We absolutely love stopping by Disneyland Resort on Father’s Day. To make it an extra special day for Leap, the kids and I go out of our way to plan a magical, fun-filled day, catered just to his personality! This can range from getting on some of the most thrilling rides in the park to sitting down for special character dining. It changes every year, and that’s why he loves it!
If you’re planning on celebrating this Father’s Day at Disneyland and need some inspiration for your itinerary, here are some starter plans for you and your dad or fatherly figure! (Don't froget ... next Father's Day is June 15, 2025!) Just make sure to make the day about him! Dad is always trying to make sure everyone else is happy. Father's Day is all about him!
Ways to Celebrate Father’s Day at Disneyland
Disneyland offers many everyday activities suitable for all different kinds of dads! Plus, you can find special things do to celebrate Father's Day. Try something new or pick a familiar family activity dad will love this year. Here are a few different ways to experience your Father’s Day at the parks. We have options for every budget. Also, keep your ears alert to special Father's Day announcements over the speakers in the park!
Get a Free Button!
You do not have to spend a lot of money to make the day special for dad. Pick up a free celebration button from shops or guest relations kiosks. Have the cast member write "Father's Day" on it. We love these free souvenirs at Disneyland, and they really do make the day more special.
Father's Day Brunch
Goofy and Max host a Father's Day Brunch at Plaza Inn on Father's Day. Reservations book up early, but we had good luck scoring a reservation the night before in 2024! So, definitely keep checking if you don't find a reservation right away. We saw a total of 12 characters during the brunch in 2024. It does cost more than the normal brunch at $79 for adults and $39 for kids (and no discounts apply).
You can enjoy additional food choices (compared to the Minnie & Friends character dining on other days), including a carving station, pasta, real Plaza Inn fried chicken chilaquiles and chocolate chip Minnie waffles! Plus, you get a free Father's Day button, pennant and printed photos of meeting Goofy and Max in a themed folder.
You wait in line to meet Goofy and Max before you pay and get seated. Then, while you dine, a cast member brings you the folder with included printouts of your meet and greet. The rest of the characters come to visit you while you dine, except for two. Pinocchio and Geppetto take turns meeting guests to the right of the main entrance. You could go visit them whenever it was convenient for you. The cast members said we could stay 2.5 hours to see all the characters, but we saw them all in about 1.5 hours.
Here's who we saw in 2024 (actual characters may vary):
- Goofy and Max (together)
- Pinocchio and Geppetto (this father/son duo takes turns meeting guests to the right of the main doors to Plaza Inn)
- Donald Duck
- Tigger
- Pooh
- Perla
- Susie
- Chip
- Dale
- Pluto
For the Avid Adventurer
Whether your dad simply enjoys action-packed films or embarking on real-life adventures, there are plenty of thrills to be had at Disneyland Resort! If you’re a Magic Key holder or have a park-hopper ticket, you can enjoy plenty of rides at both parks.
At Disneyland, take Dad on a wild Jeep ride through a cursed temple on Indiana Jones Adventure. If he’s more of a space adventurer, stop by Galaxy’s Edge and ride Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Other fun thrill rides at the park include Space Mountain, Star Tours, Matterhorn Bobsleds and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Geared more towards adult and teenage frogs, Disney California Adventure Park features even more thrills to share with the family! Climb aboard Incredicoaster and dash through chilling drops and a spine-tingling loop. For more family-friendly thrills, zoom by other roadsters on Radiator Springs Racers at Cars Land.
For the Inspired Artist
If your fatherly figure is artistically inclined, he can show off his talents at Disney California Adventure Park! For a free animation lesson from a Disney cartoonist, stop by the Animation Academy in Hollywood Land. There, the whole family can get in on the fun by sketching and keeping a personal drawing of a Disney character.
Creative dads who rather appreciate art than create it will toadally love The Disney Gallery at Disneyland! This mini museum features gorgeous artwork from several eras, as well as coveted merchandise — all centered on Disney characters and films.
For the Superhero Fan
Is your dad a major Marvel fan? If so, look no further than Avengers Campus for an entertaining Father’s Day. On this campus, guests can catch multiple superheroes and villains, as well as cosmically delicious eats.
Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT! is the perfect attraction for a good time with good music. This 184-foot tall tower ride will drop and lift you as you bounce to the beat of Starlord’s mixtapes. Embark on another daring superhero mission on WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure. Hop aboard a WEB Slinger vehicle and trap defective Spider-Bots by slinging webs.
For the Star Wars Fan
If your dad loves Star Wars, treat him to a day in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Ride the rides, interact with characters and maybe even give him the best present ever: building a lightsaber at Savi's Workshop!
For the Beer Enthusiast
Dads and their adult frog kids can enjoy tasting some locally-brewed beer and cider at Sonoma Terrace in Disney California Adventure Park, as well as a few cocktails and wines from different parts of the world. Pair your wine or beer tastings with a Pork-Sausage Sandwich or Bavarian Pretzel if you’re feeling a bit hungry.
A more family-friendly experience, Ballast Point Brewing Company in Downtown Disney offers a wide selection of mouth-watering eats and sensational beverages! Enjoy an award-winning beer and fine Southern California cuisine on the rooftop patio of this brewery. On weekends, until 2 p.m., a brunch menu is available.
For the Food Connoisseur
For foodies, Disneyland Resort is an abundant paradise! Besides the Father's Day Brunch we already talked a bout, there are various, delectable food options throughout the parks, resorts and Downtown Disney. The atmosphere of a sit-down restaurant can provide a more elegant feel when dining for Father’s Day. Leap loves when the characters come to him during character dining. His favorite breakfast or brunch is Storyteller's Café
We recommend making advance dining reservations for your dad’s favorite meal. Some restaurants may even offer a special meal or menu item for Father’s Day. If you can’t snag a reservation, there are still plenty of quick-service eateries to choose from. Take a mini food tour through the park by mobile ordering snacks from different dining locations. Some of Leap's favorite places to eat and drink include Oga’s Cantina in Galaxy’s Edge, Lamplight Lounge in Pixar Pier and the new Céntrico in Downtown Disney. He also loves to grab quick bites, such as an Uptown Chili Dog from Award Wieners or a Cream Cheese-filled Pretzel from Refreshment Corner.
For the Nature Lover
Of all the lavish vegetation found in Disney California Adventure Park, Grizzly Peak features the most! In this area, you can find Grizzly River Run. This whitewater raft ride will bring you closer to nature and still bring all the fun! Ride the raging current through an abandoned mine in the wilderness before splashing down the river into the Grizzly Peak mountains.
If you want to continue seeing the sights but want to relieve your flippers for a little while, Soarin’ Around the World is the stop for you. Make sure to prepare for liftoff, then fly high into the air for a virtual tour around the world.
For the Music Aficionado
Perfect for father figures with a lot of soul, the New Orleans-style Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio in Downtown Disney serves authentic, yet innovative dishes from the Gulf and Pacific coasts, such as Gumbo Ya-Ya and NOLA BBQ Gulf Shrimp & Grits. To accompany the meal, enjoy the smooth sounds of saxophone players and other jazz musicians. The stage near the lawn at Downtown Disney has many different acts you can catch in the evenings.
Singing classic songs from the opening era of Disneyland Park, the Dapper Dans are the finest barbershop quartet around! Wearing their colorful pinstripe suits reminiscent of the 1950s, the a capella group performs in various areas of Main Street, U.S.A. throughout the day. Catch them at the train station with characters and the Disneyland Band after the Happiest March on Earth between 12:15 and 12:30 p.m.
Leap really loves listening to the musical acts at the Disneyland Hotel Lobby Lounge. They perform Thursday through Sunday evenings.
Will you be celebrating Father’s Day at Disneyland Resort? Share your plans below in the comments!
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Hoppy planning!