While Disneyland is always the Happiest Place on Earth, things like hot weather, large crowds and refurbishments can really impact that happiness.
The good news is that In a lot of ways, summer is a great time to visit Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California! The kids are out of school so you can take a longer trip, there are less rides getting refurbished, and there are usually some fun limited time offerings.
But on the flip side- everyone else’s kids are on summer vacation too, so crowds are high. The sun beats down all day, which can be rough if you aren’t prepared. And ticket prices are pretty high during the summer too.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plan a trip though! You can still have the best time no matter when you go. It just means you need to be more prepared than usual to make your trip the best it can be. Below, I’ll share the best days to schedule your summer Disneyland vacation, the best ways to beat the heat at the hottest part of the day, and how to save on your Disneyland tickets.
Busiest Times at Disneyland in Summer
Disneyland tends to be pretty busy in general during the summer, since lots of families take advantage of the summer break from school to plan a trip. That said, many annual passes are blocked out during this time due to those large crowds. That means it can balance out- more or less.
There are still some days that are very, very busy at Disneyland so if you’re trying to avoid crowds, consider this your personal Disneyland crowd calendar:
Weekends: Pretty much any weekend over the summer is going to be packed, but especially three-day weekends like Memorial Day and Labor Day.
4th of July: The most crowded I have ever personally seen Disneyland was on the 4th of July. This was back before they kept crowds down {somewhat} with reservations but at the time it was shoulder to shoulder throughout many of the lands, and it’s not much better now.
Late May and early September: Because of Memorial Day and Labor Day, this entire time can be busy since people often try to extend those already existing long weekends. Not only is this a bad time to be in the parks, but it’s a terrible time to be traveling in general with crowded airports and lots of traffic on the roads.
The month of July in general: This is the month where all kids are out of school, so many families plan trips for this month. This is usually the most busy summer month.
July 17th: Disneyland celebrates its birthday on this date each year. There’s always something fun to do to celebrate, like a special edition cupcakes, limited edition merch and even a birthday parade, but with that comes extra crowds!
The best days to head to Disneyland in the summer to avoid long lines are definitely weekdays especially during early June, but even then you may be facing large crowd levels. I highly recommend investing in Genie+ during summer trips- more on that later.
What’s the Weather Like at Disneyland in Summer?
While Disneyland is a lot less humid than it’s east-coast alternative Walt Disney World, it definitely still gets plenty warm! Weather at Disneyland in summer is typically warm to hot {high-70’s to mid-90’s} which seems manageable until you realize you might spend a lot of time in lines without any shade. With some strategy though, you can definitely tackle Disneyland in summer temps!
What to Wear at Disneyland in Summer?
Part of keeping cool during hot days at Disneyland includes dressing for the summer heat. You’ll want to wear lightweight fabrics, and I’d definitely recommend shorts or dresses instead of pants if you can help it. You’ll probably want a hat or visor to keep the sun out of your face as well.
As for shoes, you know yourself best. I would never in a million years survive a day in the parks in flip flops, but they work well for others. If you can walk literally 20,000 steps a day in flip flops, go for it. Otherwise, pack some light, moisture-wicking socks and some breathable shoes.
While I’m a huge fan of Loungefly backpacks for Disneyland days, on those really hot days they can make your back all sweaty so that’s a good time to consider swapping them out for a cross-body bag or skipping a purse entirely and keeping your belongings in your locker! You might not even need your wallet most of the day at the park since you can now use Apple Pay to make purchases {and use the Disneyland app to pay for Mobile Orders}.
Additionally, I’d add a cooling accessory to your outfit- either a portable fan {like this one that sits on your neck} or a cooling towel. If you don’t have one, they do sell cooling towels all over the resort this time of year- but of course, you can get one for way cheaper on Amazon.
Water Rides at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure
Looking to cool off a bit? There are a few rides with water at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park, which range from a small splash to a full drench. Rides that you might get wet on include:
Pirates of the Caribbean: This ride is low on the splash-meter, but it all depends on your luck. I’ve been on boats that didn’t get a drop of water and I’ve also gotten so soaked that my shoes squished the rest of the night.
Grizzly River Run: This whitewater rafting ride in Disney California Adventure Park is a super soaker. Be sure to plan accordingly if you plan to go on this ride- if you ride it when the sun has gone down, you’re likely to remain wet for the rest of the evening!
Splash Mountain: This Disneyland ride will be permanently closing on May 31, 2023 so that it can become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. When it reopens as Tiana’s it will once again be a great way to beat the heat- just be mindful that you can definitely get very wet on this ride!
