Updated August 2026
There is something especially magical about visiting Disneyland Resort during the holidays. From the moment you walk down Main Street, U.S.A., surrounded by twinkling lights and festive décor, to the seasonal entertainment, holiday ride overlays, special food and drinks, and appearances by Santa, the Disneyland Resort becomes a celebration of the season.
The 2026 holiday season at Disneyland Resort runs from November 13, 2026 through January 6, 2027, giving guests plenty of opportunities to experience the magic. Families can enjoy classic holiday traditions at Disneyland Park, celebrate cultures and traditions during Disney Festival of Holidays and Disney ¡Viva Navidad! at Disney California Adventure, and find even more seasonal fun at the Disneyland Resort Hotels and Downtown Disney District.
If you’re considering a Disneyland vacation during the holidays, here’s what you can look forward to during the 2026 season.
Explore Disneyland Resort
Planning a Disneyland Resort vacation can be just as exciting as the destination itself—and a little easier when you know where to start. Whether you’re planning your first visit, returning for another magical trip, or comparing Disneyland with other Disney destinations, our Explore Disneyland is a great place to begin.
Holidays at Disneyland Park
Disneyland Park becomes especially magical during the holiday season. Guests can stroll down Main Street, U.S.A., beneath the iconic 60-foot-tall Christmas tree and take in the glow of Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle.
Each evening during the holiday season, the castle is transformed with 80,000 shimmering lights, creating a sparkling winter wonderland.
And that’s only the beginning.
Related article: Disneyland Park Guide 2026
New Season’s Greetings
During the 2026 holiday season, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and some of their friends will be celebrating in new holiday attire inspired by holiday travel and a wintery alpine gathering.
Santa will also have a new location this year. Guests can visit Santa at Mickey’s Toontown Trolley Barn, near Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, and share their holiday wish lists with St. Nick.
Families visiting Santa can also make a stop at “Bluey’s Best Day Ever!” at the Fantasyland Theatre, where Bluey and Bingo continue to make appearances.
Related article: Step into the Whimsical World of Mickey’s ToonTown at Disneyland
Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour
For guests who want to experience even more holiday traditions, the Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour offers an opportunity to learn more about Disneyland’s seasonal traditions and hear heartwarming stories about Walt Disney and his family.
The experience also includes reserved viewing for “A Christmas Fantasy Parade.”
The tour is available for an additional cost, and additional details will be available on Disneyland.com at a later date.
Holiday Entertainment at Disneyland Park
If holiday entertainment is high on your Disneyland vacation wish list, there are several experiences to look forward to.
“Believe…In Holiday Magic” Fireworks
The “Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular returns during the holiday season.
Depending on the performance, guests can enjoy the show with Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, “it’s a small world” Holiday, or the Rivers of America as a backdrop.
And there’s a particularly magical addition: snowfall!
Snow falls at all three viewing locations as well as portions of Main Street, U.S.A., creating an especially memorable holiday experience.
“A Christmas Fantasy Parade”
Grab a spot along the parade route for “A Christmas Fantasy Parade.”
The beloved holiday parade features reindeer, toy soldiers, dancing gingerbread cookies, and plenty of other festive favorites before culminating in a grand finale featuring Santa Claus.
Planning tip: If this parade is a priority for your family, be sure to plan ahead for where and when you want to watch it. Holiday entertainment can be extremely popular.
Holiday Ride Overlays at Disneyland Park
One of the best parts of visiting Disneyland during the holidays is experiencing some favorite attractions with their seasonal transformations.
Haunted Mansion Holiday
Haunted Mansion Holiday combines the spooky fun of Haunted Mansion with the world of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
The attraction receives its annual holiday transformation, including a spectacular gingerbread creation inside the ballroom scene.
For 2026, the attraction celebrates 25 years of holiday gingerbread creations, with this year’s design taking the form of a delightfully monstrous music box.
“it’s a small world” Holiday
Another Disneyland holiday favorite is “it’s a small world” Holiday.
The classic attraction is transformed with festive decorations and holiday music, while the exterior becomes one of the most recognizable holiday photo spots at Disneyland.
The façade and surrounding landscaping are illuminated by 400,000 lights, complete with an adorable Santa hat on the clockface.
‘Tis the Season at Disney California Adventure
The holiday celebration continues across the esplanade at Disney California Adventure Park.
