Any must do extras for visit in July?

[hllb]

I'm booked in the parks for 10-12 of July and working on planning things now. Any must do's? Are there any anticipated extra parties like after dark? I don't see any on the schedule, but not sure when they'd be released. I'm assuming there won't be any. Any dinner/show packages that are a don't miss?

 

[JerrodDragon89]

The Fantasmic Dinning at Rancho del Zocalo Restaurant is a good value for the first show. Not only do you get a spot for the show you also can stay and watch fireworks as well from there

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/fantasmic-dinner-packages/

No extra events besides the summer event but that is just happening every day after May but no after hour events

 

[LKing]

That is a Dance the Magic weekend so it will be pretty crowded. Dance the Magic has an after hours event at DCA on July 10.

A dining package for Fantasmic is recommended by most. Many like the dessert party for WOC. There will be parade dining packages for both Paint the Night and Better Together. I don't think you need it for Better Together. You might want to see if you can reserve it for Paint the Night.

Not sure if they will keep showing Shadows of Memory in July. Right now, this is what the entertainment schedule looks like at Disneyland.

1:30 pm Celebrate Happy Cavalcade - Small World -> Town Square
2:45 pm Celebrate Happy Cavalcade - Town Square -> Small World
8:45 pm Paint The Night - Small World -> Town Square
8:45 pm Shadows of Memory
9:00 pm Fantasmic
9:30 pm Wondrous Journeys Fireworks
9:30 pm Fire of the Rising Moon
10:15 pm Shadows of Memory
10:30 pm Fantasmic
10:45 pm Paint the Night - Town Square -> Small World

Thread 'Disneyland Resort Calendar 2025'

Mar 6, 2025

I'm going to attempt to consolidate all of the official events and unofficial events happening at DLR this year.

I will need help. If you see a large convention, dance show, or event that might impact the resort, please let me know. I will try to update the first few posts as we go.

Disneyland Resort 2025 Event Dates and Details




January
January 1-6 Holidays
January 21, 23, 28 Sweetheart's Nite
January 24 Anaheim Ducks Day
January 15-31 Lunar New Year

February
February 1-2 Run Disney
February 1-16 Lunar New Year
February 4,6, 9, 11, 13...

• LKing
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Disneyland (California)

• 
• 

 

[hllb]

That is a Dance the Magic weekend so it will be pretty crowded. Dance the Magic has an after hours event at DCA on July 10.

A dining package for Fantasmic is recommended by most. Many like the dessert party for WOC. There will be parade dining packages for both Paint the Night and Better Together. I don't think you need it for Better Together. You might want to see if you can reserve it for Paint the Night.

Not sure if they will keep showing Shadows of Memory in July. Right now, this is what the entertainment schedule looks like at Disneyland.

1:30 pm Celebrate Happy Cavalcade - Small World -> Town Square
2:45 pm Celebrate Happy Cavalcade - Town Square -> Small World
8:45 pm Paint The Night - Small World -> Town Square
8:45 pm Shadows of Memory
9:00 pm Fantasmic
9:30 pm Wondrous Journeys Fireworks
9:30 pm Fire of the Rising Moon
10:15 pm Shadows of Memory
10:30 pm Fantasmic
10:45 pm Paint the Night - Town Square -> Small World

Thread 'Disneyland Resort Calendar 2025'

Mar 6, 2025

I'm going to attempt to consolidate all of the official events and unofficial events happening at DLR this year.

I will need help. If you see a large convention, dance show, or event that might impact the resort, please let me know. I will try to update the first few posts as we go.

Disneyland Resort 2025 Event Dates and Details




January
January 1-6 Holidays
January 21, 23, 28 Sweetheart's Nite
January 24 Anaheim Ducks Day
January 15-31 Lunar New Year

February
February 1-2 Run Disney
February 1-16 Lunar New Year
February 4,6, 9, 11, 13...

• LKing
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Disneyland (California)

• 
• 

Oh man, that is not good news. No one had mentioned an event weekend and the crowd calendars had the latter half of the week looking ok, especially Friday/Saturday. I hope the crowds aren't too bad.

