Save on Disneyland Vacations when booking through my partner Click to book

Disneyland in July 2022

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

Happy Birthday month Disneyland! If you are thinking about heading to Disneyland in July, maybe to celebrate the park’s anniversary, 4th of July, or just for summer vacation, you probably have a lot of questions.  From expected crowd levels to special happenings, here is everything you need to know about visiting Disneyland in July, including specifics for July 2022 and annual trends for those planning for July in a future year.

DISNEYLAND CELEBRATES 62 YEARS OF MAGIC (ANAHEIM, Calif.) – July, 2017 (Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort)

A lot of families use July as a time to take a family vacation. If your family is thinking about heading to Disneyland, you may be wondering what the crowds are like, what special celebrations may be happening, and what can you expect as far as weather. We have you covered, starting with annual trends, and then moving in to specifics for 2021.

Disneyland in July – Annual Trends

If you are planning to travel to Disneyland in July, be it this year or beyond, looking at the annual trends can help decide if this is the right time of year to visit for you and your family. You can also join the Disneyland with Kids Group on Facebook, and ask others what their experience has been visiting Disneyland in July in past years.

July Crowds at Disneyland Resort

July is a funny one because in most groups you will hear that summer is awful and crowded. But in my experience, of all my times visiting trying to figure out when Disneyland crowds are the lightest, I have found July to be a pleasant surprise.

And not just in 2019, when we saw unprecedented low crowds after the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

In fact, every time I have visited in July, I have found the crowds to be quite pleasant for most of the month. 

Annual Passholders make a difference

Starting mid-end of June, a large majority of the Disneyland Magic Keyholders are blocked out from visiting Disneyland. Only the highest keys are able to visit during the summer.

That said, 2022 may be different because Disneyland has introduced a California Resident Ticket offer for Summer 2022.

Crowds are probably much lower than during other school breaks

With all of this information, I am basically trying to say, of all the school breaks I have been at Disneyland, July is usually the least busy. Less crowded than spring or fall breaks, and better than Thanksgiving or Christmas week. I actually find the crowds quite nice during July.

It will not be empty. But it will be manageable. (The exception often being 4th of July, where many people will come early just to find somewhere to sit and wait for the fireworks.)

Disneyland in July 2014… where are all the crowds? This photo was posted on my Facebook page during my visit. 

The crowds will peak mid-day, which is when the part I don’t like about Disneyland in July is also at its peak, so I tend to retreat to my hotel for a few hours.

What do I not like about Disneyland in July when the crowds are this nice?

Extra day free Disneyland ticket deal. Click to book

What I don’t find nice is…

Weather at Disneyland in July

July in Disneyland is very hot! Hot and dry. And don’t get me wrong, August through October at Disneyland can see just as hot of temperatures. But July seems to be the first truly hot month in the parks.

Temperatures in July are usually in the 90s, but with all of the pavement and waiting in lines, can often feel much hotter. 

Definitely take steps to keep cool, stay hydrated, and wear sunscreen

Annual Celebrations in July

Every year, Disneyland has two celebrations in July. One for the 4th of July and one for Disneyland’s Birthday. 

4th of July

4th of July celebrations at Disneyland include patriotic fireworks, marching bands, and usually specially-themed treats. 

4th of July and the surrounding days can vary in crowds. Some years we have reports of the park being nearly empty, other years it tends to be busy. When the holiday falls plays a large part in this, as well as if locals decide it is worth the possible crowds, and buying a ticket (if their passes are blocked) to come to watch the fireworks.

What is predictable about the 4th of July is that you will find many people arriving simply to sit and stake out a spot for the fireworks. This happens in the parks, and as the evening goes on, also in Downtown Disney, the esplanade, and even the parking structure. If fireworks are a must-do for you on the 4th of July, plan on getting a spot early.

Tip: One of my new favorite spots to watch the fireworks is from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Grab a table outside of Docking Bay 7 for a great view of the fireworks above the Millennium Falcon. Just note you will not be able to hear any of the music here. 

Disneyland’s Birthday 

Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955, and every year Disneyland celebrates its birthday. Some years the celebration is limited to a parade of characters and the marching band, and a small presentation at the Main Street Train Station.

Other years, the celebration is large (such as for the 60th Diamond Celebration) and can carry on throughout the entire resort and for the entire year.

Disneyland in July 2022 – What to know about this year

Disneyland in July 2022 is going to look almost “normal” at the resort. Fireworks have returned and most rides have reopened. Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage will finally reopen near the end of the month as well.

Disneyland Park Hours July 2022

Disneyland Resort Park Hours are back to the full schedule in summer 2022, and as of publishing the guide for 2022, there are no dates where the parks close early.

LocationHours
Disneyland8 am – Midnight
California Adventure8 am – 10 pm
Downtown Disney District8 am – 1 am

Disneyland Ride Closure July 2022

Even summer is not immune from ride closures at Disneyland. Below is what we know is planned to be closed at Disneyland during July 2022. Just a reminder that rides may close unexpectedly for anywhere from an hour or so, to days, to weeks.

Learn more about what to do if rides close unexpectedly, especially with you on them.

Mickey’s Toontown will remain closed through 2022, and will reopen in Spring 2023. I have not included this land or its rides in the list below.

Ride Closures at Disneyland Park July 2022

  • Tarzan’s Treehouse – now – TBD
  • Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage – Reopening July 25, 2022
  • Hyper Space Mountain Returns to regular Space Mountain – July 5, 2022

Ride Closures at California Adventure Park July 2022

  • No planned closures at California Adventure Park for July 2022

Entertainment for July 2022 at Disneyland Resort

Entertainment options during July 2022 are plenty. Nighttime spectaculars are back in full force along with other entertainment options. Here are some highlights:

  • Disneyland Forever Fireworks (shown nightly except July 4th when the patriotic show will be shown) – weather permitting)
  • Main Street Electrical Parade (2 runs nightly)
  • Fantasmic (2 showings nightly)
  • World of Color (2 shows nightly)
  • Tale of the Lion King (Friday – Monday, see the Disneyland app for show times)
Main Street Electrical Parade continues this summer at Disneyland Resort

Tips for Visiting Disneyland in July 2022

If you are planning on visiting Disneyland in July 2022, here are some tips for you to help you enjoy your visit more.

Rope Drop!

As I visited the parks at the end of June, Rope Dropping the parks was extremely important. Being at the park at least 30 minutes prior to park opening, and following my Rope Drop Tips I am doing on Instagram Reels, will help you get a lot of stuff done in the first 1-2 hours at the parks.

Mid-Day Breaks

In addition to finding ways to keep cool, taking a mid-day break to beat the hottest part of the day is one of my key tips for Disneyland in Summer.

I usually like to head back to my hotel around lunchtime, enjoy the air-conditioned room, maybe swim at the pool, and then head back to the parks around dinner. By the time we eat a meal, the sun has begun setting and the parks are much more enjoyable.

Utilize Genie+

It is no secret that I was not always the biggest fan of paying for MaxPass. But that was when there were still FREE FastPass options. Now that you no longer have that, I definitely suggest utilizing Genie+ during crowded seasons at Disneyland.

My go-to strategy is to rope drop and get a ton of non-Lightning Lane rides out of the way during those first 2 hours (sometimes with a Lightning Lane attraction thrown in…but not using Lightning Lane) and then start stacking up return times for when we return at night.

This does take some inside knowledge, so read my basic Genie+ guide, and then in the weeks leading up to your trip, start watching the return times in the Disneyland App, and the patterns on how they fill up.

My friend Leslie also has an advanced strategy guide to Genie+ that is worth the read if you really want to learn how to make this system work for you.

You can also pre-purchase Genie+ at Disneyland with your discounted ticket via my partners at Get Away Today.

Hydrate and Wear Sunscreen

Putting on my mom hat here… stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, not just during your trip, but in the days leading up to your trip.

Also, be sure to take and reapply sunscreen often. It is no fun to get sunburned at Disneyland.

Disneyland Vacation Deals for July 2022

Anaheim is back and so is travel! And with that… the amazing prices we saw in 2022 are not as common at Anaheim hotels. But with that said, Get Away Today has some great rates locked in with top hotels in the Disneyland Area.

You can see some of my favorite Disneyland Area Hotels and choose one, or browse Get Away Today’s site and filter it by your must-have amenities.

July not for you? Tips to decide when to go to Disneyland

I get it – July isn’t for everyone. Here are some articles that might help you decide when to go to Disneyland instead.

Leave a Comment