I love news from the Disneyland Resort and much to my surprise today, the Disneyland Resort and Disney Parks Blog announced a few hours ago the full-year 2024 Disneyland Resort Calendar of Events.
I’m so excited for these events and releasing the full-year calendar really helps guests plan out the year – especially me since my life and year revolve around Disney. The biggest news from this announcement is that there will be a resort-wide, reimagined Pixar Fest starting next spring with an all-new daytime parade named “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!”. Plus “Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular” will be returning with new scenes.
Let’s dig into the schedule and plan out 2024!
Resort-Wide Pixar Fest Returning Spring 2024
Pixar Fest will be returning to the Disneyland Resort starting April 26, 2024 through August 4, 2024 with an all-new parade at Disney California Adventure Park. The new parade called “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” will include parade performers and new characters appearances from recent Disney-Pixar films such as Ember and Wade from Elemental and Mei in Red Panda form from Turning Red. And at Disneyland Park, “Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular” fireworks and projections show will return with some all-new scenes. Plus, Pixar Fest also will include themed menu items and commemorative merchandise.
This is so exciting to me! Disney California Adventure has not had a daytime parade for several years so this will be a fun and exciting new offering for guests. Unless I am mistaken, the last daytime parade at DCA was the “Pixar Play Parade” which ended it’s run at the park in 2017. The parade then moved over to Disneyland Park for the summer of 2018.
Disneyland Resort Festivals and Limited-Time Celebrations
As with previous years, 2024 promises a year full of festivals and limited-time celebrations at the Disneyland Resort. These are the events on the Disneyland Resorts calendar for 2024:
Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park
Lunar New Year returns to Disney California Adventure Park from January 23, 2024 to February 18, 2024. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon so we can expect to see Mushu from Disney’s Mulan as a meet & greet. I would also love it if we had the opportunity to meet Sisu from Raya and the Last Dragon during the Lunar New Year celebration but that is just on my wish list – not a rumor or news.
Lunar New Year at DCA is one of my favorite festivals. I love “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession”, meeting Disney characters in Lunar New Year costumes, the Asian-inspired food offerings, the Lunar New Year merchandise and the beautiful Lunar New Year décor around the park.
Celebrate Gospel at Disneyland Park
Celebrate Gospel returns to Disneyland Park starting February 17 – 24, 2024. Concerts for the celebration will take place in the Fantasyland Theatre and will be headlined by Marvin Sapp (Feb. 17) and Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Feb. 24). Celebrate Gospel is an annual tribute to Gospel music that brings together award-winning music artists and community choirs from across Southern California.
As previously announced, Tale of a Lion King will have it’s final performance on January 7, 2024. I had previously assumed Celebrate Gospel would take take over Fantasyland Theatre in February for concert performances. After February, my guess is that a Pixar Fest show may take over the theatre for the spring and summer. Again, that is not a rumor or news, only my speculation.
Anaheim Ducks Days at Disney California Adventure Park
In celebration of the Anaheim Ducks Hockey Club’s 30th anniversary, the Disneyland Resort and the Anaheim Ducks will once again team up for a two-day event in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure Park on February 22 and 23, 2024. As with previous years, this celebration will include a cavalcade, fan zone with themed activities and photo opportunities, plus appearances by select current and legacy Anaheim Ducks team members.
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
The annual Food & Wine Festival will return to Disney California Adventure Park Spring 2024 from March 1 through April 22. The festival will once again include creative food and beverage offerings, cooking demonstrations and family-friendly entertainment inspired by the diverse cultures and cuisines of the Golden State. Also, “Soarin’ Over California” will return to Grizzly Peak for a limited time during the festival.
Season of the Force at Disneyland Park
Season of the Force will return to Disneyland Park starting April 5, 2024 through June 2, 2024. Hyperspace Mountain will take over Space Mountain for celebration. And special themed food and merchandise will be available. Also, “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue” will debut new destinations during the festival. And “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” will provide a fresh perspective on the fireworks above Disneyland park, with galactic music sweeping through the spires.
