Visiting Disneyland in August 2026: Pixar Fest, Plaza de la Familia, and more!

The summer season, characterized by pleasant weather and school holidays, presents an ideal opportunity to explore the Disneyland Resort. However, it is important to note that visiting Disneyland in August may bring about considerable crowds. Given that schools nationwide are on summer break, both weekdays and weekends are expected to be busy. Nevertheless, with proper preparation and strategic planning, August can still be an enjoyable time to experience the happiest place on earth!

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Planning a Disneyland vacation in 2026? Be sure to check out our guide to all that the Disneyland Resort has to offer this year, including the Disneyland Half Marathon, special ticketed events, holiday festivities, and more!

In This Post

August At-a-Glance

August Events

August Refurbishments & Closures

August Weather

August Disneyland Crowds

Ready to Start Planning Your Visit to Disneyland in August?

August At-a-Glance

August temperatures are still hot, and the days are longer. Both heat and humidity come into play during this time of year. But the good news is that with the longer days, there will be more daylight hours to enjoy the Disneyland Resort!
Be prepared for summer crowds. August is a popular month to visit with summer vacation in full swing across the country. Weekdays and weekends alike will most likely be busy during the first half of the month.
The crowds will lessen as school starts across the country. The second half of August will likely see a decrease in crowds. But be prepared for Disney to adjust their park hours a bit to reflect the change in attendance.
You may see more locals during the second half of August. Magic Key holders (those with annual passes) will see a decrease in block-out dates as August crowds lessen. If you are a Magic Key holder, this is great news as you will have more opportunities to visit the parks! It could also mean a slight increase in crowds, as those with passes will want to take advantage of this time.

August Events

While there are no formal events scheduled yet for the month of August, summer will still be in full swing… and summer break does mean summer crowds.

The end of the month may see some weekday crowd relief, however, as school starts back up across the nation.

Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure Park will likely be back this year, beginning mid-August. Experience a celebration of family and Mexican traditions during Día de los Muertos with the enchanting storytelling and captivating music of Pixar’s “Coco.” Immerse yourself in this cultural event that pays homage to the enduring bonds of family.

Halloween usually arrives mid-August as well at the Disneyland Resort and continues through October 31. During the autumn season, the entire resort at Disneyland undergoes a delightful transformation. Guests are treated to an array of Halloween-themed attractions and decor, along with characters adorned in spooky costumes. Notable highlights at Disneyland include the Haunted Mansion Holiday, Halloween Screams nighttime spectacular, the Main Street Pumpkin Festival, and a variety of festive snacks.

The Oogie Boogie Bash will likely be returning once again to California Adventure as part of the Halloween festivities. Dates and ticket prices have yet to be announced, but we will keep you posted!

August Refurbishments & Closures

*We’ve included all current refurbishments here on this list… even ones that may be open in time for August 2026. (Please note that this list could change at a moment’s notice.)

Disneyland Park

Haunted Mansion will be closed from August 9-21 in order to add the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay. (It will likely close again for a short time in January to remove the overlay.)
it’s a small world will likely close for a short time in October for the installation of its holiday overlay. Exact dates have not been announced yet. (It will likely close again mid-January for the overlay removal.)
Star Tours – The Adventure Continues will be closed from June 30 through September 4.
Storybook Land Canal Boats closed on July 21, 2025. An opening date has yet to be announced.
Casey Jr. Circus Train closed on July 28, 2025. An opening date has yet to be announced.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will close on September 2, 2025, for refurbishment. An opening date has yet to be announced.
Mark Twain Riverboat will be closed September 8-11, 2025.
Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island will be closed September 15-17, 2025.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant will be closed September 16-17, 2025.
Main Street Cinema will be closed beginning September 8, 2025. An opening date has yet to be announced.
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room will be closed beginning September 7, 2026. A reopening date has not been announced.

California Adventure Park

Radiator Springs Racers will be closed August 18 through September 25, 2025.
Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! will temporarily end for the Halloween season.
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! will be temporarily suspended for the Halloween season.
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! will be permanently closing early 2026 to make room for a new Avatar-themed area.

August Weather

Overall, Disneyland in August can be quite hot. The average high is 86 degrees, and the low is typically around 66 degrees. The heat will feel hotter as well due to the crowds and the concrete throughout the parks. Be prepared to hydrate! That being said, the daytime hours are longer in the summer, giving you more daylight to enjoy the parks.

August Disneyland Crowds

Crowd calendars are very popular, but they can also be a bit unpredictable. While they can be a big help in planning your trip, keep in mind that they are predictions at best. When anticipating future crowds, we take a look at events, school calendars, ticket prices, park hours, holidays, and typical monthly patterns. Unfortunately, our estimates cannot predict other things such as weather, travel advisories, pandemics, or last-minute openings or closings of shows and attractions.

The beginning of August is definitely considered a “peak” time at the Disneyland Resort. Many will take advantage of this time at the end of summer to take a vacation prior to school beginning again in the fall. The second half of the month will see fewer crowds as schools start across the country. But keep in mind that Disney will most likely adjust their park hours during this time, giving you a bit less time in the parks.