There’s a 4-month stretch encompassing Halloween, Christmas, and Lunar New 12 months that we love at Disneyland and Disney California Journey. These are our three favourite holidays, however will be very busy. Happily, there’s one window of alternative that we’ve discovered has develop into constantly uncrowded.
Let’s begin with the fundamentals. Inside the aforementioned 4-month stretch–from October by means of January–far and away our favourite time to do Disneyland is Christmas. There’s one thing particular in regards to the vacation season, and we make some extent to go to as many instances as we are able to throughout November and December. (See our Information to Christmas 2026 at Disneyland for the whole lot we love about this time of yr.)
The draw back of the Christmas season is that it’s already shorter than Halloween by almost a full month, and it has extra peak season dates which might be unhealthy instances to go to. We’re really irritated that Vacation Time is beginning every week later, as a result of that eradicated considered one of our different favourite instances. When you get rid of the excessive crowd weeks round Thanksgiving, Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve, you’re left with just a few choices.
Fortunately, we’ve discovered probably the greatest home windows to go to Disneyland, and it’s nonetheless considerably of a “secret” (nothing is really a secret relating to Disneyland, however this window continues to be pretty uncrowded). This timeframe would possibly really come as much less of a shock to Walt Disney World followers, because it being a good time to go to has been one of many worst-kept secrets and techniques there for ages.
The truth is, long-time readers of the weblog would possibly know that our #1 favourite week of the yr at Walt Disney World is the one after Thanksgiving. We’ve advisable it numerous instances during the last decade-plus, and it’s been our go-to for ages. Again after we lived within the Midwest, our annual WDW Christmas journey often began the Sunday after the vacation.
Now that we’re Disneyland locals once more, we go to on a weekly foundation and have “unintentionally” found that the identical is true at Disneyland. Nicely, type of. In contrast to at Walt Disney World, this nice time to go to shouldn’t be anchored to the bottom of Thanksgiving. Though that isn’t a foul time to go to, both.
Statistically talking, crowds do drop after Thanksgiving at Disneyland. This usually begins to a point on that Saturday, with a sharper drop on Sunday and the next week. You may count on crowd ranges to fall from 8/10 to 10/10 ranges the week of Thanksgiving to 2/10 to five/10 ranges that subsequent week.
Nonetheless, this isn’t essentially the very best week to go to throughout the vacation season (and by extension, your entire yr). Our favourite week often happens one week later, and can begin as an alternative on the next Sunday. Our #1 week of the yr at Disneyland runs from December 7-13, 2026.
Simply as was the case final yr, Thanksgiving is later this yr (November 26, 2026). For reference, crowd ranges for this identical week in 2025 had been 2/10 to five/10. The busiest days had been Monday, Friday and Saturday, whereas Tuesday by means of Thursday had 2/10 or 3/10 crowds. Given day of week developments, it’s secure to count on a repeat of this in December 2026, proper right down to the very best days being Tuesday by means of Thursday (December 8-10, 2026).
Let’s focus on why that is our favourite week to do Disneyland…
Candlelight Processional – This would possibly look like an odd beginning place, however this being a good time to go to flows from Candlelight Processional, which is completely completely different from the model at EPCOT. We completely find it irresistible on each coasts, nevertheless it’s unequivocally higher at Disneyland. Regardless, we’re not mentioning Candlelight Processional for the caliber of the expertise, pageantry, and so on. (For extra in regards to the expertise, see our Information to Candlelight Processional at Disneyland.)
Candlelight can also be essentially completely different at Disneyland. In contrast to at EPCOT the place it’s an providing for normal company and a way of accelerating attendance and promoting eating packages, it’s none of these issues at Disneyland. Nearly the other, the truth is. Candlelight Processional shouldn’t be supposed for the common company at Disneyland.
It isn’t designed to attract crowds, and Disneyland actively tries to cut back them by not publicizing something about Candlelight Processional in any way. Should you Google “Candlelight Processional,” you’ll virtually completely see outcomes for Walt Disney World. There isn’t something about Candlelight Processional on the official Disneyland web site in any respect.
Disneyland doesn’t need common company to find out about Candlelight Processional because it’s not for them–it’s for VIPs and Membership 33 members. That is additionally as a result of Candlelight Processional is held on the entrance of the park, proper on the Foremost Road USA Practice Station.
City Sq. is congested from mid-afternoon on, and principally turns into a stressed mob by the point Candlelight Processional rolls round, packed into the general public areas like sardines. Despite the fact that Disneyland doesn’t publicize it, locals find out about Candlelight, and present up anyway, usually standing in the identical spot for hours. All of this exacerbates the congestion on the entrance of the park.
Due to all this, standard knowledge had been to keep away from Disneyland throughout Candlelight Processional weekend. Talking from expertise, this was good recommendation for at the very least a decade by means of 2019. We had finished Disneyland on this weekend, and it was a madhouse.
