Here’s how to celebrate the holiday season with festive decorations, entertainment, food, and more at Disneyland Resort.

Glowing lights, glittering castle decorations, green wreaths, and towering ornament-covered trees—these are the hallmarks of the holidays at Disneyland Resort, and we can’t wait to see them come to life each year! The holidays are a truly magical time at the theme parks and across the resort, with special seasonal offerings available only during the winter. From holiday attraction overlays and festive character attire to limited-time treats, there’s so much to try and experience.

So, what’s in store for the 2026 holiday season? Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Navidad, or another winter tradition, you can find something special to mark the occasion at Disneyland Resort. Find out what’ll be happening in the parks and around the resort from November 2026 through January 2027 below!

• Holidays at Disneyland Park
• Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park
• Holidays at Disneyland Resort Hotels & Downtown Disney

Experience the Holidays at Disneyland Resort

What’s special about the holidays at Disneyland Resort? It’s a resort-wide celebration that includes seasonal decorations, classic Disney characters in festive winter wear, annual holiday-inspired ride overlays, limited-time entertainment, and plenty of seasonal food.

It’s nearly two full months of festive fun, and it’s a great opportunity to see Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and the Disneyland Resort hotels transformed with a touch of seasonal magic.

When Does the Holiday Season Begin at Disneyland?

The holidays at Disneyland Resort will begin on November 13, 2026, and run through January 6, 2027. Winter decorations typically start appearing around the resort shortly after Halloween Time

Holidays at Disneyland Park

When the holiday celebrations are underway at Disneyland Park, it’s absolutely magical. You’ll find wintry touches at every turn, from the glistening icicle-like lights decorating Sleeping Beauty Castle to the draping greenery and wreaths dotting Main Street, U.S.A.

Photo by Danny Shuster

At the center of Town Square, you won’t want to miss Disneyland’s iconic 60-foot-tall Christmas tree, decorated with oversized ornaments. It’s one of the park’s most popular places to snap a seasonal family photo.

Sleeping Beauty Castle also becomes Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, with snow-covered turrets and shimmering decorations. Each evening, approximately 80,000 lights bring the castle’s wintry transformation to life.

As you explore Disneyland, you’ll discover even more decorations and seasonal details throughout the lands. But the holidays are about much more than decorations—special attraction overlays, shows, characters, and limited-time experiences are also part of the celebration.

Holiday Ride Overlays

If you couldn’t get enough of Haunted Mansion Holiday during Halloween Time, there’s good news: Because the attraction overlay spans both Halloween and Christmas, it sticks around throughout the holiday season.

Inspired by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, the transformation fills Disneyland’s spookiest attraction with frighteningly festive gifts, spooky wreaths, familiar characters, and an appearance by Sandy Claws.

Photo courtesy of Disney

The attraction’s annual gingerbread house will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2026. This year’s confectionery creation will take the form of a delightfully monstrous music box in the ballroom scene.

Over in Fantasyland, “it’s a small world” transforms into “it’s a small world” Holiday. The classic boat ride celebrates winter traditions from around the world with seasonal decorations and holiday songs.

The celebration extends outside the attraction, too. Approximately 400,000 lights illuminate the attraction’s façade and surrounding landscaping, while the clockface wears an adorable Santa hat. It’s one of the most impressive holiday displays at Disneyland Resort—and one of the best seasonal photo backdrops.

Holiday Shows and Entertainment

One of Disneyland Park’s most beloved holiday traditions is the annual “A Christmas Fantasy Parade.” It just isn’t the holiday season until you’ve watched toy soldiers march down the parade route and waved hello to Santa Claus himself!

The parade features a festive procession of Disney characters, reindeer, dancing gingerbread cookies, toy soldiers, and other seasonal performers. Santa brings the parade to a grand finale as it travels through Disneyland Park.

Photo by Regan Wong

Later in the evening, you’ll want to make sure to catch the “Believe…In Holiday Magic” Fireworks Spectacular. The show pairs festive fireworks with stirring seasonal music and a magical “snowfall” finale.

Guests can experience the spectacular with Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, “it’s a small world” Holiday, or the Rivers of America as the backdrop. The snow effect can be seen at all three locations as well as in parts of Main Street, U.S.A.

Even if you don’t catch the complete fireworks show, both Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle and “it’s a small world” Holiday are worth revisiting after dark. Thousands of twinkling lights and seasonal effects make both attractions feel completely different at night.

Guests interested in learning more about Disneyland’s holiday traditions can also book the Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour for an additional fee. The tour includes stories about Walt Disney and his family, a closer look at favorite Disneyland holiday traditions, reserved viewing for “A Christmas Fantasy Parade,” and other seasonal extras. Additional details will be released on Disneyland’s website.

