Visiting Disneyland in May 2026: Grad Nites, Season of the Force, and more!

Visiting Disneyland in May can be a great experience, but there are a few things worth keeping in mind. The weather is usually very pleasant, making it a lovely time to be in the parks. However, May also brings a handful of holidays and events that can lead to bigger crowds. These include Star Wars Day on May 4th, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day weekend, and Grad Nites. That said, with a bit of planning ahead, May can still be a fantastic time to enjoy the magic of Disneyland!

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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

May At-a-Glance

May Events

May Refurbishments & Closures

May Weather

May Disneyland Crowds

Ready to Start Planning Your Visit to Disneyland in May?

May At-a-Glance

May temperatures are still quite pleasant, but be prepared for some rain showers. Mornings could still be a bit chilly, but for the most part, temperatures are warming up. As far as rain, it is no longer considered the “rainy” season, but that doesn’t mean May won’t see some rain. It’s always good to be prepared this time of year.
Grad Nites will be back in 2026. This popular ticketed event will be returning to California Adventure in 2026 on select nights. While they are a fun opportunity for graduating seniors, the parks can get a bit crowded for the rest of us. So keep this in mind when selecting your vacation dates.
Be prepared for some crowds. May is a popular month to visit with the locals. The weather is warming up, holidays and holiday weekends get busy, and Grad Nites are a special tradition for many.

May Events

May 16, 2025-August 9, 2026 – Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration: This year-long event will include exclusive entertainment, merchandise, food, and experiences! Highlights include a new cavalcade, a new verse added to the classic song from “it’s a small world,” and Walt Disney himself brought to life through Audio-Animatronics at the Main Street Opera House.

Late April through Late-May – Star Wars: Season of the Force at Disneyland Park: While “Season of the Force” is not officially listed as a celebration in 2026, the Disneyland Resort is still celebrating all things Star Wars in the weeks surrounding May 4. This includes a Hyperspace Mountain overlay beginning April 28, Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite (April 28 & 30 and May 4 & 6), and a new Mandalorian and Grogu mission debuting on the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction on May 22. Also announced this season is a timeline expansion at Galaxy’s Edge. Beginning April 29, guests may encounter characters such as Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo.

May 8-June 12 – Grad Nites: Grad Nites is a special ticketed event that will be back in 2026! The parties take place on select dates in both May and June. There are three ticket options ranging in price from $129-$259. This year’s dates include May 9, 12, 18, 21, 22, 27, 28, & 30 and June 3, 5, 7, 10 & 12.

Disneyland Grad Nite Private Party Experience at Disney California Adventure – Ticketed grads will gain access to Disney California Adventure Park after 9:00 PM for an “immersive, once-in-a-lifetime celebration.”
- Ticket Prices: $129-$134 per person
Disneyland Grad Nite Private Party Experience plus a full day at Disney California Adventure – Enjoy a full day at Disney California Adventure Park before enjoying an exclusive event after 9:00 PM in the park.
- Ticket Prices: $159-$179 per person
Disneyland Grad Nite Private Party Experience plus a Park Hopper experience at both Disneyland theme parks – This option allows grads to spend the day at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park on the same day, as well as attend the exclusive party at Disney California Adventure Park beginning at 9:00 PM.
- Ticket Prices: $239-$259 per person

May 22, 2026 – New scenes in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run: Din Djarin and Grogu will be featured in a new version of this iconic attraction. The mission will debut at the same time as the new movie “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which will be released on May 22, 2026.

Holidays in May include both Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. While there are no parties, parades, or special events attached to these holidays, there are definitely a few things to keep in mind if planning to visit the parks on these days. Mother’s Day doesn’t typically see a huge surge in crowds, but you may want to make any special dining reservations early, as they do book up quickly. Unlike Mother’s Day, Memorial Day weekend could be significantly busier than normal, as most three-day weekends bring crowds to the Disneyland Resort. (It’s also the “unofficial” beginning of summer!)

May Refurbishments & Closures

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

Disneyland Park

Jungle Cruise is currently closed for refurbishment. No opening date has been announced.
Disneyland Monorail will be temporarily closed beginning March 30, 2026.
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin will be temporarily closed beginning March 30, 2026.
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters will be temporarily closed beginning April 13, 2026.

California Adventure Park

Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! has permanently ended.
Grizzly River Run is closed for refurbishment. A reopening date has yet to be announced (likely spring as the weather warms up).
Toy Story Midway Main will be closed beginning April 6, 2026. An opening date has yet to be announced.
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! will be permanently closing in 2027 to make room for a new Avatar-themed area.

May Weather

Overall, the weather in Anaheim is still quite pleasant in May. So if you’re looking to visit Disneyland without the summer heat or winter rain, this may be the perfect time to go. The average high is 74 degrees, and the low is typically around 54 degrees. It is also typically a dryer month in terms of rain. That being said, May is an excellent time to visit in terms of weather!

May 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.

May can be a popular month to visit the Disneyland Resort. With Star Wars Day on May 4th, Cinco de Mayo on May 5th, Memorial Day Weekend, and Grad Nites… there are certainly days that get very crowded with the locals. So keep these dates in mind if you are trying to avoid the crowds in May.