On Friday, the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California kicked off its park- and hotel-wide holiday celebrations on a scale that’s just as grand as you’d expect from The Happiest Place on Earth. The special ‘Holidays at the Disneyland Resort’ seasonal event runs this year from November 10 – January 7, and will attract legions of Disney fans who annually await the arrival of this resort-wide metamorphosis and the many limited-time offerings it brings.
Each year, in the span of a single night, the resort’s dedicated crew manages to transform just about every visible space and surface with a vast array of gorgeous seasonal decorations and other holiday-themed elements—from horticultural and landscaping features to building facades and shop interiors to holiday-themed overlays on attractions and snow-capped turrets and twinkling lights across the entire surface of its iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle.
And we haven’t even mentioned the special seasonal atmospheric entertainment, parades and nighttime spectaculars, the slew of limited-time holiday merchandise, or the myriad of festive-themed food and beverage items being served across its pair of theme parks, Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and the Downtown Disney District.
Disney Parks aficionados wait with eagerness all year long for the return of this celebratory symphony of sights, sounds, smells and tastes. And they’re always rewarded with the introduction of some all-new seasonal offerings, in addition to many returning favorites. This season, as ever, families are invited to come relive treasured traditions, create cherished memories with loved ones and soak in the joyful spectacle surroundings.
At dusk, the holiday lights illuminate Main Street USA and Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle at Disneyland. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group / Laurie Baratti)
Multicultural Celebrations
And, it’s more than just a Christmas celebration, also encompassing multicultural end-of-year holidays like Navidad, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day. Particularly at Disney California Adventure Park, where the seasonal celebration is called the Disney Festival of Holidays, you’ll find the inclusions are more than just a nod to these diverse global traditions.
For instance, at Paradise Gardens Park, the ‘Disney ¡Viva Navidad!’ celebration (now in its tenth year) will focus honoring the Latin American holiday. Here, snack carts and eateries will showcase special menu items inspired by the region’s festivities, while Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and The Three Caballeros appear in colorful new attire that creatively weaves together elements of traditional Latin American fashion with holiday motifs using vibrant textured fabrics and embroidery.
The classic characters will host an exhilarating street party, featuring Mexican folklórico dancers and mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists, and giant mojiganga puppets. There are also additional live music and dancing performers, and meet-and-greet opportunities with beloved Disney characters, including some special appearances by Mirabel from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ hit film, “Encanto”.
Minnie Mouse poses in her new seasonal attire as part of the resort's 'Disney ¡Viva Navidad!’ celebration. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group / Laurie Baratti)
Yuletide Entertainment
Elsewhere in Disney California Adventure Park, Disney and Pixar characters march to the festive beat of the Holiday Toy Drummers during ‘Mickey’s Happy Holidays’ parade, which is performed multiple times daily. And, the ‘World of Color – Season of Light’ nighttime spectacular celebrates the enduring spirit of love and togetherness as hundreds of fountains rise from within Paradise Bay and beloved moments from Disney animated movies play out upon the water.
Over at Disneyland Park, guests can catch ‘A Christmas Fantasy’ Parade spreading holiday cheer twice daily as it traverses the parade route with elaborate floats, brought to life by a cast of beloved Disney characters, dancers and other performers. After dark, the ‘Believe…In Holiday Magic’ nighttime spectacular lights up the night sky above Sleeping Beauty Castle with breathtaking fireworks, spellbinding projections and sprinklings of faux snow in select areas.
Throughout the day at Disneyland Park, guests can encounter Mickey Mouse and his friends in their all-new holiday outfits, which put a fresh twist on the classic red and green palette using midcentury modern-inspired looks. And, through December 24, Santa Claus himself will be on-hand for jolly photo opportunities, making his rounds at Disneyland’s Critter Country, Disney California Adventure’s Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and Disneyland Hotel.
The 'Haunted Mansion Holiday' overlay sees the Haunted Mansion transformed by Jack Skellington and his crew. (photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort)
Special Seasonal Overlays
Certain attractions also receive holiday-themed overhauls as part of the resort’s annual seasonal celebrations. Disneyland’s emblematic castle is fitted with snow-capped turrets, illuminated spires, abundant icicles and is blanketed in twinkling holiday lights to becomeSleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle. And, a dose of Disney magic means that a light “snow” falls every night in select areas of the park, following the fireworks show.
Meanwhile, one famous flume ride filled with singing audio-animatronic dolls transforms into “it’s a small world” Holiday. During the merry boat ride down this wintry waterway, guests are serenaded with a version of its signature song interwoven with jolly tunes, sung by a familiar cast sporting special holiday costumes that reflect their various cultures.
Over in New Orleans Square, Jack Skellington from ‘Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas’ has transformed the Haunted Mansion into the spookily spirited ‘Haunted Mansion Holiday’. As in the film, his takeover of the Christmas holiday from Sandy Claws sees the celebration take on a bizarre Halloween-esque aspect in this charming mashup. At Disney California Adventure, Cars Land is home to two attraction overlays: ‘Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl’ and ‘Mater’s Jingle Jamboree’.
PHOTO: 'A Christmas Fantasy' Parade at Disneyland Park. (Photo courtesy of Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort)
Festive Food and Drink
Also at California Adventure Park, guests interested in sampling a selection of diverse dishes can purchase a ‘Sip and Savor Pass’, which provides eight coupon tabs that can be redeemed for select food and nonalcoholic beverage items on offer from eight marketplaces and select dining locations. The coupon tabs can be shared among family and friends, and are even remain valid during all ‘Holidays at the Disneyland Resort’ event dates.
Of course, the ‘Sip and Savor Pass’ is far from the only way to savor festive holiday flavors at the Disneyland Resort this season. All told, more than 75 new and returning limited-time food and beverage items can be found sprinkled throughout the parks and hotels, from snacks and sweets you pick up at outdoor wagons to dishes, desserts, and libations available at quick-serve and sit-down restaurants.
And, for the first time ever, the festive flair will even extend into Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel, which will be laden with very merry décor and Disney characters dressed in their finest holiday duds, while seasonal flavors are served up from December 1, 2023 – January 1, 2024.
A small sampling of the many seasonal treats available during the Holidays at the Disneyland Resort celebration. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group / Laurie Baratti)
If you can't get enough of these seasonal delights, you can delve into the details of all the delicious festive food and drink offerings around the resort, complete with mouth-watering photos of the most tempting items, on the official Disney Parks Blog.
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