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Visiting the Happiest Place on Earth will at all times be a singular expertise. Relying on the time of 12 months, the Disneyland Resort has a wide range of festivals and particular occasions, complemented by festive decor, specialty meals and drinks, enjoyable character interactions, and merchandise.
With official occasions from the corporate and unofficial ones created by followers, there’s at all times one thing to look ahead to all through all the 12 months. Now greater than ever, it’s crucial to know all the main points about every occasion to correctly plan your subsequent journey.
Disneyland After Darkish Occasions
In 2018, the Disneyland Resort started doing a number of particular “After Hours” ticketed occasions with numerous themes. Impressed by the “Date Nite” occasions the park had within the Sixties, the Disneyland After Darkish occasions have been a giant hit with followers.
Every occasion options differing leisure, meals, photograph ops, music, particular character appearances, and merchandise, giving friends a particular expertise within the wee hours of the evening. With solely a restricted period of time, friends have to be sensible and proactive so as to see all they need. You may as well get pleasure from little to no wait occasions in your favourite sights.
Through the years, there was a range provided. Throwback Nite was a retro-themed occasion impressed by the Park’s early days. Princess Evening was themed round Disney’s favourite royalty, with uncommon characters like Giselle from Enchanted showing. Grad Nite Reunion had friends reminiscing about their Excessive Faculty days, whereas Disney Channel Nite was a celebration of the channel’s enjoyable heyday of traditional cartoons and well-liked unique motion pictures like Excessive Faculty Musical. Company who love the antagonistic characters had enjoyable with Villains Nite, and 80s Nite was a completely tubular look again on the decade.
2025 noticed the return of the most well-liked occasions. Sweethearts Nite facilities on Disney’s romantic {couples} with wonderful photo-ops and character meet and greets. Pleasure Nite celebrates the LGBTQ+ group, whereas 90s Nite options enjoyable pop music and uncommon characters from the period like Hercules and Scrooge McDuck. Lastly, Star Wars Nite delights followers with a fireworks present set to traditional John Williams themes, and never-before-seen characters like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Padmé Amidala, Jawas, and Ewoks.
These occasions occur all through the primary six months of the 12 months, with every upcoming slate and sale dates introduced in January. See the official web site for particulars.
Meals and Wine Competition
What began as a distinct segment occasion at Walt Disney World’s Epcot, the Meals and Wine Competition was transported to the West Coast and has now develop into one of the crucial well-liked occasions at Disney California Journey yearly. The pageant usually runs from the tip of February by way of the tip of April and gives friends a delicious array of culinary delights.
From candy and savory dishes to specialty drinks of the alcoholic and non-alcoholic selection, this pageant is for the foodies and guests who love attempting distinctive dishes totally different from the run-of-the-mill theme park meals.
A number of kiosks line the pathway previous Carthay Circle by way of the Paradise Backyard space, with choices additionally at choose eating places. Costs and choices fluctuate, however the most effective worth for frequent friends would be the Sip and Savor Cross, which supplies you many tabs for meals and drinks at an general discounted price. Menus are introduced forward of time, with the Disney Parks Weblog being a very good supply. Up to now few years, Soarin’ Over California has additionally returned in the course of the pageant, a lot to the delight of diehard followers.
Tikiland Day and Adventureland Day
Tiki and journey fans will love the annual TikiLand and Adventureland Days that occur each Spring at Disneyland Park and the close by Dealer Sam’s on the Disneyland Lodge. These unofficial occasions started in 2019 by the TikiLand Buying and selling Co., and embody enjoyable meet-ups, scavenger hunts, group images, and extra.
Celebrating all issues Tiki, tropical, jungle, and adventure-related, the occasions encourage everybody to decorate up. Some Disney-bound as acceptable characters like Indiana Jones, Jane from Tarzan, or Frank from Jungle Cruise, whereas others don tropical or Safari-esque apparel. To take part in these occasions, you join updates through textual content on their web site.
At all times Consider has a number of movies on Adventureland Day, together with this one and this one, which spotlight what a enjoyable occasion that is. Likewise, take a look at TikiLand Day highlights on the channels It’s a Charming World, Dreamy Manda, and The Every day Woo.
Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and the Fourth of July
Disneyland has at all times proven reverence and appreciation for lively, retired, or fallen members of the navy. Likewise, Walt Disney infused his park with touches of the American previous with respect and nostalgia. Consequently, these three U.S. holidays embody moments and touches of honor and celebration.
On Memorial Day, a number of fast eating places and motels arrange a Fallen Soldier Desk, a small desk coated in a white tablecloth, a single crimson rose, and different fastidiously chosen gadgets, every symbolic of one thing significant. GentlemansDisney on Instagram shares what every merchandise means. The day by day Flag Retreat ceremony additionally provides a particular second of remembrance for the fallen.
On Veterans Day, the Flag Retreat Ceremony is further particular. Any Disneyland forged members who’re retired or lively navy members march down Important Avenue. The previous has additionally seen flyovers of the U.S. Air Drive, with the Flag Retreat Ceremony together with the Disneyland Resort Honor Safety Guard, veterans, the Dapper Dans, and the Disneyland Band. Daps Magic showcases the 2024 ceremony.