In the previous few years, we’ve observed that Disneyland shouldn’t be almost as busy throughout Candlelight Processional. The entrance of the park continues to be a madhouse, certain, however when you get handed Foremost Road, it’s not almost as unhealthy. Wait instances and congestion have been low all through the remainder of the park.
There are two causes for this. The primary cause is visitor demographics. This isn’t a well-liked time for vacationers, so it’s principally locals who’re disproportionately doing issues apart from sights. They’re there to camp out for Candlelight (exterior the viewing space), benefit from the spirit of the season, and so forth. They add to congestion, however not wait instances for rides.
That alone doesn’t clarify it, although, because it’s at all times been the case that this weekend is busier with locals than with vacationers. The most important distinction is nearly assuredly park reservations. Disneyland now has granular management over attendance, with the flexibility to restrict the reservation pool for normal ticket holders and, far more importantly, Magic Key Annual Passholders. This permits Disneyland to successfully block out APs by dramatically lowering reservation availability. This capability cap is one thing that didn’t meaningfully exist in 2019 or earlier.
After all, that is at all times topic to alter and Disneyland might open the floodgates on Magic Key park reservations for December 5-6, 2026. In so doing, this is able to go from an important weekend to an terrible one–as was the case up to now. However we extremely doubt that can occur, as a result of Disneyland has no incentive to take action. Current historical past will possible repeat itself with this being weekend to go to from the angle of wait instances. Simply keep off of Foremost Road within the afternoon, because it’ll virtually definitely be packed!
Fortunately, the low crowds shouldn’t finish as soon as the next weekdays roll round…
Crowds & Wait Instances – As measured by common wait instances, the primary two weeks of December are one of many slowest stretches of final yr. For 2023-2024, crowd ranges had been 1/10 with a mean wait time throughout all of Disneyland Resort of 23 minutes. The one slower week within the final 3 months of the yr was the week instantly after Halloween, earlier than Christmas began.
One factor to notice was that 2025 was barely busier than the 2 earlier years, as mirrored within the above crowd ranges. The explanation for this was virtually definitely two unprecedented ticket offers, neither of which had beforehand been provided within the decade-plus that we’ve adopted Disneyland offers. As soon as these expired in mid-December and Magic Key blockouts began taking impact, crowds really dropped even additional the next week.
We don’t count on a repeat of those offers. Nonetheless, we’ll be carefully monitoring all particular presents and, ought to aggressive reductions once more be provided for December 2026, we’ll replace our suggestions accordingly. It’s very uncommon for ticket offers throughout the vacation season, interval, but when they’re launched, they’re more likely to are available in late September or October. Examine again then for any updates right here.
One other wildcard is park reservations. Natural demand from vacationers is low throughout these weeks, however not amongst locals. All it might take is Disneyland taking a look at final yr’s numbers and opting to ‘open the valve’ on Magic Key AP reservations. With both a ticket deal or considerably expanded park reservation availability, crowd ranges might develop into 5/10 or increased. That’s actually all it takes.
Since locals are the first drivers of December attendance exterior of vacation weeks, different variables that influence their want to go to are at play. If it rains or is unseasonably chilly, it’s sport over–Californians received’t go to the parks. They may, nevertheless, disproportionately accomplish that within the days that observe. Level being, crowd developments at Disneyland are extra fickle than at Walt Disney World. Vacationer developments are predictable, however that’s solely half (or so) of the equation.
Our expectation is low to reasonable crowd ranges for the primary two weeks of December 2026. If Disney’s inner forecasts are displaying only one/10 crowds by way of natural demand, they’ll pull a “lever” (whether or not that be a ticket deal or releasing extra park reservations to Magic Keys) to attract extra folks to the park.
Frankly, we’re completely satisfied every time crowd ranges are 5/10 or beneath in November and December. The qualitative upsides greater than make up for even common crowd ranges, and reasonable crowds are nonetheless low by vacation time requirements. Should you assume the primary or second weeks of December 2026 are busy, return between Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve. You’ll be disabused of that notion actual quick, and will probably be begging for a return of these first half of December crowds. It’s all relative.
Talking of all of it being relative, it’s additionally price a reminder that late November by means of mid-December is busier now than it was a decade in the past. However that’s true of virtually all dates of the yr. Disneyland annual attendance has elevated by a number of hundreds of thousands of individuals, and park growth has not stored tempo. So crowds are worse, throughout the board, than they had been in 2014! However until you may have a time machine, that doesn’t do you any good.
Crowds and Candlelight Processional are the 2 greatest causes to go to Disneyland throughout this week. Right here’s what else we love about this timeframe throughout the vacation season at Disneyland, and why it’s best to go to throughout considered one of these weeks if you happen to’re already planning a 2026 or 2027 trip throughout Christmas-time…
“Full” Christmas – In contrast to Walt Disney World, the vacation season isn’t actually phased at Disneyland. It’s doable you would possibly see fewer decorations within the inns if you happen to go to in mid-November, however the entire leisure, attraction overlays, and so on., will probably be in full swing proper from the outset.
