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Home / Blog / When to Visit / Best Time to Visit Disneyland in 2025 and Beyond

Best Time to Visit Disneyland in 2025 and Beyond

by Leap on February 12, 2025
2990 Los Angeles

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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 visit 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 2025 and beyond.

Best Time to Visit Disneyland - Partners Statue in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle

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 vacations for over 20 years. And 20 years adds up to 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 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 and special events rather than just crowd levels — so we've adjusted this post accordingly to showcase highlights and considerations by season.

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. Perhaps you are participating in a runDisney race weekend. Or, maybe you and the fam are heading over for a few days during summer break and want to know more about what to expect during the 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. There's so much more than crowd levels that go into choosing the best time to visit Disneyland.

Best Time to Visit Disneyland - Sleeping Beauty Castle lit up

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 or during race weekends. So once you pick your Disneyland dates, don't froget to make your reservation as well — the sooner, the better, for the best availability.

Best Time to Visit Disneyland - Mickey and Minnie in 70th outfits

2025 is a big year at Disneyland, chock full of special events, including the Disneyland 70th Celebration. It introduces new shows, such as World of Color Happiness! and brings back fan favorites such as the Wondrous Journeys projection and fireworks show, Paint the Night parade and the Better Together parade. We also have fun things that opened or returned in 2024 to experience, such as  Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Fantasmic! which will be new for many visitors in 2025. 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 Visit Disneyland in 2025

Best Time to Visit Disneyland - Disneyland 70th - World of Color Happiness art

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, and in 2024, it was Disneyland's turn to host from Aug. 9-11. The 2024 event also featured the first-ever D23 Day at Disneyland Resort. D23 will return to the Disneyland Resort in 2026, with exact dates TBD.

Best Times to Go to Disneyland - runDisney Medal

The runDisney events bring runners back to Disneyland to participate in two half marathon weekends each year: one early in the new year (Jan. 30-Feb. 2, 2025) and one in the fall (Sept. 4-7, 2025).

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!). Look for these deals January through mid-May and mid-June through late September. The Kids Special Offer ticket saves families hundreds of dollars on Disneyland tickets from Jan. 7 through March 20, 2025. That makes what might be a slower time of year to visit much more busy as families take advantage of the great deal. (And Undercover Tourist can save you some extra green on both ticket promos!)

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.

Best Time to Visit Disneyland - Oogie Boogie Bash Overlay on Disney California Adventure Park Entrance

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.

Check out our Los Angeles Crowd Calendar to see Disneyland hours, special events and more!

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 mid-August through Halloween.

Let's get hoppin'!

Spring — February, March, April

Best Time to Visit Disneyland - Food and Wine Sip and Savor with food and beverages

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, 2025 brings an additional event to the parks: Season of the Force. During springtime, the park is particularly beautiful with spring flowers and the pink Tabebuia trees in bloom.

Highlights

  • Celebrate Gospel brings additional entertainment and food to Disneyland Park Feb. 8 and 15, 2025
  • Food and Wine Festival takes place Feb. 28 - April 21, 2025
  • Season of the Force is March 28 - May 11, 2025

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 2025 details:

  • Sweethearts' Nite at Disneyland Park takes place Feb. 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 2025
  • 90s Nite at Disneyland Park takes place on March 4 and 6, 2025
  • Star Wars Nite at Disneyland Park takes place April 8, 10, 22, 24, 29 and May 1, 4, 6, 2025
  • Spring break — elevated crowds from March 7 - April 21, 2025

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 — like in 2025, when it falls on April 20 — the effect is a longer but less intense spring break season. Many California universities consistently have spring break during the last two weeks of March, which can affect crowds then.

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. April 7-11 should also see lighter crowds. Usually, fireworks are only on the weekends, so include a weekend day in your visit to see and do it all. Disneyland did bring back nightly fireworks for a few weeks in late March and early April 2024. We won't know 2025 fireworks dates until closer to that time.

Least Busy

  • Weekdays in February (minus days around Presidents Day)
    • Feb. 3-7, 24-27, 2025
  • The first few days in March
    • March 1-6, 2025

Busiest

  • Presidents Day Weekend
    • Feb. 14-17, 2025
  • Spring Break
    • March 7 - April 6, 2025; April 12-20, 2025 (Easter)

Cheapest

  • Every day through March 20, 2025, for ages 3-9 for the Kids Special Offer
  • Feb. 4-5, 25-27, 2025, (Tier 0)
  • March 4-5, 2025 (Tier 1)
  • April 29-30, 2025 (Tier 1)
  • Visits any day with the Southern California Resident promo ticket
  • Save up to 35% on select stays at a Disneyland Resort hotel through Sept. 26, 2025! Ribbit!

*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.