On the Fourth of July, anticipate festive patriotic decor, treats, and a fireworks present to traditional Americana music.
Disneyland’s Birthday
Disneyland formally opened on July 17, 1955. Yearly since, the Resort has celebrated this auspicious event with parades, cavalcades, fireworks exhibits, and commemorative merchandise.
Lately, the Birthday Cavalcade, led by Mickey Mouse, has included dozens of characters, energetic music, and a tribute to Walt Disney with excerpts from his opening day speech.
Choc Stroll
The Walt Disney Firm contributes to and participates in lots of charitable organizations and occasions. Probably the most notable is the CHOC Stroll, an unbelievable and large fundraiser that advantages the Youngsters’s Hospital of Orange County.
Walkers donate to take part, many creating groups, encouraging exterior donations, and setting fundraising objectives. The occasion takes place within the early morning earlier than the park opens, with a set route taking members by way of each Disneyland and Disney California Journey.
Alongside the way in which, you’ll see characters and forged members cheering you on. It’s a enjoyable, distinctive, and rewarding expertise that I used to be lucky sufficient to take part in as a member of Staff CheezyPop in 2018. Try that 12 months’s occasion, in addition to 2024’s with Lindsey Land.
Dapper Days
Of all of the unofficial occasions at Disneyland, Dapper Day is the most well-liked and beloved- to not point out fashionable. Two weekends a 12 months (one within the Spring and one within the Fall), Dapper Day encourages members to come back dressed to the nines in vintage-style attire.
The most typical wardrobe we see is vogue impressed by the Forties to the Sixties. Many additionally get artistic with their outfits, taking inspiration from Disney characters, movies, and sights. On the park, there are a number of meet-ups on the Mark Twain Riverboat and King Arthur’s Carousel.
Moreover, Dapper Days consists of an expo stuffed with retro-themed distributors, Photograph Cubicles, dancing, and extra. 2025 marked the final 12 months, no less than for the unexpected future, the expo can be on the Disneyland Lodge. Try DapperDay.com for extra info.
Homosexual Days
Formally, Disneyland celebrates Pleasure in June, together with a number of Pleasure Nite occasions. Unofficially, each September, there are “Homosexual Days,” a three-day occasion celebrating the LGBTQ+ group and allies.
Being an unofficial occasion, there are not any particular treats or merchandise. Nonetheless, there are meet-ups and off-site choices. Many additionally come to the park in crimson T-shirts in solidarity. These can discover extra data on their web site.
Halloween Time
Lately, Halloween on the Disneyland Resort has develop into one of many busiest occasions of the 12 months. Company love the enjoyable meals choices, spooky decor, leisure, and attraction overlays. Certainly, the decorations in Disneyland and DCA go above and past, creating an expertise actually distinctive.
The entrances to each parks instantly immerse you. Disneyland has big pumpkins made to appear like the traditional characters Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy; at DCA, there’s an elaborate facade of Oogie Boogie. Disneyland’s Important Avenue has enjoyable pumpkins all over the place, whereas Automobiles Land is decked out with artistic spooky decor.
Throughout the Halloween season (and thru the Holidays), the Haunted Mansion will get a spectacular Nightmare Earlier than Christmas-themed overlay. Equally, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout turns into Monsters After Darkish, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree transforms right into a Graveyard Jam-BOO-ree, and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters turns into Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween.
In Disneyland, don’t overlook to take a look at the Fab 5 in Halloween-themed outfits, the “Halloween Tree” in Frontierland, in honor of Ray Bradbury, and the Fireworks and projections present “Halloween Screams.” The Halloween season runs from mid-August by way of October 31.
Oogie Boogie Bash
The Disneyland Resort as soon as had an analogous occasion to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration from Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Mickey’s Halloween Celebration ran from 2005-2009 in DCA and 2010-2018 in Disneyland. In 2019, the Oogie Boogie Bash debuted to rave critiques with friends loving the theming, character interactions, and parade.
Certainly, of all of the “After Hours” occasions on the Resort, you get essentially the most bang in your buck. A number of deal with trails are situated all through all of DCA with a delegated villain and sweet station. Through the years, friends have interacted with Maleficent, the Evil Queen, the Mad Hatter, Dr. Facilliar, Mom Gothel, Madame Mim, Cruella, Hades, Decide Doom, and Ernesto de La Cruz, to call a number of.
Redwood Creek Problem Path transforms into Villains Grove, a stunning and immersive wonderland of lights, fog, music, and projections themed round quite a few Disney villains. The “Boo to You” parade is one other winner with followers, with two showings at each occasion.
Oogie Boogie Bash runs from mid-August by way of October 31, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Having attended twice, I can confidently say what an exquisite expertise the Oogie Boogie Bash will be.
Plaza de la Familia
In DCA at Paradise Gardens, the Plaza de La Familia celebrates Dia de Los Muertos and facilities across the Pixar movie Coco. Just like the film, the realm options colourful and genuine decor and music that provides to the expertise.
