Christmas at Disneyland Resort

Heading to the Happiest Place on Earth for the Christmas holidays means loads to do in both Disneyland and California Adventure Park. While this year sees the return of old favorites, there are also a few new festive additions to the mix. Here is everything to know about Christmas at Disneyland Resort. 

Christmas at Disneyland begins  November 11, 2022, and runs through January 8, 2023. Encompassing the holidays, New Year, and epiphany. As such you can be sure to find holiday decorations across the parks throughout the season. 

Christmas at Disneyland Park

Believe… In Holiday Magic” Fireworks

This Christmas fireworks show is a dazzling nighttime display complete with holiday music and magic across Disneyland. And if you’re looking for snowfall you can head to Main Street USA, Rivers of America, and in front of “it’s a small world” to catch your first flurries of the season. 

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Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle

Nothing says the holidays like Sleeping Beauty’s Castle all done up in Christmas cheer. With garlands and wreaths, fake snow, and ornaments, you’re sure to feel the holiday spirit here. Covered in twinkle lights, this castle is all about wintertime enchantment. 

“it’s a small world” Holiday 

One of our favorite ways to ring in the holidays is with a ride on “it’s a small world” Holiday. This ride overlay includes dolls and toys representing each culture’s distinct traditions and it’s fun to spot the festive and fun differences throughout the ride.

Haunted Mansion Holiday

Nothing tops the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay on the Haunted Mansion In New Orleans Square. Prepped for a visit from Jack Skellington and friends, this ride gets a dose of both Halloween and Christmas at the same time to help ring in the season. Be sure to add Haunted Mansion Holiday to your Disney must-do list.  

A Christmas Fantasy Parade

Join Anna, Elsa, and Olaf plus Mickey and friends for a special parade featuring Santa Perfect to celebrate the season. Check out times for  “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade, complete with music, gingerbread men, toy soldiers, a Christmas tree and more! The perfect holiday parade to get into the Christmas mood. 

Meet Santa Claus

Meet Santa Clause at Disneyland Park with merry moments, festive photos, and bundles of fun. Head Critter Country at Disneyland Park for your chance to chat with this jolly old elf. 

Plaza Point Holiday Shoppe

And if you’re looking for even more holiday decorations to bring home, then check out this holiday store on Main Street, U.S.A. The Plaza Point Holiday Shoppe stocks Disney ornaments, housewares, linens, accessories, and all kinds of holiday-themed merchandise every day of the year! You can even get hand-painted personalization on select ornaments upon request. 

Christmas at California Adventure

World of Color – Season of Light”

Head to Paradise Bay during the holiday season at Disney California Adventure park to watch the World of Color holiday show. This water show combines gorgeous colors with holiday music and projections of stories featuring Disney films filled with friendship, family, and love.

Disney Festival of Holidays

Head to Disney’s Festival of Holidays at California Adventure for a lineup of Christmas fun across all cultures. Including Christmas, Navidad, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day. You can find Holiday marketplaces across the park filled with delicious bites perfect for the season. And if you’re in it for the long haul, grab a Sip and Savor Pass to help budget your food spending at this festival. Plus, for concert fans, plan to head to Palisades Stage in Paradise Gardens Park for live entertainment shown nightly! This festival runs from November 11, 2022- January 8, 2023.

Mickey’s Happy Holidays | 12:30 PM & 4:15 PM

Head to the parade route in Disney’s California Adventure for this festive dance party happening twice a day. Featuring Mickey and friends and more Disney and Pixar characters, you can clap along with dancing and marching, alongside the Holiday Toy Drummers.

Disney ¡Viva Navidad!

This year the “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” street party also returns. With Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse donning festive fiesta attire, you can also see the Mexican folklórico dancers and Mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers, and percussionists. And even giant mojiganga puppets, standing 12 feet tall, join the fun. 

Meet Santa Claus

You can find Santa Claus himself at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. Setting up shop in this jolly, joy-filled playground, complete with seasonal games and outdoor activities for all to explore, Satna Clause can be seen at the Ahwahnee Camp Circle near the trail’s entrance.

Cars Land  at Christmas

Nothing beats Cars Land at Christmastime. With all the cars dressed in their holiday best, you can see the decorations around every corner, and hear the holiday music blasting from the speakers above. Be sure to check out the Christmas transformations at Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree.  

