Disneyland Resort in Anaheim California welcomes 2022 with new events, activities, and more! Check out everything happening at Disneyland Resort this year. We’ll be updating this post throughout the year!
Disneyland Lunar New Year Celebration | January 21- February 13, 2022
Celebrate the Lunar New Year at Disneyland between January 21- February 13, 2022. Complete with special performances, activities, merchandise, and more. The 2022 New Moon brings the Year of the Tiger and features Mulan and Mushu as part of the popular Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession. Mickey, Minnie, Raya, and Three Little Pigs are also part of the festivities. Be sure to check out all the Asian marketplaces, the Lucky Wishing Wall, and specialty Lunar New Year snacks for the festival. And head to the Paradise Garden Bandstand for performances throughout the festivals. Check out our Disney Lunar New Year at Home post for more ideas on how to honor the Chinese New Year!
Disneyland After Dark Sweethearts’ Nite | Feb 1- 14 Select Nights
Offered Feb 1, 3, 8, 10, and 14, 2022, Disneyland hosts Date Nite! Partygoers can get into the park as early as 5 pm, for an 8 pm Party start time. This event features a variety of special events and activities and Does Not require a park pass reservation. Limited Availability. Learn More.
- A special themed fireworks show
- Projection effects on Sleeping Beauty Castle and Main Street, U.S.A.
- After-Hours Access to Attractions
- A jazz ensemble aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat
- Live entertainment, including a Royal Ball and a dance party with a DJ
- Rarely-seen Disney couples together in the park
- Fun photo opportunities featuring romantic scenes
- Specialty Sweetheart’s Nite Snacks
- Commemorative guide map
- Unlimited PhotoPass downloads
Celebrate Soulfully! | February 2022
Celebrate the history of Gospel Music with live choir performances, offered select days in February.
California Adventure Food and Wine Festival | March 4 – April 26, 2022
One of Disneyland’s most popular festivals returns this spring with new flavors, performances, and crafts. With 12 festival marketplaces, culinary demonstrations, and a variety of seminars, this event is one to attend for the year. You can grab a Sip and Savor pass to keep your Disney budget in check and explore the delicious fare of the region. Check out the California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Menus.
Disneyland After Dark Villains Nite | March 8 and 10, 2022
This after-dark party happens in Disney’s California Adventure Park and features character experiences, photo ops, specialty entertainment, specialty snacks and menus, attraction overlays, and more! Admission begins at 5 pm for an 8 pm party start time. Limited Availability. Learn More.
- The Cauldron highlights all our favorite outlaws in this riff-raff revue.
- The Underworld Dance Party features a DJ dance party happening throughout the park.
- Specialty Disney Villain Character Experiences
- Mirror, Mirror Photopass Op
- After-Hours Access to Attractions
- Now SING! Find your voice and sing along, but beware of eerily enchanted seashells!
- Specialty Disney Villains snacks
- Commemorative guide map
- Unlimited PhotoPass download
Main Street Electrical Parade | Returns April 22, 2022
The Main Street Electrical Parade returns this year for its 50th Anniversary complete with new elements inspired by Disney Legend Mary Blair. Including elements from more than a dozen stories, these new floats are filled with thousands of sparkling lights, riding along to the familiar Main Street Electrical Parade music. Disney and Pixar films represented in the Main Street Electrical Parade are “Encanto,” “The Jungle Book,” “Raya and the Last Dragon,” “Aladdin,” “Coco,” “Mulan,” “Brave,” “The Princess and the Frog” and ore.
Disneyland Forever Fireworks | Returns April 22, 2022
During the Spring months, Disneyland Fireworks runs weekends only ( Friday through Sunday) and offers up fireworks, music, and projections on Sleeping Beauty’s castle. Mickey’s Mix Magic is offered at Disneyland throughout the week, with its castle projection show and high-energy music. Once summer arrives, Disneyland Forever will run nightly. This show introduces two original songs, “Live the Magic” and “Kiss Goodnight.”
World of Color | Returns April 22, 2022
World of Color returns to Disney’s California Adventure Park this spring and will resume its regular schedule. Filled with fountains of color, and music, this show shouldn’t be missed. It’s one of our Disneyland Must Dos and you will love it!
Fantasmic | Returns May 28, 2022
Fantasmic returns to Disneyland Park filled with heroes and villains in this nighttime spectacular show. Led by Mickey Mouse himself, as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Fantasmic takes place in Frontierland on and around the Rivers of America. Featuring characters from the Lion King, Tangled, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Aladdin, you can even see a 45-foot fire-breathing dragon as part of the show.
Tale of the Lion King | May 28, 2022
Taking place at Fantasyland Theater, in Disneyland Park, this popular event features a retelling of The Lion King, by a troupe of traveling performers. Showcasing a unique story-theater style, this performance is filled with live music and dance.
Disneyland After Dark Star Wars Nite | May 3, 4 and 27
Head to Tomorrowland in Disneyland Park, for an after-hours event on the planet Batuu. Featuring character experiences, fireworks, and photo ops, plus you can catch the March of the First Order with Captain Phasma too. Park entrance begins at 6 pm and no park reservation is required. Limited availability. Learn More.
