SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — As Disneyland celebrates its 70th anniversary and kicks off its popular Halloween season, it’s also announcing some monumental changes.
ABC7 News talked this week with Gavin Doyle, founder of MickeyVisit.com, a leading Disney parks news and planning resource, about these imminent changes and his insider tips for saving money and beating the crowds.
Last week, Disneyland announced that it is retiring Early Entry for Disneyland Resort Hotel guests and replacing it with a new Lightning Lane perk.
“Disney shared with us directly at Mickey Visit that the majority of hotel guests were not taking advantage of Early Entry. More hotel guests will likely take advantage of this new perk because it happens on your own time,” Doyle suggested. He also noted this makes staying at off-site hotels in Anaheim, California within walking distance to Disneyland a more appealing option for those who only valued the on-site hotels for the Early Entry perk.
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Some are talking about a third theme park opening at Disneyland.
Doyle explained where these headlines came from.
“Disneyland and the City of Anaheim agreed on a rezoning plan that gives Disney flexibility to use more of their existing land for theme park expansion and new hotels. Some have suggested this could be a third theme park,” Doyle said. “However, there are no announced plans. DisneylandForward laid the groundwork for a 30-to-40-year master plan”.
Disneyland is already making sizeable investments right now, with new rides coming to Disney California Adventure, including a “Coco” boat ride, two new Avengers rides and an “Avatar”-themed boat ride that promises to rival the immersive land in Walt Disney World. On top of that, there’s major infrastructure work underway, including a redesigned entrance area and a new parking structure.
This year, Disneyland is celebrating its 70th anniversary with special offerings that continue into the fall. Highlights include the return of the popular “Paint the Night” parade, a new “World of Color” show and updates to popular rides. The Halloween season has now kicked off, featuring multiple ride overlays, themed fireworks, over 100 food items and a new Halloween character dinner with Clarabelle. The Holidays at Disneyland then follow, starting Nov. 14 with festive entertainment, the “It’s a Small World Holiday” overlay, decorations and seasonal food.
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Doyle shared his tips for when to visit during Halloween and the holidays to have the lowest crowds. “If you want to see the Halloween season, visit at the end of August or September. For Christmas, the best times are the middle of November and the beginning of December. The first week of December is my personal favorite time to visit the entire year.”
According to the Mickey Visit Disneyland Crowd Calendar, which rates each date of the year and provides context on all events happening, the lowest crowd dates for the remainder of 2025 are:
- Aug. 15 to 21, 25 to 29
- Sept. 2 to 3, 8 to 12, 14 to 17, 21 to 24
- Oct. 7 to 10
- Nov. 2 to 6, 12 to 13, 17 to 19
- Dec. 1 to 8, 15 to 16
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Even as Disney has continued to raise some park prices, Doyle emphasized there are still ways to save money, like buying discounted tickets through authorized resellers and monitor deals.
“Sometimes readers can save $20+ per ticket when they book,” Doyle said.
Seasonal sales are common, including Black Friday and holiday promotions. Last year, Disney offered a Disney+ deal for subscribers. Doyle suggested this could be repeated this year.
Staying at nearby hotels was another suggestion by Doyle. Family-owned and chain hotels just outside Disneyland are within walking distance and often run extra-night-free deals for longer stays. Doyle recommended The Element by Westin, Castle Inn & Suites, and the Residence Inn Anaheim Resort as just a few of the easy, affordable hotel options near Disneyland.
Visitors can also opt to pick lower-priced days: Disneyland prices one-day tickets based on expected demand for those dates. You can find lower-priced ticket days throughout September for only $104 per ticket at the lowest tier. There are eight of these affordable $104 days in September.
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