There are a lot of things to consider when you are planning a trip to Disneyland like time of year, special events, school and work schedules, weather, and more. And with the way the parks have been lately, there really aren’t down times anymore at Disneyland, you will likely never be able to just walk onto rides in a fairly empty park. And to be honest, crowd calendars are not as accurate as they used to be anymore.
I think a better indication of what crowds will look like in the parks is ticket prices, special ticket deals, and events happening in the parks or in the Anaheim area. So to make your planning a little easier, I have created this Disneyland event calendar which I have listed all of the single day park ticket prices for each day, indicated all the special priced tickets available, and have also included all of the major celebrations, events, and after hours parties that will be happening in the parks so you can see what is going on during the year. ***As of now, we can only see the ticket tiers and pricing through June, so July-December are currently not color coded. As those dates become available, I will update those months as the year goes along.
Be aware, not all of the events in the parks are on this calendar yet as dates for things like the CHOC Walk in the Park have not been announced yet, but as those become available I will update the calendars. Another thing to keep in mind is that during the “off season” (January-mid May) you can expect to see shorter park hours, more attractions being closed for refurbishment, and sometimes less entertainment options, while during times like the summer, the Holidays and Halloween, park hours may be longer and the park may have more to offer in terms of entertainment as well a fewer ride closures, but that also usually means higher crowds, so just keep that in mind when you are planning when you want to visit.
Also keep in mind, the colors shown on the calendars below are the prices for single day, one park per day tickets only. Park hopper tickets and multi day tickets do not apply to the colors shown as they will be higher or do not work on the tiered ticket system. The tier ticket system works for single day tickets and have to be used on a tier date equal to or lesser than the tier purchased. For example, if you are planning to go on a tier 3 date but have to change your plans, you can reschedule your visit for anytime in 2026 that is a tier 3 ticket date, or any ticket date of lesser value (tier 0-2). Lower tier ticket days tend to be busier than higher tier ticket days lately because they’re more affordable, and cheaper tickets like $50 kids tickets and the California Resident ticket deal will also likely increase the business of the park at times. Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get into what this year has to offer!
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Before you plan your trip, I recommend you book your vacation through Get Away Today. I have used them for over 10 years to book my Disney trips and have always had the easiest time getting everything booked so I can fully enjoy my trip without any stress. Their ticket prices are lower than Disneyland’s gate prices, they’re refundable if your plans change or something comes up, you can purchase a package that also includes your hotel stay which often times they offer free parking, extra nights free, and more. You can also add transportation and other services to your package so you have everything you need in one place! You will always get the best prices available with Get Away Today and with their amazing customer service, planning your trip will be easier than ever. You can also save additional money off your 2+day/2+night packages by using code RAMBLING10 at checkout! You can book your trip here! And if you can’t pay the full balance up front, you can secure your package for $200 down using their Layaway Plan with full payment due closer to the time of your trip.
I would also recommend that if you are visiting during the busier months, or if you just want to, add Lightning Lane Multipass (formerly known as Genie+) to your Get Away Today tickets and skip the extra step of purchasing them in the parks. When you select your tickets when booking your trip, select the option that says “with Lightning Lane Multipass” to take advantage of the lightning lane options in the parks and skip the lines! Adding Lightning Lane Multipass to your tickets with Get Away Today will get you the absolute lowest price on Lightning Lane Multipass instead of paying whatever amount they decide to charge that day in the parks.
Also keep in mind, you must make theme park reservations for the days you want to visit the parks. If you purchase your tickets from any third party seller, like Get Away Today, you need to link your ticket to your Disneyland account and make theme park reservations for each ticket the day(s) you want to visit. If you purchase your tickets from the Disneyland website, you do not need to make theme park reservations as the reservation is already made when you select the date for your ticket. You can always check your theme park reservations on the Disneyland app where it says “future plans.” Any theme park reservations you have made will show up there.