- Star Wars Fireworks Spectacular
- Out of this World character experiences
- Galactic Dance Party Bust a move at an epic event sure to make Star Wars history!
- Special event-themed PhotoPass opportunities
- After-Hours Access to Attractions
- Specialty Star Wars Themed Snacks
- Themed Merchandise
- Commemorative guide map
- Unlimited PhotoPass downloads
Disneyland After Dark GradNite Reunion | June 23, 28, and 30, 2022
New this year at Disneyland’s California Adventure Park you can experience all sorts of reminiscent fun from the Good Old Days! The dates of this event are June 23, 28, and 30, 2022. Read all about Disneyland GradNite Reunion.
- Enjoy sightings of beloved Disney characters throughout the evening with a few favorites proudly wearing their cap and gown
- March-along pep-rally style with some favorite Disney friends
- Dance through the decades to hits of today and yesterday
- Retro photo opportunities
- Unique, cafeteria-inspired food and beverage offerings
- Special after-hours access to most of the park’s attractions
- Party attire encouraged. Don’t forget to show your school spirit! (Please read the Disneyland Resort Attire Guidelines).
Plaza de la Familia | September 2- November 2, 2022
Celebrate the Everlasting Bonds of Family and the Spirit of Día de Los Muertos in Disney’s California Adventure Park.
- Memory Wall and the Mexican Árbol de la Vida
- Miguel Meet and Greet
- Paradise Gardens Decor and Crafts
- A Musical Celebration of Coco
Oogie Boogie Bash | September 6- October 31, 2022
Offered select nights from September 2- October 31, Oogie Boogie Bash returns to California Adventure. Running from 6:00 pm- 11 pm, guests can get access to Disney’s California Adventure at 3:00 pm. Read all about the Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland Resort.
- Early Admission to Disney California Adventure Park
Early admission to Disney California Adventure Park beginning at 3:00 PM—no theme park reservation required. - Immersive Treat Trails
Collect goodies—M&Ms, SKITTLES, SNICKERS and other Halloween favorites—along trails offering Halloween-inspired music, fun decor and the Villains themselves, as they oversee the festivities from their thrones. You may even spot more familiar faces. - Character Experiences
Seize the chance to meet some of Disney’s most popular Characters decked out in their Halloween costumes. - Special Decor and More
Enjoy unique decorations, lighting, music and effects sure to set a not-too-spooky, family-friendly tone. - Limited-Capacity Admission to Disney California Adventure Park
This event lets a limited number of Guests explore the park after it closes, offering shorter wait times at some favorite attractions. Plus, no theme park reservation is required for the park mix-in and event with your event ticket. - Frightfully Fun Parade
Don’t miss this spirited masquerade cavalcade starring Mickey, Minnie and some of your fave Disney Villains! - Mickey’s Trick and Treat
Watch Mickey and friends as they headline a live show filled with not-so-scary Halloween tales. - Villains Grove
Explore Redwood Creek Challenge Trail like never before as the worlds of Disney Villains unfold via ethereal scenes replete with hauntingly beautiful color, sound, light and shadow. - Carthay Circle
Hold onto your hats as clouds of black bats coil ‘round Carthay Circle’s Bell Tower while spellbinding effects transform the building. - Commemorative Keepsakes
Receive a souvenir credential and event guide, and unlimited downloads of Disney PhotoPass digital photos taken during the party. (Credentials and guides are limited to one per ticketed person.)
Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit | September 9- October 31, 2022
Peruse the Downtown Disney District to pinpoint a pleasant patch of pumpkins and pick up a spooky surprise. This is a scavenger hunt game that you can buy at participating shops, and then turn it in for a prize! Read all about Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit in Downtown Disney.
MagicBand+with Hey Disney! Voice Assistant
Arriving at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland in 2022, the newest iteration of Disney’s MagicBand features a voice-activated “Hey Disney” service. Just like Amazon’s Alexa, this new feature will offer opportunities for interaction. Just as MagicBand+ over at Walt Disney World will allow its MagicBand+ to interact with the 50th Anniversary golden statues, and Galaxy’s Edge, we expect similar things to pop up at Disneyland Resort as well.
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway | 2023
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway arrives in Disneyland ToonTown, taking over the “El Capitoon” Theater. Guests can join Mickey and Minnie just in time for a picnic and ride along with the story, that is until goofy takes over and things go awry. We’ll have to depend on Mickey and Minnie to get us all back on track. For all the details on this new ride, and how it’s done at Walt Disney World check out our post here!
Disneyland Forward Project
And while the newest thing in the works for Disneyland has not yet been approved by local authorities who make the calls, Disneyland Forward is the newest concept to hit the news! This expansion of Disneyland Resort’s two theme parks- Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure- would include a new hotel, additional lands, new rides, and restaurants! Stay tuned for details as this Disney News unfolds!
