The holidays transform Disneyland into a winter wonderland that’s unlike anywhere else on Earth. Main Street twinkles with 80,000 lights, snow falls softly from the sky, Santa waves from a parade float, and Mickey wears his holiday best. The holidays at Disneyland really are magical, and if you’re planning a trip, you’ve come to the right place! Let me walk you through everything you need to make your visit absolutely unforgettable!

When Are the Holidays at Disneyland in 2025?

The holiday season officially runs from November 14, 2025, through January 7, 2026. That gives you almost two full months to experience all the festive fun.

Disney usually kicks off the season in mid-November, right around Veterans Day weekend. This year they’re starting on November 14, which is a bit later than some previous years. If you’re hoping to catch the decorations before the official start date, you’re in luck—Disney actually begins putting up holiday decor before the season officially begins. Fun fact: snow appears on Sleeping Beauty Castle before Halloween even ends!

The season wraps up the first week of January, giving you one last chance to catch the magic after New Year’s!

Why Visit Disneyland During the Holidays?

Okay, let’s be real—Disneyland during Christmas might be the most magical time of year at any theme park anywhere. The entire resort transforms into a winter wonderland, and there’s something special around every corner!

You’ll find unique experiences you literally can’t get any other time of year. We’re talking special ride overlays, exclusive entertainment, seasonal food treats, and decorations that’ll make your Instagram feed pop. Plus, this year the holidays overlap with Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary celebration, so you’re basically getting two celebrations for the price of one!

Holiday Attractions and Ride Overlays at Disneyland Park

Haunted Mansion Holiday

This is the big one. If you love Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, you need to experience Haunted Mansion Holiday. Jack Skellington and the gang take over the entire mansion, transforming it into a mash-up of Halloween and Christmas that somehow works perfectly.

The overlay runs from late August all the way through January 7, so you’ve got plenty of time to catch it. What makes it so special? Every year they create a new gingerbread house in the ballroom scene—in 2025, it’s inspired by Halloween Town’s City Hall with candy cane-striped columns.

Pro tip: This ride gets insanely popular, especially during the holidays. Hit it first thing in the morning or grab a Lightning Lane if you don’t want to wait!

“it’s a small world” Holiday

The happiest cruise that ever sailed gets even happier during the holidays. The entire facade lights up with thousands of colorful lights, and inside you’ll see holiday celebrations from around the world.

The ride mixes classic “it’s a small world” tunes with traditional holiday songs, and you’ll spot Mickey, Minnie, and even Miguel from Coco throughout the ride. Outside, don’t miss the projection shows on the facade, including the 70th celebration show Tapestry of Happiness.

The best time to see it? At night when all those lights are glowing. Yes, the wait will be longer, but trust me—it’s worth it!

Big Thunder Mountain and Matterhorn

While these don’t get holiday overlays, they’re still must-dos during your visit. Big Thunder Mountain is called the “wildest ride in the wilderness” for good reason, and recent updates have made it even better. The Matterhorn is one of Disneyland’s most iconic attractions—sure, it’s a bit bumpy, but riding through that mountain is pure magic!

Holiday Entertainment at Disneyland Park

“A Christmas Fantasy Parade”

This parade is absolutely stunning. We’re talking six units, around a dozen floats, and about 100 performers bringing Christmas magic to Main Street U.S.A..

You’ll see Mickey and Minnie organizing letters to Santa with Chip ‘n’ Dale, Anna and Elsa waving from their Frozen float, Buzz Lightyear with Woody and Jessie, Disney Princesses at the Candlelight Ball, and of course, Santa Claus himself!

The parade usually runs twice daily (check the Disneyland app for exact times), and the later showing tends to be less crowded. Get there early to snag a good spot on Main Street, or consider viewing near “it’s a small world” or the Matterhorn for a different perspective.

“Believe…In Holiday Magic” Fireworks

This fireworks spectacular has been a Disneyland holiday tradition since 2000, and it’s absolutely breathtaking.