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January
The first week of January is usually pretty busy as the holidays wind down, and there’s a few other events you’ll want to be aware of that may drive in some higher crowds. Here’s what you’ll want to look out for:
• The Holidays end on January 7th, expect higher crowds up until that day
• Wondrous Journeys fireworks and projections will return on January 8. Be aware, during the off season months, fireworks typically only happen on weekends, so always check the entertainment calendar for the day. If it say “projections” then there will be no fireworks that day, if it mentions fireworks, then it will have both.
• Lunar New Year kicks off in DCA on January 23 and runs through the remainder of the month
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day is January 19th so that long weekend will likely be busier
• There is a Sweethearts’ Nite on January 22nd, 25th, and 27th which will have dancing, character experiences, photo ops, entertainment, special food offerings, access to attractions, and more! This is a separate ticket event that is not included in your standard theme park ticket and Disneyland will close early at 8 pm to all no ticketed guests.
• RunDisney Half Marathon weekend is January 29th-February 1st, this will draw in a lot of people so be prepared if you’ll be there that weekend
• The Paint the Night Parade returns on January 30th and will run until the end of the 70th Celebration on August 9.
• There is a discounted California Resident ticket deal starts on January 1, which I believe is going to lead to higher crowds on some days and these tickets are valid all month long.
• January also has many tier 0 ticket days which means that those are the cheapest days to visit the parks. If you are looking to save money, the tier 0 ticket days are January 6-8, 12-15, 20-22, and 26-27. While these days are cheaper, that can also mean more people visiting on those days so be prepared for the parks to be a little busier as that is a chance.
Once the Holidays are over, January typically has shorter park hours, less entertainment options, and potentially more ride closures. Anaheim weather in January averages mid to upper 60’s most of the time and is usually in the mid 40’s to mid 50’s at night. You will definitely want to pack layers and keep an eye on the forecast to see if you need to pack for rain. You can find some of my favorite items for rainy park days here.
February
February has several things going on this year, here are some things to look out for in February:
• The RunDisney Half Marathon Weekend is January 30th-February 1st, so that first day of the month may be a bit busy
• There are several Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nites to look out for on February 3rd, 5th, 8th, 10th, 12th, and 17th. These events will have dancing, character experiences, photo ops, entertainment, special food offerings, attractions, and more! This is a separate ticket event not included in the standard theme park ticket and Disneyland will close early at 8 pm to all no ticketed guests.
• Valentine’s Day on February 14th, you can expect to see Valentine’s decorations throughout the park in February. I would expect higher crowds due to the holiday, especially because it falls on a Friday this year
• President’s Day on February 16th which will draw in larger crowds that weekend
• Celebrate Gospel at the Fantasyland Theatre on February 20-21 as well as the 27-28.
• There is a cheer nationals competition in Anaheim on February 19-22 that will draw in a lot of people, many of which will likely visit Disneyland so be prepared for higher crowds those days.
• Lunar New Year runs through February 22nd at DCA
• Mardi Gras is on February 17
• Anaheim Ducks day is February 22 in DCA so if you’re a hockey fan, you may want to check that out
• There is a Mini Gay days on February 28. This is a third party event in the park not put on by Disney but will likely make the parks busier that day.
• The discount California Resident ticket deal will be running all month long which may increase crowds slightly on some days
• There are a few tier 0 ($104) ticket dates in February on the 3-5, 10-12, and the 24-26. If you’re looking for cheaper days to visit, these are the ones you want, but that may also bring in higher crowds because of that.
February weather is much like January, expect cooler temperatures in the mid 60’s to low 70’s getting down into the 40’s and 50’s at night, pack layers for the cooler mornings and evenings and check the forecast for rain before you leave. Park hours will generally be a little shorter still and there may be several attractions closed due to it being the off season, as well as less entertainment options, but you may find some Valentine’s themed food items in the time leading up to Valentine’s Day.
