Why You Should Visit Disneyland in Spring 2023

Spring in Disneyland can be a popular time of  year for guests to consider visiting. All of the flowers are in full bloom, the weather is warm but not hot, kids are out of school on Spring Break, and there are a variety of special events.

Here are our pros and cons of visiting Disneyland during Spring. Consider this list alongside our guide to all the events at Disneyland in our when to visit Disneyland calendar. Although, in this guide we do aim to provide you with all the major 2022 events occurring between January-May along with some discount tickets to light your way!

2023 Disneyland Spring Eventsdisney100 castle decorations disneyland

Before we launch into our guide to visiting Disneyland in Spring, here are the things to look forward to when you you visit Disneyland this Spring!

Disney100

The Disney100 kicks off on January 27th to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney company. In honor of the celebration the much anticipated new attraction, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, will also open that same day. The celebration will also debut World of Color-One. It will tell the story of how a single action, like a drop of water, can create a ripple which transforms into waves of change. The celebration will also feature a brand new fireworks show Wondrous Journeys which promises to “ignite the wonder in all of us”

Magic Happens Parade

The Magic Happens parade initially ran for just two weeks in March 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The parade features a mixture of floats of classic and new Disney characters making it a great combination of Disney favorites. Magic Happens will return on February 24th in celebration of Disney’s 100th Anniversary!

Disneyland’s Toontown Reopens

Disneyland’s Toontown reopens on March 8th, following Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opening from January, ready to greet guests with a fully reimagined look including the new CenTOONial Park which will now be the first part of Toontown that guests see when they enter! This transformation will add more interactive experiences into the land along with more of an emphasis on natural spaces and greenery as opposed to concrete surfaces.

Disneyland Ticket Offer for SoCal Residents

This new Disneyland California discount is for Southern California residents and is on sale now for week day visits between January 9, 2023 through May 25, 2023. Guests that purchase this offer can visit Disneyland and California Adventure for as little as $73 per day day with the purchase of a three-day, one-park per day weekday ticket.

Guests can use the ticket any week day during this period. The ticket does not have to be used during the typical 13 day use window that is required of regular multi-day tickets.

CLICK HERE to access these discounts and see prices through our exclusive link!>

Get Away Today has additional savings for our readers beyond the stated below. Our travel partner’s tickets are also the only refundable Disneyland tickets anywhere.

Lunar New Year at Disneyland

The Disneyland Lunar New Year event celebration runs from January 20th to February 15th. You can expect to see a parade celebrating the Lunar New Year featuring Mulan along with marketplace food options featuring Korean, Vietnam, and Chinese offerings, special merchandise, and more.

See our full guide to Disneyland’s celebration of the Lunar New Year to plan your trip and enjoy the festivities!

Valentine’s Month at Disneyland Celebrating Mickey and Minnie Mouse!

Disneyland will deck out the park in honor of Mickey and Minnie Mouse’s love as thee parks celebrate Valentine’s Day with themed decor, special food and beverage offerings, and souvenirs.

You will also find plenty of themed treats, dining, and other sweet surprises waiting you if you visit around Valentine’s Day. See our perfect guide to a perfect Valentine’s Day at Disneyland for everything you need to know.

California Adventure Food and Wine Festival

The Food & Wine Festival at California Adventure Park runs from March 3rd- April 25th and is sure to please any foodie and wine fan in your group.

This delicious festival includes marketplaces with tasty food, beer, and wine around California Adventure Park. There are also family-friendly seminars available with tips from special Guest presenters and an activity called Jr. Chef where kids can try hands-on cooking experiences! In addition, guests can enjoy live musical performances, and culinary demonstrations while enjoying high quality beer and wine.

Easter at Disneyland

If you plan on visiting near the Easter holiday, you can expect to partake in the ever-popular Resort’s Egg-stravaganza in both Disneyland, Disney California Adventure Parks and in Downtown Disney. The Egg-stravaganza will last usually 2-3 weeks around the Easter holiday giving guests plenty of chances to join in the fun. This year Easter is on April 9th 2023.

All you need to do is purchase a map and set of corresponding stickers before you hunt away for the eggs. Once an egg is spotted, place the matching sticker on the map. When all eggs have been located, return the map to the specific retail locations for a special prize  If you want to keep your map and stickers unused as souvenirs rather than hunt, you can still return for your gift.

In addition to the Disney themed egg hunts, you can expect to enjoy Easter themed dining and treats during your visit! See our full extensive guide to Easter at Disneyland to find out everything you need to know.

Dapper DayWalt Disney wearing his classic suit. This is where Disneyland Dapper Day originated.

