.°

• May 5 (Sun): Cinco De Mayo
• May 12 (Sun): Mother’s Day
• May 27 (Mon): Memorial Day

Fall at the Disneyland Resort is always a fun time to visit! Halloween Time at Disneyland Park and the Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure are sure to be the highlights of your visit! These bring in a crowd on the days there is a Bash so make sure you watch the calendar. But, it can be an excellent time to visit after the kids have gone back to school. The weather is absolutely excellent! Speaking from experience you can have a very comfortable temperature range from the high 60’s to the high 80’s! You never know what you’re going to get. We packed layers but only needed a hoodie one evening.

• Sep 1 (Sat): Labor Day Weekend
• Sep 2 (Sun): Labor Day Weekend
• Sep 2 (Mon): Labor Day

Parts of November or December

The holidays at Disneyland are UNMATCHED and I would throw hands with anyone who disagrees. (I am totally just kidding. Put the gloves away) But, in all seriousness, the parks are incredibly beautiful. There is something exceptionally magical about the twinkling lights, holly berry wreaths, festive decor, and peppermint in the air. This time of year can be very busy if you do not plan it perfectly. We would suggest getting with a travel advisor to find the exact time that works for you. But, we would say the obvious times are out:

Stay away from Thanksgiving week and any time from the week before Christmas until mid-January.

There is so much happening at the Disneyland Resort during the holiday season from a special holiday parade in Disneyland Park to the Disney Festival of the Holidays at Disney California Adventure, there is something for everyone to enjoy. There are even special holiday-themed shows such as World of Color – Season of Light.

The weather at this time of year can be a little unpredictable, but it’s still beautiful. Be prepared for everything though – layers are highly recommended as it is often warm during the day but cools down quite a bit at night.

Photo Courtesy Disney

There is really not a bad time of year to visit Disneyland if you have the right planning. You could go Christmas week and still have an excellent time if you work on the logistics or have someone plan it all for you. If you need help selecting your Genie+ Lighting Lane selections to make the most of your time, check out this article:  How to Prioritize DLR Disney Genie+ Selections

Using a travel advisor is the #1 tool in vacation planning! Our partner agency, Winds in the East Travel knows exactly what you need to make the most of your vacation. Fill out the quote form below to receive a FREE no-obligation quote.

If you love following along for the most up-to-date park information and news, follow us on Instagram too: @ themeparkprofessor

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Heather is the proud owner of Theme Park Professor and Winds in the East Travel. For over 10 years, she has been covering everything from the latest merchandise to breaking news for her readers. As a New York native, Heather makes sure to visit the Orlando parks a few times a month, especially during the colder months. After all, what’s the point of having a Walt Disney World Annual Pass if you don’t use it?

Heather is a self-proclaimed Potterhead and also visits the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the rest of Universal Orlando Resort multiple times a month. So, “Wands up!” for all the fellow Potterheads out there!

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Ye and Bianca Censori Enjoy Day at Disneyland With Yung Lean

The couple spent some quality time with the Swedish artist during a visit to the amusement park, which caught park visitors by surprise.

The artist known formerly as Kanye West , Bianca Censori , and Yung Lean were the talk of Disneyland during a recent visit to the California theme park.

Ye and Censori hit up "The Happiest Place on Earth" on Tuesday afternoon, linking with Lean, director Aus Taylor , and designer Juliet Charlotte . The couple strolled the park grounds with security in tow, but Censori appeared to be barefoot, only wearing bandage wraps around her feet. Censori's been widely recognized and criticized for her experimental outfits , from wearing a sheer bodysuit to publicly wearing black tights with nothing over them.

While crowds surrounded the couple, they still enjoyed what Stars Wars Nite had to offer, even riding Hyperspace Mountain with Lean and hitching a ride on a carousel.

@j.ace.m kanye at disneyland my ass did NOT see yung lean at first (also coachella still has my voice dead) #disneyland #kanyewest #yunglean #yeezy ♬ original sound - j.ace.M

@imdarthavenger Kanye has been spotted in disneyland #kanyewest #celebrity #disneyland #disney #starwars ♬ original sound - ItsDarthavenger

@officallyjordanmoore Spotted: Kanye West & Bianca Censori are at Disneyland! #kanye #kanyewest #kanyeatdisneyland #kanyewestandbiancacensori #dca #disneycelebs #celebsatdisney #kanye #ye #kanyewest ♬ original sound - Jordan Moore

Kanye West e Yung Lean juntos na Disneyland ontem! pic.twitter.com/bFIwQ0qmB0 — rap out of context (@rapoutcontext) April 17, 2024

Kanye west and Yung Lean at Disneyland (2024) pic.twitter.com/6nK9RHSqIU — 🌕 (@alilmoonn) April 17, 2024

West and Lean have collaborated before, mainly on reference tracks that were intended for Donda 2 and Lean's 2022 album Stardust . The two could have more music in the tank, as they were spotted with Rich the Kid less than a week before visiting Disneyland.

Kanye West, Rich The Kid & Yung Lean 🐐 pic.twitter.com/pvBwwMgq48 — STRAPPED! | Hip-Hop/Rap News (@STRAPPEDUS) April 11, 2024

As a father of four, Ye is no stranger to frequent Disneyland visits, last taking his oldest daughter, North West to the park around the holidays, per TMZ .

KANYE WEST , NORTH WEST AND BIANCA TODAY AT DISNEYLAND. pic.twitter.com/o0ExmUfZGQ — YEFANATICS (@yefanatics) December 14, 2023

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With the city of Anaheim unanimously voting to pass DisneylandForward , the Disneyland Resort will be forever changed.

Twice in the last 69 years, Disneyland has been significantly transformed. Four years after the park opened in 1959, Disneyland added its monorail, the Matterhorn Bobsleds and a submarine ride and expanded Autopia. It was a message that would begin to fulfill Walt Disney’s promise that Disneyland would never be completed.

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More than that, however, it revealed that Disneyland would continue to look to the future. Disneyland in 1959 showed its guests possibilities — a transportation system in the monorail that could remake urban communities, a tease of the freeway system that would reshape travel and a glimpse at the sort of deep-sea excursions only a lucky few could witness. The Matterhorn, while inspired by the film “Third Man on the Mountain,” also was meant to be a transportive experience, to not only bring to Disneyland a new kind of thrill ride but give visitors a taste of international adventure.

Disneyland’s second reimagining came much later. In 2001 the Walt Disney Co. would open Disney California Adventure, the Grand Californian hotel and the Downtown Disney District. These additions would attempt to make Disneyland, the company’s original park, one that could, in theory, rival Florida’s Walt Disney World by becoming a resort that could demand multiday stays.

This expansion succeeded as well, but not overnight.

The original vision of Disney California Adventure proved to be lackluster, relying heavily on on-the-shelf rides and lacking emotion-driven experiences that take visitors out of their daily life. While the Grand Californian is a Craftsman-inspired triumph, Downtown Disney is in the midst of a transformation and is still attempting to outgrow its reputation as a home for chains and midtier eateries.

And now we’re entering a new era of possibilities, one that likely will look much different from the prior two. Modern Disney is centered on intellectual property — or IP, in corporate speak — rather than Walt-era idealism, and the most tantalizing prospects of DisneylandForward center on building around existing structures rather than erecting a new park.

With DisneylandForward, the company won the flexibility to redesign the resort. Zoning rules will be amended so that Disney can add new attractions alongside hotels on the west side of Disneyland Drive. These will, if they come to fruition, likely be extensions of Disneyland or Disney California Adventure rather than a third park. Additionally, a new shopping, dining and entertainment district can be created to the southeast on what is currently the Toy Story parking lot at Katella Avenue and Harbor Boulevard.

Company brass and the DisneylandForward materials have offered teases of what could be built. Most of these have centered on recent expansions at Disney’s international parks, such as the World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland or Zootopia at Shanghai Disney Resort. There’s been little ideological talk about the future of Disneyland, as the focus has centered squarely on popular properties and franchises rather than the resort’s status as a cultural hub and gathering space.

But DisneylandForward came with a pledge. The Walt Disney Co. has promised to spend a minimum of $1.9 billion on Disneyland attractions, lodging, entertainment, shopping and dining in the next 10 years. That money can go quickly, with modern attractions costing sometimes in the high six figures, but the Walt Disney Co. also is in the midst of doubling down on its theme parks. Disney has guaranteed to spend $60 billion over the next 10 years in its experiences division, with at least half of that total dedicated to parks and resorts, according to a recent SEC filing .