Thanks for the info. We probably will do a reservation for Fantasmic and WOC. We don't usually bother with parades - no little kids in our group.

 

[hllb]

I wonder if I should change my days around. I had planned the 10th at DCA, the 11th at Disneyland, and half a day at each on the 12th.

 

[OlliePop27]

That is a Dance the Magic weekend so it will be pretty crowded. Dance the Magic has an after hours event at DCA on July 10.

A dining package for Fantasmic is recommended by most. Many like the dessert party for WOC. There will be parade dining packages for both Paint the Night and Better Together. I don't think you need it for Better Together. You might want to see if you can reserve it for Paint the Night.

Not sure if they will keep showing Shadows of Memory in July. Right now, this is what the entertainment schedule looks like at Disneyland.

1:30 pm Celebrate Happy Cavalcade - Small World -> Town Square
2:45 pm Celebrate Happy Cavalcade - Town Square -> Small World
8:45 pm Paint The Night - Small World -> Town Square
8:45 pm Shadows of Memory
9:00 pm Fantasmic
9:30 pm Wondrous Journeys Fireworks
9:30 pm Fire of the Rising Moon
10:15 pm Shadows of Memory
10:30 pm Fantasmic
10:45 pm Paint the Night - Town Square -> Small World

Thread 'Disneyland Resort Calendar 2025'

Mar 6, 2025

I'm going to attempt to consolidate all of the official events and unofficial events happening at DLR this year.

I will need help. If you see a large convention, dance show, or event that might impact the resort, please let me know. I will try to update the first few posts as we go.

Disneyland Resort 2025 Event Dates and Details




January
January 1-6 Holidays
January 21, 23, 28 Sweetheart's Nite
January 24 Anaheim Ducks Day
January 15-31 Lunar New Year

February
February 1-2 Run Disney
February 1-16 Lunar New Year
February 4,6, 9, 11, 13...

• LKing
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Disneyland (California)

• 
• 

Thank you for aggregating the list and posting it for everyone!

I agree on parades in DCA. It's usually pretty easy to find a spot right before showtime and money is better spent on a package for something else. It is the longest parade route in any Disney park globally. There's tons of spaces available. Last year in July we slipped in for Better Together by the Hyperion about 5 minutes before it arrived.

It's a shame they aren't also running Magic Happens - such a great parade! Back during the 60th they ran a full daytime parade and PTN in DL.

 

[Tinkaboo]

That is a Dance the Magic weekend so it will be pretty crowded. Dance the Magic has an after hours event at DCA on July 10.

A dining package for Fantasmic is recommended by most. Many like the dessert party for WOC. There will be parade dining packages for both Paint the Night and Better Together. I don't think you need it for Better Together. You might want to see if you can reserve it for Paint the Night.

Not sure if they will keep showing Shadows of Memory in July. Right now, this is what the entertainment schedule looks like at Disneyland.

1:30 pm Celebrate Happy Cavalcade - Small World -> Town Square
2:45 pm Celebrate Happy Cavalcade - Town Square -> Small World
8:45 pm Paint The Night - Small World -> Town Square
8:45 pm Shadows of Memory
9:00 pm Fantasmic
9:30 pm Wondrous Journeys Fireworks
9:30 pm Fire of the Rising Moon
10:15 pm Shadows of Memory
10:30 pm Fantasmic
10:45 pm Paint the Night - Town Square -> Small World

Thread 'Disneyland Resort Calendar 2025'

Mar 6, 2025

I'm going to attempt to consolidate all of the official events and unofficial events happening at DLR this year.

I will need help. If you see a large convention, dance show, or event that might impact the resort, please let me know. I will try to update the first few posts as we go.

Disneyland Resort 2025 Event Dates and Details




January
January 1-6 Holidays
January 21, 23, 28 Sweetheart's Nite
January 24 Anaheim Ducks Day
January 15-31 Lunar New Year

February
February 1-2 Run Disney
February 1-16 Lunar New Year
February 4,6, 9, 11, 13...

