Disneyland Christmas Holiday Guide

We’ve rounded up all the holiday happenings in this Disneyland Christmas Guide for 2026. From Holiday fireworks to the Festival of Holidays, if you’re heading to the Happiest Place on Earth for the Christmas holidays get ready for magic. This year sees the return of old favorites and new festive additions, all added to the mix at Disneyland for Christmas  Here is everything to know about Christmas at Disneyland Parks.

Christmas Activities at Disneyland

If you’re heading to Disneyland for the Holidays you can find seasonal decorations, new Disneyland Christmas Snacks, holiday events, and characters in seasonal costumes! There is plenty to do at Disneyland and California Adventure Park throughout the holiday season. Here’s the lineup of everything to expect on a Disneyland Christmas Vacation.

When is Christmas at Disneyland?

Christmas at Disneyland begins November 18, 2026. This means Holidays at Disneyland Resort across both parks, Downtown Disney, and the Disney Resorts! Filled with festive cheer you can find everywhere. From ride overlays to Resort decorations, and Disney characters in holiday outfits. Flurries, Garlands, Wreaths, and over 50,000 lights on the “it’s a small world” attraction make Disneyland Park a fantasy wonderland for the holidays. Everything you could possibly want to include on your Disneyland Christmas trip. Let’s dive into all the extra festive fun this holiday season. 

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 pompoms, mail bags and letters for Santa. 

Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season

Head over to Disney’s California Adventure Park Mondays through Fridays outside the entrance to Paradise Gardens Park. Complete with a Fiesta de Navidad celebration. Perfect for all ages you can sing along to songs from Encanto in this musical performance.

A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegria de Disneyland and Miguel

Get ready for heartfelt stories and timeless songs at Disneyland. Scheduled Monday through Friday evenings on Buena Vista Street, you can see dancers and sing songs. This is a bilingual celebration, perfect for everyone! Featuring an appearance by Miguel from Coco, and a chance to listed to Miguel’s version of “Silent Night!”

Live Musical Performances 

Over in Disney’s California Adventure, you can listen to all kinds of music! Mariachi, Jazz, Klezmer, Latin pop, fusion, reggae, polka, and more! Several new live bands include Joy, Rangoli Rhythms, Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts, Keali’I O Nālani & Daniel Ho and more. Plus returning favorites include Blue13 Dance Company and the Mistletoes! Check out the Disneyland App for all the showtimes and details. 

Holiday Fun with Santa and Friends at Fantasyland Theatre

Scheduled daily at Disneyland Park, you can see Santa Claus himself and some Disney friends for holiday photos at Fantasyland Theatre. Here you can also enjoy craft making, sing-alongs, and more! 

Christmas at Disneyland Park

If you’re ready to do all the holiday things at Disneyland, here’s the lineup, times, and everything to know before you go. 

Believe… In Holiday Magic” Fireworks | 9:30 PM

This Disneyland 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. Disneyland as Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle shimmers with more than 80,000 twinkling lights, sparkling “icicles” and glistening snow-capped turrets. If you’re looking for a reserved viewing spot for this fireworks show, you can book the Holiday Time at Disneyland Resort Guided Tour. 15 minute show. 

Wintertime Enchantment at 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 can feel the holiday spirit here. Covered in twinkle lights, this castle is all about wintertime enchantment. With snow-capped turrets and snow falling in select areas across Disneyland Park. 

“it’s a small world” Holiday 

Ringing in the season with Disneyland Christmas ride overlays, one of our favorites is the “it’s a small world” Holiday overlay. 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. And the outside is covered in Christmas lights. Beautiful inside and out! 

Haunted Mansion Holiday with Nightmare Before Christmas

An absolute must do on a Disneyland Christmas Trip. 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.  This Haunted Christmas overlay also includes a Haunted Mansion Gingerbread in the grand dining room. It includes nearly 300 pounds of ingredients, moveable parts, and takes over 20 days to create. Be sure to keep an eye out for it on the ride. 

A Christmas Fantasy Parade | 3:30 PM & 6:30 PM

Scheduled daily at Disneyland Park. 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. 40 minute parade. Viewing areas can be found around “it’s a small world” Holiday, near Matterhorn Bobsleds and Main Street, U.S.A., while reserved viewing for the parade is included with the Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour

Meet Santa Claus at Disneyland 

Meet Santa Claus at Disneyland Park with merry moments, festive photos, and bundles of fun. Head to Critter Country at Disneyland Park for your chance to chat with this jolly old elf. You can meet Santa Claus at Disneyland Parks, Resorts and at Downtown Disney from November 18- December 24, 2026. 

• Daily from Nov. 15 through Dec. 24 at Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park
• Daily from Nov. 28 through Dec. 24 at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort
• From December 25, 2026, through January 6, 2027 you may encounter Santa Goofy at this location!

Disney Holiday Dance Party at Tomorrowland Terrace

Shown nightly from November 18- January 6 at Disneyland Park, you can dance to the sounds of season at Tomorrowland Terrace. Featuring holiday tunes, and Disney characters in costume to ring in the season. 

