If 2024 is the year you’ve decided to head to Disneyland Resort, first off, I’m so excited for you. I was fortunate enough to live close to the Happiest Place on Earth for over 6 years, and to this day, it remains one of my favorite places in the world to visit. There’s never a bad time to head to Disneyland, but there are some exciting new things on the horizon in 2024 that make it a great year to take a trip to California! 

Keep on reading to get a general overview of what 2024 will look like at Disneyland, both in terms of the best time of year for your family to take a trip and what new offerings are slated to arrive.

When to Visit: 2024 Disneyland Resort Event Calendar

JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH

The winter months are when you can expect some rain to be in your forecast when visiting Southern California. The region may seem like a place that doesn’t get any rain, but just Google how the winter of 2023 was for L.A. and Orange County! It can and does rain, so if you travel this time of year, be prepared with rain gear along with some extra layers – it can get chilly, too.

In terms of events, January 2024 will bring with it the grand return of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend! The event takes place January 11 – 14. Expect traffic disruptions if you’re driving in from off-property. January is also when the Lunar New Year Celebration kicks off. This one-of-a-kind festival is one of my favorites, and it typically lasts for a few weeks into February. It includes a New Year Processional, food booths featuring dishes that celebrate Asian cuisine, merchandise, and more. The Lunar New Year Celebration will take place in 2024 from January 23 through February 18.

Also starting on January 23 is the first of MANY Disneyland After Dark events in 2024. There will be four themed nites taking place on multiple evenings from January through June. Sweetheart’s Nite will take place January 23, 25, and 30, as well as February 1, 6, 8, 12 & 14.

The month of February brings back two limited-time events: Celebrate Gospel and Anaheim Ducks Days. Celebrate Gospel will take place on February 17 and 24 at Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland Park, featuring concerts headlined by Marvin Sapp (Feb. 17) and Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Feb. 24). Anaheim Ducks Days will take place on February 22-23 at Disney California Adventure and will include a cavalcade, photo ops, and special appearances by current and legacy Ducks!

Starting on March 1, the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival starts. If you ask me, I think this is a far better Food and Wine Festival than EPCOT’s (and I love the EPCOT Festivals!). It only lasts until April 22, however, so you have a much shorter window of time to check it out. 

Disneyland After Dark continue in March with Disney Channel Nite! This is sure to be a new fan-favorite after-hours event, and it will take place on March 5 and 7.

APRIL, MAY, JUNE

Spring is probably the best time of year to visit California in terms of its weather. You have the greatest chances of getting that quintessential Southern California sun, especially from April into May. May and June can be overcast (that good old “June gloom,” as it’s known), but the clouds typically burn off later in the day.

If you happen to visit around the Easter holiday, you can participate in Disneyland’s Eggstravaganza scavenger hunt. The park is in full bloom this time of year, giving you all the spring vibes. April is also a great month because it’s the continuation of the DCA Food and Wine Festival.

Starting on April 5, Star Wars Season of the Force takes over Disneyland Resort. The two month-long celebration (through June 2) will include the return of Hyperspace Mountain, plus limited-time food and drink items. During this celebration, the previously announced updates to Star Tours: The Adventures Continue will debut, including new destinations and characters like Ahsoka Tano.

In addition, Star Wars Season of the Force will breath new life in to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. According to Disney, during the celebration, “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will provide fresh perspective on the fireworks above Disneyland park, with galactic music sweeping through the spires.”

Star Wars Season of the Force will also include Star Wars Nite, the next installment in the lineup of Disneyland After Dark events! Star Wars Nite will take place on April 16, 18, 23, 25, and 30, as well as May 2, 7, and 9.

April will also be when Pixar Fest returns to Disneyland Resort! The limited-time festival first debuted in 2018 and is back for spring and summer of 2024. Pixar Fest will run April 26 through August 4, featuring returning and new entertainment. Over at Disneyland Park, “Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular” will be back as the fireworks show for the season (get ready to whip those tissues out when Carl’s house from Up soars above Sleeping Beauty Castle). Over in Disney California Adventure, a brand-new daytime parade, “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” will debut during Pixar Fest, featuring a float dedicated to Pixar’s Turning Red.

In June, Disneyland After Dark wraps up its 2024 lineup with Pride Nite. The hit after-hours event returns in 2024 on June 18 and 20.

JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER

Summer is a popular time of year for family travel, and crowds at Disneyland can grow considerably during July and August. Because it’s already pretty busy this time of year, there usually is not many limited-time offerings at Disneyland in the summer. Disneyland Park does, however, host a special 4th of July fireworks spectacular that’s fun to catch if you happen to be visiting that day.

