Two big-picture stories matter this week: D23 Expo is 3 weeks out (August 14-16) and Disney is teasing major ride and land announcements, and Halloween Time is only 4 weeks away — meaning the late-August low-crowd sweet spot is closing fast. Also: Matterhorn reopens Friday, and Downtown Disney had a huge month for new dining. Here's what changes.
🚨 Trip-Planning Impact
D23 Expo is August 14-16 — wait to book any fall or winter trips. Disney's biennial fan event runs three days in Anaheim, and it's when major Parks announcements typically drop. This year specifically, the 70th Celebration wraps August 9 and Halloween Time kicks off August 21, leaving August 13-16 as a natural window for Disney to reveal what's next. Expect updates on the Avengers Campus expansion, the Avatar-themed land, and possibly a Coco land rumor. If you have schedule flex for fall or winter 2026-2027, wait until August 17 to book — announcements could reshape closures, openings, and the overall park experience.
Halloween Time is 4 weeks away — book late-August dates now if you want the sweet spot. Halloween Time officially starts August 21 and runs through October 31. The best window for families is August 25 through September 7: Halloween Time is active, kids across most of the country are back in school, and crowds are still low. October gets progressively brutal every week, with Halloween weekend itself being one of the worst crowd weeks of the year. If you want a family-friendly Halloween experience without the October madness, book the last week of August or first week of September now.
Matterhorn Bobsleds reopens Friday, July 24. After being closed since Monday for a brief refurb, the coaster is back Friday. If you rescheduled a Disneyland day around it, you're clear.
🎢 Ride Status This Week
| Ride | Status | What Parents Should Know |
|---|---|---|
| Matterhorn Bobsleds | ✅ Reopens July 24 | Back to normal Friday |
| Haunted Mansion | Closes August 8, back August 21 as Holiday | Skip Aug 8-20 |
| Main Street Cinema | Closes August 10, no reopen date | Not trip-affecting for most families |
| Frontierland Shootin' Exposition | Still closed indefinitely | Not a big loss for kids under 7 |
| Silly Symphony Swings | Still closed since April 27 | Been down almost 3 months |
| Pirates of the Caribbean | ✅ Open with new animatronic | Slightly scarier for sensitive young kids |
| Autopia (gas-powered) | Active — on a death clock | Ride before early 2027 |
🍿 Downtown Disney Had a Huge Month
Four new dining locations opened at Downtown Disney in July, and two of them matter for families:
Earl of Sandwich (grand opening July 15). Best-in-class quick service for families with picky eaters. The Original 1762 (roast beef and cheddar) and Holiday Turkey are the safest bets. Fast, inexpensive by Disney standards, and doesn't require a reservation. Expect lines during the novelty period through August.
Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby (soft opened, official grand opening imminent). Date-night territory, not a family sit-down. But worth knowing about if you have grandparents handling bedtime — apparently has fireworks views from the upper floors. Reservations open now on OpenTable.
Din Tai Fung Anaheim debuted a location-exclusive Little Red Dragon cocktail. Adult-only, but worth noting Din Tai Fung's dumplings are one of the top kid-friendly Downtown Disney dinner options — dumplings are the ultimate "picky kid will actually eat this" food.
The Plaza Inn fried chicken meal inside Disneyland Park remains the best sit-down value for families with young kids.
💰 Deals & Tickets
Kids' Summer Tickets are still running — kids 3-9 visit for as low as $50/day through September 7. Get Away Today consistently runs it at $48/day with their own savings layered on top, plus interest-free payment plans. Book by mid-August; reservation availability tightens as the expiration approaches.
Anaheim Resident Ticket Offer is on sale now. $71/day for adults, $50/day for kids 3-9. Valid July 20 through October 8. Requires Anaheim ZIP code on government-issued ID matched to the payment method. If you live in Anaheim, this is the best deal of the year.
Softer-than-expected summer attendance continues. Disney is pushing discounts to boost bookings — the $59 evening ticket (sold out), the Anaheim resident deal, and multiple third-party partner promotions. For families, this means better availability and shorter waits than normal, but also expect more surprise deal drops in August. If you're on the fence about a spontaneous trip, this is still the window.
👀 What We're Watching
D23 Day at Disneyland is August 13, one day before the main expo. Disney has been deliberately quiet about what's planned, teasing "dazzling surprises." Expect at least one big Disneyland-specific reveal — historical odds suggest this is when they'd announce a new land, ride, or major renovation project.
Halloween popcorn buckets and merchandise are hitting Disney Store. New Halloween tees, snowglobes, and collectibles dropped this week. If you're doing an August or September trip and want to avoid in-park impulse buys, order online first — the collectible buckets in particular tend to sell out early in the season.
Oogie Boogie Bash dates are selling out fast. Popular October weekends are largely gone. The Oogie Boogie Bash VIP Tour ($7,500 for up to 8 guests) is being offered for sold-out nights — worth noting for scale, not for practical family planning. If you want in, grab August or early-September $139 tickets while they're still available.
Bopo Go! (the Jamba replacement) still isn't open. Construction walls remain up at Downtown Disney. Still no target date.
Planning a Disneyland trip this summer or fall? Start with our 2-day toddler itinerary and Lightning Lane strategy guide — both updated for current ride status, the new park hopping rules, and Halloween Time planning.