It’s one of the most popular questions we get. I even have friends of friends message me and ask ... "When is the best time to go to Disneyland?" My answer is always "Whenever you can!" It’s the truth. Whenever you and your family can make the trip to The Happiest Place On Earth is the best time to visit Disneyland. But, of course, just like at Walt Disney World, there are some things to consider as you plan your trip to Disneyland. In this post, we're sharing highlights and considerations by season, plus our favorite times to visit Disneyland in 2026.
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Q&A
- When is the best time to go to Disneyland? The best time to visit Disneyland takes so many personal factors into consideration, like your schedule, weather, special events and of course, crowds. There is no one-size-fits all approach to this question.
- What are the busiest times of year at Disneyland? When schools are out, you can typically expect crowds to be higher at Disneyland. That means fall breaks, winter breaks and the week of Thanksgiving tend to be the busiest time of the year.
- What affects crowd levels at Disneyland? Other factors play into crowd levels at Disneyland, including locals, conventioneers, and even promo tickets
- Where can I find the crowd levels at Disneyland? You can see a day-by-day crowd forecast, plus average weather, special events, park hours and more on our Disneyland Crowd Calendar.
Before we jump in, it's worth repeating that no matter the season or the reason, you can have a magical trip to Disneyland. At Undercover Tourist, we've been honored to be a part of helping families plan their Disney vacations for over 25 years. That's a lot of Disneyland trips for the frogs! Within that time, we've learned the hows and whys of crowds and have paired that insight with our historical Disneyland Crowd Calendar data to create our recommendations on when to visit Disneyland each year. In the past few years, we've seen that more and more visitors are planning their Disneyland trips around seasons, special events and even promo tickets rather than just crowd levels — so we've adjusted this post accordingly to showcase highlights and considerations by season. After all, crowds are just one factor in determining the best time to visit Disneyland.
Maybe you've always wanted to see Sleeping Beauty Castle alight during the magic of the holidays. Or perhaps hopping around the parks during Halloween Time — collecting frightfully fun foodie finds or watching Jack Skellington take over the nighttime spectacular — is on your bucket list. Maybe you're like me and love taking your mom to Food and Wine Festival in the spring. Or, maybe you want to experience the limited time Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration. Your best time to visit Disneyland may be different than your neighbor's, and that's why we're breaking down all of the deets so that you can make the best decision for YOU. Plus, we're giving you idea of the cheapest days to visit Disneyland based on ticket prices (but of course, we have to share that Undercover Tourist offers year-round discounts on your Disneyland tickets, including those with Lightning Lane!).
Oh, and one more big reminder! We'd be toadally remiss if we didn't talk about the theme park reservation system at Disneyland. Since 2021, Disneyland has operated with a reservation system — that means, in addition to purchasing your ticket, you also need to make a theme park reservation. It's easy to do, but of course, certain dates will fill up in advance, including popular holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. So once you pick your Disneyland dates, don't froget to make your reservation as well — the sooner, the better, for the best availability.
2026 is a big year at Disneyland, chock-full of special events, including the continuation of the Disneyland 70th Celebration. This special event — included with your park admission — brings new entertainment, such as World of Color Happiness! and returning fan favorites such as the Wondrous Journeys projection and fireworks show, Paint the Night parade and will continue through Aug. 9, 2026. We also have fun things that opened or returned recently to experience, such as Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Fantasmic! with changes that will be new for many visitors. And there's even more on the horizon over the next several years, from new food and shopping opportunities in Downtown Disney, to new attractions and the expansion of Disneyland itself.
Factors in Determining the Best Time to Go to Disneyland in 2026
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Much like at Disney World, busy times at Disneyland often align with school schedules and major U.S. holidays. If tadpoles are out of school, the odds are that they want to hop to Disney! And not just in California, and not just for spring or summer break. Many Arizona and Utah schools have fall breaks in October. The spring breaks at major universities in California also influence crowd levels. Over on the West Coast, some unique groups impact crowd levels at Disneyland including annual passholders, conventioneers, runners and special ticket holders (which we get into more detail below!).
