UPDATED JUNE 2023 Without fail, our #1 question our agents at Get Away Today are asked is when is the best time to go to Disneyland. We hear it on a daily basis, and today we want to break it down for you.
The best time to go to Disneyland depends on exactly what you are looking for. There are benefits to visiting the Disneyland Resort any time of the year. This article will give you a general overview for the best time to go to Disneyland with regularly scheduled, seasonal events.
Keep in mind that everything is subject to change, so be sure to follow our Disneyland 2023 article to keep up with what's current at Disneyland.
The Best Time to Go to Disneyland
The best time to go to Disneyland truly depends on what you want to get out of your Disneyland vacation. If you’re looking for the fewest crowds, we can help you find that. If you’re looking for the most open attractions and entertainment options, we can help you find that.
If you’re looking for the best time to go to Disneyland to celebrate Halloween Time or Holidays at the Disneyland Resort, we can absolutely help you find that. And finally, if you’re looking to find the lowest Disneyland prices, we can definitely help with that, too.
We recently updated our own Disneyland crowd calendar to help you see, at a glance, the best time to visit Disneyland in 2023 and 2024.
Best Time to Go to Disneyland: Fewest Crowds at Disneyland
If you’re looking for the fewest crowds, the best time to go to Disneyland is any time that the kids are in school. That’s generally January, February, March, May, September and early November, as long as you avoid holidays and holiday weekends.
Keep in mind that there are some larger conventions and groups that travel certain weeks in January and February. Because of that, we always recommend that you check the Anaheim Convention Center’s website to make sure that you don’t happen to unintentionally plan your Disneyland vacation over a busy weekend!
Another thing to note about traveling during these non-peak travel times is that the parks generally have shorter park hours, fewer atmosphere entertainment options, and one or more larger attractions down for refurbishment.
But, because there are fewer crowds, you generally don’t need as much time in the parks to experience everything. Disneyland is also very careful about keeping their refurbishments as minimal as possible. Rarely will there be more than one major attraction down in each park at any given time.
However, as always, we recommend checking Disneyland’s official calendar before traveling if there is something that you really want to experience. The calendar may not come out 30-45 days prior to travel, so if you think you need to make a last minute change, we recommend taking advantage of the Peace of Mind plan.
And here is what might be one of the best tips for avoiding crowds at Disneyland-- go when it rains! Magic Key holders can usually be found in the parks any day of the week. Because a visit to Disneyland is commonplace for a local, they will often opt to cancel a visit to Disneyland if rain is in the forecast.
As a result, there will be fewer people at the parks when it rains. For someone who is visiting Disney from far away and planning a special trip, rain isn't going to stop them! So don't worry if Disneyland weather doesn't look ideal. There is still so much you can do at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park regardless of the rain. In fact, we have a whole blog post called "How to Do Disneyland in the Rain" that is full of advice.
Best Time to Go to Disneyland: Most Open Attractions, Entertainment and Longer Hours at Disneyland
If you’re looking for travel times with all of the fun and excitement possible, the best days to go to Disneyland will be during the major school breaks. You will most likely find those dates in April, June, July, August, October and December.
Also, if you’re looking for the full spectrum of entertainment including fireworks, nighttime shows, extra parades and atmosphere entertainment, weekends are your friend. Occasionally, there will be extra shows and fireworks on weeknights during busier travel times, but it’s not guaranteed. More rides are open during this time of year because Disneyland knows that the parks will be busier.
With more crowds come longer park hours. This means earlier mornings and later nights when it comes to regular hours of operations for the parks. If you can maximize these, it’s a great way to get the best of both worlds.
For those staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel, you can get to the parks 30 minutes before they open and take advantage of Early Entry. If those early mornings are a bit exhausting, you can take a break mid-day when things get a little busier and know you packed in a lot of fun already.
Head back into the parks later at night since crowds thin as the night goes on. The first parade or show of the night is normally a great time to ride attractions, and if you can catch the second showing, you’ll most likely have fewer crowds as well.
Best Time to Go to Disneyland: Halloween Time at Disneyland
Halloween Time is definitely one of the most popular times to visit Disneyland. It is the epitome of charming! The fall festivities include the Pumpkin Festival on Main Street U.S.A., cheery autumn décor, Disney characters in their costumes, seasonal Halloween overlays on select attractions, seasonal treats and more.
Halloween Time officially begins September 1st and continues through October 31st. If you’re looking to beat crowds, September is a great time to experience Halloween Time. But, if you want cooler weather and to take advantage of the kids being out of school for fall break, October is a great choice.
On select nights you can also enjoy Oogie Boogie Bash - A Disney Halloween Party in Disney California Adventure Park. This is a separately-ticketed event on select nights during Halloween Time, but your ticket for this event includes access to the park three hours before the party begins.
You don’t need to attend the Oogie Boogie Bash to have an incredible Halloween Time vacation; in fact many families opt not to attend because of the additional cost. However, it’s good to keep in mind what the party dates are so that you can plan your Disneyland itinerary accordingly.
Best Time to Go to Disneyland: Holidays at Disneyland
If you want to take advantage of the magic of Christmas Time at Disneyland, there are a few things you’ll want to know. Historically, the official holiday season begins in early-November and continues through the first week in January of the next year. The holidays transform the entire resort with the trappings and trimmings of the season. Ginormous Christmas trees, holiday overlays, special holiday entertainment, seasonal treats and so much more can be found during the holidays at Disneyland.
If you want to experience the Holidays at the Disneyland Resort without the crowds, the best time to go to Disneyland is either mid-November right after the holidays officially kick-off OR the week after Thanksgiving into the first week of December.
Other than that, you’re looking at holiday crowds as kids get their school breaks. In fact, it’s worth noting that the week beginning Christmas Day through New Year’s Day routinely reaches maximum crowd levels.
But again, because of popularity, you’re looking at longer park hours, open attractions, multiple showings of major entertainment options, plus extra atmosphere entertainment.
Best Time to Go to Disneyland: Lowest Prices at Disneyland
For the bargain hunter, the best time to go to Disneyland is any time during non-peak travel season. You’ll normally get hotels near Disneyland offering their best deals like extra night free specials, plus Get Away Today will reduce their discounted Disneyland tickets even further.
One other major factor in getting the lowest price for your Disneyland vacation is booking in advance. Not surprising, but the best specials sell out first. If you want, you can use our Layaway Plan and lock-in the lowest possible price for just $200 down. Final payment is due before making your theme park reservations, which gives you tons more flexibility. And along the lines of flexibility, we recommend our Peace of Mind Plan which also allows you to make as many changes as you need to without paying any change fees.
Best Time to Go to Disneyland: Month by Month Event Guide
January
April
October
- Holidays at Disneyland wrap up in the first week or two of January
- New Year's Eve fireworks (Disneyland weather permitting)
- Lunar New Year
- Lunar New Year
- After Dark Events
- President's Day Weekend
- Disney Food and Wine Festival
- Disney Food and Wine Festival
- Some schools have Spring Break
April
- Many schools have Spring Break
- Disney Food and Wine Festival
- Egg-Stravaganza ( Easter Egg Hunt)
- Summer hours typically begin
- Grad Nites on select dates
- Memorial Day
- Grad Nites on select dates
- Nightly firework and projection shows typically begin
- Fourth of July
- Disneyland's birthday (July 17, 1955 is when Disneyland Park opened)
- D23 Expo is held every other year
- Labor Day
- Halloween Time
- Oogie Boogie Bash hosted on select nights in Disney California Adventure Park
October
- Oogie Boogie Bash continues in Disney California Adventure Park
- Halloween Time continues until October 31
- Holidays at Disneyland begin mid-month
- Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of the month
- Holidays at Disneyland are still in full swing, and will continue until at least New Year's Day
- Christmas Day is December 25
- New Year's Eve is December 31
Year Round Disneyland Tips
No matter when you decide is the best time to visit Disneyland, make sure you download the official Disneyland App. It will keep you posted on all the events, ride closures and more while you are in the Resort.
The Disneyland App can help you locate characters throughout the parks and it is your access to Disney Genie+, which allows you to electronically request Lightning Lane return times. Genie+ has other perks like unlimited PhotoPass downloads for the day. With the Disneyland App keeping you up to date on all the current happenings at Disneyland, you will make the most of your trip no matter when you go.
We hope this helps you narrow down the best time to go to Disneyland for your family! One thing we like to say regularly is that the best time to go to Disneyland is when you CAN go to Disneyland.
As you can see, Disneyland is magical year round and there are so many ways to have a wonderful experience regardless of when you can make the trip.
All of our Disneyland packages and Disneyland tickets can be booked online, or you can call our agents for personalized assistance at 855-GET-AWAY. Our agents visit Disneyland regularly and can help you with hotels near Disneyland based on their personal experience. They can also give you their tips and tricks for the best time to go to Disneyland with your preferences and available dates. We can't wait to help you book your Disneyland vacation.
Join the Conversation!
Leave A CommentCrystalOctober 20 2022
Thank you for sharing all the good information! It helps….
Get Away TodayJanuary 26 2020
Jacinta-rai we're so glad you found it helpful! Thanks for stopping by our blog.
Jacinta-raiJanuary 25 2020
Amazing information! Thank you