Disneyland Resort transforms into an enchanting holiday destination from November 13, 2026, through January 6, 2027. As a San Diego local, I can tell you that this year also brings back World of Color – Season of Light, the holiday version of Disney California Adventure’s nighttime show, which sat out 2025 for the Disneyland 70th Celebration.
You will find dazzling holiday décor, beloved spectaculars like the “Believe…in Holiday Magic” fireworks, and the vibrant Disney Festival of Holidays.
So be on the lookout and check the Disneyland Holidays calendar to see what’s happening during your visit. Here is why a Disneyland Christmas celebration should be on your wish list during the holiday season.
See also: How to Buy Discounted Disneyland Tickets
Key Event Takeaways
- Holiday festivities run from November 13, 2026, through January 6, 2027.
- Santa visits both parks and all three Disneyland Resort hotels through Christmas Eve.
- Most activities occur in the afternoon and evening, so check the calendar for exact times.
- Disney’s full 2026 holiday food guide isn’t out yet, so most menu items below are from last season.
- Storytellers Cafe’s holiday character meals at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa run November 16, 2026, through January 3, 2027.
1. Special Disneyland Holiday Desserts
Walking around the parks all day burns plenty of calories, allowing you to treat yourself to the seasonal menu. Last season brought more than 240 holiday food and beverage offerings across the resort, including 90 new items such as the Philly cheese potato and the yuletide carnitas torta. The Festive Food Marketplaces added a winter citrus whisky sour, too.
For 2026, Disney has so far named returning favorites like the cool mint and chocolate cookie Mickey elf shake at Schmoozies! and the merry cranberry crispy chicken sandwich at Galactic Grill.
Of course, don’t forget about the classic Gingerbread Shingles if you can find them during this holiday time.
Grab the recipe for Disneyland Resort’s gingerbread shingles.
2. Festive Disneyland Decorations
Every year, guests await the thousands upon thousands of holiday lights and festive decorations that make up the Disneyland Christmas decorations and create a wonderfully cozy atmosphere.
The 60-foot-tall Christmas tree at the town square of Main Street, U.S.A., boasts nearly 1,800 Victorian-inspired ornaments and 100 oversized faux candles.
Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle shines brightly each night, illuminated with more than 80,000 twinkling lights, shimmering icicles, and glistening snow-capped turrets.
Every night, all the lights in Downtown Disney will also dazzle complete with holiday shopping, festive musical performances, and plenty of Insta-worthy photo opportunities.
To say they go big during the Christmas season with holiday decorations is an understatement—holiday spirit and Disney magic is real during the holidays at Disneyland!
3. Favorite Rides With Holiday Overlays
Several popular attractions receive seasonal makeovers that are absolute must-dos:
- Haunted Mansion Holiday: Inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas, the ballroom scene features a gingerbread display that Disney redesigns every year. Last season’s stood about 13 feet tall and hosted a “murder” of black crows with glowing red eyes. This is located in New Orleans Square at Disneyland Park. The Haunted Mansion becomes a world where two holidays collide: Christmas and Halloween.
(Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
- “it’s a small world” Holiday: The facade glitters with 50,000 lights, and the ride takes guests on a wintry waterway around the world as dolls representing children enjoy the distinctive holiday traditions of their respective countries. Be sure to gather in front of the attraction’s facade when dusk begins to fall. You’ll be amazed to witness these thousands of twinkling lights come to life.
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The “it’s a small world” Holiday facade at Disneyland park. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort) -
Located in Fantasyland at Disneyland Park, this ride is normally a feast for the senses. It incorporates holiday embellishment and music in a manner that pleases all ages during the holiday season at Disneyland.
4. “Believe… In Holiday Magic” Fireworks Spectacular
End a festive evening at Disneyland Park with the spectacular “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks display over Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle. The show runs on select nights (weather permitting) and features a magical snowfall finale that showers Main Street, U.S.A., and other locations in flurries.
For even more seasonal magic, catch the holiday projections that join the twinkling lights on the “it’s a small world” Holiday facade at dusk.
