Visiting Disneyland in May 2025: Grad Nites, Pixar Fest, and more!
When it comes to visiting Disneyland in May, there are definitely a few things to keep in mind. While the weather can be extremely pleasant this time of year, there are several holidays, holiday weekends, and events to be aware of if you want to avoid bigger crowds. The month of May features Star Wars Day on May 4th, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day weekend, and Grad Nites (not officially announced yet, but likely). All that being said, with a little pre-planning May can be a wonderful time to visit 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!
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 likely be back in 2025. These popular ticketed events will likely be returning to California Adventure in 2025. 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 the 4th be with you! It’s Star Wars Day on May 4th, and Disney joins in on the celebration!
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!)
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.
Grad Nites is a special ticketed event that will likely be back in 2025. Last year, the parties took place on select dates in both May and June. There were three ticket options starting ranging in price from $109-$229. Keep in mind that these special events do attract crowds to the parks on these particular dates… especially at Disney California Adventure. Here’s a look at last year’s details:
- 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.”
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Ticket Prices: $109-$114 per person
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- 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.
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Ticket Prices: $139-$144 per person
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- 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.
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Ticket Prices: $209-$229 per person
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May Refurbishments & Closures
*We’ve included all current refurbishments here on this list… even ones that may be open in time for May 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.
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. 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, 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.
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.
Ready to Start Planning Your Visit to Disneyland in May?
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!