March
If you are planning on visiting the parks in March, go earlier in the month because towards the middle of the month you will see the spring break crowds coming into the parks and it can get pretty packed. Here are all the happenings in the parks in March:
• The DCA Food & Wine Festival kicks off on March 6 in DCA. Remember, this festival is included in your theme park admission and this also marks the return of Soarin’ Over California for the duration of the festival.
• March 1st is Adventureland Day, which is an event put on by a third party group, not Disney, but will draw in a lot of people, especially in the Adventureland area so be prepared for that. You’ll notice lots of people dressed up in Adventureland themed attire and doing a treasure hunt put on during the event.
• March brings a new after hours event, 70 Years of Favorites on March 3rd and 5th. This separate ticketed event includes photo ops, event-themed food selections, attractions, character experiences, commemorative keepsakes, and more. This is a separate ticket event that is not included in your theme park admission and Disneyland will close early at 8 pm to all no ticketed guests.
• There is another cheer competition in the Anaheim area March 13-15 that may draw crowds into the parks that weekend.
• Bluey’s Best Day Ever debuts in the Fantasyland Theatre on March 22. This new experience lets you meet Bluey and Bingo as well as see other characters, themed foods and games, as well as musical numbers. If you’ve got kids who are Bluey fans, don’t miss this one!
• Spring Breaks typically begin the second or third week of the month, so expect crowds to be a bit higher those weeks.
• The discount California Resident ticket deal will be running all month long which may increase crowds, especially during spring break
• There are a few tier 0 ($104) ticket dates in March on the 3-5, so those dates will likely be busy.
Weather is typically in the 70’s in March with lows in the 50’s in the morning and evening hours. There’s a chance of a few rainy days so check the weather and come prepared with some of my favorite rainy day must have’s that you can find here.
April
The first half of April is the time to avoid at the parks! You are still in the spring break period so it will be super crowded. Toward the end of the month crowds will start to lighten so if you’re going in April, keep that in mind. Here’s what to expect in April this year:
• There are three Disney Channel Nites on April 12, 14, and 16. This event requires a separate ticket not included in your theme park admission and the parks will close early at 8 pm to all non ticketed guests.
• The first Dapper Day of the year is on April 19, so expect higher crowds and lots of people dressed in their dapper day best
• Nurses day is April 29, expect even higher crowds that day on top of an already busy day
• There are two Star Wars Nites on April 28th and 30th. There will be special character meet and greets, themed entertainment and food, a lightsaber meetup, and more. This is a separate ticket event and Disneyland will close early at 8 pm to all no ticketed guests.
• The DCA Food & Wine Festival runs through April 27th. To learn more about the Food and Wine Festival and get a FREE printable foodie guide, head over here.
• There are a few tier 0 ($104) ticket days in April on the 21-23 and the 28-30 so that may draw in more people because they are cheaper.
• The discount California Resident ticket deal will be running all month long which may increase crowds
Temperatures in April are usually mid 70’s with lows in the mid 50’s at night, so you may need a jacket during the cooler hours but during the day the weather is quite nice.
May
May is a tricky month, with various special ticket events like Star Wars Nites and Grad Nites, one of the two parks will close early on those days so make sure you know what parks have events which days and maybe make your reservation for the other park or purchase park hopper tickets so you can hop parks when one closes early. Here’s what ese is happening in the parks in May:
• Bats day is on May 3rd. This is a third party event not put on by Disney but typically brings in a lot of people, typically dressed in more goth like style clothing.
• Star Wars Nites on May 4th and 6th. There will be special character meet and greets, themed entertainment and food, a lightsaber meetup, and more. This is a separate ticket event not included in your theme park admission and Disneyland will close early at 8 pm to all no ticketed guests.
• Star Wars Day is on May 4th. You will find some things around the park to celebrate. Be prepared for a lot of people in the parks this day, especially in Galaxy’s Edge. This is also an after dark nite so it will likely be pretty packed that day.