First and foremost, with a smaller (in scale, not pixie dust) footprint on the West Coast, it takes less of a crowd bump for things to feel more crowded than on the East Coast. That means that locals — who may visit more for opening festival days and weekends, or pop in for a casual dinner — have a distinct impact on crowd levels. Blackout dates for passholders have an impact on crowds, as well.
The same can be said for conventioneers. If you're heading to a nearby convention, of course you'd want to pop into Disneyland for a day or two. Most of the impact here is minimal, with one notable exception: D23. The annual Disney fan event hops between the West and East coasts each year. In 2026, it is Disneyland's turn to host from Aug. 14-16, 2026, with Aug. 13 as D23 Day in the theme parks.
Disneyland also offers some incredible ticket deals for Southern California residents, California residents and sometimes the entire U.S. With those ticket deals come use-by dates. For those offers in particular, you may see dates fill up as those usage windows approach (gotta go before it expires!). These ticket deals make what might be a slower time of year to visit much busier as families take advantage of the great deal. And Undercover Tourist can save you some extra green on the same ticket promos, when available!
One-day tickets may also impact crowd levels, particularly on the lower-tier days. Since these are cheaper days to visit Disneyland, you may find that more people choose those tickets and attend those days. You'll find Tier 0 days sprinkled mid-week usually in January, February, August, September and early November.
One other thing to be aware of is any separately ticketed events that may be scheduled even during the best times to visit Disneyland. Sometimes a park or an area of a park closes early for private events. That's why you always want to look at the Disneyland hours for the dates you want to visit so you don't encounter any surprises. We'll detail these in each season below, as well as share which dates for 1-day tickets are the cheapest (note that prices are flat for multi-day tickets and do not change based on dates like they do at Disney World). You can also find a calendar of 1-day ticket tiers on our ticketing page for easy reference (and remember, 1-day tickets purchased through Undercover Tourist still fall under our 365-day refund policy!).
Disneyland After Dark events are after-hours parties that can cause the park to close earlier than usual, which means even if you aren't attending, you'll want to plan accordingly. Even though the parks close early, from a crowd perspective, those days tend to have a lower crowd level as people wanting a full day and night in the parks avoid visiting them. Halloween Time brings Oogie Boogie Bash parties to Disney California select nights from August. 18, 2026, through Halloween.
What's hoppening for the Disneyland 70th celebration is another consideration for the next few months. While the 70th technically runs through Aug. 9, 2026, there are pauses for some 70th entertainment during some of the popular times to visit, such as Holiday Time. We'll point those out to you in the highlights and things to consider for each time period.
Let's get hoppin'!
Spring — February, March, April
Are you ready for some extra special ... special events? We sure are! In addition to the expected springtime happenings — Disney California Adventure's Food and Wine Festival and spring breakers — the park is particularly beautiful with spring flowers and the pink Tabebuia trees in bloom. New for 2026, springtime visitors will get to see Bluey make her big Disneyland debut!
Highlights
- NEW for 2026, special offerings for Disney California Adventure Park's 25th anniversary are here, for a limited time beginning Feb. 6, including the return of Soarin' Over California, new outfits for Mickey and Minnie Mouse, special food and merchandise offerings and more
- Celebrate Gospel brings additional entertainment and food to Disneyland Park Feb. 20 and 21 and Feb. 27 and 28, 2026
- Food and Wine Festival takes place March 6 to April 27, 2026, in Disney California Adventure Park
- "Bluey's Best Day Ever" will debut March 22, 2026, at the Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland Park. Throughout the day, Bluey and Bingo will appear live on stage, bringing favorite episodes to life, including a live game of "Keep Uppy" and more special play time.
- April 28, the Star Wars-themed Space Mountain overlay, Hyperspace Mountain returns for a limited time.
- April 29 brings an expanded timeline to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge! For the first time, you may find Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker on Batuu.
