If you plan on visiting Disneyland in 2028, you may want to start looking ahead at potential planning obstacles.
It’s safe to say that 2028 will be a pretty big year for Disney fans traveling to California. Currently, Disney California Adventure is working on several expansion projects that could be fully realized by that year — and surely these new offerings will draw in massive crowds. However, one summer event could likely affect the “Happiest Place On Earth” in ways we haven’t seen since the 1980s…
By the time 2028 rolls around, Disneyland fans are hoping to be able to experience the new Avatar Land, Coco ride, and expanded Avengers Campus (featuring two new rides) all at Disney California Adventure. There’s no doubt that these newest offerings will draw in bigger crowds than we’ve seen in recent years — but a non-Disney event could really affect attendance and resort crowding in a fascinating way.
From July 14th, 2028, through July 30th, 2028, Los Angeles is playing host to the 2028 Summer Olympic Games — drawing in tourists from around the globe.
The city last hosted the event in 1984 and became a hotbed for tourism, including over at Anaheim’s Disneyland Resort, which provided an entertainment aspect to the Olympics.
While the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area (including Orange County) is already getting ready for the games with transportation expansions, lodging upgrades, and much more, we’re looking at Disneyland to see how a 2028 trip during this time might look.
While you might be expecting large crowds — which is still very possible — past trends actually indicate that attendance might actually be DOWN at Disneyland while the festivities are ongoing.
Both Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris experienced attendance slumps during their respective Olympics in 2021 (albeit during the pandemic) and 2024. The same thing happened the last time LA hosted the Olympics regarding Disneyland’s attendance. Locals tend to stay away from all the tourism, and most of the tourists are out in LA County taking in the Olympic Games.
Now, does that guarantee Disneyland will be empty? Absolutely not. Nor does it mean it will be cost-effective to visit during the Olympics. Lodging and airfare prices will more than likely be absurd, featuring some of the highest fares in years.
Additionally, you have to worry about more people in the area, as well as the possibility of traffic concerns. Ultimately, the Olympics will bring with it some uncertainty regarding daily operations in Southern California.
With all that said, we may get a preview this summer of what to expect. Los Angeles is one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June and July 2026. This event is nearly on par with the Olympics and will bring in a hefty amount of international tourism, as well.
It’s important to start to note Disneyland’s attendance then and view it as a possible precursor of what’s to come in 2028.
The important LA dates are as follows:
- June 12th, 2026: USA vs. Paraguay (Group Stage)
- June 15th, 2026: Iran vs. New Zealand (Group Stage)
- June 18th, 2026: Switzerland vs. UEFA Playoff Winner A (Group Stage)
- June 21st, 2026: Belgium vs. Iran (Group Stage)
- June 25th, 2026: USA vs. UEFA Playoff Winner C (Group Stage)
- June 28th, 2026: Round of 32 Match
- July 2nd, 2026: Round of 32 Match
- July 10th, 2026: Quarterfinal Match
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We’ll be keeping our eye on the Disneyland and surrounding area trends as these major events come to Southern California to give you the best planning advice possible. In the meantime, keep it posted right here at AllEars for all the latest Disneyland news and tips!
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Are you planning a 2028 Disneyland vacation? Let us know in the comments!
You forgot to mention that Coco Pixar boat ride and Avatar film ride will be open. The Roger rabbit car spin ride may permanently close since Disney company lost the Roger rabbit rights. I suspect either a Donald duck ride or a DuckTales ride will replace it. Also I think Pinocchio’s daring journey ride will get an update retheme to remove outdated native American and an Asian doll stereotypes and tobacco, alcohol reference featured in 1983. Also Mr toads wild ride may get replaced with a second princess and the frog Madi gras car ride or a beauty and the beast scary ride. Also goofys flight school ride may get rethemed to an updated goofy movie wild ride with Max and goofy. Also Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland may get rethemed to villains Island with Disney villains like Ursula, Madame Medusa, cruella de Villa, Jafar, Hades, scar, Dr facilier etc. I hope by 2028 Disneyland people will revise Tiana’s Bayou Adventure with spoonbill birds, lady butterflies, bottle lights lighting up dark cave, more Bayou critters and riverboat included in the ride.