Christmas Gingerbread House at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel

Gingerbread House at Disney’s Californian Hotel and Spa 

Starting November 14, 2022, In addition to the festive garlands and wreaths, guests can also take a look at the 7-foot gingerbread house in the lobby. Creating a NEW replica of the hotel for the holidays to honor this annual tradition. And this bake takes months for a 25-member team to create. Featuring 600 pounds of gingerbread, 600 pounds of powdered sugar, 250 pounds of fondant, 1 pound of pixie dust, and 25 hidden Mickeys. Typically featuring our favorite Grand Californian Hotel friends like Chip and Dale, Bambi, and others, it’s a treat to see the design every year.

Plus you can even grab holiday treats in the lobby next to this sweet confection to help ring in the season. 

This holiday display also features Limited-Edition Snow Globe Pins featuring Chip ‘n Dale. Plus you can also stop by GHC Holiday Cart to enjoy some treats, including: 

• Mickey Gingerbread
• Poinsettia Cookie
• Snowman Cookie 
• Christmas Cookie 
• Hanukkah Cookie 
• Holiday Cookie Box
• Assorted Macarons (New) 
• Kwanzaa Sweet Potato Loaf (New) 
• New Year’s Cookie (New) 
• Crisped Rice Treat 
• Hot Chocolate 
• Hot Apple Cider (Available with Bailey’s Irish Cream, Captain Morgan, Grand Marnier, or Rumchata)
• Waffle Shot (Available with milk, low-fat milk, chocolate milk, or eggnog) 
• Waffle Shot (Available with Bailey’s Irish Cream, Captain Morgan, Grand Marnier, Rumchata, Amaretto, Butterscotch Schnapps, Rumple Minze, Crown Royal Apple, Skrewball Whiskey, Fireball Whiskey, Louis the 13^th) 

Diwali at Disneyland Hotel

Head to The Coffee House for an Indian chai Archisha Teaon the menu Oct. 17, 2022 – Jan. 9, 2023.  And you can even see the Blue13 Dance Company in a performance near The Coffee House at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. daily from Oct. 17 – Oct. 24, 2022, to commemorate this celebration. 

Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Tour

Join this specially guided journey for a 2.5-hour walk through the parks to get an inside look at the Holidays at the parks. Complete with unique facts and ride opportunities, this Disneyland Christmas Walking Tour ends on Main Street just in time for the A Christmas Fantasy parade. 

Disneyland Holiday Snacks 

And of course, you can find even more Holiday fun with Seasonal snacks across the parks and resorts. From festive churros to cookies to cocoa, here’s the lineup of what you can grab at Disneyland to ring in the holidays. 

Disney California Adventure Park

• Grizzly Peak Churro Peppermint Churro – Churro coated with crushed candy canes, drizzled with chocolate and vanilla sauce

• Lamplight Lounge Peppermint Donuts – Hot cocoa-dusted donuts with toasted marshmallow crème and peppermint-chocolate dipping sauce

• Festive Foods Marketplace Merry Mashups Esquites Carnitas Mac & Cheese – Esquites-style mac & cheese with carnitas, salsa macha, spiced puffed rice, freeze-dried corn and chopped cilantro

• Smokejumpers Grill Loaded Latkes -Traditional Latkes loaded with smoked brisket, topped with dairy-free horseradish cream and scallions

• Sonoma Terrace Mistletoe Mule – A holiday take on a classic mule cocktail with cranberry juice and agave, garnished with a sprig of rosemary and a Cape cranberry

Disneyland Park

• Red Rose Taverne Holiday Grey Stuff – Traditional Grey Stuff with a holiday twist

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

• GCH Holiday Cart – Poinsettia Cookie

Disneyland Christmas Popcorn Bucket 2022

Woody and Buzz have gathered their Christmas blocks in the spirit of the season filled with toys. Available for a limited time you can grab this popcorn bucket at Disney’s California Adventure popcorn carts. 

Meet Mickey and Minnie in their Christmas Outfits

Head to Town Square at Disneyland to catch a glimpse of these cozy, festive new looks for our favorite power couple, Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Complete with plaids, fur, velvet, chenille and sparkles. 

New Christmas Merchandise at Disneyland 

Check out the latest Holiday merchandise in the parks and at Downtown Disney. As part of the Vintage Mickey Christmas Collection, you can find designs in reds and blues, as well as silver and gold. Be sure to check out the shopDisney Holiday Shop for everything you can grab online too.

Holidays at Disneyland Resort

There’s no shortage of Holiday fun to be had at Disneyland and California Adventure. Whatever travel is planned for this holiday season, be sure to stop by the parks for food, fun, and festive activities all season.