• LKing
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Disneyland (California)

• 
• 

Hey @LKing, how do you find out about these special things like Dance the Magic and when there are band contests, or cheer competitions? Is there a website you can go to or are you just getting inside info somehow? I've been burned a couple times planning a trip, only to find there are 9 million young girls in leotards crowding thepark (last Christmas trip). If i knew these things in advance, I sure could plan better. I can handle normal crowds, but man, that day was CRAZY!

Feel free to DM me if you want...

 

[LKing]

Oh man, that is not good news. No one had mentioned an event weekend and the crowd calendars had the latter half of the week looking ok, especially Friday/Saturday. I hope the crowds aren't too bad.

Thanks for the info. We probably will do a reservation for Fantasmic and WOC. We don't usually bother with parades - no little kids in our group.

Have you ever been in the parks for a Dance the Magic parade? I think (but am not sure) that the Dance the Magic parades are on Friday & Saturday. Avoid the parade route during that time and avoid the entrance/esplanade because all of the parents leave to try to meet up with their dancers.

 

[hllb]

Have you ever been in the parks for a Dance the Magic parade? I think (but am not sure) that the Dance the Magic parades are on Friday & Saturday. Avoid the parade route during that time and avoid the entrance/esplanade because all of the parents leave to try to meet up with their dancers.

No definitely haven't been there during one of these events - I just try to avoid crowds whenever possible LOL. I think we've only done one parade in all the times we've been to WDW, so will definitely avoid the parades.

 

[LKing]

Hey @LKing, how do you find out about these special things like Dance the Magic and when there are band contests, or cheer competitions? Is there a website you can go to or are you just getting inside info somehow? I've been burned a couple times planning a trip, only to find there are 9 million young girls in leotards crowding thepark (last Christmas trip). If i knew these things in advance, I sure could plan better. I can handle normal crowds, but man, that day was CRAZY!

Feel free to DM me if you want...

When I was creating the calendar, I looked at the Convention Center calendar and tried to look at the hotel calendars. I know there are certain things like Dance the Magic that really impacts the experience of people who are not affiliated with the event. I also follow a lot of Disneyland related accounts on Instagram. GothicRosie is great about posting dates of events.

The 9 million young girls in leotards sounds like Dance the Magic. They have multiple events throughout the year. This year they are in April, July, October and December.

 

[evilmommie]

9 million young girls in leotards crowding thepark (last Christmas trip). If i knew these things in advance, I sure could plan better. I can handle normal crowds, but man, that day was CRAZY!

hahahah so true!!!

 

[czmom]

I'm booked in the parks for 10-12 of July and working on planning things now. Any must do's? Are there any anticipated extra parties like after dark? I don't see any on the schedule, but not sure when they'd be released. I'm assuming there won't be any. Any dinner/show packages that are a don't miss?

We have the exact same dates. This dance the magic is news to me too I hope it isn't too bad!

 

[LKing]

We have the exact same dates. This dance the magic is news to me too I hope it isn't too bad!

Dance the Magic has a daytime parade where tons of dancers "dance" along the parade route. Their families arrive early and stake out spots along the parade route. I saw one woman duct tape a tarp onto the ground to secure her group's space. After the parade, there is a mass exodus of dance families. It takes the dancers time to change before they make their way back into the parks to ride the attractions. Their after hours event is in DCA but DCA does not close early for them.

My suggestion is to avoid the parade route around the time of the DTM parade. Maybe spend that time in Bayou Country or SWGE. If you want to get from New Orleans Square to Toontown/Fantasyland, take the train rather than crossing through Main Street.

 

[Tinkaboo]

We have the exact same dates. This dance the magic is news to me too I hope it isn't too bad!

My experience inDecember was that there were WAY MORE (hundreds? Thousands?) people in the park on that dance day than there had been all week, I'm talking shoulder to shoulder on the streets, Starbucks clear down the street, no place to sit. What @LKing said about people camped out was totally true, way worse than CP.

The lady ahead of us in SB had come all the way from AUSTRALIA just so her daughter's dance troupe could perform, said it cost her over $10,000.

We left after having coffee and beignets, went over to CA. By the time we returned at night, things were back to normal. Craziest thing....