Best Time to Visit Disneyland - World of Color

Highlights

  • The Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration kicks off May 16, 2025, and runs through summer 2026!
  • Disneyland's birthday is July 17, 2025 — typically this means more celebrations around the park, and this year, it coincides with the opening of Walt Disney — A Magical Life, as well as a tribute to the Sherman Brothers and a new verse in "it's a small world"
  • Star Wars Nite at Disneyland Park takes place: April 8, 10, 22, 24, 29 and May 1, 4, 6, 2025
  • Pride Nite at Disneyland Park takes place June 16 & 18, 2025
  • Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party (TBD in Summer): The one-day event at California Adventure and two-day event at Downtown Disney bring lively entertainment, Disney Jr. character encounters and family activities

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 26, 2025) will bring in additional crowds for the long weekend. Here are those Disneyland After Dark dates we mentioned:

  • Grad Nites take place May 9, 12, 18, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 30, and June 1, 4, 6, 8, 11 and 13, 2025, at Disney California Adventure Park
  • Book your May and early June reservations early as SoCal Resident tickets expire May 15, 2025, so there may be more park-goers ready to use up the last days of their ticket in the first half of May.
  • May 16 through the first half of June will bring in people excited for the launch of the Disneyland 70th Celebration.
  • July will continue the celebration, with the opening of a new attraction based on Walt Disney's life and a new verse on the iconic "it's a small world."

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 early August for the nightly fireworks and Fantasmic! as summer crowds start to drop off with Halloween Time kicking off early, late August brings Mickey pumpkin and Halloween fun in mid to late August.

Least Busy

  • Weekdays in May (except for Grad Nites, Memorial Day and the launch of the 70th)
  • First week of June

Busiest

  • Weekends and Grad Nite dates in May, plus Memorial Day and the launch of the 70th
    • May 16-18
    • May 23-26, 2025
  • Summer breaks

Cheapest

  • May 6-8, 12-15, 2025 (Tier 2)
  • Any day through May 15 with the Southern California Resident promo ticket (book May reservations early)

*Pricing based on a 1-day Park Hopper ticket. Pricing subject to change.

Fall — August, September, October

Best Time to Visit Disneyland - Mickey Main Street Jack o Lantern

Enjoy the tail end of summer entertainment in early August, or, following that, take in the beautiful decorations, pumpkins and characters in costumes of Halloween Time throughout mid-to-late August, September and October. 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

Best Time to Visit Disneyland - Car-tumes in Cars Land

  • Halloween Time starts early in 2025 — Aug. 22 - Oct. 31, 2025
  • Oogie Boogie Bash parties kick off before Halloween Time, beginning Aug. 17!
  • Gay Days take place Sept. 12-14, 2025 (be sure to make your reservation early!)

Things to Consider

  • D23 is in Orlando in 2025.
  • The Disneyland Halloween Party — The Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure will take place select days August through October 2025 (closing early Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Halloween on these dates: Aug. 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31, Sept. 2, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30, and Oct. 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 31).
  • Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon Weekend takes place Sept. 4-7, 2025. Note that Oogie Boogie Bash does not take place on race weekend.
  • Fall breaks increase crowds in October.
  • Haunted Mansion Holiday means Haunted Mansion may be closed the first few weeks of August to apply the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay.
  • During Halloween Time, Wondrous Journeys and the Better Together parade are paused for the Halloween entertainment to take over.
  • Sometimes there is a summer ticket offer that saves money.

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, September 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.

Least Busy

  • The month of August
  • Tuesdays through Thursdays in September
  • Severe 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

  • Labor Day
    • Aug. 29 - Sept. 1, 2025
  • runDisney race weekend
    • Sept. 4-7, 2025
  • Elevated crowds Sept. 22 to Oct. 31, 2025

Cheapest

*Pricing based on a 1-day Park Hopper ticket. Pricing subject to change.

Winter — November, December, January

Best Time to Visit Disneyland - Cars Land Holidays

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 from Nov. 14, 2025, through Jan. 7, 2026.
  • Some 2025 70th entertainment, such as Wondrous Journeys and the Better Together parade, will be paused during Holiday Time.
  • Mickey's and Minnie's birthday is Nov. 18, and that means a special cavalcade and there are often free buttons for guests.
  • Lunar New Year brings Festival Food Booths, rare characters and a procession to Disney California Adventure from Jan. 17 through Feb. 16, 2025.
  • The Tier 0 weekdays bring affordability to weekdays in late August, early September, early November mid-January and February.
  • A special Kids Ticket promo offer is on sale now for visits from Jan. 7 through March 20, 2025 (and you can save even more on this promo when purchasing through Undercover Tourist - with kids tickets starting around $50!)
  • A Southern California Resident promo ticket is available now for any three visits Jan. 1 through May 15, 2025.
  • Anaheim Ducks Day in Disney California Adventure hoppens Jan. 24, 2025.

Things to Consider

  • The parks do offer scaled-back entertainment and shorter hours in January after the holidays end.
  • runDisney will host races Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, 2025.
  • You may encounter ride closures in January, including Haunted Mansion and "it's a small world" as holiday overlays are removed.
  • Sweethearts' Night falls on nights in January and February, closing Disneyland Park at 8 p.m. on Jan. 21, 23 and 28 (Tickets usually sell out in December.)

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 disrupts the park schedule and 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 and the week of Thanksgiving)
  • Mondays through Thursdays during the first half of December

Busiest

  • Week of New Year's and MLK Jr. Day Weekend
    • Jan. 1-6, 2026
    • Jan. 16-19, 2026
  • Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Week
    • Nov. 8-11, 2025
    • Nov. 22-30, 2025
  • Week of Christmas and New Year's
    • Dec. 19, 2025 - Jan. 5, 2026 (note: Dec. 6-7 will also be busy for Candlelight Processional)

Cheapest

  • Visits any day with the Southern California Resident promo ticket
  • Child visits any day with Special Kids Ticket Jan. 7 through March 20, 2025

*Pricing based on a 1-day Park Hopper ticket. Pricing subject to change.

Going to Disneyland During a Busy Time? Don't Fret!

Best Time to Go to Disneyland - Avengers Campus

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 180 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 Jump Start guide for everything you need to know about planning in advance, all in one place!

Ta-da! There it is — the best time to visit Disneyland in 2025! 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!

Keep hopping, Leap!
View Comments

Comments

1751–1800 of 1807 comments
Mar 6, 2015 at 2:54 a.m.
Family Trip Says...

We are considering a trip to Disneyland and have had good success in June but now I'm reading forums that Grad Nights are horrible since the students now get a park hopper to use during the daytime as well. Anyone wish to comment?

thanks

Reply
Mar 19, 2015 at 9:20 p.m.
Kevin Says...

We are wondering the same thing. How busy will Grad Nite private celebrations make the parks?

Reply
Mar 23, 2015 at 10:49 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi there,

Grad nights include park hopper access to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure during the day and a private party Grad at 10 p.m. at Disney California Adventure. These events have a moderate impact on crowds, especially in the afternoon and evening.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Mar 5, 2015 at 12:13 p.m.
Bruce Says...

We visited Disneyworld from Fri Feb 20 to Sundat Feb 22d, staying at the contemporary. I figured room prices would have dropped from the previous Valentine's Day weejpkend, which was true.

However I did not realise it was the Princess half marathon on Sunday and that crowds would be larger as a result.

For one thing, this reduced the chances of getting an upgrade to the A frame (wed booked the Garden Wiing). On the past several visits we'd received an upgrade - once without asking! (The greeter realised we were a gay male couple and took us to a gay check in clerk - who upgraded us and followed up with a phone call checking that everything was satisfactory.)

There were longer waits for np meals - at Coral Reef in Epcot, California Grille, and at Brown Derby. This interfered with our FastPass+ For Little Mermaid - where we encountered the only rudeness in 6/7 trips to Disney since 2009. (I have cancer and difficulty standing and used a scooter and "disability access pass" - to great effect - on this trip. But as I "scooted" towards the entrance of Little Mermaid a female cast member "barked" at me: "You can't bring that in here." When I staggered into the waiting area the first thing we saw was a man sitting on his cooter! I mentioned this to another cast member, who basically shrugged his shoulders and didn't, e.g., find a place for me to sit - as I was pale and sweating at this point.)

We encountered one other incident that made us feel,"less than." In the past - that is, before gay marriage was legal in Florida - Disney helped us celebrate the "anniversary" of our meeting.

This time, gay marriage had become legal between the time of our booking and our dinner reservation at California grille.

As we went to check in on the 2nd floor of the Contemporary for our ealier dinner reservations, we heard the cast member ask the opposite-sec couple in front of us, "Are you celebrating anything special?"

My partner and I caucused and decided to respond to a similar question by saying, "Yes we are celebrating our recent marriage."

But the sour-passed cast member just said, "Name?" And did not ask if we were celebrating anything special. Thus left a sour taste in our mouths and detracted from our enjoyment of the meal.

,

Sunday - race day- was chaotic. We waited for a bus to take us. Then we were told we had to take the monorail - with our clunky scooter - to the transportation centre. Then we were told to get off at Polynesian resort and take a bus (perhaps the same one we'd tried to take at the Contemporary) to Disney Hollywood.

Finally, the quality of photographers has declined. Previously we took (and bought) pictures we subsequently framed and/or put on e.g., coffee mugs.

All this - surly staff, confused directions, delayed dining reservations - while prices have increased 30-50%.

I love Disney - and own stock - but lament the decline in standards. In future we will consider alternatives such as Universal and, e.g., cheap and cheerful cruises. (For the cost of our weekend at Disney I could have taken a 5 night Caribbean cruise on Carnival.)

Reply
Mar 5, 2015 at 5:51 a.m.
Sam Says...

