Why You Should Visit Disneyland in Spring 2024

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 2024 events occurring between January-May along with some discount tickets to light your way!

Let's dive into how to plan for a Disneyland spring trip. Before we get into our best tips for visiting during the spring at Disneyland, I'll share a look at the events announced for spring at Disneyland. 

2024 Disneyland Spring Events

Disneyland in Spring typically follows a standard schedule of events that are spelled out below. These events include Lunar New Year, Valentine's Day, the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, and Easter celebrations. There are also special after hours events offered throughout the season. We have links to more information on all of these spring events.

We are always excited about the spring time of year at the parks. In addition to the events that we'll discuss here and below, at the bottom of this article we discuss the pros and cons of a visit to Disneyland in the spring.

Disneyland recently shared its events calendar for the year, including all of the spring events that you can look forward to. Disneyland in Spring includes the events listed above as well as Celebrate Gospel, Star Wars: Season of the Force, and Pixar Fest. Disney also shared the Disneyland After Dark events for 2024 as well, including three that will take place during the spring!

We will share details about all of the spring offerings announced for Disneyland below.

Disneyland Half-Marathon Returns

The Disneyland Half Marathon weekend returns to Disneyland on January 11-14, 2024. This Half Marathon weekend will include a 5K, 1oK, half marathon, and challenge (10K and half marathon). This will be the first time a Disneyland runDisney has taken place since 2017!

Lunar New Year at Disneyland

The Disneyland Lunar New Year event celebration runs from January 23 through February 18, 2024. You can expect to see a parade celebrating the Lunar New Year featuring Mulan along with marketplace food options featuring Korean, Vietnamese, 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 the 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 for 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.

Celebrate Gospel 

Celebrate Gospel, featuring two 2024 concerts at the Fantasyland Theatre headlined by Marvin Sapp (February 17) and Tasha Cobbs Leonard (February 24), is an annual tribute to Gospel music featuring award-winning musical artists and community choirs from across Southern California that will take place during Spring at Disneyland.

California Adventure Food and Wine Festival

The Food & Wine Festival at California Adventure Park runs from March 1-April 22, 2024 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 Disneyland, Disney California Adventure Parks, and 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.

All you need to do is purchase a map and a 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 hunting, 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.

Season of the Force

Season of the Force will take place at Disneyland Park from April 5-June 2, 2024. This Star Wars celebration will feature the return of Hyperspace Mountain, themed food and beverage items, merchandise, and more.

Guests will also be able to explore new scenes on Star Tours – The Adventures Continue and experience the Disneyland fireworks from a new perspective at Galaxy's Edge with “galactic music” playing.

See everything you need to know about the Season of the Force celebration at Disneyland!

Dapper Day

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.

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.

Pixar Fest 

Pixar Fest will be returning to Disneyland for part of Spring, with the event running from April 26-August 4, 2024. This celebration of friendship will feature merchandise, themed menu items, and colorful decor, as well as a new daytime parade in Disney California Adventure and returning updated fireworks in Disneyland Park.

During the celebration, the theme parks, Downtown Disney, and the Disneyland Resort hotels will all feature “a Pixar twist of friendly fun.” You'll find new characters like Wade and Ember from Elemental, Red Panda Mei from Turning Red, and more.

See everything you need to know about Pixar Fest at Disneyland in our 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 springtime.

• 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 who 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 ‘downtime' 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 its 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 who 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 higher 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!

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