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The Magical Holiday Season at Disneyland

  • Callie
  • Aug 18
  • 5 min read
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Every November, the holiday season starts at the Disneyland Resort. Disneyland goes

all out for this festive season. Holiday Magic + Disney Magic…What could be better?! There is nothing like walking into the park with Christmas music playing and seeing the Christmas tree and the castle beautifully decorated. Along with the decorations and music you can expect, ride transformations, specialty treats, festive entertainment, and more. Here I am going to share my “can’t miss” activities and tips for the holiday season.


Entertainment


Disneyland’s “A Christmas Fantasy Parade”

One of my favorite Disney parades is “A Christmas Fantasy Parade”. The floats, characters, and music are so magical and festive. All of the floats are Christmasy and are a different elements of the holidays. The characters are all dressed in cute costumes that carry on the Christmas theme. I love the entire parade, but my favorite part is the “Recipe for Gingerbread Treats”. There are cute, dancing gingerbread men and the head baker, Goofy, on a float with a gingerbread house he has made. This festive parade wraps up with a special guest, Santa Claus!



“Believe…In Holiday Magic”

“Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks show is incredible. The fireworks are accompanied by whimsical projections on the castle. You can also view the fireworks with projections on Main Street and It’s a Small World. The show is timed to holiday classics like “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”, “Carol of the Bells”, and “I Have a Little Dreidel”. The end of the show has holiday magic and Disney magic rolled into one. Believe it or not, it actually starts to snow on Main Street. But that is not the only spot, it also snows by It’s a Small World.


My favorite place to watch this fireworks show is on Main Street with a view of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. The projections and fireworks are remarkable from this view. My heart is always full of joy and holiday spirit at the end of “Believe…In Holiday Magic” firework show.


“World of Color - Season of Light”

“World of Color - Season of Light” is another fabulous holiday show. Disney has taken their cartoons and combined them with holiday music to make a fun water and light show. Each of the movie clips fit perfectly with their holiday song. One of my favorite parts is Sadness from Inside Out during “Blue Christmas”. The song fits perfectly with her and it is a fun and funny segment. “World of Color - Season of Light” has a wonderful combination of sweet and humorous moments. It definitely is one of my favorite World of Colors.


“Wintertime Enchantment at Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle”

Each night during the holidays Disneyland illuminates Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. You can catch this event at 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM. To watch this magical transformation you will want to be over by the hub in front of castle. The normal Main Street lights will go dark so the focus is on the castle’s lights. To add to this event, music plays and snow begins to fall. I love watching the castle come to life with these added elements.

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“It’s a Small World Holiday Lighting”

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“It’s a Small World Holiday Lighting” happens every evening. As the sun goes down It’s a Small World glows with holiday lights. There is nothing like the sight of It’s a Small World at Christmas time. Over 50,000 lights make this attraction so festive and breathtaking. The Disneyland App will say the exact time for the lighting. You will want to be over in that area a little before the lighting is supposed to happen as it gets very crowded.


Christmas Tree Lighting: Town Square and Buena Vista Street

In the Town Square on Main Street in Disneyland and on Buena Vista Street in California Adventure are larger than life Christmas trees. Every evening at 5:00 PM there is a special ceremony to turn on the lights on the trees. To watch this event be sure to be in the area by the tree a few minutes before the lighting will take place.


Ride Transformations

There are 4 rides between Disneyland and California Adventure that have holiday overlays that you won’t want to miss.


Haunted Mansion Holiday

During the holiday season, Jack Skellington takes over the Haunted Mansion. All of the rooms have a Nightmare Before Christmas twist. Be sure to see the huge gingerbread house in the ballroom. Each year Disney makes a new gingerbread house for the scene. The room even smells like gingerbread. This is my favorite version of the Haunted Mansion.


Christmas It’s a Small World

Disney goes all out decorating It’s a Small World for the holiday season. Not only is the outside decorated, the inside gets a holiday makeover as well. Throughout the whole ride there are holiday lights and decorations. Along with the classic It’s a Small World song, “Jingle Bells” and “Deck the Halls” play during the ride. Listen closely to Ariel singing “Jingle Bells”. She puts an ocean spin on the song, she sings “Jingle Shells”. Christmas It’s a Small World is one of my favorite parts of the holidays at The Disneyland Resort.


Mater’s Jingle Jamboree

Mater has decorated for the holidays and sings holiday classics with a Cars twist. One of my favorites is “Season's Speedings from the Junkyard”. You can’t help but laugh and have a blast on this ride.


Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl

Similar to Mater’s, Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl is a fun holiday version of this attraction. The songs and dances are all holiday themed. Luigi sings all of the songs himself. Luigi’s is one of my favorite rides and the holiday overlay adds another fun element.


Decorations

From the second you are at The Disneyland Resort you are surrounded by the holidays. Throughout both Disneyland and California Adventure, there are decorations everywhere. Sleeping Beauty’s Castle is covered with glistening snow. There are many different types of Christmas trees throughout both parks. Each land’s decorations are themed perfectly to the uniqueness of the land. The way Cars Land in California Adventure is decorated is one of my favorites. All of the decorations are car themed. Be sure to look up to see the holiday wreaths made out of tools. The decorations in Disneyland and California Adventure are sure to put you in the holiday spirit.



See Characters In Their Holiday Outfits

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During the holiday season you can see Mickey Mouse and his friends in their festive outfits. You will be able to take a picture with them and get their autographs. Some of the characters will have a PhotoPass photographer with them so you can get a professional photo. You can meet the characters in their adorable holiday outfits usually on Main Street. You can check the Disneyland app to find what time the characters will be out. For more about meeting characters click here.


Decorations, special versions of some of the attractions, holiday entertainment, and meeting characters in holiday outfits makes visiting The Disneyland Resort during the holidays extra magical.


To get the best deals on hotel and theme park tickets, book with my preferred travel partner Get Away Today. If you would like to call to book, call 855-GET-AWAY and tell them Magical Trip Tips and Tricks sent you.

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