The holiday season is in full swing at the Disneyland Resort and will last until January 9, 2022. The season returns with beloved traditions like “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade, treats like a scrumptious peppermint churro and merry attractions like Mater’s Jingle Jamboree in Cars Land. The festive season brings enchanting entertainment, sparkling décor, seasonal attractions, festive foods and holiday-themed merchandise for guests of all ages. You won’t want to miss the merriest place on earth!
Related – What to know when planning those Disneyland Dining Reservations in advance
Did you know this about Holidays at the Disneyland Resort?
- More than 25,000 poinsettia, cyclamen and flowering plants are placed and planted around the Resort, adding color, theming and seasonal magic.
- The glistening Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle is illuminated each evening with more than 50,000twinkling LED lights that shine on sparkling “icicles” and shimmering snow-capped turrets.
- “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade is one Holiday “must-do” item for many guests as they get in the spirit of the season with the musical themes, prancing reindeer, marching toy soldiers, dancing gingerbread cookies and a grand finale of Santa Claus waving hello from his sleigh as Chip and Dale manage an avalanche of letters to Santa.
- One young hero appears at Disneyland Resort for the first time and for a limited time: Mirabel, the charming star of “Encanto” from Walt Disney Animation Studios, which makes its debut in theaters Nov. 24, 2021.
- A 7-foot-tall gingerbread house is created for the lobby at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa! It takes 600 pounds of powdered sugar, 250 pounds of fondant, one pound of “pixie dust” and a 25-member team to construct this impressive confection.
Disneyland Park
- “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade and the enchanting “Believe…in Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular are some of the glittering entertainment returning this year to delight guests.
- “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade is the longest-running holiday parade in Disneyland history (26 years). The parade has 115 performers, including 17elves, eight reindeer, eight snowmen and six gingerbread cookies. There are seven units comprised of 16 floats, including two stand-alone Christmas trees and one “Humdinger” wind-up toy car.
- On select nights, “Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks light up the sky over Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle with bright colors, stirring music enchants the moment and the evening is capped off with a magical snowfall – along Main Street, U.S.A. and the area near “it’s a small world” Holiday. “Believe…In Holiday Magic” was the first fireworks spectacular in history to be devoted entirely to the holidays.
- New! Now open on the corner of Main Street, U.S.A. isPlaza Point Holiday Shoppe. This Victorian-era boutique envelops guests with the warmth of the holidays decorated with garlands, nutcrackers and festive décor, reflecting seasonal holidays around the world. Artists in the shop create hand-painted, personalized ornaments and guests may shop for housewares, accessories and a large selection of themed ornaments. Throughout the year, Plaza Point will feature other holidays such as Hanukkah, Lunar New Year, spring and Easter, and fall and Halloween, as well as Christmas-themed treasures year-round.
- Mickey and friends are rockin’ around the 60-foot tall Christmas tree on Main Street, U.S.A. This iconic photo spot makes for an ideal location to capture the holiday cheer. Nearly 1,800 Victorian-inspired ornaments and 100 oversized faux candles, this tree stands out as a focal point of the holiday season at Disneyland.
- New! Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their pals can be seen waving hello in their festive new holiday attire. One popular place to spot them is near the train station in Town Square.
- Celebrating 20 years of Haunted Mansion Holiday, “Sandy Claws” is coming back to town for the merry makeover. Inspired by the classic film “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Haunted Mansion Holiday transforms the estate as Jack Skellington and his fellow residents of Halloween Town show guests what happens when Halloween and Christmas collide.
- A 13-foot tall gingerbread house in the Haunted Mansion’s Grand Hall ballroom features elements from 19 previous years of gingerbread houses inside Haunted Mansion Holiday. This year’s house was made with 200 pounds of powdered sugar, 50 pounds of egg whites, 200 pounds of gingerbread dough and 1 pound of glitter to make it sparkle and shine.
Disney California Adventure Park
- It’s the merriest time of the year as Disney Festival of Holidays brings to life diverse cultural festivities inspired by Christmas, Navidad, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day. These holidays are celebrated through traditional holiday food and beverage offerings at the Festive Foods Marketplace, plus music and dance performances, and more. At “Mickey’s Happy Holidays”character celebration, guests can dance and sing along with Mickey and pals to the beat of the Holiday Toy Drummers.
- Festival of Holidays comes alive with “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” as Disney characters host a fun street party along with Mexican folklórico dancers and Mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists, giant mojiganga puppets and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their fiesta best.
Related – Holiday Magic Will Be Back At Disneyland On November 12!
- New! For the first time, guests are invited to gather with family and friends to enjoy a celebration of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ new musical comedy, “Encanto,” which is inspired by the people and cultures of Colombia and brings a new cultural perspective to “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” festivities. Guests will enjoy authentic Colombian music from the band El Sabor Bueno performing at the Paradise Garden Bandstand and can also see the film’s young hero, Mirabel, who debuts in the park at a colorful photo location that evokes the “casita,” the enchanted home of the film’s magical Madrigal family. “Encanto” opens only in theaters Nov. 24, 2021.
- New! The Mistletoes is an a cappella ensemble celebrating an R&B Christmas and the spirt of Kwanzaa, performing classic holiday songs with rhythm and soul at Pacific Wharf and the Palisades Stage.
- It’s a haul-y jolly Christmas in Cars Land as the residents of Radiator Springs race to decorate their town withspecial holiday décor, each one adding a car detail that shows off their unique personalities. Two attractions transform for the haul-idays are Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters as it becomes Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl, and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree which becomes Mater’s Jingle Jamboree. Each attraction plays catchy tunes that bring holiday cheer.
Hotels of the Disneyland Resort and Downtown Disney District
- The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort and the Downtown Disney District are spreading holiday cheer by immersing guests in the seasonal style of each location.
- The Downtown Disney District features nightly entertainment throughout the holiday season including a cappella carolers, Holiday Harmony, The Moonrays and The Sugarplums, harmonizing in the promenade. Guests will also enjoy seasonal menus, specialty shopping and holiday décor throughout the district.
- At Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, the lobby features an under-the-sea theme with blue, green and silver holiday décor and a garland glistening with shells and starfish.
- The midcentury Disneyland Hotel welcomes guests with vintage-inspired art on the front doors, lobby wall and pool archway.
- At the new Tenaya Stone Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, guests of any of the three Disneyland Resort Hotels may treat themselves to a special holiday season spa treatment, Novemer 26, 2021 – January 3, 2022. The Candy Cane Lane Foot Treatment uses a refreshing peppermint cocoa foot soak and a minty massage to soothe and invigorate feet and legs. The Underneath the Tree Signature Massage uses customized massage techniques combined with the scent of fir, California lemon, wild mint and a touch of eucalyptus for pure relaxation.
- Santa Claus and Carolers: Santa will visit each Disneyland Resort hotel from Nov. 25 – Dec. 24, 2021, and hotel guests are encouraged to share their wishes with St. Nick. Guests will also be delighted to hear the joyful sounds of handbell carolers at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Nov. 25, 2021 – Jan. 9, 2022, and holiday carolers strolling the Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel Dec. 15 – 25, 2021.
What are you most looking forward to experiencing at the Disneyland Resort this holiday season?
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Sara is a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, a Disney Earmarked agency. She lives in Alaska with her husband and 3 kids. Due to her extreme dislike of winter, she travels often to warmer destinations during the colder months. She visits the Disney parks and resorts frequently with her family and loves helping other families plan magical vacations. Contact her here for help with your vacation!
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