Important Dates You NEED to Know If You’re Visiting Disneyland Resort in 2022

ANY year is a good year to visit the Happiest Place on Earth, but 2022 looks like it’s going to be an epic time in Disneyland Resort!

Sleeping Beauty Castle

The California resort and its parks are iconic and can be amazing any time of any year, but there are certain dates you’re gonna want to know about in advance if you’ve got a Disneyland trip in mind.

In both Disneyland Resort and Disney World, bonus events and holiday occasions provide an extra incentive to visit by providing added thrills and excitement! On the other hand, for certain travelers, they’d rather avoid the added expense and potential crowds.

Ready to Step Inside?

No matter which side you fall on, here are some important dates you’ll need to know if you’re visiting Disneyland in 2022.

January

Though the month has passed us by, we couldn’t make this post without including a mention of the Lunar New Year Festival at Disney California Adventure, which is taking place from January 21st through February 13th, 2022.

Tiger Milk Tea

During the festival, guests can stop by the park to enjoy all kinds of delicious eats, check out the amazing entertainment, meet unique characters, pick up some merchandise, and more!

Click here to learn more about Lunar New Year!

February

Sweethearts’ Nite

There’s extra love in the air at the Happiest Place on Earth in February as Sweethearts’ Nite makes its return to Disneyland!

Sweethearts Nite

Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite is a separately ticketed event that takes place after the park typically closes. During the event, guests can enjoy fireworks, dancing & music, Disney character couples making the rounds, photo-ops, and Valentine’s-inspired snacks and drinks! Sweethearts’ Nite this year takes place February 1st, 3rd, 8th, 10th, and of course, 14th. The event is currently sold out.

Click here to learn more about the Disneyland After Dark events!

Villains Day

For something slightly LESS romantic, Disney Villains get their own celebration on February 6th!

Disney Villains Sticker

The unofficial event, called Villains Day: Stalk Around the Park, is like a villainous Dapper Day, where guests are encouraged to dress in their best villain-inspired outfits (within Disney’s costume rules, of course). Again note that this is an unofficial event and is not coordinated through Disney.

February 9th-14th

This weekend in mid-February is a double whammy because it’s both the Super Bowl AND Valentine’s Day, the latter of which tends to bring bonus crowds into the parks for sweet treats and romantic vibes!

Valentine’s Balloons

For the Super Bowl, this is also a day that can get extra crowded, and the day after, the winning team sometimes has parades in Disneyland (or Disney World), which can command quite a crowd!

This year, ESPN Productions will actually be airing from Disney California Adventure from February 9th through February 13th.

©Disney

And there will be some special events going on during that time in Downtown Disney as well, so expect some heavier crowds during that time!

Click here to see more details about the super bowl festivities in Disneyland

March

Mardi Gras

Honestly, it’s basically Mardi Gras year-round at New Orleans Square, but it’s ESPECIALLY true on ACTUAL Mardi Gras, which falls on March 1st this year.

New Orleans Square

While we expect Disneyland could roll out other Mardi Gras-inspired fanfare and snacks for a few days around that time, the busiest day of the bunch will likely be March 1st in New Orleans Square, where you’ll typically find decorations, characters, music, and more. Out in Downtown Disney, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen typically becomes THE hot spot for Hurricane Cocktails, Beignets, and Bread Pudding!

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival

Although one Food & Wine Festival came to a close in Disney World a few months ago, another one is right around the corner in Disneyland! That’s right, Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival is back starting on March 4th!

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine 2020

One of the most celebrated events of the year, the annual event runs through April 26th, with special food and drink booths throughout the park, along with (typically) bonus classes, celebrity chef appearances, special merchandise, entertainment, and more.

Click here to see more about Disney California Adventure’s Food & Wine Festival!

Disneyland After Dark: Villains Night

Another nighttime event is set to take place in March after the park closes for the day, and this time it’s ALL about Disney Villains! On both March 8th and March 10th, Disneyland After Dark: Villains Night will take over the park at night and it’s sure to be a deliciously devious good time!

EVIL SOCKS!

This is a special ticketed event held at Disney California Adventure and it features DJ dance parties, a special show called The Cauldron, Disney Villains (naturally), villainous photo-ops, specialty food and drinks, and more! General admission tickets for this event are sold out.

April

Dapper Day

One of the most beloved unofficial Disneyland celebrations is back again in 2022! The first Dapper Day of 2022 takes place April 24th, when guests are encouraged to come clad in their best Disney-inspired ‘fits! The Dapper Day Expo will take place on April 23rd and 24th at the Disneyland Hotel.

