Christmas at Disneyland: How to plan a holly jolly visit

1 month ago 12

Disneyland is often referred to as the Happiest Place on Earth, but between November and January, it takes on a new moniker — the Merriest Place on Earth. From a magical nightly snowfall to Santa meet-and-greets and a festival that celebrates winter holiday traditions from around the globe, there are things you can only experience when you visit Disneyland during the holiday season.

Whether you are visiting early in the season to get into the Christmas spirit, or you want to spend Thanksgiving or Christmas at a theme park this year (hey, at least you won't have to do the dishes), here is everything you need to know to plan a holiday trip to Disneyland.

When does Christmas start at Disneyland?

This year, the holiday festivities at Disneyland kicked off Nov. 15 and will run through Jan. 6, 2025. Whether you are visiting for Thanksgiving, Christmas or to ring in the new year, Disneyland will be fully festooned for your visit.

Even before Nov. 15, you could see decor start to go up around the parks, including the 80,000 twinkling lights and snowcapped turrets that adorn Sleeping Beauty Castle and Disneyland's iconic 60-foot Christmas tree. However, you had to wait for the first official day of Disneyland's holiday season to meet Santa, see Mickey and friends in their holiday finery, see the holiday-themed parades and fireworks, and enjoy all the trimmings and trappings the resort has to offer.

Disney California Adventure Christmas tree

All that holiday cheer draws visitors from around the world, so it's likely the parks will be crowded and wait times long during your visit. To make sure you have time to see it all, give yourself at least two — but ideally three or four — days to see it all. Visiting for two days gives you one day at each park, but adding a third means you have a full day to catch anything you missed or to see your favorite characters one last time before heading home. The festivities don't stop at the park's gates. If you add a fourth day, you'll have time to explore Disneyland's hotels and the Downtown Disney area.

To further alleviate crowds, try to visit midweek versus over the weekend. If you can visit before Thanksgiving week or between late November and mid-December, you'll avoid the crowds that descend when schools are out for holiday breaks.

Is there an extra charge for the holidays at Disneyland?

This is one of the major differences between Disneyland's approach to the holidays and Disney World's. Outside of purchasing your Disneyland park ticket, there is no additional charge to enjoy the park's seasonal offerings and entertainment.

Much of Disney World's holiday entertainment is reserved for guests who purchase an extra ticket for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom or Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios. At Disneyland, the daily parade, fireworks and live entertainment are included in the cost of your ticket.

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Where to meet Santa and favorite Disney characters

Santa is a busy man this time of year, but he isn't too busy to stop by Disneyland and hear your child's Christmas wishes. There are several spots to meet Santa at Disneyland, both inside and outside the parks.

At Disneyland, kids can get a photo with Santa at the all-new "Holiday Fun with Santa & Friends!" area at Fantasyland Theatre. This area is more than just a simple meet-and-greet: Kids can also make crafts, decorate cookies, write a letter to Santa, listen to live holiday music and more. This area is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At Disney California Adventure, Santa hangs out at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. This outdoor play area is transformed for the holiday season, so in addition to meeting Santa, it's a great spot for kids to burn off some energy. This area is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.

After Santa returns to the North Pole on Dec. 24 for his global gift-giving trek, you can meet Santa Goofy at these locations.

Santa also makes appearances at all three of Disneyland's on-site hotels, along with a roaming troop of carolers singing Christmas classics. There are no set times for these appearances, but your best bet for seeing Santa is in the evenings between 4 and 7 p.m.

Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip 'n Dale and the rest of the gang will also be meeting guests in their festive outfits during the Christmas season. You can find time and location details for character meet-and-greets in the Disneyland app.

Where to see snow at Disneyland

Disneyland's winter forecast is warm and sunny compared to many holiday destinations, but that doesn't stop the snow from coming. There are several opportunities to experience a Southern California snowfall at Disneyland during the holiday season.

Each night during the "Believe…In Holiday Magic" nighttime spectacular at Disneyland Park, you can see a magical snowfall along the Rivers of America, near "It's a small world" and along Main Street, U.S.A. You can also see snow floating up into the sky during "World of Color — Season of Light" at Disney California Adventure.

Near the Downtown Disney Live! stage in Downtown Disney, there is an intermittent nightly snowfall between 6 and 10 p.m. from Nov. 29, 2024, until Jan. 26, 2025.

Parades and nighttime spectaculars

Disney introduced several new entertainment offerings for this year's holiday celebration, but it also brought back a few well-known classics that have become part of guests' holiday traditions.

During the day at Disneyland Park, guests can see the "A Christmas Fantasy" parade twice daily at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. (weather permitting). You can view the parade along Main Street, U.S.A., but plan to arrive about 30 minutes early if you want to get a good spot. The parade route also runs near "It's a small world" and the Matterhorn Bobsleds if you want a different (and usually less crowded) vantage point.

Each evening, Sleeping Beauty Castle is transformed with twinkling lights, holiday projections, fireworks and a magical snowfall during the "Believe...In Holiday Magic" nighttime spectacular.

