Disneyland in September 2024: Hours, Crowd Calendar, Events

Disneyland in September is the first official month of Fall at Disneyland which for some folks can be pretty exciting as they look forward to seeing the Halloween decorations, entertainment, and attraction overlays.

Everyone has personal preferences to consider when planning the date of their Disneyland trip- each season will have its pros and cons and guests' choices will vary based on those. Make sure to read our Disneyland crowd calendar to get an idea of what to expect when picking a date to visit Disneyland.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about visiting Disneyland in September including current events, what weather to expect, crowd level predictions, and what to pack!

Disneyland Events in September

Here are all the current events to know about impacting Disneyland in September!

Halloween at Disneyland

Halloween at Disneyland has become a large event at the parks and has increased in popularity each year. So if you're coming to the parks in September, chances are you will be there for the Halloween fun. The entire Disneyland Resort is decorated for Halloween including special park decorations and overlayed attractions with Disneyland Halloween themes. Disney's California Adventure Park has also caught up with the fun over the past few years and you can expect to see the same amount of Halloween decorations and themed attractions. The Disneyland Halloween 2024 season will run from August 23 to October 31st at the Disneyland Resort.

Oogie Boogie Bash at California Adventure

Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney's California Adventure will run until Halloween. The event consists of Halloween entertainment, opportunities to wear costumes in the parks, meet and greets, and more.

This is an important point for all guests visiting during September: If you don’t have a park hopper ticket then you will be forced to leave California Adventure early in the evening and have nowhere to go but back to your hotel or home. Disney will close California Adventure early for the party and force any non-party guests to exit at least an hour before the party begins around 5pm. Make sure to get a park hopper ticket if you don’t plan on attending the ticketed event so you can hop over to Disneyland when the party starts!

Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights

While this isn't strictly Disneyland related, it's worthwhile to mention that Universal Studios Hollywood also begins their Halloween celebrations the second week in September. For guests that are looking to take a break from Disneyland and spend a day at Universal Studios, it's important to be aware of these Halloween Horror Nights which are much more adult-focused than the Halloween festivities at Disneyland.

Gay Days

The fan-created Disneyland Gay Days are held September 13th-15th. You will see a large gathering of people wearing red in the parks to demonstrate they are members of the event. Disneyland usually offers rainbow merchandise and food offerings throughout the park in recognition of the celebration.

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Disneyland September Crowd Calendar

Halloween season at Disneyland always begins at the start of September and the popularity of this time of year has grown immensely over the past couple years. It's safe to say you can expect high crowd levels during this month but maybe not quite as high during October as it gets closer to the actual date of Halloween. With the exception, of course, of Labor Day weekend as holiday weekends typically draw large crowds at Disneyland.

Guests visiting Disneyland in September also have the extra hurdle of Oogie Boogie Bash at California Adventure. If you don't have a party ticket, you will be asked to leave the park around 5pm. It's important to plan ahead for those dates so you have a plan in place for once the party starts. In the past the first start of the day before the Halloween party is actually low in crowd levels as many party goers don't enter the parks until later in the day when their Halloween party ticket allows saving them the cost of a full day ticket. It can actually be a wise decision to start off the day early at the park hosting the Halloween party to beat some of those crowds. Just make sure you leave in time to head over to Disneyland!

You can still have a great vacation even if Disneyland is crowded as long as you plan ahead. Make dining reservations and arrive early to the parks every day. Even on an extremely crowded day, being there 30 minutes before the park officially opens allows you to experience the park with smaller crowds. Those two or three hours before 11AM are the best- don't miss out. Read our full guide on handling crowds to prepare yourself for visiting Disneyland in September.

Disneyland Weather in September

Disneyland in September can actually be just as hot as days in the summer which can take many guests by surprise. The average high this time of year is 84 degrees and the average low at 63. You also have the bonus factor of all the concrete in the parks reflecting the sun back at you when you're there.

