If you click on the links in this post, we may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post, at no extra cost to you. You can read the full disclaimer here.
Christmastime at Disneyland in Anaheim, California is truly a wonderful, magical time. Holidays at the Disneyland Resort this year will run from November 14, 2025, through January 7, 2026. If you haven’t visited the theme park before during Christmas and you’re going to be/want to be in Southern California during the holiday season then you really ought to go this year.
Consider these following 10 reasons why Disneyland at Christmas is amazing:
Disney Festival of the Holidays
This popular Disney festival will be returning to the Disney California Adventure park on November 14, 2025. It’s a celebration of different holidays traditions celebrated in different cultures. You can celebrate different seasonal holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Navidad, Diwali, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day. And that means a lot of delicious food and drinks from these holidays and cultures, too, as well as live entertainment.
Disney ¡Viva Navidad!
Celebrate Mexico and Brazil’s holiday traditions at Disney’s ¡Viva Navidad! celebration at Disney California Adventure.
There is a ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party with folklórico dancers, mariachis, drummers. It also features the Three Caballeros (Donald Duck, Panchito & José Carioca).
There’s also a special seasonal celebration of Encanto with special appearances by the movie’s heroine, Mirabel.
Disney ¡Viva Navidad ends with a Three Kings Day celebration from January 4, 2025, to January 7, 2025.
Decorations
You can see holiday decorations all over Disneyland, California Adventure, Downtown Disney & the resort hotels! See the storefronts & lampposts of Main Street USA decorated with wreaths and garland. Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle shimmer at night with snow-capped turrets and beautiful icicles. See Buena Vista Street at California Adventure be transformed into a nostalgic winter wonderland, and a 50-foot Christmas tree at Carthay Circle, which will be lit nightly. And see so many more Christmas decorations, complete with the smallest touches that Disney is always known for.
Cars Land Christmas Makeover
Luigi’s backyard in Cars Land at California Adventure will be decked out for the holiday season! Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters gets a holiday overlay and Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl. You’ll learn Luigi croon holiday tunes as you drive.
Cars Land is also where you can also Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, a festive makeover of Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree. While you enjoy the ride, you’ll be entertained by Christmas tunes sung by Mater himself, complete with new lyrics that suit the popular Pixar character.
It’s A Small World Holiday
Enjoy a beautifully decorated, seasonal version of this classic Disneyland ride. When you walk up to the attraction, the traditional song plays but also alongside traditional holiday songs.
And that’s not all. Thousands of Christmas lights bring new sparkle and life to the ride at night during the holiday season.
Haunted Mansion Holiday
This ride honestly feels to me like a whole new ride when it gets a transformation inspired by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s a neat experience who love the popular movie – and even a fun ride for those who don’t. I first did this ride years ago before I had seen the movie, and I loved it. Now, though, I have seen the movie (and I loved it!) so I can enjoy the ride even more!
Fireworks & Parade
You can cap off your nights enjoying “Believe…In Holiday Magic” at Disneyland. This is a wonderful spectacle for your eyes set to Christmas music!
The beloved Disneyland park tradition, A Christmas Fantasy Parade, is back this year. This festive Disneyland park tradition features beautiful, festive floats featuring beloved Disney Princesses like Anna & Elsa, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Olaf…and it ends with Santa Claus on his sleigh!
Please note that the parade is very popular, so you’ll need to arrive early if you want a good view there. This is especially true if you want a view along Main Street, U.S.A.
Holiday Food & Drink
So you know how I mentioned that there would be good food as part of the Festival of the Holidays? Well, that is certainly true. But it won’t be the only place you can find great seasonal drinks and food. You can find them throughout the Disneyland Resort. We don’t know what the menu will be like this year, but this was the Disneyland holiday seasonal menu last year.
There are also holiday themed Disney character dining experiences. These take place at Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel and Storytellers Cafe at Grand Californian.
Meet Santa
Meet Santa Claus and hang out with Disney characters such as Chip ‘n’ Dale, Goofy and Pluto over at Fantasyland Theatre.
Some of the fun activities you can find here include:
- Animated holiday shorts, including a brand new Disney Jr. holiday animated short
- Atmospheric music by The Dickens Yuletide Band
- Specialty holiday treats
- Arts and crafts
- Holiday sing-alongs
- A reading of A Christmas Carol
- Winter-themed backdrops for photo opportunities
But there are other opportunities to meet Santa around the Disney resort, too, like the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in Disney California Adventure Park. This takes place at Ahwahnee Camp Circle, which the elves have transformed into a playground filled with seasonal games & outdoor activities.
You can also meet Santa at the Disney hotels starting in late November at the following locations:
- Pixar Place Hotel – in the main lobby
- Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa – in the Great Hall
- Disneyland Hotel – in the main lobby
Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail
This is a fun scavenger hunt you can participate in at Downtown Disney (please note, though, that the map and stickers do cost $11.99).
How it works is that you look for special Disney character-themed ornaments hidden on holiday trees throughout the Downtown Disney District.
Once you have filled out the map with the stickers, you can return your map to World of Disney or Disney’s Pin Traders for a special holiday keepsake!
Visiting Disneyland
With so much to do at both Disneyland and California Adventure, you’re going to want to visit both parks. You can buy multiple day or park hopper tickets at a discounted price here.