• Cinco de Mayo is on the 5th
• Mother’s Day is May 10th, I would expect higher crowds that weekend
• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run will be getting a new overlay for the release of the new Mandalorian and Grogu movie which will debut on May 22nd.
• Memorial Day is May 25th, expect heavy crowds that entire weekend
• Also be aware there are various Grad Nites throughout the month where graduating seniors will be in the parks. These are after hour events in DCA and the park will close early to all other guests, but grads can choose to purchase full day tickets so the parks can be much busier those days. Those dates are May 8th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 20th, 21st, 28th, 29th, and 31st.
• The discount California Resident ticket deal will run through May 21 and the weeks leading up to that date will probably be pretty busy as people try to use up their tickets.
• There is a $50 kids ticket deal starting on May 22 that will likely bring in a lot of people as this ticket deal has been very popular in previous years.
• The lowest tier tickets in May are tier 1 ($129) and are on the 4-7, 11-14, 19-20, and 26-27. Again, while these are the cheapest days of the month, that may lead to higher crowds
Crowds will definitely start picking up in mid-late may and will stay high through mid-August typically. Maximize your time in the parks with these tips to make the most of your trip!
Weather in May is much like April, expect mid 70’s with lows of mid 50’s but as you get closer to the end of the month, temperatures will start to get warmer so check the forecast before your trip so you know exactly what to plan for.
June
Just like previous years, June is going to be busy because it’s summer vacation. Even though June is a pretty open month with few events happening, here are a few things to expect
• Father’s Day is June 21st, that will draw in higher crowds that day
•Juneteenth on June 19th. I’d expect higher crowds that day as some companies give their employees that day off and it falls on a Friday leading to a longer weekend
• More Grad Nites for high school seniors on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, and 12th. These are after hour events in DCA and the park will close early to all other guests, but grads can choose to purchase full day tickets so the parks will be much busier those days.
• There are 2 Pride Nite’s in June on the 16th and the 18th. This is a separate ticketed event, not included in your theme park admission, that will include food, entertainment, character meet and greets, and more. Disneyland park will close to all non ticketed guests at 8 pm that day for the event.
• The $50 kids ticket deal will be running all month long that will likely bring in a lot of people as this ticket deal has been very popular in previous years.
• The lowest tier ticket days are tier 0 ($104) are on June are the 1-4, so this may cause that first week of June very busy with the cheaper tickets and the start of summer break.
The weather in June is pretty nice, I’d expect high 70’s and 80’s with low’s in the 60’s at night.
If you’re visiting Disneyland during the busy months, you may want to take a break from the lines. Here’s a list of the non-ride activities you can find in the parks to get the most of your trip even during busy season!
July
If you’re planning to visit in July, there are only a few things going on, but here’s what you can look forward to in July:
• Soarin’ will be getting a new overlay, Soarin’ Across America, for a limited time to celebrate the the countries 250th anniversary. This new overlay will debut on July 2nd for a limited time.
• The Fourth of July Celebration- The parks will be decked out in red, white, and blue with a special fireworks performance, flag raising ceremony, and more on Independence Day.
• Disneyland’s 70th anniversary is on July 17th! There will be fun birthday celebrations throughout the park to celebrate the big day. Just be aware that this day usually comes with larger crowds.
• The $50 kids ticket deal will be running all month long that will likely bring in a lot of people as this ticket deal has been very popular in previous years.
• Ticket prices for July have not been released yet, but I will update once that information is available.
The heat will start picking up in July with average temperatures in the mid 80’s with lows in the mid 60’s but it can definitely get hotter than that on many days. If you’re visiting during the hot summer months, check out this post for tips on how to beat the heat and find some of my favorite must have’s for the hot weather here.
August
The first few weeks of August are still pretty busy, especially the weekends. If you are wanting to visit the parks, the last half of August is usually a great time to visit because kids are heading back to school so the crowds should die down quite a bit on weekdays. Here’s what you can expect in August:
• Disneyland’s 70th Celebration ends on August 9th.