Even though you're visiting in the Fall, this time of year can be just as hot as the hottest days of summer so it's important to pack accordingly. The good news about the hot weather sticking around is the long days of sunshine also stick around with the average day lasting around 14 hours.

Tips for Visiting Disneyland in September

When it comes to visiting Disneyland in September, we have some tried and true hacks for having a magical time on your vacation.

What to Wear 

One of the most frequently asked guest questions is: what should I wear to Disneyland? Always check the weather leading up to your trip. One big mistake guests can make this time of year is assuming that visiting during the Fall means the weather will be cooler. Not exactly the case, as you saw above when we looked at average high temperatures. Plan for hot weather and bring light layers in case the nights do cool down. Bring clothes that are comfortable for you and your kids when the weather gets hot. Avoid sandals unless they're ones you know you can walk at least 7 miles a day and be comfortable!

What to Pack 

Considering the high average temperature for the month of September, plan on packing summer attire for the parks and the pool at your hotel.

Always bring the hot weather necessities like sunscreen, portable fans, cooling towels, and other items all aimed at keeping you cool on hot days. If you find yourself wanting one of these while you're there, you'll end up paying a high price in the parks or at your hotel. And if you're planning on hitting the beach, don't bother bringing towels and just use the ones from your hotel.

If you plan on attending the Halloween party at California Adventure, adults and children can wear costumes! It's best to buy your costume in advance and bring it with you. Buying one on the fly in the parks or nearby stores could be time consuming and expensive. People go all out with their costumes for the Halloween parties, consider dressing up so you can join in the fun.

You can read our giant packing list here to make sure you show up prepared for literally anything you need while you're visiting Disneyland.

What to Expect

There are a few things you should expect when choosing September as your month to visit Disneyland:

• Be Prepared for Halloween Themes- some guests don't realize how early Halloween season begins at Disneyland. This can be a welcome surprise or not- depending on personal preference. If you're not a fan of Halloween, you may want to rethink visiting during this month as the parks begin kicking off the Halloween fun with themed entertainment, food, and attraction themes early in the month.
• Plan for Halloween Themed Attractions- the attraction theme that gets the most attention is the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. If you want to see this attraction in its classic form, you may want to rethink visiting this month. If you're excited to see these Halloween overlays, then you picked a great time. Haunted Mansion receives a Nightmare Before Christmas theme and some guests actually find it better than the original. Over in California Adventure, you will see Halloween themes on the smaller Cars land rides but the big theme takes place in the Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: BREAKOUT! ride. Once evening falls, the ride is transformed into a monster hunt to save baby Groot.
• Know the Halloween Party Dates- being prepared for Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney's California Adventure is essential halfway in the month once the party dates begins. You should plan on park hopper tickets so you can hop over to Disneyland when the party starts if you don't have a ticket. If you plan on attending, we recommend not buying a park ticket that day as your party ticket will allow you into California Adventure a few hours before official party time.
• Be prepared for hot weather- a common misconception about visiting Disneyland in September is that the weather will be cooler. That's not usually the case as hot weather continues well into September. If you don't handle heat well, it's so necessary to wake up early and get to the parks at least 45 minutes before they open the gates. The hot weather won't really start making an impact until 11am-12pm depending on the day so getting there early will make all the difference. If you follow our awesome morning strategy for Disneyland here and California Adventure here you can be done with the major rides by lunchtime and go back to your hotel for a swim at the hottest part of the day. And like I said before, bring cooling towels, misting fans, and any other gear you like to have when it's hot. With some advance planning, you can handle the heat!

But most of all, remember to enjoy your time at the happiest place on earth!

Plan Your Disneyland Vacation!

Keep reading our blog to keep you updated on everything you need to know to prepare for a Disney Parks vacation! We have a team of writers working hard to keep you updated weekly on events in the parks and tips for navigating the magic. Subscribe to our free deals newsletter to receive helpful planning information, exclusive Disney deals, and access to the lowest priced Disney tickets anywhere. You can find more information on planning your vacation here:

• Discount Disneyland Ticket Guide
• Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Guide
• Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway
• Guide to Parades at Disneyland