Things to Consider
Disneyland After Dark Parties take place several nights these months, closing Disneyland Park at 8 p.m. on select Tuesday and Thursday nights, as well. Here are the 2026 details:
- Sweethearts' Nite at Disneyland Park take place Jan. 22, 25, 27, and Feb. 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 17, 2026
- (New!) 70 Years of Favorites takes place on March 3 and 5, 2026
- Disney Channel Nite at Disneyland Park — April 12, 14 and 16, 2026
- Star Wars Nite at Disneyland Park takes place April 28 and 30, 2026
The fall of Easter impacts Disneyland crowds in the spring. Some school districts base their spring break around Easter; others do not. When Easter falls earlier in the season, March or early April, it has the effect of making a more intense, but shorter spring break season. When Easter falls later, the effect is a longer but less intense spring break season. In 2026, Easter is April 5, which means crowds will be a little more condensed. Many California universities consistently have spring break during the last two weeks of March, which can affect crowds then. You can expect most spring break crowds from March 6-23, 2026, followed by a second wave of breaks from March 28 through April 12 around Easter.
Our Overall Pick: When it comes to springtime visits, if you aren't constrained by dates, we have a few suggestions to fit it all in. Come for the Food and Wine Festival in early March. Usually, fireworks are only on the weekends, so include a weekend day in your visit to see and do it all.
Least Busy
- Weekdays in the second half of February (minus days around Presidents Day)
- The first week of March
- Tuesdays through Thursdays in the second half of April
Busiest
- Presidents Day Weekend
- Feb. 7-16, 2026
- Spring Break and Easter
- March 6 - April 12, 2026
- Weekends in March and April, especially during spring break and the Food & Wine Festival
Cheapest
- Feb. 3-5, 10-12, 24-26, 2026 (Tier 0)
- March 3-5, 2026 (Tier 0)
- April 21-23, 28-30 2026 (Tier 0)
*Pricing based on a 1-day Park Hopper ticket. Pricing subject to change.
Summer — May, June, July
Summer break kicks off for most school districts in mid-June when you'll see an uptick in crowds — but in our opinion, it's pretty manageable over an extended period, with longer park hours and LOTS of entertainment! Summertime is actually one of our very favorite picks for the best time to visit Disneyland. Exceptions to those long hours are Disneyland After Dark parties, which take place on select Tuesdays and Thursdays in early May and mid-June, closing Disneyland Park at 8 p.m., including Pride Nite.
Highlights
- An all-new mission will debut on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run May 22, 2026, featuring the Mandalorian and Grogu.
- The Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration kicked off May 16, 2025, and runs through Aug. 9, 2026!
- Disneyland's birthday is July 17 — typically, this means more celebrations around the park.
- Star Wars Nite at Disneyland Park takes place May 4 and 6, 2026.
- Pride Nite at Disneyland Park takes place June 16 and 18, 2026.
- A new version of Soarin' — Soarin' Across America — lifts off July 2, 2026, to celebrate 250 years of the United States. Soar over a dozen iconic spots across the country from sea to shining sea. Enjoy aromas and your favorite Chief Flight Attendant, Patrick.
Things to Consider
In summer, the thing to keep in mind is the weather. "June Gloom" offers some respite from the heat, though those temperatures do rise throughout the remainder of summer. July is manageable and less crowded than you'd think, especially on the weekends! Memorial Day (May 25, 2026) will bring in additional crowds for the long weekend. The Fourth of July fireworks show — Disney's Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky — takes place for three evenings July 3-5, 2026.
Here are those Disneyland After Dark dates we mentioned:
- Grad Nites will take place at Disney California Adventure Park on the following nights:
- May 8, 12, 13, 15, 17, 20, 21, 28, 29 and 31, 2026
- June 3, 5, 7, 10 and 12, 2026
Our Overall Pick: Proof that crowds are only part of the equation when picking the best time to visit Disneyland, we love early June and mid-to-late July for the nightly fireworks and Fantasmic!.
Least Busy
- Weekdays in May (except for Grad Nites and Memorial Day)
- First week of June
- Midsummer, some Magic Key pass holders are blocked out, keeping many locals out of the parks. Weekends in July and early August are less crowded than you'd think, since 1-day ticket holders may opt for less-expensive weekdays, leaving Friday through Sunday more open than other times of the year.