Holiday-Themed Character Meet and Greets

During the holidays, you can catch some of your favorite Disney characters wearing attire created especially for the season.

In 2026, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and several of their friends will debut new holiday outfits in Town Square. Their looks are inspired by holiday travel and a wintry alpine gathering, making this year’s character photos a little different from those offered during previous holiday seasons.

Photo Courtesy of Disney

Santa Claus will also have a new Disneyland Park location for 2026. Guests can visit him inside the Mickey’s Toontown Trolley Barn, located near Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin.

Families heading to Toontown can also stop by “Bluey’s Best Day Ever!” at the Fantasyland Theatre. Bluey and Bingo will continue making appearances as part of the interactive experience, which gives kids the chance to wiggle, dance, and play.

Holiday Food and Merchandise

Each year, the restaurants and snack spots throughout Disneyland Park offer special menu items developed for the holiday season. These typically include sweets, specialty beverages, novelty containers, and limited-time additions at quick-service and table-service restaurants.

A few returning favorites have already been confirmed for 2026, including the Milk and Cookies Tree-Shaped Macaron at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe.

Guests looking for a more elevated seasonal experience will also be able to book an “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” dining package at Plaza Inn. Additional details, including pricing and booking information, will be released later.

Disney will also release several seasonal merchandise lines, including the Mickey Mouse and Family Christmas Collection, Holiday Pastel Collection, and Disney Vintage Holiday Collection. Holiday apparel, collectible pins, ornaments, ear headbands, and other giftable items will be available throughout the resort.

Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park

Across the esplanade at Disney California Adventure Park, you’ll find decorations that are similar to—but also completely different from—those at Disneyland Park.

Photo by Danny Shuster

Here, the holiday decor is tailored to each land. Buena Vista Street features vintage-inspired ornaments and nostalgic decorations, while Cars Land is decked out with automotive wreaths, traffic-cone Christmas trees, and other clever creations inspired by the residents of Radiator Springs.

Whether you want to sample dishes at Disney Festival of Holidays, catch limited-time entertainment, or experience the park’s seasonal attraction overlays, there’s no shortage of festive fun.

Holiday Ride Overlays

Photo by Danny Shuster

Mater’s Jingle Jamboree

You won’t want to miss Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, which transforms into Mater’s Jingle Jamboree for the holiday season. The beloved tow truck takes center stage with a collection of original holiday tunes filled with his signature humor and country charm, giving classic seasonal music a distinctly Mater-style twist.

The festive fun begins before you even board. As you make your way through the queue, keep an eye out for holiday decorations, seasonal Easter eggs, and plenty of clever details inspired by the residents of Radiator Springs. Garland, twinkling lights, and festive decor transform Mater’s Junkyard into a cheerful holiday hoedown. Once aboard, you’ll spin, swing, and slide around the yard while Mater’s custom holiday soundtrack fills the air, creating one of the most lighthearted seasonal experiences at Disneyland Resort.

Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl

Just down the road in Cars Land, Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters receives its own holiday makeover as Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl. During the seasonal overlay, Luigi and his extended family celebrate the holidays with festive music, colorful decorations, and plenty of spirited dancing.

After making your way through the decorated queue, you’ll board one of Luigi’s classic Italian imports and take part in a choreographed holiday celebration. The ride vehicles glide, spin, pivot, and dance across the trackless floor in synchronization with cheerful seasonal songs performed by Luigi himself. Combined with the festive decor throughout Casa Della Tires, the attraction feels like a joyful holiday party straight from Radiator Springs.

Holiday Shows and Entertainment

The beloved nighttime spectacular World of Color receives a special seasonal transformation beginning November 13, 2026. “World of Color – Season of Light” features towering walls of water, sky-high fountains, holiday music, and scenes from Disney and Pixar films including Beauty and the Beast and Inside Out.

A “World of Color – Season of Light” Dessert Party will also be offered for guests looking to pair reserved viewing with desserts and beverages. Additional booking details will be announced later.

Photo by Cliff Wang

During the day, you can see the Holiday Toy Drummers perform in Paradise Gardens Park. The drummers also join Mickey Mouse and his friends for “Mickey’s Happy Holidays,” a cheerful cavalcade that travels from Paradise Gardens Park to Hollywood Land at select times.

The Paradise Garden Bandstand will host live entertainment daily, with a rotating lineup of bands and cultural performance groups.

On select days, guests can watch “A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel!” on Buena Vista Street. Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland and accompanying dancers perform bilingual holiday songs before Miguel from Coco joins the celebration.

“Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season” will also return on select days. Held near Paradise Gardens Park, the musical presentation features Mirabel and her friends performing songs from Encanto.

Meet Santa at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail will once again transform into a holly, jolly playground for Santa’s Holiday Visit.

Young guests can explore seasonal games and outdoor activities before visiting Santa Claus to share their Christmas wishes. It’s a particularly good option for families who want to combine a Santa photo with an area where kids can climb, play, and burn off some energy.

Disney Festival of Holidays

Disney Festival of Holidays returns to Disney California Adventure in 2026, celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Navidad, and Three Kings Day through food, music, dance, and storytelling.

The 2026 festival will feature six marketplaces, with a mixture of new dishes and returning favorites. Small portions make it possible to try multiple foods during a single visit, although it’s always a good idea to look over the complete menus before deciding where to spend your time and money.

Guests can also purchase a Sip and Savor Pass, which includes six digital coupons redeemable for select food and nonalcoholic beverages at participating festival marketplaces and dining locations. The pass can be shared, so families or groups don’t necessarily need to purchase one for every person.

Special Holiday Celebrations

Photo by Regan Wong

Along with the usual holiday fun, California Adventure offers two special events from November to early January: ¡Viva Navidad! and Festival of Holidays. Both are available to all Guests, without any special ticket purchases or additional fees.

¡Viva Navidad! is a celebration of the holiday traditions of Mexico and Brazil. Held in the Paradise Gardens section of the park, ¡Viva Navidad! includes the exciting ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party featuring folklórico and samba dancers, mariachis, and towering mojiganga puppets (and of course the stars themselves, Mickey and Minnie). You’ll also have the opportunity to meet characters, including Mirabel from Encanto, check out the vibrant and colorful decorations (like piñatas and papel picado banners), and try authentic Mexican holiday specialties at Paradise Garden Grill.

Festival of Holidays food. Photo by Cliff Wang

Just steps away along California Adventure’s main thoroughfare, you’ll find Festival of Holidays booths waiting for you. This annual foodie festival will introduce you to a diverse array of cuisines from around the world, which you can sample in small portions from each of the festival booths. You’ll also discover different holiday traditions from different countries and cultures, with dishes, sights, and sounds that celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Navidad, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day.

Holidays at Disneyland Resort Hotels and Downtown Disney

The holiday festivities extend beyond the theme parks and into Downtown Disney and the three hotels of the Disneyland Resort. Along with seasonal decorations and special displays, guests can enjoy character dining, entertainment, Santa meet and greets, and limited-time food.

Holiday Offerings at Disneyland Resort Hotels

Santa Claus will make scheduled appearances at Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, guests can admire a seven-foot-tall gingerbread display modeled after the hotel’s Craftsman-style architecture and filled with whimsical Disney details. Holiday carolers, seasonal decor, and limited-time menu items will add to the atmosphere throughout the resort hotels.

Holiday character dining experiences will be offered from November 16, 2026, through January 3, 2027. The 2026 lineup includes:

• Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays! at Disneyland Hotel
• Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party at Storytellers Cafe inside Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
• Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast at Storytellers Cafe inside Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

Reservations will open at a later date.

Seasonal treats and menu items will also be available at locations including the Great Hall Cart at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Broken Spell Lounge at Disneyland Hotel, and Great Maple Modern American Eatery at Pixar Place Hotel.

For an additional fee, Tenaya Stone Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian will offer seasonal treatments including the Naughty or Nice foot treatments, Underneath the Tree signature massage, and Joy of Holiday body treatment.

Disneyland Resort Hotel Discount

A limited-time Disneyland Resort hotel offer will become available to book beginning September 22, 2026.

The offer will provide savings of up to 20 percent on select stays of three or more nights at Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Pixar Place Hotel, and The Villas at Disneyland Hotel. Eligible stays must take place from October 11 through December 18, 2026, and availability and restrictions will apply.

Holiday Offerings at Downtown Disney

Beginning November 13, 2026, Downtown Disney will transform with glimmering decorations, seasonal food and beverages, festive entertainment, and a nightly “snowfall.”

The Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage will host nightly entertainment ranging from holiday music performances to DJs and live bands.

Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail will return slightly ahead of the resort-wide celebration, running from November 11, 2026, through January 6, 2027. Guests can purchase an activity map at a participating retail location and search for special ornaments hanging from trees throughout Downtown Disney. After completing the hunt, you can exchange the map at a redemption location for an ornament keepsake.

Thank you to Disney for inviting us to celebrate the start of the holidays at Disneyland Resort 2025.