The show features classic Christmas music, stunning pyrotechnics launched from Sleeping Beauty Castle, and—here’s the best part—snow falling on Main Street, at “it’s a small world,” and along the Rivers of America. It’s not real snow, obviously, but it looks and feels magical.

The show runs most nights at 9:30 PM (weather permitting), and the castle lights up with special effects that’ll give you chills. Fair warning: windy conditions can cause cancellations, so keep an eye on the weather!

Wintertime Enchantment at Sleeping Beauty Castle

Every evening, Sleeping Beauty Castle lights up with over 80,000 twinkling lights, creating what Disney calls “Wintertime Enchantment.”

The castle is decorated with snow-capped turrets, sparkling icicles, and gorgeous garlands. The lighting ceremony happens twice nightly (typically at 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM), complete with music, projections, and snowfall on Main Street.

Even if you don’t catch the lighting ceremony, the castle looks absolutely stunning all day and night during the season!

Holiday Fun with Santa & Friends

Head over to Fantasyland Theatre for crafts, sing-alongs, storytelling (including A Christmas Carol), and—most importantly—photo ops with Santa Claus himself. Santa appears here daily through December 24.

This is a great spot to take a break from the crowds while still soaking up holiday cheer. Plus, Disney characters make surprise appearances throughout the day!

Holiday Celebrations at Disney California Adventure

Disney Festival of Holidays

California Adventure really shines during the holiday season with the Disney Festival of Holidays. This celebration honors multiple cultural traditions including Christmas, Navidad, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day.

The festival features live entertainment with diverse cultural performances—think Mexican folklórico dancers, Brazilian samba performers, Bollywood-inspired dance, and Afro-Peruvian music. New acts for 2025 include Karmagraphy and Claudia de la Cruz Flamenco.

Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party

This is hands down one of the best shows at Disneyland Resort. On Saturdays and Sundays, Paradise Gardens Park comes alive with the ¡Viva Navidad! street party.

You’ll see the Three Caballeros on a holiday float, Mickey and Minnie on street tricycles, flag-bearers with papel picado banners, Mexican folklórico dancers, samba dancers with drummers, and massive 12-foot mojiganga puppets of Santa and Mrs. Claus!

One writer from the LA Times said it brings them to “tears of joy” every year because it’s so lively and culturally rich. Don’t miss this one!

Festive Foods Marketplace

Scattered throughout California Adventure, you’ll find Festive Foods Marketplace booths serving up incredible holiday treats from different cultures.

Try the Braised Pork Belly Adobo, Chocolate Cake Flan, Buñuelos Biónico (fried tortilla chips with fresh fruit), or the Cannoli Churro. There are also specialty drinks like the Berry Pomegranate Paloma and Cookies and Cream Hazelnut Hot Cocoa!

Cars Land Christmas Celebrations

Cars Land gets completely decked out for the holidays with Route 66 decorated according to each car’s personality.

Two attractions get holiday makeovers:

Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl – Luigi’s cousins celebrate with festive Italian-style dancing to holiday music crooned by Luigi.

Mater’s Jingle Jamboree – Mater leads you on a tractor square dance while singing holiday tunes with his signature twist.

Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season

Over at Paradise Gardens Park, Mirabel from Encanto hosts a lively celebration Monday through Friday, featuring songs from the film and sharing the gifts of the season.

A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel

This beautiful bilingual show features Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland performing classic carols on Buena Vista Street, with Miguel from Coco making a special appearance for “Silent Night.”

World of Color Happiness!

World of Color Happiness! is California Adventure’s nighttime spectacular for Disneyland’s 70th celebration, and it continues through the holiday season.

Hosted by Joy and the emotions from Inside Out, the show explores happiness through fountains, projections, lasers, and music from Disney and Pixar films like Turning Red, The Incredibles, Tangled, and Encanto.