Where to Cool Off at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on a Hot Day
During the peak hours of heat, I always find it best to get somewhere cool. Here are some of my top picks for waiting out the heat while still having fun:
Disneyland Park
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln: This attraction, found on Main Street, has plenty of seating so the only waiting you’ll likely have to do is waiting for the next showing to begin. It’s about fifteen minutes long and also has fun stuff to look at before you go in or after you come out, so you can spend a solid half hour or more in the air conditioned building.
it’s a small world: While the line for this ride is in the sun, once you’re on the ride you’ll get to spend about 15 minutes relaxing on a boat in the air conditioning. This is a great ride to take tired kiddos on and while the song might get stuck in your head for hours after, it’s a nice spot to relax for a few minutes.
Adventureland: This area of the park has ride queues that are mostly shaded {like Jungle Cruise} or mostly indoors {like Indiana Jones}. There are a couple of shops to pop into, a treehouse to explore {reopening soon!} and lots of trees to block a lot of the sun.
Of course, the best tip of all is to take a break for a Dole Whip from the Tiki Juice Bar or Tropical Hideaway!
Disneyland Railroad: You’ll still be outside for this one, but you’ll be covered from the sun and you’ll get a nice breeze. Travel around the park on the train for a great way to relax and rest your feet, reapply sunscreen, and drink some water. You can also use it as a shortcut to get to another area of the park without walking in the sun.
Disney California Adventure
Animation Building: This building in Hollywood Land can keep you cool and busy for a long time! You can learn how to draw a favorite character at the Animation Academy, meet Anna and Elsa from Frozen, visit Beast’s Library, create your own animations, and chat with Crush from Finding Nemo all in this one building!
Hyperion Theater: Coming June 30, you’ll be able to watch Rogers: The Musical, inspired by the show of the same name featured in Hawkeye. While this is a limited run show, it’s likely to play throughout the summer and hopefully will continue beyond that or possibly be replaced with something new!
Pixar Pier and Paradise Gardens Park: If you don’t want to head inside, these are your best bets for rides during this time. Many of the rides over here create a bit of a breeze- Pixar Pal-A-Round {ferris wheel}, Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind, Silly Symphony Swings, Golden Zephyr, and even Jumpin’ Jellyfish can all cool you down a bit while you’re on them- just keep in mind you’ll have to wait in line first!
Grizzly Peak: With lots of trees to provide shade and a great water ride, this is a good area to cool down! This is also a great place to take a break and eat a churro, just saying.
Both Parks
Shopping: The hottest part of the day can also be one of the best times to go shopping- after all, there’s air conditioning in those stores! Just keep in mind that you probably shouldn’t purchase any foods that can melt or any large bulky items unless you’ll be renting a storage locker.
Dining: This is where planning ahead is so important- I highly suggest making a dining reservation during the hottest part of the day- somewhere between 1 and 3pm. I suggest a reservation instead of winging it because most restaurants that you can just pop into on the day of will only have outdoor seating- most actual indoor restaurants are table service, which means you’ll likely need a reservation especially in the summer. Remember that dining reservations open up 60 days before the day of your visit!
Areas to Avoid During the Hottest Parts of the Day
Some areas of the parks provide more or less shade than others- these are the areas that you should really check out early in the morning or during the evening.
Disneyland Park
Galaxy’s Edge: This area is a must-see for any Star Wars fan, but there is virtually no shade to be found and even the shops don’t provide cover.
Tomorrowland: This land has the same issue as Galaxy’s Edge, but to a lesser extent- there just isn’t much shade to be had. There are at least shops to explore here, though.
Fantasyland: Your mileage may vary here. There isn’t much shade, but the rides are pretty close together so you can get a lot of rides done without much walking. However, this area tends to be very crowded and that itself makes it pretty warm.
Disney California Adventure
Avengers Campus: Thanks to all the water throughout the land, California Adventure Park is a much better park to be at on a hot day. But while Avengers Campus has plenty of super heroes to showcase, it doesn’t have much in the way of shade, so consider checking this area out early or late in the day.
Radiator Springs: This land has the same problem as Avengers Campus- and it looks really cool at night, so I highly recommend checking it out then!
Special Events at Disneyland in Summer 2023
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure always have something fun going on! Here is what you can expect to find this summer and when:
Rogers the Musical: This show premiered at the Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure on June 30th. Be sure to check the app for show times! Make sure you don’t miss this limited time engagement by either going to the reservations counter near the Hyperion Theater shortly after park opening or considering a Premiere package.
Pride Nite: Disneyland will be hosting their very first- and second- official Pride Nite as a Disney After Dark event on June 13th and June 15th, just in time for Pride Month. Tickets for this event are now sold out, but throughout the month of June and especially during the week of the Pride Nite events, be sure to look for special Pride merch and snacks!
Disney100 Celebration: All year long, Disneyland is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company!
Part of the celebration includes a new fireworks show at Disneyland called “Wonderous”, featuring music and projections from many of the animated films over the years. You can also see the new World of Color: ONE at Disney California Adventure Park nightly!
