Disneyland in April: What to Expect will give things to consider when planning your Disneyland Vacation in April!
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Disneyland in April
April is a great time to visit The Disneyland Resort. It is also a pretty popular time to go, especially around Easter.
A lot of people in Southern California and surrounding states choose to spend their Spring Break at Disneyland.
Check out my Disneyland Crowd Calendar for 2020 HERE!
If you know what to plan for, you will be prepared to experience all that Disneyland has to offer.
Use this article, Disneyland in April: What to Expect, to help plan an awesome vacation! If you’re thinking about Disneyland in May, check out my tips and tricks HERE.
Disneyland Crowd Sizes in April
As you can see from the calendar above, April has a lot of busy days due to the Easter holiday and Spring Break season.
It can still be manageable if you plan ahead. Find out what rides have the Fast Pass option and be ready to utilize it. It’s also a good idea to see if park hopping is a good option for you.
If you’re wondering about crowd levels at other times of the year, you can find a crowd calendar for each month of 2020 here.
Special Events in April
- 2020 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival February 28-April 21, 2020
- Dapper Day April 19, 2020
- Disneyland After Dark: Villains Nite April 30, 2019
How to Beat Spring Break Crowds at Disneyland
A lot of schools in and around Southern California are out for Spring Break at different times during April, which can cause larger than normal crowds.
You can still have an amazing time though with a little planning. Here are a few things that can help you beat the spring break crowds:
Rope Drop
One way to get the most out of a busy day at Disneyland is to get to the Parks before rope drop.
Generally if you arrive at the gates before the park opens, you can be let in a little early to roam around Main Street U.S.A. or Buena Vista Street if you’re at Disney California Adventure.
You can use this time to grab a bite to eat, and check out some souvenirs.
Rope drop occurs when the park is scheduled to open and a cast member will drop a rope and let you begin to ride the attractions.
This is also when you can begin to collect Fastpasses either physically or with Disney MaxPass on the Disneyland app.
Use Disney MaxPass
Disney MaxPass is a service that can be purchased on the Disneyland app for $15 per person per day.
With MaxPass you are able to make Fastpass reservations right on your smart phone, eliminating the need to walk to Fastpass kiosks at each individual attraction.
This can be a great time-saver on busy days. Generally with MaxPass you can make another reservation, with a smaller time interval than if you were to collect Fastpasses the traditional way.
For a list of Disney MaxPass pros and cons as well as everything you need to know about this service, check out my post, Disney MaxPass: Everything You Need to Know HERE.
Use Rider Switch
Rider Switch is a feature that allows guests to ride attractions, even if they are with small children or with other members of the party who do not wish to ride.
Using Rider Switch, if you qualify, is a great way to save time when Spring Break crowds are heavy. You can combine rider switch with Fastpasses to save even more time!
Average Weather at Disneyland in April
The average high temperatures at Disneyland in April are in the mid to upper 70s and lows are in the 50s.
The weather forecast for Disneyland in April calls for mostly sunny or partly cloudy days with a few rain showers here and there.
The weather is always unpredictable and can change. Make sure you check the current weather forecast before you leave, so you know what to expect.
What to Pack for Disneyland in April
Knowing what to pack in April for Disneyland is important. You don’t want to be unprepared and end up having to use your vacation budget on things that could easily have been brought from home with a little planning.
Make sure you check out my post on How Amazon Can Save You Money at Disney and my list of Disney Park Bag Essentials before you go!
Here are a few things you might want to consider packing if you’ll be traveling to Disneyland in April.
Pack and Umbrella or Poncho & Stroller Protection
Although the weather forecast for Disneyland in April currently doesn’t call for much rain, we all know that the weather is unpredictable.
Be prepared with a small travel umbrella or a poncho. These things can easily be kept in the car or hotel room if rain isn’t in the forecast that day.
Get these disposable ponchos on Amazon HERE!
A poncho can come in handy though, to wear on rides like Splash Mountain or Grizzly River Run to keep your clothes dry.
If you have a stroller with you, You’ll also need to think about keeping it, and your child, dry if rain strikes.