The show typically runs twice nightly at 9:00 PM and 10:15 PM. Pro tip: Use the virtual queue in the Disneyland app—it’s not required but highly recommended!

Holiday Decorations Throughout the Resort

Main Street, U.S.A.

Main Street transforms into a Victorian Christmas wonderland. Every storefront, lamppost, and rooftop gets draped with garlands, wreaths, and bows. A massive Christmas tree stands in Town Square, trimmed with thousands of ornaments and twinkling lights.

As you stroll down Main Street, you’ll notice the incredible attention to detail—from the window displays to the garlands curving over doorways. And when that snow starts falling during the fireworks? Pure magic!

Sleeping Beauty Castle

The castle gets covered in over 80,000 LED lights that look like icicles, plus snow-capped turrets, wreaths, and garlands. During the day it’s gorgeous, but at night when those lights turn on? Absolutely breathtaking!

New Orleans Square and Frontierland

New Orleans Square comes in second for holiday decorations after Main Street. Frontierland and Critter Country also get plenty of festive touches, creating a warm holiday atmosphere throughout the park.

Buena Vista Street

Over at California Adventure, Buena Vista Street transforms into a nostalgic 1930s Hollywood Christmas with vintage decorations and a magnificent 50-foot Christmas tree. Don’t miss the Buena Vista Street Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony!

Holiday Food and Treats You Can’t Miss

Disneyland Park Holiday Foods

The holiday food lineup is seriously impressive this year. Here are some must-tries:

Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe – White Mocha Peppermint Tree Macaron, Holiday Mickey Gingerbread Cookie

Market House (Starbucks) – Seasonal specialty drinks and Mickey Gingerbread

Red Rose Taverne – Holiday-themed treats and Mickey Gingerbread

Various Locations – You’ll find Mickey-shaped gingerbread cookies throughout the park for around $8 each.

Disney California Adventure Holiday Foods

Favorite Things – Sticky Toffee Pudding Macaron, Braised Pork Belly Adobo

Paradise Garden Grill – Chocolate Cake Flan, Buñuelos Biónico

Terran Treats – Strawberry Basil Churro (new for 2025)

Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream – Chocolate-Peppermint Lava Cake

Character Meet & Greets

Mickey and Friends in Holiday Attire

Mickey, Minnie, and friends appear on Main Street in special holiday outfits that give a nod to the 70th celebration. Over at California Adventure, they wear vintage-inspired holiday attire on Buena Vista Street!

Santa Claus Locations

Santa makes several stops around the resort through December 24:

• Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland Park (daily)

• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail at California Adventure (daily through Dec. 24)

• Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel, and Grand Californian Hotel (November 27-December 24)

After December 24, Santa Goofy takes over at Redwood Creek.

Downtown Disney Holiday Magic

Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail

This scavenger hunt is perfect for families. Buy a map with stickers for $11.99 at select Downtown Disney shops, then search for Disney character ornaments hidden on holiday trees throughout the district.

Once you find all the ornaments (or even if you don’t complete it), return your map to World of Disney or Disney’s Pin Traders to receive a special holiday keepsake ornament. Choose from Mickey, Minnie, Stitch, Chip, or Dale!

Nightly Snowfall

Downtown Disney features nightly snowfall, creating a magical winter atmosphere as you shop and dine.

Holiday Celebrations at the Resort Hotels

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

The Grand Californian features a massive gingerbread house inspired by A Christmas Carol this year, showcasing Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge with Mickey and Minnie as Bob and Emily Cratchit. The craftsmanship is incredible, and you can smell the gingerbread from across the lobby!

The hotel also features all-new holiday décor throughout.

Disneyland Hotel

The Disneyland Hotel gets festively decorated with activities and entertainment during the holidays. Santa makes appearances here from November 27-December 24.

Pixar Place Hotel

Pixar Place Hotel debuts new holiday décor for the 2025 season!

