Best Times to Visit

Disneyland is a great place to visit no matter what time of year it is, but there are pros and cons to visiting depending on the season.  Certain months are inherently busier than others, more rides are closed for refurbishment during other months, and some days are so crowded you want to stay away at all costs!  Here's a general breakdown to help you figure out when might be the best time for your vacation. ​UPDATED 6 JAN 2018

​Seasons

JANUARY - FEBRUARY

• Pros - Off-season.  Far fewer crowds, much shorter attraction wait times (<20 minutes), weather is neither hot nor cold, most families still have kids in school and are not planning trips.  Weekends are slightly busier with local crowds.
• Cons - Busiest time for attraction refurbishment.  Many either have routine maintenance or are having holiday theming removed.  Parks may be open daily for 12 hours or less.  Some entertainment is only offered on weekends. Fireworks may not happen.

MARCH - EARLY MAY

• Pros - Off-season.  Fewer crowds early March and May, shorter attraction wait times (<30 minutes), weather is pleasant.  Weekends slightly less crowded.  Fewer attractions closed for refurbishment. Fireworks typically scheduled.
• Cons - Spring break through late March and April cause slightly larger crowds.  Many attractions still closed for refurbishment.​

LATE MAY - EARLY JULY

• Pros - Summer season.  Few to no attraction refurbishments.  Weather is not too warm.  Weekends much less crowded.  Access to all new attractions and shows.  All shows and parades offered most days.  Parks are open daily for 16 hours or more.
• Cons - Summer season.  Late May and June have an increase in teenagers with Grad Nites on select evenings.  Weekdays see larger crowds with moderate attraction wait times (<40 minutes).  Hardest to get reservations at restaurants and hotels.

MID-JULY - EARLY AUGUST

• Pros - Summer season.  Few to no attraction refurbishments.  Weekends much less crowded.  Access to all new attractions and shows.  All shows and parades offered most days.  Parks are open daily for 16 hours or more.
• Cons - Summer season.  Weather can be very hot and humid.  Weekdays see larger crowds with occasionally long attraction wait times (>40 minutes).  Difficult to get reservations at restaurants and hotels.

LATE AUGUST - EARLY SEPTEMBER

• Pros - Summer season.  Few attractions closed for refurbishment.  Weekdays are much less crowded as kids are heading back to school.  Access to all new attractions and shows.  All shows and parades offered most days.  Parks are open daily for 14-16 hours.  Shorter attraction wait times (<30 minutes).
• Cons - Weather can be very hot and humid.  Weekends see larger local crowds.  Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain will be closed in preparation for Halloween season.

MID-SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER

• Pros - Halloween Time.  Few attractions closed for refurbishment.  Most weekdays are much less crowded.  Access to seasonal attractions, shows and events.  Many shows and parades offered most days.
• Cons - Weekends can be busy with local crowds.  Moderate attraction wait times (<40 minutes).  Disneyland Park closes early for Mickey's Halloween Party on select nights.  Very difficult to get hotel reservations.

EARLY NOVEMBER

• Pros - Weather is pleasant.  Few attractions closed for refurbishment.  Weekdays are much less crowded with shorter attraction wait times (<20 minutes).  Access to many seasonal attractions and shows on most days.
• Cons - Weekends can be busy with local crowds.  "it's a small world" and Space Mountain closed for holiday overlays/overlay removals.

LATE NOVEMBER - DECEMBER

• Pros - Holiday season.  Weather is neither hot nor cold.  Few to no attraction refurbishments.  Crowds are lighter in early December.  Access to seasonal attractions, shows, events and decorations.  All shows and parades offered on most days.  Parks are open daily for 16 hours or more.
• Cons - Holiday season.  Intense crowds around the holidays with long attraction wait times (>45 minutes).  Difficult to get restaurant or hotel reservations.

​Holidays

With Disneyland's new tiered one-day ticket pricing and changes in annual passes, holidays are much less crowded than they used to be.  Memorial Day and the 4th of July, for example, saw much lighter crowds this year than normal.  It's still best, however, to be aware of the potential for large crowds on any big holiday.

In addition to national holidays, also be aware that each D23 Expo in Anaheim (held on odd-numbered years) bring larger crowds to the parks immediately following the Expo.  17 July will be busier than usual, too, with crowds coming to celebrate Disneyland's birthday.

​This is a good starting point when planning your trip.  Let us know any other questions you have when trying to figure out a good time of year to visit and we'd be happy to answer it for you!