Busiest
- Weekends in early summer and Grad Nite dates in May and June, plus Memorial Day
- Summer breaks through June and July (however, summers are not as crowded as other school break periods)
Cheapest
- May 5-6, 12-13, 2026 (Tier 0)
- June 1-4, 2026 (Tier 0)
*Pricing based on a 1-day Park Hopper ticket. Pricing subject to change.
Fall — August, September, October
Enjoy the tail end of summer entertainment in early August, or, following that, take in the beautiful decorations, pumpkins and characters in costume of Halloween Time from Aug. 21 to Oct. 31, 2026. Halloween Time is a popular time to visit, with the giant Mickey pumpkin on Main Street U.S.A., the decorated Cars Land and ride overlays, including the Nightmare Before Christmas takeover that is Haunted Mansion Holiday.
On select nights, Mr. Oogie Boogie takes over Disney California Adventure for a separately ticketed Halloween party, Oogie Boogie Bash. The park closes early most Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sunday nights for partygoers to trick or treat and enjoy special entertainment.
Highlights
- Halloween Time will run from Aug. 21 to Oct. 31, 2026.
- Both a highlight and a consideration, Halloween is a Saturday in 2026.
- Oogie Boogie Bash will kick off before Halloween Time again in 2026, with the first party taking place Aug. 18.
- Gay Days take place Sept. 18-20, 2026 (be sure to make your reservation early!)
Things to Consider
- Aug. 2 is CHOC Walk in the Park, a fundraising event benefitting the Rady's Children's Health Orange County. While this event takes place before the parks open, many CHOC Walkers stay in the parks throughout the day.
- D23 is in Anaheim Aug. 14-16, 2026.
- The Disneyland Halloween Party — The Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure takes place select days August through October 2026 (closing early Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Halloween on these dates: Aug. 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30; Sept. 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29; Oct. 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 31)
- Fall breaks increase crowds in late September through October.
- Haunted Mansion Holiday means Haunted Mansion may be closed the first few weeks of August to apply the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay.
- The parks may close an hour early in September, October and November. Check the schedule and park hours for your dates.
Keep in mind that "off-season" low crowd levels can also mean shorter Disneyland hours and that less entertainment is available or that more rides undergo refurbishment. During some seasons, such as Halloween Time, weekdays are less crowded. However, only weekends include fireworks, so take that into consideration, as well. We find Sundays to be less crowded than Saturdays. Weather can still be warm (hot, actually) but chillier at night.
Our Overall Pick: Around the pond, we love visiting Disneyland in August for lower crowds as tadpoles head back to school, and the potential for nightly fireworks (before Halloween Time). We also love Halloween Time in late August for low crowds and all the haunted hoppenings.
Least Busy
- Weekdays in the last two weeks of August
- Tuesdays through Thursdays in the first half of September
- Hot weather in late August and early September can affect park attendance, making the parks less crowded than expected and crowds harder to predict
Busiest
- Elevated crowds and limited hotel availability around Aug. 14-16, 2026 for D23
- Labor Day
- Sept. 4-7, 2026
- Elevated crowds Sept. 19 to Oct. 31, 2026
Cheapest
- Aug. 18-20, 2026; Aug. 25 and 27, 2026 (Tier 1)
- Sept. 8, 9, 15-17, 21-24, and 29, 2026 (Tier 0)
- Oct. 1, 2026 (Tier 1); Oct. 26-29, 2026 (Tier 2)
*Pricing based on a 1-day Park Hopper ticket. Pricing subject to change.
Winter — November, December, January
January generally has low crowds and beautiful weather (if not a little chilly), but it can get a little wet as it's the rainy season. The holidays and New Year bring special entertainment, foodie finds and more. Of course, during holiday breaks, you can expect more people enjoying the parks — but it's also a time full of holiday cheer, with festive lighting and decor, a special fireworks show and parade and more across the resort. (Did we mention hand-pulled candy canes and fan-favorite gingerbread? Oh, and SANTA!)