Tips for Visiting Disneyland During the Holidays

Expect Crowds

Let’s not sugarcoat it—the holidays are one of the busiest times at Disneyland. The week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is typically the most crowded period of the entire year.

That said, weekdays (especially Tuesday through Thursday) are generally less crowded than weekends. If you can, avoid visiting the weekend before Christmas and the week between Christmas and New Year’s.

Arrive Early

Rope drop (arriving before the park opens) is absolutely essential during the holiday season. The first two hours the parks are open are your most productive hours of the day.

If you’re staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel, take advantage of Early Entry, which gives you 30 extra minutes in the parks. This is perfect for hitting popular attractions like Haunted Mansion Holiday, “it’s a small world” Holiday, or getting to rides in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge before the crowds arrive!

Make a Game Plan

Don’t just wander around aimlessly. Decide which attractions and experiences are must-dos for your group. Popular rides like Space Mountain, Indiana Jones Adventure, Rise of the Resistance, and Radiator Springs Racers should be priorities!

Consider Lightning Lane

Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass can save you hours of waiting, especially during busy holiday periods. Many visitors say Lightning Lane is essential for making the most of your holiday visit.

Download the Disneyland App

The Disneyland app is your best friend. Use it to check wait times, make dining reservations, mobile order food, see showtimes for entertainment, and connect your tickets and Lightning Lane passes.

Pro tip: The app drains your battery fast, so bring a portable charger!

Park Hopper is Worth It

Unlike Walt Disney World, the two Disneyland parks are literally right next to each other—you can walk from one to the other in less than two minutes. Park Hopper tickets let you experience both parks in one day, which is totally doable at Disneyland!

Wear Comfortable Shoes

You’ll be walking a lot, especially if you’re trying to see everything. Comfortable, broken-in shoes are a must!

Stay Hydrated and Bring Snacks

You can bring your own snacks and drinks into the parks (no glass containers though). This saves money and ensures you have something to munch on while waiting in lines.

Holiday Merchandise and Shopping

Holiday Collections

Disney releases extensive holiday merchandise collections featuring Mickey Mouse and friends celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, and other holidays.

The 2025 collection includes Fair Isle print spirit jerseys, Crocs, zip-up sherpa jackets, holiday Loungefly bags, ornaments, stockings, and hoodies. The Fair Isle patterns are especially popular and sell out quickly!

Where to Shop

World of Disney – The largest selection of holiday merchandise

Emporium – Located on Main Street with tons of holiday goodies

Elias & Co. – At California Adventure

WonderGround Gallery – Unique artist-created items

Resort Hotel Gift Shops – Each hotel has its own holiday collection

Pro tip: Holiday merchandise arrives in early October, so you can start shopping even before the season officially begins.

Ticket Prices and Special Offers

California Resident Offers

California residents can save big with special ticket offers. As of December 2025, a 3-Day Park Hopper ticket is available for just $249 (that’s $83 per day), valid January 1 through May 21, 2026.

General Admission

Standard ticket prices vary by date, with peak days (like Christmas week) costing more than weekdays in early November. Some weekdays in early November have tickets starting at $104 for a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket.

Book Early

Ticket deals and promotional offers go on sale months in advance. Booking early gives you the best selection of dates and potentially better prices!

Parking and Transportation

Theme Park Parking

Daily parking rates are $40 for standard vehicles, with Preferred Parking available for $60. Parking structures open 60 minutes before the earliest park opening time.

No reservations are needed for parking—just show up and pay at the toll booth. Accepted payment methods include cash (up to $100 bills), credit cards, Disney Gift Cards, and Disney Dollars!

Downtown Disney Parking

The first hour costs $10 at the Simba Lot. With validation from Downtown Disney locations, you can get 3-5 additional free hours depending on your purchase amount.

Hotel Parking

If you’re staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel, self-parking costs $45 per night, while valet runs $75 per night.

