Disneyland fans will need to go out and buy their 2024 calendar a little earlier than usual now that the full lineup of events and dates has been released for all of next year at the Anaheim theme parks.
For the first time ever, Disneyland has released details on each of the seasonal celebrations, special events and limited-time offerings planned for the year ahead.
The calendar will be filled on more than 300 days of the 366-day leap year in 2024 with a slate of festivities at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
Disneyland decided to release the full calendar for 2024 during the first full week of December 2023 so fans can plan ahead and book reservations well in advance of the upcoming event.
The advance planning strategy brings Disneyland more in line with Walt Disney World where visitors plan months in advance for vacations tied to specific events and times of the year.
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Disneyland hopes to encourage visitors to stretch overnight or weekend stays into longer vacations that extend into multiday or weeklong trips — just like travelers at the Florida theme park resort.
The Disneyland calendar was recently extended to a 180-day window so visitors can plan further in advance and book theme park reservations and hotel stays.
Here’s the lineup of events planned for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in 2024.
Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession during Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, CA, on Jan. 20, 2023.(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lunar New Year
Disney California Adventure
Jan. 23 through Feb. 18
The annual food festival paying tribute to Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese traditions returns to DCA.
The Year of the Dragon celebration means Mushu will lead Mulan’s Lunar New Year parade.
Concept art of the Pride Nite costumes Disney characters wore during the Pride Nite after-hours events at Disneyland. (Disney)
Disneyland After Dark
Disneyland
Select nights from January through June
Disneyland announced plans for four after-hours, separate admission special events in the first half of 2024 — without providing any details on themes or dates.
The five Disneyland After Dark events in 2023 included the returning Sweethearts Nite (late January and early February), Throwback Nite (mid-April) and Star Wars Nite (early May) along with the new Princess Nite (early March) and Pride Nite (mid June).
Previous years have seen Villains Nite, Pixar Nite, Grad Nite Reunion, 80s Nite and 90s Nite.
Star Wars Nite and Sweethearts Nite are likely locked in for 2024 with the other two slots remaining open for new or returning special events. Chances are good for a Pixar Nite tied to Pixar Fest starting in late April.
Disney held its 10th annual Gospel Celebration at Disney California Adventure in 2019. (Courtesy of Disney)
Celebrate Gospel
Disneyland
Feb.17 and 24
The annual tribute to gospel music returns to the Fantasyland Theatre with a pair of headliner musicians and a host of Southern California community choirs.
The Feb. 17 show will be headlined by Marvin Sapp and the Feb. 24 show will feature Tasha Cobbs.
“I didn’t have a ton of lines,” Ducks forward Troy Terry said of his participation in a few episodes of the “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” Disney+ series. “I was begging for more. It was fun. It was a team environment that they have and I’ve never been in that culture where they’re making entertainment. They’re making a show and it almost feels like a hockey team.” (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Anaheim Ducks Days
Disney California Adventure
Feb. 22 and 23
The Anaheim NHL team celebrates its 30th anniversary in DCA’s Hollywood Land.
Current and former Ducks players will take part in a fan zone with plenty of photo opportunities and a cavalcade parade.
Chef Goofy poses with guests at the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival on Friday, March 3, 2023, in Anaheim. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Disney Food & Wine Festival
Disney California Adventure
March 1 through April 22
The 2024 version of the venerable Food & Wine Festival returns to DCA with California-centric food, beer and wine, celebrity chefs and Disney characters dressed in their best foodie attire.
Fans of the classic Soarin’ Over California will get another chance to hang glide over Napa Valley, Monterey Bay and Redwood Creek when the classic version of the flight simulator ride returns during the food fest.
The Millennium Falcon in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Season of the Force
Disneyland
April 5 through June 2
The annual Star Wars celebration returns to Tommorowland and Galaxy’s Edge for a two-month run on either side of May 4 — the unofficial holiday of the epic saga.
New planetary excursions will be added to Star Tours starting on April 5.
Also starting on April 5, a galactic soundtrack featuring Star Wars symphonic music will be played in Galaxy’s Edge during Disneyland fireworks shows.
Hyperspace Mountain will be back in Tomorrowland along with specialty Star Wars-themed food, drinks and merchandise.
Concept art of the Better Together parade coming to Disney California Adventure. (Disney)
Pixar Fest
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Disneyland and Disney California Adventure
April 26 through Aug. 4
The Pixar-centric festival that helped launch Pixar Pier in 2018 is back again at both parks.
The new Better Together parade will debut at DCA while the “Together Forever” fireworks and projection show returns to Disneyland with a few new scenes.
The red panda version of Mei Lee and the 4*Town boy band from “Turning Red” along with Ember and Wade from “Elemental” will be among the characters taking part in Pixar Fest.
The reimagined Paradise Pier Hotel will officially become Pixar Place Hotel on Jan. 30 — giving fans a chance to add an extra dose of Pixar to the 10-week festival.
“Fantasmic” has been on hiatus since its fire-breathing dragon erupted in flames in April at Disneyland. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fantasmic
Disneyland
Returns May 24
The nighttime spectacular returns to the Rivers of America with a new climactic battle scene between Sorcerer Mickey and Maleficent.
A fire that destroyed the towering audio-animatronic Maleficent dragon forced a yearlong renovation of the show.
From 2019: Dia de los Muertos. Olivina Aguirre, 2, plants a kiss on Miguel, from Coco, as he greets visitors to Disney California Adventure on the first night of Halloween Time. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Halloween Time
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure
Aug. 23 through Oct. 31
Seasonal decor will once again fill both parks with a massive Mickey Mouse jack-o-lantern on Main Street U.S.A., Headless Horseman statue on Buena Vista Street and Radiator Screams makeover of Cars Land.
Expect to see the return of holiday attraction overlays for the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland and Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters in Disney California Adventure.
DCA’s Plaza de la Familia event in Paradise Gardens celebrating the Mexican traditions of Dia de los Muertos with music from “Coco” runs a few extra days through Nov. 2.
Ghosts from The Haunted Mansion during the Frightfully Fun Parade at Oogie Boogie Bash, A Disney Halloween Party, in California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, September 9, 2021. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Oogie Boogie Bash
Disney California Adventure
September and October
Disneyland attached dates to virtually every event in 2024 except one: Oogie Boogie Bash.
The wildly-popular Halloween event sold out in 12 hours in 2023.
Announcing the Oogie Boogie Bash dates too soon might lead to squatters booking Disney hotel rooms that would need to be canceled later if fans can’t manage to get tickets for the event.
“it’s a small world” Holiday inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, November 11, 2022. This is the 25th year the ride has had a holiday overlay. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Winter Holidays
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure
Nov. 15 through early January 2025
The Christmas season has become one of the busiest times of the year at Disneyland.
While it’s too soon to book theme park tickets for Christmas 2024, it’s not too early to begin thinking about what you’re going to do next holiday season — before this one has really gotten started.
The Disney Festival of Holidays will once again return to Disney California Adventure Park in 2024.
Concept art of the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction replacing Splash Mountain at Disneyland and Walt Disney World in 2024. (Disney)
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Disneyland
Late 2024
The former Splash Mountain log flume ride is undergoing a transformation into a new attraction themed to Disney’s 2009 animated film “ThePrincess and the Frog.”
