The holiday season at Disneyland Resort transforms the Happiest Place on Earth into an enchanting winter wonderland filled with festive magic! From November 14, 2025, through January 7, 2026, guests can experience special character appearances you won’t find any other time of year! Whether you’re planning your first Christmas visit or returning for another magical holiday adventure, discovering which beloved Disney characters are dressed in their seasonal finest makes the experience even more special!
This year brings exciting new character outfits, returning favorites, and plenty of opportunities to snap those picture-perfect holiday memories with Mickey, Santa, and so many more magical friends!
When Mickey Mouse Wears His Holiday Best
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are debuting brand-new holiday outfits that put a festive spin on their 70th Celebration attire. These sparkling costumes feature shimmering greens, reds, and golds with special anniversary nods woven throughout the design. You’ll find Mickey, Minnie, and their pals like Goofy, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Pluto, and Clarabelle Cow wearing these stunning new looks along Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland Park!
The best time to meet these characters in their holiday outfits is typically between 9:45 am and 2 pm in Town Square. Some characters also make evening appearances, though these can be more sporadic and won’t happen during the fireworks or parade. Character meet-and-greets in Town Square rotate throughout the day, so checking the Disneyland app for exact times helps you plan your character encounters!
Where to Find Santa Claus Around the Resort
Santa Claus himself makes multiple appearances throughout Disneyland Resort through December 24, 2025. Jolly old St. Nick can be found at several locations, making it easy to share your Christmas wishes and capture that perfect holiday photo!
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail at Disney California Adventure transforms into a festive playground where Santa greets guests. This area features holiday games, festive activities, and a fun search for brightly colored presents along the trail. The Redwood Creek location is particularly special because it offers a woodland setting that feels authentically Santa-worthy!
Starting November 27 and continuing through December 24, Santa expands his route to include all three Disneyland Resort hotels. You can meet him at the Disneyland Hotel main lobby, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Great Hall (right in front of the towering Christmas tree), and Pixar Place Hotel lobby! These hotel meet-and-greets don’t require park tickets or reservations, making them accessible options for anyone staying nearby or visiting Downtown Disney!
Santa also appears at Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland Park through December 24 as part of “Holiday Fun with Santa and Friends!”
Disney California Adventure Holiday Character Lineup
Disney California Adventure offers a diverse array of character experiences that celebrate holiday traditions from multiple cultures. The park’s Festival of Holidays brings special entertainment and unique character appearances you won’t find anywhere else!
Buena Vista Street features Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Pluto, and Clarabelle Cow dressed in retro-inspired wintry wear. These vintage-style costumes complement the nostalgic décor on the park’s 50-foot-tall Christmas tree, creating a 1920s-era holiday atmosphere.
Over in Cars Land, Mater gets into the spirit by sporting a giant Santa hat. It’s one of those fun photo opportunities that makes guests smile—after all, you “auto” stop by to see it.
At Grizzly Peak, you can celebrate with Carl, Russell, and Dug from Pixar’s Up. These beloved characters bring that heartwarming spirit of adventure to the holiday season!
Mickey’s Happy Holidays Cavalcade
The Holiday Toy Drummers lead this festive street procession featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and favorite Pixar pals dancing along to holiday rhythms. Featured characters include Joy from Inside Out, Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Frozone, Woody, Jessie, and Bo Peep.
This daily entertainment offering brings energy and excitement as characters and performers move down the Disney California Adventure parade route multiple times throughout the day. The playfully percussive precision of the Holiday Toy Drummers delights guests of all ages with their seasonal cheer!
The Story Time with Deadpool Holiday Special
Deadpool returns to Avengers Campus for his limited-time holiday experience near Avengers Campus. “The Story Time with Deadpool Holiday Special” celebrates the season in the way only Deadpool can—with humor that’s been softened for general audiences but still includes plenty of sarcastic and self-referential jokes!
At select performances, Wolverine may also stop by, making this one of the hottest tickets of the season. Last year’s show was surprisingly popular with plugged-in Disney fans who appreciated the meta humor and playful jabs at Disney leadership. Expect performances to be very busy, so arriving early is essential.
Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season
Mirabel and her friends from Encanto gather at Paradise Gardens Park for their own Fiesta de Navidad celebration on select days. This whimsical street performance features heartfelt musical presentations where guests can sing along to “Surface Pressure,” “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” and other catchy tunes from the beloved film.