HI

We're travelling from Australia for first time visit to DL in Dec 2015! We'll be there from Monday 7th - Weds 9th December. I've read that this should be an ok time to visit crowd wise but it would be good to get some first hand knowledge of these times! Any day going to be the best crowd wise? Thanks!

Reply
Mar 3, 2015 at 12:10 a.m.
Candi Says...

We are frequent Disneyland visitors. We have always gone to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World during the summertime but this year are wanting to switch it up and take the family to Disneyland and California Adventure during Christmas time to see all the amazing decorations and the rides that have been made over with holiday cheer. I know it says Thanksgiving week is a very busy time to visit but my question is how does the very end of November and going into the first week of December usually rate for crowds? We would be traveling on the weekend ending Thanksgiving break but wouldn't be heading into the parks till that Sunday on the 29th of November through December 1st. Also we are purchasing each of us 3-day tickets. Is heading to Magic Morning one of those mornings actually worth it? Any advice and information on how it would be will be great. Thank you.

Reply
Jul 21, 2015 at 4:16 a.m.
melanie Says...

beginning of dec is the best time to visit, imo. Hours are great, crowds are low, temp is not so hot, and everything is christmas and beautiful.

Reply
Mar 4, 2015 at 10:06 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Candi,

You should be good to go the week after Thanksgiving. We definitely think it's worth making use of the Magic Morning if you can. Just make sure to get there at least 30 minutes ahead of the opening for the shortest waits.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Mar 1, 2015 at 4:09 p.m.
Sommer Says...

We want to go to Disneyland in June 2015 But we are concerned about graduation night early closures and suggestions or ideas on how to find out what nights graduation party's are happening Thanks

Reply
Feb 19, 2015 at 10:05 a.m.
Tina Says...

We are going April 15 - April 19. Is this a good time? I read that from March 6 - April 12 is not a good time. Have anybody been in Disneyland around this time here, and can tell me how it is? Is there anything happening this date?

Thanks for answering me! It's Our first time :)

Reply
Feb 18, 2015 at 7:45 p.m.
Adriana Says...

Best day to go on a weekend, Saturday or sunday?

Reply
Feb 13, 2015 at 9:45 a.m.
Jesse Mette Says...

I'm wondering if February 17th would be an ok dy to go to disneyland? I know it's pretty close to president's day but I have the day off from work.

Reply
Feb 6, 2015 at 10:18 p.m.
Tina Says...

What do you think the diamond celebration is going to do to the crowd levels? It is scheduled to start May 22 and we were already planning May 23-27, think that first weekend will be crazy busy?

Reply
Feb 12, 2015 at 12:41 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Tina,

Some passholders will be blocked out during these dates, so that will help a bit, but I think it will definitely increase overall crowd levels. The new shows and parade will definitely be a major draw to guests this year, and I would expect lots of people will want to see them when they open.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Feb 6, 2015 at 8:36 p.m.
steph Says...

My husband and I are taking my son to DL for the first time right in the beginning of Sept for his 8th birthday. We will have our (will be) one year old with us too.

We are coming from BC Canada and hoping we have chosen the right time. Sept 7th (mon) to the 10th (thursday). Would it be worth changing dates a bit to get a weekend day in there. I ask because I read a comment above stating that sometimes Fantasia and other things only happen during weekends. Any thoughts or advice? TIA!

Reply
Jan 30, 2015 at 10:56 p.m.
Jo Anne Says...

Our family, myself, husband, daughter, son-in-law and grandson (who will be 4 when we go) are going to Disneyland late October 2015 - any special advise or tips you can give us. It will my grandsons first time and we are all very excited and want him to have the best time possible.

Reply
Jan 26, 2015 at 2:01 a.m.
Erin Says...

How is the crowds over Labor Day weekend??

Reply
Jan 24, 2015 at 12:47 p.m.
Jacquie Says...

We ( Family of 2 adults and 2 children aged 11 and 13) are visiting Disneyland for the first time from Australia from August 30 through to September 4 2015. Will the parks be closing earlier as Summer has just finished? We are getting a 4 day hopper pass. Any hints greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Reply
Jun 6, 2015 at 5:32 a.m.
Tracy Says...

That is the exact time we are going as well!! I was wondering the same thing. we usually go in the spring or early June, so I really am not sure about this particular week.

Reply
Jan 23, 2015 at 12:29 p.m.
margare t traynor Says...

we will be visiting Disneyland from february 10 to february 17 2014. for our 40th visit to the park, will the diamond anniversary celebrations be on at this time, thank you

Reply
Jan 23, 2015 at 11:28 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Margaret,

I am guessing you mean 2015 :) Unfortunately, the anniversary celebration is not expected to begin until the spring. You can see there are quite a few refurbishments going on right now that are likely ahead of the celebration.

Keep hoppin'!

Leap

Reply
Jan 22, 2015 at 10:29 p.m.
Sam Says...

I was at Disney's California Adventure Saturday afternoon. If you're curious about on and off season? Well, best I could give is Radiator Springs Racers. While the parks are busier during their vacation season, RSR's is expected to be 120+ minute wait. Now that its off season, I waited no more than an hour and twenty minutes for the ride... ON A SATURDAY!

The average weekday ride waits at Disneyland, that I've seen is about 30 minutes. DCA is averaging out about the same. The average ride wait during the weekend for both parks is about 45 minutes.

Keep in mind, this is the time where the park takes advantage of the smaller crowds and close popular rides for refurbishment. Right now, all of Critter Country is closed, Matterhorn, and I believe a couple Fantasyland rides are down. Small World and Haunted Mansion are expected to reopen this week after the holiday clean up.

Take advantage of smaller crowds and cooler temps with your family. ESPECIALLY for the kiddos. :)

Reply
Jan 20, 2015 at 9:37 p.m.
Julia Says...

Did anyone visit either EPCOT or MAGIC KINGDOM during the weekend of MAY 16th-18th in 2014? I was there during that week but I'm planning to visit during the weekend this year and wanted to get a more personal idea of how crowded it is.

Thanks!

Reply
Jan 20, 2015 at 10:12 a.m.
Jessie Says...

One thing to be aware of - lots of popular attractions are closed right now. So, yes, if you want avoid crowds, now is a good time BUT if there is a certain ride or attraction you are dying to go on/see, please check the list of closures of Disneyland's official website BEFORE you choose a date to avoid DISAPPOINTMENT! :)

Reply
Jan 19, 2015 at 1:49 p.m.
Joanne Says...

Will be Travelling from Australia arrive 25 October till 11 November. Party of 5 - 3 adults and 2 kidlets. Is the last week in October crazy busy..is the first 2 weeks in November better / worse? Thanks for advise. Cheers jo

Reply
Jan 16, 2015 at 5:51 p.m.
Danielle Says...

I just watched a video from Walt Disneyworld called Living with the Land, and I think that ride should be built at California adventure. I think as west coasters we need to learn how to be better gardeners as well and how to be better at our economy too.

Reply
Jan 14, 2015 at 10:49 p.m.
Pat Says...

Going fri jan 16 to the 20 wife and 6 year old and I , love to meet a couple with a child so the kids can share excitement and new friends for us Rock also

Reply
Jan 14, 2015 at 10:12 p.m.
Allie Says...

I have been to Disneyland many times over the last 40+ years. The only time I have ever seen it anywhere near "empty" was during our Grad night in 1980! There were several schools, with about 2500 people in the park---during the night. But, the times since then, we've gone and it is always crowded. Even when the lines aren't that long, there are people absolutely everywhere. If you have never been at Christmas, put it on your bucket list. It's wonderfully magical. We are planning another "girls trip" in December of 2015 and hope it doesn't rain on us this time! Of course, I can use my Disney Resort umbrella I had to buy a couple years ago. Good luck and enjoy!

Reply
Jan 14, 2015 at 6:47 p.m.
Melanie Says...

Hello

Were planning on going in September 2015. Ive been looking everywhere to find out what dates they have plans for set up of the Halloween decorations but can't find it anywhere. And also to find out when the Haunted Mansion opens back up in The Nightmare before Christmas. Any ideas? Thank You!

Reply
Jul 4, 2015 at 10:26 p.m.
joanne Ryan Says...

HI there. We are Aussies and we are taking our daughter this October (mid), 2015. We just learn't that Halloween will be in full swing, Starting September till the End of October. We are a bit bummed about it as we really wanted to be there for the Diamond celebrations, but that will more than likely be finished at Halloween. Anyway, we will still have a good time. Just hope we are not grossed out by all the slashed throats :-?

Reply
Jul 7, 2015 at 11:21 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Joanne,

The Diamond Celebration will continue through the end of the year, so you should still be able to enjoy most if not all of the special shows and events!

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Jan 11, 2015 at 3:12 p.m.
Lady18 Says...

We just got back from DL AND DCA. It was great! We went on the last day of the winter holiday celebration, Jan 6. Which I don't recommend. It wasn't awful but still tough for kids to wait through. We should have gone the two days after, 7th and 8th. It was totally dead. I'm wondering if on the weekdays following major celebrations is a good time to go? Any So. Cal. Annual pass holders know?

Reply
Jan 6, 2015 at 6:27 p.m.
Disney Mom Says...

Looking to visit week of march 23rd. Is that a busy time to visit. What is the weather like at that time? Would like to visit the beach too if it'll be warn enough

Reply
Jan 3, 2015 at 5:10 a.m.
Raquel Says...

Was the second week of December packed?

Reply
Jan 2, 2015 at 2:53 a.m.
Susan A Says...

I just took a look at the Disneyland website because my family is trying to plan a summer vacation. It appears the rules for annual pass holder blackout days have changed. There are two levels of annual passes - one has no restrictions at all, and the other has VERY FEW blackout days. So good luck using that as a planning guide. (I was very disappointed to read this.)

Reply
Jan 1, 2015 at 8:29 p.m.
Melissa Says...

This all very helpful info!! Thank you! We are planning a trip to disneyland in 2016. Thinking November.... beginning or middle. Would love to have less crowds than when we went in May of 2014.

Reply
Jan 6, 2015 at 1:50 a.m.
Rick Says...

Melisa, what part of May did you visit and was it primarily over the weekend? I was planning a weekday trip (arrive on Sunday) and I've heard that mid-May during the week is a good time to go.

Reply
Dec 30, 2014 at 4:03 p.m.
nickolas Says...

Thinking if it even makes a difference between January 1 thrusday or the 2nd Friday

Reply
Dec 29, 2014 at 10:17 p.m.
Angie Maltese Says...

My Husband and I were planning on taking a trip to Disneyland on Friday January 2nd through Monday the 5th, will it be supper crazy at that time like it is today?

Reply
Dec 27, 2014 at 3:31 p.m.
Anas khan Says...

Hi I am planning to visit dinsey land Florida between 9 to 20 jan 2015 is it good time to visit?

Reply
Dec 29, 2014 at 9:48 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Anas,

Check out our Crowd Calendar for the best times to visit Disney World in 2015. Overall, this is a good time to visit.

Best,

Leap

Reply
Dec 20, 2014 at 4:20 p.m.
Cherish Says...

My family and I will be going February 6-8 2015 staying at Disney Grand Hotel 3 day park hopper very excited. Just worried about the weather did this trip once before about 4 years ago didn't experience everything so want to do more this time especially the early morning madness entry. This time go round I have two more kids total 4 so I really hope we can all enjoy because it is definitely pricey $$$$ but well worth it for the kiddos.

Reply
Dec 20, 2014 at 8:53 a.m.
AG Says...

I am thinking of a last minute surprise gift for my daughters to Disneyland for the last week of December 2014. Is that a bad idea?

Reply
Dec 22, 2014 at 7:01 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

AG,

Bad is very subjective. There are certainly better times to visit in terms of crowds, but the parks are quite beautiful during the holidays. Just go in knowing it will be very crowded and prepare accordingly. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your time at Disneyland. Let us know what you decide!

Leap

Reply
Dec 19, 2014 at 2:09 a.m.
Scott A. McDonald Says...

We have have been going for years at the time between week of Veterans Day week and just before the week for Thanks giving. Monday to Thursday even with parks closing early it's always a great time.

Reply
Dec 18, 2014 at 9:56 p.m.
Sandra Says...

Hi

Would end of September have less wait times in Disneyland than beginning of October ?

Thanks

Reply
Dec 18, 2014 at 1:46 p.m.
Kourtney Says...

We are planning a trip for 2015 and trying to decide if the week of August 24 or September 14 would be better. When do CA schools start?

Reply
Feb 3, 2015 at 8:03 p.m.
Jackie Says...

We have been both in September and the last week of August. We had NO waits the last week of August and all rides were still open except the haunted mansion.....

Reply
Dec 21, 2014 at 1:26 a.m.
Carly Says...

Some start around August 21ish, but most around the Disneyland area start after Labor Day.

Reply
Dec 14, 2014 at 9:38 p.m.
Cortney Says...

Hi, we've been trying to figure out a less crowded time to go to Disneyland and want to go in Jan/Feb 2015. I didn't see "ski week" listed on the blockouts or worst times to go. Am I assuming right that it will be a busy time to go since kids are out of school in Southern CA?

Reply
Dec 14, 2014 at 1:44 p.m.
Just Asking Says...

Is the middle of April a good time to visit Disneyland with low crowds??? And the middle of September???

Reply
Dec 12, 2014 at 1:11 a.m.
Kami Says...

We go every year in the first week of December and do pretty well. This year, there was LOTS of rain but we arrived Wednesday and didn't get into the park until Thursday & Friday (beautiful days and no rain!). Thursday was a much slower day and we got onto all of the rides pretty quickly. California Adventure Friday was a nightmare. Racers were down a lot of the day and we really lucked out and ended up

in line when it reopened. The best days to go are weekdays. We've been at Halloween a few times and only went to the Halloween party (cheaper) and you get in from 4pm -12am, get to ride rides, and get a good pound or more of candy and healthy snacks as well. I think it's probably the best value out there for Disney. We are So. Cal. Annual Passholders and cannot go on what we consider the busiest days (weekends, holidays, and summer).

Reply
Dec 11, 2014 at 7:45 p.m.
Stephanie Says...

My family and I will be going January 9-11. I'm not to sure if this is really busy or not since it's the second weekend after the new year. Also this is a suprised Christmas/birthday gift for my mom and she's handicap. One of the rides I know she will want to go on is haunted mansion but everything I've read says the mansion will close down the weekend after the first and can re-open anywhere from 5 to 14 days after it closes to take down the Christmas overlay. Does anyone know how long it usually takes for the haunted to open back up and if this is going to be a busy time to go?

