Disneyland in January wraps up the holiday season and Disneyland Resort traditionally undergoes seasonal refurbishments and ride closures. Entertainment like fireworks and shows often run on limited schedules. Keep reading for all the basics and an in depth guide for Disneyland January 2024.
This article covers important calendar events and closures in January, how these events might affect crowds levels, dressing for Anaheim weather in January and discount tickets available for the month.
Table of Contents
Disneyland in January Calendar of Events
It’s the end of the Holiday season but there’s so much happening at Disneyland in January, I bet you’ll be surprised by how amazing your trip can be even after the kids go back to school from holiday breaks.
Disneyland in January Hours:
- Disneyland Park Monday through Thursday opens 8:00 or 9:00 am and closes at 8:00 or 9:00 pm. Friday through Sunday opens at 8:00 or 9:00 am and closes at 11:00 pm or midnight.
- California Adventure Park Monday through Thursday opens 8:00 or 9:00 am and closes at 8:00 or 9:00 pm. Friday through Sunday opens at 8:00 or 9:00 am and closes at 9:00 or 10:00 pm.
- Park hopping begins at 11:00 am for those with valid tickets and reservations.
- Early Entry will switch to a daily rotation beginning January 20, see the schedule here.
Events and Important Dates
- January 7 Holiday Season concludes, and “it’s a small world” will close for a few weeks
- January 8 Mickey’s Mix Magic projections with fireworks on select nights
- January 8-18 World of Color will be closed for seasonal refurbishment, reopens January 19
- January 11-14 runDisney returns to Disneyland Resort, races happen before park opening
- January 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend expect larger crowds, plus it’s the return of runDisney
- January 22 Pirates of the Caribbean will be available on Genie+ temporarily, dates TBD
- January 21 Last time to ride this season’s version of Haunted Mansion Holiday
- January 23 Lunar New Year celebration begins through February 18
- January 23, 25, 30 Disneyland After Dark Sweethearts Nite
- Further monthly closures and refurbishments can be found here
January Crowds at Disneyland
Crowds are a common concern for Disneyland guests—it’s tricky to navigate finding the best days with longer park hours, more open rides, a full entertainment schedule and low crowds.
I am of the mindset to go when it works for you, then I can help you figure out the logistics of what rides to go on and when. It’s the main reason I created Disneyland Plans—step by step ride guides with optimal wait times and more.
If you’re super concerned about crowds I suggest you skip:
- the last day of holidays
- runDisney and MLK weekend
- the first day of Lunar New Year
- the first weekend the SoCal tickets are in use (January 2)
We might see lower crowds on these dates:
Anything is possible, and when it comes to crowds it’s highly likely that even our best time guesses could miss the mark. However, I think these dates might be a good choice.
- Daytime before any After Dark events tend to be a bit lighter on crowds, so don’t let the “early” closing time deter you, it can actually be a smart choice
- Weekends in January besides MLK because the Kids’ Special Ticket offer isn’t valid on the weekends (see below for those deals)
- While the SoCal tickets have weekend options, those are usually so spread out since they’re good for 6 months this year.
Add this info to any Disneyland crowd calendars you might see (they’re not my favorite and usually wrong) and plan accordingly.
Dressing for January Weather
My usual packing for Disneyland includes at the very least a hoodie, even sometimes in July I reach for that hoodie at night. Layers are key and getting a locker can really help.
- If it’s wet and rainy at Disneyland see my must haves for rainy days
- If there’s a chance the Santa Ana winds are going to act up during your trip absolutely bring warmer clothes for the evening, hair ties and lip balm. The wind can be brutal!
Even though this is a great time to go I always plan on bundling up just in case. I hate being cold! Especially at Disney California Adventure Park where there’s more open spaces for the wind to hit you. I recommend these “keep you warm” items, too.
Disneyland Discounts for January
2024 is pulling out all the stops—Disney wants you to come for a vacation so there are a few options and discounts to help you visit Disneyland cheaper!
Kids’ Special Ticket Offer for as low as $50 per day, visit on select weekdays January 8 – March 10. Simply enter any valid date and the special rate will automatically load.
Southern California Ticket Offer good for visits January 2 through June 2, 2024.
Extra Day Free gives you 5 days for the price of 4, it’s an ongoing special you can find listed with my partners at Get Away Today here.
Add Universal Studios Hollywood or other area theme parks tickets for under $100 per person.
Do you have more questions about your Disneyland visit this time of year? Or maybe you’re considering another month for your visit—find the yearly Disneyland calendar here. Plus, download your step by step Disneyland Plan now or submit a request for a one on one planning help.