Plaza Point Holiday Shoppe

And if you’re looking for even more holiday decorations to bring home, then check out this Disneyland Christmas 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. 

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. 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. 

Christmas Food at Disneyland

From specialty sundaes to Christmas cookies, treats and drinks, there is plenty to be had at Disneyland for Christmas, for the foodie.

Christmas at California Adventure

In addition to ride overlays, you can also head to California Adventure for holiday fun, courtesy of the Festival of Holidays! Here’s everything to do at Disney’s California Adventure for Christmas. 

Buena Vista Street Tree Lighting

Head to Disney’s California Adventure to see the 50 foot tree illuminated with lights. This nightly display happens every evening at dusk. 

World of Color – Season of Light

Only available during the Disneyland Christmas season, scheduled nightly, you can head to Paradise Bay 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.

Disneyland Festival of Holidays | November 18, 2026- January 6, 2027

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 at both California Adventure Park and Downtown Disney. 

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! 

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. You can see this performance scheduled daily, near Paradise Gardens Park. 

Disney ¡Viva Navidad! at Paradise Gardens Park

The “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” street party is back, 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. And a New Menu at the Paradise Garden Grill also offers up festive new food options. This event also includes honoring Three Kings Day, Mickey’s Happy Holidays cavalcade and photo ops, and extra fun. 

Meet Santa Claus at California Adventure

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, Santa Claus 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 Food at Disney’s California Adventure

Christmas treats and Festival of Holidays Menus are offered November 18, 2026- January 6, 2027.

Chocolate-Peppermint Lava Cake | Clarabel

Christmas at Downtown Disney

If you want the Disneyland Christmas magic but without the cost of a ticket, head to Downtown Disney. Offering up seasonal music performances on select evenings of Downtown Disney LIVE! stage. Here you can hear seasonal live music each night, with featured acts covering genres such as rock, jazz and classic caroling. 

Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail at Downtown Disney

This little Chip and Dale Christmas scavenger hunt features special ornaments hidden around Downtown Disney among the Christmas trees and lights. You can grab an activity map at select Downtown Disney shopping locations, and Hotels at Disneyland Resort. You can also grab Disneyland Christmas Snacks while you’re there. 

Christmas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel

Filled with festive decorations and a cozy fireplace all aglow, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel is free to visit and highly recommended during the holidays. It’s one of our favorite Free things to do at Disneyland for Christmas, and well worth the time. 

Christmas Treats at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel

• Holiday Tea Cake Variety Box: Vanilla Bean, Double Chocolate, Gingerbread, and Orange-Cranberry individually wrapped tea cakes  
• Mickey-shaped Gingerbread Cookie: Decorated gingerbread cookie 
• Holiday Cookie Box: Assorted cookies to include gingerbread, shortbread and sugar cookies 

Gingerbread House at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa 

Starting mid-November 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. This years gingerbread creation is Mickey’s Christmas Carol, complete with the Cratchits making merry indoors and Scrooge outside with the Christmas goose. Plus you can even grab holiday treats in the lobby next to this sweet confection to help ring in the season. See if you can find the 25 Hidden Mickeys in this display! 

Live Holiday Jazz

Offered Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, starting late November, you can head to the lobby of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa and listen in on the holiday sounds of the season for free!

Mickey’s Holiday Pajama Party Breakfast | Storytellers Cafe

Located at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel you can try out holiday themed meals, among the festive decor, and see Disney Characters in Christmas PJ’s at Mickey’s Holiday Pajama Party Breakfast. Why not stop by to see the Gingerbread display in the lobby while you’re there. Grab reservations at Storytellers Cafe for Mickey’s Holiday Pajama Party Breakfast.  

Christmas at Disneyland Hotel

If you’re looking for fun, and sometimes free, things to do outside of the parks, Disneyland Hotel offers snacks, Santa, and Diwali and specialty dining experiences. 

Christmas Treats at Disneyland Hotel

Head to the The Coffee House at Disneyland Hotel for some gingerbread treats during your stay.

• Mickey-shaped Gingerbread Cookie: Soft gingerbread Mickey cookie with sprinkles 
• Chai Ginger Latte: Espresso, milk, chai syrup, white chocolate sauce, and gingerbread whipped cream (Non-alcoholic) (Available hot or iced)  

Meet Santa Claus at Disneyland Hotel

Santa Claus is all set up for jolly family photos beginning with the holiday season at Disneyland Hotel through December 24, 2026.

Diwali at Disneyland Hotel

Head to The Coffee House for an Indian chai Archisha Tea.  And you can even see special performances to commemorate this celebration. 

Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays | Goofy’s Kitchen

Located at the Disneyland Hotel  you can add some holiday fun to the season with seasonal dining at Disneyland. No park ticket required. You can get breakfast, brunch and dinner here! Make reservations for Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays.

Christmas Merchandise at Disneyland

Check out the latest Holiday merchandise in the parks and at Downtown Disney. All are 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. Or head to our shop for all the new Disney Christmas outfits at Polka Dot Pixie Shop!

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. Lost of seasonal food, fun, and festive activities all season.