Rounding out the spring events at Disneyland Resort is the ever-popular Dapper Day. Although not an official Disneyland Resort event, fans of eras bygone and vintage styles descend on the Resort for a weekend to share tips, pleasantries, and everything retro. This year’s Dapper Day takes place on April 16th.

Check out our full photo gallery of Dapper Day in Disneyland! And be sure to read all about in Dapper Day including dates and events in our Dapper Day Guide.

Disneyland After Dark Events

Disneyland After Dark are specially themed events that take place after park hours at Disneyland all featuring entertainment, food, photo ops, merchandise, and more all pertaining to their perspective themes!

The ticketed events grant guests access to either Disneyland or California Adventure after closing depending on which park is hosting the event. Select attractions to remain open for the event making this a great chance to ride key rides with little to no wait. You will also receive unlimited digital downloads of all your PhotoPass photos from the event.

Read our full guide to Disneyland After Dark for everything you need to know!

Pros of Disneyland in Spring

Here are all of the pros of visiting Disneyland in the Spring! These are all factors to consider as benefits to visiting the Disneyland Resort during the Spring time.

  • Chances for lower crowds- if you avoid the ever popular Spring Break weeks in March and April, you can visit Disneyland with minimal crowd levels. The earlier in ‘Spring’ you visit, such as January and February, you can enjoy the lowest crowds all year.
  • Mild temperatures- if you have folks in your group that aren’t a fan of the heat, you can enjoy much more mild temperatures in the Spring with still the potential for some warm, breezy days.
  • Spring exclusive events- some events, like the Food & Wine Festival in California Adventure and Dapper Day, only occur in the Spring and if you’ve been dying to see these events visiting in the Spring is a no brainer.
  • More discounts- it’s important to keep in mind that there is truly no ‘down time’ of the year at Disneyland anymore. While you can expect lower crowd levels in the Spring, it’s by no means completely empty. This is because Disney releases discounts for travel during the Spring to tempt guests to travel during this time of year. If you’re looking to do Disney on a discount, you have a better chance of finding the best deals in the Spring! Get the best ticket deals through our exclusive discount link! 

Cons of Visiting Disneyland During Spring

It’s hard even for the most avid Disneyland fan to imagine any cons of visiting during any time of year but there are always some things to consider! Here are the cons to visiting Disneyland in Spring.

  • Risk for Rain-  there’s a larger risk of rain in the Spring since this time of year Southern California sees some of the wettest months of the year. Some find that a rainy day at Disneyland can be a blessing in disguise since many guests will leave once it rains which can lower the wait times for rides. But it can also be a hassle for some guests so it’s an important factor to consider. You definitely need to be prepared with waterproof clothes, rain boots, and rain gear to make it a comfortable experience. Keep in mind that many rides with outdoor tracks tend to close when it rains and that many of the queues at Disneyland are outside.
  • Refurbishments- Spring is often when Disneyland tends to do most of their refurbishments. Disney is good about trying to stagger these refurbishments the best they can but despite their efforts you can still expect to see a few rides down during your Spring visit. This can be a huge con for many guests that are looking to plan their once in a lifetime trip. For repeat guests, this might not matter quite as much.
  • Spring Break crowds- while you do have a much more likelihood of experiencing lower crowds during a Spring trip to Disneyland, you can also expect to be bombarded by Spring Break crowds during some weeks in March and April. But not to worry, you still have a great day if you follow our Disneyland morning strategy!

Planning Your Disneyland Vacation!

There is a ton of information to read up on before planning a Disneyland vacation. Once you’ve decided on your hotel and ticket options, you can shift your focus to planning for crowds, constant activity, food, and souvenir buying. Familiarizing yourself with everything the Disneyland Resort has to offer can definitely make your Disney experience unforgettable for you and your family. Don’t forget to subscribe to our FREE Deals Newsletter to stay on top of the current planning tips, strategies, and Disney deals!

Disclosure: We have used all the products recommended on Mickey Visit. We may receive compensation when you click on links to some products featured.

About Lindsay Brookshier

Lindsay is a college English instructor and has years of writing experience through various nonprofits, charities, newspapers, and online magazines. As the content director of Mickey Visit, she oversees article content and leads our fantastic team of writers to meet guest vacation needs. You can still find her writing weekly content to help make your Disney Parks trip fantastic here on Mickey Visit and Disney Dose- you can also view her recently featured posts on Disney Parks travel on Visit Anaheim, Nerd Wallet and SFGate. Lindsay comes from a dedicated Disney family and enjoys taking her son to the Disney parks as often as possible.

Planning a Disney Vacation? Get Exclusive Discounts + Free Bonuses

In addition to exclusive discounts for Mickey Visit subscribers, get our free planning printable and guide to make your life SO much easier.