Good to know: Last season, the facade also hosted “Tapestry of Happiness,” a projection show added for the Disneyland 70th Celebration, on select nights. Disney hasn’t said whether it runs during the 2026 holidays, so check the Disneyland app for the schedule.
5. Cars Land Holiday Transformation
Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park gets into the holiday spirit, and last season a whimsical “Snowcar” greeted guests at the entrance. Route 66 is decked out with automotive-themed décor, and two attractions get holiday updates: Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, both of which feature catchy holiday songs sung by the characters.
6. Disney Festival of Holidays
Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park involves Christmas music, food, a 50-foot-tall holiday tree, and fun that celebrates meaningful traditions of Christmas, Navidad, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings’ Day.
Favorite Disney and Pixar characters join Mickey Mouse and other Disney friends to dance to the beats of holiday toy drummers. Of course, they’re all decked out in their holiday best of classic red and green for the Christmas festivities and ready to spread holiday cheer.
Festive Food Marketplaces: Six marketplaces return in 2026 with dishes that span cultures, including the fan-favorite braised pork belly adobo, though Disney hasn’t posted the full menus yet. Last season’s new items included the spicy Cajun loaded fries, tacos dorados de camarón, and the al pastor mac and cheese, alongside returning favorites like the holiday mash bowl and chocolate peppermint lava cake.
Sip and Savor Pass: To sample your way through the festival, purchase a Sip and Savor Pass. It includes six digital coupons redeemable for select food and nonalcoholic beverages at participating marketplaces and dining locations.
Mickey’s Happy Holidays: Dance along with Mickey Mouse and pals to the magically merry rhythms of the Holiday Toy Drummers. This high-energy cavalcade features characters decked out in their holiday best.
Disney ¡Viva Navidad!: This vibrant street party at Paradise Gardens honors Latin American traditions. Hosted by The Three Caballeros, it features Mexican folklórico dancers, mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers, and giant mojiganga puppets.
- “Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season”: Join Mirabel from Encanto for a heartwarming presentation of stories and songs from the film.
- “A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel”: Miguel from Coco joins the mariachis for a celebration of heartfelt stories and timeless songs.
7. World of Color – Season of Light
The nighttime spectacular at Disney California Adventure Park is “World of Color – Season of Light,” which returns to Paradise Bay for the holidays. The show pairs holiday music with scenes from Disney and Pixar films projected onto a wall of mist, along with hundreds of fountains and snowflake effects.
It is an amazing spectacle to witness that brings warmth and awe as you watch the stunning visuals. You shouldn’t miss this one.
8. Holidays Guided Tour
If you want an elevated experience, book the Holiday Time at Disneyland Guided Tour. Disney’s 2026 announcement says the tour shares holiday stories about Walt Disney and his family, along with traditions from around the world, and includes reserved viewing for “A Christmas Fantasy Parade.” It costs extra on top of park admission, and the tour page hasn’t posted 2026 booking details yet. Last season’s version was a two-hour walking tour.
9. A Christmas Fantasy Parade
(Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
The holiday season isn’t complete without a street parade. “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade returns to Disneyland Park this year. This joyful procession features a flurry of characters, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Disney Princesses, and marching toy soldiers, bringing seasonal magic to The Happiest Place on Earth.
Note: The “Paint the Night” parade has concluded for 2026, so it is not part of the holiday lineup.
10. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: A Must-Ride Attraction
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened in November 2024. This musical log flume attraction takes guests through the bayou as Princess Tiana’s story unfolds, featuring Audio-Animatronics figures and a thrilling 50-foot drop. It is an essential addition to your winter itinerary.
11. Holiday Fun at Avengers Campus
Last season, Deadpool (aka “Santapool”) returned to Avengers Campus with “The Story Time with Deadpool Holiday Special,” which made it a fun diversion for teens and adults, and Disney said Wolverine might stop by at select story times.
Disney hasn’t announced whether the special returns for 2026, and Avengers Campus is under refurbishment while two new attractions are built, so check the Disneyland app before you plan around it.
