Whether you live down the street, or across the country, planning a Disneyland 2024 family trip can feel a bit daunting at times. After all, you want to ensure your family has the most magical experience, but there are a lot of factors to consider, from crowd schedules and special events to school calendars and grand openings.
So, if you’re asking yourself when to visit Disneyland in 2024, we’re here to help! In our guide below, we unpack some things to keep in mind when scheduling your next trip with your clan. We include helpful information for families that live in Southern California as well as for those traveling from farther away and out of state.
Follow along for the best advice on planning your next trip to this family-friendly attraction in Anaheim.
Disneyland 2024 for Southern California Families
If your family resides in Southern California, then you’re one of the lucky ones with easy access to the House of Mouse. Whether you’re planning a last-minute getaway or looking for a quick jaunt to the theme park, your centralized location makes it a breeze to visit pretty much whenever you want.
Because of this, deciding when your family will visit the park is most likely more about attending special attractions and less about worrying about the crowds. After all, your kids are probably already familiar with the park, so your visits tend to revolve around exclusive celebrations, such as themed fireworks shows and holiday events.
Fireworks Schedule
The park’s fireworks display is out of this world, so your family will most certainly want to visit the park when it lights up the night sky. However, the park only features its spectacular display on select nights. For example, in the off-season, it only has fireworks between Friday and Sunday. To see if fireworks are scheduled for your planned visit, consult the park’s daily event calendar.
That said, there are certain times of the year when the park hosts unique fireworks shows that take the celebrations up a notch.
For example, the Wondrous Journeys firework show is a marvelous spectacle, paying homage to all 62 Disney films, which will return to the park from March 22 through April 14 this year. Of course, the 4th of July Fireworks are always a fan favorite on Independence Day, followed by Halloween Screams Fireworks that begin August 23 through the end of October. Then, rounding out the year, the Believe… in Holiday Magic firework show begins mid-November and goes through the first week of January, only interrupted by the magical New Year’s Eve show on December 31.
Special Events
The beauty of living in Southern California means your family can zip over to the park for all the special attractions, so you’ll surely want to keep an eye on the Disneyland 2024 event calendar.
This year, there’s an exciting lineup of events, including Pixar Fest, which will occur between April 26 and August 4. The Pixar-centric affair features a daytime parade called “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” as well as countless other attractions commemorating all things Pixar.
The Season of the Force is another event that belongs on your radar in which Space Mountain transforms into Hyperspace Mountain. During this intergalactic-inspired event that runs from April 5 to June 2, you and your family can embark on Star Tours adventures and revel in all the Star Wars-themed merchandise, beverages, and food throughout the park.
Of course, the park’s much-anticipated annual celebrations remain on the docket, with the Halloween festivities kicking off as early as August 23 and running until October 31. Then, there’s the Disneyland 2024 holiday season, which transforms the park into a winter wonderland, beginning November 15 and lasting through the new year. These are undoubtedly some of the most coveted times to visit, but they do attract the crowds.
Openings and Closures
Easy access to the park also means your family can be one of the first to experience a new attraction or one of the last to visit before it closes. If your kids have their hearts set on seeing certain parts of the park, then the opening and closing schedules may ultimately impact when you decide to visit this year.
The good news is there are some beloved attractions that are making their comeback in 2024, including the Mark Twain Riverboat, which is reopening on February 2, and the thrilling night-time show Fantasmic, which is set to return on May 24. Furthermore, the park is excited to announce the grand opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and the reopening of Astro Orbitor and the Main Street Electrical Parade later this year.
However, it’s equally important to look at the park’s closure schedule to see if any of your favorite rides or attractions are closed. For example, Haunted Mansion is currently shut down and doesn’t have a return date yet.
Disneyland 2024 for Out-of-State Families
Now, just because your family doesn’t live within a stone’s throw of Disneyland doesn’t mean you can’t experience the most magical place on earth. It simply means you may need to take a little more care when planning to avoid crowds so your crew can get the most out of their visit.
For your family, that might mean avoiding a visit when a new attraction is opening, during a big annual celebration, or when local schools are out of session. But it might also involve simply selecting a less crowded month or day of the week to visit. After all, when there are fewer crowds, you’ll spend less time in line and more time enjoying all the magic.
Best Months to Visit
If you look at the Disneyland 2024 crowd calendar, you’ll notice there are some pockets of time when there tend to be fewer crowds at the park.
To start, January through mid-February tends to be a quieter time after all the excitement of the holidays as families head back to school and work. Next, the stretch between the day after President’s Day and mid-March (before Spring Break) is another prime time to visit to avoid people in excess. Once the spring break crowds come and go, there’s often a lull from mid-April up until Memorial Day weekend. And finally, you may find fewer crowds after Labor Day through the beginning of October, before the Halloween and holiday festivities commence.
Best Days to Visit
The specific day of the week is another factor to consider when looking at the Disneyland 2024 crowd calendar. Contrary to what you might assume, Saturdays and Sundays tend to be the least crowded days at the park because these are usually blocked-off days in which annual pass holders can’t visit the park. Therefore, Mondays and Tuesdays are now considered some of the busiest days to visit.
With this in mind, if your family plans to spend several days at the theme park, it’s best to schedule a visit between Thursday and Sunday to enjoy fewer crowds and get the most out of the attractions.
Days to Avoid
Despite having a better understanding of some of the quietest days and months to visit, it helps to familiarize yourself with the local school calendars, too. After all, a trip to Disneyland is the perfect way for local kids to spend a day off from school, so it’s good to know what days LA and San Diego schools aren’t in session. Check out the 2024 LA school calendar and San Diego school calendar, and avoid booking a trip during popular school holidays.
While planning a visit to this epic theme park may seem overwhelming at first, keep in mind that it will be a memorable family adventure no matter when you visit! At the end of the day, your kids will remember meeting their favorite characters, marveling at the enchanted lands, and enjoying some quality family time together—not the lines or crowds of people.
Are you ready to make your kids’ dreams come true? Check out these special kids’ discounts to Disneyland and start planning your getaway to this magical destination in Southern California.