August is the start of Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort in 2024 (August 23 to be precise), an incredibly popular time of year for guests. Oogie Boogie Bash starts around the second week of September as well, the fan-favorite after-hours event that takes place in Disney California Adventure. But there are plenty of Halloween festivities to enjoy at both parks, even without tickets to Oogie Boogie Bash. Other seasonal offerings that start in August include the popular Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay (NOTE: Haunted Mansion will be undergoing significant renovation work in and around its exterior queue starting in January 2024. At this time, Disney has not announced an end date for this work.)

Keep in mind that the summer weather does not show any signs of slowing down come September; in fact, it can often be one of the hottest months of the year.

OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER

October is a continuation of September in every way. The weather typically remains quite warm, and it’s all things Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort. Oogie Boogie Bash continues through the end of the month, and those limited-time treats and merchandise are still available. However, if you keep your eyes peeled, you may start to notice the first signs of the holidays being set up in October.

Once Halloween is over, it’s all things holidays. Christmas trees are erected in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, hand-pulled candy canes are sold in the candy shops, and “it’s a small world” Holiday returns. Be sure to check out A Christmas Fantasy Parade and Believe In Holiday Magic Fireworks in Disneyland and World of Color – Season of Light in California Adventure. California Adventure also hosts its own Festival of the Holidays starting around mid-November, featuring food booths, live entertainment, and more.

The Holidays are officially set to begin in 2024 at Disneyland Resort on November 15, and will likely continue through early January.

Where To Stay

You have two main options when it comes to overnight accommodations near Disneyland: Disney-owned on-property resort hotels or off-property resort hotels. I find that Airbnb and vacation homes are fewer and farther between in Southern California than, say, Orlando, so you will probably have better luck sticking with hotels (especially if you want to be as close to Disneyland as possible). That said, if your vacation takes out all across Southern California and you’re just adventuring into Anaheim for a day, then you could potentially have more options.

Disneyland Resort Hotels

Unlike the over two dozen on-property options at Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort is home to only three hotels: Disneyland Hotel, Disney Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, and Paradise Pier Hotel (soon to be rebranded to Pixar Place Hotel in early 2024). A night at any of these three hotels costs similarly to the Deluxe Resort rates at Disney World. These are definitely going to be on the pricier end of your budget, but you do get the convenience of being on-property. And, because everything at Disneyland is within walking distance, you don’t have to worry about driving or figuring out transportation to and from the parks.

Another benefit to staying on Disneyland property is that similar to Disney World, you get to live in that Disney “bubble” throughout your stay. Disneyland Resort hotel guests also get Early Admission to the parks each morning. Specifically, “Guests who are checked in and staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels can enter Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park 30 minutes before regular park opening.”

Off-Property Resort Hotels

While you have limited options if you want to stay on Disneyland property, you have many options once you start looking beyond the property limits. Disneyland has several “Good Neighbor Hotels” that are also within walking distance of the theme parks – it’ll just take 15-20 minutes versus the 5-10 minutes when you stay on property. You stand to save a ton of money by staying off property, so unless you have that Deluxe-size budget, you may want to start your hotel search with those Good Neighbor Hotels.

Remember, Disneyland is very different from Disney World in that Disneyland Resort is smack in the middle of downtown Anaheim. You are going to have far more third-party hotel options that are practically just as close to the parks for a far better value. 

As I mentioned above, consider if you want to see other areas of Southern California during your visit (which I highly recommend you do). If your primary stop on your itinerary is Disneyland, you may be better off using Anaheim as a “home base” during your stay. But if you want to see more of Los Angeles, you may want to look into hotels closer to those destinations and drive down to Anaheim for the day (just be ready for traffic).

Disneyland Resort’s Theme Parks: Where To Visit & What To Do

Disneyland Resort has a distinct advantage, in my opinion, of being entirely walkable. While it’s taller, younger brother Disney World is roughly the same size as the city of San Fransisco, Disneyland, by comparison, is roughly the same size as several city blocks. This is not to say you can do it all in one day, especially if the goal is to do everything. Two to three days, however, should suffice, depending on the time of year you visit.

Here are the basics of what you need to know:

• Disneyland Resort includes two theme parks: Disneyland and California Adventure. If you’ve never been before, plan on a full day in each park. If you have a Park Hopper, you’ll enjoy the ease of being able to walk from park to park in a matter of minutes.
• There is also the Downtown Disney District, adjacent to the two theme parks, for all your dining and shopping needs. There are some great restaurants in Downtown Disney, so consider checking those out as you plan your meals.
• Disneyland Resort is home to three Disney-owned hotels located on the property. All three are within a roughly ten-minute walk from the entrance to the theme parks. If you are staying off-property, Disnyland’s hotels are a fun place to visit if you’re looking for a nearby, quiet oasis from the theme parks.

