2026 Holiday Time Start Date

[joseph821]

Hi.

I am thinking about going to Disneyland next year in 2026 during Holiday Time. I usually go in August and sometimes in May and August. So last night, I just realized that I have not been to Disneyland during the holiday season since December 2005! I need to change that!!

I was looking at the 2026 Calendar.

Halloween October 31st is on a Saturday.
November 1st is on a Sunday.
January 1 2026 is a Friday and January 4th is a Monday -- which is when Holiday Time would end.

So there are two possible dates for the start of Holiday Time:

Friday November 6 or Friday November 13.
Which do you think it will be? Would Disneyland on a Friday the 13th?

I was thinking of going in November 2026.

Historical Disneyland Start Dates for Holiday Time:
(All Fridays)
2025: November 14.

2024: November 15. (Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Bayou Country debuts.)

2023: November 10.

2022: November 11.

2021: November 12.

2020: COVID Closure.

2019: November 8.

2018: November 9.

2017: November 10.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

So there are two possible dates for the start of Holiday Time:

Friday November 6 or Friday November 13.
Which do you think it will be? Would Disneyland on a Friday the 13th?

I was thinking of going in November 2026.

It will not be November 6. That's too soon for them to get everything turned over from Halloween time. I would expect November 13 that year.

 

[joseph821]

It will not be November 6. That's too soon for them to get everything turned over from Halloween time. I would expect November 13 that year.

OK. I know they start putting up Holiday stuff in October. What exactly is the turnover? Taking decorations down?

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

OK. I know they start putting up Holiday stuff in October. What exactly is the turnover? Taking decorations down?

Yeah I figure they need time to take down decorations although it seems a lot of that can be done pretty quickly these days. But I don't see them getting the Christmas tree in there for instance between November 1 and 5. The florals have to be changed. DCA food booths sometimes get plunked down rather early but probably have continuing prep after. I imagine there is a lot of prep that goes on those two weeks for getting the seasonal parades and shows and foods shifted. If you go before the 13th, I expect you would see a lot of the decorations and merchandise, but the shows, foods, and full holiday experience won't have begun yet.

 

[joseph821]

Yeah I figure they need time to take down decorations although it seems a lot of that can be done pretty quickly these days. But I don't see them getting the Christmas tree in there for instance between November 1 and 5. The florals have to be changed. DCA food booths sometimes get plunked down rather early but probably have continuing prep after. I imagine there is a lot of prep that goes on those two weeks for getting the seasonal parades and shows and foods shifted. If you go before the 13th, I expect you would see a lot of the decorations and merchandise, but the shows, foods, and full holiday experience won't have begun yet.

Gotcha. Sounds reasonable. So if starts on November 13th will it end on January 4 2027 which is a Monday. I do not see them extending it to January 11.
I plan on going when Holliday Time starts...

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm curious to see this coming year's dates as well.

We were there January 2024 and Holiday time ended Sunday the 7th.

We were there this past January 2025 as well and it ended Monday the 6th. Not sure what they'll do this year.

 

[BStieers]

This info is readily available on the Disneyland website, here is a quick screen shot.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Gotcha. Sounds reasonable. So if starts on November 13th will it end on January 4 2027 which is a Monday. I do not see them extending it to January 11.
I plan on going when Holliday Time starts...

My guess is Wednesday, January 6, 2027. They like the holiday time to go through Three Kings Day.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

This info is readily available on the Disneyland website, here is a quick screen shot.


View attachment 963635

Yes. OP though was speculating on the 2026 holiday season. I agree that this year's and previous years' dates are good guides for guessing the dates.

 

[BStieers]

Yes. OP though was speculating on the 2026 holiday season. I agree that this year's and previous years' dates are good guides for guessing the dates.

These are the same dates as last year, so I suspect it will the same going forward.

 

[StarlitNight05]

I'm curious to see this coming year's dates as well.

We were there January 2024 and Holiday time ended Sunday the 7th.

We were there this past January 2025 as well and it ended Monday the 6th. Not sure what they'll do this year.

How were the last few days of the holiday season this year? Was it unbearably packed? I am tempted to give it a try in 2026

 

[LKing]

How were the last few days of the holiday season this year? Was it unbearably packed? I am tempted to give it a try in 2026

Look at the MK calendar. The last days before the holiday block can be very busy, as are the first days back.

Inspire can go year round except for Dec 22-31. Jan 1 is their first day back in the parks after what feels like an eternity.
Believe is blocked from Dec 19 - Dec 31. Jan 1 is their first day back in the parks.
Enchant is blocked from Dec 17 - Jan 3. Jan 4 is their first day back in the parks.
Imagine is blocked Dec 12 - Jan 3. Jan 4 is their first day back in the parks.

 

[StarlitNight05]

Look at the MK calendar. The last days before the holiday block can be very busy, as are the first days back.

Inspire can go year round except for Dec 22-31. Jan 1 is their first day back in the parks after what feels like an eternity.
Believe is blocked from Dec 19 - Dec 31. Jan 1 is their first day back in the parks.
Enchant is blocked from Dec 17 - Jan 3. Jan 4 is their first day back in the parks.
Imagine is blocked Dec 12 - Jan 3. Jan 4 is their first day back in the parks.

Yeah I assumed it was likely a bit crazy, but was hoping maybe not as bad as I'm anticipating. I'm a Northern CA Believe MK holder, so I'd be trying to pop in after the 1st. But as they say, expect the worst and hope for the best!

 

[joseph821]

Yeah I assumed it was likely a bit crazy, but was hoping maybe not as bad as I'm anticipating. I'm a Northern CA Believe MK holder, so I'd be trying to pop in after the 1st. But as they say, expect the worst and hope for the best!

Might be crazy. The Disneyland 2025 Calendar of Events was released on December 5, 2024 which was a Thursday so I suspect the 2026 Calendar of Events will be released sometime during the first week in December 2025.

 

[mom2rtk]

How were the last few days of the holiday season this year? Was it unbearably packed? I am tempted to give it a try in 2026

Not as bad as I expected. We were there the 4th through the 7th. But we are 2 adults who are pretty experienced at this.