Are you planning a trip to the Disneyland Resort in 2026? If so, many factors must be taken into consideration, from your priorities and preferences to your budget and hotel of choice.
Guests often overlook scheduled closures, refurbishments, and events at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. These are crucial parts of planning because they impact crowds, park hours, and expectations.
Thankfully, we’ve got a detailed schedule that will assist any potential Disneyland guest and help make your trip as magical as possible.
Disneyland Ride Closures and Refurbishments
Winter and early Spring has become the Disneyland Resort’s refurbishment season in recent years, as it typically garners less crowds than Summer through the Holiday seasons. Consequently, more rides will be closed during these months. Though there are always exceptions, 2026 will be no different.
Potential visitors in early 2026 should take note of scheduled refurbishments and closures.
Haunted Mansion will be closed January 12-26 to remove the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay and transform it back into the regular attraction. Similarly, “It’s A Small World” closes January 26, but a reopening date has not been announced yet.
The Sailing Ship Columbia is not closing altogether but will only be open on weekends. Jungle Cruise closes on February 17 with no reopening date yet.
The biggest scheduled refurbishment is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which closes January 20 without a reopening date. These closures are not unusual. However, despite no reopening dates, guests should not fret about these attractions remaining closed indefinitely. However, given their popularity, visitors should plan their trips accordingly if missing these rides would be disappointing.
Disney California Adventure Ride Closures and Refurbishments
Over at Disney California Adventure, several popular rides will be closed in early 2026, as well. Grizzly River Run, which almost always lands on the refurbishment schedule after the holidays, will close January 5, with its reopening date to be determined.
At Pixar Pier, Inside Out: Emotional Whirlwind will be closed January 5-22, so families with kids who love this one should avoid these weeks. Notably, DCA’s popular staple, The Incredicoaster, will close for a month for refurbishment from January 5 through February 5.
Sadly, fans of Monsters Inc: Mikey and Sulley to the Rescue must say goodbye to the ride as it permanently closes in early 2026. This comes on the heels of the DCA expansion announcement which will bring Avatar’s Pandora to the West Coast. The exact closing date is not known, so visitors should take a ride through Monstropolis while they can.
Disneyland After Dark Events
Disneyland’s After Dark Events have become fan favorites with unique character meet and greets, fun photo opportunities, specialty food, and live entertainment. Each event brings a different vibe and offers an experience different than a typical theme park day.
Knowing when each event is scheduled remains two-fold. One, guests interested in one or all of the After Dark events must know the date to plan a special trip or work it into their vacations. Two, those not interested should know that on days with an After Dark Event, attendees mix with the regular park guests at 3pm, increasing the crowds. Most importantly, on these dates, the park closes much earlier than usual at 8pm. This significantly affects potential guests, so it’s best to avoid these dates altogether for visitors who enjoy staying late into the evening.
This year’s slate of After Dark Events includes:
• Sweetheart’s Nite- January 22, 25, 27. February 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 17.
• 70 Years of Favorites- March 3 and 5.
• Disney Channel Nite- April 12, 14, 16.
• Star Wars Nite- April 28 and 30. May 4 and 6.
• Pride Nite- June 16 and 18.
For more information, visit Disneyland’s official website.
Festivals and Special Events
The first half of 2026 will see the return of numerous festivals and events, namely the Lunar New Year, the Food and Wine Festival, Dapper Day, and the D23: Fan Expo.
The Lunar New Year takes place at Disney California Adventure, celebrating Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures with beautiful decor, special food offerings, a procession featuring Mulan, and “A Lunar New Year Celebration,” a pre-show before World of Color. In the Year of the Horse, Lunar New Year runs January 22-February 23.
The popular Food and Wine Festival returns to DCA from March 6 to April 27. The foodie guide has yet to be released, but guests can expect tried-and-true favorites and exciting new culinary delights. Repeat visitors should purchase the Sip and Savor Pass, which offers the best monetary deal. However, if your trip is only one or two days during the festival, skip the pass and choose a handful of delicious options. Notably, the Food and Wine Festival will also see the limited return of Soarin’ Over California.
Dapper Day, though an unofficial event, has become very popular amongst fans. Guests don fancier attire and enjoy meet-ups and photos. Spring Dapper Day will be on April 19 in 2026.
D23 Expo, the large convention that’s held every two years, returns to the Anaheim Convention Center August 14-16. This influx of people will affect park crowds to a degree, as well as crowds and dining wait times at Downtown Disney. Additionally, D23 Expo Day at Disneyland is August 13.
Entertainment
2026 will see the continuation of Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary with the return of numerous entertainment shows that took a break during the Halloween and Christmas seasons. At Disneyland, the fireworks shows “Wondrous Journeys” and “Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga” return nightly. The “Celebrate Happy” cavalcade also runs daily. Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary goes through August 9.
The dazzling “Paint the Night” parade returns to Disneyland on January 30. A contemporary version of The Main Street Electrical Parade, this spectacular show made its long-awaited return in May 2025 before taking a break for the holiday season. It hadn’t been seen since 2018, so fans are elated at its return.
Fans of the children’s animated series, Bluey, will be excited to hear that a new stage show, “Bluey’s Best Day Ever,” debuts on March 22. Lastly, Celebrate Gospel returns to Downtown Disney for Black History Month and will feature performances from gospel singers and choirs. This event takes place on February 21, 22, 27, and 28.
Ride Variations
Guests looking to experience something different should take note of ride variations at three popular attractions. On April 28, Hyperspace Mountain returns. This fan favorite Star Wars overlay has become a staple for Star Wars month in May.
Speaking of Star Wars, for the first time since Galaxy’s Edge opened in 2019, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will feature new scenes. The “Mandalorian and Grogru Adventure” debuts May 22, no doubt in connection with the Mandalorian film, which hits theaters the same day.
DCA’s beloved attraction, Soarin’, will also debut a new film in 2026. This film will feature breathtaking landscapes and landmarks from across the United States. Soarin’ Across America opens on July 2.
Hotel Refurbishments and Closures
Whether you plan to stay at a Disneyland Hotel or not, guests should note a few important things. Ongoing refurbishments at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will continue in 2026. The impact is minimal, but during the day, guests will hear construction.
At the Disneyland Hotel, inside dining at Trader Sam’s closes for refurbishment on February 17. Outdoor dining will remain open, but this closure will impact those looking to dine here. Obtaining reservations is notoriously difficult, and walk-up wait times are typically long, so with fewer tables open, those will only increase. Consequently, guests looking to experience the fun and great food at Trader Sam’s must be on the ball with reservations which open 60 days in advance at 6am PST.