Disneyland Crowd Calendar

Our Disneyland Crowd Calendar will help you avoid the crowds and long lines at Disneyland. Theme park attendance fluctuates significantly throughout the year, so choose the optimal dates for your next magical vacation by avoiding crowds during peak season.

With this Disneyland crowd tracker, you will be able to compare crowds at different times of the year to determine the best period to visit Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure theme parks in 2024 and 2025. It is updated once a month with data for the following 12 months.

We hope our Disneyland Crowd Calendar will help you optimize your next magical Disneyland vacation!

Our 2024/2025 Disneyland Crowd Calendar uses a 1-5 rating system for Disneyland’s two theme parks – Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure

(1) Green – Light Crowds Expected

(2) Blue – Below Average Crowds Expected

(3) Yellow – Average Crowds Expected

(4) Orange – Above Average Crowds Expected

(5) Red – Heavy Crowds Expected

About Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Resort is usually referred to as simply “Disneyland.” The park opened in 1955 under the direct supervision of Walt Disney,  16 years prior to the opening of Disney World. The resort was the first Disney theme park location and the only one that was open while Walt Disney was still alive.

Disneyland Resort is located in Anaheim, California, and is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company.

It’s home to two theme parks (Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure), three Disneyland hotels, and Downtown Disney, the entertainment, dining, and shopping area of the park.

What are Crowd Calendars?

Crowd calendars predict how many people will be at a theme park on any given day throughout the year. Since most people would rather avoid the crowds and long wait times for attractions (obviously), a crowd calendar can help you narrow down your vacation periods to the times of the year when the park is less crowded and more manageable.

In order to formulate this crowd calendar, we compile attendance data from recent years to help us determine which days will have the shortest lines and longest lines at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. 

When is Disneyland LEAST Crowded?

Disneyland is the second most visited theme park in the world (18 million visitors per year compared to roughly 58 million at Disney World). Therefore, don’t expect that you will have the park to yourself at any given time of the year. But if long lines are a major concern, then there are some less busy time periods you should aim for.

Disneyland’s less crowded times are:

• Early January through the mid-February
• The day after President’s Day (February) until Spring Break (mid-March)
• The middle of April until Memorial Day Weekend (late May)
• After Labor Day through the beginning of October
• The second week of November (after Halloween and before Thanksgiving Week)
• Weekdays are less crowded than weekends, especially Monday-Thursdays.
• On weekends, Sundays are usually less crowded than Saturdays. Regular weekends tend to be less crowded than holiday weekends.

When is Disneyland MOST Crowded?

Disneyland is typically most crowded around holidays, weekends, or really just about any time schools are out of session. Here are some of the time periods to avoid, if possible:

• Any school holiday weeks (February Vacation, Spring Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year’s).
• Weekends, especially around holiday weeks and three-day holiday weekends (MLK Day (3rd Monday of January), Presidents Day (3rd Monday of February), Memorial Day (last Monday of May), July 4th, Labor Day (1st Monday of September), and Columbus Day (2nd Monday of October).
• The park is busy right after the Disneyland Annual Passholder blackout dates come to an end. Check Disneyland’s website for blackout dates.

Questions? Do you want a free Disneyland quote? Contact the Disney travel agents at The Vacationeer!

When is the Best Time to Visit Disneyland?

There isn’t really a right or wrong time to visit. The best time to go to Disneyland will really depend on your own set of interests.

If you wish to visit when crowds are expected to be lower, then plan your trip mid-week if possible. Lines tend to be shorter Tuesdays through Thursdays during off-peak periods.

Which months are less crowded at Disneyland?

Lines will be shorter:

• mid-January through mid-March
• mid-April through mid-May
• mid-September through mid-November

The disadvantages of going to Disneyland during the off-season are:

• Some of the nighttime entertainment may be scheduled for weekends (and not during the mid-week)
• Certain rides may be shut down for maintenance
• The park hours are usually shorter during off-peak times and longer during the summer and other peak times, and 4. there are fewer events, fireworks, shows, and parades during the slow season.

With that said, the most crowded periods aren’t always the “worst” times to visit Disneyland Resort.

Disneyland’s two theme parks do tend to be more crowded during the summer months (June, July, August), and that can mean longer rides for rides, food, and even to speak with Guest Relations.  However, the parks extend their hours every day from late May until early September. You can also expect the theme park to operate with longer hours during holiday periods and school breaks, as well as host more shows, parades, and fireworks.  So there are plenty of trade-offs to consider when deciding when you should visit Disneyland; it just depends on your priorities. 

Check the Park Hours section for a list of the hours, events, entertainment, and refurbishments. 

Do you need some help with planning and booking your next Disneyland vacation? We trust the travel agents at The Vacationeer for all of our trip-planning needs.  Contact them for a free, no-obligation price quote for your next Disneyland vacation.

Disneyland Weather

Disneyland benefits from Anaheim, California’s warm and relatively dry climate. The city averages just 14 inches of rain per year compared to the US average is 39 inches. Here is a chart of what you can expect for weather at Disneyland.

                                                Month                  High / Low (°F)              Rain

Disneyland Dining Reservations

Disneyland has a number of restaurants in the Downtown Disney District.

Depending on which Disneyland restaurant you choose – and the date/time of your visit – it may be wise to make dining reservations in advance to guarantee you will be seated. Dining reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance for most Disneyland restaurants.

You can book dining reservations online, call (714) 781-DINE, or let the Disney Travel Agents at The Vacationeer make the dining reservations for you. Click HERE to request a free, no-obligation price quote.

Skip the Crowded Lines with Disney Lightning Lane Passes

Disneyland has retired its FastPass, MaxPass, and Genie+ systems and replaced them with Lightning Lane passes. These paid add-ons allow the user to bypass the normal standby lines and instead use the much quick Lightning Lane entrance.

• Lightning Lane Multi Pass: For a variable price per day, per ticket, Disneyland guests can reserve priority access to attractions and experiences via the Lightning Lane entrance. You’ll be able to make multiple selections throughout the day, adding additional selections once each prior selection is used. This pass also provides on-ride photo downloads and photo filters.

• Lightning Lane Single Pass: The highest-demand ride at each park is not included in Multi Pass but rather is sold separately. Pricing varies by date and attraction.

• Lightning Lane Premier Pass: Access every Lightning Lane attraction (one time each). Pricing varies by date.

Of course, you don’t have to pay to ride; you can still use the regular “wait with everyone else” approach for no additional cost.

Questions? Do you want a free Disneyland quote? Contact the Disney travel agents at The Vacationeer!