From holiday entertainment and seasonal décor to cultural celebrations and special food, Disney California Adventure offers a very different holiday experience from Disneyland Park.
Related article: The Very Best of Disney’s California Adventure Park
World of Color – Season of Light
“World of Color – Season of Light” returns November 13, 2026.
This nighttime spectacular celebrates the spirit of the holiday season through water, light, music, and scenes inspired by beloved Disney stories.
The 2026 presentation features classics including Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Beauty and the Beast as well as heartwarming favorites including Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out.
Related article: My Experience with Disney Dessert Parties: Are They Worth It?
Holiday Fun at Disney California Adventure
Throughout the park, guests will find plenty of seasonal experiences, including:
- Holiday Toy Drummers in Paradise Gardens Park
- Mickey Mouse and friends in festive winter attire along Buena Vista Street
- Seasonal entertainment and performances
- Santa’s Holiday Visit at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
At Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, the area transforms into a festive playground filled with seasonal games and outdoor activities. Young guests can enjoy the holiday fun before visiting Santa.
Rev Up Holiday Magic in Cars Land
Cars Land gets an especially fun holiday makeover during the season.
The land is decorated with colorful lights, wreaths, bows, and plenty of holiday cheer. Each day at sunset, guests can watch the decorations come to life during the “Sh-boom” moment as the land transitions from day to night.
The holiday fun continues with two seasonal attraction overlays:
- Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl
- Mater’s Jingle Jamboree
If you’re visiting Disney California Adventure during the holidays, Cars Land is definitely worth experiencing after dark.
Disney Festival of Holidays
One of the highlights of the holiday season at Disney California Adventure is Disney Festival of Holidays.
The celebration brings together holiday traditions, entertainment, and food inspired by a variety of cultures.
For 2026, guests can explore six marketplaces featuring both new seasonal offerings and returning favorites.
Disney Festival of Holidays Food & Drinks
If you’re a Disney foodie, this is an experience you’ll want to build into your park day.
Guests can sample seasonal food and nonalcoholic beverages throughout the marketplaces and participating dining locations.
A Sip and Savor Pass is also available. The pass includes six digital coupons that can be redeemed for select food and nonalcoholic menu items at participating locations during the festival.
For many guests, sampling the Festival of Holidays offerings is as much a part of the Disneyland holiday experience as the attractions and entertainment.
More Festival of Holidays Entertainment
Holiday entertainment can be found throughout Disney California Adventure.
“Mickey’s Happy Holidays” cavalcade features Mickey Mouse and friends traveling through the park while the Holiday Toy Drummers provide festive musical accompaniment.
At the Paradise Garden Bandstand, guests can enjoy rotating live bands and cultural performance groups scheduled throughout the holiday season.
On select days, Buena Vista Street hosts “A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel!” featuring Miguel from Pixar’s Coco alongside Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland performing bilingual holiday music.
“Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season” also returns on select days, featuring Mirabel from Encanto and her friends, along with live performances of songs from the film.
Celebrate Culture and Familia with Disney ¡Viva Navidad!
Disney ¡Viva Navidad! celebrates holiday traditions, music, dance, and storytelling from across Latin America.
On select days, guests can experience the Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party, featuring:
- The Three Caballeros
- Folklórico dancers
- Mariachis
- Brazilian samba dancers
- Drummers
- Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in festive holiday attire
Guests may also encounter the Three Caballeros, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy in their special holiday attire at Paradise Gardens Park during select times.
For families looking for something beyond traditional Christmas celebrations, Disney ¡Viva Navidad! is a wonderful way to experience the cultural traditions represented throughout the holiday season.
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort Hotels
The holiday magic doesn’t stop when you leave the parks.
The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort also celebrate the season with festive décor, seasonal displays, special experiences, holiday carolers, seasonal food, and visits from Santa.
Santa will make appearances at:
Related article: Disneyland Resort Hotels: Which One is Right for You?
Holiday Magic at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
The lobby of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is especially beautiful during the holidays.
Guests can admire a 7-foot-tall gingerbread display modeled after the architecture of the hotel and decorated with whimsical Disney touches.
And if you enjoy holiday décor, this is definitely worth a stop—even if you aren’t staying at the hotel.
Related article: Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa: Luxury in the Heart of Disneyland
Holiday Character Dining
Holiday cheer also makes its way into select character dining experiences from November 16, 2026 through January 3, 2027.
