Memorial Day weekend is a popular time to spend at the Disneyland resort as the official kick off to the summer season. Memorial Day weekend takes place at the end of May and is a common work and school holiday. For some schools, Memorial Day may also signify the start of summer break.
Since this is often a three day holiday weekend for many families this is also a common time to take family vacations making Disneyland a central vacation choice. Like we discuss in our dates to avoid at Disneyland, any three day weekend can be a large draw for crowds at Disneyland and Memorial Day can be no different. See our Disneyland crowd calendar that’s updated frequently here.
Keep reading to see what you can expect on Memorial Day at Disneyland when it comes to crowds, weather and what special events Disney does to honor this important holiday.
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Memorial Day Weekend Disneyland Crowds
There is a common misconception that Memorial Day at Disneyland won’t be crowded since many associate this holiday with backyard barbecues and get togethers at home but actually this can be a crowded weekend at the parks. Since this is a common three day weekend for Americans this is a popular time to visit Disneyland for locals and tourists alike especially as a great kick off to the beginning of summer.
You can expect high crowd levels Memorial Day at Disneyland but I would not expect them to be unmanageable. They will likely be on par with the type of crowds you can expect during other popular times of the year like Spring Break week, Halloween season or the holidays.
One thing to consider is when you’re traveling to Disneyland during a peak time of the year is that Disneyland will be fully staffed with its longest operating hours with Disneyland and California Adventure opening at 8AM most days and closing at 10PM and midnight. My family always tends to travel during peak times of the year and we manage just fine because of the way Disneyland operates so smoothly. And of course, we always follow our Disneyland morning strategy to beat the crowds!
You can also purchase Disney’s Genie+ to help manage crowd levels which we breakdown in our Genie+ guide with recent tips on maximizing your time in the parks!
Memorial Day Disneyland 2024
Keep reading to see the events that may impact this year’s Memorial Day at Disneyland weekend!
Grad Nites
Every year in May and June, Disneyland hosts Grad Nites for the local graduating high school students. California Adventure will shut down specifically for these recent high school graduates at 9PM for an exclusive event. While none of the Grad Nites take place on Memorial Day weekend, they’re close enough they might overlap with your trip. This year’s May dates for Grad Nites are:
- May 10, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22, 23, 28 & 31
You can read more about what to expect when visiting Disneyland in May in our monthly guide!
Memorial Day Disneyland Flag Retreat Ceremony
Each day at Disneyland you have the chance to view The Flag Retreat Ceremony at Disneyland at the end of Main Street, U.S.A. which is one of the ways that Disney honors our past and current military members. This is just one of the many way’s that Walt Disney’s patriotism is kept alive in the parks,
“Actually, if you could see close in my eyes, the American flag is waving in both of them and up my spine is growing this red, white, and blue stripe.” -Walt Disney
The Flag Retreat happens daily at 4:30PM but check the daily Disneyland calendar for the most current times as these can change. Guests are asked to join in the Pledge of Allegiance before the Flag Retreat begins, followed by a chorus of “God Bless America” with the crowd removing their hats and putting their hands over their hearts. Current service members and veterans are invited to come to stand by the flag during the ceremony. The Color Guard lowers the flag while the National Anthem is performed. After the ceremony, the Color Guard and cast members have a short procession down Main Street, U.S.A.
The Flag Retreat ceremony is a tribute to veterans and active service members and is a great way to honor the memory of those we’ve lost on Memorial Day. It’s a must see during your visit to Disneyland on Memorial Day weekend.
Read more about this Disneyland tradition!
Memorial Day Disneyland Weather
Memorial Day at Disneyland can be pleasant with an average high temperature of 75 degrees and an average low of 66 degrees in May. The average amount of rainfall diminishes drastically throughout the month of May so it’s not much of a worry at all by the time Memorial Day rolls around!
As the beginning of the summer begins the amount of sunshine sticks around longer each day in May with the longest day offering up to 14 hours of daylight for guests to enjoy in the parks.
May can be muggy at Disneyland as there are higher humidity levels increasing as the month goes on especially with the “June Gloom” right around the corner so you can expect humid mornings on your Memorial Day at Disneyland.
June Gloom is the name for a weather pattern of that results in cloudy, overcast skies in the mornings in late spring and early summer in California that can bring high levels of humidity and fog. This also helps keep the temperatures more moderate in the mornings which is a relief for some guests that don’t enjoy high levels of heat when trying to enjoy Disneyland!
Plan Your Disneyland Vacation!
Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for the best tips when planning your trip. For more information about visiting Disneyland Resort during spring, take a quick look at the pros/cons of a springtime visit.
