Is it just me?

Or is the off-season at Disneyland a thing of the past?

Between Star Wars, holiday events and anniversary celebrations, there are fewer and fewer weeks of the year when you can visit Disneyland and not worry about long lines and crowds.

The good news is that when Disney parks are busier, they offer longer hours and more fun events. That means more parades, fireworks, shows, character greetings and celebrations!

There are a few tips and tricks that Disney regulars use to avoid spending hours in line for just one or two rides. This post will tell you about using Disney's online calendar to help you avoid crowds ANY DAY OF THE YEAR.

Here's how I use the Disneyland calendar to avoid crowds.

Step 1 – Find the calendar online

Find the Disneyland calendar online at www.disneyland.disney.go.com/calendars

Use the arrows and check boxes at the top of the calendar to find the dates of your trip and filter the information you want to see, and don't want to see, on the calendar. If your trip is more than a month or two away, you may not be able to see your dates yet.

Disney Parks do not open and close at the same time every day. And, any given day, Disneyland and California Adventure will probably open and close at different times.

Disney regulars know that arriving before the gates open is the BEST WAY to ride popular rides without waiting in line. That's why checking the calendar in advance is crucial.

Step 2 – Are you staying at a Disneyland hotel?

If yes, note the days with Extra Magic Hours and plan to wake up early to enjoy shorter lines! This is available to guests who have a 3+ day ticket.

If no, AVOID the park with an Extra Magic Hour that day. Thousands of people will get in before you and you'll miss any advantage to arriving when the park opens.

Step 3 – Pick a Magic Morning

If you have a 3+ day ticket or a Southern California CityPASS, you may choose one Magic Morning during your trip. Magic Mornings are scheduled on the calendar.

If you are not eligible for a Magic Morning, AVOID the park with a Magic Morning.

Step 4 – Note special events and plan around them

If you want to see Fantasmic!, World of Color, Paint the Night, fireworks or any other special event, they will all be listed on the calendar. Using the calendar to plan around special events is especially important if you will not have Park Hopper passes.

Mickey's Halloween Party is a fun event that happens about three times a week beginning in late September. On those days, Disneyland closes at 6 or 7 pm and only those guests who have purchased a separate ticket will be allowed to stay. If you visit in October, you will definitely want to plan around that – especially if you won't have a ticket.

There you go! A few minutes of planning before your trip can save you a lot of time in line.

How else can we help?

Did you get 6 Tips and Tricks for Finding Disneyland Discounts? Click HERE to learn more about this free download that could save your family hundreds of dollars at Disneyland.

Need a place to stay? We have recently stayed on-property at the Grand Californian and off-property at the Anaheim Hilton Garden Inn, which is just down the street from Disneyland. Both are good options! Click the links to read my reviews.

Want the best price on a Disneyland hotel and tickets? We use Get Away Today. Nobody knows Disneyland better, and if you find a better price on the same package, they’ll beat it by $10.

Save $10 on any Southern California vacation package at Get Away Today when you use our exclusive coupon code: Tips10Trips.

Read more about our partnership with Get Away Today here.

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Allison

Hi there! I am the founder of Tips for Family Trips. I am a married mom of two children, ages 11 and 14, living near Salt Lake City, Utah. We took our first child on a two-week road trip when she was four weeks old and we have been traveling as a family ever since. We love to get out of the house to see and do fun things, both far away and in our own neighborhood.