Is Disneyland Busy in October? Discover the best times to visit in the Fall of 2024 with this ultimate guide to Disneyland crowd levels, events, and savings!

Is Disneyland Busy in October? 2024 Ultimate Fall Guide!

October 2024 is a popular month at the Disneyland Resort, mostly because of the Halloween season.  Over the last few years, October has been known for its heightened crowds, brought about by Disneylands Halloween Time event, Oogie Boogie Bash party at Disney California Adventure, and local school fall breaks.

Both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will experience high crowds throughout the month. The peak times are later in the month, weekends and Mondays, and during the Oogie Boogie Bash nights when DCA has early closures.  

October brings pleasant weather, with highs averaging 76°F and lows around 63°F. However, daytime temperatures can still be warm. October will also welcome some special attractions overlays, such as the start of Haunted Mansion Holiday, Guardians of the Galaxy- Monsters after Dark, and special Halloween touches on attractions at Cars Land in California Adventure (read on to learn more).

Disneyland in October: An Overview

You may think that summer time at Disneyland is the busiest but the month of October exceeds the crowds during summer and closely rivals the Christmas/ Holiday season at Disneyland.  

Summertime spans two to three months while October is just one month.  October also has fall and Halloween decor, special attraction overlays, and Halloween-themed events.  

One way to experience all of the special October in Disneyland magic is to visit in early September, one of the least busiest times of the year.  Late August is also an option for lower crowds.  Check out my blog on How Long is Disneyland Decorated for Halloween for all of the Halloween treats, special event details and dates, Halloween decorations, and Halloween attraction overlays. 

Halloween Attractions Overlays at Disneyland Resort

Enjoy the iconic Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland and the intense Guardians of the Galaxy—Monsters After Dark at Disney California Adventure.   And be sure to catch the Dia de los Muertos celebration at Plaza de la Familia in Disneyland.

Don’t miss the spooky fun at Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree and many other Halloween-themed experiences in the parks.  And Oogie Boogie Bash is one of the main reasons​ people flock to Disneyland in the fall- and now the fall season starts even sooner.   

Disney announced this year that Disneylands Halloween Time 2024 will run from August 23rd to October 31st, 2024.  This may help lower the crowds in October but only time will tell. 

October 2024 Disneyland Crowd Calendar

Predicting Disneyland crowds for October 2024 remains a bit of a moving target with travel overall decreasing from its pandemic peak, and the Halloween season being a bit longer.

In October Disneyland sees a mix of local residents and those from neighboring states like Utah and Nevada using their fall breaks, and tourists drawn in by Halloween and Fall themed activities and decor. 

Best and Worst Times to Visit in October

Even though October is typically super crowded at Disneyland, there are times when it might be less so.  The crowds are lowest for the month in the first week, but as the school fall breaks happen and the month progresses (particularly around holidays like Nevada Day and Indigenous People/Columbus Day) the parks get busier. The last two weeks, in particular, become extremely busy and top the busiest days of the year at Disneyland.  

In contrast, early September is one of the least busy times of the year to visit and you will see low crowds at that time in Disneyland. In early September and now even late August (during summer break), you can enjoy the same fall festivities and decor, even though the weather may not feel like fall!

Weekday vs Weekend Crowds

Come October, weekends and certain weekdays at Disneyland draw notably more visitors than others. This trend intensifies in the latter half of the month as there are fall breaks, and any day of the week can be busy.  Mondays remain one of the busiest days of the week, and Wednesdays and Thursdays are typically the least busy days of the week at Disneyland in October. 

Oogie Boogie Bash Impact on Crowds

The Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure, held on select nights, compels early closures at the park, which increases crowds at Disneyland Park.  

Dates for Oogie Boogie Bash 2024 are:

• In August: Sunday, August 25th, Tuesday, August 27th, Thursday, August 29th
• In September: Tuesday, September 3rd, Tuesday, September 10th,Thursday, September 12th, Sunday, September 15th, Tuesday September 17th, Thursday September 19th, Sunday September 22nd, Tuesday September 24th, Thursday September 26th, Sunday September 29th
• In October: Tuesday October 1st, Thursday October 3rd, Sunday October 6th, Tuesday October 8th, Sunday October 13th, Tuesday October 15th, Thursday October 17th ,Sunday October 20th ,Tuesday October 22nd, Thursday October 24th, Sunday October 27th, Tuesday October 29th, Thursday October 31st

Ticket Prices at Disneyland in October

Ticket prices become higher at Disneyland in October on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays every weekend in October.  Some Mondays in October are just as expensive.   The average cost for these tickets is $184-$194. 

