Summary
It’s a simple question on the surface: Exactly what time does Disneyland open and close for the day?
Unfortunately, the answer is far more complicated than you may have guessed. The last thing you want to do is arrive at 8 a.m. wearing your Mouse ears, all excited and ready to play, only to find that the park won’t open until 10 a.m. — or vice versa.
Let’s start with the basics. Disneyland hours vary with hours of sunshine, being open fewer hours in winter and longer in summer. Daily hours also depend on crowd expectations. The parks typically remain open longer during summer vacation, school breaks, and holiday weekends than in the middle of the week during the offseason.
However, don’t fret if that seems confusing and vague. This guide includes everything you need to know to get to Disneyland at the right time, and how you can sometimes gain entry even before the park officially opens.
Disneyland Times for the Next Few Weeks
No matter how much you want to plan every magical second of your Disneyland visit, you will have to wait until approximately six weeks before your visit to get the official opening and closing times. That’s how far ahead Disney posts the short-term schedule (in calendar form) for both Disneyland and California Adventure on the Disneyland website.
The calendar also includes times for parades, fireworks, and featured entertainment, allowing you to plan your trip down to every last magical detail.
If you prefer to hear the official hours from a human being instead, call Disneyland Guest Relations at 714-781-7290. This may provide the extra peace of mind you need to enjoy the park without having to wait for it to open.
Disneyland Hours at Other Times of Year
If you’re planning more than six weeks ahead, you won’t get exact times on the Disneyland website. These general rules may help you know what to expect:
- Disneyland is often open longer than Disney California Adventure. It typically opens earlier and stays open later.
- Both parks are open for more hours during busier times. This includes summer, spring break, three-day holiday weekends, Fourth of July, and the year-end holiday weeks from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, as well as any time they introduce something appealing that draws large crowds.
- Disneyland hours are longer on weekends compared to weekdays.
- The Anaheim area receives about 10 hours of daylight per day in December and about 14 hours in June. Therefore, you can estimate that park hours will be longer than that. The parks usually open a few hours after sunrise and close after it gets dark. In summer and other busy times, they will stay open later but will not operate past midnight.
Typical Disneyland Hours by Month
The typical Disneyland Resort hours (along with weather, crowd predictions, and other considerations) are included in guides to Disneyland by month. Use this list to shortcut directly to the month you’re interested in:
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Insider Secrets About Disneyland Hours
Visitors who stay at a Disney-owned hotel or select partner hotels — as well as those who purchase tickets for multiple days — may gain early entry on specific days of the week. It sounds fantastic, but there are restrictions, and you won’t be the only person who gets in early. In fact, it’s not quite as favorable a deal as it seems.
Sometimes the Disneyland or California Adventure front gates open early to anyone who is in line with a ticket. This occurs about a half-hour earlier than the “official” posted opening time. While there’s no guarantee on this timing, when it does happen, it’s fun and worth arriving ahead of schedule just in case.
On those days, you’ll gain entry to the gates but not necessarily the entire park, as the shops on Main Street U.S.A. or Carthay Circle will be open. Utilize the extra time to shop before crowds swell, but remember to stow your purchases at package pickup for collection on your way out instead of carrying them around all day.
You’ll find many characters available to meet, with short lines to greet them. Best of all, you can participate in the enjoyable “rope drop,” which takes place at the official opening time. After that, you can enter the rest of the park.
