Mark Your Calendars For These 2024 Events at Disneyland Resort

Annual events such as Lunar New Year, the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival and holiday celebrations are great motivators to visit Disneyland Resort in 2024.

This year — and for the first time — Disneyland has released dates for all 2024 events at once, which, along with an expanded park reservation system allowing bookings 180 days in advance, makes it easier for clients to plan ahead.

In addition to already-popular seasonal celebrations, Disneyland's 2024 calendar includes lesser known events such as Anaheim Ducks Days, Season of the Force and Celebrate Gospel. Plus, Pixar Fest returns for the first time since 2018, complete with a new daytime parade.

“I’m thrilled with this change; it's going to be so beneficial for our clients — and, of course, for us as advisors," said Jennifer Novotny, owner of Pittsburgh-based Upon A Star Travel & Concierge. "People don't realize how many fun things happen at Disneyland Resort, so this helps clients prioritize what they're most excited about and target their vacation time. In the past, we guessed based on previous years, but that means rescheduling if we're off in our estimations."

Novotny also notes having the entire 2024 calendar benefits clients traveling from the East Coast who need additional planning and travel time to get to California — especially if they combine a Disneyland vacation with Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii.

People don't realize how many fun things happen at Disneyland Resort, so this helps clients prioritize what they're most excited about and target their vacation time.

Pixar Fest Returns

Pixar Fest will take place at Disneyland Resort from April 26 to Aug. 4 and feature the debut of Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration — an all-new daytime parade at Disney California Adventure Park — and the return of Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular at Disneyland Park, featuring new scenes and music.

The reimagined celebration of friendship will also include newer Pixar characters, including red panda Mei from "Turning Red," who will make her first appearance at the resort.

“We’re so excited for the return of Pixar Fest this spring,” said Lynn Clark, vice president of sales for Disneyland Resort. “We know our guests will love the all-new, high-energy parade and the return of Together Forever.

Clark also notes that the newly reimagined Pixar Place Hotel — the first fully themed Pixar hotel in the U.S. — is opening Jan. 30, allowing fans to step into favorite stories during their stay.

Fan-Favorite Festivals

Disneyland’s Lunar New Year celebration and Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival always draw big crowds thanks to unique entertainment and creative offerings from Disneyland’s culinary team.

In 2024, the resort will honor Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean traditions from Jan. 23 to Feb. 18 to commemorate the Year of the Dragon, with Mulan’s dragon sidekick Mushu leading Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession.

From March 1 through April 22, the Food & Wine Festival will feature flavors from California’s diverse cultures, cooking demonstrations and family-friendly entertainment. This festival will also include the limited-time return of the beloved Soarin’ Over California attraction.

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Special Events

Celebrate Gospel, which will take place this year Feb. 17 and Feb. 24, is Disneyland’s annual tribute to gospel music and part of the resortwide Celebrate Soulfully activities for Black History Month. Clients can look forward to performances by community choirs from across Southern California, as well as by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Marvin Sapp (Feb. 17) and Grammy winner Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Feb. 24).

From Feb. 22-23, the Anaheim Ducks ice hockey team and Disneyland are celebrating the Ducks' 30th anniversary with Anaheim Ducks Days, named for the youth hockey team in Disney’s “The Mighty Ducks” films. The festivities will include a celebratory cavalcade, a fan zone with themed activities and photo ops, and appearances by current and legacy Ducks players.

Star Wars fans around the world celebrate May 4 as “Star Wars Day” (as in, “May the fourth be with you”), but clients may not know that Disneyland hosts an annual Star Wars-themed event. “Season of the Force” will take place this year from April 5 to June 2, with specially themed activities, food and beverage, merchandise and more, as well as the Hyperspace Mountain attraction overlay. Debuting during the 2024 celebration are new adventures onboard Star Tours – The Adventures Continue and “galactic” music throughout Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge during fireworks displays.

Seasonal Celebrations

Two of the most popular times to visit Disneyland Resort are Halloween and the holidays, with themed food and beverages, merchandise, entertainment and seasonal attraction overlays, including Haunted Mansion Holiday, which extends Jack Skellington’s mansion takeover from Halloween through the new year.

In 2024, Halloween Time will start before summer’s even over; the spooky celebration will begin Aug. 23 and run until Oct. 31. Dia de los Muertos festivities in Plaza de la Familia at California Adventure will also start Aug. 23 and continue until Nov. 2, featuring cultural foods, crafts and a musical retelling of “Coco.” 

Disneyland Resort will usher in the 2024 holiday season beginning Nov. 15, including the Disney Festival of Holidays in California Adventure and beloved entertainment and attraction overlays in both parks.

After-Hours Events

Clients visiting Disneyland Resort during Halloween won’t want to miss the separately ticketed (and extremely popular) Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party, but Disneyland also hosts themed after-hours events at other times of the year.

For 2024, Disneyland After Dark events include Sweethearts’ Nite in January and February, an all-new Disney Channel Nite in March, Star Wars Nite in April and May, and Pride Nite in June. These events offer exclusive characters and photo ops and, perhaps best of all, the chance to ride favorite attractions with shorter waits.

“Having the full schedule of Disneyland events for 2024 is incredibly beneficial,” said Susanne Hays, owner of Jackson’s Gap, Alabama-based Fairytale Journeys Travel. “It gives our clients advanced insight to align their trips with favorite events and celebrations and helps us ensure they don't miss any experiences that might only occur during certain times of year.”