Character dining options include:
- Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays! at Disneyland Hotel
- Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party at Storytellers Cafe at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
- Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast at Storytellers Cafe at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Seasonal treats and menu items can also be found throughout the Disneyland Resort Hotels.
Related article: Disney’s Character Dining: Is it Worth It?
Holiday Relaxation
Looking for a little grown-up holiday relaxation?
Guests can enjoy seasonal treatments at Tenaya Stone Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, including the Naughty or Nice foot treatments, Underneath the Tree signature massage, and Joy of Holiday body treatment.
These experiences are available for an additional fee.
2026 Disneyland Resort Hotel Offer
If you’re considering staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel for your holiday vacation, there’s also a limited-time 2026 hotel offer to keep in mind.
Booking begins September 22, 2026, with savings of up to 20% on select stays of three or more nights at:
- Disneyland Hotel
- Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
- Pixar Place Hotel
- The Villas at Disneyland Hotel
The offer applies to visits from October 11 through December 18, 2026, subject to availability and restrictions.
If you’re considering a holiday trip, this is one of those promotions worth discussing with your vacation planning professional before making your plans.
Related article: Big 2026 Disneyland Vacation Deals
Holiday Magic at Downtown Disney District
You don’t need a park ticket to enjoy some holiday magic at the Disneyland Resort.
Beginning November 13, 2026, Downtown Disney District transforms into a winter wonderland with festive décor, seasonal food and beverages, entertainment, and even nightly snowfall.
At the Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage, guests can enjoy nightly entertainment ranging from holiday music to DJs and bands.
Related article: Downtown Disney Guide: Magic Outside the Parks
Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail
A favorite holiday activity also returns beginning November 11, 2026 through January 6, 2027.
With Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail, guests purchase an activity map from a participating retail location and search throughout Downtown Disney for the hidden characters.
Once you’ve completed the activity, you can exchange the map at a redemption location for a special ornament keepsake.
It’s a fun activity for families—and a great option for an evening when you aren’t visiting a theme park.
2026 Disneyland Holiday Treats & Shopping
Of course, no Disney holiday celebration would be complete without seasonal treats and merchandise.
Guests can shop seasonal collections throughout Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney, including:
- Mickey Mouse and Family Christmas Collection
- Holiday Pastel Collection
- Disney Vintage Holiday Collection
Seasonal merchandise includes apparel, pins, festive headwear, collectibles, and more.
Two of the featured novelties for 2026 include the Mickey Train Light Up Bucket and Holiday Stitch Christmas Tree Sipper.
Holiday Treats
Seasonal food and beverages are another reason to visit Disneyland during the holidays.
Some returning favorites for 2026 include:
- Mickey Elf Shake at Schmoozies! in Disney California Adventure
- Milk and Cookies Tree-shaped Macaron at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe in Disneyland Park
And if you’re looking to combine holiday entertainment with a special meal, seasonal dining experiences include an “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” dining package at Plaza Inn and the “World of Color – Season of Light” Dessert Party.
Planning a Disneyland Holiday Vacation
A holiday visit to Disneyland can be incredibly memorable, but there’s a lot happening across the resort—and you don’t have to experience everything in one trip.
Think about what matters most to your travel party before you arrive.
Do you want to prioritize:
- Holiday entertainment?
- Seasonal attractions?
- Character experiences?
- Festival of Holidays food?
- Holiday shopping?
- Special dining?
- Resort hotel experiences?
- Or simply soaking up the atmosphere?
The answer will help you decide where to spend your time and what experiences are worth planning ahead for.
And remember, you don’t have to do everything to have a magical Disneyland vacation.
Choose the experiences that matter most to your travel party and leave yourself some room to enjoy the unexpected holiday magic along the way.
Continue Planning Your Disneyland Vacation
Enjoyed this article? Keep exploring! Here are a few more Disneyland Resort resources to help you put the pieces together:
- Downtown Disney Guide: Magic Outside the Parks
- Disneyland Resort Hotels: Which One is Right for You?
- Top Holiday Events at Disneyland
- Dining at Disneyland: Our Reviews
Looking for a bigger picture? Head back to our Disneyland Resort Vacation Planning Guide for more resources to help you plan from start to finish.
Ready to Plan Your Disneyland Adventure?
You’ve done the research. Now it’s time to start putting your vacation together!
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