Company can write messages to family members who’ve handed away and add them to the Reminiscence Wall and Tree of Life, aka the Árbol de la Vida. Parkgoers also can get pleasure from a energetic present that celebrates the award-winning music of Coco, in addition to a enjoyable interplay and photograph op with Miguel, because of the magic of puppetry.
Company can go to Plaza de la Familia from late August till early November.
Vacation Time
From early November by way of the primary week of January, the Disneyland Resort turns into much more magical as each parks rework into winter wonderlands. Certainly, much more so than the Halloween season, the decorations are lovely and in depth. Important Avenue has essentially the most, from a shocking, large Christmas tree to garlands that reach throughout the road. The traditional ragtime music turns into Christmas carols, and the characters all don particular costumes.
Probably the most gorgeous sights throughout Christmas is It’s a Small World. The skin facade is roofed in hundreds of coloured lights, whereas the within is adorned with little vacation touches. The well-known music can be changed with upbeat variations of “Deck the Halls” and “Jingle Bells.”
Buena Vista Avenue at DCA additionally options a big tree, Mickey wreaths, and Thirties and ’40s Christmas classics from the likes of Bing Crosby and Glenn Miller. The Redwood Creek additionally options numerous festive touches and a meet and greet with Santa Claus. Automobiles Land additionally will get in on the enjoyable with Mater’s changing into the Jingle Jamboree and Luigi’s Pleasure to the World.
On the leisure entrance, Disneyland dazzles friends with “A Christmas Fantasy Parade,” “Consider…In Vacation Magic” fireworks present, and a shocking projection on It’s a Small World set to the “Nutcracker Suite.” There’s additionally “Wintertime Enchantment,” an attractive and peaceable visible transformation of Sleeping Magnificence Fortress, and a nightly “snowfall.” It’s really cleaning soap suds launched into their air, so followers have affectionately deemed it “snoap.”
At DCA, guests can have a good time quite a few cultures with ¡Viva Navidad! This small parade contains a saturation of coloration, enjoyable, and upbeat vacation tunes, reminiscent of “Feliz Navidad” and “Fantastic Christmas Time.” One other hit with friends, don’t miss the Marching Toy Troopers and their unbelievable drum routine.
Competition of the Holidays
Throughout the Vacation Season, Disney California Journey options one other distinctive meals pageant. The Competition of the Holidays is just like the Meals and Wine Competition, with kiosks lining the walkway in direction of Paradise Gardens. Likewise, the Sip and Savor cross is on the market for friends planning on visiting a number of occasions.
The variations lie within the food and drinks choices. With a number of cultures and holidays represented, the pageant celebrates range by way of the artwork and great thing about meals.
Candlelight Processional
Certainly one of Disneyland’s most lovely, transferring, and longstanding traditions is the Candlelight Processional, which occurs each vacation season. Usually held on the primary weekend in December, this occasion (which started in 1958) consists of a number of choirs becoming a member of collectively to sing Christmas carols, whereas a celeb host reads the standard Christmas story.
The choirs proceed down Important Avenue of their regalia, ending on the prepare station. The close-up seats are reserved for particular friends and VIPS, however everybody else can collect within the space to observe and hear.
I had the nice pleasure of seeing the processional in 2012 with Edward James Olmos because the narrator. Previous narrators embody Viola Davis, Brie Larson, Chris Hemsworth, Kathryn Hahn, Sterling Okay. Brown, Ginnifer Goodwin, Chris Pratt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, John Stamos, Cary Grant, Rock Hudson, and James Stewart. The world can be fairly crowded in the course of the ceremony, but it surely’s effectively price it.
New Yr’s Eve
Many parkgoers and common vacationers have no idea that New Yr’s Eve on the Disneyland Resort looks like one big occasion. Not like different “After Darkish” ticketed occasions, New Yr’s Eve festivities come at no further cost.
There are particular fireworks exhibits at Disneyland and DCA, photo-ops, complimentary occasion hats and noise makers, and DJ-hosted dance events. One observe: New Yr’s Eve is among the busiest days of the 12 months, so crowds can be vital.
Lunar New Yr
In January and February of every 12 months, Disney California Journey has quite a few choices to have a good time the Lunar New Yr. Just like the Competition of the Holidays, the Lunar New Yr options genuine meals, decor, and leisure from the Chinese language, Korean, and Vietnamese Asian cultures.
Count on to see colourful lanterns and banners, and procession of Disney characters wearing Asian wares with Mulan and Mushu on the heart. One of many best choices has friends writing down needs for his or her family members and inserting them on the “Wishing Wall.” In return, they obtain a bit of hand-painted Chinese language calligraphy totally free.
Eggstravaganza
In comparison with Halloween and Christmas, Disneyland doesn’t do a lot for the Easter vacation. You possibly can see Mickey and Minnie in Springtime outfits, in addition to Thumper, and the White Rabbit because the Easter Bunny in festive apparel.
The one vital Easter providing is the Eggstravaganza. On this Easter egg scavenger hunt, friends seek for massive eggs painted like Disney characters, hidden excessive among the many buildings all through the Park. Company can choose up a map with stickers to maintain observe of their progress. On the finish, you’ll obtain a particular present.