Highlights
- Holiday Time brings daily entertainment (including nightly fireworks as weather permits) and festive décor to both parks beginning Nov. 18, 2026.
- Mickey's and Minnie's birthday is Nov. 18, and that often means a special cavalcade and there are often special items on the menu that day.
- Lunar New Year brings Festival Food Booths, rare characters and a procession to Disney California Adventure Jan. 23 to Feb. 22, 2026.
- Celebrate Happy cavalcade, Wondrous Journeys fireworks, Paint the Night and Mickey, Minnie and pals in their 70th outfits returned in January 2026 at Disneyland Park.
Things to Consider
- The parks do offer scaled-back entertainment and shorter hours in January after the holidays end.
- runDisney will host races Jan. 29 to Feb. 1, 2026.
- You may encounter ride closures in January, including Haunted Mansion and "it's a small world" as holiday overlays are removed.
- Sweethearts' Night falls Jan. 22, 25, 27 and Feb. 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 , 17, 2026, closing Disneyland Park at 8 p.m. (Tickets usually sell out in December.)
- The parks may close an hour or two early (including many Sunday through Thursday nights during Holiday Time). Check the schedule and park hours for your dates.
Our Overall Pick: If you don't want to visit during Holiday Time, Mondays through Thursdays in the first two weeks of November will be your best bet. If you'd like to visit for Holiday Time, we recommend mid-November (not Thanksgiving week) and early December as the best time to visit Disneyland. Watch out for the first weekend of December, when the Candlelight Processional draws big crowds.
Least Busy
- Weekdays in January (minus the week of New Year's Day and the days around MLK Day)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Jan. 19, 2026
- Mondays through Thursdays in November (minus Veterans Day, Nov. 11, and the week of Thanksgiving)
- Mondays through Thursdays during the first half of December
Busiest
- Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Week
- Nov. 11, 2026
- Nov. 18-29, 2026
- Week of Christmas and the New Year
- Dec. 19, 2025 - Jan. 5, 2026
- Dec. 18, 2026 - Jan. 4, 2027
- MLK Jr. Day Weekend
- Jan. 17-19, 2026
- Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend
- Jan. 29 - Feb. 1, 2026
Cheapest
- Nov. 2-5, 2026; Nov. 9-12, 2026 (Tier 0)
- Dec. 1-2, 2026 (Tier 2)
*Pricing based on a 1-day Park Hopper ticket. Pricing subject to change.
Going to Disneyland During a Busy Time? Don't Fret!
Even during the busiest times, there are ways to skip the lines and make the most of your time. Here are our best tips to reduce waits!
- Take advantage of the paid Lightning Lanes to skip the standby lines. For people with bigger budgets (about $400 per person), there is a new Lightning Lane Premier Pass that grants the user one-time access to all available Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass attractions without having to schedule them. Most people stick to Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
- Our best advice is to purchase your tickets and make your Disneyland theme park reservations as soon as possible to secure your spot. Reservation availability is released 240 days in advance (or 90 days for Magic Key holders). You'll get the best price on Lightning Lane Multi Pass if you purchase it with your tickets, as the price can fluctuate for day-of-use purchases.
- Be sure to check out our Disneyland Planning Guide for everything you need to know about planning in advance, all in one place!
- Stay at a Disneyland Hotel and take advantage of the in-park perks. Stays include one complimentary Lighting Lane to use at any Lightning Lane Multi Pass attraction.
And one more tip as you start thinking about where to stay for your Disneyland vacay: Undercover Tourist offers hoppin' savings on Disneyland hotels, plus the ability to book with only a refundable $200 deposit!
Ta-da! There it is — the best time to visit Disneyland in 2026! Don't froget that you can purchase discount Disneyland tickets from your favorite frogs! For more planning essentials, check out our Jump Start guide for everything you need to know, all in one place. Ribbit!
Related: 40 Tips to Maximize Your Time at Disneyland
Keep hopping!