Accordingly, this comes right down to the festive ambiance exterior Disneyland. If you wish to expertise Christmas in Tremendous Nintendo World at Common Studios Hollywood, it’s a must to go to after Thanksgiving. Similar goes for different Southern California theme parks and vacationer sights.
Most of our favourite spots all through Orange County don’t get decked out till the very finish of November or December. We love the Seaside Cities this time of yr, and as at all times, our favorites are Dana Level and Laguna Seaside. (The previous really does begin its vacation lights show in mid-November, in order that’s not the very best instance.)
Decrease Costs & Higher Offers – With decrease occupancy than the height weeks of the vacation season, it ought to come as no shock that there are higher offers available between the height weeks of the vacations fairly than throughout them. Final yr, there have been nice reductions on the Inns of Disneyland Resort on Sunday by means of Thursday nights in early to mid-December, ending the week earlier than Christmas (adjusting for this yr, the tip date can be December 17, 2026–however that’s not assured).
Not solely that, however the resort rack charges and different costs are decrease to start with than throughout Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New 12 months’s weeks. Should you take a look at the Most cost-effective Instances to Go to Disneyland, you’ll see that these two weeks are the very best of the vacation season. Nonetheless not as little as the true low season, however fairly shut!
It’s additionally simpler to ebook discounted off-site inns by way of Get Away In the present day to save cash for early to mid-December than round vacation weeks. What we’re seeing proper now could be a lot better availability and considerably decrease costs for these first half of December dates. Win-win!
Climate – We love the climate in Southern California at Christmas. Disneyland virtually at all times beats Walt Disney World on this regard, nevertheless it’s very true all through the vacation season. It’s probably not that the primary half of December is healthier than later within the month or November, all dates are (kind of) equally good.
Slightly, it’s that November and December are higher than the 2 months earlier than them (too scorching) or the 2 months after (too chilly). With that mentioned, this time of yr isn’t for everybody. It does get chilly in California, particularly within the evenings. To every their very own, however I’ll take having to put on a coat over sweating by means of my shirt any day of the week. You may at all times add layers, however there are solely so many you’ll be able to subtract earlier than safety says, “sir, you’ll be able to’t take off your shirt right here.” (Buzzkills.)
Whereas it’s not at all times good, we’ve discovered that 90% of the time, the climate in early to mid-December is our candy spot. As a lot as I really like late August and September for low crowds, I’ll fortunately take care of barely elevated attendance for considerably higher climate. It’s a straightforward commerce off for us.
The one asterisk right here is that that is California’s wet season. There’s an 11-14% probability of rain on common throughout these dates, for a grand complete of 1.8 inches of rain over the course of your entire month. That’s principally a very wet day or two in Florida, however may be very moist by SoCal requirements. And the upside at Disneyland is {that a} wet day clears out the park, which doesn’t occur at Walt Disney World.
Finally, it needs to be simple to see why November 28 by means of December 13, 2026 is the very best window of the yr to go to Disneyland. In case your schedule isn’t that versatile, most dates beginning the Sunday after Thanksgiving by means of mid-December needs to be good. There are a few purple flag Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays in there, however they nonetheless shouldn’t be horrible.
Any later than that and also you’re visiting throughout a combination of vacationer instances and when locals scramble to get of their final visits of the yr earlier than heavy-handed blockouts take impact. That introduces too many wildcards for assured suggestions about when crowds will probably be favorable.
Should you’re at the moment planning a visit and are solely doing just a few days, our advice can be to make Tuesday by means of Thursday in these respective weeks once you go to. We at all times advocate avoiding Mondays, and that holds true right here. So the way you wish to strategy that is actually as much as you (with consecutive vs. non-consecutive days)–however we love that Sunday of Candlelight Processional, which is a very distinctive option to see Disneyland.
Drilling down additional, December 8-10, 2026 will virtually definitely be the candy spot for the very best of crowds, wait instances, climate, seasonal spirit, and so forth. That was the slowest 3-day stretch of the Christmas season final yr.
If we had to decide on a next-best set of dates from a qualitative perspective, our decide can be November 15-20, 2026 (final yr, the submit Thanksgiving and December dates had been a lot much less busy–however that isn’t at all times the case).
One other wildcard is the following week. Though it’s enjoying with fireplace, we must always word that crowds had been additionally low all the best way till December nineteenth final yr. This means you would do properly with December 14-18, 2026. We’re reluctant to make that an “official” advice, as these dates might find yourself being a lot busier this yr. Simply one thing to remember as you begin to plan your Christmas journey to Disneyland!
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Suggestions for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Study on-site and off-site inns in our Anaheim Lodge Opinions & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Opinions. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and plenty of different SoCal cities!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Should you’ve finished Disneyland post-Thanksgiving, what was your expertise? Have you ever visited throughout Candlelight Processional weekend in any of the final 3 years? Should you’re a frequent customer throughout this timeframe, what’s your tackle crowds, wait instances, seasonal spirit, climate, and so on? Agree or disagree with our evaluation of those two weeks as the very best time throughout the vacation season? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
