The holidays bring an extra touch of magic to the Happiest Place on Earth, with Sleeping Beauty Castle glowing under shimmering lights and “snow” drifting over a sparkling Main Street, U.S.A. From a cherished holiday parade and festive ride overlays to cultural celebrations rich with music, dance, and global flavors, the Disneyland Resort shines brighter than ever during the festive season. Here’s a look at the best new and returning holiday experiences to enjoy, now through Jan. 6, 2025.
Featured Photo: Courtesy of Disneyland
See Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park transformed for the holidays
No place decorates for the holidays like the Disneyland Resort. While both parks are dressed to the nines day and night, you’ll want to make sure you see Disneyland Park after dark. From a sparkling 60-foot Christmas tree and illuminated garland strung across Main Street, U.S.A., to the breathtaking façade of “it’s a small world,” all is merry and bright when the sun goes down.
Over at Disney California Adventure Park, just a minute’s walk across the esplanade from Disneyland Park, Buena Vista Street’s colorful, kitschy 50-foot tree is lit every evening through Jan. 6 and is a great spot to snag that holiday photo.
Cars Land gets the “haul-iday” treatment, Route 66 style, with a holiday overlay complete with plenty of tire wreaths and garland-embellished traffic cones. Try to time your visit to dusk when the land’s neon lights turn on — it’s a magical moment.
Experience festive twists on favorite rides
“It’s a small world” Holiday is a charming seasonal version of the famous ride, which turned 60 this year. In 2022, the holiday overlay celebrated its 25th anniversary with the addition of two new characters — both in wheelchairs, marking the first time in Disneyland’s 69-year history that characters in wheelchairs have been represented on an attraction.
Haunted Mansion Holiday, the “Nightmare Before Christmas”-themed overlay to Haunted Mansion is another must-do at Disneyland Park. Don’t miss the sweet scent of gingerbread as your Doom Buggy passes the 5-foot-tall, 6-foot-wide annual gingerbread display.
Disneyland has also just debuted a new expanded Haunted Mansion queue, so be sure to take in all the the new details as you weave past Master Gracey’s garden retreat, Madame Leota’s mystical garden, and the Mansion Greenhouse.
And in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree becomes Mater’s Jingle Jamboree and Luigi’s Rolickin’ Roadsters becomes Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl.
Santa stops and holiday highlights
Be sure to carve out some time to catch one of Disneyland’s most beloved holiday traditions. “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” makes its way down Main Street, U.S.A. twice a day (check the Disneyland app for times). See favorite Disney and Pixar characters like Mickey and Minnie, Chip ‘n Dale, Anna and Elsa, and Woody and Buzz, plus holiday favorite Toy Soldiers (a holiday staple at Disneyland since 1961 when the film “Babes in Toyland” debuted), adorable dancing snowmen, and of course the big finale, Santa Claus in his sleigh. One of our favorite parts of the parade this year was seeing Santa using American Sign Language (ASL) to wish guests happy holidays.
For photos and a chance to drop a few hints for Santa’s list, the big guy will be meeting at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in Disney California Adventure Park through Dec. 24, and at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel and Pixar Place Hotel from Nov. 28 through Dec. 24.
New this year, the Fantasyland Theatre transforms into a festive hub for “Holiday Fun with Santa and Friends!” — a new spot holiday crafts and sing-a-longs. Meet Santa here through Dec. 24. After that, Santa Goofy takes over through Jan. 6.
A global celebration of holiday traditions
At Disney California Adventure, fan-favorite “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” street party has been scaled back to weekends only. If your visit falls on a Saturday or Sunday, don’t miss it. This isn’t just one of Disneyland’s best holiday offerings, it’s one of the most delightful displays of live entertainment at any Disney park all year. Mexican folklórico dancers and Mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists, and giant Santa and Mrs. Clause mojiganga puppets are joined by “The Three Caballeros” and Mickey and Minnie in this exuberant holiday fiesta. Showtimes run throughout the afternoon and evening — check the Disneyland app for times.
Two new performances bring weekday holiday entertainment to Disney California Adventure in place of Disney ¡Viva Navidad!.
“Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season” features Mirabel from Encanto in a festive street performance of songs from the film, alongside her sisters, Bruno, and other singers and dancers.
In the evenings, “A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel” celebrates the season with mariachi renditions of holiday classics and a special appearance by Miguel from Coco.
