How Disneyland Handles Seasonal Events
Some Disneyland seasonal events are included with regular park admission; others require a separate ticket. The distinction matters because the after-hours ticketed events close the park to regular guests while they run. If you arrive on a day when an after-hours event is scheduled, the park begins transitioning around 6–7 PM and guests without event tickets are asked to leave.
Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration (Active Through August 9, 2026)
The 70th anniversary celebration has been running since 2025 and concludes on August 9, 2026. The celebration includes:
- Paint the Night parade — returned January 30, 2026 to Disneyland Park. One of the most popular LED-lit nighttime parades Disney has produced.
- Wondrous Journeys — the projection show on Sleeping Beauty Castle, with fireworks added on select nights (predominantly weekends)
- World of Color Happiness! — the water and projection show in DCA, running through August 9, 2026
- Special 70th merchandise and food items throughout both parks
All of this is included with regular park admission. No additional ticket needed.
Summer 2026: Soarin' Across America
Beginning July 2, 2026, Soarin' Around the World in DCA transitions to a special version called "Soarin' Across America," showcasing American landscapes and landmarks in celebration of the country's 250th anniversary. Included with park admission.
The 70th anniversary celebration conclusion on August 9, 2026 will be followed by whatever entertainment package Disney introduces for the fall season — check the official events calendar closer to your visit date.
Halloween Time and Oogie Boogie Bash
Halloween Time (Included with Admission)
Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort typically runs from late August through October 31. Both parks receive seasonal decorations, themed food and merchandise, and overlay experiences. For 2025, Halloween Time ran August 22 through October 31. In 2026, dates follow a similar pattern — official announcements typically arrive in late spring.
Included attractions during Halloween Time:
- Haunted Mansion Holiday (Nightmare Before Christmas overlay)
- Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy (Halloween overlay)
- Seasonal villains character appearances
- Pumpkin-themed food items across both parks
Oogie Boogie Bash — A Disney Halloween Party (Separate Ticket Required)
The after-hours Halloween party runs on select nights from mid-August through October 31 at Disney California Adventure. In 2025, the event ran select nights from August 17 through October 31, with tickets starting at $139 per person in August/September and up to $199 in October.
Tickets go on sale to the general public in late June (2025 went on sale June 26). Event nights sell out, particularly Fridays and Saturdays in October.
What's included with an Oogie Boogie Bash ticket:
- Access to Disney California Adventure from 3 PM through the after-hours event period
- Frightfully Fun Parade — a Halloween-themed nighttime parade
- Villains Grove — a walk-through immersive experience at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail with lighting effects and villains theming
- Treat Trails — candy stations with character meet-and-greets in villains costumes
- Costumes allowed (adults and kids)
- Access to DCA rides during the lower-crowd event period
Crowd impact on regular DCA days: On Oogie Boogie Bash nights, DCA begins clearing non-event guests around 6 PM. If you have a regular park ticket for a day with a scheduled Oogie Boogie Bash, plan to be in Disneyland Park that evening.
Holiday Time at Disneyland (Included with Admission)
Holiday Time typically kicks off in mid-November and runs through early January. In 2026, the holiday season is expected to begin around November 18, 2026 (following the same cadence as recent years).
Included with regular admission:
- It's a Small World Holiday overlay — the most popular seasonal overlay, with the exterior building covered in millions of lights
- Haunted Mansion Holiday (continues from Halloween into the holidays)
- "A Christmas Fantasy" parade in Disneyland Park
- Snow falling on Main Street (simulated at specific times in the evening)
- Holiday decor throughout both parks including Christmas trees on Main Street
- "World of Color — Season of Light" in DCA
Note: Disney Merriest Nites, the after-hours Christmas party that ran briefly in 2021, has not returned. As of current information, there is no separately-ticketed after-hours Christmas event at Disneyland (unlike Walt Disney World's Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party).
Spring — Festival of Holidays and Lunar New Year (DCA)
Disney California Adventure has historically hosted a Lunar New Year celebration in late January through February and a Food & Wine Festival in spring. These are included with park admission and center around food booths, cultural entertainment, and themed décor. Dates and programming vary year to year — check the official events calendar.
Planning Around Events
- Avoid Oogie Boogie Bash nights if you only have regular admission — you'll lose DCA access hours and crowds shift heavily into Disneyland Park
- Holiday Time is genuinely worth a visit but Thanksgiving week and the week between Christmas and New Year are among the most crowded days of the year across both parks
- Fall shoulder season (late September and October weekdays) combines Halloween Time decorations, cooler temperatures, and historically lower crowds — one of the best times to visit
- Check the official Disneyland events calendar at disneyland.disney.go.com for the current year's confirmed dates, as announcements for fall and holiday events typically roll out in spring and summer