Tuesday through Thursday are the lowest price tickets in October, the exception of this being October 8th to 10th, encompassing school fall breaks.   The average cost for these tickets is $154.

In contrast, early September tickets, while still including fall festivities and decor, are cheaper.   These tickets are $104 for Tuesday through Thursday the first two weeks of September.  On other days in September, Disneyland ticket prices vary from $119-$154, with a few busy days (Labor Day weekend and a few other weekend days) being $169-$184.  

Though it adds extra cost, consider adding park hoppers to your tickets if you are attending the Disneyland parks on an Oogie Boogie Bash day.   

Planning Your Disneyland Visit in October

Weather Considerations

In October, Disneyland welcomes guests with generally lovely weather in Southern California. Daytime temperatures average around 76 degrees Fahrenheit, and nights cool to about 63 degrees. The average high temperature is 80 degrees farenheit and the average low temperature is 59 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Temperatures can drop in Disneyland in October, but Southern California still has many sunny days. Read on to learn what to pack for Disneyland in October. 

What to Wear and Pack

In October, it’s important to pack layers when heading to the Disneyland theme parks. 

Wear light, breathable clothes for the day, and have a jacket or sweater for the evenings.  I recommend packing a couple of pairs of pants, as well as some skirts and/or shorts for the warmer days.  The chance of rain is really low in October, usually 4% or less. 

Comfortable shoes are always essential for long days in the Disney parks.  Check out this blog for some of my favorite shoes for Disney trips!

Don’t forget sunscreen, portable fans, and other cooling items to keep cool.  This blog covers some super helpful cooling devices and packing essentials that I always bring on my Disney trips!

If you are lucky enough to get a ticket to the Oogie Boogie Bash, plan to dress up and get into this festive party. Be sure to pack your costume and all the important accessories!

Making Dining Reservations

Dining at Disneyland during the Halloween season is also competitive, so reservations are important. This is especially true for popular spots in the parks and Downtown Disney. 

These include:

• Blue Bayou at Disneyland Park
• Lamplight Lounge at Disney California Adventure
• Cafe Orleans (specifically for lunch) in Disneyland
• Breakfast at Carnation Cafe in Disneyland
• Plaza Inn, featuring a character breakfast, at Disneyland
• Carthay Circle at California Adventure

Use the Disneyland app to book your reservations as soon as 60 days in advance. If you plan to dine at quick service locations at the Disneyland resorts, you will also want to use mobile order to order food ahead of time. Check out the app for more info on which locations offer mobile order, and order early to beat the crowds and be sure you aren’t eating your lunch at 4 p.m.!

As noted, adding park hopper to your tickets and considering Lightning Lane Multipass (formerly Genie + but a bit different) can also help in your Disneyland in October planning. Lighting Lane multipass allows you (for a fee) to book three lightning lane (a skip-the-line feature) reservations up to 7 days before your trip.  

Park Hours for October in Disneyland

Though Disney has not officially announced the Disneyland theme park hours for October, typically, Disneyland is open from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. on weekends, with California Adventure being open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.   However, on the above-listed Oogie Boogie Bash nights, Disney California Adventure will close at 6 p.m. to those guests without party tickets. 

Early Entry and Rope Drop

Guests who are checked in and staying at one of the three Disneyland Resort hotels can arrive at the designated Disneyland theme park 30 minutes earlier than the posted opening park hours (so typically, this is 7:30 a.m.) and enjoy shorter lines at popular attractions.  I highly recommend taking advantage of this- you can get a lot done in the first one to two hours at the Disneyland theme parks, especially on busy park days.  Even if you aren’t staying on Disneyland property it’s smart in the month of October to arrive at the parks early for Rope Drop to get the most out of your day.  Check out my Disneyland rope drop strategy to learn more!

The Wrap Up

October is a great time to visit Disneyland but be prepared for crowds.  The fall decor, the Halloween party (Oogie Boogie Bash) and the special fall treats all make for an awesome time.  

Guests can expect the weather to be on their side, with pleasant highs near 76°F and lows dipping to 63°F. However, daytimes might get warmer, reminding visitors to pack smartly. Bringing along layers and cooling essentials is wise, and booking dining reservations in advance is a must.  Making use of time savers like Lightning Lane Multilane passes and arriving early can significantly enhance your October trip. 

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