12. Santa’s Holiday Visit
Starting November 13, Santa visits Mickey’s Toontown Trolley Barn in Disneyland Park and Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in Disney California Adventure Park. Both stops come with festive photos, and the Redwood Creek visit adds holiday activities along the trail.
Santa will also visit Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the Disneyland Hotel, and Pixar Place Hotel from November 26 through Christmas Eve.
Appearance times change, so check at each location on the day of your visit.
13. Buena Vista Street Tree Lighting
Visitors of Disney California Adventure can experience the magical Buena Vista Street Holiday Tree Lighting during the holiday season.
Head over to Elias & Co. on Buena Vista Street to watch as the monumental tree twinkles to life with hundreds of ornaments, glistening garlands, Christmas decorations, festive music, and colored lights. It’s one of our favorite classic Disney moments. Check the Disneyland app for the lighting time.
14. Holiday Gifts
While Disney parks are always good places to buy gifts for the Disney fan in your life, the holiday season is particularly remarkable should you want a holiday keepsake when you visit Disneyland, California Adventure, and Downtown Disney during the holiday time.
Thousands of Christmas ornaments, holiday-themed Mickey and Minnie Mouse ears, and other options that can only be purchased during the holiday time stock the shelves (though they seem to have some ornaments year-round).
You can also check out their online store, which features many holiday goodies. But there’s a great holiday store on Main Street U.S.A. called Plaza Point, which sells ornaments and other Christmas décor all year.
15. The Disneyland Hotels Are Decked Out, Too
Book a Disneyland Resort hotel during the holiday season. Our top pick is Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which has the most beautiful Christmas tree and a 7-foot-tall gingerbread house in the lobby, usually made from 600 lbs of powdered sugar, 250 lbs of fondant, and one pound of pixie dust!
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa was created in a beautiful craftsman style and has its own entrance to Disney California Adventure Park and Downtown Disney. It takes about 5 minutes to walk to Disneyland Park.
Last season, Pixar Place Hotel, formerly Paradise Pier, featured 31 uniquely decorated trees celebrating 10 Pixar films.
Also, don’t miss Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party (breakfast or brunch) or Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast (dinner) at Storytellers Cafe in the Grand Californian, both running November 16, 2026, through January 3, 2027.
Plus, staying at the Disneyland resort hotels means it’s nice to have a nearby place to rest in the late afternoon when kids get tired.
16. You Can Buy Discount Disneyland Tickets
With the Christmas Fantasy Parade, Sleeping Beauty’s winter castle, holiday shows, towering Christmas trees, a haunted mansion, “it’s a small world holiday,” and more, Christmas at Disneyland will have you believe Christmas magic is alive in southern California—it is the happiest place on earth, after all!
While a 1-Day Disneyland theme park ticket during this season is best bought through Disneyland (don’t forget your park reservations!), those considering longer visits to Disneyland at Christmas can save money through authorized ticket sellers like aRes Travel, which has discounted pricing on multi-day Park Hopper and 1-Park Per Day tickets.
When you buy through our aRes Travel store, you can also add ticket insurance for $25 at checkout, which gets you a full refund if your plans change.
Final Thoughts
As a local, I have visited Disneyland during the holidays more times than I can count. While the crowds are real, so is the magic.
My biggest piece of advice for this year? Slow down.
With a whole seasonal menu to try and countless visual details, from the vintage ornaments on Buena Vista Street to the icicles on Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, the real joy this season is found in the details, not just the ride counts. Grab a warm drink, find a spot for the fireworks, and soak in the history and the holiday spirit combined.
What is your favorite thing about Disneyland Resort during the holidays?
Top photo credit: Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort
Disneyland during the holidays is awesome! We visited last year for the holidays and were there for Halloween a few weeks ago.
Now trying to convince my wife we need to go again for the holidays!
Disneyland at Christmas is amazing. This will be our second trip during this season and CAN’T wait. Even the kids said they enjoyed it better than when we went during the summer! All the lights and decorations can’t be beat!!