This year, Disney California Adventure offers an even greater variety of musical cultural performances by new acts and returning favorites, showcasing genres like mariachi, jazz, and klezmer, along with new acts and returning favorites; check the app for schedules.
Feast on festive flavors
Holiday sights and sounds are great, but some of us are in it for the tastes too. Try Holiday Funnel Fries and Snickerdoodle Cold Brew at newly reimagined Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree in Bayou Country, Peppermint Mickey-shaped Beignets at Mint Julep Bar, or the Thanks-mas Sandwich at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café.
Sip and snack at Disney Festival of Holidays
Celebrations for Christmas/Navidad, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day are all on the menu at Disney California Adventure Park during Disney Festival of the Holidays. Seasonal food marketplaces, holiday-themed menus, live entertainment, and themed merchandise are available around the park.
Sample holiday dishes from around the world at the festival’s holiday kitchens, where you can try both traditional and inventive takes on classic dishes and drinks, like Beef Brisket Slider with smoked onions and horseradish ketchup on a pretzel roll; Holiday Mash Bowl: Chicken, cheddar mashed potatoes, and turkey gravy with cranberry stuffing crunch; Sticky Toffee Pudding Macaron; and a Garage Brewing Co. Churro Ale or non-alcoholic Café de Olla Cold Brew.
Snag a Sip and Savor pass to sample four or eight dishes or non-alcoholic drinks at a discount.
See how Disneyland's hotels have decked the halls
In addition to being our top recommended places to stay at the Disneyland Resort, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the Disneyland Hotel, and Pixar Place Hotel are worth a visit even for day guests during the holidays.
Check out the Grand Californian’s elaborate gingerbread house and lobby Christmas Tree and pick up some of the resort’s famed gingerbread and other holiday treats to go from the Holiday Cart — perfect for stocking stuffers.
At the Disneyland Hotel, each of the resort’s towers has a different themed Christmas tree. And at the new Pixar Place Hotel, the lobby has been decorated with dozens of themed trees.
The Disneyland Resort hotels are offering seasonal dining experiences to complement the holiday festivities too. At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Holiday Tea with Santa and Mrs. Claus (Dec. 3–24) includes tea sandwiches, scones, and stories from Santa himself. Storytellers Café hosts Mickey’s Holiday Pajama Party Breakfast and Brunch (Nov. 19–Jan. 1), where Mickey and friends don festive pajamas, while evenings feature a traditional holiday dinner buffet. At Disneyland Hotel, Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays (Nov. 19–Jan. 2) brings seasonal dishes with appearances by Goofy and friends in holiday attire.
Do some holiday shopping
For souvenir ornaments and holiday gifts in Disneyland Park, stop by Plaza Point Holiday Shoppe, the charming year-round holiday shop on Main Street, U.S.A. Ornament personalization is available.
Beyond the parks, the Downtown Disney District is buzzing with reinvention as new shopping, dining, and entertainment continue to debut. Starting Dec. 6, check out two brand-new shops: Avengers Reserve, featuring Marvel collectibles and film props, and D-Lander Shop, a new boutique for Disney-fied fashion, jewelry, and accessories.
If you don’t know what you’re looking for, Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail, a family-friendly scavenger hunt with a keepsake prize, offers a great way to explore the district.
If you’ve worked up a hunger, warm up on a chilly evening with some of the world-famous famous soup dumplings and noodles from a new outpost of Din Tai Fung. You can even do some holiday shopping from the restaurant’s new dumpling-inspired holiday gift collection.
End the night with a bang — or a splash.
For the perfect end to a holiday visit, watch the “Believe… in Holiday Magic” fireworks at Disneyland Park. Projections light up the buildings along Main Street, U.S.A. and the façade of “it’s a small world,” and snow falls to close out the show.
And for those who prefer to spend their holiday evenings in a galaxy far, far away, try watching fireworks from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Here, an alternate show plays in tandem with Disneyland Park’s fireworks each night, instead synced to John Williams’ classic Star Wars soundtracks.
Over at Disney California Adventure, another seasonal nighttime spectacular, World of Color — Season of Light, combines fountains, projections, and nostalgic holiday classics for a festive finish to a fun-filled day. For the best viewing areas, consider a World of Color Dining Package or World of Color Dessert Party, or join the Virtual Queue on the Disneyland app.
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