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Christmastime at Disneyland in Anaheim, California is truly a wonderful, magical time. If you haven’t visited the theme park before during Christmas and you’re going to be/want to be in Southern California during the holiday season then you really ought to go this year. Consider these following 10 reasons why Disneyland at Christmas is amazing:
Disney Festival of the Holidays
This popular Disney festival will be returning to the Disney California Adventure park on November 15, 2024. It’s a celebration of different holidays traditions celebrated in different cultures. You can celebrate different seasonal holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Navidad, Diwali, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day. And that means a lot of delicious food and drinks from these holidays and cultures, too!
Disney ¡Viva Navidad!
Celebrate Mexico and Brazil’s holiday traditions at Disney’s ¡Viva Navidad! celebration at Disney California Adventure. There is a ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party with folklórico dancers, mariachis, drummers, and Brazilian samba dancers. It even features 12-foot-tall mojiganga puppets of Santa and Mrs. Claus and appearances by Mickey and Minnie in their fiesta outfits.
But that’s not all. There’s a special seasonal celebration of Encanto with special appearances by the movie’s heroine, Mirabel. There are live performances from musical groups and beautiful decorations with piñatas and colorful papel picado banners. The Paradise Garden Grill will be serving authentic Mexican specialties fitting of the holiday season.
Disney ¡Viva Navidad ends with a Three Kings Day celebration from January 4, 2025, to January 7, 2025.
Decorations
You can see holiday decorations all over Disneyland, California Adventure, Downtown Disney & the resort hotels! See the storefronts & lampposts of Main Street USA decorated with wreaths and garland. Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle shimmer at night with snow-capped turrets and beautiful icicles. See Buena Vista Street at California Adventure be transformed into a nostalgic winter wonderland, and a 50-foot Chistmas tree at Carthay Circle, which will be lit nightly. And see so many more Christmas decorations, complete with the smallest touches that Disney is always known for
Cars Land Christmas Makeover
Luigi’s backyard in Cars Land at California Adventure will be decked out for the holiday season! Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters gets a holiday overlay and Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl. You’ll learn Luigi croon holiday tunes as you drive.
Cars Land is also where you can also Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, a festive makeover of Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree. While you enjoy the ride, you’ll be entertained by Christmas tunes sung by Mater himself, complete with new lyrics that suit the popular Pixar character.
It’s A Small World Holiday
Enjoy a beautifully decorated, seasonal version of this classic Disneyland ride.
Haunted Mansion Holiday
This ride honestly feels to me like a whole new ride when it gets a transformation inspired by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s a neat experience who love the popular movie – and even a fun ride for those who don’t.
Fireworks & Light Shows
You can cap off your nights enjoying “Believe…In Holiday Magic” at Disneyland & “World of Color – Season of Light” at Paradise Pier in California Adventure. These are wonderful spectacles for your eyes set to Christmas music!
A Christmas Fantasy Parade
This festive Disneyland park tradition features beautiful, festive floats featuring beloved Disney Princesses like Anna & Elsa, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Olaf…and it ends with Santa Claus on his sleigh!
Please note that the parade is very popular, so you’ll need to arrive early if you want a good view there. This is especially true if you want a view along Main Street, U.S.A.
Holiday Food & Drink
So you know how I mentioned that there would be good food as part of the Festival of the Holidays? Well, that is certainly true. But it won’t be the only place you can find great seasonal drinks and food. You can find them throughout the Disneyland Resort. We don’t know what the menu will be like this year, but this was the Disneyland holiday seasonal menu last year.
Meet Santa at Redwood Creek
Want to meet Santa Claus and his elves? Then head to Ahwahnee Camp Circle in Grizzly Peak in California Adventure for a chance to get a picture of Santa with you or your child, which you can promptly post on all your social media accounts! Plus, you and your family can enjoy the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, which the elves transformed into a playground filled with seasonal games & outdoor activities!
Visiting Disneyland
With so much to do at both Disneyland and California Adventure, you’re going to want to visit both parks. You can buy multiple day or park hopper tickets at a discounted price here.
