Holiday Magic at the Disneyland Resort

• Snap Your Christmas Card Photo: As you enter the park, you’ll likely be awed by the beauty and magnificence of the 60 foot  Christmas tree, which towers above Main Street and boasts 1800 ornaments. Dress in your holiday best and use PhotoPass for a photo that you can later use as your family Christmas card.

Image: Disneyland

• Enjoy a Hand-Pulled Candy Cane: After you’ve preserved your immediate memories of your visit with a photo, take note of the decor that adorns Main Street’s shops. And while you’re on Main Street, be sure to stop by Candy Palace and/or Trolley Treats for a hand-crafted candy cane. But act fast because these highly sought-after treats will sell out on those special days when they are made and sold to guests. This year, guests will receive a voucher at the entrance to the park which will entitle the bearer to purchase one hand-made candy cane.

• See the Wintery Transformation of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle: Perhaps the most spectacular transformation at the resort is that of Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, with its sparkling icicles, shimmering snow-capped turrets, and more than 50,000 twinkling lights. This is another pristine (and highly sought-after) photo spot and would make for a lovely Christmas card backdrop. Each evening during the season, guests can marvel in wonder at the holiday lighting and special effects show. The finale includes a holiday favorite…”Believe…in Holiday Magic” fireworks show, complete with snowfall down Main Street.
• Celebrate the Season With “A Christmas Fantasy Parade”: “A Christmas Fantasy” parade has become a tradition at the resort. This upbeat celebration features your favorite Disney characters singing and dancing as they prepare for the holidays and the arrival of Santa Claus. Some of our favorite moments include the marching tin soldiers, the dancing gingerbread cookies, and singing our favorite holiday songs. Tip: Visit Santa at Critter Country after the parade.
• See the Gingerbread House at Haunted Mansion Holiday: Halloween and Christmas converge in this re-themed experience at Disneyland Park. Jack Skellington’s influence is evident throughout the “mansion” including the jack-o’-lanterns and  flickering candles that adorn the exterior. Of interest, the gingerbread house, which is visible in the Mansion’s Great Hall, is made of real gingerbread and icing. Each year, the resort enlists the creativity of the resort’s food and entertainment divisions to create an original design.  This year’s design features Oogie Boogie as he pries off the roof to release an infestation of gingerbread bugs.

• Be Immersed in Cultural Holiday Celebrations Across the Globe at “it’s a small world” Holiday: “it’s a small world” Holiday depicts cultural celebrations throughout the world.  The facade of “it’s a small world” Holiday is quite the sensation, particularly at night when the 400,000 lights which adorn it shine bright. When the lights go down, the clock at the front of “it’s a small world” reveals a dazzling projection show every quarter hour. During the show, the facade is transformed into a giant clockwork mechanism with advanced 3D projection technology. The gears and springs pull back to reveal a world of holiday wonders behind the clock. Tip: FastPass is available during the season.

Disney California Adventure Park

• Take a Stroll Down Buena Vista Street: Walking into Disney California Adventure Park is like stepping back in time. When you walk into the park along Buena Vista Street and Carthay Circle, you’ll noticed old-fashioned holiday decor inspired by the 1920s. Stop at the beautiful 50-foot Christmas tree which features vintage-style ornaments and snap a photo.

• Indulge Your Inner Foodie at Festival of Holidays: As a foodie, Festival of Holidays has been a dream come true! Who hasn’t thought about eating their way through the Disneyland Resort? This multi-cultural festival includes holiday celebrations from across the globe including Christmas/Navidad, Hannukah, Diwali, Kwanza, and Three Kings Day. The highlight of the festival is the Festive Foods Marketplace, which serves multicultural food specific inspired by each holiday. The servings are typically large enough to be satisfying, but small enough to enjoy several in one tasting. You can view our complete Disneyland Holiday Dining Guide here. Festival of Holidays also includes limited-time entertainment including their brand new holiday sunset concerts, Disney¡VivaNavidad!, holiday arts and crafts, face painting, and cookie decorating.

• Join the Holiday Celebration at Cars Land: This year, Cars Land is all-aglow for the season with festive decor inspired by the popular film and its characters. Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree will temporarily become Mater’s Jingle Jamboree and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters will become Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl, both with festive music to get you in the holiday spirit.

• Take a Photo With Santa: Visit Redwood Creek Challenge Trail to visit and take photos with Santa, play Elf Games, decorate cookies, and more. This is a great place for kids to get their energy out or to take a break in between rides and shows.
• Be Awed by World of Color – Season of Light: One of the most beautiful shows at the Disneyland Resort is World of Color. I absolutely love the way the fountains dance against the backdrop of Paradise Bay while lights, music, and special effects bring classic Disney stories to life. This special holiday show will warm your hearts as holiday songs and cherished moments form Disney and Disney Pixar animated films are showcased across a shimmering aquatic canvas.