Visiting Disneyland in August 2025: 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 2025? 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!
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, however, 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.
The highly anticipated Pixar Fest will likely be back in 2025, but no official announcement has been made yet. Last year, the event lasted from April 26 through August 4. Prepare to be immersed in a world of vibrant decorations, special menus, and unique merchandise, as the theme parks, hotels, and Downtown Disney District embrace the magic of Pixar for a limited time. This celebration of friendship will feature heartwarming entertainment centered around beloved Pixar stories.
Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure Park will likely be back this year. In 2024, the event took place from August 23-November 2. 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 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 2025. (Please note that this list could change at a moment’s notice.)
Disneyland Park
- Splash Mountain closed on March 31, 2023, for retheming. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is scheduled to debut on November 15, 2024.
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant will be closed on October 1, 2024, and it will reopen on October 2.
- “it’s a small world” will close on September 16 for refurbishment. Rumor has it that during this time, it will be receiving its popular holiday overlay and reopen on November 15. It is also rumored to be closing again on January 21 for further maintenance, and it will likely reopen in the spring of 2025.
- Jungle Cruise will be closed from September 16 through October 4, 2024.
- Sailing Ship Columbia will be closing on September 23 and reopening on September 27.
- Indiana Jones Adventure will be closing on September 9 and reopening on September 14.
- The Disneyland Monorail closed on August 12, and it will be reopening on September 13, 2024.
- Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island will be closing on September 16, and it will be reopening on September 19.
- The Disney Gallery is now closed and will reopen on October 1, 2024.
- The Disneyland Railroad closed on August 5, 2024, and no reopening date has been announced yet.
- The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln closed on April 16, 2024. Disney recently announced that there will be a new show coming to the Main Street Opera House featuring the first-ever Walt Disney animatronic. This is expected to open in 2025.
California Adventure Park
- World of Color – ONE will be closing on September 9. This refurbishment will likely last for several weeks.
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. That being said, the pandemic has made predicting crowds even more difficult than normal.
While crowd calendars can be a big help in planning your trip, keep in mind, that they are predictions at best. When designing our calendars, we take a look at events, school calendars, ticket prices, park hours, holidays, and typical monthly patterns. Unfortunately, our crowd calendars 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 for 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.
Ready to Start Planning Your Visit to Disneyland in August?
Here are some resources to help you get started!
Disneyland Dining Guides:
Disneyland Attraction Guides:
Planning your first Disneyland vacation? Be sure to visit my step-by-step guide to get started!