Beyond the performance, Mirabel also appears at the Paradise Gardens gazebo throughout the Festival of Holidays, sharing holiday greetings and posing for photo opportunities. Other members of the Madrigal family may make appearances as well!
A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría and Miguel
On select evening dates (typically Monday through Friday), Miguel from Pixar’s Coco joins Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland at Carthay Circle for heartfelt stories and timeless holiday songs. These intimate, bilingual performances deliver beloved Christmas songs with grace and beauty!
The celebration closes with Miguel’s beautiful rendition of “Silent Night,” creating a genuinely moving moment during the busy holiday season.
Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party
The daily cultural celebration at Paradise Gardens Park features live music, specialty dishes, and character appearances inspired by Latin American holiday traditions with a Disney twist. On Saturdays and Sundays, the Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party brings folklórico dancers, mariachis, Brazilian samba performers, and 12-foot-tall mojiganga puppets of Santa and Mrs. Claus!
The Three Caballeros—José Carioca, Panchito Pistoles, and Donald Duck—lead this vibrant display of rhythm and color. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse also join the celebration wearing special Viva Navidad outfits. The street party performs at 12:10 pm, 1:10 pm, 2:10 pm, 3:45 pm, 4:45 pm, and 5:45 pm on scheduled days.
This high-energy celebration authentically integrates culture with Disney entertainment, reminiscent of vintage EPCOT Center. With around 30-40 live performers in beautiful costumes, the dances and music truly capture the heart of Latin American holiday traditions!
A Christmas Fantasy Parade at Disneyland
“A Christmas Fantasy Parade” celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025. This treasured tradition features a massive cast of Disney characters, prancing reindeer, marching toy soldiers, and dancing gingerbread cookies parading down Main Street, U.S.A.
Characters featured in the parade include:
The parade begins with a music box ballerina and teddy bear, followed by toy soldiers from Babes in Toyland. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Chip, Dale, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto appear in festive attire.
Anna, Elsa, and Olaf from Frozen bid guests a warm winter welcome from their fantastic float. Disney Princesses including Snow White and her Prince, Tiana and Prince Naveen, Cinderella and Prince Charming, Aurora and Prince Phillip, Ariel and Prince Eric, and Belle and the Beast all make appearances!
From the Toy Story universe, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie, Green Army Men, and Toy Factory Elves march through. The parade concludes with carolers, reindeer, and Santa Claus himself atop a bulging sleigh.
The parade runs twice daily at 2:45 pm and 5:15 pm. For the best viewing spots, consider areas near “it’s a small world” Holiday, along the parade route next to the Matterhorn Bobsleds, or on Main Street, U.S.A.
Holiday Fun with Santa and Friends at Fantasyland Theatre
Through December 24, Fantasyland Theatre offers a returning daily experience where guests can engage in craft-making, sing-alongs to beloved holiday classics, and magical photo opportunities. Characters you can meet include Chip ‘n’ Dale, Goofy, and Pluto.
The theatre also screens animated shorts throughout the day, creating a cozy spot to take a break from the busy parks while still enjoying holiday entertainment. Character appearances rotate, so you might encounter additional surprise characters during your visit.
Holiday Character Dining Experiences
For those wanting guaranteed character time with a delicious meal, Disneyland Resort offers several festive dining options running from November 17, 2025, through January 6, 2026!
Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast at Storytellers Café is a new holiday character dinner featuring Mickey Mouse, Scrooge McDuck, Minnie Mouse, Clarabelle Cow, and Goofy dressed as characters from A Christmas Carol. These special costumes debuted during the former Disney Merriest Nights Christmas Party and include Goofy’s especially fun look as Marley!
Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party offers breakfast and brunch at Storytellers Café with Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, Chip, Dale, and Pluto. The characters wear festive pajamas in holiday colors and plaid fabrics, and guests are invited to show up in their “coziest fashion,” including their own pajamas. Breakfast costs $69 plus tax per adult and $39 plus tax per child, while brunch is $74 plus tax per adult and $39 plus tax per child.
Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays returns at the Disneyland Hotel from November 17 through January 6, 2026. Goofy and his pals wear holiday-inspired looks mixing classic red and green colors with pastels, print, and snowy sparkles. The restaurant serves breakfast, brunch, and dinner during the holiday season.
Reservations for character dining open 60 days in advance and can book quickly, so planning ahead is essential!
