Molly! Welcome to planDisney - from one Washingtonian to another! Thanks for stopping by to chat about dining and entertainment at the Happiest Place on Earth, two of my favorite topics!
Let's dig into your question. Yes, calendar dates for dining reservations are released farther out than the
entertainment schedule, however, the dining reservation calendar for packages and dessert parties will usually have dates blocked out if there will not be a show that particular day. (It is good to know though that schedules are always subject to change.)
I tend to have a few dining reservations in my pocket and then make my final decisions as the time gets closer. No harm in having options! Just make sure to cancel any reservations you will not be using at least two hours prior to your reservation time or there will be a per person cancellation fee. (Dining locations vary in their cancellation policies, so always a good idea to check ahead of time!)
I'm happy to share that you can also change your park reservation dates at any time, Molly, if you need to make some adjustments and there is availability. You can do this in either the
Disneyland app (from the ☰, select "Park Reservations" under Plan My Next Visit) or on
the Disneyland website.
You're visiting Disneyland Resort during one of my very favorite times of the year, Molly! And although we don't know all the entertainment schedule details quite yet for your particular dates, we do know that the fall favorites and
Disneyland's 70th Celebration will overlap during
Halloween Time - which is
huge news! Not only will we get to experience the frightfully fun haunts of Halloween Time, but we'll also get to enjoy a lot of the delightful 70th Celebration entertainment, as well, including the dazzling Paint the Night parade continuing throughout the Halloween season!
Molly, I'm so excited you'll be able to experience the magic and wonder of it all very soon! But if, for whatever reason, the
Paint the Night Dining Package is unavailable during your visit, I have a great viewing spot for you - in the same exact area you would be if you had the dining package!
On our most recent visit, my son and I found a spot to view
Paint the Night in Town Square, across from the train station, for the second showing of the night. This worked out perfectly for a few reasons: (1) The parade begins in Town Square for the second showing, (2) we were able to scoot out of the park pretty quickly after the conclusion of the parade, and (3) the second showing tends to see far less crowds than the first showing. Check the
Daily Events Schedule for show times as your visit dates approach! Paint the Night absolutely wowed us both. I heard my too-cool-for-school-tween son utter, "Whoa!" multiple times, under his breath. I even caught him waving to Mickey. The magic is still real.
I hope this has been helpful for you in your planning, Molly, and that you have the most magical visit to the Happiest Place on Earth. It's just a matter of time!
Warmest wishes,
McCayla