Imagine this, but in Disneyland!

Even if you don’t get dolled up yourself, it’s a fun time wandering around the park and seeing the different colorful & themed attire! Be warned that crowds tend to swell on Dapper Days, though.

Click here to see the Dapper Day event dates announced for 2022!

May

Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite

There’s yet ANOTHER “after dark” event taking place in Disneyland and during this event, it’s time for Star Wars fans to shine!

Galaxy’s Edge

After being delayed in 2020, this separate ticketed nighttime event is being held in 2022 on May 4th, as well as May 3rd and May 27th. It’s set to include a Star Wars-themed fireworks show, dance parties, Star Wars characters, out-of-this-world merchandise, photo-ops, and special snacks and beverages, too! General admission tickets for the event are sold out.

Grad Nites

It’ll soon be graduation season! And Disneyland knows how to celebrate in style! Throughout May and June, the park hosts Grad Nites, which means high school seniors tend to flock to the parks by day, followed by after-dark parties in Disney California Adventure.

Grad Nite Shirt

This year’s roster for Grad Nites includes May 13th, May 14th, May 18th, May 20th, May 21st, May 25th, May 26th, and May 31st, as well as June 1st, June 3rd, June 4th, June 7th, June 8th, June 10th, June 11th, and June 17th.

Click here to read more about the return of Grad Nites to Disneyland!

July

July 4th

Happy Fourth of July! Just like in Disney World, Disneyland also tends to go big for the Americana holiday, so it’s safe to expect extra crowds and extra red, white, and blue snacks and decor!

Disney loves the Fourth of July!

Disneyland is also well known for its Fourth of July nighttime shows, which can draw QUITE the crowd!

Disneyland’s Birthday

While not as momentous an occasion as, say, a 50th Anniversary Celebration, Disneyland’s birthday is a pretty big deal!

Sleeping Beauty Castle

This year, the park turns 67 on July 17th. In the past, birthday celebrations have brought in special decorations, merchandise, and maybe even a bonus cavalcade! Unsurprisingly, this can be a HUGELY popular occasion for Disney fans, so arrive early if you want to beat the brunt of the crowds. 

September-October

Oogie Boogie Bash

Halloween season is generally a HUGE deal in Disneyland, featuring months’ worth of entertainment, special holiday treats, and festive souvenirs! It’s also the season for the Oogie Boogie Bash, which we LOVED last year!

Carthay Circle is lit up for the night!

The after-dark event, a separately ticketed event which takes place after park closure, will once again be held on select nights in September and October in Disney California Adventure. The family-friendly affair features a treat trail, costumes, entertainment, Disney Villains photo-ops, and much more!

Click here to read all about Oogie Boogie Bash!

November

Dapper Day

Dapper Day is typically held twice a year in Disneyland, and the fall edition will take place on November 6th. The Dapper Day Expo will also take place from November 5th through the 6th at the Disneyland Hotel.

Dapper Dans-inspired looks in Disney World

So break out another Disney-inspired outfit and get ready to rock it in the park!

Mickey and Minnie’s Birthday

There’s ANOTHER big birthday worth celebrating in Disneyland, and this time it’s all about Mickey and Minnie!

Dream Team

Yes, the iconic duo share a birthday, November 18th, and while this is more of an unofficial celebration, the Disney parks have sometimes doled out surprises like free birthday buttons, special birthday cavalcades, and maybe even some cute birthday ‘fits for the pair!

Disney Merriest Nites

Basically, as soon as Halloween is over, it’s immediately on to the full-blown holiday season in Disneyland, and the park is NOT fooling around when it comes to epic, over-the-top entertainment, merchandise, food, and events!

Miguel Photo Op

In 2021, Disneyland offered a new after hours event — Disney Merriest Nites. This event was held on select evenings in November and December. If the event returns in 2022 and is anything last year’s merriment, we can expect dance parties, live music, holiday decorations galore, and all sorts of festive treats and eats!

Sleeping Beauty Castle

The Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park is another offering that typically begins in November.

So Fun!

During this festival, guests can chow down on all kinds of festive eats, enjoy special entertainment, see Santa, and more! The Festival of Holidays is set to return in the fall of 2022.

Click here to learn more about Festival of Holidays!

As you can see, there’s a LOT to look forward to this coming year in Disneyland! As always, we’ll keep you posted on the latest news about events, dates, and other special things that pop up in the Happiest Place on Earth!

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Which special event or holiday are you MOST excited about in Disneyland this year? Let us know in the comments!

The post Important Dates You NEED to Know If You’re Visiting Disneyland Resort in 2022 first appeared on the disney food blog.