Reply
Dec 8, 2014 at 6:04 p.m.
Jimmi Says...

We were there Dec1-6th and I can't believe the people that were in the park on the rainy days. We skipped out and went elsewhere till the weather improved. Ponchos and umbrellas help but they were soaked, I can't imagine a short wait time is worth being wet all day, and have some rides closed, Anyhoo even though it was a low attendance period neither of Fantasmic nor the World of color shows WOWed me, just too many people to get a good spot unless you blew $hrs holding a prime spot and we had a fastpass for World of color. The rides on the other had were tolerable except for Radiator Springs Racers. The fastpass help there but it was a challange just to get that. It was more time worthy just to take the single rider lane unless you ha small children and no other choice.

Reply
Dec 8, 2014 at 2:46 p.m.
Martha P Says...

We went on December 22 to celebrate my 50th birthday. We knew to expect heavy rains and went well prepared. We did not have more than a 5 minute wait for each ride and went on our favorites multiple times! We only went for that day. The next day that it didn't rain, there were so many people trying to get in that they had to turn them away! It's worth going on a rainy day!

Reply
Dec 7, 2014 at 9:14 p.m.
elizabeth Says...

its alright but the lines thoooooo, that has got to go

Reply
Dec 7, 2014 at 6:12 p.m.
Karen Says...

I am planning on visiting Disneyland, Ca. On April 13th thru 21, 2015,. Will that be a good time with less crowds,. I am trying to visit after everyone has had thier spring break and has gone back to school. I visited last time In July 2012, and it was pure crazy, I could hardly ride anything, it was a real let down, and was not fun at all, I really really hated this visit, and I DO NOT want to do that again, it is a lot of money, but especially if I cannot enjoy my time there. So can you please let me know if this a good time??? Thanks Karen

Reply
Mar 3, 2015 at 10:39 p.m.
Wendy Says...

This year's Touring Plans numbers look good for April 13-21. Last year there were high crowds during that date range, but the two years before ('13 and '12) were low. Going back to '11, they were high.

But it's good to know low numbers are projected for this year. I hope it stays that way!

Reply
Mar 6, 2015 at 1:07 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Wendy,

Easter is the variable here. When it falls in March, it creates a shorter period of higher crowds. When it is in April, it tends to spread out the spring break period, with slightly lower crowds.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Dec 8, 2014 at 7:56 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Karen,

You will have just missed the busiest time during your visit, although I would expect you to see medium crowds.

Best,

Leap

Reply
Dec 9, 2014 at 1:04 a.m.
Karen Says...

Thank you Leap, for the info. I don't mind mild to medium crowds, it's when its crazy insane, I don't want to just be able to ride like 6 rides like last time, and stand in lines for hours or have to pass on the rides, cause the ride lines are like 5 to 8 hours to get on, and fast passes being all gone before parks open to the public, cause the people who stay in the 3 Disneyland Hotels get in before the parks open to the public, so they take all fast passes, that is what I faced last time I was there, it was a real let down, that is not what I want to face again.

Reply
Nov 30, 2014 at 12:42 a.m.
katester Says...

I'm planning on taking my 3-1/2 y.o. grandaughter for a day at disneyland while I'm visiting to give her mom with new infant a day of quiet. If I had to pick one day between Dec 5th and Jan 7th, does anyone have a suggestion which might be less busy (perhaps before schools let out on holiday?)

Reply
Dec 10, 2014 at 6:33 p.m.
Tiffany Says...

I am going with my family on Friday Dec 12th. Although rain is expected, it is only a 30% of rain all day. Therefore, crowds will be smaller. Also, DCA is always less busy than DL. If you're willing to take on the rain, i'd suggest that day, and also suggest a backpack and/or rent a locker, and stuff them full of extra clothes, in case you get super wet, (especially socks). Have fun!

Reply
Nov 27, 2014 at 9:32 p.m.
Annette Says...

I'm married to a teacher, so we can only go during the "worst" times. I'm wanting to take my boys for Spring Break 2015 (they will be 6 & 9), but I'm dreading the line ups and being limited on what we'll be able to see and do. I'd appreciate any tips.

Reply
Jan 13, 2015 at 5:12 p.m.
Elphie1 Says...

May I suggest going the last week of August? Our schools in Oregon start the week after Labor Day, but California schools start in mid August! I know a few people who have gone the last week of August and they say that it is better than going in March or April! You'll have fun regardless :-)

Reply
Feb 3, 2015 at 7:59 p.m.
Jackie Says...

I agree, Last week of August was the best time we have ever gone, and we have been in April, May and Sept.

Reply
Jan 3, 2015 at 4:05 a.m.
Debbie Says...

I have been 3 times during Spring Break and i didnt find it too crazy. If u get two weeks, try to go the first week. The earlier in March the better, and plan got more days during the week.