• The D23 Expo will be happening in Anaheim on August 14-16 which will bring in higher crowds to the parks. There will be a D23 day at Disneyland on August 13 so I’d expect that day to be busy.
• Halloween Time at Disneyland– Halloween Time is kicking off on August 21st. There will be decorations, holiday treats, Haunted Mansion Holiday and other ride overlays, merch, and more! You can read all about what you can expect during Halloween time here
• Oogie Boogie Bash is kicking off before Halloween Time this year. These events will be held on August 18th, 20th, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 30th. Oogie Boogie is a separate ticket event that is not included in your theme park admission, and California Adventure will close early those days at 6 pm to all guests who do not have tickets to the after hours event. Guests with Oogie Boogie tickets will be allowed to enter DCA at 3pm with their OBB event ticket. Check out my post on Oogie Boogie Bash for everything you need to know.
• The $50 kids ticket deal will be running all month long that will likely bring in a lot of people as this ticket deal has been very popular in previous years.
• Ticket prices for July have not been released yet, but I will update once that information is available.
Weather in August is much like weather in July, expect at least mid 80’s if not higher and lows in the mid 60’s or 70’s, make sure you pack smart and bring things to help you stay cool, hydrated, and comfortable. You can find my favorite items for hot days in the parks here.
September
This is a great time to visit the parks as the seasons start to change and the crowds die down a little bit after a busy summer before ramping back up as people come in for Halloween Time. While there are some dates you may want to avoid, overall this is a great month to head to the parks. Here’s what you can expect in September:
• Labor Day is September 7th, so expect higher crowds that weekend
• Halloween Time at Disneyland– Halloween Time will run through the entire month. There will be decorations, holiday treats, Haunted Mansion Holiday and other ride overlays, merch, and more! You can read all about what you can expect during Halloween time here
• Oogie Boogie Bash will be happening every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. OBB event dates are September 1st, 3rd, 6th, 8th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, 27th, and 29th. Remember that DCA closes at 6pm on those dates for all guests who do not have Oogie Boogie Bash tickets. Check out my post on Oogie Boogie Bash for everything you need to know.
• Gay days will be September 18th-20th. This is a third party event, not put on by Disney, but will draw in a lot of people so be prepared for higher crowds that weekend.
• The $50 kids ticket deal will be good until September 7, I expect that last week to they’re good to be busier than normal.
• Ticket prices for July have not been released yet, but I will update once that information is available.
Weather is typically in the mid 80’s, sometimes higher, with lows getting down into the 60’s, so even though September is Halloween Time, the weather will definitely feel more like summer a lot of the time. Check the weather and be prepared because it can get very hot.
October
October is busier than September for sure. Schools also have fall break during this time and the weekends are really busy leading up to Halloween. Here’s everything to look forward to in October:
• Halloween Time runs through the entire month of October. Head to the parks to get seasonal treats, décor, characters in costumes, Haunted Mansion Holiday, other ride overlays, and more!
• Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day is on October 12th so that long weekend will be pretty busy.
• Many schools have fall break, usually October 7th-11th or 14th-18th which will make the parks extremely busy those weeks.
• Oogie Boogie Bash will be held all through October as well in DCA. The event dates are October 1st, 4th, 6th, 8th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 18th, 20th, 22nd, 25th, 27th, 29th, and 31st. Check out my post on Oogie Boogie Bash for everything you need to know. Remember, this is a separate ticket event, not included in your theme park admission, and DCA will close at 6 pm to all non ticketed guests. Guests with OBB tickets can enter the park at 3 pm with their event ticket.
• Halloween is on the 31st and with it falling on a Saturday and an Oogie Boogie Bash night, I would expect DCA to be fairly busy that day.
• Ticket prices for July have not been released yet, but I will update once that information is available.
Temperatures will start to drop a little so expect upper 70’s and low 80’s and upper 50’s or low 60’s at night. If you are planning on visiting during Oogie Boogie Bash, make sure your costume is appropriate for the weather if you can.