Some strollers have covers you can buy, that are specifically made for them, but there are also universal covers to purchase like this one from Amazon.
Another inexpensive option is to buy a shower curtain liner from Dollar Tree and use cloths pins to hold in place over the stroller. It costs $2.00 and works like a champ!
Pack Sun Protection
The California sun can be brutal, even in the Spring months. Make sure that you are ready for the UV rays by packing some sunblock and a hat.
Check out this cute hat on Amazon!
Pack a Travel Blanket
A travel blanket is also a good idea to bring along to Disneyland in April. Not only will it keep you warm on those cool April mornings and nights, but it can also serve another purpose.
Here is a cute Mickey Mouse travel blanket from Amazon!
It can be a great way to save a spot to sit on while watching the parades and fireworks shows!
Pack Clothing For Both Warm and Cold Weather
The mornings and evenings at Disneyland in April can be kind of chilly, but the days will be warm. This makes packing clothing for Disneyland in April a little tricky.
These leggings have pockets and are great for Disney. Check them out here!
Pack a pair of jeans or leggings to stay warm and comfortable during the cooler temperatures.
Wear a short-sleeved top and bring a lightweight jacket or sweater that can be kept in a backpack or worn around your waist during the day. Check out my Amazon Shop for some cute options.
I love this Star Wars spirit jersey! Check it out here.
Pack Adorable Disney Apparel
Before any Disney vacation, I like to check out Jane.com for adorable and affordable Disney vacation t-shirts!
I have found so many cute shirts for only $13.99! Their deals change daily though, so make sure to check back often or follow me on Instagram to keep up on all of the amazing Disney-themed merchandise!
Disneyland Park Hours in April
Here are the typical hours for Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park in April. As always, these hours are subject to change so check Disneyland’s website for current information.
Monday through Thursday
Disneyland Park
- Opens at 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM
- Closes at 10:00 PM, 11:00 PM or 12 Midnight
Disney California Adventure Park
- Opens at 10:00 AM
- Closes at 8:00 PM, 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM
Friday through Saturday
Disneyland Park
- Opens 8:00 or 9:00 AM
- Closes 10:00 PM, 11:00 PM or 12:00 Midnight
Disney California Adventure Park
- Opens at 10:00 AM
- Closes at 8:00 PM, 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM
Disneyland Ride Closures in April
I love that Disneyland takes pride in their park and attractions. Because of this, there are usually a few rides at both Disneyland park and Disney’s California Adventure park that are closed for refurbishment at different times throughout the year.
But, you can stay up to date with ride closures by checking Disneyland’s website.
Disneyland seems to update their list one or two months ahead of time, so check back for April’s closures in February or March.
Disneyland Ticket Savings
There aren’t a lot of Disneyland ticket discounts out there, but they can be found if you know where to look.
Get Discount Disneyland Tickets Here
Make sure that if you buy Disney tickets from a third party, that they an authorized ticket seller.
I buy my tickets from Get Away Today. Their ticket prices are always a few dollars cheaper than Disneyland’s gate prices and you can now purchase tickets from them that include Disney MaxPass!
Get Away Today is almost always offering some kind of special on tickets and/or hotel vacation packages.
Use the promo code: MommyMouse to get an extra $10 off any 2-night or longer Southern California vacation package. (Hotel and 2 ticket minimum purchase to qualify for the discount.)
There are so many things to think about when you are planning a trip to Disneyland. Make sure you pin these tips so you’ll have them handy when you need them!
More Disneyland Tips:
- Disneyland 2020 Crowd Calendar
- How to go to Disneyland on a Budget
- Park Hopper Tickets Pros & Cons
- All About Disney MaxPass
- 10 Items You NEED in your Disneyland Backpack
- 37 Insider Disneyland Tips
- Disneyland Tips for Moms
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Guide
- Amazon Hack that will Save You Money at Disneyland
- Where to Get Breakfast at Disneyland
- 5 Best Things to Eat at Disneyland
- 5 Places to Eat Outside Disneyland
Disneyland Month-by-Month Guides:
