The Best Time To Visit Disneyland- 2024

Are you heading to the Disneyland parks in Southern California soon? You’re probably wondering when would be the best time to visit Disneyland! Some people want to avoid long lines. Other people want to visit over Spring Break when their kids are out of school. Some guests want to visit the happiest place on earth during the holiday or summer months. There isn’t a perfect time for everyone because each family is looking for different things on their Disneyland vacation. The good news is, whenever you choose to visit I know you’ll have a great time!

In this post, I’ll give you a brief overview of every month of the year, so you can get a general idea about what to expect. I have a full post on each month of the year linked in this article so that you can refer to it if you’d like more information about visiting Disneyland during a certain month. Each guide has a crowd calendar for disneyland in 2023, average weather and temperatures, special events, what to expect, a packing list, and more!

I’ve also got a full guide to help you decide what to wear to Disneyland based on which month you’ll be visiting! You can check it out here.

Disneyland is usually crowded, but there are times of the year that are less crowded than others. We’ll cover all of that and more in this post! I’ve also included some helpful Disneyland tips that you won’t want to miss at the end. Including a link to my printable touring plans!

Whether this is your first time visiting Disneyland or you’re annual pass holder (Magic Key holder), I hope this guide to the best time to visit Disneyland is helpful to you!

Discount Disney Park Tickets and Hotels

Please be aware, that Disney theme parks all require park tickets and reservations. Make sure you have both! Please don’t pay full price for your Disney tickets or hotel. My partners at Get Away Today have the very best deals on tickets and hotels. Their customer service is top notch and they even have layaway plans. You can find them using the link below or call 1-855-GET-AWAY. Make sure you tell them Melissa from Mix In Some Magic sent you for the best deal! If you book a package with park tickets and a hotel room you can use my code MIX10 to save an extra $10. That’s more churro money, friends!

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

Best Time To Visit Disneyland

Choosing the best time to visit Disneyland for your family is a personal choice. Everyone is looking for something different out of their Disney park vacation. Hopefully, this guide will give you an idea of what you can expect each month and help you choose the time that’s best for you.

January

Disneyland Park in January usually means lower crowds(if you visit after the holiday season ends and avoid Martin Luther King day). This means shorter wait times and shorter park hours. Disneyland often does ride maintenance during January and February. So, some attractions may be closed. Disneyland also celebrates Lunar New Year this month. Find my full guide to Disneyland in January here.

February

Disneyland Park in February usually has lower crowds as long as you avoid President’s Day. February is usually one of the least busy time of the year to visit. You may run into rainy weather, so be prepared for that! Disneyland often does ride maintenance during January and February. So, some attractions may be closed. Find my full guide to Disneyland in February here.

March

Disneyland in March has lots going on! You can expect the Food & Wine Festival, which runs during March and April in California Adventure. You can find a complete guide to the Food & Wine Festival here. March can be a busy time to visit, especially once Spring Breaks get going. You can find a full guide to Disneyland in March here.

April

Disneyland in April is busy with Spring break crowds! The Food & Wine Festival is happening in Disney California Adventure Park. You can find a complete guide to the Food & Wine Festival here. The park is full of out-of-state visitors and California residents enjoying the good weather and school breaks. Crowds usually start to die down a bit in late April. You can find a full guide to Disneyland in April here.

May

Disneyland in May means lighter crowds earlier in the month now that Spring breaks are over. Grad Nites begin in May and that can draw large crowds of graduating high school students and make for busy days. Avoid Memorial Day weekend if possible. You can find more info on Grad Nite here and a full guide to Disneyland in May here.

June

Disneyland in June means higher crowd levels due to summer break. This also brings longer hours and the parks will be open later. If you need to visit during the summer, June is a great time of year to do it. The weather is a bit less hot in June than it will be later in the summer. Grad Nites continue in June. Find more information here. You can find a full guide to Disneyland in June here.

July

Disneyland in July means higher crowds levels and hot temperatures. The summer holidays are in full swing and crowds are plentiful. You can still find short lines in the mornings and later in the evening. Avoid visiting over the 4th of July if possible. You can find a full guide to Disneyland in July here.

August

Disneyland in August is busy during the first few weeks, but theme park attendance decreases significantly towards the month’s end. The last two weeks of August have low crowds, but it is usually quite hot and you can expect Haunted Mansion to be closed for its Holiday overlay. You can find a full guide to Disneyland in August here.

September

Early September has lower crowds, but as soon as Halloween time at Disneyland begins it will be more crowded. The Oogie Boogie Bash begins in September and is very popular. In my opinion, this is the best time to visit Disneyland(or one of them!) September is still hot at Disneyland, so plan for higher temperatures. You can find a full guide to Disneyland in September here.

October

October is filled with Halloween fun! The Oogie Boogie Bash is running on select nights. Crowds are steady at the Disney parks especially over school holidays like Columbus Day. The weather is still hot, so plan accordingly. You can find a full guide to Disneyland in October here.

November

November is a great time of year to visit Disneyland. Crowds are lower during the first part of the month and pick up as the month goes on. The Holidays at the Disneyland resort are incredibly popular and begin in early November. I think November is the best time to visit Disneyland(or one of them) because I love visiting during the Holidays! The Haunted Mansion Holiday returns and is one of the most popular rides in the park. ‘it’s a small world” also gets an amazing Holiday overlay. You can find a full guide to Disneyland in November here.

December

December at Disneyland can be a bit crowded. Everyone loves to visit during the Christmas season. There are lots of great seasonal events happening. It’s peak season at Disneyland! If you avoid Christmas Eve through New Year you’ll miss the highest crowds. Disneyland has capacity limits, so make sure you make your park reservations early if you’ll be visiting during Christmas. The Holidays run through early November. Weather can be a bit chilly, so be prepared. You can find a full guide to Disneyland in December here.

Disneyland Planning Help

I’ve got bunches of information on planning a Disneyland trip that will be so helpful for you! Start with my complete guide to visiting Disneyland. It’s a step-by-step guide for planning your vacation that will be helpful. Check out my top 10 Disneyland tips and my guide to when to visit Disneyland to help you pick the best time for your vacation! I’ve also got a post on rope dropping at Disneyland that’s very helpful.

Make sure you check out my downloadable touring plans if you’d like a step-by-step guide to the parks! 

I have a planning phone call that’s super popular! In this phone call, I can answer all of your Disneyland vacation questions and give you lots of tips and info tailored just to you and your group!

Hopefully, my guide to the best time to visit Disneyland was helpful to you! No matter when you decide to visit Disneyland, I know you will have a great time and make wonderful family memories that will last a lifetime! There are pros and cons to visiting Disneyland each month of the year. I hope this guide helped you narrow down the time that will work best for your family to enjoy the happiest place on earth!

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

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