It’s safe to say that the next 10 years will shape Disneyland for decades to come. While there’s much to be revealed, there are, perhaps, some safe bets. Here are a few educated guesses as to what to expect with an expanded Disneyland in the near term.

Get ready for Pandora

DisneylandForward materials reference everything from “Tangled” to “Peter Pan” to “Tron” as possible experiences that could come to Anaheim. One word, however, is missing, and it’s one that’s been regularly referenced by Disney brass in recent weeks: “Avatar.”

Disney CEO Bob Iger mentioned it at a recent shareholder meeting, even sharing the “Avatar” concept art, which was referred to as “inspirational artwork.” Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, wrote in a blog post after the shareholder event that further news on Disneyland-related attractions such as the “Avatar” experience was tied to the approval of DisneylandForward.

“We are excited about the stories our guests could experience at Walt’s original theme park destination after approval of DisneylandForward — including the chance to experience all-new Avatar adventures with a visit to Pandora,” D’Amaro wrote . And last night in Anaheim, Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock again teased “Avatar” at the DisneylandForward hearing and vote. Finally, one of Disney’s most respected theme park creatives even posted the “Avatar” concept art on Instagram , expressing the hope of sharing more on the project in the future.

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Consider a large-scale “Avatar”-inspired land all but a done deal, and the art shared for Disneyland isn’t an exact replica of Florida’s Pandora — The World of Avatar, which resides in that coast’s Animal Kingdom park. Now where to put it? Expect Pandora to be bound for Disney California Adventure. There’s been speculation that it could replace the area currently served by water ride Grizzly River Run or move into a largely vacant slot of Hollywood Land, but neither is ideal. The latter requires a rerouting of the monorail, and Grizzly River Run remains a popular attraction.

Here’s betting it’s positioned in one of the DCA expansion areas near the Pixar Place Hotel, as that would allow the company to give the James Cameron property a plethora of space, especially if Disney must hide a large show building behind an illusion of floating mountains.

Expect more hotel options

With Disneyland lacking the acreage of Florida’s Walt Disney World, hotel prices in Anaheim are at a premium. Rooms for the recently revamped Pixar Place Hotel — Anaheim’s “budget” option — can routinely top $500 per night. More hotel space is needed, and if Disneyland goes all-in on “Avatar,” expect lodging and more entertainment options to follow close behind. Disney has long touted development of the Toy Story Lot as prime space for hotel, dining and entertainment modeled after Florida’s Disney Springs district.

The DisneylandForward materials mention the land as “the perfect location to cater to locals, conventioneers, hotel and Disneyland Resort guests with restaurants, hotels, live music, shopping, ticketed shows and theme park experiences.” A new proposed parking structure to the north would solve the parking issue, and Disney has done extensive research on this already, as it was part of an earlier, pre-pandemic planned development known as the “Eastern Gateway.”

Walkways to and from the new parking structure would connect the current resort to the new entertainment area. And while fans may want Disney to rapidly fill the available space with theme park attractions, if the resort is planning to increase capacity it’s first going to need a spot for those guests to park. Additionally, Iger at a recent media event said the company likely would hold back some of its theme park funds so the organization could move on the popularity of new films or franchises.

“We actually have a fairly good idea in the near term of what’s being built, but we’re purposefully not going to allocate it all,” Iger said. “Because who knows? In five years we can end up with a giant hit movie — think ‘Frozen’ — that we may want to mine essentially as an attraction, or a hotel or restaurant in our parks. So you want to maintain some flexibility.”

What about ‘Frozen’s’ Arendelle? Or a ‘Coco’-themed experience?

Beyond “Avatar,” which seems a sure thing as it’s been mentioned by Iger on multiple occasions, any future aspects of DisneylandForward become pure speculation. But a couple of franchises may have higher priority than others.

Disney now has a “Frozen” attraction in Walt Disney World, a land in Hong Kong and experiences in the works for Disneyland Paris and Tokyo DisneySea. Walt Disney Imagineering, the company’s secretive arm devoted to theme park experiences, clearly has done the work on bringing “Frozen” to life in physical spaces, and it stands to reason that expansions to the original Disneyland Park, with its fairy-tale feel, would go more of a Fantasyland-inspired route.

