A trip to Disneyland Resort is always a feast for the senses, but the Anaheim theme parks also know how to turn up the fun for holidays and special occasions. Consider planning your visit around these different events, each with their own kind of magic.
Spring Events at Disneyland Resort
In March and April, Disney California Adventure Park throws a party for foodies: The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival offers participants a Sip & Savor pass that entitles them to small plates at kiosks around the park, featuring California themes such as Avocado Time, Nuts About Cheese, and Garlic Kissed. The festival also includes culinary demonstrations, junior-chef activities, and seminars about California wine, beer, and mixology.
As May approaches, Disneyland Park observes the Season of the Force, a celebration of its Stars Wars attractions and a lovefest for May the Fourth. The park offers different features each year, including options like a “Hyperspace Mountain” experience at Space Mountain or special music during the evening fireworks if you watch them from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Starting in April, the park typically hosts several Disneyland Star Wars Nites—separate ticket, after-hours events featuring special cuisine, character sightings, light saber lessons, and an everyone-is-welcome cosplay parade along Main Street, U.S.A.
Check the Disneyland After Dark page for more special evenings, like Sweethearts Nite, Pride Nite (June), and Disney Channel Nite.
Halloween Season at Disneyland
Halloween Time at Disneyland begins as early as late August and lasts into early November, with plenty of limited-time dishes and merch for the season. Start by taking in the decked-out Main Street, U.S.A., where you’ll find the Main Street Pumpkin Festival in full swing and the Haunted Mansion Holiday with a Nightmare Before Christmas–inspired makeover. In Disney California Adventure Park, rides get their own seasonal flair, such as Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark and Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree. The park’s Plaza de la Familia area offers a focal point for Día de los Muertos observances that last into November.
Plan ahead for the Halloween season by scoring spots at the separate-ticket Oogie Boogie Bash in Disney California Adventure Park. This after-hours event features Disney characters wearing their own Halloween costumes, special entertainment, a walk-though Villains Grove, and trick-or-treating.
Holiday Season at Disneyland Resort
Typically starting in mid-November and lasting through the first week of January, Holidays at the Disneyland Resort offer magic around every corner. In Disneyland Park, classic attractions get decked out: Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle sparkles with snow-capped towers and a giant wreath, and It’s a Small World Holiday dazzles with a spectacular light show and a holiday version of the classic song. Parades and evening spectaculars have their own flair, like “Believe... in Holiday Magic” Fireworks Spectacular and the A Christmas Fantasy Parade.
Disney California Adventure Park celebrates the Festival of Holidays, featuring delicious foods and entertainment from many diverse cultures. Disney ¡Viva Navidad!, for instance, features Disney characters at a festive street party with Mexican folklórico dancers and mariachis, giant mojiganga puppets, and Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists.
There are holiday treats throughout the resort as well, from holiday-themed beignets and gingerbread men to decorated candy apples and the always-popular candy canes. Only a limited number of candy canes are made, so be sure to line up at park opening at the Candy Palace in Disneyland and Trolley Treats in California Adventure for a chance at this tasty treat. You can find out more by calling the Disneyland Candy Hotline at 714-781-0112.
While the parks’ Christmas trees are first lit for the season in November, both Disneyland and California Adventure have tree-lighting ceremonies every day during the holidays at 5 p.m.
Plan Your Visit
No matter when you visit, download the free Disneyland Mobile app to know where to head next for the shortest lines, secure Lightning Lane passes, browse maps, order food, or locate Disney characters.
For more ideas on planning your trip to Anaheim, check out VIP Experiences at Disneyland, Disneyland Lodgings, and How to Skip the Lines at California Theme Parks.