Reply
Dec 12, 2014 at 9:03 p.m.
Rock Says...

I almost don't want to put this out there, but I went on Super Bowl Sunday and Mother's day and wait times were a breeze!

Reply
Feb 17, 2015 at 2:03 a.m.
Kim Van Patten Says...

They have scheduled the Tinkerbell Half Marathon for Mother's Day weekend for 2015 so I bet it will be a whole lot busier this year. It is a woman centered race so I think they will probably bring the kids too.

Reply
Dec 27, 2014 at 10:36 a.m.
Ann Says...

I went on Easter Sunday and it was a 2out of 10 crowd level for me. Walked on all the rides (no wait times), very short wait for food at peak hours for lunch n dinner, great places still available to sit n watch the parade 5 min before it started, and it was bright n sunny out!

Reply
Dec 1, 2014 at 8 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Annette,

Because spring break fluctuates across the nation, it is not the absolute worst time to visit, but it will still be crowded! The single best tip for handling crowds is to arrive ahead of park opening and ride the most in-demand rides first. Follow our suggested touring plans here.

Best,

Leap

Reply
Nov 26, 2014 at 12:35 a.m.
Lauren Pizano Says...

Me and my family went to Disneyland yesterday November 24 and it was pure craziness! Never again will we go around this time! I know it's the most desirable place to visit but come one...an hour wait for rides and broken down rides was a major let down! :(

Reply
Nov 25, 2014 at 10:22 p.m.
mandee Says...

Are the crowds really that bad at Disneyland/CA during the week of Thanksgiving? We're planning a big family trip next year for Thanksgiving and I'm seriously considering moving it to the first week in December.

Reply
Apr 18, 2015 at 10:40 p.m.
stephanie Says...

Thanksgiving week is horrible. Went That week In 2014 and it was the worst experience ever and my almost 3 year old wasn't abe to enjoy at all. Between the crowd and heat, it was far from a magical experience. We will be trying again in early December 2015.

Reply
Nov 28, 2014 at 9:33 p.m.
Sara Says...

I was just telling my family let's never come back to DL during Thanksgiving. Haha. We're in the park right now and have done DL during Thanksgiving for several years now. Wed & Thursday weren't terrible but Friday has been busy busy so far. And I expect tomorrow to be worse.

Reply
Dec 6, 2014 at 8:36 p.m.
Jennifer Says...

It was awful this year during Thanksgiving. We did DL on Wed&Thur, CA on Friday. Wed was great in the morning. It was a regular admission time (no magic morning) and we walked right on to Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Splash, and Winnie the Pooh. 10min wait for Thunder, and Fantasyland was crazy. It was about 9:30am by this time. Waited 20min for Toad and then beelined for Small World. Waited there 20min and then made our way to Toon Town. Now we're at about 10:30. Walked onto the coaster, grabbed some crappy turkey sandwiches at 11:00 and that's when all h%@! broke loose! 12pm. Walking out of toon town and into the swarm of people was like Armageddon. And it was almost 90 degrees. Waited for jungle cruise for 60min (not worth the wait) and by 1:30 decided to head back to the condo for a rest. So I reiterate, Wed morning before 12pm was awesome! The rest of the trip was a blur. Wed evening was crazy. Thursday's Magic morning was insane. In fact, Thursday was miserable all the way around. Shoulder to shoulder crowds ALL day. Friday at CA was ok. Fast passes all day made the crowds bearable although, even the lines for fast passes were crazy long. 12pm seems to be the witching hour. But by about 3pm the crowds died down. FYI-we stayed at "Walts Place" across the street from Downtown Disney and the Tomorrowland monorail. VERY convenient. Find them on VRBO. And for a beach day, try San Pedro Marine Aquarium and park. Quiet beach, hardly any people. Great interactive research aquarium. Beats the crowds and admission prices of Long Beach!

Reply
Nov 20, 2014 at 6:34 a.m.
Araceli Seftel Says...

I just went to disneyland in mid October Thursday and Friday. Thursday was not busy at all we got to walk right up to the peter pan ride we didnt spend much time in lines and met a lot of characters it was a great time. The only super long line was the fast pass line to meet and greet with the cast from frozen that took up most of our Friday morning but it was so worth it.

Reply
Nov 10, 2014 at 7:27 p.m.
Sara Says...

Hopefully it isnt too packed when i go in January. Thanks for the heads up about MLK day. My birthday is the week after MLK day and thats when im going, hopefully we get there and it isnt too packed!

Reply
Nov 5, 2014 at 10:45 p.m.
Jill Says...

Does anyone about when the haunted mansion will be open at disneyland,ca for halloween in 2015

Reply
Jan 21, 2015 at 7:05 a.m.
Heather Says...

Historically it's about the middle of September with the first Halloween party on the last Friday in September. It's a great time to visit!

Reply

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