Tips for Meeting Holiday Characters
Use the Disneyland App. The official app shows character locations and scheduled times throughout both parks. From the map screen, switch from “Attractions” to “Characters” at the top to see who’s meeting where.
Arrive Early. Popular characters like those in the Christmas parade and Deadpool’s holiday show draw significant crowds. Getting to meet-and-greet locations 15-30 minutes before scheduled times ensures better positioning.
Check for PhotoPass Photographers. While not all character meet-and-greets have professional photographers, many holiday locations do. Mickey’s house in Toontown, certain Main Street locations, and select character spots typically offer PhotoPass services. Character handlers are always willing to take photos using your phone if PhotoPass isn’t available.
Don’t Overlook Hotel Characters. Since Santa appears at all three resort hotels and these locations don’t require park admission, they offer stress-free photo opportunities. Hotel lobbies are typically less crowded than in-park locations.
Plan Around Special Blockout Dates. Character dining experiences aren’t available on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day. If those dates are critical to your plans, consider alternative character meet-and-greets in the parks!
Be Flexible with Timing. Characters at Disneyland tend to wander, especially in Fantasyland. Unlike Disney World where characters have more structured schedules, Disneyland character appearances can vary. Checking the app multiple times throughout your day helps you catch characters you might otherwise miss!
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the holiday season start and end at Disneyland?
The holiday celebration runs from November 14, 2025, through January 7, 2026. This schedule gives guests nearly two full months to experience all the festive offerings.
Do I need park tickets to meet Santa at the resort hotels?
No, Santa’s appearances at Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa don’t require park tickets or reservations. These are free meet-and-greet opportunities available to anyone visiting the resort hotels or Downtown Disney area from November 27 through December 24.
Which characters have new costumes for 2025?
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and their pals are debuting newly designed festive outfits that put a holiday spin on their 70th Celebration attire. These sparkly new costumes feature shimmering greens, reds, and golds.
Can I meet Deadpool with my kids?
Yes, “The Story Time with Deadpool Holiday Special” is family-friendly and suitable for general audiences. While Deadpool’s humor is his signature, the show has been toned down significantly for the Disney theme park environment. The content includes some innuendo but is mostly sarcastic and self-referential.
Where’s the best place to meet Mickey and Minnie in their holiday outfits?
Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland Park and Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure both feature holiday character meet-and-greets. Town Square in Disneyland typically has the most structured meet-and-greets between 9:45 am and 2 pm.
Are character dining reservations hard to get?
Holiday character dining reservations can book quickly when the 60-day window opens. If you don’t find availability right away, keep checking back as cancellations do happen. Some guests have success with day-of walk-ins for breakfast, though this isn’t guaranteed.
What’s the difference between holiday characters at Disneyland Park versus Disney California Adventure?
Disneyland Park focuses on classic Christmas celebrations with Mickey and friends in sparkly new outfits and the Christmas Fantasy Parade featuring princesses and beloved characters. Disney California Adventure emphasizes multicultural celebrations through the Festival of Holidays, featuring characters from Encanto, Coco, and Latin American-inspired entertainment like the Viva Navidad Street Party.
Will there be character meet-and-greets during the parade and fireworks?
Characters typically don’t meet during the parade performance times or during the “Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks. Plan your character meet-and-greets for times between these major entertainment offerings.
Can I request specific photos from character handlers?
Absolutely. Character handlers and Cast Members are always willing to take photos or videos using your phone. Don’t hesitate to ask for specific poses or family groupings—they’re there to help create magical memories.
Making the Most of Your Holiday Character Adventure
The 2025 holiday season at Disneyland Resort offers an incredible variety of character experiences that celebrate traditions from around the world. From Santa’s appearances across the resort to multicultural celebrations at Disney California Adventure, there’s truly something magical for everyone!
Whether you’re hoping to see Mickey in his sparkling new holiday outfit, laugh along with Deadpool’s irreverent holiday stories, or sing with Mirabel and the Madrigal family, planning ahead helps you maximize your character encounters! Download the Disneyland app before your visit, make those character dining reservations 60 days out, and stay flexible with your daily schedule to catch all your favorite friends!
The holiday season transforms the parks into an even more enchanting destination where beloved characters shine in their festive finest. These limited-time appearances create memories that last long after the decorations come down. Start planning your magical holiday visit today—Mickey, Santa, and all their friends are waiting to celebrate with you at the Merriest Place on Earth!