In fact, beginning June 2, 2023 you’ll be able to see additional content before World of Color: ONE! A new pre-show inspired by Pixar’s “Elemental” will run prior to the main show for a limited time. Here’s a little more about the pre-show:
Beginning June 2, 2023, for a limited time, a new water short titled “Elemental Connection” highlighting the story and characters from Disney and Pixar’s latest film, “Elemental,” will be presented ahead of “World of Color — ONE” in Disney California Adventure park. Brilliant projections dance across vast water screens in this two-minute pre-show, bringing the land, air, water and fire residents of Element City to life. In this heartfelt story, fire element Ember and water element Wade discover that though the world tells them they can’t coexist, they are more alike than they realize. As whimsical fountains and powerful music fill Paradise Bay, you’ll see that stepping out of your element may help you uncover who you really are, just like Ember and Wade.
Magic Happens Parade: This parade ran for about a week in 2020 before the closure, and just came back a couple of months ago. If you haven’t seen this parade yet be sure to take the time to check it out!
Current Refurbishments at Disneyland for Summer 2023
Disney is pretty smart about their refurbishments and they try to do them at off-peak times, so there usually aren’t many in the summer. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any! Here’s what might not be running while you’re there- and keep in mind that rides can go up and down all day especially in high heat!
Tarzan’s Treehouse: The treehouse in Adventureland is being rethemed, and will open as Adventureland Treehouse with Swiss Family Robinson theming. There is no reopening date at this time.
Splash Mountain: The last plummet on this flume ride took place May 30, 2023 before a lengthy closure. When the ride returns in 2024, it will be as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure!
French Market and Mint Julep Restaurants: To go along with the new Tiana theming on the ride that was previously Splash Mountain, French Market is being rethemed to a Princess and the Frog restaurant called Tiana’s Palace! {Don’t worry, you can still get beignets at Royal Street Veranda!}
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride: This ride was closed for part of June and is scheduled to go under refurbishment again on July 24th. No reopening date has been shared yet.
Alice in Wonderland: Just like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, this ride is scheduled to be closed for the second time this summer- from July 5-21, 2023.
Soarin’ Around the World: This fan favorite, located at Disney California Adventure, will be closed from July 5-14.
Toy Story Midway Mania: Another Disney California Adventure favorite, Toy Story Midway Mania will be closing on July 17th. A reopening date has not been announced at this time.
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: The trail is closing on the final day of the month, July 31st, and no reopening date has been shared at this time. {Note that it’s likely to be closed throughout August as it’s possibly being transformed for the Oogie Boogie Bash celebrations!}
Extra Perk Alert: How to Get Early Entry!
If you’re staying at one of the Disneyland Resort Hotels- Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, or Paradise Pier Hotel- one of the perks is park entry 30 minutes before opening.
Not all rides are operational this early but most are, and it’ll give you some extra time to ride some rides before it gets too hot- and with fewer crowds! Disneyland Resort Hotel Guests will need valid theme park admission and park reservations to use early entry.
How to Save on Your Disneyland Tickets
Tickets to Disneyland can really add up- especially if you get Park Hopper tickets with Genie+. Right now you can get a special ticket offer for your 5th day FREE with the purchase of your 4 day tickets when you book through my partners at Get Away Today, but even if you’re going for a shorter trip you can get a great price on discount Disneyland tickets through them. {You can also get layaway plans through them!}
Be sure to check park reservation availability before buying your tickets, and check the park hours when planning your day!
If you’re there for more than one day and want to budget, I would suggest getting Genie+ over getting Park Hoppers. While Disneyland Resort Theme Parks make for a much better Park Hopper situation than Walt Disney World, you can easily spend an entire day at each park and save some money over Park Hopper tickets- and you’re really going to want that Genie+ in the summer!}
Hot Tip: Invest in Genie+
I am always a big supporter of adding the Genie+ service to your park tickets, but even more so during the summer months. Everyone who has the Disneyland app has access to the free version of Genie, but Genie+ is a paid upgrade that allows you to spend much less time in line.
With Genie+, you’ll have the opportunity to book “Lightning Lanes” {think Fast Pass} for attractions throughout the day. I’d need an entire post to explain the ins and outs of Genie+ {there are some great videos on YouTube!} but basically every 2 hours- or immediately after getting off the last ride you booked- you can book a Lightning Lane for another attraction.
A couple of caveats: You can only book each attraction once per day, and you’ll want to keep an eye on those return times. But generally speaking, Genie+ can save you HOURS in line, which not only gives you more time to have fun but also keeps you from standing in sunny queues all day.
Well, there you have it! Those are all of my best tips for making your summer Disneyland trip the best it can be. What would you add to the list?
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