The Best Time to Go to Disneyland in 2027 (And the Weeks That Surprise Families)
October 27, 2026
Last updated: October 2026
Quick Answer: The best times to go to Disneyland in 2027 are January and February (outside Martin Luther King Jr. weekend and Presidents’ Day week), late April into the very start of May, September, and November (outside Veterans Day and Thanksgiving). The early part of December can work too, as long as you avoid the weekends. Each window has a trade-off: January and February fall in Southern California’s rainy season, and September is still hot. The times to avoid are Easter, March spring break, Christmas week, and the weekends in October and December.
Disneyland crowds follow a different rhythm than Disney World. Many guests live close enough to drive over for a day, so weekends, local school calendars, and seasonal decorations shape crowds in ways a Disney World calendar won’t predict. The weather works differently too, and it surprises plenty of visitors who expect sunny California every day of the year.
We have been planning Disneyland vacations since 2012. Below is our honest take on timing for 2027, month by month, including the weeks that catch families off guard and what is returning to the parks next year.
What Is Coming Back to Disneyland in 2027?
Three favorite shows return to Disneyland Resort in 2027, which gives next year a few dates worth planning around.
- Remember… Dreams Come True returns to Disneyland park in February 2027 in a refreshed version. Along with Sleeping Beauty Castle, the projections will cover Rivers of America, the facade of “it’s a small world,” and Main Street, U.S.A. Disney says the show will run nightly, with fireworks added on select evenings.
- World of Color returns to Disney California Adventure in February 2027, in an updated take on the original show.
- Magic Happens, the daytime parade, returns to Disneyland park in time for summer 2027.
If you are planning the first week of January, the holiday season at Disneyland Resort runs through January 6, 2027. Disney hasn’t released its full 2027 calendar of seasonal events yet, and we will update this post once it does.
When Is the Best Time to Go to Disneyland? Month by Month
| Time of year | Crowds | Weather | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|
| January and February | Lower, except MLK weekend and Presidents’ Day week | Rainy season | Great for crowds if a rainy day won’t ruin your trip |
| March through mid-April | Busy around Easter and March spring break | Mild | Avoid if you can |
| Late April to very early May | Lower | Mild | One of our favorite windows |
| May into early June | Grad Nites on many nights | Mild to warm | Plan around Grad Nites |
| Summer | Busier | Hot, usually not humid | More comfortable than a Florida summer |
| September | Low (everyone just went back to school) | Still hot | Great for crowds if you can handle heat |
| October | Weekends very busy with locals and Halloween | Warm | Watch the weekends |
| November | Less busy, except Veterans Day and Thanksgiving | Pleasant | A strong choice |
| Early December | Reasonable on weekdays, busy on weekends | Cool | Weekdays work well |
| Christmas week | Terrible | Cool | Avoid |
Not sure which week fits your family? Our team plans Disneyland trips around your dates, your kids’ school calendar, and your must-dos.
January and February: Low Crowds, With One Big Catch
January and February tend to be good low-crowd months at Disneyland, with two exceptions: Martin Luther King Jr. weekend and Presidents’ Day week. The catch is the weather. These months are actually Southern California’s rainy season, and that surprises many visitors when their park days get rained out. Before you book, weigh whether a rainy day would ruin the low-crowd trade-off for your family. (In 2027, February also brings the return of Remember… Dreams Come True and World of Color.)
March and April: Skip Spring Break, Then Aim for Late April
Easter and the March spring break weeks are times to avoid. Easter falls on March 28 in 2027, so expect the Easter crowds earlier than usual. Once spring break wraps up, late April into the very early part of May is a lovely window.
May and Early June: Watch for Grad Nites
Grad Nites happen throughout May and into early June, and a park full of high schoolers celebrating graduation can definitely change the feel of your day. In 2027, Grad Nites are scheduled for May 7, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, 23, 26, and 27, and for June 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 11. If your dates land in this stretch, plan your evenings with those nights in mind.
Summer: Busier, but a Different Kind of Hot
Summer is a little busier at Disneyland. Unlike Disney World, though, Disneyland doesn’t have a summer rainy season or high humidity. It is hot, but usually not humid, which can make a summer day at Disneyland more tolerable than a summer day in Orlando. Summer 2027 also brings back the Magic Happens parade.
September: Low Crowds, Still Hot
September is great for low crowds. Everyone just went back to school, so the parks can be quite quiet. The trade-off is that the hot weather sticks around.
October: Busy Weekends
October weekends can be very busy. Locals come out in force for Halloween and everything going on in the parks that month, so plan your October dates with the weekends in mind.
November: Pleasant Weather and Lighter Crowds
November can be very pleasant weather-wise, and it can be less busy too. The exceptions are Veterans Day and Thanksgiving.
December: Early Weekdays Yes, Christmas Week No
The early part of December can be quite reasonable. Weekends tend to be busy again, because the Christmas decorations bring out the locals. Christmas week is a terrible time to go, crowds-wise.
Insider Tip from Our Team: Consider your family’s preferences when deciding on off-season weather. Do you prefer staying cool, and are you willing to risk a chance of rain? January and February will be great. Do your kids not mind the heat, and love time in the pool in the afternoon? Summer or September might be perfect for you.
Our Take: Even the slower times of year should have a good plan. Without one, it is easy to wander more than you need to, accidentally end up in longer lines, or miss shows and experiences you were hoping for, along with hard-to-get dining and activity reservations.
How Is Disneyland Timing Different From Disney World?
If you have planned a Disney World trip before, a few of your timing instincts won’t carry over to Disneyland.
| Disneyland | Disney World | |
|---|---|---|
| Rainy season | January and February | Summer |
| Summer weather | Hot, usually not humid | Hot, humid, and rainy |
The biggest shift is the locals. Weekends at Disneyland, especially during Halloween and Christmas decorations, can be much busier than the weekdays around them. Weather is the other surprise: the months that bring cool, comfortable days in Orlando are the rainy months in Southern California.
For our Disney World timing advice, see our guide to the best time to go to Disney World. Still deciding between the two? Our Disneyland vs. Disney World guide walks through it.
Picking your dates is only the first step. Our team builds your Disneyland plan around the week you choose, so a busier week still feels manageable.
Frequently Asked Questions
January and February (outside Martin Luther King Jr. weekend and Presidents’ Day week) and September tend to have the lowest crowds. Late April into early May and most of November are also good choices.
January and February are Southern California’s rainy season. Those months have lower crowds, so families should weigh whether a rained-out day would outweigh the shorter lines.
Christmas week is the hardest time to visit. Easter, March spring break, Presidents’ Day week, Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, and the weekends in October and December are also busy.
Summer is a little busier, but Disneyland’s heat is usually not humid, which makes it more tolerable than a Florida summer. In 2027, the Magic Happens parade returns for summer.
Grad Nites are graduation celebrations for high school seniors. In 2027 they fall on May 7, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, 23, 26, and 27, and June 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 11. They can change the feel of the parks, so it helps to plan your evenings around those dates.
Remember… Dreams Come True returns to Disneyland park and World of Color returns to Disney California Adventure in February 2027. The Magic Happens parade returns in summer 2027.
Sources: Disney Parks Blog; Disneyland Resort events calendar.
About the Author: Sabrina Tinius is a Disney strategy specialist and founder of The Enchanted Traveler, an EarMarked by Disney Authorized Travel Agency. Since 2012, she and her team of travel advisors have built custom Disney vacations and handled every detail of travel for thousands of families.
Artwork/Properties: ©Disney