November
Halloween will come down and Christmas will immediately start going up in the parks so you may see some decor if you go the first 2 weeks in the month, but if you are wanting to experience the Holidays at the fullest, you will have to wait until later in the month. Here are the details of what’s going on in November:
• Veteran’s Day is November 11th, some people have that day off so I would expect at least average crowds
• The Holidays begin at Disneyland on November 18th. During the holidays, there are ride overlays, holiday treats, decorations, events, you can meet Santa, and more! For more information about what the Holidays at Disneyland are like, check out my full review of the 2025 season here. I would expect higher crowds for the kickoff weekend as creators, influencers, and media come to try to cover the kickoff.
• The second Dapper Day event of the year is on November 22nd. I would expect higher crowds that day and lots of people in their dapper day best throughout the parks.
• Mickey and Minnie’s Birthdays are on November 18th so you can expect some fun birthday surprises throughout the park that day!
• Thanksgiving is on November 26th. If you are in the parks that day, some restaurants will have Thanksgiving options that they only offer that day. Make sure to make your reservations in advance to secure your Thanksgiving Dinner! Thanksgiving and the few days following will likely be very busy in the parks.
• Ticket prices for July have not been released yet, but I will update once that information is available.
The weather will start to cool down a bit in November with the average temperature being in the mid 70’s with lows in the low 50’s. This is also coming into the rainy season in Anaheim so check for rain in the forecast before you leave on your trip. Make sure to pack jackets as it gets cooler, especially in the evening.
For everything you need to know about the Holidays at Disneyland, check out this post!
December
If you’re planning a trip in December, I would say don’t visit the parks after Christmas if you can help it, it gets ridiculously busy between Christmas and New Years as people take holiday trips and kids are out of school and people take off work, so I would avoid that week if you can. Here’s what else you can expect in December:
• The Holidays at Disney run through the entire month so you’ll be able to experience the treats, ride overlays, decor, and more anytime you visit! For everything you need to know about the holidays, check out this post.
• Candlelight Processional- This is a super cool thing they do every year usually on the first weekend in December in front of the train station on Main Street USA. A celebrity narrator is brought in to retell the Christmas Story and there is an orchestra and a choir that perform Christmas songs throughout. If you want to experience this, it only happens twice a night on two nights, and can only be seen from the standing area behind the seated section which is only available by invitation only. Trying to find a spot in the standing section will be hard to get, so you definitely need to be in the area early to try to get a spot for this. This will happen on the 5th and 6th this year and you can expect higher crowds that weekend.
• Holidays like Hanukkah and Kwanzaa may bring higher crowds to the parks those days
• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are hit and miss when it comes to crowds
• New Year’s Eve is a fun time to be in the parks. They do have things to help celebrate the new year which is a great way to end the year, but it is typically packed so just be prepared for the high crowds that come with that day.
• Ticket tier prices have not been announced for December yet, but I will update with the lowest tier dates when that information is available.
December can get pretty chilly, the average temperature is in the 60’s with lows getting down into the 40’s. Pack warm clothes, especially for the morning and evening hours.
BOOK YOUR TRIP TODAY!
Now that you know what’s going on at Disneyland this year, all you need to do is head to Get Away Today to book your hotel and tickets! They have amazing prices, excellent customer service, and I promise you will have a great experience with Get Away Today! At checkout, make sure you use code RAMBLING10 for additional money off of your package of 2+day tickets/2+ night hotel stay! You can also secure your tickets/package $200 down at the time of booking with the full balance being due shortly before your trip. You can also purchase a Peace of Mind plan so you can make any needed changes to your packages such as travel dates, hotels, or even tickets at no additional cost! Plus, they often run extra day and night free deals on tickets and select hotels so check those out to make the most of your vacation.
And there you have it! A complete run down of everything happening at Disneyland in 2026 as well as all the ticket info you need. Hopefully this helps take the stress out of planning your trip so you can have a magical vacation!
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