What’s more, re-creating Arendelle in the expansion plots located near the Disneyland Hotel would give Disney the opportunity to construct a second castle, as any extensive changes to park centerpiece Sleeping Beauty Castle are prohibited due to structural limitations . The enduring popularity of “Frozen” seems relatively assured at this point, so bringing the franchise to Disneyland is far from a risk.

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But if the company opts to create something unique for Southern California rather than importing Hong Kong’s World of Frozen or Shanghai’s Zootopia, one franchise that seems to be routinely brought up by executives is “Coco.” When mentioning blue-sky concepts last year year at an investor event in Florida, D’Amaro teased “Coco” as a key film that has yet to be properly explored in the Disney parks.

Potrock again mentioned “Coco” in an op-ed in the Orange County Register touting the benefits of DisneylandForward, writing that the initiative could pave the way for “the chance to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in a ‘Coco’-themed experience.” Disney California Adventure, of course, is home to a Dia de Los Muertos celebration that does center a short “Coco” show, and the property seems especially ripe for Southern California and our heavily Latino communities. That makes it an opportunity to give Disneyland an unique land not found in other parks while also tapping into the region’s diverse fan base. Walt’s original park deserves no less as it looks ahead to closing out its first century.

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Todd Martens joined the Los Angeles Times in 2007 and covers a mix of interactive entertainment (video games) and pop music. Previously, Martens reported on the music business for Billboard Magazine. He has contributed to numerous books, including “The Big Lebowski: An Illustrated, Annotated History of the Greatest Cult Film of All Time.” He continues to torture himself by rooting for the Chicago Cubs and, while he likes dogs, he is more of a cat person.

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Disneyland | Mickey, Minnie and other Disneyland character…

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Disneyland | mickey, minnie and other disneyland character performers move one step closer to unionizing, disneyland’s 1,700 character and parade performers file a petition to unionize under the actors’ equity association..

Mickey Mouse, Sleeping Beauty, Iron Man and other Disneyland employees who work with Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars character performers have moved one step closer to unionizing, according to the union organizing workers.

Disneyland’s 1,700 character and parade performers calling themselves Magic United filed a petition on Wednesday, April 17 with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize under the Actors’ Equity Association, according to the union.

ALSO SEE: How much does Disneyland pay Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and Iron Man?

“Those of us who are organizing with Magic United and Actors’ Equity Association love working for Disney,” Disneyland Character Department employee Angela Nichols said in a statement released by the union. “There really is nothing to compare it to, but we believe improvements can be made to our workplace.”

A campaign launched in February has gathered union authorization signatures from more than 60% of the eligible Disneyland character and parade performers, according to Equity. The union has notified Disney of the signed petitions and is waiting to see if the company grants voluntary recognition.

If Disney does not recognize Magic United, a union election with the NLRB will be held at Disneyland in May or June, according to Equity.

ALSO SEE: 7 reasons Disneyland characters want to unionize

“We believe that our cast members deserve to have all the facts and the right to a confidential vote that recognizes their individual choices,” according to Disneyland officials.

Equity has been circulating a list of key issues facing nonunion Disneyland characters and parade performers that include pay, annual raises, safety, costumes, scheduling, seniority and job security.

“The most magical place on Earth is not magical backstage,” Disneyland Character Department employee Alexis Velasco said in a statement released by the union. “There are so many safety issues and other challenges that need to be addressed.”

ALSO SEE: What’s next for DisneylandForward? What will Disneyland build first?

Disney princesses, Marvel superheroes and other character performers who work at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure make $24.15 per hour and an additional $4.75 per hour if they perform onstage, according to the Disney Auditions website.

Disneyland character and parade performer base pay increased from $20 to $24.15 per hour in January.

Nonunion hourly employees like Disneyland characters and parade performers have received annual raises, usually in January, for as long as company records show, according to Disneyland officials.

While most of Disneyland’s 35,000 employees are represented by 26 unions, the park’s 1,100 character performers and 600 parade performers and support staff are not unionized.

After a lengthy court fight, Anaheim’s Measure L boosted Disneyland’s minimum wage to nearly $20 an hour. California’s minimum wage increased to $16 an hour in 2024.

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