Where to Eat

Disneyland Resort, in my opinion, gives Disney World a run for its money when it comes to food, especially snacks. I can’t give you a clear answer as to why, but in many ways, the food at Disneyland far exceeds anything you’ll find at Walt Disney World. That said, with so many great options, it can be hard to choose where to eat.

Disneyland’s Advance Dining Reservation window opens 60 days prior. Consider booking these table-service restaurants first, as they tend to fill up:

• Blue Bayou – Disneyland Park
• Carthay Circle – Disney California Adventure
• Lamplight Lounge – Disney California Adventure
• Napa Rose – Disney Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
• Goofy’s Kitchen – Disneyland Hotel

Disneyland is seeing a slew of new dining locations open up in late 2023 through 2024. In New Orleans Square, Tiana’s Palace is a new counter-service restaurant in the former location of French Market Restaurant. The menu is filled with classic Cajun and Creole-inspired dishes like gumbo, Muffuletta Sandwiches, and beignets.

Downtown Disney has been in the process of being reimagined, with new restaurants as part of that reimagining. By the time the transformation is complete, Downtown will have a whopping eight new eateries, ranging from counter-service dining locations to full-service restaurants:

• Seoul Sister: featuring a Korean-forward menu based on bibimbap (Korean rice bowls) with a California twist.
• Sip & Sonder: a cafe coming straight from Los Angeles, known for its exceptional signature lattes, as well as fresh treats, frozen drinks and Caribbean-inspired bites.
• GG’s Chicken Shop: with its family-friendly menu of chicken sandwiches, salads, and classic dinner table sides.
• A second-story bar above GG’s Chicken Shop “offering great views to sip signature craft cocktails and mocktails.”
• Din Tai Fung: “a world-renowned Chinese restaurant known for its soup dumplings and noodles.”
• Paseo and Céntrico: both brought by Chef Carlos Gaytan, featuring an “inclusive vision of Mexican cuisine.”
• Porto’s Bakery and Cafe: a popular Southern California bakery chain featuring everything from pastries to sandwiches (and my personal favorite, their mashed potato balls).

What’s New at Disneyland For 2024

The return of the runDisney Events

After a hiatus that lasted several years, runDisney is finally returning to Disneyland Resort in 2024! It all kicks off in January with the return of the flagship runDisney Disneyland Half Marathon, taking place from January 11 through 14. Then, in late summer, an all-new runDisney event, the Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon Weekend, will take place.

Both of these Half Marathon Weekends include a 5K, a 10K, a Half Marathon, Kids Races, yoga, and more. Registration for the January Half Marathon Weekend has already taken place, but if you’re interested in participating in the Halloween Half Marathon Weekend, get ready for registration in February 2024.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

The big headliner attraction coming to Disneyland Park in late 2024 is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The water flume ride will be located in the former home of Splash Mountain adjacent to New Orleans Square. The ride takes guests on a musical journey through the world of The Princess and the Frog, following the events of the animated film. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure also opens in late 2024 at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is joining a growing lineup of new offerings in New Orleans Square. Already, the land has opened a new quick-service dining location called Tiana’s Palace (in the former location of French Marketplace Restaurant) as well as a new shopping location called Eudora’s Chic Boutique Featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets.

New Star Tours Adventures

Over the years, the motion-simulator attraction Star Tours has added various scenes and characters from the film franchise. That trend will continue in spring 2024, with brand-new destinations and familiar faces joining the attraction. At the Destination D23 Expo, it was confirmed that Ahsoka Tano would be one of the characters fans can spot on Star Tours when the ride is updated in the spring during Star Wars Season of the Force. Both the Disneyland and Hollywood Studios versions of the ride will receive these updates.

Downtown Disney Reimagining

Downtown Disney will look a bit different in 2024, especially at the end of the district where the AMC movie theater and ESPN Zone used to be located. It all begins with a brand-new stage and lawn space for entertainment and relaxation. Several new restaurants will open in the coming months (scroll up for the full list!). Some new dining offerings are already available, like the reimagined Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, now known as Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio.

Opening of Pixar Place Hotel

If you’re accustomed to staying on Disneyland property when you visit, then you will want to read up on the newest hotel offering – Pixar Place Hotel. Disney reimagined Paradise Pier Hotel, now totally decked out with a Pixar-inspired redesign. Guests have already been able to spot some changes, but the full reopening is set to take place on January 30, 2024. Once complete, Pixar Place Hotel will be “the first fully Pixar-themed hotel in the United States.”

In addition to a Pixar-themed lobby, pool area, and rooms, Pixar Place Hotel will be the home to new dining locations as well. Southern California residents may recognize the arrival of a new Great Maple restaurant location at the hotel. In addition, the hotel will feature Sketch Pad Café, a grab-and-go coffee shop, and Small Bytes, a rooftop pool bar.