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Holidays at Disneyland Resort including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and more at Disneyland, California Adventure, Downtown Disney and Anaheim resort holiday festivities. Holiday season at The Merriest Place on Earth is November 9, 2018 through January 6, 2019.
The holiday season is back and more popular than ever! Read all about Disneyland during the holidays, plus get discount Disneyland tickets here. Holiday season at The Merriest Place on Earth is November 9, 2018 through January 6, 2019.
Holidays at Disneyland Park. There’s so much to explore during the holidays at Disneyland Park, but be sure to make room in your schedule for “A Christmas Fantasy” parade. You’ll see holiday floats, tin soldiers and Santa Claus himself making an appearance. Get our free parade seating guide here for the best viewing options.
Holidays on Main Street, U.S.A.
The giant Christmas tree greets guests entering Main Street, U.S.A. It boasts over 1,800 ornaments and is 60 feet tall, creating the perfect holiday atmosphere as you enter Disneyland Park. Fun fact: the ornaments get smaller the higher they go up on the tree, using a forced perspective to make it seem even more majestic!
You can often find PhotoPass photographers here ready to snap your group photo. Don’t have Disney MaxPass or PhotoPass? Just hand them your camera and they’ll get everyone in the picture for free.
Find popular Disney characters dressed in holiday attire around Town Square during the holidays. You’ll often see these characters rotating:
- Mickey Mouse wearing a Santa cap with a festive holiday sweater
- Minnie Mouse in an outfit that matches Mickey’s, but with a cute red skirt
- Donald Duck in a red holiday sweater, ear muffs yet no pants lol
- Goofy as dressed below
- Pluto in a Santa hat
Check the Disneyland app to see who is where and when!
Continue your stroll down Main Street, U.S.A. with a little window shopping. The dressed up Holiday windows are reminiscent of holiday window displays that once were common place along stores dotting Main Streets all around America. Be sure to look up and down to find Disney Holiday decor at every corner.
As you head father down Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle is sure to catch your eye, dripping with snow and lights, you’ll want to take a picture here for sure!
Holidays in New Orleans Square
New Orleans Square’s focal point is of course The Haunted Mansion. During the holidays at Disneyland Resort, Haunted Mansion gets a holiday makeover by Jack Skellington himself and is transformed into Haunted Mansion Holiday.
Jack and all his friends count down until Christmas. This holiday overlay arrives in September and stays until the very beginning of January. Don’t miss the grand gingerbread house inside (or it’s delicious smell!)
Holidays in Critter Country
Meet Santa Claus in this remote area of Disneyland Park near Splash Mountain and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
I love this adorable Winnie the Pooh snowman along with the little Piglet. Behind Santa you’ll find framed photos of Winnie the Pooh and friends.
Holidays in Mickey’s Toontown
The residents of Toontown really go all out for the holidays. My favorite is definitely Minnie’s house. The colors speak to me :). If I could decorate my house any way I wanted for the holidays, I think I’d decorate just like Minnie’s.
Holidays in Fantasyland
Disney MaxPass is available for “it’s a small world” Holiday secure your FASTPASS at the distribution kiosk nearr Matterhorn Bobsleds.
Be sure to catch “it’s a small world” Holiday in its nighttime glow! Then travel inside to see the entire small world decorated for celebrating!
Even more magic awaits outside “it’s a small world” Holiday when the sun sets— after dark a fascinating projection show happens on the facade every 15 minutes. It’s just one of the reasons riding at night is even more magical.
Holiday Dining at Disneyland
Food is never far behind when it comes to Disneyland planning. I love exploring all the new options during the holidays at Disneyland Park.
While not the full park holiday menu, my favorite treat choices are:
- Assorted holiday-inspired donuts on Main Street, U.S.A.,
- Mickey Mouse caramel and candy apples
- Santa Mickey rice kripsy treats
- Mickey winter cake pops, peppermint marshmallow sticks and peppermint fudge.
And yes, I tried a bite of every one of them!
Holidays at California Adventure Park. Note World of Color will not run in 2018.The highlight for many at California Adventure Park during the holidays is the nightly performance of “World of Color – Season of Light”. It’s everything you’ve come to expect from World of Color, but this time infused with holiday music and winter wonderlands.
Holidays on Buena Vista Street
Step back in time to a 1920s Christmas, just like Walt Disney experienced when he first arrived in Los Angeles. Buena Vista Street is lined with vintage-style ornaments and decor at every turn. Plus, catch the stunning 50-foot Christmas tree near Carthay Circle.
Holidays in Cars Land
The residents of Radiator Springs always go big, and the holidays are no exception. Added back in 2017, Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters transforms into Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl, while Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree jingles all the way to become Mater’s Jingle Jamboree.
Holidays at Paradise Gardens Park
“Festival of Holidays” returns along with the popular “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” in Paradise Gardens during the holidays at Disneyland Resort.
If you happen to walk by when the Toy Soldiers are marching along to the beat, stop and take a listen—they add such a festive atmosphere to Paradise Park.
Kids can color and create holiday crafts at tables in front of Paradise Gardens Park. There is also seasonal face painting new by.
Festival of Holidays is similar to Food & Wine Festival with various booths scattered throughout Paradise Park. You can taste-test a variety small bites and fizzy drinks during Festival of Holidays that are sure to bring holiday cheer. 
Holidays at Grizzly Peak
Come meet Santa Claus at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, along with a series of holiday-themed activities along the trail. Head here first thing in the morning if you’d like to meet Santa with little wait during the holidays at Disneyland Resort.
And the man himself has arrived!
Beyond parks themselves, the Downtown Disney District has started to catch up with the rest of Disneyland Resort with holiday decor and ambiance. The festive winter landscape is a great backdrop for holiday photo ops. Remember, parking for Downtown Disney is charged at an hourly rate, but you can also get validation with select purchases.
Select eateries are also serving up holiday treats including Sprinkles Cupcakes, Catal’s UVA Bar, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, Starbucks, Jamba Juice and more during the holidays at Disneyland Resort.
Plus, have breakfast with Santa during a limited time event during December at Catal! Choose your breakfast with Santa date here. Will you be on vacation in Anaheim during the holidays? Help us add to our list of nearby celebrations both inside and outside Disneyland parks.
Disneyland expert who also loves the beach, flip flops and pink nail polish.
I did not see any mention of the light show at It’s A Small World. It’s awesome. Have you seen it?
Yes! Thank you for bringing that up. It is so magical, I will add that now. Thanks Meg!
There’s nothing like a trip to Disneyland during this time of year to usher you into the holiday season and spirit! I need to check out that World of Color – Season of Light, thanks for sharing!
I did the dining package for the seasonal World of Color and it was a lot of fun!