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort
Halloween Time will take place at the Disneyland Resort from August 23, 2024 through October 31, 2024. Once again, the resort will be transformed with autumn decor for the season. The Disney Character will meet guests dressed in their Halloween outfits. And the resort will feature a few Halloween themed attractions.
Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure Park
“A Musical Celebration of Coco” will be returning to Disney California Adventure Park starting August 23, 2024 through November 2, 2024 as Paradise Gardens Park is transformed to Plaza de la Familia. The celebration also includes special themed food and various entertainment including the GRAMMY® Award-winning Mariachi Divas.
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort will begin in 2024 on November 15th (no end date currently announced). For the celebration, we can expect the return of “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” at Disneyland Park, Disney Festival of Holidays and Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party at Disney California Adventure, “It’s a Small World” Holiday overlay and Disney Characters in both parks dressed in their holiday finest.
Disneyland After-Hours Special Events
The Disneyland Resort will offer several after-hours events in 2024. These themed, separately ticketed events include pre-party park mix-ins, shorter wait times for select attractions, Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads from the event, and more.
Disneyland After Dark
While no specific After Dark events have been announced, Disneyland park will host four themed After Dark events in 2024 on select nights from January through June. Disneyland After Dark events typically include special entertainment, rare character appearances, special event menu items and special event merchandise. Disneyland After Dark events are promised to be shared soon and I’ll be posting those events as soon as they are announced.
This years Disneyland After Dark events included Sweethearts’ Nite, Princess Nite, Throwback Nite, Star Wars Nite and Pride Nite. Since the announcement stated only four themed events in 2024, I am guessing that all of last years events will return with the exception of Throwback Nite since that night did not sell out as quickly as the other After Dark events earlier this year. Personally, I loved Throwback Nite and hope it returns in 2024, but that is just my prediction.
Oogie Boogie Bash
The popular Oogie Boogie Bash will be returning in 2024 to Disney California Adventure Park on select nights during Halloween Time. Specific dates haven’t been announced yet and probably won’t be announced until late Spring or early Summer 2024. Remember that this event sells out quickly, and by quickly, I mean within hours so make sure you are prepared for which dates you want to purchase tickets for and are online when the tickets go on sale. For a look at this years Oogie Boogie Bash Frightfully Fun Parade, you can read my post here.
More Magic in the Making
There are a few Disneyland Resort projects already in progress that most fans already knew about, but since those projects should wrap up in 2024, let’s take a look at the Magic in the Making.
Pixar Place Hotel
The reimagined Pixar Place Hotel opens January 30, 2024, marking the official transformation of Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel into the first fully Pixar-themed hotel in the United States. The 15-story hotel overlooking Disney California Adventure Park will offer Pixar-themed guest rooms, a rooftop pool area, play court and more. Great Maple restaurant, the hotel’s new dining location is already open and accepting reservations.
“Fantasmic!” Returns
The nighttime spectacular “Fantasmic!” will return to the Rivers of America in Disneyland park on May 24, 2024. The updated show will feature new special effects, a thrilling new battle scene between Sorcerer Mickey and Maleficent, plus the return of the iconic “Peter Pan” scene (which was replaced by the “Pirates of the Caribbean” scene when the show was previously updated).
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be opening at Disneyland Park in Late 2024. The transformed attraction will include new animatronics and music inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ The Princess and the Frog. For more details on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, please visit the Disney Parks Blog.
Downtown Disney
New dining locations will be opening at Downtown Disney in 2024 including Paseo and Céntrico Mexican Restaurant and Din Tai Fung Chinese Restaurant. The Parkside Market is also scheduled to open in 2024 beside the newly opened Downtown Disney LIVE! stage and lawn. For more details on the Parkside Market, you can read my post here.
See ya real soon!
Wow! I still can’t believe we have the full 2024 calendar! Ok, a lot of information is still missing like specifics on the Disneyland After Dark events but at least we have a good idea on what will be happening and when throughout 2024.
Are you excited about the festivals and celebrations on the Disneyland Resort 2024 calendar? And what are your favorite Disneyland Resort events to attend each year? Let me know! I would love to hear from you. And as always, “see ya real soon” Mouseketeers!