Disney California Adventure has its own nighttime show, a holiday version of "World of Color" called "World of Color — Season of Light." Nightly performances take place at 9 and 10:15 p.m. The best viewing spots are roped off to control crowds, but you can only enter these areas if you reserve a virtual queue spot or purchase a World of Color dining package or dessert party ticket.

Disney Festival of Holidays

Disney Festival of Holidays transforms California Adventure with food, entertainment, decor and crafts inspired by wintertime holidays and traditions from all over the world. In addition to daily performances by live bands, dancers and storytellers on four stages throughout the park, Disney introduced two new shows this year featuring characters from beloved films.

"Mirabel's Gifts of the Season" is a street performance that occurs multiple times daily at the entrance to Paradise Gardens Park. Many of the main characters from "Encanto" make appearances during this medley of songs from the hit animated film. Between songs, the show tells a heartwarming holiday tale. If you want a good view of this show (especially if you have small children), arrive 15 to 30 minutes before the posted showtime so they won't be blocked by other guests. (You can find daily showtimes in the Disneyland app.)

After the sun sets, you can see the park's other new show, "A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegria de Disneyland & Miguel!" near the front of the park. This show features Christmas carols performed by a mariachi band in both English and Spanish. There's also a special appearance by Miguel from "Coco."

Both of these shows are held Monday through Friday because the weekends are reserved for Disney ¡Viva Navidad!

During Disney ¡Viva Navidad!, you'll find crafts, specialty food items, live music, meet-and-greets with characters like The Three Caballeros, Mickey, Minnie and Mirabel from "Encanto." There's also a street party featuring The Three Caballeros, along with singers, musicians and dancers on select days.

If you work up an appetite dancing to all of the festive, fun shows, you'll want to hit the Festival of Holidays food booths. These are spread out around the park with savory small plates, sweet treats and refreshing beverages.

Disney Festival of Holidays. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

After sampling a few of this year's dishes, my favorites included the Turkey Galantine Croissant Muffin Slider from the Festive Food Marketplace, the Savory Kugel and Chorizo Queso Fundido macaroni and cheese dishes from the Holiday Duets booth, and the Holiday Mash Bowl from Merry Mash Ups. As you might have guessed from the names, several of this year's dishes blend together various traditional holiday foods.

Speaking of mashups, my favorite treat of the event was the Sticky Toffee Pudding Macaron from the Favorite Things booth. Somehow a chooclate macaron stuffed with a filling made with traditional sticky toffee pudding ingredients just works.

If you want to try several dishes (and I highly recommend you do), you can purchase a four-item ($32) or an eight-item ($63) Sip and Savor Pass. You don't have to use up the entire pass in one visit (though you probably will), and it can help you save money if you choose higher-priced menu items.

Ride overlays

Each fall, Disneyland's iconic Haunted Mansion becomes Haunted Mansion Holiday when it is taken over by characters and music from "The Nightmare Before Christmas." The ride overlay stays up until January, but that doesn't do much to alleviate the long lines for this popular attraction. Because of this, Disneyland utilizes a virtual queue for guests who want to see Jack Skellington, Oogie Boogie and the ride's famed gingerbread house. You can request to join the queue at 7 a.m. and 12 p.m.

"It's a small world" gets even more charming during the holiday season, with the addition of 50,000 colorful lights to the ride's facade and festive decor and music throughout the ride.

Over at Disney California Adventure, two Cars Land rides have seasonal overlays: Mater's Jingle Jamboree and Luigi's Joy to the Whirl. In fact, all of Cars Land gets a holiday makeover. Look closely at the decorations, and you'll see they incorporate car parts and other items you might find around the auto repair shop.

Disneyland Christmas add-on experiences

Most of what is mentioned in this guide (excluding the holiday treats, which you have to purchase) is included in the cost of your ticket. However, there are a couple of holiday add-ons that incur an extra fee but can make your visit even more merry.

The Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Tour ($120) is a two-hour walking tour through both parks that imparts a bit of Disney holiday history, as well as a few special surprises. During your tour, you'll also get reserved viewing for the "A Christmas Fantasy" parade, holiday snacks and walk-on access to "It's a small world" Holiday. And, because it's not Christmas without gifts, you'll get a little present to commemorate your tour.

Disney also has two holiday-themed character dining options, one at the Disneyland Hotel and one at the Grand Californian Hotel. At Goofy's Kitchen in the Disneyland Hotel, you can meet Goofy, Minnie, Pluto and Chip 'n Dale in their holiday outfits during a buffet breakfast ($65 for adults, $36 for kids ages 3-9) or dinner ($75 for adults, $39 for kids ages 3-9).

At Storytellers Cafe at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, you can join Mickey and his pals in their adorable holiday jammies at the all-new Mickey's Holiday Pajama Party Breakfast and Brunch. The buffet costs $65 for adults and $36 for kids ages 3-9 for breakfast and brunch.

Character meals are very popular, and reservations are strongly recommended.

Bottom line

During the holidays at Disneyland, you can sip and savor festive foods, stroll through the snow, and meet your favorite characters in their holiday best. And that's on top of the year-round fun Disneyland has to offer.

With so many additional experiences included in your ticket cost, the holidays really do make the Happiest Place on Earth even happier.

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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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