What to Pack for Your Holiday Visit

Essentials

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Portable phone charger

• Backpack or bag

• Sunscreen (yes, even in December)

• Light jacket or sweater (SoCal can get chilly at night)

• Hat

• Water bottle

• Snacks

• Autograph book if you’re meeting characters

Weather Considerations

Southern California weather in November and December is generally mild, with daytime temperatures in the 60s-70s and cooler evenings. Rain is possible but not common!

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the holidays start at Disneyland?

The 2025 holiday season begins November 14 and runs through January 7, 2026.

Is Disneyland crowded during Christmas?

Yes, especially the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, which is one of the busiest times all year. However, weekdays are generally less crowded than weekends, and the first two weeks of the season (mid to late November) tend to be more manageable.

What time should I arrive at Disneyland during the holidays?

Arrive before park opening (rope drop) for the shortest wait times. If you have Early Entry, get there at least 45 minutes before the early entry time starts.

Do I need park reservations?

Yes, you need both valid admission tickets and park reservations for everyone ages 3 and up. Make reservations through the Disneyland app or website.

Which holiday ride should I do first?

Hit Haunted Mansion Holiday first thing at rope drop. It’s one of the most popular attractions during the holiday season and can have long waits later in the day.

Can I bring food into Disneyland?

Yes, you can bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages. Glass containers and alcohol are not permitted.

How long does it take to walk between Disneyland and California Adventure?

Less than two minutes! The parks are literally across from each other, making Park Hopper tickets incredibly valuable.

Where can I meet Santa?

Santa appears at Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland Park and at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in California Adventure through December 24. He also visits the resort hotels from November 27-December 24.

Are the holiday fireworks every night?

“Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks typically run nightly at 9:30 PM, but shows can be canceled due to weather (especially wind). Check the Disneyland app for the most current schedule.

What should I eat at the Festival of Holidays?

Don’t miss the Braised Pork Belly Adobo, Chocolate Cake Flan, Cannoli Churro, and Sticky Toffee Pudding Macaron. For drinks, try the Berry Pomegranate Paloma or Cookies and Cream Hazelnut Hot Cocoa.

Is Lightning Lane worth it during the holidays?

Many guests say yes, especially during busy periods like Christmas week. Lightning Lane can save you hours of waiting in line.

Can I see everything in one day?

It’s challenging but possible if you arrive at rope drop, have a solid plan, use Lightning Lane strategically, and purchase Park Hopper tickets. However, two days is ideal for experiencing everything without feeling rushed.

What’s different about Disneyland holidays compared to Disney World?

Disneyland has unique offerings like Haunted Mansion Holiday (the full Nightmare Before Christmas overlay), “it’s a small world” Holiday, Cars Land holiday overlays, and the Disney Festival of Holidays. The parks are also much closer together, making park hopping easier.

When is the least crowded time during the holiday season?

Early to mid-November (before Thanksgiving) and the first week of January (after New Year’s) are typically less crowded than late December.

Making the Most of Your Holiday Visit

The holidays at Disneyland truly are magical. Yes, it can get crowded, and yes, you’ll need to plan ahead! But when you’re standing on Main Street with snow falling around you, watching the castle light up while “Believe…In Holiday Magic” plays overhead, you’ll understand why millions of people make this trip every year!

Start your day early, prioritize your must-dos, take breaks when you need them, and soak up every moment of the holiday magic! Don’t forget to try the seasonal treats, watch the parade, experience the ride overlays, and snap lots of photos!

Whether this is your first holiday visit or your fiftieth, Disneyland has a way of making Christmas feel extra special. The attention to detail, the immersive decorations, the exclusive entertainment—it all comes together to create memories that’ll last a lifetime!

Now get out there and enjoy the merriest place on Earth! Happy holidays, and may your visit be filled with pixie dust, holiday cheer, and all the churros your heart desires!